Toledo Zoo Does the Toledo Zoo have Southern Pudu?

[TinyDeer]

I saw a Facebook post from a few years ago announcing that the Toledo Zoo has pudu, but I’m not sure if they still have them on exhibit. Their habitat would be in the Aviary. Any chance someone can confirm? I’m planning some Fall zoo road trips and Toledo will definitely be a stop if the smallest deer species is involved

 

[amur leopard]

Can't seem to find too much on them since the announcement so I'd assume that either they have gone off-show or left the collection unfortunately. Having said that there is always a chance they are still there and I certainly haven't found anywhere saying they've left.

Generally speaking, I've heard some great things about Toledo so I would recommend going either way - pudus can be seen in around ten collection in the States, but Toledo is one of 2 and 3 collections respectively housing Wyoming toads and Kihansi spray toads (both Extinct in the Wild) for example.

 

[TinyDeer]

I've heard great things about the Toledo Zoo, too. I usually head to the Columbus Zoo a few times a year, since IMO it's the best zoo in the USA and their Reeves Muntjac exhibit is excellent. But I want to check out somewhere new, and it's awesome to hear that Toledo has some uncommon species!

 

[amur leopard]

I've heard great things about the Toledo Zoo, too. I usually head to the Columbus Zoo a few times a year, since IMO it's the best zoo in the USA and their Reeves Muntjac exhibit is excellent. But I want to check out somewhere new, and it's awesome to hear that Toledo has some uncommon species!

Hehe I think you'll find that your opinion on best in the US is shared by very few on this website, but interesting nonetheless, I'd be intrigued to hear your reasons for thinking that way. Most people back either SDZ or Bronx for best in the country (and continent) .

I would definitely broaden my horizons in terms of zoos though, Columbus is great for sure but zoos have so much to offer beyond the confines of Ohio . I'm sure many people on here with more experience of that area would be happy to give you some ideas but for starters Chicago, Detroit and Cincy all have fantastic zoos (and in Chicago's case aquariums too) as well as Indianapolis and Pittsburgh .

 

[TinyDeer]

The SDZ is an incredible place, and they do have a second facility with the only platypuses on exhibit outside of Australia. I went to both SDZ locations last year and I was very impressed. I haven't checked out the Bronx Zoo, but I have seen many others. I'm a fan of the Columbus Zoo because they have a wide variety of animals, the facilities are beautifully maintained, and it's on flat land so it's very walkable. I also appreciate that the Columbus Zoo has educational staff stationed at numerous exhibits to answer questions and share stories about the animals.

 

[Milwaukee Man]

I saw a Facebook post from a few years ago announcing that the Toledo Zoo has pudu, but I’m not sure if they still have them on exhibit. Their habitat would be in the Aviary. Any chance someone can confirm? I’m planning some Fall zoo road trips and Toledo will definitely be a stop if the smallest deer species is involved

I can confirm as of my visit in mid-August, there is a pair of pudu in a lush outdoor habitat in the Aviary complex.

 

[amur leopard]

The SDZ is an incredible place, and they do have a second facility with the only platypuses on exhibit outside of Australia. I went to both SDZ locations last year and I was very impressed. I haven't checked out the Bronx Zoo, but I have seen many others. I'm a fan of the Columbus Zoo because they have a wide variety of animals, the facilities are beautifully maintained, and it's on flat land so it's very walkable. I also appreciate that the Columbus Zoo has educational staff stationed at numerous exhibits to answer questions and share stories about the animals.

Fair enough, sounds fairly reasoned to me. In my opinion it is still hard to look past SDZ and Bronx (perhaps at a stretch Omaha?) when examining the best in the country but that is open to interpretation and by no means objective. Do you prefer the slightly more commercial, themed aspect of Columbus to the perhaps more naturalistic approach at, say, SDZ?

 

[birdsandbats]

They've been on exhibit for a few years now. They are in an outdoor exhibit that's visible from inside the aviary.

 

[TinyDeer]

Fair enough, sounds fairly reasoned to me. In my opinion it is still hard to look past SDZ and Bronx (perhaps at a stretch Omaha?) when examining the best in the country but that is open to interpretation and by no means objective. Do you prefer the slightly more commercial, themed aspect of Columbus to the perhaps more naturalistic approach at, say, SDZ?

Thanks to those who confirmed the pudu are, indeed, on exhibit! I can't wait to see them.

As for the Columbus Zoo, I'm not a particular fan of the commercialized theming, since it gives the entire facility a hokey theme-park feel. SDZ has far better ambiance, given its naturalistic setting and almost museum-like qualities. I would say that Columbus overall does a good job with signage, though, and the zoo is fairly intuitive to navigate without missing things. It's also big enough to accommodate crowds, so it's never much trouble to see a particular exhibit.

 

[TinoPup]

Thanks to those who confirmed the pudu are, indeed, on exhibit! I can't wait to see them.

As for the Columbus Zoo, I'm not a particular fan of the commercialized theming, since it gives the entire facility a hokey theme-park feel. SDZ has far better ambiance, given its naturalistic setting and almost museum-like qualities. I would say that Columbus overall does a good job with signage, though, and the zoo is fairly intuitive to navigate without missing things. It's also big enough to accommodate crowds, so it's never much trouble to see a particular exhibit.

I found Columbus horrible to navigate and got semi-lost several times. It's probably my biggest complaint about the place!!

Love pudu. My closest zoo got a pair over the summer

 

[TinyDeer]

I found Columbus horrible to navigate and got semi-lost several times. It's probably my biggest complaint about the place!!

Love pudu. My closest zoo got a pair over the summer

I’m sorry you had a negative experience at Columbus. That’s so frustrating! You’re lucky that your nearby zoo has pudu— they’re such sweet little creatures. I saw a blue duiker named Juma at the Erie Zoo this summer and that totally solidified my love for little ungulates

 

[CMP]

Hehe I think you'll find that your opinion on best in the US is shared by very few on this website, but interesting nonetheless, I'd be intrigued to hear your reasons for thinking that way. Most people back either SDZ or Bronx for best in the country (and continent) .

I would definitely broaden my horizons in terms of zoos though, Columbus is great for sure but zoos have so much to offer beyond the confines of Ohio . I'm sure many people on here with more experience of that area would be happy to give you some ideas but for starters Chicago, Detroit and Cincy all have fantastic zoos (and in Chicago's case aquariums too) as well as Indianapolis and Pittsburgh .

I'd say out of all of those, while Shedd is excellent, Columbus is probably still the best zoo in the region

 

[TinoPup]

I’m sorry you had a negative experience at Columbus. That’s so frustrating! You’re lucky that your nearby zoo has pudu— they’re such sweet little creatures. I saw a blue duiker named Juma at the Erie Zoo this summer and that totally solidified my love for little ungulates

The zoo (Brandywine) has been continually downsizing for years, in preparation for completely redoing the place, so it was exciting to get anything new, much less an adorable animal I'd been wanting to see
Another zoo 90 minutes from me (Maryland) has blue duiker <3 They breed them, and just brought in a new male to try and breed again. I love duikers in general!

 

[birdsandbats]

I found Columbus horrible to navigate and got semi-lost several times. It's probably my biggest complaint about the place!!

Love pudu. My closest zoo got a pair over the summer

I have had trouble navigating many zoos, but I actually found Columbus to be one the easiest large zoos to navigate.

I'd say out of all of those, while Shedd is excellent, Columbus is probably still the best zoo in the region

I would personally put Shedd leagues ahead of Columbus.