Detroit Zoo Detroit Zoo News 2021

Ok finally got to visit this year and I found out some things.
  1. The Holden Reptile Conservation Center is supposed to re-open in mid-May. Hopefully, more exhibits will open at the same time.
  2. The red-crowned crane was in the back of the mixed bird exhibit in the American grasslands. I was surprised, not surprised, and disappointed by this placement.
  3. I have seen @Azamat Shackleford saying that the sandhill cranes and kookaburra are gone, but they are still there.
  4. The anteaters were off-exhibit for exhibit maintenance.
  5. The pronghorn doesn't have a sign anymore, but I still saw one of them in there.
  6. The Mantella frogs are currently being moved from the cylinder exhibit to the right side of the mountain chickens. Only two Mantella species have been transferred so far. I would share a picture, but I messed up while taking it.
The watering hole exhibit is now down to only an ostrich and an eland, so it is definitely time to bring in some new species. Overall, it was a great visit. Most of the animals were active and the weather was amazing.
 
Animals R AMAZING! said:
Will they be introducing Astra and Laerke to each other sometime soon? It would allow Laerke to have interaction with another bear, but I'm not sure if they would be able to seperate Suka and Astra for a couple hours. lt would make sense if they introduce the two to one another once Astra is weaned and seperated from Suka since young female pairings seem popular in zoos these days (i.e. Amelia Gray/Neva at Maryland and Nora/Hope formerly at Hogle). But I wonder if they would introduce the two earlier on, like maybe in a couple of months?
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This is...a very poor idea. Once the parent reared female is independent from the mother, I fully support the two sisters being housed together as a social unit, however until then, its simply not worth the risk to either cub. If you try separating mother from cub for cub socials, you run the risk of the mother either rejecting or killing her cub on re-introduction, or if you tried re-introducing the hand reared female, the mother would likely kill her at this point.
 
Ok got some news:
  1. Masks are no longer required outside, but they are required inside. Found this out from their Twitter.
  2. I checked on some of the reptiles and penguins and it no longer says that the buildings are temporarily closed. So either they are open right now or should be opening very soon.
EDIT: The official PPCC website still says it is expected to reopen this spring.
 
So the zoo posted an update on Laerke on Instagram and it's pretty interesting. So they aren't entirely sure if it will be safe to reunite the cubs right now, but they have a different idea. They are also trying to provide sanctuary to an orphaned grizzly bear cub that currently is in Montana. The plan is they will raise both of the cubs (Laerke and the grizzly cub) together.
 
Ok, I just visited again today and I have a little bit more news.
  • There is now a green-winged macaw in the aviary. It's in relatively the same area as the macaw that lived there a few years ago.
  • There was a little bit of construction at the former bush dog exhibit. They are replacing the wooden fence along the path with a newer one that looks a lot nicer. There is also a small cable fence going around the perimeter of the exhibit. I wasn't able to find out what is going in the exhibit.
  • The HRCC does have some construction going on but I was still able to go inside. I had to enter through the exit and the inside has a barrier going down the middle making the traffic go one way. Some double doors were being installed so I wasn't able to see two exhibits and the other side of the new water monitor habitat.
  • I sadly didn't see any grey-crowned cranes, so I think they have been phased out.
  • Has the Savu Island python always lived at the zoo? If not, well then that's new.
  • The black iguana and sidewinder were off exhibit temporarily.
  • The boardwalk opened in the middle of the day when I was there.
Ok, I lied it was more than just a little bit of news:p.
 
Bisonblake said:
Ok, I just visited again today and I have a little bit more news.
  • There is now a green-winged macaw in the aviary. It's in relatively the same area as the macaw that lived there a few years ago.
  • There was a little bit of construction at the former bush dog exhibit. They are replacing the wooden fence along the path with a newer one that looks a lot nicer. There is also a small cable fence going around the perimeter of the exhibit. I wasn't able to find out what is going in the exhibit.
  • The HRCC does have some construction going on but I was still able to go inside. I had to enter through the exit and the inside has a barrier going down the middle making the traffic go one way. Some double doors were being installed so I wasn't able to see two exhibits and the other side of the new water monitor habitat.
  • I sadly didn't see any grey-crowned cranes, so I think they have been phased out.
  • Has the Savu Island python always lived at the zoo? If not, well then that's new.
  • The black iguana and sidewinder were off exhibit temporarily.
  • The boardwalk opened in the middle of the day when I was there.
Ok, I lied it was more than just a little bit of news:p.
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So it's a single macaw right? I wonder if they'll being in another. The one there now is likely a rescue that came in on its own, knowing how much the Detroit Zoo puts rescuing as a priority. Is the macaw on a single perch like it was, or can it move in a larger general area; the area right around the first pond when you enter the aviary, for example.

I think the crowned cranes were phased out. I asked a keeper about it a year or two ago and she mentioned that the zoo likely wouldn't get anymore. She didn't say why, but I presume it has something to do with Kagan, the added Chilean flamingos in the exhibit, or the species being endangered.
 
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I'll be visiting Detroit for the first time later this month. Can anyone of the locals confirm if the Polk Penguin Conservation Center has reopened? From my understanding there was some sort of issue that resulted in a temporary closure a while back and it would be a tragedy to miss out on it. Additionally, is there anything else at Detroit that I still closed or that I should be aware of?
 
pachyderm pro said:
I'll be visiting Detroit for the first time later this month. Can anyone of the locals confirm if the Polk Penguin Conservation Center has reopened? From my understanding there was some sort of issue that resulted in a temporary closure a while back and it would be a tragedy to miss out on it. Additionally, is there anything else at Detroit that I still closed or that I should be aware of?
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You might want to wait for one of the others on this forum, they'll likely know for sure what the situation is. The last I knew though, the reptile center was closed and is now opened. The aviary and butterfly area, amphibian center are all open. I think you have to wear a mask in the buildings, but they might be allowing fully vaccinated people into buildings without masks. I don't think the Polk Penguin Center is open yet, though the website says it will still reopen this Spring; it is arguably the best penguin exhibit in the country. The seals are gone, and the zoo is in the process of replacing them with sea otters; I don't think the sea otters are on exhibit yet. I think the polar bear underwater-tunnel is still closed; I could be wrong about that one. I know the rest of the Arctic Ring of Life is open.
 
Bisonblake said:
Has the Savu Island python always lived at the zoo? If not, well then that's new.
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They've had the Savu Island python for awhile, I think it was just off-exhibit at times (though I cannot confirm).

MIZOOenthusiast070128 said:
So it's a single macaw right? I wonder if they'll being in another. The one there now is likely a rescue that came in on its own, knowing how much the Detroit Zoo puts rescuing as a priority. Is the macaw on a single perch like it was, or can it move in a larger general area; the area right around the first pond when you enter the aviary, for example.
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If I recall correctly, there was a good amount of branches when they had their former macaw pair (along with the curassow that used to hang as well), but I'd have to see again if I make another visit to Detroit this summer.
 
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