Buffalo Zoo Buffalo Zoo 2010

Thanks for your info I am looking at some maps trying to figure out where some of this might go.The map of the full masterplan is so small its hard to read I hate that.

Team Tapir
 
I know! I was trying to look at the master map today to see how they're going to arrange it, but it's just too small to read the words.

Let me try to figure out some of it. So on the far bottom where it's white, that's the parking lot and right above it is where the new entrance will go. To the right of the entrance is where the elephant house is and it almost looks like their yard would be expanding, but I see water above it so it almost looks like it's emerging with Arctic Edge. The red building in the middle is the Rainforest building. The green area above that is the African Watering Hole, with the giraffe yard or at least their winter housing on the right of that. The buidling that is in a horse shoe shape in where the gorillas and ecostation is located. The outside area around is are the meshed enclosures for the Vanising Animals exhibit. The area below the Rainforest building confuses me, but it should be where the otters, sea lions, and Heritage Farms is located. To the left of that just before the horseshoe building it looks like it says Wonders of Water. It almost looks like in the area where the waterfowl are, but I'm sure it be altered in size or eliminated with what is located in the area now.
 
I went to the Zoo on Monday (the 9th) and was dissappointed and yet pleasantly surprised by some aspects of this zoo. I thought the newest exhibits were clearly the best(which is to be expected). I was fortunate and got to see the raniforest building 3 times and all 3 times i went the tamandua was active and moving about, I was disappointed that i could not find the ocelot though as i have never seen one before. I felt terrible for the bears that are stuck in those concrete pits and felt that the giraffe paddock and the elephant exhibit were both much to small for their inhabitants. Both tiger species were very active when i visited and was actually surprised by the decent quality of their inclosures.

I can't wait to return and see what the new areas look like in years to come, I think that the work they have done (M&T rainforest, sea otter, sea lion, and heritage farms) as well as the work they will be doing.

I do have one question, the series of the old buildings near the loriket exhibit, i assume it is to be used for something? what will be going there? It is a fair size of space which is just being let to fall apart so far.

Oops one more questions. The inside of both the repitle building and vanishing animals building were under construction in many areas and had signs telling the staff even to keep out. Why is this? what's going on?
 
It's so nice to have more people here visit the Buffalo Zoo! The old buildings you saw by Lorikeet Landing is where the old children's zoo was located. They had chained link fences in front of it where the animals would reside. The old building right now I think is used for some of the education animals and where they quarantined the farm animals before they were at Heritage Farm. You may have spotted the old petting zoo animals in next to the Kodiak Bear exhibit. I like to call it their retirement island. They have a Donkey, Zebu, Ossabaw Island Pigs, and Pygmy Goats. The old petting zoo area is where the new entrance is going to be.

The inside area of the Vanishing Animal exhibits have been that was for the past few years. That's where the inside holding area are for the animals. Similar to the big cats holding area in the building between both exhibits where visitors have no access. It's sort of a maze to weave in and out in that section, but perhaps they wanted that. I always tend to peek inside when a worker opens the door. You are able to see the Snow Leopard holding area with the live feed of the snow leopard cubs.

I'm very glad you got to see the tamandua! That was a real treat because if you don't come during his active period, you won't see him. He's good at hiding in his exhibit or going back to his holding area. He's my favorite animal at the Buffalo Zoo. You must have went to the Rainforest exhibit during the first half of the day. The first half of the day until 1:30-3 time frame is when the female ocelot is on exhibit. She loves to rest in high areas. She has a few hiding areas and sometimes I'm able to spot her. I haven't seen her in a couple of months so I think she's sleeping behind the big tree. Pedro comes out for the second part of the day and is usually active and on the lower part of the exhibit. I'm sorry you weren't able to see either ocelot. For one point in time I'd go in the morning and the ocelot was hiding, the tamandua was hiding, and the White Faced Sakis were off display. So I'm glad when most of the animals are actually out when other visitors come to the zoo. Did you happen to see the White Face Saki baby? The local news kept saying his public debut was this past Thursday, but I caught him on exhibit the week before and I spoke to a docent who said he has been out for a couple of days before that.

Seeing that you said both tiger species I assume you also saw the Golden Tiger. That's also a special thing I think the zoo has to offer as I just found out it's the only Golden Tiger in a U.S. Zoo. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong about that! I usually see the tigers sleeping so I'm glad you saw them active. I always like being at the windows in the back of their exhibits when the big cats decide to stand up and look in on us. I feel then we're in the human exhibit and they're the visitors.

Please post photos if you took any! I know I've seen the animals a hundred times, but it's always nice to see different shots of exhibits and animals.
 
Yes i saw the golden tiger and boy is he big:) My brother was able to get his interest and he came right over to the window, i told my brother (he is 12) that he wanted him for food lol
I will work on getting photos up tomorrow, also is that area open in the winter? or does that part of the zoo just relie on nice weather for the visitors?
I can't wait to see everything in a year, i'll becomming back every summer now to visit, and see how the progress is going:) especially if it all turns out like the sealion, sea otter and rainforest exhibits :)
 
I pulled up his fact sheet from Big Cats weekend to tell you some more information on him. His name is Sahib and he was born in 1994. He likes regular meals and attention from his keepers. He doesn't like rain. I wish I could have gotten his interest recently when I borrowed a nicer camera for a bit. But he was in a lethargic mood and I let him be. Yes, that area is open in the winter. Both types of tigers go out in the winter. The Amur Tigers are pretty active. Sometimes the Lions even go outside in the snow. All of the zoo is open during the winter. Except the elephants, rhinos, and giraffes are in their inside areas. And the rhinos don't have a viewing area inside their barn so I went a few months without seeing them. I think the peafowl and lorikeets are seasonal. The Polar Bears and Otters are the most fun to see in the snow!
 
Blondie, I didn't cover a question you asked earlier. The Vanishing areas that even have signs telling staff to keep out is where the snow leopards are. It's because of the babies and I'm sure the mother is very protective and doesn't want any intruders near them. So probably only the keepers that she knows are allowed back there.

As for the Reptile House, I have no clue about the exhibits under construction. It's been that way for about a month. And as for the blue tarps in the back hallway with the alligator and the empty exhibit across from the alligators, it's been that way for a few years since they moved the meerkats out of there. I hope they get it fixed up a little bit more soon.
 
I was there at around 2:30-5:00 on Saturday. Boy was it hot. I should have videos up on my youtube channel soon that I took while I was their. Got some great shots of the Squirrel monkeys and the adult male Saki. I will post links to them as soon as they are up. I wasn't able to catch any of the talks since I was with my family and in a wheelchair but we enjoyed it just the same.

Ah where to start. I came here around 3 years ago and quite a bit has changed. They had the elephants separated for some reason but let the other female out after we left. I think it should be definitely their top priority in their master plan. Couldn't complain on the Sealions or River Otters. Both very nice exhibits. We didn't see any reindeer so I am not sure why they weren't there. Only two polar bears were out. The large one I'm guessing a male was pacing a lot and I felt a little bad for them. Is their a reason why they weren't in the larger grotto? Didn't see any Eurasian Lynx but of course the big vultures. Blondie must have been there within 30 minutes I was because I both didn't see the Ocelot but did see the Tamandua. I really liked the Mixed species monkey enclosure and mixed species capybara/bird/Caiman!?! enclosure. I personally know how nasty they can be sometimes but I'm sure they wouldn't have mixed them if it didn't work out. I didn't see the male rhino but both mom and baby were out. Giraffes were all in except two in a holding area behind the barn. Addax and Roans looked great but their exhibit was a little weedy and could be improved. Kind of disappointing to see the lone male Hyeana, did he at one point have a family? Gemsbok calves were a treat to see. The vanishing animals were either inside or difficult to get shots of. Just saw the Silver back and shorter female. She was staring at me for awhile, very memorizing. Reptiles were very active. The Sheltopusik which can be hard to find even when you need to move one into a different enclosure. Amur Tigers were out but curled up in a corner. I was very impressed with their male lion. He has huge! Heritage Farm looked nice but we had to leave and miss it. Does the Canal actually work with their mule?

Overall a nice zoo that in my opinion is perfect in size for those who don't want to walk the distances but still see a nice collection. Their Bear exhibits should be their top priority to redo along with their Gorillas and Asian elephants. But they are the professionals and I am not (yet). During the car ride back I came up with some other ideas for a master plan which I may include in another post.

@blospz: I am pretty sure he is the only Golden Tiger in a AZA zoo however their are at least 30 in ZAA facilities or private hands.
 
kbaker116 I thought they had more hyenas I looked them up on ISIS and they list Buffalo as having 2 males and 3 females they must of not been on exhibit for one reason or another.


Martin from Team Tapir
 
team tapir said:
kbaker116 I thought they had more hyenas I looked them up on ISIS and they list Buffalo as having 2 males and 3 females they must of not been on exhibit for one reason or another.


Martin from Team Tapir
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You may be right however blospz said in a previous post that they had a lone hyeana. Many zoos don't update ISIS regularly however Buffalo does have animals from their Rainforest exhibit listed so it may be possible you are right too.
 
Could someone send me a link to the ISIS if they have a website? I've never heard of it, but it sounds like it has lists of animals from each zoo. In the hyena exhibit they will display the male by himself, but other times it will be the mother and her baby. When I said lone hyena, I meant the one that switches out with the macaques in Vanishing Animals. That hyena looks like he has scars so maybe he didn't do well with the other hyenas and they found a new location for him.

I'm not sure why they separate the two elephants sometimes. I find it a bit cruel, but hoping there's a legit purpose for it. The Polar Bears do tend to pace in the summer, but they seem very happy and active in the winter. The funny thing is I saw the male Polar Bear in the morning and he was swimming and playing in his pool happy as can be. The Polar Bears have access to both exhibits, I saw them in the bigger one in the morning, but they decide where they want to go. Not sure why Nanuq usually picks the smaller one. Not sure about the ocelot since you went in the afternoon; Pedro should have been out by 3. I felt one afternoon I didn't see either all day. Not sure what's going on with the routine. In Vanishing Animals, did you see the Spectacled Bear or Manned Wolf? As for Heritage Farm, the canal is stationary. I think they might have planned to have it actually move down the canal, but they probably scraped the idea.

I can't wait to see your videos.
 
Ok gotcha. It sounds like a lone female is leaving Buffalo and going to Toronto according to the Buffalo Zoo application for the ipod. This may be the lone one and was getting into fights so they moved her. She temporarily stayed in the Macaque enclosure, (I didn't see any signage saying one was there) and is now leaving. If that is true it would make sense. Hopefully she works with her new family. No spectacled bears which was a disappointment since they are my favorites but did see a stinky Maned Wolf. He was pretty hidden though. ISIS says they have 4 Spectacleds the most in the United States.
 
The Buffalo Zoo application told you all of that? I wish I had an iphone -- I didn't know they would go into details about their animals.

From what I've put together the 4 spectacled bears at the zoo are Fernando, Diana, Hanna, and Bernard. Fernando and Diana are in the bear grottoes. Fernando usually hides in his moat. Diana is usually out, but she may have been sleeping in shade in her holding area. She's pretty old. Bernard is in Vanishing Animals and is always pacing in one little area, which breaks my heart. I don't think I've seen Hanna out in Vanishing Animals, unless she was the one sleeping in a corner on Saturday morning. I think I read she's been suffering from cancer and has some hair loss. I should have photos of Fernando and Diana in the Buffalo Zoo gallery.
 
I'm just inferring most of this. Here's what they said......

We will be saying farewell to one of our Hyenas, Pinduli. She is heading to Toronto to join a new hyena group.

So I'm not exactly sure.

Hannah swapped mates either last or this upcoming spring so hopefully some Spectacled bear cubs are in the Buffalo Zoo's future!
 
Be sure to update us with animal news in the thread. Please! :-)

With Hanna's health condition and going through chemotherapy, I'm not sure if she'll be up for having cubs anytime soon. But I'm hoping Anana the polar bear may be pregnant. Her and Nanuq had a few mating sessions this winter and she's looks like she never lost her winter fat like Nanuq did. It may be wishful thinking though.
 
I am not sure how often they will update it because this one seems to be written during the winter of last year.

But here's something I didn't know the zoo has two otter pairs and one pair gets the morning the other the evening. Not sure if it said that on signs when I was there.

Also the Eurasian Black Vultures have had 7 chicks.
 
Team Tapir, I was thinking that had to be the case since they don't have a South American section. Thanks for letting me know.

KBaker, I did know that about the otters. It took me a couple weeks to figure it out, but one pair the otters are the same shade of brown. But the other pair has one of the otters with a darker color coat. I also saw during January when their stockings we're still hung up with their names on them. They are Wally, Donnie, Daisy, and Ellie.
 
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