Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo News 2024

Status
Not open for further replies.
I got to speak with some staff on a recent visit, and they told me some things that I think are worth sharing here:
- The zoo plans on keeping One-Horned Rhinoceros Glenn long-term, and are planning on using him for AI.
- After the ForestsExhibit, the African Savannah might be the next big thing they work on (I got this one from a volunteer however, so this may not be completely true).
 
LycaonSekowei said:
I got to speak with some staff on a recent visit, and they told me some things that I think are worth sharing here:
- The zoo plans on keeping One-Horned Rhinoceros Glenn long-term, and are planning on using him for AI.
- After the ForestsExhibit, the African Savannah might be the next big thing they work on (I got this one from a volunteer however, so this may not be completely true).
Click to expand...
This is all basically true. The savannah needs upgrading of the giraffe barn, the terrain needs to be more level to better suit the needs of a giraffe herd, and the hippo area, vacant now that Lupe has joined the bloat at San Diego, needs to be reimagined for another use.
Other projects continue that probably aren't what you would call major, like refurbishing of the tapir exhibit to prepare for the arrival of a new breeding pair now that Ulan has moved to breed again elsewhere.
 
Gabby said:
Other projects continue that probably aren't what you would call major, like refurbishing of the tapir exhibit to prepare for the arrival of a new breeding pair now that Ulan has moved to breed again elsewhere.
Click to expand...
The 'Indo-Pacific Reptiles and Amphibians' exhibit is supposed to open sometime soon I believe right next to the Komodo Dragons. (Fall '24 was the vague opening window) They were posting some updates on Instagram but haven't in a while, I'm hoping because it's close to being finished (there hasn't been any delays afaik). iirc the Rhinoceros Rat Snake is supposed to be a featured species but other than that, everything else should be a surprise. I'm excited to check it out.
 
A couple updates from my visit today (it's been about a year since my last visit)
  • The "Reptile Realm" definitely looks like it'll be completed soon from the small peak I was able to get (I was hoping to get a photo but there were a couple construction workers in the space and I didn't wanna bother them). For the most part, it looks like they just reused the old spaces so there's nothing new in terms of enclosures which makes me interested to see what they've got in collection since the Flying Fox and Two-Toed Sloth (? iirc) are pretty sizeable.
  • On the same note, a lot of the Komodo Dragon signage and interp is also under construction. The viewing is still open, but does close at random parts of the day for said construction.
  • In the conservation Aviary, there's a Baby Spectacled Owl who was born from the pair that is also on exhibit. The baby was born on June 26th and is pretty noticeable since it's all white.
  • There is an Oriente Knight Anole (Anolis smallwoodi) on exhibit in the Rainforest Building where the Green Tree Pythons used to reside.
  • Infact a couple of the Rainforest Building's "Understory" tanks don't have anything in them currently and no signs on what could be coming.
  • I didn't have time to hit the Living Northwest Trail but that's most of what I was able to observe today.
 
A new episode of the collab series the Zoo does with Kiro7 (local news station here in Washington) is based on the 'Forest Trailhead' exhibit and gives some sneak peeks and new info about the exhibit:
  • There are currently 5 Matschie’s tree kangaroos at the Zoo (they all live BTS and will so until the Forest Trailhead opens)
  • There will be more Kea's coming in as they aim to expand the breeding program as there hasn't been much breeding going on in the last couple of years
  • There will be a 'Kea dating center' where the Zoo will bring in different Kea's to try and pair them up to their own accord, and then will be sent off to other Zoo's where they can continue the breeding program.
  • It sounds like the Zoo is also aiming to bring in more Red Pandas for the exhibit.
  • No word on what species of Reptile, Invertebrates, and Amphibians will be featured.
(On a side note, they refer to them as "Ghosts of the Forest" which IMO would've been a really cool second option for the exhibit name if they didn't go with 'Forest Trailhead')
 
Northwest_FIsh_Keeping said:
A new episode of the collab series the Zoo does with Kiro7 (local news station here in Washington) is based on the 'Forest Trailhead' exhibit and gives some sneak peeks and new info about the exhibit:
  • There are currently 5 Matschie’s tree kangaroos at the Zoo (they all live BTS and will so until the Forest Trailhead opens)
  • There will be more Kea's coming in as they aim to expand the breeding program as there hasn't been much breeding going on in the last couple of years
  • There will be a 'Kea dating center' where the Zoo will bring in different Kea's to try and pair them up to their own accord, and then will be sent off to other Zoo's where they can continue the breeding program.
Click to expand...
Do you have any further information on the Matschie's tree kangaroo breeding program at Woodland Park?

Great initiative for keas ..., Gosh never knew they needed a dating center .... but hey certainly very interesting to learn!!!!
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Do you have any further information on the Matschie's tree kangaroo breeding program at Woodland Park?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I'm not very in tune with the internal news of WPZ, one of their females in the video though is an experienced mother with I think 3 Joey's now so that's good. I think the Zoo kept the Tree Kangaroos a secret for the last 6 / 7 years (ever since the Day Exhibit was evacuated from the fire in the Night exhibit) since it was unclear if they were moved or kept BTS until they initially announced the Forest Trailhead.
I'd imagine their breeding program will be pretty major though since the tree kangaroos are the poster child of the exhibit and there's so much extra conservation work their pushing right now (serving and selling a specific coffee that helps fund the conservation work in their native range at the zoo is one, plus promotional stuff, etc)
 
Northwest_FIsh_Keeping said:
Unfortunately I'm not very in tune with the internal news of WPZ, one of their females in the video though is an experienced mother with I think 3 Joey's now so that's good. I think the Zoo kept the Tree Kangaroos a secret for the last 6 / 7 years (ever since the Day Exhibit was evacuated from the fire in the Night exhibit) since it was unclear if they were moved or kept BTS until they initially announced the Forest Trailhead.
I'd imagine their breeding program will be pretty major though since the tree kangaroos are the poster child of the exhibit and there's so much extra conservation work their pushing right now (serving and selling a specific coffee that helps fund the conservation work in their native range at the zoo is one, plus promotional stuff, etc)
Click to expand...
Oh great, thanks anyway!!!!

I will keep an eye out for news of tree kangaroos on Woodland Park Zoo!
 
Northwest_FIsh_Keeping said:
The Zoo announced that Shila, the last Gray Wolf, passed away this morning at the age of 14. (From what sounds like old age)
At the end of the blog, the Zoo does say they plan on finding a new pack of Gray Wolves to take the space in the 'Living Northwest Trail'
Click to expand...
Mexican Gray Wolves would be better for conservation and share their story with those unfamiliar in the PNW.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top