El Paso Zoo El Paso Zoo news

Two ocelots, the survivors of a surprisingly large litter of four, were born.

El Paso Zoo welcomes two ocelot kittens
This is great news and a litter of four is unheard of for ocelots (as far as I know). While most cat species can have large litters, ocelots routinely have litters of one or two. I have never heard of an ocelot having more than two kittens in a litter.
 
I contacted the zoo (via online form) to find out when the ocelot kittens will be on exhibit. It sounds like mom and kittens are currently being acclimated to the exhibit, so they are given access for a brief period but at no set schedule. As soon as they are acclimated they will be permanently on exhibit.
 
Updates from my visit on April 29, 2019 (new since my last visit):

Zoo now has African wild dogs, to the right of the giraffe/kudu yard.

Zoo now has red river hogs, behind the river the boardwalk goes over (across from savanna).

A new, white event pavillion has been constructed inside the savanna (see gallery). It takes up about a third of the savanna, is quite unsightly (also from lion area), and the savanna now only holds zebras and perhaps some waterfowl (ostriches and gazelles are gone).

The outdoor reptile building now has some side walls that provide much needed shade for better viewing of the exhibits.

A new ropes course is opening soon and is located in front of the upcoming Chihuahuan exhibit.

Chihuahuan exhibit construction is in full swing and anticipated opening date is August (subject to change - signs say Fall 2019).

A new grass demonstration area (for reptiles) has been added behind the reptile building.

Sand cats have been gone from zoo for a while. Their exhibit currently houses a baby siamang being hand-raised.

The large new amphitheater is located just to the right of the main entrance, across from the cafe. (There were no shows the day of my visit so I can't comment on the quality).

Baby ocelots (so cute) have access to exhibit and night house most of day, but are sometimes locked in night house when no keepers are available to watch the crowds. They only come out occasionally for now, but I got two really good viewing/photo sessions.
 
Long awaited indeed. When I was there this past April, a zookeeper told me the anticipated opening date would be August. Still I look forward to seeing it. I have an extra day off work just before that (Nov 17-19) so I was hoping it would be open by then, but alas no. That's ok I can easily get there on my regular two days off.
 
Long awaited indeed. When I was there this past April, a zookeeper told me the anticipated opening date would be August. Still I look forward to seeing it. I have an extra day off work just before that (Nov 17-19) so I was hoping it would be open by then, but alas no. That's ok I can easily get there on my regular two days off.
While much of the work was substantially completed by August, this is one of the very rare examples of a zoo giving animals, plants and keepers to settle in to a new exhibit before opening it.. Should be a model for all zoos!
 
Long awaited indeed. When I was there this past April, a zookeeper told me the anticipated opening date would be August. Still I look forward to seeing it. I have an extra day off work just before that (Nov 17-19) so I was hoping it would be open by then, but alas no. That's ok I can easily get there on my regular two days off.
Love to read your review following you visit mid November!
 
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