Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2025

Was just at the zoo the entire day today, a couple things I saw today that was pretty interesting.

• The zebras were seen outside today in the old elephant enclosure. Looks like they’re getting used to their new space.
• Small Mammals Building was officially closed off. The big green signs you usually see all over the zoo had a big one saying “building permanently closed”.
• Heard about Jaguars Filly and Frankie being brought together recently for introductions, when I got there this morning Filly was inside, gonna guess she left her scent obviously throughout the exhibit, because sure enough when Frankie came in later, he was walking around nonstop sniffing everywhere.
• Still trying to find information about the zoo getting a new male lion. And again Morris definitely wants one, but the only way that can happen, and I mean literally the only way, is sending off Nyota. And that won’t be easy given that Nyotas been there her entire life, so sending her off when she has 3-5 years left on her will impact her welfare drastically, which to me I feel like isn’t ideal to do.
• But there’s also not a whole lot of options for males out there given that we’d need a male lion that can handle the cold. And the Lincoln park zoo just got done sending their bachelor males to different zoos, the eldest son being sent to phoenix, and his two younger brothers being sent to Riverbanks.
• I remember MKE Zoo guy mentioning he’d be surprised if there wasn’t a male here by next year, but from the looks of it, and given that nyotas still here, it doesn’t seem likely. But then again, things can change very quickly
Why would Nyota staying be an issue?
 
Why would Nyota staying be an issue?
Because from what it seems they got a full house with her being there, and trying to squeeze in a male lion with 2 jaguars, 3 tigers, 3 lions already, 2 cheetahs, a serval, 2 snow leopards and 2 red pandas, and then ofc Nyota, would be a struggle to maintain from what I keep getting told. Because any volunteer or keeper I’ll talk to about the idea of a male always says “we have a full house, we don’t have the space to have a fourth lion”
 
Because from what it seems they got a full house with her being there, and trying to squeeze in a male lion with 2 jaguars, 3 tigers, 3 lions already, 2 cheetahs, a serval, 2 snow leopards and 2 red pandas, and then ofc Nyota, would be a struggle to maintain from what I keep getting told. Because any volunteer or keeper I’ll talk to about the idea of a male always says “we have a full house, we don’t have the space to have a fourth lion”
Interesting, because they brought in the lionesses when we still had the male before he died in hopes of breeding. That was also when we had more big cats than we do now. Maybe the requirements for husbandry has changed since then.
 
Interesting, because they brought in the lionesses when we still had the male before he died in hopes of breeding. That was also when we had more big cats than we do now. Maybe the requirements for husbandry has changed since then.
That’s what also doesn’t make sense to me, how did we manage to fit in 3 females when we had themba at the time? Cause Stella died in 2023, and kash’s mom died in 2021, so at the time we had a full squad, not really sure what’s different unless yea standards have gone up in recent years. What I do know is the females can for sure breed given the recommendation we got almost 2 years ago, and I found a pdf document that showed all aza zoos, and when ours showed up it showed the 3 girls and a bullet point saying “please contact ssp coordinator when ready to receive a male”. I feel like I’ve mentioned this before but I would like to think that given morris wants one, it’s a huge plus since a zoo director wants one, but I think he’ll face some resistance for nyotas case. Either way at this point it’s unclear if we’re truly ever going to get a new male lion
 
0.1 prehensile tailed porcupine has been moved to Akron.

There are two new species in our nocturnal building - prehensile-tailed porcupine and chinchillas!
Quinn, our prehensile-tailed porcupine is a cuirous, but shy girl. She moved here from the Milawaukee County Zoo. She is 7 years old, having celebrated her birthday just last week on Nov. 19!
 
We're thrilled to share that our newest arrivals, two Eastern black rhinos — a female, Zuri and male, Kianga — can be seen beginning next Tuesday, Dec. 9, with the opening of the Ladish Co. Foundation Rhino Care Center. The recently-completed building includes Robert Dohmen Hippo Indoor Haven. Say hello to hippo Happy as well!

Just in time for my birthday the same week!
 
can confirm as a few months ago that the cylinder tank in the reptile aquatic center (ARC), between the California coast tank (with California sheepshead) and the blue iguana exhibit, formerly moon jellyfish and cuttlefish exhibits has finally a new resident: a Panther chameleon. a single panther chameleon with what i believe are live pitcher plants. being that said I would not be surprised if this is the same individual chameleon who was in the old exhibit and was simply moved, hope they add tomato frogs, but not sure
 

Exciting how Adventure Africa will be fully completed and opened. Can’t speak for the outside yet, but judging by the inside this looks to be the most successful phase of the trio, with a good balance of naturalism, catering to the animals’ welfare, and being aesthetically appealing for visitors. :)
 
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