Greenville Zoo Greenville Zoo News

Visited today for myself, and I also walked away a lot more optimistic than I was going in. I was under the impression that the porcupines and tortoises were going to cohabitate the existing tortoise exhibit, and that whatever construction was going on where it actually is was for the lion exhibit. The new exhibit looks like it has serious potential, though of course naturally both species were indoors today. So that indoor viewing is already coming in handy!

This leaves the old tortoise enclosure as a small amount of space that can be repurposed. I could see a small aviary, or perhaps an enclosure for a small mammal such as meerkats (or more enticingly, some other mongoose species).

The siamang exhibit felt so natural for the owl that I kind of hope it stays there. That would free up the owl exhibit, which is fairly nice as it is, but I can’t really imagine on what it might suit. Binturong, maybe? The return of the Prevost’s squirrel/pheasant combo from years back? I can only assume that the owl will be returning before long, but the prospect of it getting used for something else is tantalizing.
 
I just noticed that Greenville is listed in ZTL as having the spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi, based on a 2023 visit. I'm guessing this is an error since all sources I can find only show them having Ateles fusciceps... can anyone confirm if the zoo has ever had Geoffroy's Spider Monkey, either recently or further in the past?
 
Coelacanth18 said:
I just noticed that Greenville is listed in ZTL as having the spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi, based on a 2023 visit. I'm guessing this is an error since all sources I can find only show them having Ateles fusciceps... can anyone confirm if the zoo has ever had Geoffroy's Spider Monkey, either recently or further in the past?
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I am pretty confident this is an error; they had Ateles fusciceps (signed as subspecies Ateles fusciceps rufiventris) during my May 2022 visit, and their website currently lists them as having this (sub)species as well (they use the common name Black-headed Spider Monkey both on their website and at the zoo proper).

I think the person who reported them as having Ateles geoffroyi either got confused and/or is misremembering (Ateles geoffroyi is sometimes referred to as the Black-handed Spider Monkey; maybe they didn't record the scientific name and got the common names mixed up?), or is using outdated taxonomy (I believe a few authorities treat Ateles fusciceps as a subspecies of Ateles geoffroyi, although the consensus is that Ateles fusciceps is its own species).

Unless they did actually obtain the species and haven't notified anyone, but I highly doubt that.
 
2 Pieces of Summer 2024 News Not Mentioned:

On June 6th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) red panda to The Buffalo Zoo in New York.

The Buffalo Zoo

WhistlingKite24 said:
Three female Bat-eared Foxes have been born at Greenville: Greenville Zoo welcomes new Bat-Eared Foxes to exhibit
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On July 31st, the zoo announced they named the foxes Piper, Pixie, and Poppy.

Greenville Zoo

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On January 17th, 2025, the zoo announced they acquired an emerald tree boa named Bateston which is now on display in Ektopia.

Greenville Zoo
 
Hello everyone :) It is my belief that after the AZA recommendation for breeding and from close observation of the live cams that Autumn is pregnant again and has been since March 2024 (last witnessed mating connection). This would make her due if she stays true to form in mid June 2025. Has anyone heard any information regarding this, and if so, do they plan to move Blossom to another Zoo? If the Zoo follows form, they will probably move Blossom before Autumn gives birth.
 
Feels strange that every single species mentioned is already found at Riverbanks (lorikeets, tigers, the reintroduction of lions and siamangs) or is scheduled to as part of the Bridge to the Wild expansion (black bear, red wolves). The mockups look nice and new red wolf holders are always greatly welcome, but they really don’t seem to be concerned with differentiating themselves from the bigger zoo with a more diverse collection just up the road, do they?

Edit: wait, the image of what I assume is the "new multi-species habitat" is intriguing. It's hard to tell what they're supposed to be, though. It looks like a small antelope on a rocky cliff, so klipspringer? The coloration doesn't look quite right, but the size and habitat sure do. Then there's a smaller animal where the child is pointing. I wonder if that's a juvenile or perhaps a hyrax? That seems live a very low fence for either of those animals though, so perhaps I'm not supposed to be reading too much into it just yet. I just hope it actually comes to better fruition than their plans for the pampas exhibit that initially included maras and I want to say one other small species in addition to the (now former) anteater and rheas that we actually got.
 
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biggest_dreamer said:
Feels strange that every single species mentioned is already found at Riverbanks (lorikeets, tigers, the reintroduction of lions and siamangs) or is scheduled to as part of the Bridge to the Wild expansion (black bear, red wolves). The mockups look nice and new red wolf holders are always greatly welcome, but they really don’t seem to be concerned with differentiating themselves from the bigger zoo with a more diverse collection just up the road, do they?

Edit: wait, the image of what I assume is the "new multi-species habitat" is intriguing. It's hard to tell what they're supposed to be, though. It looks like a small antelope on a rocky cliff, so klipspringer? The coloration doesn't look quite right, but the size and habitat sure do. Then there's a smaller animal where the child is pointing. I wonder if that's a juvenile or perhaps a hyrax? That seems live a very low fence for either of those animals though, so perhaps I'm not supposed to be reading too much into it just yet. I just hope it actually comes to better fruition than their plans for the pampas exhibit that initially included maras and I want to say one other small species in addition to the (now former) anteater and rheas that we actually got.
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I have to agree with the idea of something different than what Riverbanks Zoo is already exhibiting.
I live in Spartanburg, and I am a member of the Greenville Zoo, but I also visit the Riverbanks Zoo every few months.
I can understand Tigers, because they are in trouble in the wild.
Maybe some kind of African hoof stock, like Klipspringers, that you don't see very often.
Maybe a walk thru aviary of endangered birds?
 
Aaand to cap off this triple post session (sorry!), some visit notes. I really did just get up and head straight here after reading the newsletter.
  • The stars, of course, were the painted dogs. They were nonstop active, a true delight for a species that I often joke about only ever getting to photograph when they’re passed out in a pile. I think they’re a great addition for the zoo, a good fit for the former lion exhibit, and will no doubt be the crown jewel of many a visit for years to come.
  • The African pygmy goats have been relocated to the former Aldabra tortoise yard, and the kunekunes now have access to the entirety of both the goat and pig yards. The goats currently have an unsightly chain link barrier, so I assume this is a temporary setup since they’ve got the space until a larger farm renovation can occur. But if not, this isn’t the worst spot for the goats - I guess I can sometimes enjoy when domestics are mixed into a geographic zoo section.
  • The construction on the red panda/eagle owl and ocelot/hawk exhibits are still ongoing, but I can’t imagine it should be much longer now - they all look more or less animal-ready.
  • Not sure just how new it is because I often skip Ektopia, but they’ve significantly updated the signage as well as the general visibility of the exhibits in there.
Overall, this was the first visit in some time that’s left me with a greater sense of optimism than dread. Can’t wait to see where the zoo goes from here.

Edit: Also, I confirmed that the dogs are indeed from The Wilds. Also there was an eastern box turtle in Ektopia… not the most exciting thing and probably not even all that new, but I didn’t have it on my list for the zoo prior to this visit.
 
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Uwshuhd1 said:
Hello everyone :) It is my belief that after the AZA recommendation for breeding and from close observation of the live cams that Autumn is pregnant again and has been since March 2024 (last witnessed mating connection). This would make her due if she stays true to form in mid June 2025. Has anyone heard any information regarding this, and if so, do they plan to move Blossom to another Zoo? If the Zoo follows form, they will probably move Blossom before Autumn gives birth.
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Autumn has looked pregnant to me for a while too. The other thing is I’ve observed things that look like efforts to travel train Blossom.
Blossom seems intelligent enough but also less interested in training than Autumn’s other calves, she loves being out doors.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
I just noticed that Greenville is listed in ZTL as having the spider monkey Ateles geoffroyi, based on a 2023 visit. I'm guessing this is an error since all sources I can find only show them having Ateles fusciceps... can anyone confirm if the zoo has ever had Geoffroy's Spider Monkey, either recently or further in the past?
Click to expand...
The Greenville Zoo has only ever maintained robust black spider monkeys Ateles fusciceps rufiventris. The group is primarily non-breeding and there should have been a change of males with another zoo in 2021/22 allowing that other zoo to continue breeding with robuust black spider monkeys where Greenville Zoo serves as a non-breeding facility for the species.
 
zeynep said:
Autumn has looked pregnant to me for a while too. The other thing is I’ve observed things that look like efforts to travel train Blossom.
Blossom seems intelligent enough but also less interested in training than Autumn’s other calves, she loves being out doors.
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I actually heard both of these points addressed in person yesterday. The zoo also suspects that Autumn is pregnant, and Blossom is preparing to depart for “somewhere in the midwest” but I didn’t catch a slayed timeframe if it were mentioned.
 
biggest_dreamer said:
The zoo announced via their newsletter yesterday that they have two new African painted dogs in the former lion exhibit, from a safari park in Ohio (The Wilds?)

This is such exciting news that I'm about to drop everything to go see them.
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The new 0.2 Painted Dogs, sisters named Bailey and Parker, arrived at the zoo Thursday.
 
Per Greenville Zoo today 5/18/2025:
One like = One Bye-Bye Boop for Blossom!
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The Greenville Zoo's sweet flower traveled to her new home at the Louisville Zoo this morning as part of the Special Survival Plan (SSP).
The SSP is a cooperative effort among zoos to ensure the long-term survival of genetically diverse and healthy populations of threatened and endangered animals, including the Masai giraffe.

As I believe Autumn is imminently pregnant, probably due mid June, the Zoo follows past behavior of moving previous baby's before the new baby arrives. I would expect the Zoo to announce Autumn's pregnancy very soon as their pattern is about a month or less before birth to make the announcement.
 
zeynep said:
Autumn has looked pregnant to me for a while too. The other thing is I’ve observed things that look like efforts to travel train Blossom.
Blossom seems intelligent enough but also less interested in training than Autumn’s other calves, she loves being out doors.
Click to expand...

Blossom was moved this morning. I was sort of disappointed that her departure was not announced ahead of time as her brother’s and sister’s departures were and that the cams were down even before their usual breakfast time.
In the past I got to witness a good bit of other departures.
One thing about Blossom is I don’t think she much likes training time. Maybe they turned the cameras off because we might have seen everyone having a tough time. The Zoo did announce they were opening later than usual. Probably that was to accommodate the departure without guests present.
Blossom is a sweet, sassy and smart giraffe. I hope she’ll be happy in her new home!
 
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