Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Zoo News

Gulo gulo said:
A single, Chelonoidis nigra microphyes has hatched.
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Interesting. I am currently reading the San Diego Zoo centennial books and it states they had the first US breeding of this species (not sure which subspecies). I wonder if many places breed them now. When I was at Prescott Zoo (also in Arizona) a couple weeks ago, they had a pair on loan from a private breeding center (also in Arizona) called Surprise Foundation. Internet searches revealed nothing about this clandestine organization.
 
I find it interesting that, at this point, the zoo still hasn't made any big announcement about the arrival of the two hyenas. They said they didn't want them to be overshadowed by the opening of the new tiger exhibit, but that was just over a year ago. The new Maned Wolf got a lot of publicity, but all the zoo says about the attival of the hyenas is that they'll announce something 'soon'. At this time, it would be pointless. "Come meet our new Spotted Hyenas...they arrived 15 months ago but we're just now telling you." Hahahaha
 
I assume it is as you say (regarding hyenas). At this point they have been there so long that it is pointless to make an announcement.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Interesting. I am currently reading the San Diego Zoo centennial books and it states they had the first US breeding of this species (not sure which subspecies). I wonder if many places breed them now. When I was at Prescott Zoo (also in Arizona) a couple weeks ago, they had a pair on loan from a private breeding center (also in Arizona) called Surprise Foundation. Internet searches revealed nothing about this clandestine organization.
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@AD, not clandestine Surprise Foundation it is one of the TSA private breeders.

Chelonoidis microphyes incidentally is the Volcan Darwin species.

I think the Phoenix Zoo might have got offspring from the GPZ breeding groups in Brownsville (who have 2 separate spp. breeding groups) recently.

This breeding is though by a longtime resident female Mary and male Mopey on loan from Philadelphia Zoo.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixZoo/?fref=ts

Cannot find anything as to species as you claimed though .., but perhaps they now have been ID-ed as microphyes ...
 
Arizona Docent said:
What exactly is TSA?
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@AD, sorry about talking in acronyms. I assumed by mistake you would know given background and excellent knowledge base on everything to do with AZA. TSA stands for Turtle Survival Alliance.

The John Behler Institute rings a bell by any chance?
 
Some updates from my visit of July 19, 2016.
(I have not been to the zoo in about three years, so some of these may not be new per se).

Fennec fox on display in the exhibit that rotates periodically between fox and tortoise.

Native reptiles now on display in the former frogs and toads of the world house on the Arizona Trail.

African reptiles on display (and out of place) in an alcove in the Arizona Trail.

Second jaguar exhibit being built adjacent to existing one (so that both jaguars can be out at once).

The mixed species South American wetlands is now an American alligator exhibit (which is what it was years ago).

California condors on display in the large flight cage on Arizona Trail. A new smaller flight cage is near it to exhibit the bald eagles that were formerly in the large cage.
 
On the Galapagos giant tortoises and recent hatching: both parents Mopey and Mary are confirmed Chelonoidis microphyes Volcan Darwin.

Just wonder what species the male Ralph of the Original pairing is / was?
Anyone party to that info?

Sobering note: all 13 hatchlings born before June 2016 are crossbreeds .... for sure.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
On the Galapagos giant tortoises and recent hatching: both parents Mopey and Mary are confirmed Chelonoidis microphyes Volcan Darwin.

Just wonder what species the male Ralph of the Original pairing is / was?
Anyone party to that info?

Sobering note: all 13 hatchlings born before June 2016 are crossbreeds .... for sure.
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Yes. Ralph is vandenburghi.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Some updates from my visit of July 19, 2016.
(I have not been to the zoo in about three years, so some of these may not be new per se).

Fennec fox on display in the exhibit that rotates periodically between fox and tortoise.

Native reptiles now on display in the former frogs and toads of the world house on the Arizona Trail.

African reptiles on display (and out of place) in an alcove in the Arizona Trail.

Second jaguar exhibit being built adjacent to existing one (so that both jaguars can be out at once).

The mixed species South American wetlands is now an American alligator exhibit (which is what it was years ago).

California condors on display in the large flight cage on Arizona Trail. A new smaller flight cage is near it to exhibit the bald eagles that were formerly in the large cage.
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I've been there a tad more recently and some of your reports are new such as that they're rotating the Fennec Fox with the tortoise. My friend gets confused when she goes to visit and sees the tortoise there and wonders what happened to the Fennecs that where there "last time" so I'll be happy to report back to her with that.

The alligators went in last year. December 2015. There's 8 of them and they came from Florida. I saw 5 of them and the docent said he's seen 7 of them and the 8th was under the bridge thing "somewhere".

I don't know what happened with Ralph. Unless you ask someone about an animal specifically, they don't generally tell you unless it was a "big name" animal like Papago the Lion or Missy (I think that's what her name was) their melanistic jaguar.

Last I heard, one of the coatis had moved into the old Bald Eagle flight cage. I don't often get a chance to visit the Arizona Trail when I'm there so I have to rely on my friend to report what she saw.

I had no idea they were building a second yard so they can have both jaguars out and visible to the public. Hopefully they'll use the same kind of fencing that is there now. It's much better for picture-taking. :) I can usually spot the off-exhibit cat in the back if I look hard enough, but depending on the lighting at the time, I may not always be able to see it moving around.

Thank you, AD, for the information!
 
Ituri said:
Yes. Ralph is vandenburghi.
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Thanks for confirming Ituri!

Any other info for that you can offer?

I suspect / assume male Ralph will be transferred to a group holding vandenburghi then (San Diego Zoo a.o.)?

It might also open up possibilities of bringing more microphyes in, especially more females and perhaps a second male?!!!
 
Somehow I missed this. One year ago the zoo partnered with Phoenix Parks to open South Mountain Environmental Education Center at the sprawling South Mountain Park. The website for the new center redirects to a subpage within the Phoenix Zoo website. There is not a lot of information but as far as I can see no live animal exhibits but maybe some small ambassador animals? If so, ambassador animals are perhaps housed at the zoo and brought to the center by zoo staff? In case you don't know, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation is the Phoenix Zoo.
South Mountain Environmental Education Center - Phoenix Zoo
 
During the month of March, the zoo will remain open until 7pm Monday through Thursday. On weekends (Friday through Sunday) they will close at the regular 5pm time.
 
As part of a new campaign, the zoo will be remodeling some current exhibits as well as building new ones and a co-worker friend just told me that Sand Cats will be making a return to the zoo. Their new exhibit will begin construction this summer. I am deleriously happy about this. It's been a long time since Phoenix Zoo has had them and they were in a tiny little exhibit you had to take a little secondary path off the main one and most people didn't even know they were back there.
 
azcheetah2 said:
As part of a new campaign, the zoo will be remodeling some current exhibits as well as building new ones and a co-worker friend just told me that Sand Cats will be making a return to the zoo. Their new exhibit will begin construction this summer. I am deleriously happy about this. It's been a long time since Phoenix Zoo has had them and they were in a tiny little exhibit you had to take a little secondary path off the main one and most people didn't even know they were back there.
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Any idea which animal(s) will get renovated/new exhibits besides sand cats? Are elephants on the list? Are rhinos coming back?
 
GraysonDP said:
Any idea which animal(s) will get renovated/new exhibits besides sand cats? Are elephants on the list? Are rhinos coming back?
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Unfortunately, no, I don't know. My friend is a benefactor of the zoo and mentioned in the recent past which exhibits they were planning to remodel and what new animals they were hoping to bring in, but I don't remember. I think the plan is to move the Lions and Hyenas and renovate those exhibits and there's also rumors of a brand new, never housed before at the Phoenix Zoo animal species, aside from the already here Hyenas, but there hasn't been anything said beyond that. The main drawback to the Phoenix Zoo is that it's in the middle of the desert so they will not house any animal species that can't handle the high temperatures so most of the species will always be from Africa and certain parts of South America.
 
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