Birmingham Zoo (Alabama) Birmingham Zoo News

Kifaru Bwana said:
Surprised: no reference to Birmingham (there) in relation to bongo.
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The Montgomery Zoo, in Montgomery, Alabama, is not AZA accredited. Perhaps you were thinking of that facility? To answer your question, the male they have received is two and a half years old, so a young male, yes, but definitely old enough to breed. The bongo SSP is quite a mess at the moment, and there are a lot of animals needing placement and whose moves are in limbo, and facilities are always looking for holders for surplus males. I won't claim to know what their plans are for him, but it could really go either way.
 
Kudu21 said:
The Montgomery Zoo, in Montgomery, Alabama, is not AZA accredited. Perhaps you were thinking of that facility? To answer your question, the male they have received is two and a half years old, so a young male, yes, but definitely old enough to breed. The bongo SSP is quite a mess at the moment, and there are a lot of animals needing placement and whose moves are in limbo, and facilities are always looking for holders for surplus males. I won't claim to know what their plans are for him, but it could really go either way.
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No, I did not confuse the two. Bongo just did not get a mention where this related to Birmingham, so it was kind of a surprise they have entered the SSP (and this is pretty hot of the press).
 
Like we said they've been planning for a large hoofstock species for nearly a decade. The SSP needed spaces for all the young males being born the past few years..
 
Last time they lost a male Lion they retired his mate to an off exhibit enclosure. Then they paired Kwanzaa with a new female. I wonder if they do will do something similar perhaps getting Baron or Vulcan back from Hogle. (Kwanzaa and Akili's male cubs from the 5 cub litter a decade ago).
 
Per the Zoo Facebook page, they have transferred the White Rhino trio to a private facility. White Rhino appear to breed better in bigger herds. The trio has been together nearly a decade without a calf. The Zoo plans to modify the existing Rhino and hippo areas for Black Rhinos.

Seeing as Black Rhino are famously anti-social this appears to be the end of any attempts at mixed species/rotational aspects of the Trails of Africa.
 
tschandler71 said:
Per the Zoo Facebook page, they have transferred the White Rhino trio to a private facility. White Rhino appear to breed better in bigger herds. The trio has been together nearly a decade without a calf. The Zoo plans to modify the existing Rhino and hippo areas for Black Rhinos.

Seeing as Black Rhino are famously anti-social this appears to be the end of any attempts at mixed species/rotational aspects of the Trails of Africa.
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Groovy. Although it also depends on the temperament of the rhino itself, as San Diego Zoo Safari Park has had black rhinos in its mixed species savannas for a while, and The Living Desert just opened up their new Rhino Savanna with 10 or so other species mixed in with their black rhinos.
 
But this is mixing with Bull Elephants. Before the Hippo died I know at least a few times they had the rhinos, elephants, and the hippo all out together.
 
tschandler71 said:
But this is mixing with Bull Elephants. Before the Hippo died I know at least a few times they had the rhinos, elephants, and the hippo all out together.
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As far as I know, bull elephants are actually pretty chill when it comes to mixed species habitats (as evidenced by Heidelberg's elephant habitat where I *believe* they are mixed with Axis deer and blackbuck), it's females who are protective of their babies that are more unpredictable. As long as there's a "howdy" gate and the animals' temperaments are mellow, things should theoretically be fine.
 
I think you'd find that the black rhinos would be potentially more of a problem than the elephants... I will be very interested to see how the mix at The Living Desert turns out... The mix at the Safari Park has been very much a trial and error situation, species wise, and unfortunately, the error has been the death of multiple animals at the horns of the black rhinoceroses....
 
Kudu21 said:
I think you'd find that the black rhinos would be potentially more of a problem than the elephants... I will be very interested to see how the mix at The Living Desert turns out... The mix at the Safari Park has been very much a trial and error situation, species wise, and unfortunately, the error has been the death of multiple animals at the horns of the black rhinoceroses....
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Yeah Birmingham has always been gun shy and quiet about their mixes. Like I said above switching to Black Rhinos probably closes that chapter.

One of the many ways the Zoo seems it is ran more by a business man than a Zoo man since Bill Foster retired. Maybe that is what is needed to survive Covid but it's been let's say rather unambitious.
 
tschandler71 said:
Per the Zoo Facebook page, they have transferred the White Rhino trio to a private facility. White Rhino appear to breed better in bigger herds. The trio has been together nearly a decade without a calf. The Zoo plans to modify the existing Rhino and hippo areas for Black Rhinos.

Seeing as Black Rhino are famously anti-social this appears to be the end of any attempts at mixed species/rotational aspects of the Trails of Africa.
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Any design plans available for the NW zoo exhibit (next to big expanse for elephants right).

The 1.2 white rhino left in December 2021. Not a lot of choices as far as private facilities goes. This means: either Columbus The Wilds, return to White Oak or travelling up to Rum Creek or perhaps the new St. Louis breeding center.

BTW: I am presume that the rhino not breeding was down to the females (a mother - daughter pair never a good - unnaturally so in the wilds - combination for a rhino crash) and not any of the bulls they might have brought in.
 
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Other 2021 News:

On June 16th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) Nigerian dwarf goat named Batman passed away at age 8 due to a worsening condition of lameness.

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On July 2nd, the zoo announced that they have acquired a (1.0) miniature donkey named Chaucer in May. He is now on exhibit in the Children's Zoo Barn.

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On August 20th, the zoo announced the gender of the southern black howler monkey born in May (0.1), as well as her name, Miko.

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On December 6th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) Nubian goat named Buddy passed away at age 11.

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On December 9th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (0.1) golden eagle named Bonnie from the Texas State Aquarium.

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On December 17th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (0.0.1) lionfish which is now exhibited in the South America/Primate building.

The Birmingham Zoo - Meet the Lionfish! | Facebook| By The Birmingham Zoo | MEET THE LIONFISH! The lionfish is one of the newest members of the Birmingham Zoo family! Did you know that the lionfish is an invasive species? These...
 
Other 2022 News:

On May 7th, the zoo announced they have removed the tusk of their (1.0) African elephant named Bulwagi, and is recovering fine.

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On May 17th, the zoo announced they have partnered with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to start raising and releasing gopher tortoises back into the wild. Named the Gopher Tortoise Head Start Program, the facility has already been gifted (0.0.29) gopher tortoises from the Wildlife and Freshwater division of the ADCNR.

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On May 21st, the zoo announced that (0.0.2) domestic goats (breed(s) not specified) named Fauna and Flora were born.

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On May 28th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) beautiful fruit dove was born at the facility in 2021.

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