Philadelphia Zoo Philadelphia Zoo News 2024

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blospz said:
A proposal for Bear Country renovations: phila.gov/media/20240705080209/3400-W-Girard-Ave-submission-1.pdf
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Thanks for posting this as it looks interesting and there's a lot of great photos and renderings. Having 3 exhibits and 2 species (Andean/Sloth) would allow for some rotation, although there's also a rendering of a Cave Viewing area with Sun Bears. That's not likely to happen and in fact Sun Bears pop up a few times in that document.
 
snowleopard said:
Thanks for posting this as it looks interesting and there's a lot of great photos and renderings. Having 3 exhibits and 2 species (Andean/Sloth) would allow for some rotation, although there's also a rendering of a Cave Viewing area with Sun Bears. That's not likely to happen and in fact Sun Bears pop up a few times in that document.
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Most likely they just used stock images of bears (I think I saw an American black bear in one of the renderings too). But if this and Brookfield's master plan namedropping sun bears a bunch means anything... let a man dream!!! :p
 
Interesting to see Philadelphia proposing an expansion of the Zoo360 trails. Oftentimes, when a zoo gets a new director (which Philadelphia has recently), plans change as directors often want to take the zoo in a new direction (for better or for worse). That said, the Zoo360 trails are the most unique feature at Philadelphia, so maintaining them and expanding them going forward is probably a smart move, regardless of who is in charge.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Excited about the hooded vultures! African vultures surely need more conservation attention from the zoo community. Well done Philly Zoo.

As for the Galapagos giant tortoise: Do any Philly regulars know what the current situation is with breeding Abrazzo with both females Mommy and Little Girl? Any information on their work with getting both females to breed with Abruzzo, lay fertile eggs and have a chance to hatch Galapagos tortoise for the second time in history...! Any takers???
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I have no specific knowledge of Philadelphia but...
Are the lineages of their tortoises known? Their website lists them as non sub-specific Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis niger). The AZA seems to frown on mixing subspecies as a matter of general practice.
 
Brayden Delashmutt said:
why?
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The maned wolf exhibit was used by the hornbill pair and I don't know of any plans to get new species for that space. Honestly, it would be more logistical to break down the wall and make one big exhibit for the cheetahs because I feel their space is not very large though those cheetahs are getting older and won't be around forever. The zoo also wants to develop the southern end of the zoo more.
 
CarLover said:
The maned wolf exhibit was used by the hornbill pair and I don't know of any plans to get new species for that space. Honestly, it would be more logistical to break down the wall and make one big exhibit for the cheetahs because I feel their space is not very large though those cheetahs are getting older and won't be around forever. The zoo also wants to develop the southern end of the zoo more.
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Interesting. What are their plans?
 
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Brayden Delashmutt said:
Interesting. What are their plans?
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When I was in ZooCrew, the zoo was hoping to make an elevated path for the southern end of the zoo and develop it more. We have seen some of it with the old children's zoo and the beer garden being developed. Then the pandemic happened so many plans had to be postponed or changed. I am not sure exactly what the zoo hopes to do but I hope they do something soon.
 
The bear country renovation proposal definitely looks interesting, and while I found the current bear exhibits to be alright, it's still good to hear that a potential upgrade is in the works (granted, other parts of the zoo could use an upgrade as well). I really like that they plan to continue their trademark Zoo360 trail system with the bears, and I wonder if they could maybe interface it with the existing large trails (designed for great apes and big cats) at PECO Primate Reserve, which is nearby.

Also interesting that the concept art clearly depicts Sun Bears at certain points despite the zoo not having that species, and I cannot imagine they would incorporate a 3rd species for just 3 spaces when they clearly plan on displaying the bears on a rotational basis.

One thing that I am not too particularly fond of is them replacing the Flamingo habitat; I thought that was a really solid flamingo exhibit (actually one of the better ones if I'm honest), so I'd hate to see it go. The adjacent bird exhibits could definitely be done away with, though.
 
I just saw on the Philadelphia Zoo's Instagram story that they now have a pig-nosed turtle (Fly River turtle) named Meatball and he will be in the same exhibit the pig-nosed turtles have been in the past, across from the snapping turtle.
 
CarLover said:
I just saw on the Philadelphia Zoo's Instagram story that they now have a pig-nosed turtle (Fly River turtle) named Meatball and he will be in the same exhibit the pig-nosed turtles have been in the past, across from the snapping turtle.
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Fact check, Meatball has actually lived at the Philadelphia Zoo since 1971 and his exhibit was refurbished and he is now back on exhibit. I apologize for any confusion.
 
CarLover said:
I just saw on the Philadelphia Zoo's Instagram story that they now have a pig-nosed turtle (Fly River turtle) named Meatball and he will be in the same exhibit the pig-nosed turtles have been in the past, across from the snapping turtle.
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He is actually not in the exhibit he was in the past. Tyler, the snapping turtle now lives in the exhibit he lived in the past. Meatball now lives across from where he lived many years ago.
 
Astrotom3000 said:
The bear country renovation proposal definitely looks interesting, and while I found the current bear exhibits to be alright, it's still good to hear that a potential upgrade is in the works (granted, other parts of the zoo could use an upgrade as well). I really like that they plan to continue their trademark Zoo360 trail system with the bears, and I wonder if they could maybe interface it with the existing large trails (designed for great apes and big cats) at PECO Primate Reserve, which is nearby.

Also interesting that the concept art clearly depicts Sun Bears at certain points despite the zoo not having that species, and I cannot imagine they would incorporate a 3rd species for just 3 spaces when they clearly plan on displaying the bears on a rotational basis.

One thing that I am not too particularly fond of is them replacing the Flamingo habitat; I thought that was a really solid flamingo exhibit (actually one of the better ones if I'm honest), so I'd hate to see it go. The adjacent bird exhibits could definitely be done away with, though.
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I don’t think they are replacing the flamingo habitat as far as I know. They are planning to build another yard behind the flamingo habitat for the bears which they can travel through the Zoo360 trail to get to
 
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