I went for a short afternoon visit to the zoo on the first of the year, for the second year in a row. It was pretty quiet, except for a small group of annoying teenage boys that always seemed to be where I was. Aside from their disruptions, it was a very nice visit. There was a zookeeper watching the bat-eared fox and the pair of cranes, who was very happy to tell me about their personalities. Staff in Faces of the Rainforest were friendly as well.
animal updates:
The third Australia snake-necked turtle has moved in with the other two and some of the emerald tree boas in World of Adaptions.
Two of the radiated tortoises were off-exhibit.
Continuing the naming trend, the blue-throated guan chick, a male, has been named Chip. A few years ago, his parents, mother Cookie (who was recently euthanized) and father Monster, raised three chicks that were collectively known as ‘The Crumbs.’ The giant wood rail chicks have been given the names Natalie and Elijah.
There are once again two eastern rosellas with the Bali mynas.
Bat-eared fox Norman has some new female company. Apparently she’s pretty sassy.
exhibit/physical updates:
A new wall is up for the left hand side of the anteater enclosure. It has a small holding shelter thing built on the outer side of the wall. I can post a picture if anyone would like it.
The window with views into the indoor North American river otter space was covered.
The soft substrate that was in the tamandua and toucan enclosure for the agoutis, a prior resident, has been removed. I don’t know how long ago this was but I’m just noticing it.
A few perching frames and several small trees have been placed in the aviaries at the front of the zoo. Interestingly, they’ve decided to go with more trees, including apple trees, than other frames. There is a single door that I presume staff will walk through between two aviaries (with mesh separating them).
Excellent signage has been added to the other side of the tortoise wall explaining the differences between turtles and tortoises. Unfortunately, there was a group of obnoxious teenagers in the way, preventing me from getting a picture.
Judging by the appearance of the building, the red panda building is nearing completion. I was hoping (before construction started) that the zoo would be phasing-out red pandas, because multiple other zoos in New England have them, and not having red pandas probably doesn’t affect attendance rates at zoos as popular as this one, but I am nevertheless very happy that the species is receiving an upgrade enclosure-wise.
To give Frye and Saluda the red wolves some extra privacy while they are getting to know each other, the upper viewing of their enclosure has some temporary barriers preventing visitors from going right up against the enclosure as is usually possible. They can still be seen from that spot if they are against the far wall.
Construction on the serval enclosure has started, with most of the wood materials in place.
animal highlights:
The cheetahs were all snuggled together in a pile of straw. It was fun to see them resting and alert together.
Many of the birds in Faces of the Rainforest were very friendly yesterday. The scarlet ibises, blue-throated piping guans, and one of the sunbitterns were comfortable either perching a few feet from guests or walking on the pathways away from people by similar distances (two to four feet).
animal updates:
The third Australia snake-necked turtle has moved in with the other two and some of the emerald tree boas in World of Adaptions.
Two of the radiated tortoises were off-exhibit.
Continuing the naming trend, the blue-throated guan chick, a male, has been named Chip. A few years ago, his parents, mother Cookie (who was recently euthanized) and father Monster, raised three chicks that were collectively known as ‘The Crumbs.’ The giant wood rail chicks have been given the names Natalie and Elijah.
There are once again two eastern rosellas with the Bali mynas.
Bat-eared fox Norman has some new female company. Apparently she’s pretty sassy.
exhibit/physical updates:
A new wall is up for the left hand side of the anteater enclosure. It has a small holding shelter thing built on the outer side of the wall. I can post a picture if anyone would like it.
The window with views into the indoor North American river otter space was covered.
The soft substrate that was in the tamandua and toucan enclosure for the agoutis, a prior resident, has been removed. I don’t know how long ago this was but I’m just noticing it.
A few perching frames and several small trees have been placed in the aviaries at the front of the zoo. Interestingly, they’ve decided to go with more trees, including apple trees, than other frames. There is a single door that I presume staff will walk through between two aviaries (with mesh separating them).
Excellent signage has been added to the other side of the tortoise wall explaining the differences between turtles and tortoises. Unfortunately, there was a group of obnoxious teenagers in the way, preventing me from getting a picture.
Judging by the appearance of the building, the red panda building is nearing completion. I was hoping (before construction started) that the zoo would be phasing-out red pandas, because multiple other zoos in New England have them, and not having red pandas probably doesn’t affect attendance rates at zoos as popular as this one, but I am nevertheless very happy that the species is receiving an upgrade enclosure-wise.
To give Frye and Saluda the red wolves some extra privacy while they are getting to know each other, the upper viewing of their enclosure has some temporary barriers preventing visitors from going right up against the enclosure as is usually possible. They can still be seen from that spot if they are against the far wall.
Construction on the serval enclosure has started, with most of the wood materials in place.
animal highlights:
The cheetahs were all snuggled together in a pile of straw. It was fun to see them resting and alert together.
Many of the birds in Faces of the Rainforest were very friendly yesterday. The scarlet ibises, blue-throated piping guans, and one of the sunbitterns were comfortable either perching a few feet from guests or walking on the pathways away from people by similar distances (two to four feet).
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