I'm pretty sure they had this species or a similar species years back.
Detroit Zoo Detroit Zoo News 2025
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USZOOfan42
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Of the limited information I know (based off volunteers, budget reports, contractors, and much more), here should be the schedule and I will provide all known information about it:
• Giraffe Exhibit Redevelopment- Fall 2025
New feeding deck,along with more space for a larger herd. Should be finished by June 2026
New species include, Bush Dogs, Giant Anteaters, Stingrays, Bamboo Sharks, Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls and Domestics. There will also be multiple playgrounds and an amphitheater.
I’ve read somewhere that the zoo had proposed a new entrance and will try to make it look “cleaner”. The gift shop renovation could of been it but I think there will be more.
I’ve heard rumors for keepers, volunteers and other workers that the director wants to build a new Asia facility to house orangutans and other species. With the new species like sloth bears and white naped cranes, this could be soon.
I have heard from multiple volunteers that the exhibit will be deeply gutted out and renovated for a new exciting* species that is rare in the AZA.
The former penguin exhibit, picnic sites, hideaway and hangout, and Africa are all said to get some new species or a renovation. Nothing big, as it’s stated discovery trails will be the largest project. There was some rumor a while ago that the zoo would move the elands and ostriches to the giraffe, warthog, or zebra exhibit and move the lions will move down there, with a very deep renovation of course 
There was a plan to make a new lion exhibit and place snow leopards in the current lion exhibit. There were also plans for Pygmy hippos, but I suspect that fell through.
When did you here about the Asia expansion? Would it take over the space currently used for the temporary Dinosaur/Dragon exhibits?Of the limited information I know (based off volunteers, budget reports, contractors, and much more), here should be the schedule and I will provide all known information about it:
• Giraffe Exhibit Redevelopment- Fall 2025
• Discovery Trails- Spring 2026New feeding deck,along with more space for a larger herd. Should be finished by June 2026
• New Entrance?- Unknown Date, after Discovery TrailsNew species include, Bush Dogs, Giant Anteaters, Stingrays, Bamboo Sharks, Prairie Dogs, Burrowing Owls and Domestics. There will also be multiple playgrounds and an amphitheater.
• Asia Renovation- Unknown DateI’ve read somewhere that the zoo had proposed a new entrance and will try to make it look “cleaner”. The gift shop renovation could of been it but I think there will be more.
• Former Prairie Dogs Exhibit- Spring-Summer 2026I’ve heard rumors for keepers, volunteers and other workers that the director wants to build a new Asia facility to house orangutans and other species. With the new species like sloth bears and white naped cranes, this could be soon.
• OthersI have heard from multiple volunteers that the exhibit will be deeply gutted out and renovated for a new exciting* species that is rare in the AZA.
The former penguin exhibit, picnic sites, hideaway and hangout, and Africa are all said to get some new species or a renovation. Nothing big, as it’s stated discovery trails will be the largest project. There was some rumor a while ago that the zoo would move the elands and ostriches to the giraffe, warthog, or zebra exhibit and move the lions will move down there, with a very deep renovation of course
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
From volunteers and workers, starting 2 years ago as a rumor and I still hear about it now.
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Few updates from yesterday's visit:
Holden Reptile Conservation Center
• The Fly River Turtle now is in the former arrau turtle tank.
• The former Fly River Turtle pond is currently empty and drained. There will be a new species soon.
Great Apes of Harambee
• The new chimpanzee baby is on exhibit, only indoors. The females are indoors and the males are outdoors.
African Grasslands
• Two White Storks are in the flamingo habitat
• Tubby, the spurred tortoise is back on habitat and is mixed with the two pelicans and two white storks.
• The mousebirds are back on exhibit in the hideaway. There's currently 12 of them.
• All 3 lions were on exhibit together
Arctic Ring of Life
• Currently Suka and Haley seem to be rotating. On my last visit I saw Haley and Nuka in the larger habitat and Suka in the tundra habitat, and yesterday was the opposite.
National Amphibian Conservation Center
• There is construction on the smooth sided toad habitat, likely for a new species.
• There is now an emperor spotted newt in the former blind salamander exhibit.
• The giant salamanders are back on exhibit! They have removed all of the algae.
Holden Reptile Conservation Center
• The Fly River Turtle now is in the former arrau turtle tank.
• The former Fly River Turtle pond is currently empty and drained. There will be a new species soon.
Great Apes of Harambee
• The new chimpanzee baby is on exhibit, only indoors. The females are indoors and the males are outdoors.
African Grasslands
• Two White Storks are in the flamingo habitat
• Tubby, the spurred tortoise is back on habitat and is mixed with the two pelicans and two white storks.
• The mousebirds are back on exhibit in the hideaway. There's currently 12 of them.
• All 3 lions were on exhibit together
Arctic Ring of Life
• Currently Suka and Haley seem to be rotating. On my last visit I saw Haley and Nuka in the larger habitat and Suka in the tundra habitat, and yesterday was the opposite.
National Amphibian Conservation Center
• There is construction on the smooth sided toad habitat, likely for a new species.
• There is now an emperor spotted newt in the former blind salamander exhibit.
• The giant salamanders are back on exhibit! They have removed all of the algae.
Just a general question:
Do we feel like the Detroit Zoo can compete with the Toledo Zoo with all of major projects and renovations the Toledo Zoo has in the future?
Do we feel like the Detroit Zoo can compete with the Toledo Zoo with all of major projects and renovations the Toledo Zoo has in the future?
Honestly, I feel Detroit is already better than Toledo. Toledo has more species, but it's hard to compete with the general space Detroit give their animals, along with more must-see exhibits (Penguins, Polar Bears & Amphibians) compared to Toledo (Museum).
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Detroit Zoo for sure can not compete with Toledo. While Detroit’s future seems bright, it only contains a playground with bush dogs and digging species, and possibly as new giraffe exhibit and entrance. But, Toledo is already building a world class reptile house, and is set to build a new aviary, red panda facility, carnivore section, a new entrance and a world class elephant exhibit, I think around 6 acres! I already prefer to visit Toledo over Detroit, and I feel the exhibits and viewing is substantially better at Toledo, and large savanna that is full of species, a decent arctic section where you can actually see the bears, one of the best zoo-aquariums in the world, the best zoo museum, an amazing aviary, and a Tasmanian devils transfer hub. All of which is better than Detroit imao, with all exhibits housing a species with a 99% success rate of seeing with a few exhibits on a smaller scale.
I personally prefer Detroit over Toledo. I think the grounds is nicer and more natural, like a park. The exhibits are also much larger, for the most part. The African savanna is larger at Toledo, but you basically have to pay extra to feed giraffes and take the train if you want a good view of the animals there. I feel like visibility has gotten better at the Detroit Zoo too. As much as I love the views of the animals at Toledo, the reason they're always visible is because the most of the animals have very little space. Even the newest exhibits, like the bears, or their planned carnivore area, aren't that big.
I'm hoping that as Toledo builds new projects people don't leave Detroit for Toledo: less visits, less memberships, less support. If Detroit really is going to rennovate Asia and add orangutans, and do some other major renovations, I think it'll be fine.
I'm hoping that as Toledo builds new projects people don't leave Detroit for Toledo: less visits, less memberships, less support. If Detroit really is going to rennovate Asia and add orangutans, and do some other major renovations, I think it'll be fine.
In terms of their respective (public) master plans, I think Toledo definitely has Detroit beat, for reasons already outlined on this thread:
However, as it stands, I’m somewhat torn between which zoo to rank higher. This is because in my humble opinion, Toledo Zoo & Aquarium has the superior collection, but Detroit Zoo has in general higher-quality enclosures for their animals. I guess it comes down to which of these criteria matters more to you.
Photo of renovation happening in the reptile house. There was a sign that said empty for habitat renovations where the fly River turtle was. I wish they would add visitor levels exhibits with I underwater viewing for the turtles, but I don't think that would work based on the placement of the behind the scenes area. I'm guessing they will eventually place another large lizard where Solar was,over the Caiman back to their habitat, and the fly River turtle will go back to where it was once it's renovated.
I wish they would house one species of crocodile in the reptile building, but I don't think they have the infrastructure for it in there, or anywhere else around the zoo.
I wish they would house one species of crocodile in the reptile building, but I don't think they have the infrastructure for it in there, or anywhere else around the zoo.
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USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
Few updates from today's visit:
Asian Forest:
Asian Forest:
- Both Ravi and Ginger are now mixed, with the hope of cubs. The bridge was closed for breeding.
- I was told the zoo's two tigers hate each other, with little to no hope for breeding
- The rhea and sandhill crane habitat will be permanent. There may be more species to come.
- The white naped cranes should get a new habitat soon, they think near the red panda exhibit.
- I've seen the sloth the first time since he was moved from NACC
- All 3 lions were on exhibit
- There was a transport crate next to the beaver exhibit, either one was transported out or the zoo got another one.
- There is construction on the former penguin house! No idea what it may be for though.
I assume this will mean a new habitat is constructed, because I don’t think any of the existing ones in that part of the zoo could be easily repurposed for them?
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
For sure. It could be the vulture habitat or camel, but I hope that we see a new asia section.
They might just move the vultures back to the African grasslands in the watering hole exhibit, but the current area has been the vulture habitat for a long time in the past, and people really like the new vulture habitat. I do as well.
I heard some time ago that the Penguinarium building would be turned into a rentable space for events, like weddings. It was also supposed to be a bat exhibit before that, so who knows.
A new crane exhibit would be nice in the Asia section. I suspect the new exhibit in the African birds are with the flamingos will be for crowned cranes, but could be something else.
More visible beavers would be nice, but I usually don't see moving beavers during the day, not matter the zoo.
I will probably never happen, but I would love for them to turn the old Penguinarium into an actual Aquarium.