Minnesota Zoo Former Species of the Minnesota Zoo

I've Finally got around to doing this again, so here is the former species of the Tropics Trail. Any corrections are welcome!

Tropics Trail

Red Panda
Phase-in year: 1982
Phase-out year: 2021
Red Pandas were brought into the zoo in 1982, with an all-indoor exhibit that they lived in until the Snub-Nosed Monkeys & later Koalas were brought in. after they left, the Red Panda started to occupy the exhibit once more, until being moved in with the Long-Tailed Goral around 2006. they stayed in that exhibit until the last Red Panda (a female named Min) passed away in August of 2021. The zoo has long-term plans to re-acquire this species, so hopefully we don't have to wait long for this to happen.

Ferret-Badger (Species Unknown)
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: ???
Ferret-Badgers were one of the first species to arrive at the zoo and were presumably exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail during its earlier years.

Asian Small-Clawed Otter
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2021
Asian Small-Clawed Otters were exhibited in the same exhibit across from the Gibbons for over 40 years until the last two were shipped out in July of 2021. They were later replaced by a male Burmese Brown Tortoise in December of 2021.

Banded Palm Civet (?)
Phase-in year: early-mid 80's?
Phase-out year: ???
Some sort of Palm civet (presumably Banded or Common) was exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail sometime in the 80's.

Binturong
Phase-in year: early 80's?
Phase-out year: 2017
Binturongs were first exhibited in what is todays Burmese Python exhibit for a brief period in the 80's, until moving in with the Malayan Tapirs, were they stayed until swapping with the Tree Kangaroos in 2016, and later being phased out in favor of Silvery Langurs in 2017.

Striped Hyena
Phase-in year: early 80's?
Phase-out year: mid-80's?
Striped Hyenas were exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail during its earlier years, in I believe what later became the Clouded Leopard Exhibit.

Sunda Leopard Cat
Phase-in year: 1978
phase-out year: mid-80's?
Sunda Leopard Cats were one of the first species to be exhibited on the Nocturnal Trail and stayed there until sometime in the 80's when they were replaced by Fishing Cats.

Fishing Cat
Phase-in year: mid-80's?
Phase-out year: 2010?
Fishing Cats replaced Sunda Leopard Cats sometime in the eighties, and were exhibited i what is currently the Burmese Python exhibit until the Nocturnal Trail closed in 2010-ish.

Clouded Leopard
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2010?
Clouded Leopards were first Exhibited in the current Silvery Langur exhibit, and may have spent some time in what the African Crested Porcupines are currently staying in, until finally moving into the Nocturnal Trail, where they lived until the Nocturnal Trail closed in 2010-ish. A disappointing phase-out, as the zoo apparently has a lot of success with this species.

Generic Leopard
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2003?
Generic Leopards were exhibited in the current Ring-Tailed Lemur exhibit in the Tropics trail until it was converted into a Madagascar exhibit around 2004.

Sloth Bear
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 1992
Sloth Bears were exhibited in the current Mantled Guereza/DeBraza's Guenon/Red River Hog exhibit until they were phased out in favor of Sun Bears in 1992.

Sun Bear
Phase-in year: 1992
Phase-out year: 2010
Sun Bears replaced Sloth Bears in 1992, and were later phased out in 2010 to make way for Faces of the African Forest.

Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat
Phase-in year: early-mid 80's
Phase-out year: ???
Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rats were exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail sometime in the eighties.

Prevost's Squirrel
Phase-in year: early-mid 80's
Phase-out year: 2012?
Prevost's Squirrels were originally exhibited where the West African Dwarf Crocodile/African Cichlid exhibit is now, until moving into the current Two-Toed Sloth exhibit in 2010, where they lived until being phased-out in 2012.

Northern Treeshrew
Phase-in year: early 90's?
Phase-out year: mid-late 2000s?
Northern Treeshrews were exhibited in the current Two-Toed Sloth Exhibit for some time in the 90's & 2000's, until being phased-out in the 2000's.

Daurian Pika
Phase-in year: 2013?
Phase-Out year: 2017
Daurian Pikas were imported from Mongolia in 2013 and spent their time Behind the Scenes for the entire time. They were eventually brought back to Mongolia in 2017. I didn't have anywhere else to put this, so I will just mention it here.

Indian Flying Fox
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2010?
Indian Flying Foxes were regular inhabitants of the Nocturnal Trail for most of its existence, staying there till it closed in 2010-ish.

Dusky Langur
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: ???
Dusky Langurs were either exhibited in the current Silvery Langur exhibit, or what is currently the African Crested Porcupine exhibit around the time of the zoos opening.

Sulawesi Crested Macaque
Phase-in year: early-mid 80's?
Phase-out year: late 90's?
Sulawesi Crested Macaques were exhibited in an Exhibit that currently houses two African Crested Porcupines, which they lived in until being phased-out in favor of Visayan Warty Pigs in the 90's.

Lion-Tailed Macaque
Phase-in year: early-mid 90's?
Phase-out year: mid-2000's?
Lion-Tailed Macaques were exhibited in the current Silvery Langur exhibit from the 90's to the mid-2000's, when they were phased out in favor of Matschie's Tree Kangaroo.

Cotton-Topped Tamarin
Phase-in year: 2005
Phase-out year: 2020
Cotton-Topped Tamarins were exhibited with the Bolivian Gray Titis & Red-Rumped Agoutis until being phased out in 2020 for unknown reasons.

Pygmy Slow Loris
Phase-in Year: early-mid 2000's
Phase-out year: 2012
Pygmy Slow Lorises were exhibited in what is currently the Two-Toed Sloth exhibit in the Nocturnal Trail until being phased out in 2012.

Sunda Slow Loris
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2017-18
Sunda Slow Lorises were exhibited at the first exhibit on the Nocturnal Trail all throughout its existence until they became program animals in 2010. they were then later phased out in 2017-18 for unknown reasons.

Matschie's Tree Kangaroo
Phase-in year: mid-2000's
Phase-out year: 2017
A Matschie's Tree Kangaroo was exhibited in the Current Silvery Langur exhibit from the mid-2000's until 2016, when they swapped exhibits with the Binturongs. The Tree Kangaroo was later phased out (Presumably due to death) in 2017.

Greater Malayan Chevrotain
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2010
Greater Malayan Chevrotains were held in an exhibit where the current Fruit Bat exhibit is now for over 30 years until being phased out to make way for Faces of the African Forest.

Southern Pudu
Phase-in year: 2005
Phase-out year: 2012?
a Southern Pudu was originally exhibited in the Americas Aviary in 2005 and was later phased out around 2012 for unknown reasons.

Nigiri Thar
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2003?
Nigiri Thars were exhibited in the current Transcaspian Urial Exhibit up until the last ones were shipped out around 2003 and replaced by Lon-Tailed Goral.

Long-Tailed Goral
Phase-in year: 2003?
Phase-out year: 2014
Long-Tailed Gorals replaced Nigiri Thars around 2003 and were joined by Red Pandas not long after. They were exhibited there until the last one died in 2014. I believe it may have been the last of its kind in North America.

Visayan Warty Pig
Phase-in year: early 2000's?
Phase-out year: 2021
Visayan Warty Pigs replaced Sulawesi crested Macaques in the late 90's-early 2000's (?), where they were exhibited until being phased-out in July of 2021 for unknown reasons and being replaced by African Crested Porcupines in December.

Cinereous Vulture (?)
Phase-in year: Late 80's?
Phase-out year: early-mid 90's?
A Vulture species (presumably Cinereous) was exhibited in the current Silvery Langur exhibit in the 80's & 90's.

Tawny Frogmouth
Phase-in year: early 80's?
Phase-out year: early 90's?
Tawny Frogmouths were exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail during the 80's, and were presumably phased-out to make way for the Kingfishers.

Milky Stork
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: ???
milky Storks were exhibited in the Asian Aviary in the earlier years of the zoo and were phased out for unknown reasons.

Sarus Crane
Phase-in year: late 80's?
Phase-out year: 1995
Sarus Cranes replaced Tomistomas in the late 80's (?), and were exhibited there until being phased-out to make way for Komodo Dragons in 1995.

Kingfisher (Species Unknown)
Phase-in year: early 90's?
Phase-out year: early 2000's?
A species of Kingfisher was exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail in the 90's & early 2000's, and were phased out to presumably make room for Pygmy Slow Lorises.

Blue-Bellied Roller
Phase-in year: ???
Phase-out year: 2021?
Blue-Bellied Rollers were exhibited in the Asian Aviary until being presumably phased-out when Aviary Renovations were completed in 2021. They might still be used as program animals, but I doubt it.

Great Indian Hornbill
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2007?
Great Indian Hornbills were exhibited in the current Rhinoceros Hornbill exhibit from the zoos opening to their phase-out around 2007, being replaced by Rhinoceros Hornbills.

Keel-Billed Toucan
Phase-in year: ???
Phase-out year: 2016
Keel-Billed Toucans may have been exhibited in the Zoolab at some point, but I am not too sure about that. they were however exhibited in the Americas aviary from its opening in 2005, to 2016, when they were replaced by Andean Cock-of -the-Rock.

Tomistoma
Phase-in year: 1978?
Phase-out year: late 80's
Tomistomas were exhibited in the current Komodo Dagon Exhibit from the opening day (?) to the late 80's (?), when they were replaced by Sarus Cranes.

Elongated Tortoises
Phase-in year: 1978?
Phase-Out year: mid 90's?
Elongated Tortoises were exhibited in the current Bali Myna aviary from around 1978 to possibly the mid 90s, when the new aviary (presumably) opened.

Elephant Trunk Snake
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: ???
Elephant Trunk Snakes were exhibited in what is currently the Asian Freshwater Fish display, and were exhibited there in the 80's.

Reticulated Python (?)
Phase-in year: ???
Phase-out year: ???
Not sure if this species was ever present, but It MIGHT have been exhibited in the Nocturnal Trail.

Asian Water Monitor
Phase-in year: 1978
Phase-out year: 2010?
Asian Water Monitors were a mainstay of the Nocturnal Trail for a long time and being presumably phased-out at the end of the Nocturnal Trail's lifetime.

Blue Poison Dart Frog
Phase-in year: 2005
Phase-out year: 2015
Blue Poison Dart frogs were brought on exhibit in 2005, and replaced by an unknown Tarantula species.

Yellow-Banded Poison Dart Frog
Phase-in year: 2005
Phase-out year: 2015
Yellow-Banded Poison Dart frogs were brought on exhibit in 2005, and replaced by an unknown Tarantula species.

Tarantula (species unknown)
Phase-in year: 2015
Phase-out year: 2017
An unknown Tarantula inhabited the current Misson Gold-Eyed Treefrog Terrarium from 2015 to 2017.
 
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The current Henkel's Leaf-tailed Gecko/Sambava Tomato Frog exhibit in the Madagascar section held hedgehog tenrecs at some point in the 2010s.
 
Some edits and additions for tropics:

Ferret-badger – not sure this was ever actually exhibited. If so was gone by 1980.

Banded Palm Civet – never kept AFAIK. Zoo had Small-toothed and Common Palm Civets in late 70s/early 80s.

Fishing Cat – didn’t arrive until 1995

Generic Leopard – replaced by Amur Leopard in early 1990s

Cloud Rat – didn’t arrive until 2001, exhibited until most of the nocturnal trail closed.

Prevost’s Squirrel – didn’t arrive until late 1990s

Northern Treeshrew – never held. Zoo exhibited Common (1980s) and Large (1990s-early 2000s)

Sulawesi Macaque – only exhibited until late 1980s.

Lion-tailed Macaque – exhibited mid 1980s-mid1990s.

Tree Kangaroo – exhibited starting in early 2000s.

Long-tailed Goral – never kept. The zoo had Central Chinese Goral.

Warty Pig – didn’t arrive until 2007.

Cinereous Vulture – only kept in early 1980s. I’m not sure it was ever on exhibit, but if it was, it would have been mixed in the goat canyon exhibit. The species exhibited in the current langur cage during the mid 1990s was White-backed Vulture.

Tawny Frogmouth – kept until at least early 2000s, though often off exhibit.

Milky Stork – not sure this was ever exhibited. If so was gone by 1980.

Kingfisher – species was Mangrove Kingfisher, and they were kept only in mid 1990s.

Elongated Tortoise – were not kept past 1980s

Reticulated Python – never kept

Blue Poison Frog – were kept in Zoolab, don’t think they were ever actually in the Tropics.

Other Notable Species

Rock Hyrax – mixed with African monkeys and RR Hogs; 2010s.

Reeve’s Muntjac – kept until 2004, with some gaps. Last exhibited in the exhibit that is now the South American Aviary.

Red Ruffed Lemur – mixed with Ring-tailed Lemur mid 2000s-mid 2010s.

Indian Crested Porcupine – early/mid 1980s.

Bottlenose Dolphin – 1978 until late 1980s.

Banded Linsang – early 1980s.

Notable former birds (incomplete): various pheasants, including Golden and Lady Amherst, Northern Helmeted Currasow, various waterfowl including Red-breasted Goose and Ruddy Shelduck, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Purple Gallinule, Peruvian Thick-knee, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Indian Roller, Eclectus Parrot, various passerines including Lesser Green Broadbill, Hooded Pitta, Racket-tailed Treepie, Blue Tit, Red-billed Leiothrix

Notable former herps and fish (incomplete): Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Tokay Gecko, Gliding Gecko, Standing’s Day Gecko, Green Tree Python, Mangrove Snake, Flying Snake, Red-tailed Ratsnake, Wagler’s Viper, Russell’s Viper, King Cobra, Firebelly Toad, White’s Treefrog, Nurse Shark, Napoleon Wrasse, Scrawled Filefish, Golden Trevally, Giant Hawkfish
 
Gondwana said:
Some edits and additions for tropics:

Ferret-badger – not sure this was ever actually exhibited. If so was gone by 1980.

Banded Palm Civet – never kept AFAIK. Zoo had Small-toothed and Common Palm Civets in late 70s/early 80s.

Fishing Cat – didn’t arrive until 1995

Generic Leopard – replaced by Amur Leopard in early 1990s

Cloud Rat – didn’t arrive until 2001, exhibited until most of the nocturnal trail closed.

Prevost’s Squirrel – didn’t arrive until late 1990s

Northern Treeshrew – never held. Zoo exhibited Common (1980s) and Large (1990s-early 2000s)

Sulawesi Macaque – only exhibited until late 1980s.

Lion-tailed Macaque – exhibited mid 1980s-mid1990s.

Tree Kangaroo – exhibited starting in early 2000s.

Long-tailed Goral – never kept. The zoo had Central Chinese Goral.

Warty Pig – didn’t arrive until 2007.

Cinereous Vulture – only kept in early 1980s. I’m not sure it was ever on exhibit, but if it was, it would have been mixed in the goat canyon exhibit. The species exhibited in the current langur cage during the mid 1990s was White-backed Vulture.

Tawny Frogmouth – kept until at least early 2000s, though often off exhibit.

Milky Stork – not sure this was ever exhibited. If so was gone by 1980.

Kingfisher – species was Mangrove Kingfisher, and they were kept only in mid 1990s.

Elongated Tortoise – were not kept past 1980s

Reticulated Python – never kept

Blue Poison Frog – were kept in Zoolab, don’t think they were ever actually in the Tropics.

Other Notable Species

Rock Hyrax – mixed with African monkeys and RR Hogs; 2010s.

Reeve’s Muntjac – kept until 2004, with some gaps. Last exhibited in the exhibit that is now the South American Aviary.

Red Ruffed Lemur – mixed with Ring-tailed Lemur mid 2000s-mid 2010s.

Indian Crested Porcupine – early/mid 1980s.

Bottlenose Dolphin – 1978 until late 1980s.

Banded Linsang – early 1980s.

Notable former birds (incomplete): various pheasants, including Golden and Lady Amherst, Northern Helmeted Currasow, various waterfowl including Red-breasted Goose and Ruddy Shelduck, Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Purple Gallinule, Peruvian Thick-knee, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Indian Roller, Eclectus Parrot, various passerines including Lesser Green Broadbill, Hooded Pitta, Racket-tailed Treepie, Blue Tit, Red-billed Leiothrix

Notable former herps and fish (incomplete): Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Tokay Gecko, Gliding Gecko, Standing’s Day Gecko, Green Tree Python, Mangrove Snake, Flying Snake, Red-tailed Ratsnake, Wagler’s Viper, Russell’s Viper, King Cobra, Firebelly Toad, White’s Treefrog, Nurse Shark, Napoleon Wrasse, Scrawled Filefish, Golden Trevally, Giant Hawkfish
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Thanks for the updates! I did forget many of the more recent phase-outs (like the Indian Crested Porcupines, Red-Ruffed Lemurs, Standing's Day Gecko, & Rock Hyraxes), Possibly due to how recent they were.
Some sort of Ferret Badger was a part of the zoo around opening, as an old WCCO documentary from around the time of opening mentions that "The Ferret-Badgers have arrived!"
The same documentary features a short clip of a couple Milky Storks perched in the Asian Aviary.
Bottlenose Dolphins will be mentioned in the Discovery Bay former species.
Some of the photos in the gallery were labeled as "Long-Tailed Goral" which led me to believe that the zoo held Long-Tailed Goral.
 
DavidBrown said:
Thanks for the link. Looking at the link I posted, it does say 4/1986 above the poster, which is when I assume it was produced. Your link says Summer 1986, so that must have been when the Minnesota Zoo had elephants.
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This is correct. Does anyone know where the Elephants were exhibited in the zoo or where they came from?
 
Dhole dude said:
This is correct. Does anyone know where the Elephants were exhibited in the zoo or where they came from?
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Based on old newspaper articles, the zoo had one 5-year-old elephant, Ruth, giving rides in the Children's Zoo in 1986. Apparently this elephant was owned by Jo-Don Farms in Wisconsin at the time, and is currently at the Milwaukee Zoo. The Minnesota Zoo also brought in two elephants from Jo-Don Farms in 1988. It doesn't say which ones, but I'd guess probably Ruth + the deceased elephant Luella since those two were bought and sold together by Jo-Don Farms according to the Elephants Database.
 
Dhole dude said:
Thanks for the updates! I did forget many of the more recent phase-outs (like the Indian Crested Porcupines, Red-Ruffed Lemurs, Standing's Day Gecko, & Rock Hyraxes), Possibly due to how recent they were.
Some sort of Ferret Badger was a part of the zoo around opening, as an old WCCO documentary from around the time of opening mentions that "The Ferret-Badgers have arrived!"
The same documentary features a short clip of a couple Milky Storks perched in the Asian Aviary.
Bottlenose Dolphins will be mentioned in the Discovery Bay former species.
Some of the photos in the gallery were labeled as "Long-Tailed Goral" which led me to believe that the zoo held Long-Tailed Goral.
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These animals were Chinese gorals (Naemorhedus griseus). By the way, I did see their last Nilgiri tahrs (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) on my visit in 2003. I was 10 or 11 and they were the species I was most excited to see on my visit there. Where did you find the old WCCO documentary? I have to watch this! Great list by the way. Keep up the good work!
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
These animals were Chinese gorals (Naemorhedus griseus). By the way, I did see their last Nilgiri tahrs (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) on my visit in 2003. I was 10 or 11 and they were the species I was most excited to see on my visit there. Where did you find the old WCCO documentary? I have to watch this! Great list by the way. Keep up the good work!
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If you look up “Minnesota Zoo 1979”, it should be the first thing to pop up under the Videos tab. Thank you for the kind words!
 
Hello! I'm new to the forum, but old to the Minnesota Zoo, having literally grown up with it. One notable species you missed was the False Gharials. They were in the habitat now taken by the Komodo Dragon in the 1980s until one ate a flamingo.
 
Oh, and the wood ducks and loon in the beaver enclosure were not actually part of the zoo collection. They were fly in visitors. I actually have a picture of the loon, and the zoo had a hard time getting the poor thing out for winter (not enough room for take-off). Must have been about 1984-1986 or so.
 
MNZoo Fanatic said:
Hello! I'm new to the forum, but old to the Minnesota Zoo, having literally grown up with it. One notable species you missed was the False Gharials. They were in the habitat now taken by the Komodo Dragon in the 1980s until one ate a flamingo.
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The flamingos were purposely kept in an enclosure with a gharial? That just seems like an accident waiting to happen.
 
MNZoo Fanatic said:
Hello! I'm new to the forum, but old to the Minnesota Zoo, having literally grown up with it. One notable species you missed was the False Gharials. They were in the habitat now taken by the Komodo Dragon in the 1980s until one ate a flamingo.
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Tomistoma and False Gavial are the same thing :). As to your other correction, the zoo did at least keep Common Loon at some point in time, as they mention their breeding success with the species on their website.
By the way, welcome to ZooChat! It’s great to have another member who is as interested in the zoo as I.
 
You are correct, Gondwana, sorry. It was the Komodo, who apparently wasn't eating well prior to the... hmmm... snack. After that, it was fine.

I had a chance to look through the Star Tribune database and found a few dates -

The Red Pandas opened on the Northern Trail in 1982. Sadly, both died in the summer of 1985.

The Koalas were in 1989, on loan from the LA Zoo. That same year, the gavials and celebes macaques left when the Tropics Trail was closed to put in the Coral Reef tank (Star Tribune, Sept. 11, 1989).

The Fishing Cats and Mexican Wolf exhibits both opened in 1994, on the Tropics Trail and Northern Trail, respectively.

The Komodos opened in 1995, a gift from the government of Indonesia.

The Nilgiri Tahr were returned to India in 1997.

The loon you mentioned earlier was hatched in 1985.

Oh, and apparently, the zoo had Asiatic Lions (or so they thought) in 1986, but it was revealed through DNA testing that they were actually Asian-African hybrids and couldn't be bred.

Hope these help you with your list!!!
 
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