Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History Great Plains Zoo News

[Smaggledagle]

2 Pieces of March 2024 News Not Mentioned:

The zoo has opened up voting for the public to name the 6 red wolf pups that were born in May: Six red wolf pups at Great Plains Zoo ready for names
The public will be asked to donate $6 — $1 for each pup —to vote, with the funds going to help with their care, future renovations to their zoo exhibit and habitat area and for the red wolf conservation.

On March 1st, the zoo announced the wolves' names; Ajana, Chesmu, Imala, Inali, Kajka, and Yaholo.

Great Plains Zoo

On March 9th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (2.0) Japanese macaques to the Blank Park Zoo in Iowa earlier in 2024.

Blank Park Zoo

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On April 2nd, the zoo announced that they are upgrading the paths at the facility, of which at this time the kangaroo and wallaby, alpaca, camel, singing dog, and flamingo exhibits will be closed until late April.

Great Plains Zoo
Re-ZOO-venation in Progress | Sioux Falls, SD | Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History

On April 4th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) generic giraffe named Chioke passed away due to a severe fracture of its front left foot.

Great Plains Zoo

 

[Skipper6302]

The zoo's two black bears and two coastal brown bears are now able to be viewed live online through a partnership with zoolife

Great Plains Zoo

 

[Skipper6302]

Great Plains Zoo CEO Becky Dewitz announced that a breeding pair will be featured in the zoo's upcoming lion exhibit, set to open before July 4th.

New lions bring the 'roar' back to Sioux Falls

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Great Plains Zoo CEO Becky Dewitz announced that a breeding pair will be featured in the zoo's upcoming lion exhibit, set to open before July 4th.

New lions bring the 'roar' back to Sioux Falls

The male lion has been confirmed as Simba from the Detroit Zoo.

Detroit Zoo

 

[Wild wolverine]

The male lion, Samba, has arrived at the Great Plains Zoo:
Great Plains Zoo on Instagram: " Bringing back the ROAR part 1! Simba, our first lion in nearly 30 years, has arrived! Check back for part 2 to meet Simba and see how he's settling in. Once our female lion arrives, she and Simba will need time to quarantine and get to know each other. Once they are ready, we will introduce them to all of you! A huge thank you to the team from @detroitzoo for taking such wonderful care of Simba and helping to prepare him for his Sioux Falls Era! . . . #GPZoo #Zoo #SiouxFalls #SiouxFallsEra #Zoo #Lions #ROAR #LionRoar #LionKing #WelcomeSimba #ZooLife"

 

[Zoofan15]

Female lion arrives/aiming to open June 28:

Lion pair arrives at Great Plains Zoo in anticipation of exhibit opening next month

The female, 10-year-old Amahle, just arrived this past week.

She said they are hoping for an opening on June 28, but if any issues arise with the lions it could be delayed a few days.

 

[Wild wolverine]

Lots of news today, the Splash Pad officially opened to the public:
Great Plains Zoo holds ribbon cutting for new splash pad

 

[Skipper6302]

I believe Amahle is coming from the National Zoo

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

I believe Amahle is coming from the National Zoo

That is indeed correct.

 

[Milwaukee Man]

Today marks the grand opening of the lion complex.

Great Plains Zoo gives a sneak peek of new lion exhibit

Also, the Zoo received a $25 million matching fund for the upcoming aquarium and butterfly house project.

T. Denny Sanford commits $25 million for zoo aquarium

 

[USZOOfan42]

Today marks the grand opening of the lion complex.

Great Plains Zoo gives a sneak peek of new lion exhibit

Is it fully indoors?

 

[Persephone]

Is it fully indoors?

There seemed to be outdoor viewing areas when I saw the construction area in March.

 

[USZOOfan42]

There seemed to be outdoor viewing areas when I saw the construction area in March.

I hope so, last thing the AZA needs is a fully indoor big cat habitat.

 

[Andrew_NZP]

Is it fully indoors?

Considering the carnivore supervisor in the video/quoted in the article says "I can’t wait to see them get out into their outside exhibits", I think its safe to assume they have an outdoors exhibit.

 

[Persephone]

Oh! I thought you meant outdoor viewing. No, they have a pretty large yard relative to the size of the facility / other small zoo lion enclosures.

 

[Wild wolverine]

Today marks the grand opening of the lion complex.

Great Plains Zoo gives a sneak peek of new lion exhibit

Some logs or substrate or more furniture would help. The exhibit looks mighty sterile to me, more like backholding than a public viewing display. But functional. Im excited to see the outdoor exhibits when they're done! Overall, exciting development and news for the zoo.

 

[Skipper6302]

Oh! I thought you meant outdoor viewing. No, they have a pretty large yard relative to the size of the facility / other small zoo lion enclosures.

This article has some better images of the indoor and outdoor habitats; I visited the exhibit the other day (I forgot to take pics unfortunately), but the exhibit is pretty good and the dayrooms are quite spacious (and they can connect).

The zoo also announced in a facebook post that 5 meerkats would be arriving soon from another AZA zoo to enter the newly built habitat.

Lions return to the Great Plains Zoo after decades-long absence

 

[Skipper6302]

At the zoo's recent fundraiser gala, billionaire T. Denny Sanford announced a $25 million lead gift for the $56 million aquarium and rainforest capital campaign, though the gift is a match contingent on the zoo raising an equal amount of money.

Exciting times, and this is also (by far) the largest donation the zoo has received in its history!

https://siouxfalls.business/denny-sanford-makes-transformative-gift-to-great-plains-zoo/

 

[Skipper6302]

Is it fully indoors?

The exhibit has two outdoor yards that are about 10,000 sq ft each (one with a watering hole and berm for cubs and elderly lions, and the other has a large mock-rock structure for adult lions), and the indoor building is about 7,000 sq ft, for 27,000 sf ft in total.

It's a pretty large lion exhibit!

 

[USZOOfan42]

The exhibit has two outdoor yards that are about 10,000 sq ft each (one with a watering hole and berm for cubs and elderly lions, and the other has a large mock-rock structure for adult lions), and the indoor building is about 7,000 sq ft, for 27,000 sf ft in total.

It's a pretty large lion exhibit!

A lot better than I expected.