I remember on the master plan from 2018 that the grottos are supposed to be turned into a "green space." I'm not sure if this still is the plan or not.When I visited the zoo yesterday, I spoke with a staff member that was by the former wolf enclosure. I asked him if he knew what was going in there, and he said it would likely be the tufted deer. As for what will replace the tufted deer (currently living in the habitat across the path), he said it will be a new animal.
All the small mammal grottos (formerly housing meerkats, banded mongooses, and a bat-eared fox) seemed to be empty, and the back ones were closed off to the public. I saw a sign stating that something new will be going there — does anyone know what that might be?
I was there today once again, and phase three is complete!I was at the zoo last Monday, and some things are worth mentioning.
The big one: The zoo is getting okapi! They are taking the tufted deer exhibit, and the deer have been moved to the former wolf exhibit.
They are in phase 3 of redoing the paths in the zoo. About half of the zoo is inaccessible due to it, including the Feline/primate building. The outdoor exhibits are still viewable, though.
Here is the map of what's being worked on: https://potterparkzoo.org/asphalt-replacement-project/
That's weird, almost all tropic species, but named as Baikal...Lake Baikal
1. Black-breasted leaf turtle
2. Crested wood partridge
3. Demoiselle crane
4. Fishing cat
5. Francois' langur
6. Takin
Tasmanian Devils are very ambitiousI was browsing through the zoo's website, and I found there's a new master plan for '23-'28. Doesn't look like anyone's brought it up in this thread, so I figured I'd do it. Some of the projects were delayed from the old master plan, but there are a few new things planned. First, I'll start with the newly proposed species. The zoo is focused on organizing the zoo based on five geographical locations. Those locations are Michigan Great Lakes, Lake Baikal, Lake Tanganyika, "Rio Condor, Andean Lakes, and the Pantanal," and Australia.
Michigan Great Lakes
1. Barn owl
2. Burrowing owl
3. Bobcat or Canada lynx
4. Puma/Cougar
5. North American porcupine
6. Wolverine
Lake Baikal
1. Black-breasted leaf turtle
2. Crested wood partridge
3. Demoiselle crane
4. Fishing cat
5. Francois' langur
6. Takin
Lake Tanganyika
1. Duiker
2. Okapi - Already at the zoo(?)
3. Red River hog
4. Spider tortoise
5. Warthog
Rio Condor, Andean Lakes, and the Pantanal
1. Baird's tapir
2. Boat-billed heron
3. Chacoan peccary
4. Chilean pudu
5. Coatimundi
6. Ocelot
7. Rhea
8. Spectacled owls
Australia
1. Kookaburra
2. Tasmanian devil
3. Tawny frogmouth
-- There's also a picture of a short-beaked echidna on the master plan, but it's not listed as a current or proposed species.
Here are all the projects listed on the master plan.
1. Path replacement ('23) ------ COMPLETE
2. ADA Evaluation ('23) ------ Possibly completed
3. New animal health care facility ('23-'24)
4. Moat elimination ('24)
5. Penguin exhibit ('25)
6. Lion exhibit ('25)
7. Commisary ('25-'26)
8. Farmyard renovation ('26)
Here's a link to the page where you can find the master plan: About the Zoo | Potter Park Zoo
The Raven Exhibit was under construction, with a sign saying to look for the Ravens in their new home. I'm not sure where that new home may be, but it looks like a new species could be taking the space where they previously were.