Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
He has received the name of BAATAR (" Hero " in Mongolian language).
Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "Say to… . . . Baatar! The name is of Mongolian origin and means “hero.” #bactriancamel #camel #camelcalf #mkezoo"
Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2025
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Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "Say to… . . . Baatar! The name is of Mongolian origin and means “hero.” #bactriancamel #camel #camelcalf #mkezoo"
Haliaeetus
Well-Known Member
Milwaukee County Zoo will be closing down its Small Mammal Building by the end of the year.
Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "We are closing a chapter on the Small Mammals Building… After careful consideration of the needs of the animals residing in the space, we have decided to close the Small Mammals Building by the end of the year. Learn more from Executive Zoo Director Amos Morris: https://mkezoo.com/Update Photo: Small Mammals Building from1965"
Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "We are closing a chapter on the Small Mammals Building… After careful consideration of the needs of the animals residing in the space, we have decided to close the Small Mammals Building by the end of the year. Learn more from Executive Zoo Director Amos Morris: https://mkezoo.com/Update Photo: Small Mammals Building from1965"
While it is extremely sad to lose any building, area or species, it was well overdue and we all knew it was coming eventually. Just such an empty building with outdated exhibits. I was at the zoo last week and noticed a few species had already been gone. My only hope is that many of these animals make a return in the tropical building, or primate building remodel. I would honestly love to see a new nocturnal house attached to one of the buildings so the zoo continues to house some unique species.
The building is outdated and needs to go, and Morris explained the reasons why reasonably. I admit I am disappointed that this appears to be disconnected from future developnents. I was very much hoping this news would be accompanied by the announcement of a brand new exhibit, and I hope maybe this decision can help get the ball rolling on that. Maybe some donor's kid will miss the sloths.
I really, really hope some of these species return to the zoo. The sloth are slated to be part of Tropics but the others are up in the air. Brazilian porcupine and armadillo might also. Callimico and tamarin could be in Primates or Tropics easily. Loris, bushbaby, and lemurs could move tp the primate building but I worry the nocturnal primates won't be back, whivh are my favorite. None of the projects seem to fit the bats, dwarf mongoose, prevost squirrel or fennec foxes.
Maybe Adventure Africa could use a little kopje with foxes, bush baby and mongoose...
I really, really hope some of these species return to the zoo. The sloth are slated to be part of Tropics but the others are up in the air. Brazilian porcupine and armadillo might also. Callimico and tamarin could be in Primates or Tropics easily. Loris, bushbaby, and lemurs could move tp the primate building but I worry the nocturnal primates won't be back, whivh are my favorite. None of the projects seem to fit the bats, dwarf mongoose, prevost squirrel or fennec foxes.
Maybe Adventure Africa could use a little kopje with foxes, bush baby and mongoose...
When I visited Milwaukee County Zoo in 2010 I made note of almost 20 species inside the Small Mammal House. The link below shows half that as of right now.
Small Mammals Closure - Milwaukee County Zoo
Does this suggest that the tropics building will begin soon after the rhino completion? Obviously after getting funding figured out.
Morris sounded like he was implying this decision was made independent of that but I personally hope the tropics building is next. I don't want this old building sitting empty for twenty years.
To ease the space issues in the building, almost every remaining species is held with access to 2-3 exhibit spaces, which dwindled the collection.
There is no guarantee yet on what’s coming next. Yes the zoo has announced their refresh master plan, though the County is facing a lot of financial difficulties coming up. The county is about to embark on their budget for next year, so we’ll see what the zoo puts in for a request for next year.
Persephone
Well-Known Member
I went about four years ago and the small mammal building was genuinely the highlight of the zoo for me. I loved seeing the vampire bats hop around and all of the mammals scurrying in the dark. I understand it was outdated, but it’s a real loss.
I really hope the zoo includes some of the species in the few projects mentioned in the master plan. Also hoping the sea lion cove and cheetah projects are still happening. Or at least revamp dall sheep mountain into a nice African mixed species exhibit. I understand issues with finances and improved animal care but it would be nice to bring back a majority of the species the zoo had 10-15 years ago even. Australia needs to be brought back eventually, bring back small mammals in these projects already mentioned. I think director Amos Morris has done a wonderful job so far and is bringing this zoo in the right direction, I’m just extremely hopeful and impatient to have such a unique and large collection to further the success of the MCZ!
Vampire bats have left the zoo, as confirmed here in an interview about the closure where Morris elaborates a little bit.
The zoo also now has a page on it's site about the closure of the Small Mammals building, including the video from Amos Morris and a similar message to that posted to social media, but of particularly useful interest, this page looks to be maintaining a list of species still present for those who want to say goodbye. The golden lion tamarins, callimico and pygmy slow loris have left the building. It's possible the former species may pop up at Primates of the World but I imagine loris have left the collection.
The loss of Australia has always stung in particular though as it was my favorite exhibit as a child, and it's been challenging to fit Australian species into speculative master plans. I admit I'm also a little disappointed forever I never saw the Asiatic black bear/Malayan tapir exhibit the way it was intended.
The zoo also now has a page on it's site about the closure of the Small Mammals building, including the video from Amos Morris and a similar message to that posted to social media, but of particularly useful interest, this page looks to be maintaining a list of species still present for those who want to say goodbye. The golden lion tamarins, callimico and pygmy slow loris have left the building. It's possible the former species may pop up at Primates of the World but I imagine loris have left the collection.
I know exactly how you feel. My love for nocturnal houses comes a lot from my 2014 visit to Milwaukee, after which I was not back for a long spell -- they still had potto, kinkajou and black-footed cat at the time alongside several of the more familiar species, and while the enclosures were obviously small, the nocturnal hall was so full of activity. I'd always found myself half-hoping they'd recreate the same exhibit essentially, just at a larger scale for the animals' space needs.
I think the sea lion and cheetah renovations are still on the docket but probably further off for now, which is a shame because they would be both be pretty objective improvements without loss to the collection -- and while the Wild North and Belize Jungle developments look really, really cool, there'll still be some loss inherent.
The loss of Australia has always stung in particular though as it was my favorite exhibit as a child, and it's been challenging to fit Australian species into speculative master plans. I admit I'm also a little disappointed forever I never saw the Asiatic black bear/Malayan tapir exhibit the way it was intended.
Upon going through the County Facilities and Planning Committee, it appears that next year may be the front entrance redo and a lot of demolition (Small Mammals, Ocean Connections). Hopefully with all that clearing it provides ample room for them to start working on that revised master plan!
I wonder where the vampire bats ended up. Apparently Cincinnati is the closest zoo that keeps them? They were a really cool species to have, I hope they make it back into the new neotropical house since they technically fit the theme.
The Asiatic Black Bear/Malayan Tapir combo was a fantastic view. If you backed up enough you'd have a field of view to see the tapir up front, bears up and behind, black rhinos off to the right and then on the left camels in the foreground with, if you were lucky, a tiger waaaay in the back. It was exactly the kind of view that made Milwaukee County Zoo feel special, all these different animals seemingly in one place though obviously with hidden barriers separating them.
Is the new rhino project still going to have an exhibit for a smaller species? Or just hippos rhinos red river hogs? I vaguely remember in one of the blueprints seeing another smaller species exhibit.
@MKE Zoo guy, I do hope you will make sure to keep us closely abreast with all this. I do think the new entry complex will be another prime mover to change the dynamic at the zoo...! The new zoo director Morris is really making waves and moving mountains and he has the guts and vision to communicate over and above Municipality towards the community and general public at large!
Are the future plans already publicly available (per chance)????
They are available on the county’s legistar.
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MKEbonoboluv
Active Member
MKEbonoboluv
Active Member
In 2026 they (ie the city) will be redoing Bluemound Road which is where the entrance to the zoo is. This is one of the reasons for rethinking the front entrance to the zoo. As I understand it people won't pay at the gate but at the entrance to the Gathering Building, which will help to reduce the backup onto Bluemound on busy days. From my perspective I love this because guests will no longer be able to sneak in dogs (and animals) and will have to register them. No more sneaky "emotional support animals" unless they are ADA trained and registered. Also no more balls, nor scooters or roller skates which during busy days are a real issue for guests and are not allowed on the grounds but people sneak them in.