Denver Zoo Denver Zoo News 2022

John Marchwick said:
The Flamingo Exhibit at the Denver Zoo is Getting a Fab Makeover

The flamingo exhibit at the Denver Zoo is getting a huge overall. The exhibit is expanding to where the old otter habitat once was
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So... here's hoping that "Harmony Hill" becomes a brand new Andean bear or jaguar habitat to tie everything together? (The former along with the sea lions would make an AMAZING South American section, with the sea lions especially providing an excellent opportunity for a Tierra Del Fuego exhibit)
 
Denver Zoo acquired two Leucistic Raccoon Rescues back in October, Pecan and Cashew, who will soon have a home in the “Backyard” portion of Harmony Hill. Their exhibit is estimated to be finished in early March. For now, they are staying in the Animal Hospital. Definitely an interesting approach to the area, suggesting the Flamingo exhibit going in next door, but exciting nonetheless!

Denver Zoo Welcomes Two Rescued Raccoons - Denver Zoo
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Why do they keep on to American flamingo in this Siuth American mix?
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Zoo's have mixed flocks of flamingos all the time with great success. Since they breed with a higher success the larger the flock, integrating flamingo species makes sense from an animal welfare standpoint. You have to remember than some of the older zoos (Denver included) had huge menageries back in the day, so this integrated flock is a remnant of that practice.
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
Zoo's have mixed flocks of flamingos all the time with great success. Since they breed with a higher success the larger the flock, integrating flamingo species makes sense from an animal welfare standpoint. You have to remember than some of the older zoos (Denver included) had huge menageries back in the day, so this integrated flock is a remnant of that practice.
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There is a good chance for hybridisation in closely managed and unbalanced sex / age groups with flamingos. It is best to maintain large evenly balanced flocks of a single species.
 
The zoo was on the news showcasing Billy the elephant doing yoga. I had no clue he grew so much until I saw the clip! I remember watching footage years ago when he came to Denver. I looked up his ancestry and his dad is Alexander (44) from Lodz Zoo in Poland is 10.8 ft! :eek: Billy may perhaps even grow taller than Bodhi. Anyways, enjoy the clip!
 
19 year old Reticulated giraffe euthanised:

Denver Zoo Mourns the Recent Loss of 19-Year-Old Giraffe

On March 11, zookeepers made the difficult decision to euthanize Heshimu, the 19-year-old reticulated giraffe, after an acute change in her health left them with no other option.

Heshi was born on September 12, 2002 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. She was moved to her new home at the Denver Zoo on May 9, 2007.

Heshimu has two offspring, Cricket and Timber, who were both moved to other zoos after birth as part of the Species Survival Plan.
 
Sarus Crane said:
The zoo was on the news showcasing Billy the elephant doing yoga. I had no clue he grew so much until I saw the clip! I remember watching footage years ago when he came to Denver. I looked up his ancestry and his dad is Alexander (44) from Lodz Zoo in Poland is 10.8 ft! :eek: Billy may perhaps even grow taller than Bodhi. Anyways, enjoy the clip!
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Billy was initially one of their smallest elephants so it’s a shock to see him grow so tall! It seems he takes after his father.

Bong Su, another male, from Melbourne Zoo was just short of 3.2 metres, and he was humungous. I don’t think there’s been a captive elephant that’s eclipsed 11 feet yet though (at least as records show).
 
Jambo said:
I don’t think there’s been a captive elephant that’s eclipsed 11 feet yet though (at least as records show)
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Here are measurements that I know of for specific individuals. An asterisk * means the individual is deceased. A couple hasn't been completely verified:

*Calcutta Skeleton (Indian Museum) - 11'3"
*Raja Gaj (Bardia NP)- 11'3"
*Tula Hatti (wild Nepal)- 11'
Bhim Gaj (Bardia NP)- 10'6"-10'10"
Thechikottukavu Ramachandran (Kerala) - 10'6"
*Packy (Oregon) - 10'6"
*Siam (Paris) - 10'6"
Bo (Attapulgus) - 10'6"
*Coco (Columbus) - 10'
*Bolivar (Philadelphia) -10'
Thailand (Houston) - 10'
Dalip (Miami) - 10' or 10'6"???
Spike (Smithsonian's NZP) - 9' or 10'6"???

Willy (African) in Cleveland is 11'.
 
Sarus Crane said:
Here are measurements that I know of for specific individuals. An asterisk * means the individual is deceased. A couple hasn't been completely verified:

*Calcutta Skeleton (Indian Museum) - 11'3"
*Raja Gaj (Bardia NP)- 11'3"
*Tula Hatti (wild Nepal)- 11'
Bhim Gaj (Bardia NP)- 10'6"-10'10"
Thechikottukavu Ramachandran (Kerala) - 10'6"
*Packy (Oregon) - 10'6"
*Siam (Paris) - 10'6"
Bo (Attapulgus) - 10'6"
*Coco (Columbus) - 10'
*Bolivar (Philadelphia) -10'
Thailand (Houston) - 10'
Dalip (Miami) - 10' or 10'6"???
Spike (Smithsonian's NZP) - 9' or 10'6"???

Willy (African) in Cleveland is 11'.
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Spike is 9’ I assume, he’s not that much bigger than the girls at National Zoo. Dalip is also most likely 10’ rather than 10’6”
 
After visiting today, I can confirm several construction areas. We already know about the upcoming flamingo exhibit, which is due to be completed in late 2022, and will directly border Tropical Discovery. The old Feline Houses have been closed off as well, presumably for construction, and most of the Lion exhibit (largest yard) at Predator Ridge has been partially closed off for maintenance construction, though the lions are still viewable from several alternate points. The most interesting to me is that the zoo has finally begun demolition of Bird World after being closed for several years. To be honest, it kind of hit me in the feels after seeing it being torn down, but I am very excited and interested to see what comes next for the area. If anybody has any insight into plans for the area, I would love to hear it. The Master Plan isn’t exactly being followed all that directly, so any insight or even guesses as to what the future holds for that area would be much appreciated!
 
Zoofan15 said:
19 year old Reticulated giraffe euthanised:

Denver Zoo Mourns the Recent Loss of 19-Year-Old Giraffe

On March 11, zookeepers made the difficult decision to euthanize Heshimu, the 19-year-old reticulated giraffe, after an acute change in her health left them with no other option.

Heshi was born on September 12, 2002 at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. She was moved to her new home at the Denver Zoo on May 9, 2007.

Heshimu has two offspring, Cricket and Timber, who were both moved to other zoos after birth as part of the Species Survival Plan.
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Oh that's too bad! I was really hoping for her to breed with Dobby, now that he is mature. The zoo needs to get another giraffe as a long-term mate/companion for Dobby, as Kipele is not only his mother, but she is the only other giraffe at the zoo, and is 29 years old, which is quite elderly for a giraffe. I think the Denver Zoo should get Dobby a companion before his mother dies, or he'll be in solitary confinement, which is bad for a giraffe, or send him to another zoo.
 
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe said:
Oh that's too bad! I was really hoping for her to breed with Dobby, now that he is mature. The zoo needs to get another giraffe as a long-term mate/companion for Dobby, as Kipele is not only his mother, but she is the only other giraffe at the zoo, and is 29 years old, which is quite elderly for a giraffe. I think the Denver Zoo should get Dobby a companion before his mother dies, or he'll be in solitary confinement, which is bad for a giraffe, or send him to another zoo.
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They most likely will be looking for another female in the near future, to be later paired with Dobby. Kipele has to be one one of the oldest giraffes in the US. A female who recently died in Australia was 31 and it was noted that she was the oldest living female worldwide.

Giraffes can live by themselves; they're not all a social species that stays in groups, so i'd imagine Dobby will be fine if his mother dies and they still haven't obtained another female yet.
 
Jambo said:
They most likely will be looking for another female in the near future, to be later paired with Dobby. Kipele has to be one one of the oldest giraffes in the US. A female who recently died in Australia was 31 and it was noted that she was the oldest living female worldwide.

Giraffes can live by themselves; they're not all a social species that stays in groups, so i'd imagine Dobby will be fine if his mother dies and they still haven't obtained another female yet.
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Maybe after Kipele dies, they could instead relocate Dobby to a different zoo and bring in a new group (2-4 adults of any gender) of Reticulated Giraffes.
 
Jambo said:
Dobby will most likely serve as the zoo's next breeding male alongside maybe one or two females; he won't be relocated.
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Dobby has been castrated, so any future cows that arrive will be purely for companionship purposes.

He may be joined by another castrated bull as was originally the plan. A two year old bull arrived in 2019, but died following the castration procedure.

Dobby was never intended to join the breeding programme. He was an unplanned birth, conceived while his mother was on birth control.
 
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