Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Jacksonville Zoo News

I went to the zoo and was trying out my new camera, my current memory card sucks so I was only allowed 16 photos max so I tried to save 4 photos for the leopard cub but he was off exhibit so I will only post 11 pictures of the zoo, I will try to post more photos of the zoo of like what Snowleopard or geomorph in March or April when it gets warmer out and the plant grow out.
-There is a new baby bongo out, born on Jan 2.
-A new lizard is on display in the Temple in the bushmaster/poison dart frog exhibit. No sign telling what species though
-Stanely Cranes are between the Cheetahs and Warthogs.
 
The date is set, Dinosaurs will arrived to the Jacksonville Zoo by March 4th. This will hopefully bring the crowds needed for Monsoon Asia. :)
 
Just visited the zoo today and got some updates!
-Giant Otter brothers are still on exhibit
-Amur Leopard cub is behind scenes and being introduce to the other cats
-Red Wolf, few African Aviaries, Swan Pond, Whooping Cranes, and a few others that I forgot are under renovation and animals are put up behind scenes.
-Magpie Robin is on exhibit in the Rift Valley Aviary
-It is nesting season for the penguins, according to the zoo.
-I bet there are more but my brain isn't working that well. :)
 
Thank you JaxElephant on your always veryinformed mini review of Jax Zoo. I plan on being there tomorrow with JSO civillian employees. Hopefully this spring will be good so Monsoon Asia can finally get under way.
 
The zoo's "Dinosaur" exhibit has finally been given a name, Dino Alive. Also, it added a pet peeve of my by charging admission on top of zoo admission. $3 for members, $4 for non-members. Hopefully those funds will be used to get the tiger exhibit underway, along with the rest of Monsoon Asia.
 
The Grevy Zebra finally gave birth! There is a picture on facebook of the foal. I want to go this weekend to see it and take some photos but that dinosaur exhibit also opens this weekend and I will probably face a huge crowd there.
 
Hey guys

I managed to make it to the member preview this evening for the "Dinosaur" exhibit. I can't remember the last time the zoo was that crowded on a weekday. I guess a lot of parents took their kids after school. I'm uploading photos at the same time as writing this, so if there aren't alot right now wait another 30 minutes or so.

As for the exhibit itself, it slightly exceeded my low expectations. The zoo did a nice job of "dressing up" the area where the dinosaurs are. It isn't much, but considering it will be gone after Labor Day I wasn't expecting the world. The animatronic dinosaurs themselves were rather impressive. Not to the level you would see at Universal Studios, but much better than the usual traveling robotic dinosaurs I've seen. Most of the graphics were up yet, but the ones that were had a nice "Jurassic Park" vibe to them. In addition, there was one dinosaur that has a nice surprise for visitors. I won't spoil it, but check the gallery as I got a good shot.

After walking through the dinosaurs guests come up to the old birthday pavilion which has been decked out in fossils and other dinosaur related graphics. I really liked that part since the local museum's dinosaur collection consists of one skeleton.

There aren't any live animals in the exhibits, which is kind of a bummer. Would be interesting to have different birds exhibited with graphics comparing them to dinosaurs.

Overall, the zoo did a nice job. However, I do have one big complaint. This exhibit isn't worth the extra $3 (members) to $4 (non-members) required for admission. I think alot of parents had the same feeling, which is why it was so crowded tonight. I say by Memorial Day there will be a lot of "specials" regarding this exhibit.
 
I too attended members preview of " Dinoalive" Like FSBLUE I had low expectation, but was very impressed. Hopefully this will be the catalist that gets Monsoon Asia back on track. At very least funding for tiger exhibit will be done.
 
I just got the Zoo's magazine, and the real big news is the new male Mandrill, a female Giant Otter, and the 2 baby Kori Bustards!
 
More great news at the zoo, there is a baby anteater now!! Looks like the zoo is having a baby boom!
Jacksonville Zoo welcomes giant anteater | jacksonville.com
There's a new baby nosing around the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens after a giant anteater was born there Feb. 22.

Born to mother Stella-Abril, this is the 13-year-old adult's fifth offspring since arriving at the Jacksonville zoo in 1998. The father was Killroy, born in 1999, and arriving at the zoo in 2000.

Zoo officials say giant anteater births are relatively rare, and they won't be able to tell if it's a boy or girl until the new anteater is older.

Right now, the newest arrival spends its time clinging to Stella-Abril's back. They are on exhibit daily at the River's Edge exhibit in the Range of the Jaguar area.

Naming rights for the baby will be auctioned off at the zoo's annual ExZOOberation evening fundraiser on Saturday, April 16, to help support zoo operations including animal care and conservation.

The Jacksonville zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from Interstate 95.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: Jacksonville Zoo welcomes giant anteater | jacksonville.com
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A cheetah was born at the Jacksonville Zoo but I won't have a chance to see at the zoo as he move to Busch Gardens as mom couldn't properly raise him.
http://www.orlandounited.com/2011/03/18/busch-gardens-welcomes-new-baby-cheetah/
Busch Gardens’ animal care team has something new keeping them up at night – a four-week-old baby cheetah that requires regular feedings and 24-hour care.

The new cub was born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to a mother who wasn’t able to care for him. When zoo keepers saw that the baby was not eating and having trouble gaining weight, they made the decision to hand-raise him. Now, at a little more than two pounds, the cub is eating well, getting stronger and eagerly exploring his new home.

Cheetahs are regulated by the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which tracks a species’ genetic lines in zoos and animal parks around the world and makes recommendations as to where specific animals should be placed for successful breeding opportunities. It was on the SSP and Jacksonville Zoo’s advice that the new baby was brought to Busch Gardens.

Once he is old enough, he will join the group of cheetahs living in Cheetah Run, the innovative new habitat opening alongside the Cheetah Hunt launch coaster that will bring guests face to face with these agile predators. Upon reaching maturity, he may also become an important part of Busch Gardens’ plans for a cheetah breeding program that will help boost the population of these critically endangered animals.

Cheetahs are included on both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of vulnerable species as well as on the US Endangered Species Act list of threatened species. Only approximately 12,400 cheetahs remain in the wild.

Busch Gardens supports the conservation of and education about cheetahs through the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, which has donated nearly $100,000 to cheetah efforts in Africa since 2005 and also helps fund conservation programs for white rhinos, marine animals and many other species around the world.
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The zoo has added an Alligator Snapping Turtle to the Wild Florida exhibit. While I'm thrilled with the addition, the old Otter exhibit is less than ideal for the turtle IMO.
 
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Hmm, seems any photos of the Otter exhibit in Wild florida have been deleted. It is NOT the exhibit in Play Park that is now the Penguin exhibit. It is the small enclosure next to the Bobcats.
 
On the bright side, it seems DinoAlive has beaten everyone's expectations. I was told the zoo is having its best month since the opening of Range of the Jaguar. If that pace keeps up, Phase I of Monsoon Asia (Tigers, Temple Turtles) will finally become a reality by this time next year.
 
Jax zoo plans on adding a pair of screech owl's in alligator snapping turtle exhibit. IMO this is worst exhibit of zoo. I just think it is way to small for 2 bobcats and turtle.
 
I went to the zoo on Sunday(my birthday!) and here are some updates(that I forgot to post on Sunday):
-More climbing structures were added to the lemur exhibit(not enough to make it a decent exhibit)
-The lions are mating so in a few months time there might be some cubs ;)
-The gender of the giant anteater baby is still unknown
-The kangaroo/wallaby is now a dirt pit again
-The wood storks are back!
-Both aviaries by the elephants are under construction so the animals are off scenes.
-The ground hornbills are now with the Stanley Cranes
-I only saw one cheetah on exhibit today but the other cheetah was probably hiding in the back.
 
Good to see Harry go to a nice zoo. Hopefully jaguar cubs are in future for the Phoenix zoo.
Happy birthday JaxElephant.
Does anybody know if the two female gorillas are still contracepted? Quito seemed " very interested" at my last visit 2 weeks ago.
 
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