Brandywine Zoo Brandywine Zoo news

SaritaWolf said:
Exciting news! A crowned lemur was born August 1st. Baby and parents will likely not be on exhibit until further into the Fall.

DNREC’s Brandywine Zoo Welcomes Baby Crowned Lemur - State of Delaware News
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On November 4th, the zoo announced the lemur's gender (0.1) and name, Reign.

Brandywine Zoo

On January 12th, 2024, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.0.1) red panda named Scarlet and a (0.0.1) southern pudu named Teo from other unspecified institutions.

Also on January 12th, the zoo announced they transferred a (1.0) southern pudu named Pacu to the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee.

Brandywine Zoo
 
The female Crowned Lemur REIGN has been placed in the Malagasy habitat, that is shared with other species (lemurs, birds, Tortoises...).
Brandywine Zoo on Instagram: "Reign was born at Brandywine Zoo on August 1, 2023, and is finally big enough to be out in the Madagascar habitat with the ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs, radiated tortoises, and guinea fowl! She was the only crowned lemur born in a zoo in the United States last year. Crowned lemurs are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP), which means that Reign will eventually be sent to another AZA (@zoos_aquariums) accredited zoo to start her own family. #AZA #SSP #lemur #crownedlemur Female lemurs stay with their family group for about two years. As they grow, they learn from their parents and participate in raising their siblings. Come visit the crowned lemur family! : Keepers Lydia and Allyson"
 
Smaggledagle said:
On June 17th, the zoo released the latest issue of "Zoo News" which announces a fundraising campaign called "Pudu Love" to raise $340,000 to build a new exhibit for their pudu, as well as their toucans and tortoises. The exhibit would include indoor winter housing with viewing windows, as well as a stream and small pool.

Zoo News: Jun.-Sept. 2022 • Brandywine Zoo • Go a Little Wild
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On October 2nd, the zoo announced their next new project in the Capital Campaign is combining 2 old enclosures into a new South American multi-species exhibit for toucans and other species*. The zoo will start funding the project on March 22nd, 2025, as part of their Zoobilee Gala event.

Brandywine Zoo
Zoo News: Oct 2024-Jan 2025 - Brandywine Zoo

On February 4th, 2025, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) North American porcupine named Butter from an unspecified facility in Minnesota which is now on exhibit.

Zoo News: Feb-May 2025 - Brandywine Zoo
Brandywine Zoo

* Speculation on my part, but it seems like this project might be the same as the project from the Pudu Love campaign in 2022, as both used the same concept art.
 
Arrival of a new ambassador animal, a North American Opossum called ODIN.
Brandywine Zoo on Instagram: "Introducing Brandywine Zoo’s newest ambassador animal, Odin, the Virginia opossum! Odin came to us from Howell nature Center in Michigan. He was wild born but, after sustaining an injury that resulted in the loss of his right eye, Odin now lives with us in human care as an advocate for his species. Odin’s fast facts about Virginia opossum: Virginia opossum are the only marsupial native to North America. Like most marsupials, opossum raise their young in a pouch on their abdomen. They possess a prehensile tail which they can twist around branches to help them climb trees or gather nesting material to line their dens. Virginia opossums are omnivorous scavengers meaning they will eat just about anything, from vegetation to meat, including carrion. By consuming deceased organisms’ scavengers provide important health benefits and play a vital role in their ecosystems. Consumption of these carcasses helps to prevent the spread of disease to humans and wildlife alike. Due to their low body temperature and exceptional immune systems, it is extremely rare for an opossum to contract the rabies virus. Opossum do not have much of a defense system so if you encounter one in the wild and see them hissing and drooling this is likely their attempt to scare you off for their own protection. Another form of defense an opossum might display when feeling threatened is to “play possum” in which the animal gives the appearance that they are dead. This is an involuntary state induced by fear. They will lie motionless with their mouth open and defecate to feign death and appear less appetizing to potential predators. Virginia opossums have short lifespans. In the wild they live about 1.5 to 2 years on average. In human care they may have a longer lifespan but typically no more than 3 or 4 years. Virginia opossum are misunderstood animals that play a key role in their ecosystems. We hope that Odin’s fast facts helped to spread light on this awesome species! Stop by the zoo and attend one of our creature features for a chance to meet and further learn about Odin or one of our other incredible ambassador animals! #virginiaopossum"
 
3 Pieces of Early 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On March 24th, the zoo announced they built several new platforms inside the mixed-species lemur exhibit.

7.4K views · 223 reactions | Big shout out to our friends at Wilmington State Parks for helping us add 3 new elevated lemur shelters to the Madagascar habitat. All three... | By Brandywine Zoo | Facebook

Haliaeetus said:
The female Crowned Lemur REIGN has been placed in the Malagasy habitat, that is shared with other species (lemurs, birds, Tortoises...).
Brandywine Zoo on Instagram: "Reign was born at Brandywine Zoo on August 1, 2023, and is finally big enough to be out in the Madagascar habitat with the ruffed and ring-tailed lemurs, radiated tortoises, and guinea fowl! She was the only crowned lemur born in a zoo in the United States last year. Crowned lemurs are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP), which means that Reign will eventually be sent to another AZA (@zoos_aquariums) accredited zoo to start her own family. #AZA #SSP #lemur #crownedlemur Female lemurs stay with their family group for about two years. As they grow, they learn from their parents and participate in raising their siblings. Come visit the crowned lemur family! : Keepers Lydia and Allyson"
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On April 14th, the zoo announced they transferred Reign to Duke Lemur Center in North Carolina.

Brandywine Zoo

On April 18th, the zoo announced they transferred a (1.0) Andean condor named Chavin to the National Aviary in Pennsylvania.

Brandywine Zoo

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Smaggledagle said:
On October 2nd, the zoo announced their next new project in the Capital Campaign is combining 2 old enclosures into a new South American multi-species exhibit for toucans and other species*. The zoo will start funding the project on March 22nd, 2025, as part of their Zoobilee Gala event.

Brandywine Zoo
Zoo News: Oct 2024-Jan 2025 - Brandywine Zoo

* Speculation on my part, but it seems like this project might be the same as the project from the Pudu Love campaign in 2022, as both used the same concept art.
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On June 5th, the zoo announced they will hopefully start construction on the new exhibit in November.

Also on June 5th, the zoo announced that a crowned lemur was born on May 31st which is now on exhibit.

Brandywine Zoo
Brandywine Zoo
 
Updates from my visit yesterday:
  • Several animals have been shifted around due to bird flu. Blue the caracal was moved to the Andean condor habitat (Gryphus the Andean condor is behind the scenes), the bald eagles were moved to Blue's normal habitat between the red pandas and binturongs, the ravens were moved to the burrowing owl exhibit, Sandy the sandhill crane and the snowy egrets were moved to the old southern pudu, toco toucan and red-footed tortoise exhibit.
  • The wallabies are temporarily in the eagle/raven/sandhill crane/snowy egret habitat behind the goats.
  • The crowned lemur family is off exhibit at the moment due to KJ, their baby crowned lemur still being small enough to fit through the mesh in the Madagascar habitat.
  • I didn't see signage for J.Law the Hoffmann's two-toed sloth, but I did see Lancaster the anteater in with the rest of the birds in the South America habitat.
  • The ambassador animal exercise yard in Zhanna the Amur tiger's old habitat (since converted to Nature Play/amphitheater) was taken down and replaced with more landscaping.
 
We visited the Cape May Zoo and Brandywine Zoo on our way home from Atlantic City today. Great visits at both and nothing unusual to report at Cape May. As mentioned above, things are shifted all around at Brandywine. I'm confused by the "bird flu" explanation as there are still tons of birds on exhibit. If anyone knows more that I may be ignorant to, I'd love to learn more.

On today's visit, there was nothing in the first two exhibits. No evidence of Condor, Caracal, or Bobcat anywhere. Then, in the third (the smallest one might I add) there are now two North American Porcupine who both looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. Next, in the row of three old cages, were Red Panda, Bald Eagle (RIGHT up close!), nothing in Binturong space. Tamarins and reptiles were all in order as was the mixed-species Madagascar exhibit. The small bricked cage on the corner had the two Ravens, and then immediately around the corner was Sandhill Crane and Snowy Egrets. There was no toucan, sloth, or burrowing owls. Wallaby are temporarily in the exhibit behind the goats, and the Giant Anteater exhibit remained in tact, with a new tortoise/turtle yard just outside of it!
 
TheCappyCouple said:
We visited the Cape May Zoo and Brandywine Zoo on our way home from Atlantic City today. Great visits at both and nothing unusual to report at Cape May. As mentioned above, things are shifted all around at Brandywine. I'm confused by the "bird flu" explanation as there are still tons of birds on exhibit. If anyone knows more that I may be ignorant to, I'd love to learn more.

On today's visit, there was nothing in the first two exhibits. No evidence of Condor, Caracal, or Bobcat anywhere. Then, in the third (the smallest one might I add) there are now two North American Porcupine who both looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. Next, in the row of three old cages, were Red Panda, Bald Eagle (RIGHT up close!), nothing in Binturong space. Tamarins and reptiles were all in order as was the mixed-species Madagascar exhibit. The small bricked cage on the corner had the two Ravens, and then immediately around the corner was Sandhill Crane and Snowy Egrets. There was no toucan, sloth, or burrowing owls. Wallaby are temporarily in the exhibit behind the goats, and the Giant Anteater exhibit remained in tact, with a new tortoise/turtle yard just outside of it!
Click to expand...
The bird flu explanation primarily is animals that are under thicker mesh (the eagle being the most prominent example) and are centralized in such a way that they can easily be moved if need be. The bald eagle to the old vet hospital or the new one, Sandy the sandhill crane, the ravens, the ducks, etc. Guineafowl have a dedicated off-exhibit place within the Madagascar habitat. You probably had bad luck with Blue the caracal and Squeakers the bobcat, as Blue usually stays on top of the hill but periodically walks around, and Squeakers was most likely sleeping on top of the hill as well. One of the porcupines, Juniper, is an ambassador animal while Peanut is the main animal on show. Binturongs could have been in the den, I've seen them on the highest platform adjoining the back wall.
 
If the bird flu is such a prevalent threat though, why aren't these species just off exhibit, like the condor then? Yes, I suspected the Caracal was somewhere I couldn't see. Needle in a haystack in that huge space! Bobcat we're usually fine to pick out, but I really don't think it was on exhibit. The off exhibit access was closed, and there was no evidence of food or enrichment in the space. I suspect Binturong were in the den, too. I never knew there was an ambassador porcupine, too! I'd love to see the two of them sharing a larger space together. Thank you!
 
Squeakers, Brandywine Zoo's Florida bobcat has passed on.

Brandywine Zoo on Instagram: "We are deeply saddened to share that Squeakers, our beloved bobcat, was humanely euthanized following a rapid decline in her health. During her annual exam in September, x-rays, an ultrasound, and bloodwork revealed she was in advanced renal failure. Further results showed she was also experiencing multi-organ failure. After thoughtful discussions between our veterinary team and zookeepers, and in light of her changing behavior and eating habits, the difficult but compassionate decision was made to let her go peacefully. Squeakers was 20 years and 5 months old — a remarkable age for a bobcat, whose average lifespan ranges from 12 to 15 years. She came to the Brandywine Zoo in 2007 from the Audubon Zoo and outlived her sister by several years. Squeakers lived a long, enriched life here at Brandywine Zoo and brought joy to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She had a fondness for boxes, loved lounging on her favorite shelf and blue bed at the top of the hill, and, true to her feline instincts, was even known to catch the occasional squirrel. She was a cherished member of our zoo family and a favorite among staff and guests alike. Squeakers will be greatly missed, but her memory will remain a special part of Brandywine Zoo’s story."
 
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