ha, sounds about right. Thanks. My next question was if you were able to see them or not. I go up that way (Boone NC) a few times a year, so I am going to try and get over there at some point.
Brights Zoo Brights Zoo News
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The first few times I went I got a private backstage tour. Since 2017ish they've done hayride tours. I haven't been since Covid though.
How did you go about doing a hayride tour, is it seasonal? When I visited a couple of years ago there was nothing of the sort, I spoke to several employees including keepers about seeing a few species that weren't on exhibit.
Does anyone know what is in the pond that seems to be new behind the hornbill, red panda and spider monkey buildings? You can see the pond being dredged and the area actively under construction on Google maps:
36.25374643274747, -82.59942048598431
I have no idea how updated the map is since google doesn't reliably use dates on the data being shown.
**Edit**
That seems to be an old map as Penguin Cove is not there. Bing has a more updated map, and the pond looks kind of under construction still, but nothing like Google maps seems to show. Still, I would be curious to know what is in that pen.
36.25374643274747, -82.59942048598431
I have no idea how updated the map is since google doesn't reliably use dates on the data being shown.
**Edit**
That seems to be an old map as Penguin Cove is not there. Bing has a more updated map, and the pond looks kind of under construction still, but nothing like Google maps seems to show. Still, I would be curious to know what is in that pen.
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On July 18th, the zoo announced that (2.1) African penguins were born on May 13th, May 16th, and June 4th respectively.
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The zoo opened a new Chilean flamingo habitat today.
The Chilean Flamingos are finally in their new area today, October 1st. This area turned out beautifully we hope you come out and see the new area and... | By Brights Zoo | Facebook
The Chilean Flamingos are finally in their new area today, October 1st. This area turned out beautifully we hope you come out and see the new area and... | By Brights Zoo | Facebook
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
On July 31, a spotless giraffe was born at the zoo. Zoo officials believe it to be the only such giraffe in the world.
https://wcyb.com/news/local/worlds-rarest-giraffe-born-at-brights-zoo-officials-say
https://wcyb.com/news/local/worlds-rarest-giraffe-born-at-brights-zoo-officials-say
I expect them to be swamped with new guests trying to see this thing. Fantastic news.
I'm curious as to how this could've genetically happened. I certainly hope this is the results of a random chance mutation, and that it is not a case of inbreeding depression leading to this, which is what I often associate with abnormal color patterns.
With how many giraffes have been bred lately, this was bound to happen! I know this is going to mean big publicity for the zoo, which is great as I’d love to see a renovation of Brights into an even better facility!
I think they should have named it Spot…
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
I sure hope so, because Brights's giraffe enclosure and the surrounding primate corn cribs are far and away the worst part of what is otherwise a mostly solid zoo. Overcrowded by a factor of 3 or 4, no natural substrate, no vegetation, the giraffe area is genuinely tough to look at. It would be great if this little one is able to usher in some major welfare improvements for them, but I'm not super optimistic when that would necessarily include reducing the population by at least 6 or so.
According to a divisive post in the ZooKreepers Facebook group, this individual is the result of a father daughter pairing. Commenters have shown the pedigree data from ZIMS to confirm this.
I was surprised to see the amount of zoo professionals in support of this. I understand inbreeding has had and will continue to have a place in zoos (not much choice sometimes), but a father daughter pairing is avoidable IMO.
