Turtle Back Zoo Turtle Back Zoo News

Animals are not escaping the Turtle Back Zoo. With the flooding from Ida online people have been saying animals like lions gorillas penguins and bears have escaped the zoo. Big problem is the Zoo doesn’t have gorillas. Police have verified the statement as false. The idea has been floating around social media with a fake amber alert text message.
What a load of bizarre ..., things are getting Stranger by the Day.
 
Article on the expansion:

$3.7M Expansion At Turtle Back Zoo Moves Forward, Despite Critics

Earlier this week, officials unveiled plans to modernize the Red Panda and Clouded Leopard areas at the zoo's Asia-themed exhibit.

According to county officials, the new exhibit will feature larger and updated spaces for the Red Panda and Clouded Leopards, in addition to two small exhibits for Hornbills and a native reptile species. The animal area will feature a waterfall, pool, fresh water drinking area that is separate from the pool, climbing structures and a grassy area. There will also be an expanded indoor holding areas for the animals.
 
Article on the expansion:

$3.7M Expansion At Turtle Back Zoo Moves Forward, Despite Critics

Earlier this week, officials unveiled plans to modernize the Red Panda and Clouded Leopard areas at the zoo's Asia-themed exhibit.

According to county officials, the new exhibit will feature larger and updated spaces for the Red Panda and Clouded Leopards, in addition to two small exhibits for Hornbills and a native reptile species. The animal area will feature a waterfall, pool, fresh water drinking area that is separate from the pool, climbing structures and a grassy area. There will also be an expanded indoor holding areas for the animals.
as someone who is a zoo member at that zoo and has worked there for 2 summers I AM SO HAPPY THEY ARE INDEED MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS! Honestly that area despreatly needs it.
 
It was my first time visiting this zoo, so I’m not sure if it’s news to ya’ll, but there was an unsigned aardvark in the komodo dragon exhibit in the reptile house this past Wednesday. There were signs up saying that the komodo was off exhibit for medical reasons, but no signs explaining the aardvark. I couldn’t find any information about it online.
 
It was my first time visiting this zoo, so I’m not sure if it’s news to ya’ll, but there was an unsigned aardvark in the komodo dragon exhibit in the reptile house this past Wednesday. There were signs up saying that the komodo was off exhibit for medical reasons, but no signs explaining the aardvark. I couldn’t find any information about it online.

That's definitely news :)
 
It was my first time visiting this zoo, so I’m not sure if it’s news to ya’ll, but there was an unsigned aardvark in the komodo dragon exhibit in the reptile house this past Wednesday. There were signs up saying that the komodo was off exhibit for medical reasons, but no signs explaining the aardvark. I couldn’t find any information about it online.
I am a member at that zoo and I worked there for two summers so this is 100% news to me too. :o
 
A shark in the zoo’s stingray touch tank bit a 12 year old girl.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article260316835.html
I literally worked at that zoo for two summers and I will bet my chances that little girl did something she wasn't suppose to do. Not only have I worked at that zoo, I am a longtime resident and member and never heard of that ever happening before. If she was feeding the stingrays, she probally was either not listening to the staff who said not to feed the sharks OR none of the staff gave warnings about not feeding the sharks. There is a very good reason staff are suppose to tell guests not to feed the sharks and only stingrays cause the sharks can bite. They grab their food very quickly and much more rough then the stingrays. In addition staff are supoose to tell guests how to pet the sharks. You do two fingers down the back avoiding the fins and tail. Now if the staff did warn the family this and this still happen then that is why you listen to rules. I just hope people don't get the wrong idea and blame the shark on this one. It's bad enough that so many people come into the touch tank always scared of the sharks and rare incidents like this definitely don't help.
 
A shark in the zoo’s stingray touch tank bit a 12 year old girl.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article260316835.html

This is such a non-story, I don't know why it made it as far as being written up by the media (and then re-printed by an out-of-state paper!). Anything with a mouth can bite. You're putting your hand near their mouths, you're more likely to get bitten. Touch tank animals are used to having hands in their water, so like @Jena said, it seems likely the the family didn't hear/listen to instructions.
 
This is such a non-story, I don't know why it made it as far as being written up by the media (and then re-printed by an out-of-state paper!). Anything with a mouth can bite. You're putting your hand near their mouths, you're more likely to get bitten. Touch tank animals are used to having hands in their water, so like @Jena said, it seems likely the the family didn't hear/listen to instructions.
I believe there's an old saying in journalism, "if it bleeds, it leads".
 
A shark in the zoo’s stingray touch tank bit a 12 year old girl.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article260316835.html

I do think it’s funny that, not only did EMS show up, but the family declined their help (with a bandaid on a cut that had already stopped bleeding.) Sounds like it was a non-story for the family too. But you know… in this day and age it’s the article title that sells, and you can’t get much more attention-grabby than “shark bites little girl at zoo.”
 
The new asia section will open July 30.
Their aardvark is temporarily living in the komodo habitat while the lizard recovers from a medical procedure.
All outdoor birds are off exhibit because of the flu.
There's two wallaby joeys.
A male spotted hyena, Kijani, has arrived from ABQ to hopefully breed with the two girls.
They've added a bunch of new species to the reef aquarium (in the touch tank building).

All per their newsletter.
 
Other 2021 News:

On February 2nd, the zoo announced they have acquired a (1.0) toco toucan named Julio which is exhibited alongside the facility's other toucan in the Reptile House.

February Zoo News - Follow Us on TikTok!

On April 16th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) grey wolf named Theo has passed away due to a decline in health.

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On May 11th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) California sea lion named Dyson passed away.

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On May 14th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2+?) Jacob's sheep were born in May.

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June Zoo News - Step Up For The Wild!

On June 4th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) Linne's two-toed sloth was born, the first in the facility's history. On June 8th, the zoo named it Juneberry.

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On September 7th, the zoo announced they have built a new exhibit for the Linne's two-toed sloths, which is between the Sea Turtle Recovery building and the gibbon exhibit.

September Zoo News - Find Your New Best Friend!

On October 4th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (1.0) California sea lion named Porter from the Utica Zoo in New York.

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On October 13th, the zoo announced that their (1.0) red panda named Jerry has been moved to the exhibit next to the gibbons.*

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On October 28th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (0.1) turkey vulture after it was found living underneath someone's deck in Pennsylvania. On November 8th, the zoo announced her name, Autumn.

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Turtle Back Zoo - Drumroll please And our Turkey... | By Turtle Back Zoo | Drumroll please And our Turkey Vultures name is...... AUTUMN Thank you to everyone who participated in voting and we can't wait for you to all...

*Although not stated, it will probably be a temporary home for the red panda while construction on his new home is taking place.
 
Other 2022 News:

On February 2nd, the zoo announced they have acquired a (0.1) groundhog named Edwina.

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On March 17th, the zoo announced that their (0.1) emu named Sheila has passed away at age 20.

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On April 25th, it was announced that a (0.1) African penguin named Kai was transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky in late 2021.

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On June 2nd, the zoo announced that (0.0.2+?) black-tailed prairie dogs were born.

Also on June 2nd, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) stingray (species not specified) was born.

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On June 6th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (1.0) yellow pufferfish named Potato which is located in the reef tank exhibit.

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On June 29th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) Jacob's sheep named Damien has passed away.

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On June 30th, the zoo announced they have acquired (1.2+?) lyretail anthias which are on exhibit in the reef tank exhibit.

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On July 29th, the zoo announced that due to the lower number of cases of avian influenza, they have started to put birds back on exhibit.

Turtle Back Zoo - The birds are back in town We are... | By Turtle Back Zoo | The birds are back in town We are slowly rolling out our feathered friends, so that they can see our guests before the summer ends! All are well after...

On July 31st, it was announced that a (0.1) fishing cat named Jonas was transferred to the Denver Zoo in Colorado.

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