Lake Superior Zoo Lake Superior Zoo News

On April 5th, the zoo announced that their (0.1) spectacled owl named Stella passed away recently. The zoo also announced that a new species will soon be occupying the now empty exhibit.

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Zoofan15 said:
Naming competition for Pygmy slow lorises:

Lake Superior Zoo Needs Help Naming New Pygmy Slow Loris Babies - Fox21Online

The options are:

1. Mai and Chi, Vietnamese words for flower and tree branch

2. Romano and Feta

3. Gnocchi and Pesto
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The Pygmy slow lorises have been named Gnocchi and Pesto:

Names revealed for loris babies: Gnocchi and Pesto

After a poll on social media, the zoo said the winning names are Gnocchi and Pesto! They are a nod to dad's name, Giorgio.

The gender of the babies won't be known until there is genetic testing.
 
Smaggledagle said:
On April 21st, the zoo announced that their (1.0) African lion named Leo has passed away at 14.5 years old from an autoimmune disease.

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How sad :(. I do wonder if the zoo will decide to stick with Lions after the two elderly females eventually pass away, as their exhibit is quite small and some renditions of the master plan call for the exhibit to be converted for Bobcat.
 
On May 23rd, it was reported that the Duluth city council approved the zoo's 15-year master plan, which will wrap up in 2037. In six phases, the zoo will:
  1. Design a new main building and restore the nature trail.
  2. Update immersive play experiences and expand exhibits.
  3. Constructing the new main building, expanding the garden and modifying pathways
  4. Turn the historic pavilion into a two-story reptile house, as well as construct a butterfly conservatory.
  5. Modify the zoo's Australian exhibit and expand the raptor exhibits.
  6. Update the Primate Conservation Center and Animal Care Center.
The zoo only has secured funding for the first phase, which comes to the tune of $600,000. It was also reported that 2021 was the highest year of attendance since 2005.

https://www.kbjr6.com/2022/05/24/lake-superior-zoo-unveils-new-15-year-plan/
 
Smaggledagle said:
On May 23rd, it was reported that the Duluth city council approved the zoo's 15-year master plan, which will wrap up in 2037. In six phases, the zoo will:
  1. Design a new main building and restore the nature trail.
  2. Update immersive play experiences and expand exhibits.
  3. Constructing the new main building, expanding the garden and modifying pathways
  4. Turn the historic pavilion into a two-story reptile house, as well as construct a butterfly conservatory.
  5. Modify the zoo's Australian exhibit and expand the raptor exhibits.
  6. Update the Primate Conservation Center and Animal Care Center.
The zoo only has secured funding for the first phase, which comes to the tune of $600,000. It was also reported that 2021 was the highest year of attendance since 2005.

https://www.kbjr6.com/2022/05/24/lake-superior-zoo-unveils-new-15-year-plan/
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I really like the sounds of this! Especially happy to see them planing to build a dedicated reptile house, as the current setup of the Reptiles and Amphibians spread around the Main Building and PCC isn’t very effective, and at times feels unorganized and clunky.

I’m also happy to hear the zoos is deciding to renovate Australia & Oceania and the PCC, as both have been beginning to show there age and have a lot of underused space that would be worth developing.

A bit disappointed not to hear anything about the abandoned Deer paddocks, as they are a huge waste of space and are an eyesore to look at. Even tearing them down and putting up some sort of fence or wall would be better that to just let them sit there and decay.
 
Dhole dude said:
A bit disappointed not to hear anything about the abandoned Deer paddocks, as they are a huge waste of space and are an eyesore to look at. Even tearing them down and putting up some sort of fence or wall would be better that to just let them sit there and decay.
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The master plan document states that the deer paddocks will be renovated for...white-tailed deer and caribou, which were two of the species that formerly inhabited those paddocks. I'm actually surprised they didn't go with elk to tie into a reintroduction effort that will be taking place soon in nearby public lands.

It also states that the reptile exhibit would hold dwarf caiman, snapping turtle, crocodile lizard, indigo snake, Blanding's turtle, and Wyoming toad, that the lions will be replaced by a different SSP species, that kangaroos will be phased out, and that the snow leopard and raptor exhibits will be expanded. The document can be obtained at the Duluth city council website:
Council Meeting Media
Click on the May 23 meeting minutes, then within the minutes click on "Exhibit A".
 
On July 12th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) African lion named Lily has passed away at age 14 due to advanced age and a rapid decline in health after displaying stages of a potential illness.

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Smaggledagle said:
On July 19th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) Chinese goral named Xiazhi was born on June 24th.

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TinoPup said:
Now that is some good news!
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Yes, very good news! Gorals are not doing very well and have a very small population size so it’s great to see births occurring. There were four births last year iirc and now another this year, which is excellent news.
 
Updates from today’s visit.

. The Common Snapping Turtle & Gila Monster Exhibits in the main building have been re-painted.

. Griggs Learning Center was closed for more renovations on the Parrot-on-a-stick cages. The Parrots were temporarily moved outside to the former Flemish Giant Rabbit Exhibit

. A new exhibit was being constructed inside the Primate Conservation Center

. Speckled Mousebirds appear to have been phased out.

. The Gopher Tortoise is now mixed with the Ring-Tailed Lemurs

. Cabot’s Tragopan are moving into the former North American Porcupine Exhibit.

. The old Snowy Owl exhibit has been renovated to house North American Porcupine and Common Raven.

. Cane Toads have replaced Bearded Dragons Inside Australia & Oceania.

. the White’s Tree Frog Exhibit has been moved out of Australia & Oceania
 
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