Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Riverbanks Zoo News

Piece of November 2024/December 2024/January 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On November 22nd, the zoo announced they would close The Birdhouse building on November 25th for renovations.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

On December 16th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a Galapagos tortoise to the San Francisco Zoo in California on November 6th.

https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/25061/JtZooAg121924

On January 9th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) generic giraffe named Tahini from Zoo Miami in Florida which is now on exhibit.

212K views · 3.7K reactions | Welcome to the herd! Join us in welcoming Tahini, a 2-year-old female reticulated giraffe who recently arrived from Zoo Miami! A wonderful new... | By Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Facebook

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

On February 28th, the zoo announced they started construction on a new gondola lift-style attraction called Saluda Skyride, which will open sometime later in 2025.

Also on February 28th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) emerald tree monitor to The Buffalo Zoo in New York.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Saluda Skyride takes off at Riverbanks Zoo
The Buffalo Zoo
 
On December 16th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a Galapagos tortoise to the San Francisco Zoo in California on November 6th.

https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/25061/JtZooAg121924

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In actual fact, 2 Galapagos tortoises (aged 6) have come on exhibit at SF Zoo. They are offspring of the 2018 breeding of the Riverbanks Western Santa Cruz Galapagos Chelonoidis porteri.

BTW: I was actually wondering how in recent years after 2018 the C. porteri group has been doing both in developments as well as further mating/breeding/hatchings...! Anyone have more recent information available?
 
Disappointing but unsurprising. It felt like they’d had a lot of troubles with their seals in recent years. I’d love to see the species return, though. Seals appeal to me so much more than sea lions, and in general any large species loss hurts a lot.
I understand your sad sorrow.., but perhaps for the best for the harbour seal to go to a zoo facility that actually can house her in a group environment.
 
Later this year according to this article:

Sky ride construction underway at Riverbanks Zoo | Carolina News and Reporter

Also worth mentioning is that the original plans for red wolves, orangutans, etc. have been canceled. Smaller species such as spider monkeys, anteaters, and red pandas will be coming instead.

Quietly cancelling the orangutans and red wolves is a shock and it's honestly a disappointing decision. I'm surprised that the cancellation slipped under the radar.
 
Wow, that’s a big blow. At least Greenville still has their sights on red wolves? But I still don’t understand why these two zoos are so intent on stepping on each others’ toes regarding their collections. I wish they could have a “gentlemen’s agreement” akin to NC and GSC to keep their collections from overlapping too much.
 
On April 4th, the zoo announced that a tammar wallaby was born which is on exhibit.

92K views · 1.3K reactions | Look who’s starting to peek out! This little wallaby joey is getting ready for the big world and beginning to scout outside its mom’s pouch. At... | By Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Facebook

On November 22nd, the zoo announced they would close The Birdhouse building on November 25th for renovations.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

On April 15th, the zoo reopened The Birdhouse building to the public, while Penguin Coast will remain closed for further renovations.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

On May 21st, it was announced that a cinereous vulture hatched, though required a foster parent and was subsequently transferred to Toledo Zoo & Aquarium in Ohio.

The Toledo Zoo
 
A couple of updates from my visit today:
- The birdhouse no longer displays wrinkled hornbills or bali mynas. The former hornbill exhibit now displays blue-billed curassows.
- The reptile nursery is displaying a juvenile spiny-tailed monitor and juvenile Vietnamese mossy frogs.
- There's a green sea turtle now on display in the largest aquarium tank.
- The Australian aviary remains under renovation.
- The red-ruffed lemur exhibit is under renovation as is one of the golden lion tamarin exhibits. The red-ruffed lemurs were moved to half of the squirrel monkey exhibit.
- The babirusa exhibit is closed for renovations.
 
I would love if those Conservation Outpost renovations actually involve some construction/expansion, but I’m not optimistic. I hope the babirusa exhibit being under renovation doesn’t imply something happened to their final babirusa… If so, I hope they’re able to do something fun with those exhibits.
 
I would love if those Conservation Outpost renovations actually involve some construction/expansion, but I’m not optimistic. I hope the babirusa exhibit being under renovation doesn’t imply something happened to their final babirusa… If so, I hope they’re able to do something fun with those exhibits.

They used to have nine more exhibits. Really they should rebuild a new nocturnal house should they have the budget. Tropical and Desert themes divided. One side had Binturong Clouded Leopards and perhaps Lemurs. Desert side holds Coati, Pallas Cat,Jackal,Porcupine etc.
 
I would love if those Conservation Outpost renovations actually involve some construction/expansion, but I’m not optimistic. I hope the babirusa exhibit being under renovation doesn’t imply something happened to their final babirusa… If so, I hope they’re able to do something fun with those exhibits.

They used to have nine more exhibits. Really they should rebuild a new nocturnal house should they have the budget. Tropical and Desert themes divided. One side had Binturong Clouded Leopards and perhaps Lemurs. Desert side holds Coati, Pallas Cat,Jackal,Porcupine etc.
 
Back
Top