It's hard to believe it's been over a year since my last visit to Milwaukee but I did make it back after several weeks of not working out.
Construction and Transition
Penguins of the Pacific looks great. Even though it's an extension of the existing habitat I think they did a great job improving it while keeping the same spirit. Everything that was already effective about the exhibit is preserved, but the new larger window allows more swimming space, makes for better underwater viewing and a big splash when first entering the park. Some of the better penguin viewing I've had in a while at my local facilities. There's a 'bubble' viewing like at Omaha or London as well. Kids seemed to love it and I enjoyed it. The colorful model starfish will be garish to some but I liked them enough.
The updated/new rhinoceros yard and the path behind it through the former tapir/black bear habitat (RIP) look just about complete. Peafowl and construction workers were in the yard. The entrance to the new building was very visible near the giraffes. No clue the status on the other side yard or the former red river hog yard. I imagine they just need to finish touching up the building interior and maybe some of the transition area where the bear viewing window used to be and the exterior might be mostly done in the near future. Can't wait until this exhibit opens.
Small Mammals
I tried to take my time to say goodbye to this building and it's already a husk of itself even compared to last year. I took extensive video to try to remember it. Most of the dayroom is empty, with only two cotton top tamarins, a single sloth, a single prevost squirrel, and dwarf mongoose remaining. The tamarins have the former Goeldi's monkey enclosures access and the sloth is moved to one of the side enclosures rather than the former otter exhibit, which is signed as empty. Some of the enclosures are already cleared out completely. The night area was also heavily reduced - only Straw-colored fruit bats, Prehensile-tailed porcupine, Armadillo, Senegal bushbaby and Fennec fox remain. There was no sign of the Fennecs today and the porcupine and bushbaby were elusive so a lot of people were passing through disappointed. Memories of seeing kinkajou, potto and black-footed cat here really jumped out at me. This building sparked my love of nocturnal houses. The building's gotta go but I'll miss it. I don't expect I'll make it back before the final close.
Interestingly, a keeper came to clean out the Straw-colored fruit bat enclosure, so I had the chance to see it lit normally. The bats all climbed to a corner of the exhibit to avoid the light. It was a little amusing to see animals so stereotyped as scary and dangerous just kind of casually moving to avoid it. Might the lit room be an image worth actually adding to the Gallery instead of keeping to myself?
Exploration Dinosaur
The temporary exhibition includes Ceratosaurus, Elaphrosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Troodon, Sarcosuchus, Therizinosaurus, Quetzcoatlus, Amargasaurus, Diabloceratops, Parasaurlophus, Muttaburrusaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Ornithomimus, Apatosaurus, a feathered Deinonychus, Deinosucuhus, and the same generic Jurassic Park car from last year. The crocodilians are a nice addition, bit of a shame they didn't include any spinosaurids. Troodon were featherless, Deinonychus had feathers. Apatosaurus had a juvenile and Quetzcoatlus also had young.
Trip Report
- This is probably old news but the crested screamers have returned to their usual outdoor habitat that was empty on my previous visit. This was actually my first time seeing them there. This leaves the second pheasantry exhibit once again empty though.
- The Aviary penguin exhibit must have been cleaned recently - there was zero fog on the glass and it was a very clear image of the exhibit.
- This was my first time spying the zoo's Pied Imperial Pigeon in the zoo's swamp aviary, which was very active but as always mostly owing to the Inca tern and Waldrapp ibis. The Abdim's stork kept to the cliffs and the teal were present but shy as ever.
- There were two green aracari in the aviary. I thought the zoo only had one.
- Kookaburra have left the collection. The Australia enclosure in the Aviary is now home only to tawny forgmouth and masked lapwing.
- Remi the bonobo was visible outside with his mom. The outdoor "trails" didn't make for the best viewing but I was really glad to see them and I'm glad Milwaukee is still breeding this extraordinary species. The gorillas were also active and all three of the zoo's ape species could be seen indoors and out.
- Last year's baby Debrazza monkey is almost fully grown!
- The colobus monkeys appeared to be off display. The indoor habitat was signed to say they were outside but I did not spot them in their outdoor enclosure.
- The golden lion tamarin was not spotted at Primates of the World and no way to tell if the one from SMH had moved here.
- The former cuttlefish/"plastic" exhibit at Aquatic Reptile Center has soil and plants, and a "we're building a better habitat - renovations underway" sign.
- The Pacific Giant Octopus was off display today for maintenance.
- Got to see one of the otters rolling around in sand, that was cute! Otter Passage's varied terrain is something I really appreciate now, it's a great habitat.
- North America: saw two caribou, 0.3 female elk, one prairie dog, and all of the bears but they were largely sleeping or relaxing.
- The serval was more active than I've ever seen! I forgot how big these guys get! Added a lot of activity to the Big Cat House, although the serval was kind of pacing. Minnie the cheetah was also coming up to the glass a lot while Mila was farther off.
- The camels soaked in the water together which was a unique behavior to see, also got to see the two tapirs isolating themselves in a corner, one of which was feeling playful.
- Nyota spotted hyena is still at the zoo and was outside today. I did briefly see her! The three female lions were inside.
- The African Savanna yard had 0.3 waterbuck, 0.4 kudu, and at least four scimitar horned oryx. I do not know where the male kudu was.
- The African Waterhole today had both Thomson's Gazelles out, the pelicans, and the ground hornbill, but no vultures. This was my first time seeing the hornbill out at Milwaukee! I do love the tommies.
- I did not see any of the outdoor tortoises (Yellow-footed or African spurred) -- perhaps they've already been moved for winter?
- All three elephants seemed separated today when I was in the area. Belle was outdoors while Ruth and Brittany were inside in different interior enclosures. I wondered if they were possibly being separated due to the recent incident.
- No sign of zebra.
- It seemed like all of the food places were closed today besides the popcorn stands. Nourish 414 was closed by 2:15pm. I have no idea why. I was planning to have a late lunch there.
- The zoo is replacing some older signage, particularly by the primates. I have a couple photos where you can see the new sign in front of the old sign with the same text. I actually do think Milwaukee has some of the better zoo signage.
My phone ran out of battery when I saw the hippo, giraffe, bongo, impala and elephant, which made the end of the visit a little rushed and annoying.
Hopefully Milwaukee doesn't phase out elephants anytime soon the project of Adventure Africa hasn't even been fully finished yet, I've been waiting since 2019 to see the exhibit in full with the elephants, hippos, and rhinos (opening in a few months).