The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore The Maryland Zoo News 2024

NAIB Volunteer

NAIB Volunteer

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15+ year member
A few observations from my visit:

The main sitatunga exhibit is closed. It appears a new water line is being laid so a majority of the exhibit has been ripped up and the fencing removed.

The great white pelicans were off exhibit (most likely for the season).

Two ravens, Loki and Edgar, are on exhibit at the Wading Bird building in Main Valley along with the red tailed hawk and Harris hawk.

Everest, the Northern ground hornbill, was on exhibit at Crane Barn with his mother Blue and is about the same size as her.

The parking lots and new entry zone is coming along nicely. The ADA and entry pathway is finished and looks really nice. The largest lot is still a hole in the ground.
 
I know part of their master plan involved moving the boardwalk over the sitatunga exhibit (though I wasn't exactly sure why since I always liked that spot), so I wonder if this could be taking steps toward that?
 
TheGytrash said:
I know part of their master plan involved moving the boardwalk over the sitatunga exhibit (though I wasn't exactly sure why since I always liked that spot), so I wonder if this could be taking steps toward that?
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No, nothing of that nature. The boardwalk extension would link with a revamped food court. Currently the Bird Barn, previously the Sitatunga Barn, is in the way. Without a new barn elsewhere, they wouldn't displace the hornbills/storks/cranes in that exhibit.

It really just seemed like infrastructure investment, so I'd expect the exhibit to go back to the way it was. Water lines criss cross everywhere so it might not even be for that particular exhibit.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
A few observations from my visit:

The main sitatunga exhibit is closed. It appears a new water line is being laid so a majority of the exhibit has been ripped up and the fencing removed.

The great white pelicans were off exhibit (most likely for the season).

Two ravens, Loki and Edgar, are on exhibit at the Wading Bird building in Main Valley along with the red tailed hawk and Harris hawk.

Everest, the Northern ground hornbill, was on exhibit at Crane Barn with his mother Blue and is about the same size as her.

The parking lots and new entry zone is coming along nicely. The ADA and entry pathway is finished and looks really nice. The largest lot is still a hole in the ground.
Click to expand...
So pleased the zoo is finally getting improved parking lots, they have had to deal with lousy parking for decades and it was one of the least inspiring approaches to any zoo I've seen.
 
TinoPup said:
I hope they don't make too many changes. That is one of my favorite exhibits in the whole country, especially for ungulates.
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I agree with this sentiment. the exhibit opened in late 80s and still looks contemporary. Not many exhibits can say that! For me it's a space that was chosen well, takes advantage of the valley and is relatively simple in its layout and it just works.
 
Torgos said:
I agree with this sentiment. the exhibit opened in late 80s and still looks contemporary. Not many exhibits can say that! For me it's a space that was chosen well, takes advantage of the valley and is relatively simple in its layout and it just works.
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And it's so much more than the rectangular lot most hoofstock get! The sitatunga can go so many natural things in there, including hiding their babies in the long grasses.
 
A few updates from my visit this past weekend:

Parking Lot A is complete and looks quite nice. The main lot is still under construction.

The sitatunga exhibit looks to be back open, although no animals on exhibit. Whatever water pipe or other protect they were working on is now complete and the exhibit is back to where it was minus a few trees and some new grass plantings.
 
Yeah
TheGytrash said:
According to their Facebook page, the zoo acquired a new (0.1) Cape porcupine from the Chattanooga Zoo. Her name, adorably, is Dill [Prickles].

Side note, her companion Kayin must be at least 18 years old now. That's pretty elderly for an African porcupine!
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Yeah, 18 is very old for a porcupine, their wild lifespan is around their early teens. Kayin has been at the zoo a very long time and when his last companion, Kali passed away they decided not to bring in another companion for him due to his advanced age. When Kali passed in November 2022 at age 14, Kayin was already older than her as the article said he was 17 at that time. Cape porcupines are manogomous and live in mated pairs for life, so Kayin being alone was obviously an unnatural lifestyle for him. Kayin is still quite active and spry for his age, last I went he was walking around searching in the grass for treats. Hopefully Dill can keep Kayin young at heart.
 
Jana said:
Just for reference: a close relative, Indian crested porcupine, has currently longevity record of 30 years (a male that was born at Prague zoo in 1981 and died at the same place in 2012).
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Cooper, a North American porcupine, lived to be 32 years old. But keep in mind that is three times longer than they live out in the wild so very few make it to that age.
 
Piece of January 2024 News Not Mentioned:

Smaggledagle said:
On December 20th, the zoo announced that another (0.0.1) African penguin hatched.

The most wonderful gift of... - The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
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On January 22nd, the zoo announced the penguin's gender (1.0) and name, Ripken.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On February 8th, the zoo announced that (0.0.3) more African penguins hatched.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
 
Have there been any signs of construction on a new eagle/ snowy owl exhibit in the Maryland Wilderness or the porcupine trail in Northern Passage? Or immediate plans to demolish the old cages in Main Valley? I know that according to the 2022 Master Plan, they originally hoped to achieve those by the end of 2023 (I was thinking 2024 would be more likely), but I haven't heard any updates since then.
 
TheGytrash said:
Have there been any signs of construction on a new eagle/ snowy owl exhibit in the Maryland Wilderness or the porcupine trail in Northern Passage? Or immediate plans to demolish the old cages in Main Valley? I know that according to the 2022 Master Plan, they originally hoped to achieve those by the end of 2023 (I was thinking 2024 would be more likely), but I haven't heard any updates since then.
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It's going to take a number of years to request funding from the State, find potential donors/ sponsorships, as well as time to design and develop. The FY 2024 budget, which is ending, requested a number of items and you'll see all the Master Plan elements are just in their design phase. This isn't necessarily a road map for things that are imminent, but gives you a good idea of what sort of capital projects they're pursuing:

  • $2,035,000 to Support Parking Lot Renovations: The cost of this element has increased to $7.4 million, and this is the final authorization. The estimate is based on completed design drawings.
  • $1,100,000 to Fund the African Watering Hole Life Support System: The current system, which acts as a barrier between exhibits, is past its useful life. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Welfare Act mandates that the zoo provide potable drinking water for all mammals at the zoo. The fiscal 2022 authorization provided $100,000 to start design. Total costs are $2 million.
  • $880,000 to Address Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and USDA Regulatory Deficiencies: This project will correct life-safety and animal welfare deficiencies to allow the zoo to continue to meet the standards of its regulatory agency, USDA.
  • $448,200 for Bird Barn Renovation and Sanitary Connection: The building’s roof and walls have exceeded their useful life. Also, the barn does not have a sanitary sewer connection, as is now required by AZA accreditation standards. This authorization funds the entire project.
  • $440,000 for Design Funds for a New Staffing Building: In its history, the zoo has not had a building specifically for staff use. Neither the 221-year-old Mansion House nor the Maryland Building, which was designed to be an exhibition hall, were originally designed for staff. The estimated total cost is $6 million. As the project is designed more refined estimates will be available.
  • $432,140 to Renovate the Buffalo Yards Buildings: The zoo needs additional dry storage space. This project installs new roofs to create new dry storage space, and installs power, lighting, and water; fiscal 2024 funds the entire project.
  • $165,000 to Design a New Eagle and Owl Flight Cage Habitat: The snowy owl and bald eagle currently reside at the zoo and would benefit from more space for flight and enrichment in Maryland Wilderness, a quieter section of the zoo. Two new bird enclosures will replace two old and small enclosures constructed as part of Northern Passage. Construction of their habitats would entail expansion of general infrastructure into this portion of the zoo. The total anticipated State request is $1.07 million.
  • $220,000 to Design a Porcupine Trail in the Northern Passage: This project is linked to the flight cage habitat. Once the bald eagle is relocated to its new flight cage habitat, the zoo will combine its current enclosure with the current porcupine enclosure, connected by an above-ground system of bridges and trails. The project’s estimated total cost is $620,000.
  • $220,000 to Design a Gibbons and Raptors Exhibit: The construction of the gibbon and raptor habitats, at the entrance to Main Valley, will represent the zoo’s reintroduction of new species toward the front portion of the zoo. Gibbons would reside in a cage-free habitat on two islands surrounded by water. This new open habitat would take the place of cages that were constructed in the 1920s and 1930s but are now obsolete. The total anticipated cost to the State for this project is $1.32 million.
  • $175,000 to Construct an Electric Shuttle Charging Station: As diesel and gas vehicles reach their useful life, the zoo will replace them with electric vehicles. This requires a charging station. The proposed site is of an aging office trailer that is now used for storage.
  • $165,000 to Replace Service Roads: Many of the service roads in the zoo, like roads around the maintenance buildings, hay barn, elephant barn, and animal department, need to be replaced. Fiscal 2024 authorizations fund the entire
For additional context, I believe the Zoo received money in FY22 to replace the chimp outdoor structure - new mesh, climbing features, cosmetic updates - but that's not even been started or put out for bid. So it'll be some time before we see any new exhibits from the Master Plan.
 
In a fundraising letter that went out, the zoo announced plans to build a new red panda exhibit, to be located on the site of the old tiger cage, which currently holds the snowy owl, with hopes to break ground by the end of the year. This will mark the return of red panda to the zoo after an absence of about 30 years
 
Aardwolf said:
In a fundraising letter that went out, the zoo announced plans to build a new red panda exhibit, to be located on the site of the old tiger cage, which currently holds the snowy owl, with hopes to break ground by the end of the year. This will mark the return of red panda to the zoo after an absence of about 30 years
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That's very exciting! I saw mention of a red panda exhibit in a budget request for the State but wondered if it was a typo or possibly mistaken for a potential red wolf exhibit mentioned in their master plan. Regardless, that's very good news!
 
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