Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Henry Doorly Zoo News 2018

The Red Barn Park has closed. Its replacement, Carousel Plaza featuring new concessions, play areas, and other amenities, will open in spring 2019.

Omaha zoo closes Red Barn petting area, plans to build new concession stand, kids play space

Great news! Does this zoo ever stop to take a breath before announcing the latest construction focus? Besides all of the world-class exhibits, Omaha has made huge strides with its infrastructure during the reign of director Dennis Pate. Parking lots, ticket booths, concession stands, washrooms, walkways, etc.
 
I think this is awesome to hear, it seems that the momentum that they’ve started has kept them going. It’s nice to see a zoo investing in itself and not afraid to dream big.
 
As the zoo prepares for the opening of the new Asian Highlands exhibit it appears two of the three Amur Tiger cubs born on July 7, 2016 have moved to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, MI. The two male cubs, Titan and Finn, have left while it appears at least the female cub Aurora and her parents Isabella and Sasha remain at the HDZ. I'm unsure of other Amur tigers in the zoos collection.

As mentioned above a jaguar and a leopard moved to Big Cat Rescue earlier this year and their Puma is moving the the Safari Park. Payson, the zoo's last Bengal tiger moved to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge earlier this year as well.

With the new exhibit for the African Lions in the African Grasslands, the passing of the zoo's last Malayan tiger last spring and the relocations of Jaguars, Leopards, Pumas and Bengal Tigers I believe the only remaining cats in the outdated Cat Complex are the 3 Snow Leopards and 3+ Amur Tigers which will all be moving to the new Asian Highlands upon completion. Does anyone know for certain if the zoo's collection includes more Amur Tigers than Aurora, Isabella & Sasha? I've seen references to other tigers but can't seem to find any confirmation.
 
The Omaha zoo's lone polar bear is moving to Kansas City, freeing space for a new exhibit

The zoo is finishing up clearing space for their next major exhibit, Coastal Shores, which will replace the aging bear canyon. With Bam Bam's move and the prior move of the Sun Bear pair to Topeka the only remaining bears are a male Black Bear which will move to the zoo's safari park and the Sloth Bears who will move to the Asian Highlands upon completion.
 
Is Coastal Shores going to be a new polar bear exhibit? New sea lion exhibit also?

Update: I see in the story that it says that Coastal Shores will be new sea lion and polar bear exhibits.
 
Correct, here is a link to the master plan. There have been a few changes such as the removal of the Andean Foothills due to infrastructure but for the most part the plan is still true. It appears that the sea lion exhibit will replace the current bear canyon while a new polar bear exhibit will be created on the other side of the Alaskan Adventure splash pad.
 
As the zoo prepares for the opening of the new Asian Highlands exhibit it appears two of the three Amur Tiger cubs born on July 7, 2016 have moved to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, MI. The two male cubs, Titan and Finn, have left while it appears at least the female cub Aurora and her parents Isabella and Sasha remain at the HDZ. I'm unsure of other Amur tigers in the zoos collection.

It appears that the third Amur Tiger cub Aurora also left the zoo late last year and is now at the Minnesota Zoo. That means that at a minimum it will be Isabella and Sasha moving to the new Asian Highlands upon completion.

Does anyone know for certain if the zoo's collection currently includes more Amur Tigers than Isabella & Sasha now that all three cubs have left? I've seen references to other tigers but can't seem to find any confirmation.
 
I feel like I am going crazy, but I thought there was a discussion on this thread, couldn't find it on a related one either, about the fact another polar bear exhibit is being renovated and there aren't enough polar bears to go around. Here are current polar bear exhibits looking to be renovated:

· Oregon Zoo (2020) --> no polar bears there now.

· Denver Zoo (?)

· Point Defiance Zoo (?) --> two senior bears who may be deceased by the time the exhibit is completed.

· Alaska Zoo (?) --> one older polar bear there.

· Henry Doorly Zoo (?) --> No polar bear there now.

I am guessing the SSP is optimistic we'll get a few cubs in the next couple of years. If not, these exhibits will have to be used for most likely brown bears. If only this renovation trend occurred about a decade ago.
 
I feel like I am going crazy, but I thought there was a discussion on this thread, couldn't find it on a related one either, about the fact another polar bear exhibit is being renovated and there aren't enough polar bears to go around. Here are current polar bear exhibits looking to be renovated:

· Oregon Zoo (2020) --> no polar bears there now.

· Denver Zoo (?)

· Point Defiance Zoo (?) --> two senior bears who may be deceased by the time the exhibit is completed.

· Alaska Zoo (?) --> one older polar bear there.

· Henry Doorly Zoo (?) --> No polar bear there now.

I am guessing the SSP is optimistic we'll get a few cubs in the next couple of years. If not, these exhibits will have to be used for most likely brown bears. If only this renovation trend occurred about a decade ago.

One of them is bound to get one of Columbus’ cubs since they have the best luck with breeding polar bears
 
I feel like I am going crazy, but I thought there was a discussion on this thread, couldn't find it on a related one either, about the fact another polar bear exhibit is being renovated and there aren't enough polar bears to go around. Here are current polar bear exhibits looking to be renovated:

· Oregon Zoo (2020) --> no polar bears there now.

· Denver Zoo (?)

· Point Defiance Zoo (?) --> two senior bears who may be deceased by the time the exhibit is completed.

· Alaska Zoo (?) --> one older polar bear there.

· Henry Doorly Zoo (?) --> No polar bear there now.

I am guessing the SSP is optimistic we'll get a few cubs in the next couple of years. If not, these exhibits will have to be used for most likely brown bears. If only this renovation trend occurred about a decade ago.
There is a thread on the lack of polar bears in the US. It basically comes down to that zoos over produced them in the 90s and now Alaska and Canada are not sending them to the 48. So they are trying things such a as artificial insemination trying to reverse the short supply of polar bears.
 
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