The only thing that I think could replace the boars and still apply to the theme of the Northeast Russian coast would be Siberian musk deer, and that's never going to happen. I'm sure there are other possibilities for a new species that would properly represent the region but can't think of any. As for your other suggestions, I will be beyond furious if the play area is expanded over the enclosure. Also, there might not be an animal ambassador that could replace the boars except for maybe making another porcupine enclosure (which I wouldn't be surprised about, given recent decisions).
Minnesota Zoo Minnesota Zoo News 2023
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While even as an outsider with only passing knowledge of the Minnesota Zoo and its history, it is rather obvious that the collection is facing a period of stagnation and decline — I do think that it is important to recognize that the loss of both the wild boar and dholes are not correlated with that decline — neither of those groups of animals were ever going to be replaced because there simply aren’t any more to replace them with. The wild boar were the last of their kind, and dholes in the United States are swiftly heading in that direction as well. It’s a really unfortunate coincidence that their loss is accompanying an extreme lack of funding and some interesting decisions by the zoo’s upper management, but it is simply that — a coincidence.
I can't speak for others but what you've said is obvious to me. I guess I hadn't made that clear. The upset has more to do with how the zoo manages the loss of the goitered gazelles and wild boars than actually losing them. I would always prefer zoos maintain rare species but it is not to be expected with the current administration and is objectively impractical but they could at least find good replacements.
A bison calf was born this week.
From Facebook:
"Earlier this week, the first bison calf of the season was born in the early hours of the morning. Both mom and baby are doing well and enjoying exploring their habitat together. Each birth of a bison calf at the Zoo is an exciting step forward in the joint conservation efforts of the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd. Learn more about recent efforts here: Partner Spotlight: Dakota County Parks - Minnesota Zoo"
From Facebook:
"Earlier this week, the first bison calf of the season was born in the early hours of the morning. Both mom and baby are doing well and enjoying exploring their habitat together. Each birth of a bison calf at the Zoo is an exciting step forward in the joint conservation efforts of the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd. Learn more about recent efforts here: Partner Spotlight: Dakota County Parks - Minnesota Zoo"
Just saw this thread, I guess I've been living under a rock. What a terrible year so far for the Minnesota Zoo. I did not even realize how many animals they've been phasing out and how downhill the zoo has gotten. I really hope management gets their act together or someone else comes into power. It's a shame to see such a unique and interesting zoo go down the drain.
Visited the Minnesota Zoo recently. Overall, disappointing to see so many empty exhibits. Many of the species that have been at the zoo for decades seemingly gone.
The highlight of the visit was seeing the dolphins visiting from the Brookfield Zoo. Did not get to see the seal as the dolphins were in the main exhibit both times we stopped by. Dolphin presentations are sold out weeks in advance. Watched presentation from underwater window, it was OK. Seemed mostly husbandry behaviors, not much high energy behaviors. What is clear is that Minnesota misses having dolphins! They are now staying at least through the end of the summer per staff. When asked about long term plans for the exhibit space, given the age of the seal, staff said that administration doesn't share any of that information with them.
I know funding has been an issue for this zoo, as a state owned facility. And lawmakers have been a bit irritated since the zoo asked for funding to improve the dolphin exhibit years ago and then used the funding for other projects and quit exhibiting dolphins. Will be interesting to see what happens here with all of the empty exhibit spaces and soon to be empty exhibit spaces. The future is not the brightest looking from a collection perspective.
The highlight of the visit was seeing the dolphins visiting from the Brookfield Zoo. Did not get to see the seal as the dolphins were in the main exhibit both times we stopped by. Dolphin presentations are sold out weeks in advance. Watched presentation from underwater window, it was OK. Seemed mostly husbandry behaviors, not much high energy behaviors. What is clear is that Minnesota misses having dolphins! They are now staying at least through the end of the summer per staff. When asked about long term plans for the exhibit space, given the age of the seal, staff said that administration doesn't share any of that information with them.
I know funding has been an issue for this zoo, as a state owned facility. And lawmakers have been a bit irritated since the zoo asked for funding to improve the dolphin exhibit years ago and then used the funding for other projects and quit exhibiting dolphins. Will be interesting to see what happens here with all of the empty exhibit spaces and soon to be empty exhibit spaces. The future is not the brightest looking from a collection perspective.
Recent legislative funding will be used soon for the next project at the zoo: replacement of the outdoor concrete plaza deck and ramp adjacent to the main lake, including renovation of the Snow Monkey holding (which is under the plaza). The plaza and ramp enclose two sides of the Snow Monkey exhibit itself as well, so I wouldn't be surprised if some modifications to the exhibit occur although I've not seen a specific announcement to that effect. Work will apparently begin later this summer to wrap up in 2024. Related story linked below.
MN Zoo nears construction of $15.1M plaza overhaul | Finance & Commerce
MN Zoo nears construction of $15.1M plaza overhaul | Finance & Commerce
Finally, some actually good news! This has been a Looong time coming and I'm very glad these much-needed renovations are finally coming to fruition! The ramp & plaza have been a pain for the zoo to maintain and they were both looking quite structurally unsound, needing relatively heavy maintenance every few years or so. I too am interested to see how the Japanese Macaque exhibit will be re-adjusted to fit with the new plaza/ramp. I'd love to be able to view the lake from the Macaque exhibit instead of the ugly concrete ramp that has been an eyesore ever since its inception. Very happy with this development and I am quite delighted to see the zoo update their aging infrastructure.
On May 19th, the zoo announced that (0.0.5+) Kunekune pigs were born which are now on exhibit.
Minnesota Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
On June 16th, the zoo announced that construction on the Treetop Trail was completed, with the opening still being July 28th.
Minnesota Zoo
Well this is shocking (but certainly not unwelcome). The zoo now has a Matschie's tree kangaroo.
This is from Facebook:
"Happy World Rainforest Day! A great day to welcome our newest resident, a two-year-old Tree Kangaroo named Hewam (HEY-VUM)! Derived from one of the many native languages in the YUS Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea, Hewam is a name associated with the word "tree kangaroo." These marsupials love to climb trees and explore the elevated areas of their misty rainforest habitats. Hewam has access to his public and behind-the-scenes habitats allowing him to explore his new surroundings at his own pace. We look forward to seeing more of him in the coming weeks as he becomes familiar with his new home."
This is from Facebook:
"Happy World Rainforest Day! A great day to welcome our newest resident, a two-year-old Tree Kangaroo named Hewam (HEY-VUM)! Derived from one of the many native languages in the YUS Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea, Hewam is a name associated with the word "tree kangaroo." These marsupials love to climb trees and explore the elevated areas of their misty rainforest habitats. Hewam has access to his public and behind-the-scenes habitats allowing him to explore his new surroundings at his own pace. We look forward to seeing more of him in the coming weeks as he becomes familiar with his new home."
Another excellent piece of news from the zoo! Glad to see them reintroduce this species, even if it isn’t the most exciting to watch. I’m interested to see which exhibit the Tree Kangaroo is placed in. I would assume it would be the old Red Panda/Urail exhibit, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
I hadn't thought about the possibility of the tree kangaroo living in that enclosure. Hewam could probably live with the tapirs, too.
When I first paid attention to his surroundings in the photograph, I thought for a moment that it could be a new enclosure along the Treetop Trail, to actually have an arboreal species as a part of the exhibit. I was thinking he could have been joined by other animals such as kinkajous, raccoons, red pandas, keas, and Steller's sea eagles in other enclosures (its funny how imaginative the mind can be in a single moment). Unfortunately, there is a lot of rockwork behind him, which disagrees with my idea. It probably is probably the urial and red panda enclosure that he's pictured in. However, it's great that the zoo added a new species, regardless of which home it has.
News from todays visit:
. I can confirm the zoo still has Blacktip Reef Sharks.
. Signage for Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Gecko has been removed, meaning they were most likely phased-out.
. A pair of (presumably) flightless Common Shelducks have taken up residence in the former Small-Clawed Otter exhibit for the summer.
. The Rhinoceros Hornbill pair are off exhibit for breeding, so one of the Victoria-Crowned Pigeons and a female Malay Great Argus are temporarily occupying their habitat.
. Sadly, one of the Silvery Langurs passed away recently, while the other was transferred to another unspecified zoo. Fortunately, the zoo recently brought in a new pair of Binturongs to replace them!
. The zoo's Linne's Two-Toed Sloth is back on exhibit.
. The Minnesota Turtles exhibit has finally reopened after three years of renovation!
. The zoo has recently acquired two Common Ravens, a Pied Crow, a Black Kite, and a Harpy Eagle for the zoo's bird show!
. I can confirm the zoo still has Blacktip Reef Sharks.
. Signage for Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Gecko has been removed, meaning they were most likely phased-out.
. A pair of (presumably) flightless Common Shelducks have taken up residence in the former Small-Clawed Otter exhibit for the summer.
. The Rhinoceros Hornbill pair are off exhibit for breeding, so one of the Victoria-Crowned Pigeons and a female Malay Great Argus are temporarily occupying their habitat.
. Sadly, one of the Silvery Langurs passed away recently, while the other was transferred to another unspecified zoo. Fortunately, the zoo recently brought in a new pair of Binturongs to replace them!
. The zoo's Linne's Two-Toed Sloth is back on exhibit.
. The Minnesota Turtles exhibit has finally reopened after three years of renovation!
. The zoo has recently acquired two Common Ravens, a Pied Crow, a Black Kite, and a Harpy Eagle for the zoo's bird show!
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That is some really good news. When I was there, I noticed that the monitors for the main tank in Discovery Bay had been updated. Blacktip reef sharks were no longer signed. I didn't see any either so assumed that they had passed. Did you check the monitors?
I'm happy to find out that the zoo administration has moved quickly to source a new animal for the enclosure after it was vacated. This never seems to happen.
Were we ever able to determine what happened to the third langur? He/she must've left or passed recently.
How did you find that out?
The bird show they're in is the one that's only outdoors, right?
The monitors were down on my visit so I don't really know
,I believe he passed away around a year or two ago.
I stopped by the outdoor bird show yesterday and was quite pleasantly surprised by what I saw
.Well, this is strange. I didn't visit but spoke to a friend. I could have sworn I wrote that I got the information from my friend, too.
Um, what? You stated visiting the zoo in two recent posts and then now state it wasn't you but a friend's information? Your second post regarding the matter seems very difficult to be translated from someone else...
I apologize for that. I also must apologize for not responding to this sooner. I've had family in town and forgot.
I must not have been paying attention or something like that when I wrote that bit of text. I visited in April (and will in the next week or two), but that's it for this year so far. A friend told me the recent news I posted.
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