I do not believe they exhibit Little Pocket Mouse or Guam Rail.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Zoo Safari Park News 2025
- Thread starter Kudu21
- Start date
I do not believe they exhibit Little Pocket Mouse or Guam Rail.
Neither the pronghorn nor the superb bird-of-paradise are on exhibit at the Park; however, both are on display at the Zoo.
In addition to the male in the Somali wild ass exhibit along the Africa Tram (which is more the fourth hillside exhibit than the first), there are also Soemmerring's gazelles in two exhibits in the African Woods walk-about section of the Park, as well as mixed with the giraffe at the Zoo.
There are now two mixed vulture exhibits along the Africa Tram path (one across from the Rhino Rescue Center on the left side of the tram and one across from the South Africa field exhibit along the right side of the tram), and there are Cape vultures in both of them.
For context, as the drivers do not always denote which field exhibits are which, the Central Africa field exhibit is behind the South Africa field exhibit going up the hill and is on the left side of the bridge at the top. The African Forest field exhibit in on the right side of the bridge at the top.
That is correct. Neither are on display.
The opening of Elephant Valley has been announced for early 2026, as part of their celebration for World Elephant Day. Link is to their social media post on Facebook.
Giraffe Update:
A little birdy (aka a a Park Tour Guide) told me that at least three female generic giraffe are pretty heavily pregnant in the East Africa habitat, following the arrival of the new breeding bull last summer. Also in the same conversation I learned that the field habitat Care Specialists have reported that Gowon was observed breeding several of the females in the Masai herd prior to his passing.
A little birdy (aka a a Park Tour Guide) told me that at least three female generic giraffe are pretty heavily pregnant in the East Africa habitat, following the arrival of the new breeding bull last summer. Also in the same conversation I learned that the field habitat Care Specialists have reported that Gowon was observed breeding several of the females in the Masai herd prior to his passing.
TBD as masterplanning is ongoing, and there are vacancies for the CEO and Park Director.
A Gorilla Forest overhaul is most likely. Which would also entail a redesign of the entry lagoons, and create new habitats for okapi and red river hogs. I am short on details but privy to the concepts. I think it's a priority to update the 1970's grotto, which would bring the entire Park to a cohesive and contemporary standard aesthetically.
Perhaps a Tram Route to the Asian Plains?
What's to be expected for the Redesign of Gorilla Forest and perhaps the whole of Nairobi Village and African Woods, formerly Heart of Africa?
A few more updates from around the Park!
-1.1 western lowland gorillas "Paul Donn" and "Jessica" have been introduced to the troop of 0.4 females, and they are all now sharing time on exhibit together.
-There is now a lowland nyala calf in the old sitatunga exhibit in African Outpost with the rest of the females. The male remains in the original lowland nyala exhibit behind the Africa Tram loading area.
-The female Masai giraffe calf has officially been reintroduced to the rest of the herd and the South Africa field exhibit! According to the tram driver, she has been named "Subeera", meaning "patience is rewarded" in Arabic. The male calf has been named "Matope", meaning "mud" in Swahili.
-Also according to the tram driver, an ellipsen waterbuck calf was apparently born in the South Africa field exhibit last week in front of a tram tour. The calf is still too young to be up with the herd, so I, unsurprisingly, did not actually see the calf.
-The last male Malayan sambar was removed from the Nubian ibex exhibit and reintroduced to the Asian Plains field exhibit; however, he was castrated, so the remaining Malayan sambar will be the last Malayan sambar at the Park.
-The Park appears to be down another adult female greater one-horned rhinoceros. They have been experiencing off and on illnesses with this herd for quite some time now, from what I have heard, with most of the individuals being in and out of the boma at some point for treatment.... So I wonder if another one has passed away
Not news, but an interesting animal observation -- the mixed flock of African vultures in the exhibit across from the Rhino Rescue Center received a full carcass today, and it was very exciting to actually get to see them exhibit natural feeding behaviors! It is definitely something I wish American zoos would do more often.
-1.1 western lowland gorillas "Paul Donn" and "Jessica" have been introduced to the troop of 0.4 females, and they are all now sharing time on exhibit together.
-There is now a lowland nyala calf in the old sitatunga exhibit in African Outpost with the rest of the females. The male remains in the original lowland nyala exhibit behind the Africa Tram loading area.
-The female Masai giraffe calf has officially been reintroduced to the rest of the herd and the South Africa field exhibit! According to the tram driver, she has been named "Subeera", meaning "patience is rewarded" in Arabic. The male calf has been named "Matope", meaning "mud" in Swahili.
-Also according to the tram driver, an ellipsen waterbuck calf was apparently born in the South Africa field exhibit last week in front of a tram tour. The calf is still too young to be up with the herd, so I, unsurprisingly, did not actually see the calf.
-The last male Malayan sambar was removed from the Nubian ibex exhibit and reintroduced to the Asian Plains field exhibit; however, he was castrated, so the remaining Malayan sambar will be the last Malayan sambar at the Park.
-The Park appears to be down another adult female greater one-horned rhinoceros. They have been experiencing off and on illnesses with this herd for quite some time now, from what I have heard, with most of the individuals being in and out of the boma at some point for treatment.... So I wonder if another one has passed away
Not news, but an interesting animal observation -- the mixed flock of African vultures in the exhibit across from the Rhino Rescue Center received a full carcass today, and it was very exciting to actually get to see them exhibit natural feeding behaviors! It is definitely something I wish American zoos would do more often.
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The hoofstock baby boom continues at the Park, with at least four more additions born in the last week or so!
-There are now two greater kudu calves with the three adults in the old giant eland exhibit on African Woods.
-There is now one eastern white-bearded wildebeest calf in the herd in the East Africa field exhibit, following three calves born to the herd in the Central Africa field exhibit earlier this summer.
-Lastly, there is also a South African springbok calf in the South Africa field exhibit!
-There are now two greater kudu calves with the three adults in the old giant eland exhibit on African Woods.
-There is now one eastern white-bearded wildebeest calf in the herd in the East Africa field exhibit, following three calves born to the herd in the Central Africa field exhibit earlier this summer.
-Lastly, there is also a South African springbok calf in the South Africa field exhibit!
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Hello. I'm back from my trip to California. Can anyone help me with the gazelles at the San Diego Safari?
According to Zootierliste, the following live there: Nanger dama ruficollis, Eudorcas rufifrons laevipes, Gazella leptoceros, Litocranius walleri walleri, Nanger granti granti, Antidorcas marsupialis, Nanger soemmerringii soemmerringii, and Eudorcas thomsonii.
The only ones that have their own installation and sign are: Litocranius walleri walleri and Nanger soemmerringii soemmerringii.
In the Safari area, I was able to photograph some others, but I don't know which ones they still have. For example, next to the Somali wild asses, there was a species. Does anyone know which one it is? Or next to the Nanger soemmerringii, there was another installation with gazelles, but no sign. Are they the same ones?
The one I'm sure I haven't seen is Nanger dama.
I'd appreciate any information or location of species so I can identify them. Thank you.
According to Zootierliste, the following live there: Nanger dama ruficollis, Eudorcas rufifrons laevipes, Gazella leptoceros, Litocranius walleri walleri, Nanger granti granti, Antidorcas marsupialis, Nanger soemmerringii soemmerringii, and Eudorcas thomsonii.
The only ones that have their own installation and sign are: Litocranius walleri walleri and Nanger soemmerringii soemmerringii.
In the Safari area, I was able to photograph some others, but I don't know which ones they still have. For example, next to the Somali wild asses, there was a species. Does anyone know which one it is? Or next to the Nanger soemmerringii, there was another installation with gazelles, but no sign. Are they the same ones?
The one I'm sure I haven't seen is Nanger dama.
I'd appreciate any information or location of species so I can identify them. Thank you.
There are Soemmerring’s gazelles in neighboring exhibits in the African Woods section of the Park, with females in the exhibit that is signed for them and there are two unsigned males in with the greater kudu. There is also a male Soemmerring’s gazelle in the Somali wild ass exhibit.
The herd of Thomson’s gazelles is in the East Africa field exhibit, which is the first and last field exhibit passed on the Africa Tram, and the field exhibit viewed from the Kalima Point viewing area on the footpath.
The South African springbok are in the South Africa field exhibit, which is the second field exhibit passed on the Africa Tram.
The red-fronted gazelles are in the African Forest field exhibit, which is the field exhibit on the right side of the bridge at the top of the Africa Tram path.
There are no addra or slender-horned gazelles on public display. Both of these species are managed entirely behind-the-scenes.
The Park has not had Grant’s gazelles in almost four or five years at this point.
THANKS!
I am glad that SD-WAP sticks by the rarer gazelle species on the Safari.
@Kifaru Bwana: Happy to see that I am not the only one still using the term "San Diego Wild Animal Park"....
A lot of updates from the Park this morning!
A Burmese python is now in the former kinkajou exhibit in Nairobi Village.
A third southern gerenuk calf has been born and is on exhibit with the herd in African Woods.
Although I did not see it (as it is very much still hiding away), it was announced on the tram that the first sable antelope calf of the season was born in the South Africa field exhibit recently!
A new male Masai giraffe has arrived and is in quarantine in the boma between the South Africa and Central Africa field exhibits. I believe it should be “Raymie” from Santa Barbara.
The Park is in the process of moving the Nubian ibex herd from their exhibit above the Asian Plains field exhibit to the hillside exhibit between the South Africa and Central Africa field exhibits on the back side of the Africa Tram. There are at least two ibex in the exhibit already.
A Burmese python is now in the former kinkajou exhibit in Nairobi Village.
A third southern gerenuk calf has been born and is on exhibit with the herd in African Woods.
Although I did not see it (as it is very much still hiding away), it was announced on the tram that the first sable antelope calf of the season was born in the South Africa field exhibit recently!
A new male Masai giraffe has arrived and is in quarantine in the boma between the South Africa and Central Africa field exhibits. I believe it should be “Raymie” from Santa Barbara.
The Park is in the process of moving the Nubian ibex herd from their exhibit above the Asian Plains field exhibit to the hillside exhibit between the South Africa and Central Africa field exhibits on the back side of the Africa Tram. There are at least two ibex in the exhibit already.
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Where in Nairobi Village is this and when was there kinkajou on exhibit?