Buffalo Zoo Buffalo Zoo News 2023

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I visited the zoo this morning, and noticed a new species in the aviary next to the tufted deer: red-breasted geese. There were at least three of them in the aviary, along with the zoo's himalayan monal. I'm personally very happy with this addition as red-breasted geese happen to be one of my favorite waterfowl species. Plus, any new birds are great news with how small the bird collection at Buffalo is at the moment.
 
A few notes from my visit today:
- A black-crowned night heron has been added to the Rainforest Falls exhibit.
- One of the snow leopards was moved into the former maned wolf exhibit.
- In Rainforest Falls, some of the primates were moved around between the two primate exhibits. Previously, the first exhibit would always hold black-capped squirrel monkeys and pale-faced saki, while the second exhibit would rotate between brown capuchins and a black howler/common squirrel monkey mix. Today, the first exhibit held both species of squirrel monkeys, while the second held the howler monkeys. I do not yet know whether the saki and/or capuchin will be rotated through one of the exhibits, nor do I know a reason for the swaps.
 
Hi, Zoochat. In April I plan on taking a trip by rail to Buffalo / Niagara to hit the two AZA facilities there. I won’t have a rental car. Anything other than the zoo / aquarium / falls in the cities that’s particularly worth visiting? Any advice for the best visit to the zoo / aquarium?
 
Persephone said:
Hi, Zoochat. In April I plan on taking a trip by rail to Buffalo / Niagara to hit the two AZA facilities there. I won’t have a rental car. Anything other than the zoo / aquarium / falls in the cities that’s particularly worth visiting? Any advice for the best visit to the zoo / aquarium?
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If you have a passport/are interested in crossing the border, Bird Kingdom is on the Canadian side of the falls and is a really cool indoor walk-through aviary. Here is a link to their website (Bird Kingdom). While in Canada, it's an easy walk over the Rainbow Bridge from the US side (when I visited Bird Kingdom, I parked near the aquarium and walked over the border, so it can easily be done on the same day as the aquarium). Personally, I wouldn't recommend the Aquarium of Niagara, it's very small, expensive, and there isn't much of note there, but if there is something you really want to see there/you're interested in hitting another facility, go ahead and visit.

Note that Buffalo Zoo is currently only open Friday-Sunday, and I don't know when that will change for the summer season so if you are planning to visit on a weekday check their website first to make sure they are open. Other than that, it's a nice, medium-sized zoo that can be seen in a couple of hours. I don't have any obvious tips for you, except for that if gorillas really interest you then sometime between 11 and 12 they are usually fed (the exact time sometimes varies), and that tends to be the best time to see them out and active. I think there's one or two feedings later in the day as well, but 11-12 is the one that I'm definitely aware of. As for other stuff in the cities, that really depends on what your interests are, but there're certainly some cool things to see, although no obvious "you need to see this!". If you're a bird person, then the Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls has a large nesting colony of wild ring-billed gulls that can be a cool sight to see. Feel free to PM me if you want more info about the zoo and/or city in general, as I've been living in Buffalo for about six months now.
 
Neil chace said:
If you have a passport/are interested in crossing the border, Bird Kingdom is on the Canadian side of the falls and is a really cool indoor walk-through aviary. Here is a link to their website (Bird Kingdom). While in Canada, it's an easy walk over the Rainbow Bridge from the US side (when I visited Bird Kingdom, I parked near the aquarium and walked over the border, so it can easily be done on the same day as the aquarium). Personally, I wouldn't recommend the Aquarium of Niagara, it's very small, expensive, and there isn't much of note there, but if there is something you really want to see there/you're interested in hitting another facility, go ahead and visit.

Note that Buffalo Zoo is currently only open Friday-Sunday, and I don't know when that will change for the summer season so if you are planning to visit on a weekday check their website first to make sure they are open. Other than that, it's a nice, medium-sized zoo that can be seen in a couple of hours. I don't have any obvious tips for you, except for that if gorillas really interest you then sometime between 11 and 12 they are usually fed (the exact time sometimes varies), and that tends to be the best time to see them out and active. I think there's one or two feedings later in the day as well, but 11-12 is the one that I'm definitely aware of. As for other stuff in the cities, that really depends on what your interests are, but there're certainly some cool things to see, although no obvious "you need to see this!". If you're a bird person, then the Cave of the Winds at Niagara Falls has a large nesting colony of wild ring-billed gulls that can be a cool sight to see. Feel free to PM me if you want more info about the zoo and/or city in general, as I've been living in Buffalo for about six months now.
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Alas, I do not have a passport in my current name (I’m trans) and while I plan on applying this week it is highly unlikely to be processed by April.

I am trying to visit every single AZA accredited facility, which unfortunately includes some that are… less spectacular than others. Thankfully that day should leave a fair bit of free time to explore the area around the falls.
 
Persephone said:
Alas, I do not have a passport in my current name (I’m trans) and while I plan on applying this week it is highly unlikely to be processed by April.
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How long does it take to issue an US passport?
 
Persephone said:
I am trying to visit every single AZA accredited facility, which unfortunately includes some that are… less spectacular than others. Thankfully that day should leave a fair bit of free time to explore the area around the falls
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Yeah, the Aquarium of Niagara will certainly leave you with a lot of free time, and the zoo isn't a full day visit either. If you are doing other things in the Falls area, look if there is a combo pass that includes what you're interested in seeing- some include Aquarium of Niagara and they're a good way to see everything for less money than if each was bought individually, so it's an option to look into.

Going to every AZA zoo is certainly an impressive goal! I wish you the best of luck trying to achieve this, although it'll certainly mean going out of your way for visiting some lesser-known institutions (though that's not a bad thing as there are many incredible, small AZA Zoos out there. How many AZA facilities have you visited up to this point?
 
Wilma was always one of my favorite animals at the zoo with her downturned horns. I always stop by the Bison yard when I am golfing at the park to say hello (you can see them from hole 14). One of my friends even named his Bison Driver cover Wilma.
 
On June 8th, the zoo announced they acquired (0.0.2) northern caiman lizards which are now on exhibit in the Amphibian and Reptile Center.

The Buffalo Zoo

On June 12th, the zoo announced they bred and transferred (0.0.6,000+) Puerto Rican crested toads to Puerto Rico to be released into the wild in the future.

The Buffalo Zoo

On June 15th, it was announced that the zoo acquired a (1.0) red panda named Mogwai from the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado.

Pueblo Zoo
 
2.2 lion cubs were born on June 2nd and 3rd to parents, Tiberius and Lusaka. This is their third litter together!

The Buffalo Zoo on Instagram: "Say hello to Buffalo Zoo's new FAB FOUR! On June 2nd and 3rd, the Buffalo Zoo’s African Lion Pride grew when they welcomed the birth of four active lion cubs. All cubs were born to their mother, Lusaka and father, Tiberius. The Zoo’s animal care team began monitoring Lusaka closely in the days before her giving birth and were watching via remote cameras when she went into labor. Three cubs were born late evening on June 2nd and one cub was born in the early hours of the 3rd. Having multiple cubs over the course of several hours is normal for the species. All cubs are nursing well and are currently showing all signs of good health. Last week our veterinary team got their first look at the cubs, and they are healthy, growing, and currently weigh around seven pounds each. The cubs are yet to be named, but appear to be two female and two male cubs. For the time being, the cubs will remain off-exhibit and behind-the-scenes, becoming more mobile while bonding and nursing with mom. Lusaka and Tiberius were paired following a breeding recommendation from The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African Lions, which is designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of this species. This is the pair's third litter. In 2016, Lusaka gave birth to 3 cubs, Asha, Amirah, and Roary who have since gone off to other zoos. Their second liter came in 2021 with 2 cubs, Zahra and Khari who can still be seen in the Buffalo Zoo’s lion habitat with the other pride members. Over the coming weeks, the cubs and mom will continue to bond behind the scenes until they are big and strong enough to be introduced to other pride members and go outside. Stay tuned to our social media channels and sign-up for e-mail alerts so you don’t miss updates on their public debut and names."
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