Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Riverbanks Zoo News

[zoologicus]

0.1 harbor seal Riley was transferred from the Riverbanks Zoo to the Point Defiance Zoo on January 30th, 2025. Point Defiance has also assumed ownership of the animal from Riverbanks.

Riverbanks now no longer houses this species.

Riverbanks once again houses harbor seals with the arrival of 2.0 Jerry and Cecil from SeaWorld San Antonio on April 28th, 2025.

Cecil was born in San Antonio on May 7th, 2023, while Jerry was born at SeaWorld Orlando on June 13th, 2015, arriving in San Antonio on January 9th, 2018.

 

[Brookrowcottage]

Does anyone else remember when the zoo housed South American Sea Lions?

 

[zoologicus]

Does anyone else remember when the zoo housed South American Sea Lions?

I had never known they held this species, thank you for sharing!

I looked through the MMIR for more information on their collection:

• They imported 1.4 roughly year-old South American sea lions (Albert, Easter, Greta, Summer, and one unlisted) on March 9th, 1974, from an unnamed foreign facility
• A pup was born on July 6th, 1977, though passing away on the 14th from an infected umbilicus
• On October 11th, 1977 the unnamed female drowned during a mating attempt with the bull, Albert, leaving the park with 1.3 sea lions
• On March 27th, 1979 female sea lion Easter died from a bite wound, leaving the park with 1.2 sea lions Albert, Greta, and Summer
• On July 29th, 1980 female sea lion Greta died from hyperthermia, leaving the park with 1.1 sea lions Albert and Summer
• The park imported 0.3 additional sea lions from an unnamed foreign facility on October 12th, 1980; however, all three were deceased upon inspection at the Kennedy Airport
• On April 8th, 1981 the remaining pair (1.1 Albert and Summer) were transferred to SeaWorld Orlando, thus ending the exhibition of South American sea lions at Riverbanks.

SeaWorld Orlando exported Albert (now renamed Billy) and Summer to Marineland Antibes on March 15th, 1983. Albert / Billy passed away at Marineland from cancer and pneumonia on July 11th, 1991; Marineland stopped contributing data to the MMIR in late 1995, at which point Summer was still living at the park.

I'd love to know more about these individuals and their origins if anyone has any further information!

 

[Brookrowcottage]

I had never known they held this species, thank you for sharing!

I looked through the MMIR for more information on their collection:

• They imported 1.4 roughly year-old South American sea lions (Albert, Easter, Greta, Summer, and one unlisted) on March 9th, 1974, from an unnamed foreign facility
• A pup was born on July 6th, 1977, though passing away on the 14th from an infected umbilicus
• On October 11th, 1977 the unnamed female drowned during a mating attempt with the bull, Albert, leaving the park with 1.3 sea lions
• On March 27th, 1979 female sea lion Easter died from a bite wound, leaving the park with 1.2 sea lions Albert, Greta, and Summer
• On July 29th, 1980 female sea lion Greta died from hyperthermia, leaving the park with 1.1 sea lions Albert and Summer
• The park imported 0.3 additional sea lions from an unnamed foreign facility on October 12th, 1980; however, all three were deceased upon inspection at the Kennedy Airport
• On April 8th, 1981 the remaining pair (1.1 Albert and Summer) were transferred to SeaWorld Orlando, thus ending the exhibition of South American sea lions at Riverbanks.

SeaWorld Orlando exported Albert (now renamed Billy) and Summer to Marineland Antibes on March 15th, 1983. Albert / Billy passed away at Marineland from cancer and pneumonia on July 11th, 1991; Marineland stopped contributing data to the MMIR in late 1995, at which point Summer was still living at the park.

I'd love to know more about these individuals and their origins if anyone has any further information!

They probably were imported from Europe but not sure. Many of their original animals were. They decided not to get any more due to problems housing them with the California Sea Lions, this was the same time they got rid of the Agile and Grey Gibbons due to hybridization.

 

[Smaggledagle]

2 Pieces of June 2025 News Not Mentioned:

This must be because a chick hatched recently!

brief article on the toco toucan chick:
Riverbanks Zoo adds new member to zoo family - ABC Columbia

On June 4th, the zoo announced they sexed the toucan as (0.1) and named the toucan Beatriz.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Meet Riverbanks Zoo’s First Toco Toucan Chick in Over a Decade

On June 18th, the zoo announced that 2 Temminck's tragopans hatched which are now on display in the aviary next to Wild Burger. This is the first time since 2021 that Riverbanks successfully bred the species.

17K views · 375 reactions | Our Temminck's Tragopan recently welcomed two adorable young chicks — the first hatch for this species in FOUR years! These little explorers are... | By Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Facebook

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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 June 25th, the zoo announced they sexed the wallaby as a (1.0).

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

On July 2nd, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) Sumatran tiger named Suci from Memphis Zoo in Tennessee which is now on exhibit.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

 

[Milwaukee Man]

“Saluda Skyride” has opened to the public.

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[SwampDonkey]

“Saluda Skyride” has opened to the public.

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That's cool, I used to like the one in ZooTampa, although that one was a round trip and didn't go anywhere.

 

[Mr. Bobcat]

I have recently read that the Penguin exhibit has reopened in the Birdhouse.

Also two new Harbor Seals have joined the California Sea Lions.

 

[biggest_dreamer]

When and why was the penguin exhibit closed?

 

[Mr. Bobcat]

They recently did some renovations to the Birdhouse.

 

[6f5e4d]

Been a while since I've gone, hopefully, the place is still doing well.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

17-month-old female giraffe Kamari is arriving from the Memphis Zoo.
Memphis Zoo’s Kamari the giraffe begins new journey to Riverbanks Zoo

 

[Brookrowcottage]

I think some more outdoor aviaries could improve the zoo quite a bit.

 

[Brookrowcottage]

They should be conveniently placed and in accordance to the area they're in. (Africa,Asia) etc but to go from 250 species of birds to less than half today is pretty sad.

 

[6f5e4d]

I remember all those different sets of bird exhibits scattered all around the zoo. Sometimes even showing off species already in the Birdhouse.

 

[Summer Tanager]

I think additional bird exhibits are always welcome and needed - especially in a southern zoo like Riverbanks where many species can be kept outdoors 10 to 12 months out of the year!

 

[Brookrowcottage]

So with the current setup of the zoo what would be some good outdoor aviary exhibit? It seems they already have Africa and Australia covered. Plus Asia but not as many. Could they fit an aviary for a bald eagle over by the Grizzlies? Maybe some more African Bird of Prey? Some more toucans wold be cool too. They had 7 species of toucan on opening day.

 

[Mr. Bobcat]

I think additional bird exhibits are always welcome and needed - especially in a southern zoo like Riverbanks where many species can be kept outdoors 10 to 12 months out of the year!

I would certainly agree. Can never have too many birds.

 

[zoomaniac]

The best place for a new (big) aviary at RBZ would be the botanical part. Enough space and it would also upgrade this area. Maybe even some exhibits for mammals from temperate/subtropical regions would make sense there, when softly integrated.

 

[Mr. Bobcat]

I think their long term goal is to create new modern exhibits for the primates and big cats up by the botanical gardens.