Bramble Park Zoo Bramble Park Zoo

I just uploaded 75 photos of this small South Dakota zoo into the gallery.
 
It appears the zoo was only given a 1 year extension on their AZA membership by the Accreditation Commission at this past meeting. This is instead of being given the standard 5 years. I can't find anything about it, but the AZA's press release on facilities accredited at the September meeting does not include them. Their date on the list of AZA Accredited Zoos & Aquariums was updated from September 2019 to say September 2020. Anyone have any idea what they need to fix in that time frame in order to maintain their accreditation? I can hazard a guess having visited, but that doesn't mean anything.

This is from February, but the only thing I can find that is close. It however is behind a login so I can not read it. Zoo may need to make some changes

AZA Press Release: Accreditation

I don't have the list of AZA zoos up for Accreditation this past September meeting but I know Bramble Park was on it.
 
NSU42 said:
It appears the zoo was only given a 1 year extension on their AZA membership by the Accreditation Commission at this past meeting. This is instead of being given the standard 5 years. I can't find anything about it, but the AZA's press release on facilities accredited at the September meeting does not include them. Their date on the list of AZA Accredited Zoos & Aquariums was updated from September 2019 to say September 2020. Anyone have any idea what they need to fix in that time frame in order to maintain their accreditation? I can hazard a guess having visited, but that doesn't mean anything.

This is from February, but the only thing I can find that is close. It however is behind a login so I can not read it. Zoo may need to make some changes

AZA Press Release: Accreditation

I don't have the list of AZA zoos up for Accreditation this past September meeting but I know Bramble Park was on it.
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A little late, but I think it has to do with the number of staff and quarantine accommodations for large animals:

Bramble Park Zoo in danger of losing animals
 
What do they not like about this zoo? Looking at the photos posted on here the only bad exhibits are for the Black Bears, African Penguins, and Amur Tigers. There are some others - things like the Snow Leopards and Primates - that don't have AWFUL exhibits, but they're not amazing.
 
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EsserWarrior said:
What do they not like about this zoo? Looking at the photos posted on here the only bad exhibits are for the Black Bears, African Penguins, and Amur Tigers. There are some others - things like the Snow Leopards and Primates - that don't have AWFUL exhibits, but they're not amazing.
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Like I said, I don't think it has anything to do with the exhibits. I do not know the actual statistics, but I would say the majority of accreditation denials I have seen do not list animal exhibits as the reasons for no new accreditation or reaccreditation. There are certainly examples of that (Santa Ana's relatively recent loss of AZA accreditation listed the outdated primate habitats, for instance), but most denials of accreditation I have seen did not list exhibits, but rather finances and behind-the-scenes stuff.

I have never been to this zoo, but generally speaking, I think smaller zoos away from major urban centers definitely struggle more with maintaining accreditation standards than the San Diegos and Bronxes of the zoological world.

And looking more into things, it seems the zoo here is rising to the occasion:

Mayor: City will address AZA's zoo accreditation concerns
 
Anniella said:
A little late, but I think it has to do with the number of staff and quarantine accommodations for large animals:

Bramble Park Zoo in danger of losing animals
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I think framing this as "we may lose our high profile animals if we don't improve" is a good idea in terms of saying we need to get things done and maybe motivating the community, but in all honesty is that very likely? From what I have seen in these situation it doesn't.

For one (and I did no research on this but feel pretty confident saying it) they probably own their "high profile" animals like the tigers. Losing accredidation doesn't mean the AZA would take them away, because again, the AZA doesn't own them. Second, animals like the bears aren't very prized, simply because there is always another orphaned cub around the corner. They tend not to breed black bears for a reason in captivity. To lose these animals it means they would have to have a spot to put them, which for many are hard to do.

I guess my question is, is there actually a threat to the zoo losing these animals in anyone's eyes? I've just never seen that really happen to a great extent from losing AZA accredation, because normally, even though the place lost that their standards are normally well above the minimum to hold the animals accroding to the government. I think maybe Red Pandas are the only real exception I have seen to this.
 
NSU42 said:
I guess my question is, is there actually a threat to the zoo losing these animals in anyone's eyes? I've just never seen that really happen to a great extent from losing AZA accredation, because normally, even though the place lost that their standards are normally well above the minimum to hold the animals accroding to the government. I think maybe Red Pandas are the only real exception I have seen to this.
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Not those species. I have heard of some instances of zoos losing some threatened species (like the red pandas, as you say) that were "lower profile" than bears or tigers.
 
NSU42 said:
For one (and I did no research on this but feel pretty confident saying it) they probably own their "high profile" animals like the tigers. Losing accredidation doesn't mean the AZA would take them away, because again, the AZA doesn't own them.
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Why would you feel confident in them owning their own high-profile animals? Ownership and location are often not even related; animals can live out the entirety of their lives in zoos that don't technically own them, with the loan being traded between non-owners.

The AZA can't order the animals away, but what can (and does) happen is that accredited zoos can decide to pull out any animals they still own; oftentimes these are threatened or high-profile animals that are hard to replace. Additionally, zoos can lose rehab or orphaned wild animals along with their accreditation depending on the terms of their stewardship. And some breeding programs in the AZA require an application to participate for non-accredited members, yet even then their chance of being given a breeding recommendation is lower than being mandated to send their breeding animals away.
 
Red Kangaroo Joey born:
A red Kangaroo Joey got his head out of its mother's pouch on May 26th. Its mother is Lillian.

Baby Alpaca born on May 20th.

Big Cats imported in January 31st:
Ursula, a Siberian Tiger and Yeti, a Snow Leopard arrived on January 31st. The Snow Leopard is from Albuquerque BioPark and it was not provided from what zoo the Siberian tiger came from.

Bramble Park Zoo gets two new cats | News Break

Baby Bison born on May 10th:
The baby was born on Mother's Day morning and according to the zoo, every year a bison calf is born on Mother's Day.
 
The good part is they are talking about new animal care center and a free on call service by a local vet experienced to deal with exotic species. Quite amazing!
 
Looking forward to seeing pics of them once they are on exhibit. Have been fortunate to visit the two that are going there and would love to keep up with how they are doing.
 
Other news not mentioned this year:

On January 2nd, 2021, the zoo announced the birth of a (0.1) yak named Roberta Dolores. she was born on December 15th, 2020.

Bramble Park Zoo

On January 15th, there was an update on the zoo's newest animal care building, specifically that mason work is coming along nicely and the roof tiles will be installed in a couple of weeks.

TSP, Inc.

On February 18th, it was stated that starting on February 19th, all indoor areas of the zoo will be reopened to the public.

Bramble Park Zoo

On March 30th, the zoo released a barred owl back into the wild after it got entangled in a fishing line.

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On April 5th, the zoo announced that their (1.0) jaguar named Brutus was euthanized due to declining health. He was 21 years old at the time of his death.

Bramble Park Zoo

On April 8th, it was reported that a (1.0) Bactrian camel named Token was born at the zoo.

https://www.keloland.com/keloland-com-original/bramble-park-zoo-welcome-baby-camel-while-saying-goodbye-to-longtime-jaguar/

On April 16th, the zoo announced that it was making preparations for its apiary.

Bramble Park Zoo

On May 28th, the zoo announced that their apiary has been completed and filled with honeybees and is located near the duck pond.

Bramble Park Zoo

On June 17th, the zoo announced that 56 mallard ducks that were rehabed were released back into the wild.

Bramble Park Zoo

On July 9th, the zoo announced that (2.0) African pygmy goats were born between the week of June 27th-July 3rd.

Bramble Park Zoo

On August 6th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) yak named Birdie is being transferred to the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, North Dakota.

Bramble Park Zoo

On August 8th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) green heron named Big Mac was rescued from an aftermath of a storm on July 29th. 2 birds were found deceased on scene, and a further one (later named Small Fry) passed away on August 2nd.

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On August 21st, the zoo announced that a new zookeeper is now working at the zoo, Trisha.

Bramble Park Zoo

On August 27th, it was announced the zoo has started moving food over from the old Zoo Center building to the new Animal Care building.

Bramble Park Zoo

On September 14th, the zoo officially completed and opened the new Animal Care building.

Bramble Park Zoo

Also on September 14th, the wood from the trees displaced by the new building has been used to create a Flintstones car in the Dino Park area as well as some tree cookies in the Discovery Center.

Bramble Park Zoo

On September 15th, the zoo officially announced the arrival of (1.1) Amur leopards named Ussuri and Freya. They were transferred here from the Beardsley Zoo and the Staten Island Zoo respectively and are living in the former jaguar enclosure.

Bramble Park Zoo
 
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