They will be sticking with black rhino.
Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2023
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No they won't
As far as what is being talked about from the zoo director, it appears that they want to breed black rhinos in Milwaukee.
Here is an article that includes an updated site plan for phase 3 of Adventure Africa. It looks like it will include two rhino yards, a renovated red river hog exhibit, a fourth outdoor yard for either another species or more rhinos, and indoor dayrooms for the rhinos and hippos.
Milwaukee County Zoo rhino habitat; county debates $16M renovation
Milwaukee County Zoo rhino habitat; county debates $16M renovation
Is this the last phase of their Africa project, or are there more phases for it beyond this?
This is the final phase of the project.
Ok, so we’ve been at two gazelles for a while now it sounds like. And perhaps you may be getting the exhibits mixed up? As the exhibit below the cheetahs is “Impala Country,” which is where the gazelles were on my visit; “African Waterhole” is where the larger hoofstock like kudu and waterbuck are (unless the gazelle were briefly in there for some reason ; and “Impala Plains” is the new savanna yard in Adventure Africa. It can get confusing with two sections named after impalas!
With that said, I’d certainly welcome them moving to the new “Plains” exhibit to give it some life, especially since “Country” is just birds after that.Here is an article that includes an updated site plan for phase 3 of Adventure Africa. It looks like it will include two rhino yards, a renovated red river hog exhibit, a fourth outdoor yard for either another species or more rhinos, and indoor dayrooms for the rhinos and hippos.
Milwaukee County Zoo rhino habitat; county debates $16M renovation
Kind of interesting that the two west side exhibits wouldn’t just be combined to make one larger rhino habitat, but I’d be curious to see how else that fourth exhibit could be utilized. It’s also a pity to see that the one indoor enclosure will no longer house a different small African animal (I vaguely recall caracal or something was one of the plans on a prior draft), but at least it’s more space for the rhinos. Slowly but surely, Adventure Africa: Phase 3 is drawing near!
You're correct that the multi-hoofstock exhibit is African Waterhole and I've mixed that one up before, but I'm very surprised to hear the 'Impala Country' name is still in use, I thought it had been dropped a while ago when 'Impala Plains' opened.Ok, so we’ve been at two gazelles for a while now it sounds like. And perhaps you may be getting the exhibits mixed up? As the exhibit below the cheetahs is “Impala Country,” which is where the gazelles were on my visit; “African Waterhole” is where the larger hoofstock like kudu and waterbuck are (unless the gazelle were briefly in there for some reason ; and “Impala Plains” is the new savanna yard in Adventure Africa. It can get confusing with two sections named after impalas!
You're correct that the multi-hoofstock exhibit is African Waterhole and I've mixed that one up before, but I'm very surprised to hear the 'Impala Country' name is still in use, I thought it had been dropped a while ago when 'Impala Plains' opened.Ok, so we’ve been at two gazelles for a while now it sounds like. And perhaps you may be getting the exhibits mixed up? As the exhibit below the cheetahs is “Impala Country,” which is where the gazelles were on my visit; “African Waterhole” is where the larger hoofstock like kudu and waterbuck are (unless the gazelle were briefly in there for some reason ; and “Impala Plains” is the new savanna yard in Adventure Africa. It can get confusing with two sections named after impalas!
I do confuse the Waterhole exhibit but I had no idea 'Impala Country' was still a valid name here, huh.
I was initially happy to hear about the Rhinoceros exhibit but hearing there is some local opposition towards has dampened some of my enthusiasm. I hope the renovation proceeds though.
I was initially happy to hear about the Rhinoceros exhibit but hearing there is some local opposition towards has dampened some of my enthusiasm. I hope the renovation proceeds though.
I’ve seen the name “African Savanna” used for the habitat as well. It’s on the map for instance, yet the “Impala Country” sign on that wooden deck is still in place.
Maybe things will change when the pathway gets constructed leading from the hippos to the new holding areas, and/if that deck gets taken down as a result.
There’s a push that Milwaukee could use that money elsewhere and there was a sticker shock to this project. Prior to everything that has happened recently the project was scheduled to be only about $10 million and its budget not to exceed $22 million.
I believe that the county has approved this project so that they can begin work in march of this upcoming year. This would also coincide with the penguin exhibit when you first enter on the east entrance being reconstructed too. So next year is going to be busy with construction at the zoo.
The zoo's director, Amos Morris, discussed some new details regarding the upcoming master plan in the article below. Some wishlist items include a combined small mammal/aquatic building replacing the small mammal house, redeveloping the hoofstock yards around the grounds, and an expanded orangutan enclosure. He also noted that construction of both Adventure Africa Phase 3 and the revamped penguin exhibit is scheduled to begin In April.
One thing I found interesting is how candid he is about how outdated many parts of the zoo are. When discussing the existing indoor rhino and hippo areas he said, "If we allow this to remain the same, I won’t allow visitors to look into these areas, and I’ll pull the animals out. That’s how I think about this area." He went on to call the current orangutan exhibit "sterile" and criticized the bat exhibits and the former polar bear enclosure.
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwauk...gest-priorities-for-milwaukee-county-zoo.html
One thing I found interesting is how candid he is about how outdated many parts of the zoo are. When discussing the existing indoor rhino and hippo areas he said, "If we allow this to remain the same, I won’t allow visitors to look into these areas, and I’ll pull the animals out. That’s how I think about this area." He went on to call the current orangutan exhibit "sterile" and criticized the bat exhibits and the former polar bear enclosure.
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwauk...gest-priorities-for-milwaukee-county-zoo.html
Unfortunately this article's behind a paywall, and 12 Foot Ladder's not working for this.
I like Amos Morris so far. He seems like a real straight shooter for a zoo director, he's pretty frank and open and I appreciate that. He and Dr. Adkesson both seem really excited about their new roles and what they can do, with improvement suggestions that are ambitious to improve their aging facilities but are not pie-in-the-sky. It's also great because both facilities have the possibility to become world-class zoos with investment, with space to spare.
I personally am really, really happy that Milwaukee wants to continue its commitment to small mammals. I think it would have been very easy to say to knock down the Small Mammal House and do something for charismatic megafauna and as awful as the existing building has always been, I've been sort of been reluctant to see it go for fear of losing that chunk of the collection. I would gladly welcome a modern small mammal complex with aquatic life as well. This might also lead to some interesting changes at the current Aquatic and Reptile Center, too, which would now be able to focus on reptiles entirely... or they could call it the Amphibian and Reptile Center
I'm pretty stoked about that. I think the potential is there for an exhibit unlike anything any zoo has done in the country. The new indoor hippo and rhino stalls are also something I've not seen anywhere else (although I probably could have at Denver!) so it looks like a really exciting few years are ahead for this facility!
It's also nice to hear an improved orangutan exhibit is a priority. It's the weakest part of the primate exhibits by miles (well, that and the bonobo outdoor walkway, as much as the animals like it...) and drags down some of the decent habitats there.
I personally am really, really happy that Milwaukee wants to continue its commitment to small mammals. I think it would have been very easy to say to knock down the Small Mammal House and do something for charismatic megafauna and as awful as the existing building has always been, I've been sort of been reluctant to see it go for fear of losing that chunk of the collection. I would gladly welcome a modern small mammal complex with aquatic life as well. This might also lead to some interesting changes at the current Aquatic and Reptile Center, too, which would now be able to focus on reptiles entirely... or they could call it the Amphibian and Reptile Center
I'm pretty stoked about that. I think the potential is there for an exhibit unlike anything any zoo has done in the country. The new indoor hippo and rhino stalls are also something I've not seen anywhere else (although I probably could have at Denver!) so it looks like a really exciting few years are ahead for this facility!
It's also nice to hear an improved orangutan exhibit is a priority. It's the weakest part of the primate exhibits by miles (well, that and the bonobo outdoor walkway, as much as the animals like it...) and drags down some of the decent habitats there.
Amos Morris having the ability to critique "his zoo" is something I respect. As others have mentioned, keeping the Small Mammal Building has fantastic news. It is a staple and somewhat unique part of Milwaukee's collection. I'll be curious to see if they keep the current roster of small mammals, or if they venture back into some of the more uncommonly kept species.
Expanding the orangutan enclosure would be an appreciated feature. Even seeing the exhibit go up rather than out may offer an interesting perspective. I wonder if they still have plans on renovating new outdoor bonobo exhibits?
Did they mention any specifics on the hoofstock yards? I'm curious to see what Morris thinks the worst ones are. I also wonder if they plan on keeping the same North American renovation plans.
Milwaukee has so much potential for having one of the best zoos in the nation, it is just such a shame that it has such horrible financial restrictions.
Expanding the orangutan enclosure would be an appreciated feature. Even seeing the exhibit go up rather than out may offer an interesting perspective. I wonder if they still have plans on renovating new outdoor bonobo exhibits?
Did they mention any specifics on the hoofstock yards? I'm curious to see what Morris thinks the worst ones are. I also wonder if they plan on keeping the same North American renovation plans.
Milwaukee has so much potential for having one of the best zoos in the nation, it is just such a shame that it has such horrible financial restrictions.
Just to clarify, while it appears Morris does want to keep the small mammal collection, he made it very clear the building will not be staying - which is the correct move IMO. That building really is a disgrace and definitely the part of the zoo that is in the most dire need of an update.
Oh, yeah! I knew that you meant the building itself would be going. I meant just the concept of the Small Mammal Building itself would remain.
Personally, I'd love to see some of these species added to a new Small Mammal Building:
- Southern Tamandua
- Brush-Tailed Bettong
- Matschie's Tree-Kangaroo
- Northern Tree Shrew
- Possibly even an elephant shrew or echidna/wombat?
No specifics, unfortunately, just that "he'd love to see in the next eight to 10 years a redevelopment of the exhibit for hoofstock animals, such as antelope or caribou" which is not even the same part of the zoo, before mentioning "outdoor habitats for orangutans and other primates". They both come off as more off-the-cuff statements.
The small mammal plans feel a bit more concrete as he mentions a lack of holding space, which makes sense as that is part of why the tayra were moved if I recall, that "some of the infrastructure of the building is wearing to a point where doors cannot be shut" and then discusses that the bats don't have "enough space to perform natural behaviors of flying" which suggests bats are very much here to stay, at least. The mention of the aquatic animals is in passing and not a direct quote.
Again, sorry to repeat myself, but I think this incredibly exciting. With elephants, rhinos, hippos or say, polar bears, the zoo has been following trends established by other, wealthier institutions in other parts of the country, and I feel it has suffered these comparisons immensely, but a new small mammal building is something nobody else is doing, an area very few zoos have invested in recently and I think there is a chance to craft something really, really special there, something unique.
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