Theres approximately 25 individuals in US zoos. I believe a lot tend to be used in education programs and they're also known as Milky Eagle Owls
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden News 2021
- Thread starter Mai Thai
- Start date
Ah I'm more familiar with that name then. Thanks for the information!
Little One, the polar bear, has been euthanized. 
Cincinnati Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Polar Bear “Little One” - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®
Cincinnati Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Polar Bear “Little One” - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®
Does this mean they'll renovate the space for more polar bears or perhaps a new species?Little One, the polar bear, has been euthanized.
Cincinnati Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Polar Bear “Little One” - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®
Once Chester the Andean bear is gone or maybe moved to a new area, then I would think they would start on renovating the space.
Mai Thai
Well-Known Member
At the moment it sounds like that they are going to wait until Chester passes away and then renovate the exhibit for some orphaned Polar Bears that will be rescued through the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Are you sure? The USFWS rescues less than one bear a year from what I know. And even if they were to rescue some its not like Cincinnati would be the only zoo in the mix.
Mai Thai
Well-Known Member
That is what the zoo director told me
I mean its likely a pipe dream imo. I imagine they don’t want to be without this major species for too long, but their plan is dependent on several variables outside their control.
Speaking of the bears, the zoo has quite a lot of elderly animals, past and present. Some of the currently still alive old animals include:
1. Chester the Andean Bear-26 years old
2. Gracious the white lion-19 years old
3. Burger the king penguin-37 years old
4. Sihil the ocelot-20 years old
5. Sheegwa the clouded leopard-18 years old
6. Nadine the black-footed cat-13 years old
7. Buddy the Magellanic penguin-33 years old
1. Chester the Andean Bear-26 years old
2. Gracious the white lion-19 years old
3. Burger the king penguin-37 years old
4. Sihil the ocelot-20 years old
5. Sheegwa the clouded leopard-18 years old
6. Nadine the black-footed cat-13 years old
7. Buddy the Magellanic penguin-33 years old
It’s nice to see this Australian species breeding overseas. Two Freckled Ducks have hatched at Cincinnati: Cincinnati Zoo welcomes 2 new adorable freckled ducklings
A big happy birthday to cheetah brothers Chance and Bravo, who turn 17 today! https://twitter.com/CincinnatiZoo/status/1389316402776051719?s=20
I'm not overly happy to see the zoo lose species at the rate they have lately. No more Indian rhinos, obviously no more Sumatran rhinos, the corruption of the once great Wildlife Canyon into a glorified extension of the Children's Zoo, so on and so forth. It can't be helped, as most zoos not named San Diego or Bronx have little chance at all when it comes to acquiring new and interesting species these days.
With that in mind, I'd scrap the thought of having polar bears in Cincinnati. The zoo has always been very limited in terms of space, and polar bears are a species that needs more than most to thrive. I'd look at the absence of the species as a chance to move on to something else.
I'd love to see the "bear line" redone and incorporated Into the neighboring Jungle Trails. They wouldn't have to do a ton structurally to re-work the exhibits into housing for tropical predators. Maybe they could put clouded leopards in one if they set up a screen barrier. Maybe an asian leopard species, maybe sun bears if two of the exhibits were to be merged. Seeing that Noetopical animals are now displayed in JT, maybe even one big jaguar complex with a water feature ala Woodland Park.
Mai Thai
Well-Known Member
I agree, I think Cincinnati should not house polar bears but instead continue working with Columbus and their polar bears. As for the Bear line, I think they should turn it into multiple habitats for Andean Bears to fit the Jungle Trails theme and so they can work with this vanishing species.
It is indeed very sad to see the way that Cincinnati is going. At their current rate, they are becoming a glorified Children's Zoo and Bird Zoo
Mai Thai
Well-Known Member
I went to the cat house this morning and after learning about the old collection, I was horrified that all that reminded are Pallas Cats, Black-Footed Cats, Sand Cats, Ocelots, and a Clouded Leopard.
Yes, Night Hunters now mostly consists of Genets and a few small cats
A Black-and-white Colobus has been born at Cincinnati: Cincinnati Zoo welcomes newest black and white colobus monkey