I uploaded 118 photos from my visit today on a quiet July 4th at the zoo. The gallery now has a comprehensive set of new images from Polar Passage, Primate Forest and Rhino Ridge, a trio of new-ish exhibits that all opened in 2021.
Oregon Zoo Oregon Zoo News 2023
- Thread starter UngulateNerd92
- Start date
My oldest map from Oregon Zoo is from 2005 (see below) and it's amazing how the zoo had a voter-approved bond that totaled $125 million in improvements that was enacted in 2008. Since then, almost half the zoo's acreage has been overhauled. The Great Northwest, since 2005, has seen additions such as Bobcats (now Snowy Owls), American Black Bears, Cougars, the Condors of the Columbia Aviary, and the loss of Elk Meadow.
The entire middle section of the zoo has since been revamped for Chimpanzees and Orangutans (bye to Amazon Flooded Forest), Polar Bears (bye to Sun Bears) and Rhino Ridge (bye to Common Hippos). At least $60 million was spent on the Asian Elephant complex (bye to Elephant Museum), plus the Alaska Tundra (Grizzly Bears, Muskox, Wolves) is long gone (now an African predators zone) and an entire Education Center has been built that includes a small invertebrate display. This map reminded me that the zoo actually had Tree Kangaroos back then.
The entire middle section of the zoo has since been revamped for Chimpanzees and Orangutans (bye to Amazon Flooded Forest), Polar Bears (bye to Sun Bears) and Rhino Ridge (bye to Common Hippos). At least $60 million was spent on the Asian Elephant complex (bye to Elephant Museum), plus the Alaska Tundra (Grizzly Bears, Muskox, Wolves) is long gone (now an African predators zone) and an entire Education Center has been built that includes a small invertebrate display. This map reminded me that the zoo actually had Tree Kangaroos back then.
Correction to this earlier information, James ended up moving to the Columbus Zoo. It would appear based on the earlier notation in the Los Angeles Zoo Animal Transactions then that his younger brother may eventually be headed to Oregon unless that recommendation changes.
An initial look at Oregon Zoo’s Master Plan can be found at the link below. I found it on the meeting minutes and it features some pretty big changes to the zoo. These include a new reptile house, new africa section, redeveloped Pacific Northwest section, new seal/sea otter/penguin complex, and a rainforest building.
Personally the plan looks great except for Africa. The new rhino and giraffe exhibits seem tiny, and do little to improve upon the current weaknesses of the institution.
https://oregonmetro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=E1&ID=1117100&GUID=4D7A71DD-664E-43FB-9ECE-5E93ABA52588
https://oregonmetro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=E1&ID=1117100&GUID=4D7A71DD-664E-43FB-9ECE-5E93ABA52588
Personally the plan looks great except for Africa. The new rhino and giraffe exhibits seem tiny, and do little to improve upon the current weaknesses of the institution.
https://oregonmetro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=E1&ID=1117100&GUID=4D7A71DD-664E-43FB-9ECE-5E93ABA52588
https://oregonmetro.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=E1&ID=1117100&GUID=4D7A71DD-664E-43FB-9ECE-5E93ABA52588
This is a great find, although of course a zoo's Master Plan can dramatically change from its original draft form. My extensive review of Oregon Zoo on my 2023 road trip thread highlighted the fact that for a major, very popular facility, only having 110 species and focusing on megafauna was becoming a bit boring. Possibly adding a 'Herpetarium' and a 'Tropical Forest' building would be a step in the right direction in terms of adding smaller species and also giving visitors a year-round indoor experience. An outdoor penguin habitat is a fantastic idea as the current Penguinarium is outdated. But the potential new African exhibits are sort of similar to what Oregon has recently done for Black Rhinos, Chimpanzees and Polar Bears. Those ABC mammals have new exhibits that are adequate but not innovative. It would be wonderful to see Oregon Zoo think outside the box and come up with something truly spectacular.
Neka the African lioness sadly passed away after a seizure last night.
Neka, an African lion at Oregon Zoo, dies of seizure at age 16 | kgw.com
Neka, an African lion at Oregon Zoo, dies of seizure at age 16 | kgw.com
Bernadette the Amur tiger will be moving to Como Park Zoo in St Paul, MN on Sunday, October 15:
Bernadette the tiger leaving Oregon Zoo to move to Minnesota
Bernadette the tiger leaving Oregon Zoo to move to Minnesota
Other 2023 News (2):
On July 27th, the zoo announced that (0.0.4) snowy owls hatched which are now on exhibit.
Four Rare Snowy Owlets Hatch At Zoo | Owl in the family! Snowy owls Rocky and Banff just welcomed four new fluffballs to the nest | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Owl in the family: Rare snowy owlets hatch at zoo
On August 22nd, the zoo announced that they acquired (0.0.5+) Pacific lampreys which are now on exhibit in the Great Northwest area until spring 2024.
Meet The Ancient And Adorable Pacific Lamprey | Meet the Pacific lamprey! This jawless, toothy fish is older than dinosaurs or even trees. | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Zoo welcomes back Pacific lamprey
On November 1st, it was reported that the zoo will acquire (2.0) Amur tigers named Dmitri and Luka from the Roosevelt Park Zoo in North Dakota in the near future once renovations to the tiger exhibit are completed.
ZOO NEWS: No time for hibernating
On July 14th, the zoo announced they bred and released (0.0.2,172) Oregon silverspot butterfly larvae into the wild.
Thousands Of Rare Caterpillars Venture Out Into Wild | We just released 2,172 tiny Oregon silverspot butterfly larvae from the zoo into the wild, giving this threatened species a better chance at survival.... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Zoo releases thousands of rare butterflies into wild
On August 10th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.11) western pond turtles which will eventually be released into the wild.
Teeny Tiny Turtles Are Turtle-y Terrific | 11 tiny northwestern pond turtles are now growing big and strong in our conservation lab, where they’ll be cared for until they're ready to go back to... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Tiny turtles arrive at zoo
On August 30th, the zoo announced that they bred and released (0.0.259) northern leopard frog tadpoles and (0.0.156) northern leopard froglets into the wild.
Oregon Zoo - Hundreds of tiny northern leopard frogs...
Endangered frogs hop from Oregon Zoo back into wild
Thousands Of Rare Caterpillars Venture Out Into Wild | We just released 2,172 tiny Oregon silverspot butterfly larvae from the zoo into the wild, giving this threatened species a better chance at survival.... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Zoo releases thousands of rare butterflies into wild
On August 10th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.11) western pond turtles which will eventually be released into the wild.
Teeny Tiny Turtles Are Turtle-y Terrific | 11 tiny northwestern pond turtles are now growing big and strong in our conservation lab, where they’ll be cared for until they're ready to go back to... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Tiny turtles arrive at zoo
On August 30th, the zoo announced that they bred and released (0.0.259) northern leopard frog tadpoles and (0.0.156) northern leopard froglets into the wild.
Oregon Zoo - Hundreds of tiny northern leopard frogs...
Endangered frogs hop from Oregon Zoo back into wild
On July 27th, the zoo announced that (0.0.4) snowy owls hatched which are now on exhibit.
Four Rare Snowy Owlets Hatch At Zoo | Owl in the family! Snowy owls Rocky and Banff just welcomed four new fluffballs to the nest | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Owl in the family: Rare snowy owlets hatch at zoo
On August 22nd, the zoo announced that they acquired (0.0.5+) Pacific lampreys which are now on exhibit in the Great Northwest area until spring 2024.
Meet The Ancient And Adorable Pacific Lamprey | Meet the Pacific lamprey! This jawless, toothy fish is older than dinosaurs or even trees. | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Zoo welcomes back Pacific lamprey
On November 1st, it was reported that the zoo will acquire (2.0) Amur tigers named Dmitri and Luka from the Roosevelt Park Zoo in North Dakota in the near future once renovations to the tiger exhibit are completed.
ZOO NEWS: No time for hibernating
Elephant and black rhinoceros calves expected:
Elephant and critically endangered black rhinoceros expecting babies at Oregon Zoo
On Tuesday morning, the Oregon Zoo announced that rhinoceros Jozi and elephant Rose-tu are both pregnant and staff are eagerly awaiting the babies’ arrival.
Jozi (black rhinoceros) is due anytime from now and January 2024.
Rose-Tu (elephant) is due early 2025.
Elephant and critically endangered black rhinoceros expecting babies at Oregon Zoo
On Tuesday morning, the Oregon Zoo announced that rhinoceros Jozi and elephant Rose-tu are both pregnant and staff are eagerly awaiting the babies’ arrival.
Jozi (black rhinoceros) is due anytime from now and January 2024.
Rose-Tu (elephant) is due early 2025.
Jozi, the Black Rhinoceros, gave birth on December 4. The sex is still undetermined.
https://kpic.com/news/local/oregon-zoo-welcomes-new-rhinoceros-calf
Piece of December 2023 News Not Mentioned:
On December 1st, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) Virginia opossum named Homer from the Alaska Zoo in Alaska which is now an animal ambassador.
Stowaway Opossum Finds New Home At Zoo | Welcome, Homer! This young opossum was found wandering in Alaska, where opossums are considered invasive. He was brought to Alaska Zoo for care before... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Welcome, Homer: Stowaway opossum finds new home at zoo
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 12th, the zoo announced that they acquired (1.1) American black bears named Timber and Thorn from the Alaska Zoo which are now on exhibit.
Orphaned Black Bear Cubs Explore Their New Home | Meet Thorn and Timber! The two orphaned bears are settling into a small, cub-proof section of Black Bear Ridge before eventually joining adults Cubby... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Orphaned black bear cubs Timber and Thorn arrive at zoo
On December 1st, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) Virginia opossum named Homer from the Alaska Zoo in Alaska which is now an animal ambassador.
Stowaway Opossum Finds New Home At Zoo | Welcome, Homer! This young opossum was found wandering in Alaska, where opossums are considered invasive. He was brought to Alaska Zoo for care before... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Welcome, Homer: Stowaway opossum finds new home at zoo
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 12th, the zoo announced that they acquired (1.1) American black bears named Timber and Thorn from the Alaska Zoo which are now on exhibit.
Orphaned Black Bear Cubs Explore Their New Home | Meet Thorn and Timber! The two orphaned bears are settling into a small, cub-proof section of Black Bear Ridge before eventually joining adults Cubby... | By Oregon Zoo | Facebook
Orphaned black bear cubs Timber and Thorn arrive at zoo
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
As mentioned by @NOVAElephantEnthusiast in the population thread, 15 year old Bull Asian Elephant Samurda will be moving to the St. Louis Zoo in late-2024-early-2025.
Saint Louis Zoo Elephant News | Saint Louis Zoo
Saint Louis Zoo Elephant News | Saint Louis Zoo
Two male Amur tigers have arrived:
Oregon Zoo welcomes two new tigers
The zoo announced that two new tigers, brothers Luka and Dmitri, are settling into their new home.
The 18-month-old Amur tigers were born in Minot, North Dakota in 2022.
Oregon Zoo welcomes two new tigers
The zoo announced that two new tigers, brothers Luka and Dmitri, are settling into their new home.
The 18-month-old Amur tigers were born in Minot, North Dakota in 2022.
A move to be applauded in itself for elephant breeding.
Very much! This move will finally allow Saint Louis's young girls to naturally breed!