Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Como Park Zoo News

A Facebook post from today announces there is a new male East African gray crowned crane named Houdini! This is some great news.

He is living in "his shared habitat with the zebra and sulcata tortoise." The wording of that is interesting because there is no mention of the kudu. I wonder if there are any males left...

I've found these small updates on new animals to be very interesting for a facility that has a pretty stagnant collection.

wild boar said:
There are two new ostriches that have joined the zoo's long-time resident, Pickles.

From Facebook:
"Have you heard? Como’s resident ostrich, Pickles, has 2 new friends and we’re asking for your help to name them!
Follow the link to vote for your favorite combination. We’ll post the results on May 22."
"https://comozooconservatory.org/help-name-comos-new.../"
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The names Gouda and Brie were chosen. I would have much preferred Quiche and Omelette because it seems that so many zoo animals are being named different cheeses lately. The other option, Kimchi and Ginger, would have be great too.
 
wild boar said:
A Facebook post from today announces there is a new male East African gray crowned crane named Houdini! This is some great news.

He is living in "his shared habitat with the zebra and sulcata tortoise." The wording of that is interesting because there is no mention of the kudu. I wonder if there are any males left...

I've found these small updates on new animals to be very interesting for a facility that has a pretty stagnant collection.


The names Gouda and Brie were chosen. I would have much preferred Quiche and Omelette because it seems that so many zoo animals are being named different cheeses lately. The other option, Kimchi and Ginger, would have be great too.
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There was only one Kudu when I was last there, so it’s possible they were transferred out (which would be quite disappointing as they were one of my favorite species) it’s great to see Grey-Crowned Cranes added, though!
 
Dhole dude said:
There was only one Kudu when I was last there, so it’s possible they were transferred out (which would be quite disappointing as they were one of my favorite species) it’s great to see Grey-Crowned Cranes added, though!
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Kudu were sent out and will be replaced by a breeding pair of Nyala. Reindeer have also left for now (transferred to MN Zoo) and that exhibit will temporarily house the new ostrich. Should be interesting to see what happens long-term with that space.

Animal Care, Coming and Going - Como Friends
 
Gondwana said:
Kudu were sent out and will be replaced by a breeding pair of Nyala. Reindeer have also left for now (transferred to MN Zoo) and that exhibit will temporarily house the new ostrich. Should be interesting to see what happens long-term with that space.

Animal Care, Coming and Going - Como Friends
Seems strange for them to phase out the Kudu considering they had recent breeding success with the species. and the cold-weather argument doesn’t make much sense considering they are confined indoors all winter anyways. Kinda hope they expand the Dalls Sheep exhibit into the old Reindeer one, considering the limited space of their current area. I’m interested to see what Como decides to do with the Old Barn, considering it has gone decades without any major renovations.
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DavidBrown said:
Has Como Zoo exhibited any species of antelope besides kudu previously?
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Yes, when the African Hoofstock building first opened in the late 1980s it held Sable Antelope and Greater Kudu. These plus Lesser Kudu and (soon) Nyala are the only antelope species the zoo has exhibited as far as I'm aware.
 
The nyala update is very disappointing, and would be even without the ridiculous argument in favor of nyalas. Kudu were a great species for the zoo, although they could have benefited from more verdure in their enclosure, so it is sad to find out they're gone.

I remember seeing a slide on a screen that said that the Como Park Zoo only had males, modelling the natural solitary behavior. This must not have been true in all of the time that the species was kept because, as posts in this thread state, calves were born in 2020 and 2021.
 
Fourth-district Representative Betty McCollum secured the funds necessary to replace the heating and cooling system for the zoo with a $2,200,000 hydro geothermal pump that will enable the zoo to eliminate around fifty percent of their future greenhouse gas emissions. This was included in a national omnibus bill for the year of 2023, in addition to fourteen other projects in her district.

McCollum Successfully Secures $2.2 Million for Energy Efficiency Upgrades at Como Zoo
 
From e-mail newsletter from Como Zoo (some news already mentioned above):
A Few New Faces
On your next visit, come and meet some of Como Zoo’s newest residents:

• Stanley and Stevie are the two new nyala in the African Hoofstock Building. These spiral-horned antelopes native to southern Africa are known for their eye-catching coats and their gregarious nature.

• That majestic mane in the outdoor zebra habitat belongs to Houdini, a new gray crowned crane, the national bird of Uganda.

• Como’s penguin colony has two new members—Casey and Joshua.

• As for Como’s cutest new resident—the new snow leopard born on May 6—she’s still behind the scenes bonding with her proud parents, Alya and Moutig. The winning bidder at Como Friends’ Sunset Affair silent auction will get the chance to choose her name.
 
There were a few things I noted when visiting last week:
1. a white-faced saki gave birth on July 12
2. a second gray crowned crane is on-exhibit
3. The two female kudu were transferred to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the male was sent to the Topeka Zoo. I think the male was the son of one female and brother of the other.
4. two emerald tree boas have replaced the chameleon(s)
5. blue-eyed black lemurs were in the outdoor primate enclosure and one of the sloths had been placed in the indoor lemur room
6. I think signage for emperor tamarins has been removed and I also didn't see any
7. The seal enclosure inside of the Aquatics building has been demolished. New walls have been put up and flooring has been added over where the pool was. A sign showed what the are could look like: a few little tanks that propably wouldn't be an efficient use of the space.
8. a Venezuelan troupial is now in Tropical Encounters
 
wild boar said:
There were a few things I noted when visiting last week:
1. a white-faced saki gave birth on July 12
2. a second gray crowned crane is on-exhibit
3. The two female kudu were transferred to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the male was sent to the Topeka Zoo. I think the male was the son of one female and brother of the other.
4. two emerald tree boas have replaced the chameleon(s)
5. blue-eyed black lemurs were in the outdoor primate enclosure and one of the sloths had been placed in the indoor lemur room
6. I think signage for emperor tamarins has been removed and I also didn't see any
7. The seal enclosure inside of the Aquatics building has been demolished. New walls have been put up and flooring has been added over where the pool was. A sign showed what the are could look like: a few little tanks that propably wouldn't be an efficient use of the space.
8. a Venezuelan troupial is now in Tropical Encounters
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It's sad to see the Emperor Tamarins leave, but I'm excited to see the addition of Venezuelan Troupial! Strange to see the Emerald Tree Boa move to the Hoofstock Building, considering they just had a new exhibit built for them in Tropical Encounters. Any news on the old Reindeer enclosure?
 
Dhole dude said:
Any news on the old Reindeer enclosure?
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No.

I forgot to mention that snow leopards, the sulcata tortoise and one or two six-banded armadillos are rotating with the lions in the right-hand-side indoor space while the serval was placed on the left.
 
Piece of 2023 News Not Mentioned:

On June 14th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) plains zebra named Aurora to the Idaho Falls Zoo in Idaho.

Idaho Falls Zoo - MEET AURORA! She's a 1 year-old plains...

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On August 20th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) generic giraffe named Zinnia which is now on exhibit.

Como Friends - Meet the New Names and Faces at Como Park...
Meet the Neighbors - Como Friends
 
Aardwolf said:
Como is doing a naming contest for a baby saki, and one of the options is "Barker," honoring the late Bob Barker... who was incredibly anti-zoo, was instrumental in Toronto Zoo's elephants being sent away, and was very active in trying to remove Billy the elephant from LA. Go figure...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=703302551835791&set=a.643989834433730
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Why on earth would they wish to honor him? Do you have any idea of the reason they decided to have that as an option?
 
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