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

Update from from yesterday’s visit:
  • The new Australia Phase one had the Little Blue Penguins and walkway into the exhibit closed due to bird flu. Other closed exhibits due to bird flu were the walkthrough African Aviary and the cranes that have access to the Aldabra Tortoises exhibit.
  • One of the round sections in the reptile was closed with a new refurbishing of the Alligator Snapping Turtle Exhibit. There were also 10 other closed tanks/ habitats. The outdoor alligator swamp exhibit had signage for for alligator snapping turtle but a sign stating no animals were on exhibit.
  • The big cat/cat walk exhibit had a section closed after the ocelot exhibit. The sign stated improved space, new species, and fixing of the walking path. The exhibits housed the snow leopards before they got their new home in the zoos Asia section.
  • The former Orangutan exhibit is still empty.
  • Both baby gorillas were up and and active and the public’s favorite of the day having large crowds on each time I walked by.
 

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Tied to the zoo and aquarium garden is this news as well:

The Biopark will be building a separate 5 acre behind the scenes habitat to hold more Mexican Gray Wolves at the Aquarium Gardens but will still be part of the zoos plan. The area will consist of 8 pens. The plans for these wolves is reintroduction . The area to be opened in August.
Albuquerque BioPark building new endangered wolf facility
 
2 Pieces of January 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On January 9th, the zoo announced they acquired 2+? West African gaboon vipers which are on display in the Reptile House.

ABQ BioPark

On January 31st, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) little blue penguin named Leander/Leo which is on exhibit.

ABQ BioPark

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On May 15th, it was reported that the zoo was hit with 10-16 minor health code violations for 3 of the facility's restaurants (Cottonwood Cafe, Matunda Cafe, Penguin Chill Cafe), though were quickly corrected.

ABQ BioPark corrects issues after getting red flagged on food inspections

On May 22nd, the zoo announced they helped rehabilitate a (0.1) cougar named Sienna which was then transferred to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Washington.

ABQ BioPark

* Also not specifically zoo-related news, but the facility opened a newly-renovated Heritage Farm area in April after it was closed since spring 2023, adding in new breeds and exhibits.
 
Piece of May 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On May 30th, the zoo announced they moved their red kangaroos from the Cat Walk area to the emu/red-necked wallaby/western grey kangaroo exhibits adjacent to the Hartmann's mountain zebras.

ABQ BioPark

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On July 23rd, the zoo announced their (1.0) Tasmanian wombat named Otto passed away on July 19th at age 16 due to chronic kidney disease.

ABQ BioPark Grieves the Loss of Wombat
IndianRhino said:
"Elok", a 24 year old male Sumatran orangutan, has been transferred to the zoo from the Oklahoma City Zoo.

A New Face in the Family: Elok the Orangutan Arrives at ABQ BioPark! — City of Albuquerque
Click to expand...

On July 24th, the zoo announced that Elok sadly passed away on July 22nd, after suffering cardiac arrest during a procedure and was not able to be resuscitated.

ABQ BioPark

* Worth mentioning that the Heritage Farm area acquired a (1.0) domestic horse named Bishop in June 2025, which is now on exhibit.
 
The zoos YouTube released a video recapping some of the newer exhibits and announced what is to come at all facilities. Exclusive to the zoo is:
  • An expanded cheetah yard.
  • A new entrance to the zoo (they recently redid the school/group entrance and added solar panels as shade structures in the parking lot and entrance) so it looks like they will finish or update the whole area.
  • They showed how they are expanding areas for animals that are located in the zoos catwalk. Parts have been closed since April as they have already begun this.
  • They announced a small update with Australia phase 2 and did state they will have wombats , Tasmanian devils , and echidnas . All of these animals were previously displayed here, so I am excited they are planning to have them all again.
  • Finally they announced and showed images of a planned updated gorilla habitat! Construction will begin in 2026 and will incorporate the zoos former orangutan space as well. The project will incorporate more verticals climbing areas, updated behind the scenes holding, improved heating and cooling for the animals, and will cost $22 million. There will still be two outdoor yards.
  • Attached is the link to the video
  • Attached is the link to the zoos website article on the expansions: GRT’s Next Chapter: Gorillas Take Center Stage in ABQ BioPark’s Newest Transformation
 
WLV30SAS said:
The zoos YouTube released a video recapping some of the newer exhibits and announced what is to come at all facilities. Exclusive to the zoo is:
  • They announced a small update with Australia phase 2 and did state they will have wombats , Tasmanian devils , and echidnas . All of these animals were previously displayed here, so I am excited they are planning to have them all again.
Click to expand...

since their last Tasmanian Common Wombat passed away I wonder if they plan to import new Common Wombats. They could also switch to Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat, but even then, there's not many to go around.
 
According to the newest zoo member magazine Bioscape and not reported with a date the zoo received a Male white-nosed Coati named Goose from the Brevards Zoo. He is behind the scenes but will be displayed in the updated catwalk.
Other catwalk new comers include:
  • A new male ocelot from the Oklahoma City zoo sent for breeding.
  • A pair of rescue Bobcats
The magazine also talks about the new shade structures and improvements to the areas exhibits among some keepers quality of life improvements. The cheetahs will also be relocated to the catwalk from the Africa section. They will take over an extended area that includes the former kangaroo yard. The catwalk housed cheetahs in the current Remodeled jaguar exhibit area ( maybe until 2002) .

other new animals that I do not think were reported are:
  • Cap’N a male American Alligator now on display in gator swamp
  • A Timber Rattle snake
  • A female Nicobar Pigeon from Zoo Miami.
  • A female Marabou Stork from the Cameron park zoo
  • A female roadrunner from the Lee Richardson Zoo

leaving the zoo is the rescue mountain lion cub who will join another cub. This occurred in May.
 
Buccaneer, one of the oldest male giraffes in captivity, has died.
ABQ BioPark on Instagram: "The ABQ BioPark asks you to join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Buccaneer, the beloved 22 year old reticulated giraffe. We recently shared that Bucc, as he was affectionately known, was being monitored for comfort as he experienced an age-related decline in mobility. His dedicated care team and our expert veterinarian staff made the compassionate decision to humanely euthanize him on Wednesday, September 24. Bucc far exceeded the median life expectancy for a male reticulated giraffe of 16.5 years, a testament to the outstanding specialized geriatric care that enabled him to live a long life, adored by his care team and millions of guests since he arrived in Albuquerque in 2006. As the most people-oriented giraffe in the herd, Buccaneer was known for his curiosity and enthusiasm for meeting new people, often crossing the habitat to greet any new voice he heard! His big brown eyes would meet yours as he investigated his new admirers, easily charming anyone who stopped by and inspiring a connection with nature that is at the heart of our mission. Not only was Buccaneer an outstanding ambassador for his species, his legacy continues in the calves he fathered who will help carry giraffe conservation into the future. You can read more about his care and impact at the link in our bio under "BioPark News". We know Buccaneer has been a part of your memories at the BioPark through the years; we invite you to share your stories in the comments, or your photos and videos on our Facebook post, as we grieve and honor him together."
 
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