Brookfield Zoo Visit Report, 6/24/2023
Earlier this year it was announced that the macaw perches and turtle exhibits would be complete in Spring 2023. Well, the summer season has officially begun so the optimist in me believed there was a small chance the zoo may have done a soft opening of these exhibits without any official announcement. Well, it's safe to say my optimism was a bit foolish as virtually nothing has changed from my visit last month. The signs by the macaw perches have been changed from "Coming Spring 2023" to just "Coming Soon" so it's clear things have been pushed back. Apparently the zoo has not yet received the materials to finish construction of the macaw perches due to supply chain issues, which was confirmed by a docent I spoke to inside of the Peacock cafe turned macaw house.
It's unfortunate that things have been delayed. The original plan was to have all of the new bird exhibits (and turtles) complete around this time, yet some of the aviaries haven't even started construction yet. The turtle exhibits are very close to completion at least, with glass having been placed on one side of the Blanding's turtle exhibit. At this point however, it's impossible to say when these exhibits are going to be finishedthere are some updates from today worth mentioning.
Firstly, there are several things of note regarding the Hamill Family Play Zoo. For the first time since the pandemic they are once again charging a premium for the exhibit. It was nice having it be free for a few years, but it was inevitable the additional fee would return eventually.
Work has finally started on the new toco toucan and red-legged seriema aviary. Tropical furnishings, trees and perches have been added, a layer of mulch has been laid, and signage has been installed. It's great to finally see some progress on at least one of the new bird exhibits coming this year. Work on the new indoor enclosure has not yet commenced.
The Burmese python has taken up residence in the exhibit formerly home to the ambassador tawny frogmouth. The former python exhibit across the hall is now empty and covered up by curtains. This is a nice change, as I always felt the old python exhibit was far too small and there's already a tawny frogmouth on exhibit in Feathers and Scales. I appreciate that the zoo is giving both of their large snakes expanded spaces so that they can fully stretch their bodies.
Something else of note, I recently learned that the upcoming Eurasian eagle owl aviary will actually not be added within the East Mall like we all thought. Instead, it will actually be built where the children's play area directly adjacent to the play zoo is located. It won't technically be part of the play zoo, rather it'll be its own thing viewed from the main path.
Other Updates
Jambu fruit dove and beautiful fruit dove are now on display in the former slow loris exhibit. The exhibit has been modified a bit since it held the lorises and it isn't as poor as I expected, but I still don’t find it to be very suitable for birds. The viewing is still terrible as well, with more half of the glass boarded up which makes looking into the enclosure extremely awkward.
There are no longer African spur-thighed tortoises in the pachyderm house, just the Galapagos tortoises. While I didn't look, I'm assuming they have been moved to the outdoor yard viewed from the kopje building.
It’s recently been brought to my attention that the meerkats have been "off exhibit" for quite some time - at least since last fall. As I recall the mob had aged quite a bit and numbers have dwindled over the years, so it wouldn't surprise me if they all passed and the zoo is temporarily out of individuals for the time being.
In the coming months, it appears the camels will be leaving the zoo. There’s an open transfer trailer located at the very back of the west paddock, presumably to get them used to being inside of it in preparation for the move. As for why they are leaving and what will replace them, I have an idea of what it'll be, but I won't say until we get an official announcement from the zoo
Animal Highlights:
Exciting times at the zoo right now, but there are so many unanswered questions at the moment. What will take residence in the former red panda and black-footed cat exhibits? When will the capuchins go on display? Will the new bird exhibits be finished by the end of the Summer? Is the prairie dog exhibit still coming this year? Will the materials for the macaw perches ever arrive?
Those answers will come in due time and suffice to say these next few months leading up to the master plan reveal are going to be very interesting indeed.
Earlier this year it was announced that the macaw perches and turtle exhibits would be complete in Spring 2023. Well, the summer season has officially begun so the optimist in me believed there was a small chance the zoo may have done a soft opening of these exhibits without any official announcement. Well, it's safe to say my optimism was a bit foolish as virtually nothing has changed from my visit last month. The signs by the macaw perches have been changed from "Coming Spring 2023" to just "Coming Soon" so it's clear things have been pushed back. Apparently the zoo has not yet received the materials to finish construction of the macaw perches due to supply chain issues, which was confirmed by a docent I spoke to inside of the Peacock cafe turned macaw house.
It's unfortunate that things have been delayed. The original plan was to have all of the new bird exhibits (and turtles) complete around this time, yet some of the aviaries haven't even started construction yet. The turtle exhibits are very close to completion at least, with glass having been placed on one side of the Blanding's turtle exhibit. At this point however, it's impossible to say when these exhibits are going to be finishedthere are some updates from today worth mentioning.
Firstly, there are several things of note regarding the Hamill Family Play Zoo. For the first time since the pandemic they are once again charging a premium for the exhibit. It was nice having it be free for a few years, but it was inevitable the additional fee would return eventually.
Work has finally started on the new toco toucan and red-legged seriema aviary. Tropical furnishings, trees and perches have been added, a layer of mulch has been laid, and signage has been installed. It's great to finally see some progress on at least one of the new bird exhibits coming this year. Work on the new indoor enclosure has not yet commenced.
The Burmese python has taken up residence in the exhibit formerly home to the ambassador tawny frogmouth. The former python exhibit across the hall is now empty and covered up by curtains. This is a nice change, as I always felt the old python exhibit was far too small and there's already a tawny frogmouth on exhibit in Feathers and Scales. I appreciate that the zoo is giving both of their large snakes expanded spaces so that they can fully stretch their bodies.
Something else of note, I recently learned that the upcoming Eurasian eagle owl aviary will actually not be added within the East Mall like we all thought. Instead, it will actually be built where the children's play area directly adjacent to the play zoo is located. It won't technically be part of the play zoo, rather it'll be its own thing viewed from the main path.
Other Updates
Jambu fruit dove and beautiful fruit dove are now on display in the former slow loris exhibit. The exhibit has been modified a bit since it held the lorises and it isn't as poor as I expected, but I still don’t find it to be very suitable for birds. The viewing is still terrible as well, with more half of the glass boarded up which makes looking into the enclosure extremely awkward.
There are no longer African spur-thighed tortoises in the pachyderm house, just the Galapagos tortoises. While I didn't look, I'm assuming they have been moved to the outdoor yard viewed from the kopje building.
It’s recently been brought to my attention that the meerkats have been "off exhibit" for quite some time - at least since last fall. As I recall the mob had aged quite a bit and numbers have dwindled over the years, so it wouldn't surprise me if they all passed and the zoo is temporarily out of individuals for the time being.
In the coming months, it appears the camels will be leaving the zoo. There’s an open transfer trailer located at the very back of the west paddock, presumably to get them used to being inside of it in preparation for the move. As for why they are leaving and what will replace them, I have an idea of what it'll be, but I won't say until we get an official announcement from the zoo
Animal Highlights:
- Today was the first time I saw the macaws inside of the Peacock cafe (if you can even call it that anymore). Usually I visit the zoo a bit later in the day and by the time I get to this area the macaws are already brought off exhibit. I've been extremely critical of these dreadful parot-on-a-stick displays, but I'll be honest, the setup isn't as bad as I thought it was. It's not great either, but instead of just being a few individual perches it's more of an interconnected series of perches and ropes. All of the macaws seemed content, with the green-winged macaw tossing around some toilet paper rolls and the hyacinths interacting with guests. I'll never like these displays, but it was very nice to see these birds up-close.
- It's been years since I've last witnessed one of the simulated rainstorms in Tropic World, until today. Just as the sounds of thunder abruptly went off, the colobus and red-tailed guenons quickly scurried for cover before the rain came pouring down. While Tropic World isn't what it once was in many aspects, it still has that occasional moment of magic that creates a sense of wonder.
- Lastly, I was smiling ear to ear when I found a screaming hairy armadillo peacefully sleeping on its back. Just look at this guy; adorable!
Exciting times at the zoo right now, but there are so many unanswered questions at the moment. What will take residence in the former red panda and black-footed cat exhibits? When will the capuchins go on display? Will the new bird exhibits be finished by the end of the Summer? Is the prairie dog exhibit still coming this year? Will the materials for the macaw perches ever arrive?
Those answers will come in due time and suffice to say these next few months leading up to the master plan reveal are going to be very interesting indeed.
