ABQ BioPark Zoo ABQ BioPark Zoo (aka Rio Grande Zoo / Albuquerque Zoo)

December Updates:

As you walk in the gates there is a sign tht states:
The following habitats are closed:
Kangaroo (due to the construction of the Jaguar Yard)
Ibis yard (Ibisis are in other exhibits as well as other south american birds are mixed near the parrot exhibits, due to construction on Penguin Chill)
Tiger (Zoo hopes to get a new tiger in the spring, small construction in yard as well, reducing cement and adding climbing structure)
Parrots (Originally scheduled to be opened this winter, but the zoo has torn down the next door cafe for Penguin chill also)
Tropical America (Penguin Chill Location)
Nightwatch (has been closed, used to hold Loris species, however new sign says that to expect something exciting here in the near future)

Other non posted updates:

There is no entrance to the Reptile house
Capybara moved to Africa into Reeves Muntjac exhibit (I Know its not an african animal)
New Muntjac exhibit built in Africa in empty area
Some birds of prey not on display due to construction in are.
New bird species in Austrialla area (no signage, but looks like kooksburra, but smaller)
Only reptile on display with construction is snake neck turtles in Koala building


Personal:
The Jaguar yard is looking very nice and is nearly finished (will try to post pictures soon). Its a very big improvement, and allowing the zoos 2 jaguars to rotate in is a big step up. It includes large pool as well. Hopefully, the zoo moves Kngaroos to Austrialla section, and expand that large yard for one of its other cats.
 
Jaguar exhibit was desperately needed (the old cement bunker was a disgrace that looked like something you would see in a photo of a zoo from a hundred years ago). It is the former emu exhibit at the start of Catwalk. The link in the previous post shows an overview for about one second on the video (which keeps locking up due to the site's long running scripts). I did a screen shot and was going to post it, but realized I probably cannot since it is not my image.
 
Well their snow leopard exhibit is inadequate so I would hope they would get out of the species instead of replacing this cat.
 
It transpires from the news feature that female June gave birth to a male calf and that female Niara calved previously but lost her calf due to a birth defect / medical issue.
 
Albuquerque BioPark includes the zoo, aquarium and botanical garden and of note to zoo enthusiasts is that in 2016 the botanical garden opened a 3,500 sq. ft. "Bugarium". For many years there has been a seasonal display of butterflies in the Butterfly Pavilion but now there are apparently 60 exhibits in the new Bugarium. I was already aware of the project, but has anyone visited this establishment in the last year? Does anyone want to post a mini-review or a species list?

An article about the new insect house:

Updated: BUGarium opens up world of arthropods
 
I visited the zoo for the first time today and saw the two snow leopards resting near each other, they are housed in two adjacent exhibits with a small door open between them.
 
I have posted a thread under the Albuquerque Aquarium heading that is called "Bugarium: List of Species On Exhibit 3/9/18". The Bugarium is actually in the ABQ Biopark's Botanic Garden but there is no heading for that facility; since the zoo, aquarium, and botanic garden are all under the same management, I thought it makes sense to do this (and the botanic garden is adjacent to the aquarium).

Albuquerque Aquarium - Bugarium: List of Species On Exhibit 3/9/18
 
Small update about the upcoming Penguin Chill Exhibit, the opening has been pushed back again and may not open until December (I would be happy with a Christmas Opening).

Also no press release but a Golden Lion Tamarin exhibit can be seen from the Africa Train Station. The zoo has a couple troops behind the scenes that were on display in the Tropical America Building.
 
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