Northeastern Wisconsin Zoo & Adventure Park What's New at the N.E.W Zoo?

Some updates from my visit today:

  • I saw the new Snow Leopard exhibit. It's much more aesthetically pleasing than the old exhibit, but it isn't much larger and it's honestly pretty disappointing. It's better, but not by much. It doesn't help that I didn't see any Snow Leopards today.
  • The outdoor alligator exhibit has been expanded.
  • The alligator has a new indoor exhibit in the Giraffe House.
  • The cows have moved in with the goats in the Children's Zoo.
  • Due to the relatively new AZA policy requiring keepers to be present during animal contact, the barn area of the Children's Zoo was completely closed off. Due a bit of a staffing shortage the zoo has atm, this area will probably be closed off most of the time for the foreseeable future except during the busiest times and dates. This leaves several species completely unviewable, including Wild Turkey, Leopard Tortoise, Rock Pigeon, Sonoran Gopher Snake, and several domestics. :(
  • The exhibit in the ECC that had African Bullfrog has been redone for an (unseen) Common Leopard Gecko.
  • There's a new exhibit in the ECC containing Oriental Fire-bellied Toad tadpoles.
  • The America Crow appears to have moved into the old macaw exhibit full-time. This means the crow is now visible year-round.
  • The Jaguar Cichlid appears to be gone.
  • According to the signage, the guineafowl has moved in with the duikers. Of course, neither species was out due to the cold weather.
  • A Chinese Red Panda was in the dome habitat today (the usual agouti/macaw exhibit). Not sure why it was separate from the others.
  • All signage for Pronghorn was removed. I think it's safe to say this species is no longer at the zoo.
  • The Black-necked Stilts have moved into the Nutrition Center.
  • I saw the Moose very active today for the first time - well, ever! :)
  • The Snowy Owl exhibit is covered up for breeding purposes.
  • Due to their inhabitations both moving, the old guineafowl and stilt exhibits are both empty with signs saying: "New species coming to the zoo soon!"
  • Judging by the furnishings, it will probably be some sort of (semi)arboreal mammal moving into the old guineafowl enclosure. New banners were up all over the zoo featuring many of their inhabitants, and I couldn't help but notice one showed a Veiled Chameleon, a species which to my knowledge has never been exhibited by the zoo. So I'm guessing that's what's moving into the old stilt exhibit.
 
In 2017, the NEW Zoo posted an ambitious master plan. As I am not familiar with the zoo, I do not know how many of their recent projects align with these plans. However, their new snow leopard exhibit does not reflect the size or location of the original plans, so I am wondering if anyone knew if the zoo planned on posting or creating a new plan any time soon?

https://newzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/small_MasterPlan-ExecSum.pdf
https://newzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/MasterPlan-Projects-file.pdf

I have never visited the zoo, but it does mention on their website that they are one of few zoos that do not receive any kind of government tax funding. I am assuming this explains why the zoo is not getting as much funding to build as grand exhibits that some of the other zoos in Wisconsin are creating.

Let me know if you have any ideas for how you would change the zoo!
 
Updates from my visit today:

  • I saw the Discovery Zone. There are three exhibits there. One was empty and is used as a temporary enclosure for animal ambassadors. One is for the Galahs (which have been off-exhibit for some time) and one is for the Rainbow Lorikeet (which was an animal ambassador that I don't think was ever on exhibit).
  • The Children's Zoo was open today, it seems they have made a consistent schedule for it. :) However, the snake exhibit that was there has been removed, and the turkey exhibit was empty and unsigned.
  • The cows have moved back into the old Alpaca yard.
  • The duiker exhibit has been split in two, with one half for the duikers and one half for the guineafowl.
  • The American Crow has moved into the old guineafowl exhibit.
  • The Blue-and-yellow Macaws have moved back into their old exhibit, now that the crow moved.
  • A new exhibit has been built for the Hyacinth Macaws.
  • The old stilt exhibit is still empty, but it looks like a semiaquatic species will be moving in soon.
  • A new exhibit inside the tortoise building is home to two Virginia Opossums, a new species for the zoo. A sign said this is just a temporary home while a new exhibit is prepared outside.
  • This may be in what was until recently the raccoon exhibit, which I was surprised t find empty.
  • There was a slight expansion to the outdoor macaque exhibit.
 
EsserWarrior said:
In 2017, the NEW Zoo posted an ambitious master plan. As I am not familiar with the zoo, I do not know how many of their recent projects align with these plans. However, their new snow leopard exhibit does not reflect the size or location of the original plans, so I am wondering if anyone knew if the zoo planned on posting or creating a new plan any time soon?

https://newzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/small_MasterPlan-ExecSum.pdf
https://newzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/MasterPlan-Projects-file.pdf

I have never visited the zoo, but it does mention on their website that they are one of few zoos that do not receive any kind of government tax funding. I am assuming this explains why the zoo is not getting as much funding to build as grand exhibits that some of the other zoos in Wisconsin are creating.

Let me know if you have any ideas for how you would change the zoo!
Click to expand...
The zoo has had no less than three master plans in the last decade, and none have come into fruition. I have no reason to believe this one will be any different. Personally, I'm fine with that - while I love to see this zoo improve in small ways, I really like its homemade feel and unique vibes, and a major overhaul could take away a lot of what I love about NEW Zoo.
 
Other 2024 News Worth Mentioning:
On April 5th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) domestic sheep (breed not specified) named Laha passed away at age 12.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On May 14th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) red wolf named Jason passed away at age 12 due to aggressive nasal and oral cancer.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On May 16th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) North American river otter named Minnie passed away due to a decline in health caused by a chronic condition.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park
 
Smaggledagle said:
On May 14th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) red wolf named Jason passed away at age 12 due to aggressive nasal and oral cancer.
Click to expand...

I've seen that happen in dogs before and its one of the most devastating conditions out there. Often the first and only sign that something is wrong is a sudden and uncontrollable nosebleed. At that point, even with advanced veterinary care, death can come in as little as a few hours. That they caught it when they did is a sign of how closely the pay attention to their animals.
 
Updates from my visit today:

  • There's a new indoor-outdoor Domestic Pigeon exhibit in the Children's Zoo.
  • A Blanding's Turtle has moved into the old stilt exhibit.
  • The American Elk has moved into the southernmost Moose exhibit.
 
Other Late 2024 News Worth Mentioning:
On August 10th, the zoo announced they installed new fencing in the Children's Zoo area.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On September 11th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) pronghorn named Jimmy which is on display in between the American bison and generic giraffe exhibits.

21K views · 456 reactions | Meet Jimmy | New resident alert: Meet Jimmy the pronghorn! He arrived yesterday and is currently living between the bison and the giraffe yards. You'll see him from... | By NEW Zoo & Adventure Park | Facebook

On October 14th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) red wolf named Blade from Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee which is on exhibit.

25K views · 943 reactions | Meet Blade | Meet our newest resident: American red wolf "Blade!" Blade arrived recently and has already made himself at home. He seems to enjoy roaming his habitat... | By NEW Zoo & Adventure Park | Facebook
NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

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

On January 9th, 2025, the zoo announced their (0.1) North American porcupine named Penelope passed away at age 20 due to a decline in health, and the facility is not looking to house another of her species.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park
 
2 Pieces of March 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On March 14th, the zoo announced they started construction on a new platform/nesting house inside the American bison/trumpeter swan exhibit, and as such, is closed until further notice.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On March 17th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) lesser hedgehog tenrec named Cosmo which is now an animal ambassador.

9.7K views · 197 reactions | Meet Cosmo | We are SO excited to introduce one of our new residents: Cosmo! This cutie is a lesser Madagascar hedgehog tenrec and he's the newest member of our... | By NEW Zoo & Adventure Park | Facebook

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

On March 29th, the zoo announced they renovated the indoor viewing area for the (1.0) American (leucistic) alligator named Lucky, constructing a new indoor pool.

61K views · 1.2K reactions | Lucky moves in | We're so excited to share that Lucky the alligator received an amazing upgrade to his indoor habitat thanks to the generous support of donors Don & Donna... | By NEW Zoo & Adventure Park | Facebook
 
On May 1st, the zoo announced they temporarily acquired 2 domestic guinea pigs after they were found abandoned alongside a road near the facility, which were transferred to an unspecified local rescue.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On May 9th, the zoo announced they built a new Billy Goats Gruff Tower structure inside the domestic goat enclosure.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On June 27th, the zoo announced that a cotton-top tamarin was born a few days prior, which is on exhibit. Also on June 27th, the zoo announced they acquired a male (1.0) cotton-top tamarin named Gio, after their previous male Poncho passed away in April due to heart failure.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On July 1st, the zoo announced that a trumpeter swan hatched on June 7th, which is on exhibit.

Baby Boom | NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

Nile Hippo Expert said:
A pair of lynx kittens were born last week.
chevron-right
Click to expand...

On July 7th, the zoo announced they sexed the lynxes as (2.0) and named them Cruz and Ranger, respectively.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park

On July 19th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a male (1.0) red-rumped agouti to Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Ohio.

Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top