Musk Ox Exhibit, Part I - Minnesota Zoo

July 1st, 2008. One half of the enormous musk ox enclosure at the zoo. The habitat had a large lake in the centre that was surrounded by land, and must have been at least 5 acres in size. A single musk ox can be seen in the bottom right-hand side of the photo.

you'd think they'd be breeding them

There was a small herd, but the enclosure is so massive that it's tough to find them.

From the looks of the masterplan. This is where the new African Savanna development will occur.

Ituri said:

From the looks of the masterplan. This is where the new African Savanna development will occur.

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Is the Minnesota Zoo masterplan online somewhere Ituri?

Not in its entirety that I find. However some of the areas were visible in this news article slideshow. Minnesota Zoo's master plan: lions, tigers -- and zip lines, too - TwinCities.com
I don't think the slideshow works anymore but the African Savanna and Asian Highlands renderings can be seen. If you look at the lake in the African Savanna, and the area marked existing holding to the left of the exhibit, you will find that it matches up with the existing musk ox lake and holding.

Here is the master plan

Minnesota Zoo Master Plan

Does that mean the Muskox will be leaving the zoo?
Where will they go? Please tell me they're going to stay in the U.S.

ThylacineAlive said:

Does that mean the Muskox will be leaving the zoo?
Where will they go? Please tell me they're going to stay in the U.S.

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Musk-ox are being replaced in favor of Sichuan Takin according to the Caprinae TAG. Not sure what MN Zoo will do with theirs, as they already have Sichuan Takin.

Gulo gulo said:

Musk-ox are being replaced in favor of Sichuan Takin according to the Caprinae TAG. Not sure what MN Zoo will do with theirs, as they already have Sichuan Takin.

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For a North American species they seem to becoming rarer and rarer in their home continent's zoos.

I've got a nice zoo here in Connecticut that'll take them Another in Rhode Island as well and an evern nicer one in NY