Roger Williams Park Zoo Roger Williams Park Zoo news 2023

I was made aware of some new information recently.
  • Trumpeter hornbills have arrived and are behind-the-scenes until their enclosure is finished.
  • The new bat-eared fox is called "Norman."
  • Demolishing the red panda treehouse was to make way for a public indoor setting that the red pandas can use.
  • Sourcing birds for the new aviary is ongoing, as the director wants around eight species, some "special and exciting," whatever that means.
  • Two new animals are set to debut this year. People will be very happy with them, I imagine.
 
wild boar said:
I was made aware of some new information recently.
  • Trumpeter hornbills have arrived and are behind-the-scenes until their enclosure is finished.
  • The new bat-eared fox is called "Norman."
  • Demolishing the red panda treehouse was to make way for a public indoor setting that the red pandas can use.
  • Sourcing birds for the new aviary is ongoing, as the director wants around eight species, some "special and exciting," whatever that means.
  • Two new animals are set to debut this year. People will be very happy with them, I imagine.
Click to expand...
What's your source for this information? Were you talking to the director/another staff member?

The bat-eared fox is named Norman, and the dik-dik's name is Yuji. Both arrived together from Memphis Zoo.
 
Neil chace said:
What's your source for this information? Were you talking to the director/another staff member?

The bat-eared fox is named Norman, and the dik-dik's name is Yuji. Both arrived together from Memphis Zoo.
Click to expand...

Has the bat-eared fox/Kirk's dik-dik/East African crowned crane/Aldabra giant tortoise exhibit expanded since the fox/dik-dik arrival? Iirc, that exhibit seems pretty small for 4 different species.
 
Smaggledagle said:
Has the bat-eared fox/Kirk's dik-dik/East African crowned crane/Aldabra giant tortoise exhibit expanded since the fox/dik-dik arrival? Iirc, that exhibit seems pretty small for 4 different species.
Click to expand...
Aldabra tortoise is not, and has never, been kept in that exhibit. They used to live in the former peccary exhibit next to the bison, but that exhibit has been demolished. A new area has been built for them in the Big Backyard area and they continue to winter in the greenhouse. The only species in that exhibit are the fox, dik-dik, and West African Black-Crowned Crane.
 
Neil chace said:
Aldabra tortoise is not, and has never, been kept in that exhibit. They used to live in the former peccary exhibit next to the bison, but that exhibit has been demolished. A new area has been built for them in the Big Backyard area and they continue to winter in the greenhouse. The only species in that exhibit are the fox, dik-dik, and West African Black-Crowned Crane.
Click to expand...

whoops, got confused with the African spurred sorry.
 
Neil chace said:
What's your source for this information? Were you talking to the director/another staff member?
Click to expand...
Yes.

Neil chace said:
The bat-eared fox is named Norman, and the dik-dik's name is Yuji. Both arrived together from Memphis Zoo.
Click to expand...
Neil chace said:
The African Spurred Tortoise is no longer kept by Roger Williams, and only lived in that exhibit when the cranes were inside due to bird flu.
Click to expand...
CharlieZOO said:
They have one of each species they both are one years old, the cranes are off exhibit until the new animals get to adapt with the environment together! The fox has been in the exhibit for a week and just today the kirks dik dik is out
Click to expand...
Now its my turn to ask, what are your sources @CharlieZOO and @Neil chace? I just thought I would because it's somewhat obscure knowledge. I know what I wrote is blatantly obscure. I forgot Yuji's name. It's sad that the tortoise is gone. What happened to him/her? They are usually more fun than the Aldabra giant tortoises, in my opinion.

I'm guessing you, @Neil chace, saw the new Aldabra giant tortoise enclosure, which is what made you aware. Is that right?
 
Last edited:
wild boar said:
Yes.




Now its my turn to ask, what are your sources @CharlieZOO and @Neil chace? I just thought I would because it's somewhat obscure knowledge. I know what I wrote is blatantly obscure. I forgot Yuji's name. It's sad that the tortoise is gone. What happened to him/her? They are usually more fun than the Aldabra giant tortoises, in my opinion.

I'm guessing you, @Neil chace, saw the new Aldabra giant tortoise enclosure, which is what made you aware. Is that right?
Click to expand...
I asked a keeper
That was expecting the Bat eared fox since it was his first day, She told me that they are both one years old, she did not tell me the names. And told me the cranes were off exhibit for (don’t know how long) but she said until the new animals get to adapt to the environment together.
 
Last edited:
wild boar said:
I was made aware of some new information recently.
  • Trumpeter hornbills have arrived and are behind-the-scenes until their enclosure is finished.
  • The new bat-eared fox is called "Norman."
  • Demolishing the red panda treehouse was to make way for a public indoor setting that the red pandas can use.
  • Sourcing birds for the new aviary is ongoing, as the director wants around eight species, some "special and exciting," whatever that means.
  • Two new animals are set to debut this year. People will be very happy with them, I imagine.
Click to expand...
Also, What do you mean by “Two new animals are set to debut this year”? Are you talking about the bat eared fox and kirks dik dik? Or some other animals? Because by the time you said that the dik dik and fox were already out, Tell me if this doesn’t make since.
 
wild boar said:
I was made aware of some new information recently.
  • Trumpeter hornbills have arrived and are behind-the-scenes until their enclosure is finished.
  • The new bat-eared fox is called "Norman."
  • Demolishing the red panda treehouse was to make way for a public indoor setting that the red pandas can use.
  • Sourcing birds for the new aviary is ongoing, as the director wants around eight species, some "special and exciting," whatever that means.
  • Two new animals are set to debut this year. People will be very happy with them, I imagine.
Click to expand...

Does your friend know you're posting this information? Some of it really doesn't look like public information...
 
Great Argus said:
Does your friend know you're posting this information? Some of it really doesn't look like public information...
Click to expand...
wild boar said:
I was made aware of some new information recently.
  • Trumpeter hornbills have arrived and are behind-the-scenes until their enclosure is finished.
  • The new bat-eared fox is called "Norman."
  • Demolishing the red panda treehouse was to make way for a public indoor setting that the red pandas can use.
  • Sourcing birds for the new aviary is ongoing, as the director wants around eight species, some "special and exciting," whatever that means.
  • Two new animals are set to debut this year. People will be very happy with them, I imagine.
Click to expand...
The zoo's quarterly newsletter, WILD Magazine, was just published, and it includes a little bit about the new aviary in the director's welcome letter. Specifically, it mentions aviaries with "more than half a dozen bird species- and perhaps another surprise, or two", and that the exhibit will open by the end of the year. It also mentions the red panda project (no new details), and that "engineering is underway" on the Humboldt Penguin exhibit, both still with a 2024 planned opening. I imagine one of the two surprises mentioned might be the serval already mentioned on here, however I have absolutely no clue what the other could be. I'm certainly excited to find out though, and am optimistic about the direction the zoo is moving in!
 
Neil chace said:
The zoo's quarterly newsletter, WILD Magazine, was just published, and it includes a little bit about the new aviary in the director's welcome letter. Specifically, it mentions aviaries with "more than half a dozen bird species- and perhaps another surprise, or two", and that the exhibit will open by the end of the year. It also mentions the red panda project (no new details), and that "engineering is underway" on the Humboldt Penguin exhibit, both still with a 2024 planned opening. I imagine one of the two surprises mentioned might be the serval already mentioned on here, however I have absolutely no clue what the other could be. I'm certainly excited to find out though, and am optimistic about the direction the zoo is moving in!
Click to expand...
Yes! I’m super excited :) this totally answers my question, I hope it’s the serval to because servals are one of my fav animals what could another animal be that is appropriate for the zoo right now? We are super thankful for this director and what he is doing :) I hope he keeps it up. It seems like the director wants to add to the African animal list because if you have noticed it’s pretty small.. but we have gotten Bat eared foxes, Kirks Dik Dik, and soon Hornbill, African aviary, and hopefully the serval habitat which they might put in the Africa exhibits because they are native to Africa, Anyways… Super excited!!
 
CharlieZOO said:
Yes! I’m super excited :) this totally answers my question, I hope it’s the serval to because servals are one of my fav animals what could another animal be that is appropriate for the zoo right now? We are super thankful for this director and what he is doing :) I hope he keeps it up. It seems like the director wants to add to the African animal list because if you have noticed it’s pretty small.. but we have gotten Bat eared foxes, Kirks Dik Dik, and soon Hornbill, African aviary, and hopefully the serval habitat which they might put in the Africa exhibits because they are native to Africa, Anyways… Super excited!!
Click to expand...
When I say the Africa exhibit seem small I mean just the animal list the exhibits are amazing
 
Neil chace said:
Yes. Currently, they are rotating time on exhibit. I've seen the cranes out, I've seen the dik-dik out alone, and I've seen the dik-dik/fox mixed. Keep in mind bat-eared foxes are completely insectivorous, which is part of how this mix is capable of working.
Click to expand...
Yes, The fox is really shy to.. But if you look into one of those half tunnels in the exhibit you can usually see him hiding if hes on exhibit.
 
Great Argus said:
Does your friend know you're posting this information? Some of it really doesn't look like public information...
Click to expand...
I got to speak to some people at the Zoobilee! Feast with the Beasts event. I intentionally didn't state what the two new animals are because it isn't public.
 
Last edited:
The most recent Facebook post on the Providence zoo page was a reveal of the red wolf cubs' names. The male is called Sentinel and the female Sabine.
 
Hi I was wondering if anybody could tell me how old the 3 female elephants at the zoo are and are they expected to continue housing the species after the girls pass away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top