What's in the arctic aviary?
San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo News 2024
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What's in the arctic aviary?
Is the Arctic Aviary one of the ones in Polar Plunge with several different waterfowl species?
Sorry for all of the upcoming questions. Is the megapode particularly old? How did she come to the zoo? Is there any chance she might return to a public or semi-public enclosure?
Mary
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By relocated, do you mean to another zoo or within SDZ? Mainly concerned about the golden takin...
zoocentral
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Within the SDZ!
@wild boar is correct. The Tundra Aviary is the aviary in Polar Bear Plunge that is home to assorted waterfowl and song birds. The last time I went through it was home to: bufflehead, emperor goose, harlequin duck, hooded merganser, red-breasted goose, blue-crowned laughingthrush, European goldfinch, northern cardinal, red-billed leiothrix, rose-breasted grosbeak, and Socorro dove. I believe that since it has been closed, more birds from the Owens Aviary have been moved in.
The scrubfowl is very old -- she is believed to be in her mid-30s. She was a gift to the San Diego Zoo from the Tongan government. Given her age, I would be very surprised to see her return to a public or semi-public enclosure again.
As @zoocentral has stated, these animals have been relocated within the zoo. The golden takin herd has been moved to the off-exhibit hillside exhibits behind Polar Bear Plunge and the Skyfari Station.
Thank you! Were there originally more birds given to the zoo (for what I am presuming was diplomatic purposes)? Do you happen to know any name the keepers call this individual? I know that is a somewhat strange question but I think a name is fairly important considering how special she is.
Is it also known as the Marsh Aviary?
Torgos
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I'm pretty certain I saw that scrubfowl in 1993 in a rather obscure line of aviaries next to a pair of writhed hornbills. At the time it was labeled Niuafo'ou scrubfowl but I believe same species if not the same bird. Look up Niuafo'ou Island, what a tiny restricted range!
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Nile Hippo Expert
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It used to be, but now it's official name is the Arctic Aviary.
Torgos
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And she is confirmed still alive!
The island is not really their "natural" range, as such. They were once found on many of Tonga's islands - Niuafo'ou is just the only one on which they managed to survive after humans arrived and started hunting them. There used to be many species of megapodes throughout the Pacific islands, most of which became extinct after the arrival of human settlers.
Additionally, a second population of this particular species was established on the island of Fanualei in 1993.
The Zoo's last ornate hawk-eagle has been moved to Avian Behavior International in Escondido, California for "retirement". For now, her former aviary holds the new female harpy eagle. I don't know what the plans for the aviary are once the harpy eagle pair is officially introduced.
Joseph G
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Giant pandas will return to the zoo possibly as soon as the end of the summer:
SAN DIEGO (AP) — China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears on loan to U.S. zoos were returned as relations began to sour between the two nations.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears on loan to U.S. zoos were returned as relations began to sour between the two nations.
I can't believe that San Diego Zoo hasn't had Giant Pandas for 5 years now. That 'world famous' zoo had pandas for decades and I remember all the controversy when the last ones were sent back to China in 2019. The last 5 years has flown by and suddenly there will be Giant Pandas again at San Diego Zoo. Wow!
SDZWA just released their official press release about the potential of getting giant pandas again, as first reported by @Joseph G 
Link is to their press release.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and China Wildlife Conservation Association Sign a New Cooperative Agreement for Giant Panda Collaboration
Link is to their press release.San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and China Wildlife Conservation Association Sign a New Cooperative Agreement for Giant Panda Collaboration
Nile Hippo Expert
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I never thought that it would be happening this early, glad to see that San Diego is getting back in the Giant panda business!
I never thought that it would be happening this early, glad to see that San Diego is getting back in the Giant panda business!
It's still going to be a while before they arrive, late summer at the earliest, maybe a whole year.
AnActualFan
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Where are the pandas even going to be located in the zoo anyway? Haven't their old habitats been taken over by other animals?
No. They'll go back in panda canyon, which is currently being renovated.
Great news that this may be happening! I always enjoyed following their previous family of pandas; as well as the pair at the National Zoo and Zoo Atlanta.
It’ll be interesting to see if in the event this goes ahead, whether one of the pandas is a descendant of Bai Yun. She had six cubs and through her first daughter alone, has 12 grand-cubs (in addition to several others).
Considering the status of her offspring (Hua Mei) as the first surviving Giant panda bred in the US, it would be a historic moment to see one of her descendants in particular return to US soil.
It’ll be interesting to see if in the event this goes ahead, whether one of the pandas is a descendant of Bai Yun. She had six cubs and through her first daughter alone, has 12 grand-cubs (in addition to several others).
Considering the status of her offspring (Hua Mei) as the first surviving Giant panda bred in the US, it would be a historic moment to see one of her descendants in particular return to US soil.
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