Advocate in some sense, but I don't think he did zoos or aquariums any favors..... More often on the side of PETA and ARAs.
I always appreciated his population control advocacy for pets though.
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Como Park Zoo News
- Thread starter Milwaukee Man
- Start date
I always appreciated his population control advocacy for pets though.
The zoo has plans to construct new big cat and wolf exhibits and is seeking funding in the State of Minnesota's next infrastructure bill, which, if it gets past the preliminary stage, would be voted on in 2024. This represents a change in plans for the zoo as their last infrastructure proposal (not funded) was to renovate the orangutan exhibit. Presumably the cat plans were moved up in priority due to structural issues with the viewing bridges.
Some low-res site plans are visible on the zoo's Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ComoZoo. For those without Twitter accounts, this preliminary rendering suggests a total teardown and replacement of the existing building (the building in the rendering has a different orientation compared to the existing one but in about the same location). If this site plan was maintained or closely followed, the exhibit layout would also be quite different, with Lions over where the Wolves are now, Wolves in the unused wooded area stretching towards the Polar Bears, and Snow Leopard, Tiger, and Cougar in between.
Some low-res site plans are visible on the zoo's Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/ComoZoo. For those without Twitter accounts, this preliminary rendering suggests a total teardown and replacement of the existing building (the building in the rendering has a different orientation compared to the existing one but in about the same location). If this site plan was maintained or closely followed, the exhibit layout would also be quite different, with Lions over where the Wolves are now, Wolves in the unused wooded area stretching towards the Polar Bears, and Snow Leopard, Tiger, and Cougar in between.
Interesting... This isn't what I would've expected they tackle next, but it will surely be a welcome change indeed. I always thought Wolf Woods was a bit of a missed opportunity for how much space it takes up, so I'm glad they are trying to rectify this. I really hope they can give the serval outdoor access, as that indoor enclosure is definitely on the smaller side. It would be nice to see some other side species (Maybe one or two small cats or some Mustelid species) added to the plan, but I wouldn't be all that upset if none were included.
The cub, who was born blind, has been named Willow by a donor and made her debut yesterday:
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/baby-snow-leopard-makes-first-appearance-at-como-zoo/
There's more information about the cub and her health issues here:
Bringing Up Baby - Como Friends
A new Amur tiger is set to arrive from Oregon. Her name is Bernadette and she is seven years old.
Bernadette the tiger leaving Oregon Zoo to move to Minnesota
Bernadette the tiger leaving Oregon Zoo to move to Minnesota
A giraffe calf was born November 6:
Baby giraffe born at St. Paul's Como Zoo on Monday
The giraffe was born Monday and is the third calf born to 7-year-old Zinnia. The zoo says the calf was born at 8:09 p.m. and was already standing next to its mother by 8:50 p.m.
Baby giraffe born at St. Paul's Como Zoo on Monday
The giraffe was born Monday and is the third calf born to 7-year-old Zinnia. The zoo says the calf was born at 8:09 p.m. and was already standing next to its mother by 8:50 p.m.
The calf is a female according to Facebook.
Penguin Cupid, oldest at this zoo, passed away. He was born on Valentine's Day nearly thirty-three years ago. Staff are waiting for information on the cause of death.
Como Zoo’s oldest African penguin, Cupid, dies at 32
Como Zoo’s oldest African penguin, Cupid, dies at 32
The giraffe calf has been named Ivy.
The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is now holding pure (or as close to pure as exists) American plains bison, as a part of the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd! At least one of their bison, a new female Ruby, is a "pure" specimen. Their enclosure has also been expanded. It will be interesting to see just how much they participate in this program and how extensive the modifications were to their living arrangements, although I'm guessing very few changes were made.
Polar bear Neil was diagnosed with something called gastric dilation-volvulus, a life-threatening condition that was thankfully diagnosed and addressed with an emergency operation in time to save his life. He has gone back to spending time with Kulu and Nan. I've been following their Facebook page so I know they all have really strong relationships with each other, especially Nan and Neil. I don't really think news like this it too unexpected given Neil's age (he's the oldest male in the United States of America and the second oldest captive-born bear), but I am very happy to see him pull through. Hopefully he'll continue to be healthy and in good spirits!
Comfort Food and Companionship Help Polar Bear Neil Make a Strong Recovery - Como Friends
A Few New Faces - Como Friends
The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is now holding pure (or as close to pure as exists) American plains bison, as a part of the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd! At least one of their bison, a new female Ruby, is a "pure" specimen. Their enclosure has also been expanded. It will be interesting to see just how much they participate in this program and how extensive the modifications were to their living arrangements, although I'm guessing very few changes were made.
Polar bear Neil was diagnosed with something called gastric dilation-volvulus, a life-threatening condition that was thankfully diagnosed and addressed with an emergency operation in time to save his life. He has gone back to spending time with Kulu and Nan. I've been following their Facebook page so I know they all have really strong relationships with each other, especially Nan and Neil. I don't really think news like this it too unexpected given Neil's age (he's the oldest male in the United States of America and the second oldest captive-born bear), but I am very happy to see him pull through. Hopefully he'll continue to be healthy and in good spirits!
Comfort Food and Companionship Help Polar Bear Neil Make a Strong Recovery - Como Friends
A Few New Faces - Como Friends
Glad to hear Neil was able to pull through! He’s been at the zoo my whole life and it just won’t be the same once he’s gone. It’s nice to see He’s made friends with the new bears in his old age.
Does anyone know what the other herd members are ... pure plains Bison or not?
There are no pure American Bison anymore.
They're treating the ones with the least amount of cattle genetics as pure, for the sake of trying to keep the species around in its truest form.
Yes, I know they put in a cattle mix in. Just a good few herds are advertised as having no contribution genetically from the cattle gene. So, hence I wonder whether the resident bull and the other bison female (?) are in fact pure-breds.
My post was replying to birdsandbats. For herds being advertised as such, the cattle is probably many generations back, making them almost pure but not quite.
That would be the case for most captive bison, though.
I don't have any actual source to back this but I don't think that's the case for ones at many drive through safaris, for example. Even breeding bison to bison, if they both have a higher cattle percentage, isn't going to do away with it. There's definitely a difference in appearance between the ones I see visiting rural safari places vs bronx, for example.
A link to the Minnesota project, which would now include Como Park Zoo:
https://mnzoo.org/conservation/minnesota/bison-conservation-minnesota/
"Pure" is probably not reality given the history, but from the website they acknowledge the challenge in that the the herd is "American plains bison that has tested largely free of cattle genes."
There are similar projects in many states across the US.
From the National Park Service:
Genetic Diversity of Wind Cave's Bison Herd (U.S. National Park Service)