BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo News

Kifaru Bwana said:
Thanks for your well informed brief of what the situation is on the ground right now. I was quite the aware Louisiana and the Baton Rouge district not being the richest part of the State and very much in need of non city funding. Is there any likelihood that the Federal State coffers will provide some of the shortfall or a new council tax might be introduced to fund renovation of the zoo (I would assume locals being attached to the place would like to see their zoo develop favourably)?
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I don’t think there are really any federal resources for this kind of thing. I think the state would be a better bet yet again its the 2nd poorest state and state funding for basically anything in the state is always tight, especially since Katrina. So really its gonna have to be the city, private fundraising, and increasing the self sufficiency of the institution. The later is realistic given how rock bottom they are now, any improvements will likely be able to grow there attendance above 325,000.

The current phase appears to be fully funded by the city. Considering it was either invest in the institution or close it, this was easier to justify. I can imagine the likely outcome is we never see these mega complexes that really the zoo could never sustain. And instead see incremental exhibits and improvements, that still somewhat preserve the master plans species list albeit with simpler exhibits.
 
nczoofan said:
The giraffe exhibit for example will be a renovation of the existing space with a brand new barn I believe, filling in the moat (which they will be doing this year for all hoofstock exhibits as AZA deemed them unsafe for the animals).
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Not to hijack this thread, but curious -- is the AZA saying moats are deemed unsafe for all animals (ex: lion exhibits) or is the recommendation specifically for hoofstock?
 
robbare said:
Not to hijack this thread, but curious -- is the AZA saying moats are deemed unsafe for all animals (ex: lion exhibits) or is the recommendation specifically for hoofstock?
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Not to my knowledge. I know many recent lion exhibits (San Diego, Audubon, Seneca Park, Dallas and Fort Worth) have foregone the use of moats, with Omaha being a MAJOR outlier moat-wise. The thing with moats is, for them to be safe for lions, they have to slope down rather than have a steep drop. Water moats can work as well, though they take up usable space. (Woodland Park has a water moat that works very well, and even blends in beautifully with the front planter, as if you are looking across an endless sea of grass at the lions).
 
Other news in 2021-2022:

On April 13th, the zoo shared an update on construction of the giraffe night barns.

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On June 1st, the zoo announced they have built a new feeding platform in the pelican exhibit.

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On June 17th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (1.0) Malayan tiger named Bundar from Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. He is 8-years-old and is exhibited in the "Realm of the Tiger area.

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On June 27th, the zoo shared another update on construction of the giraffe barn.

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On June 29th, the zoo shared an update on construction of the pygmy hippo exhibit.

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On August 23rd, the zoo announced they have acquired a (0.1) Flemish giant rabbit named Sylvia from an undisclosed facility. She is 8-months-old and now lives with the zoo's other rabbit, Copper.

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On August 30th, the zoo announced that (0.0.3) southern screamer chicks have hatched.

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On October 14th, it was reported that the zoo's longtime director Phil Frost, is retiring on February 4th, 2022.

Phil Frost, longtime Baton Rouge zoo director, is retiring

On November 9th, the zoo announced that the (0.1) reticulated giraffe born on September 3rd is named Reign.

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On January 19th, 2022, the zoo posted an update on the pygmy hippo exhibit, which is featuring underwater viewing.

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EsserWarrior said:
A sad, yet not uncommon, event. Young giraffes always seem to die.
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May die as do 50% in the wilds remember.

Also, they are generics and not purebreds, so more a educational exhibit than full on conservation value.

Nota Bene: not diminishing we are talking about living animals. For the love of animals!
 
The pygmy hippo habitat seems to be way ahead. Is it true the row of exhibits of mandrill along that path is also in the works?

What about the zoo entrance complex and giraffe feeding? Done or nearing completion?
 
Smaggledagle said:
On January 26th, the zoo announced that they have acquired a (0.1) Malayan tiger named Izzy from the Cinncinati Zoo.

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A lot of moves lately with Malayan tigers.

It will be interesting to learn what new ideas and perspectives the new Director will bring to the zoo. Having already served 3 years at BREC and being involved in the Masterplan I am confisent that he can move forward with building some of the exciting plans proposed.
 
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