Henry Vilas Zoo Henry Vilas Zoo News

Three new arrivals to start off the new year: a male red panda, a male agouti, and a female Malayan tapir!

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines...n_2012_With_Three_New_Animals__136744248.html

2012 should be a pretty good year for Henry Vilas - the new arrivals, a lion cub born a little over a year ago, baby Geoffroy's marmosets, and hopefully the opening of Arctic Passage, the new polar bear habitat! (though I doubt it because I haven't heard anything about construction even beginning)
 
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The 3-acre, $15 million Arctic Passage complex is due to open in 2012, according to this 2011 article. The zoo has been posting record attendance numbers lately (although it is a free establishment) but is Arctic Passage a reality?:

Henry Vilas Zoo's 'Arctic Passage' exhibit to open next year

A model of the new exhibit:

http://www.alvineaquatics.com/files/2011/09/3-Henry-Vilas-Polar-Bears.pdf

This press release seems to indicate that 2013 or 2014 could be more hopeful dates for the opening of Arctic Passage:

http://www.wisbusiness.com/1008/111219_Vilas_Zoo.pdf
 
snowleopard said:
The 3-acre, $15 million Arctic Passage complex is due to open in 2012, according to this 2011 article. The zoo has been posting record attendance numbers lately (although it is a free establishment) but is Arctic Passage a reality?
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The Arctic Passage exhibit is a reality but probably not the same reality as seen in the model in your link. Raising funds has been an issue I believe, and i'm sure the new director wil have a slightly different vision for this project than retired former director Jim Hubing. I would say the 2013 / 2014 completion date is more realistic.
 
News from the zoo...a baby harbor seal was recently born. Appartently it was a pleasant surprise as I am told the pair of seals here are thought to be the oldest in captivity. The story as I heard it was that a keeper thought that the seal might be pregnant but it was soon dismissed because she was thought to be too old.

If a baby seal can't help sell potential donors on the new Arctic Refuge exhibit I don't know what will...Congrats HVZ!
 
Has there been any news if construction has begun on the Arctic exhibit?
 
blospz said:
Has there been any news if construction has begun on the Arctic exhibit?
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The zoo just began construction on a new animal hospital. As soon as that is done, Arctic Passage construction will start. (zoo says it needs more proper quarantine for the animals)
 
Milwaukee Man said:
The zoo just began construction on a new animal hospital. As soon as that is done, Arctic Passage construction will start. (zoo says it needs more proper quarantine for the animals)
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The Animal Health Center opened yesterday.

http://www.vilaszoo.org/uploads/media/Grand_Opening_Ceremony_Showcases_Animal_Health_Center.pdf

This should mean construction for Arctic Passage will start either later this year or the next. I plan on visiting sometime over the summer and will find out more.

Also, an interesting summer exhibit based on prehistoric North American mammals is open until September 2nd.

http://www.vilaszoo.org/uploads/media/Zoology_Exhibit_press_release.pdf
 
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