Incredibly happy to see they’re keeping around the faux tree in the former flamingo habitat that has been there for nearly a century. They were made by Dionisio Rodriguez a Mexican sculptor back in 1926 and have remained at the zoo ever since.
I was happy as well when I saw that!
I was really hoping for an Australia aviary myself. I would have put the North America aviary in the future new children’s zoo instead and place the Australia one in the North Americas future spot at BOTW.
I myself am treating the new "South American Aviary" more like a Flamingo redesign than a truly unique and brand-new aviary. I definitely agree that it feels repetitive, but it was a necessary upgrade the flamingos needed that just so happens have been able to include a few other birds too. I do hope we get an aviary in the Asian Islands, and that the future shoebill aviary in Africa makes up for the lack of any Australia representation. If Houston just had a few extra acres...
Hopefully we get the Ashy-headed Goose as seen in the concept art.
I do agree about the South American Aviary being an upgraded flamingo habitat (was necessary), but I also do agree with what you said on Asia and Australia. Its kind of a shame that an Australian Aviary wouldn't happen, but hopefully the new shoebills can make up for the lack of an Aussie section.
I agree with the Ashy-headed Goose in there because, it would be a good addition to the zoo's bird diversity. We defiantly to up our zoo's bird species diversity since its a good 75/25 chance we are going to lose some bird species or end up with some new ones. If the Ashy-Headed Goose makes it, then it means a sign that the birds for Houston are going to increase in diversity.
I think we are one step to getting an update on Birds of the world and near projects for phase 2. I hope next year we can get some details on what we got and when it will be started.
the old concept art for the Galapagos exhibit showed Spotted Eagle Rays, I wonder if that's the species that's coming. Do you know what species of iguana it was? Also when did the zoo go out of Siamangs?
I'm not sure what the heck happened to siamangs and the iguana didn't have a sign I could see. The only hint I got for rays is that it lives in the Pacific Ocean.
The siamangs are still at the zoo as I saw them today, it’s just that every now and then the zoo’s male Patas Monkey will be put in their exhibit while the females are in the other one.
That's good to know about that. Thanks for the info on this and I am defiantly excited to see this new exhibit next year. I think the male and females were getting a bit frisky recently and I think that's why they are separated. I'm defiantly excited to see Eagle rays there soon when the zoo gets them.
Is this the first time that a Leopard Tortoise has been on exhibit at the Houston Zoo? I never remembered seeing one there.
Yes it is, she’s always been an ambassador animal kept behind the scenes until now.