So they currently have squirrel monkeys behind the scenes? Maybe the sloth will be with them on exhibit?
Detroit Zoo Detroit Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter AlmightyKingPrawn
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I wonder what renovations would be needed on the camel habitat? I always thought they could add another deer species or species of Asian wild ass to that exhibit. If the renovations to the Africa section include making it more immersive then I think that would be fine. All the areas of the zoo feel about the same so giving it more of an African feel might make the experience better for guests.
USZOOfan42
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They got one from a PETA investigation and one transferred to be with it. I hope the sloths move to kid zone to fix many geographical areas. Sloths of appeal to kids so that can help, I have not seen the sloth since it moved to its new habitat.
Asia could use more animals like a crane, otter, monkeys or even orangutans. Africa just needs to be more immersive and have again more birds and carnivores.
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Sounds like the squirrel monkeys being on exhibit is iffy. I don't know if they would exhibit just a pair of them. I am curious where they would build exhibits if they expand Asia. Maybe in that space between the lions and the tigers, or in the wooded area that's fenced off.
USZOOfan42
Well-Known Member
There could be more monkeys bts, there is some sort of aviary mesh behind the fence next to the vultures going to the reptiles. The event space could be used as Asia too.
There’s also at least one large picnic site by the red pandas that doesn’t seem to be used very much and a fair amount (at least from what I can remember) of unutilized “lawn space” in that part of the zoo.
USZOOfan42
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The zoo has announced that their 3 miniature donkeys now reside in the new “temporary” habitat where the polar bear picnic site was.
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USZOOfan42
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Made a quick visit today, not much news.
• Red Panda can be out but female chooses not to be.
• Blind Cave Salamander is off habitat
• Multiple new reptile and amphibian exhibits being built
• AJ is still alive and may join the kangaroos (separate habitat)
• Saw both cassowaries
• Chimp outdoor is now open
• Giant Anteater habitat was not destroyed yet
• Saw multiple domestics behind camels
• New donkey habitat is temporary, confirmed by volunteer.
• Red Panda can be out but female chooses not to be.
• Blind Cave Salamander is off habitat
• Multiple new reptile and amphibian exhibits being built
• AJ is still alive and may join the kangaroos (separate habitat)
• Saw both cassowaries
• Chimp outdoor is now open
• Giant Anteater habitat was not destroyed yet
• Saw multiple domestics behind camels
• New donkey habitat is temporary, confirmed by volunteer.
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Nile Hippo Expert
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What species is AJ? I'm 1,000% sure someone who reads this post doesn't know who they are so it would be best to tell them.
USZOOfan42
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Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo.
Are they building new reptile and amphibian exhibits, or just expanding old ones? I'm hoping they don't get rid of the shingleback skinks to expand the Chuckwalla exhibit. I think the anteater habitat is being renovated, not destroyed. I could be wrong. A tree Kangaroo exhibit by the kangaroos would be great! Hopefully it's in that picnic area next to be kangaroos. The Outback Walkabout might get crowded if the tree Kangaroo is in there too. Also, if the donkey exhibit is temporary, that means it could still be used for something else, like giant tortoises. What domestics did you see behind the camels?
USZOOfan42
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In amphibians it is fire skinks replacing a toad, moved with something else I don’t remember the species and blue dart frogs are now moving to the monkey frogs habitat.The frogs are now with the red eyed. Axolotl has replaced the blind salamander. Reptile is a new figi banded iguana habitat. The tree kangaroo could have been the volunteer was clueless but I hope not she also mentioned being in with the kangaroos! Pigs and possibly llamas/alpacas for the domestics. Where are the skinks in the reptile house?
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I recall the shingleback skinks being next to the chuckwallas, which is why I was concerned about them being phased out. So, the poison dart frogs are going into into that large terrarium that sits right before you get to the riverside area with the sunfish? I thought there were giant toads in there at the moment, plus, I didn't think poison dart frogs would be as vertically mobile as they might need to be in that long and tall (but thin) exhibit. I also think multiple terrariums with poison dart frogs is a waste, like how they currently have two terrariums for mantellas. Also, there are fire skinks in the amphibian center? That seems weird, they're reptiles. Tree kangaroos couldn't possibly be kept with the kangaroos unless they build a mesh wire or similar exhibit to hold them inside the Outback Walkabout. That could be cool, but would take more space from the kangaroos, but they don't use the space across from the cassowaries much anyway, I guess.
USZOOfan42
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I meant salamander, too bad I can’t edit it. It might not be the old monkey tree frog but it is across the round mantella tank.
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USZOOfan42
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USZOOfan42
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Within the next few weeks I will make an updated species list.
USZOOfan42
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A new species at the zoo, spiny headed tree frogs!
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USZOOfan42
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Has anyone seen the sea otters recently? I last saw them in late february.
BlobfishBoy
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During my visit last month I did not see them. The signage was still up so I assumed I was simply unlucky and that they were hiding out of view.
First visit in a while! A lot was new for me, but has been reported here recently.
* The butterfly house is now heavily qued, with barriers to make a curving line filling up the middle of the Interpretive Gallery. The line to get in today was huge, with a 30 minute wait. Only about 15 people are allowed in at a time, give or take for groups. People get kicked out for staying longer than 10 minutes. Signage is now particularly heavy on the "please don't touch the butterflies" thing. Cannot bear to imagine whatever incident caused things to have to be so policed.
* If you want to skip the screaming child wait time hell and just visit the aviary, it seems the Covid entrance (door to the side of the gallery near the bird height comparison thing on the wall) is now permanent, with a sign over it.
* Max the macaw doesn't seem to be doing well
Instead of her usual goofy self, she laid down on her perch barely moving all day. Sign did say the vets were looking into this.
* Saw a peculiar bird in the aviary that might have been one of the tanager hybrids, but I'm not sure. It had the shape of a tanager or finch, but was black with red wings. Even with binoculars, I have no clue what I was looking at.
* The spiny headed tree frogs are already on exhibit, though I didn't see them.
* There is finally trumpeter swan signage in the wetlands.
* Similar to the butterflies, there is now a TON of signage within the reptile house about not tapping the glass, with much of it specific about how it stresses out particular species (eg rattlesnakes hunt by detecting vibration and falsely believe it's feeding time, aquatic turtles hear it louder than you because of how sound travels underwater). Enragingly, this STILL did not stop a lot of parents today from letting their kids slam into the glass, which was visibly stressing out the Chinese alligators just as their sign said (one was right by the glass and ran away to no longer be visible, I was gonna get a picture too...)
* I believe that the sandhill cranes and cinereous vultures are on rotation.
* Construction has expanded and you now have to take a specific route to see the North American animals. In what really caught me off guard, this means that you will see the wolverines before the bison (on a tangential note, this is the first time I've ever seen both of the wolverines running around). This reduces wolverine visibility to a degree as you can only see one side of the exhibit and cannot walk around.
* The best view of the construction is on the train from Africa to the front of the zoo. You will see nearly all of it clearly. Not much has happened (the ground has been successfully leveled to the same elevation as the rest of the zoo and there is a piece of mock rock), but I'm giving the heads up if people want to track progress.
* There is now black crowned night heron signage at various parts of the zoo, as in the wild ones. Discussing the species, that they are frequent on the zoo property despite being rare in the rest of Michigan, and warning that guests should avoid angry mamas with nests as they may attack.
* The butterfly house is now heavily qued, with barriers to make a curving line filling up the middle of the Interpretive Gallery. The line to get in today was huge, with a 30 minute wait. Only about 15 people are allowed in at a time, give or take for groups. People get kicked out for staying longer than 10 minutes. Signage is now particularly heavy on the "please don't touch the butterflies" thing. Cannot bear to imagine whatever incident caused things to have to be so policed.
* If you want to skip the screaming child wait time hell and just visit the aviary, it seems the Covid entrance (door to the side of the gallery near the bird height comparison thing on the wall) is now permanent, with a sign over it.
* Max the macaw doesn't seem to be doing well
Instead of her usual goofy self, she laid down on her perch barely moving all day. Sign did say the vets were looking into this.* Saw a peculiar bird in the aviary that might have been one of the tanager hybrids, but I'm not sure. It had the shape of a tanager or finch, but was black with red wings. Even with binoculars, I have no clue what I was looking at.
* The spiny headed tree frogs are already on exhibit, though I didn't see them.
* There is finally trumpeter swan signage in the wetlands.
* Similar to the butterflies, there is now a TON of signage within the reptile house about not tapping the glass, with much of it specific about how it stresses out particular species (eg rattlesnakes hunt by detecting vibration and falsely believe it's feeding time, aquatic turtles hear it louder than you because of how sound travels underwater). Enragingly, this STILL did not stop a lot of parents today from letting their kids slam into the glass, which was visibly stressing out the Chinese alligators just as their sign said (one was right by the glass and ran away to no longer be visible, I was gonna get a picture too...)
* I believe that the sandhill cranes and cinereous vultures are on rotation.
* Construction has expanded and you now have to take a specific route to see the North American animals. In what really caught me off guard, this means that you will see the wolverines before the bison (on a tangential note, this is the first time I've ever seen both of the wolverines running around). This reduces wolverine visibility to a degree as you can only see one side of the exhibit and cannot walk around.
* The best view of the construction is on the train from Africa to the front of the zoo. You will see nearly all of it clearly. Not much has happened (the ground has been successfully leveled to the same elevation as the rest of the zoo and there is a piece of mock rock), but I'm giving the heads up if people want to track progress.
* There is now black crowned night heron signage at various parts of the zoo, as in the wild ones. Discussing the species, that they are frequent on the zoo property despite being rare in the rest of Michigan, and warning that guests should avoid angry mamas with nests as they may attack.
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