John Ball Zoo John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, MI)

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AlmightyKingPrawn said:
Major news to do with the genus Panthera getting teased for Thursday. New big cat coming? It'd be something for them to have 4 of 5 species in the genus.
John Ball Zoo on Instagram: "We have a BIG announcement Thursday❗ What does a tiger have to do with the reveal? Honestly… not much, BUT the animal we’re talking about does belong to the same genus (Panthera). Stay tuned to find out! #Panthera #BigCat #BigReveal #JohnBallZoo"
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Wonder what it could be, maybe a jaguar? They already have 3 members of the genus and cougars, not much they could add.
 
AlmightyKingPrawn said:
Major news to do with the genus Panthera getting teased for Thursday. New big cat coming? It'd be something for them to have 4 of 5 species in the genus.
John Ball Zoo on Instagram: "We have a BIG announcement Thursday❗ What does a tiger have to do with the reveal? Honestly… not much, BUT the animal we’re talking about does belong to the same genus (Panthera). Stay tuned to find out! #Panthera #BigCat #BigReveal #JohnBallZoo"
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It would be amazing if it were a leopard or a jaguar (maybe the latter would go in the old maned wolf habitat?) but from this post alone, it could just be a new lion or snow leopard arriving at the zoo.

Edit: or perhaps it’s a new birth for one of the last two species?
 
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Worth noting that in the replies they are giving equal amounts or "hmmmm maybe" to someone guessing new lions and someone guessing leopards or jaguars, so tomorrow could go either direction.
 
 
 
 
Piece of January 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On January 16th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) fulvous whistling duck and a (0.1) wood duck to the Hattiesburg Zoo in Mississippi.

5K views · 1K reactions | Move-in day! Please join us in welcoming two wonderful new residents to the Hattiesburg Zoo! These girls have arrived from the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and we hope they’ll soon be part of our animal ambassador program. You can find them in the exhibit next to our train station, where guests are invited to observe but not touch or feed them, just like the rest of our animals. Introducing our new feathered friends: Fulvous Whistling Duck: identified by her red color. Native to Mexico, South America, and the Southern US. She’s 8 years old. Wood Duck: Gray in color, Native to North America. She’s 11 years old. Welcome to the Hattiesburg Zoo, ladies! We’re thrilled to have you here! | Hattiesburg Zoo

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On March 14th, the zoo announced they started renovations in the Aquarium and Natural Treasures buildings to be completed for their 2025 opening in the upcoming week.

7.1K views · 189 reactions | Zoo Reopening: What Are You Most Excited For? | We're one week from reopening! What are you most excited for this upcoming season? | By John Ball Zoo | Facebook
 
Very tragically, Mera the snow leopard cub has died :(
John Ball Zoo on Instagram: "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Mera, our 9-month-old female snow leopard cub. Over the last few days, Mera showed signs of discomfort, and when she didn't improve with medications, we took her off-site for a CT scan and ultrasound. Ultimately an exploratory surgery was needed to find the root cause, which led to the discovery of abnormalities in her urinary system. Unfortunately, it was determined this issue could not be surgically repaired, and we had to make a very difficult decision to humanely euthanize her. During her time with us, Mera's playful spirit, curiosity, and beauty touched the hearts of countless people, from our dedicated staff to visitors across Michigan and beyond. She brought immense joy to everyone who had the chance to see her. It was truly special to witness her mother, Yuki, blossom into a loving first-time mom and to see the beautiful bond they shared. Please take a moment to extend your sympathies to everyone affected by this loss. We deeply appreciate your support during this challenging time."

In lighter news, they have acquired an albino American mink named Artemis
John Ball Zoo on Instagram: "Don’t blink or you might miss the mink Say hello to Artemis, a female albino mink and the newest addition to John Ball Zoo. She was found near Thornapple River, struggling to see and hear, with an injury on her back. Thankfully, a kind bystander and the incredible team at @westmichiganwildlife stepped in to help. Due to the vision and hearing challenges that often come with albinism, Artemis needed a safe, permanent home where she could thrive—and that’s where we came in. Now a part of our animal ambassador* program, Artemis has the opportunity to further educate the public about the unique traits of albinism and be an ambassador for her species. *Currently, there is no set schedule of when guests can see Artemis. Stay tuned for further updates. #MeetTheMink #Artemis #Ambassador #JohnBallZoo"
 
The zoo has announced plans to build a 370 million dollar aquarium in Kent County. It will for sure be on a body of water, and the director is prioritizing along the grand river. The facility will be 15-30 acres holding 3 million gallons! There will be 5 major sections with the only publicly known section being based off Michigan waters, having sections based off each lake and iconic landmarks like sleeping bear dunes and picture rocks. The other 4 sections will not be announced for a bit, but all of them are supposedly different than any other aquarium in the world. It will be built to compete with other large aquariums of the US, having a large coral reef display and stingray and shark tanks. The aquarium will not house dolphins, as the director thinks they are too expensive. Plans also call for an outdoor park like exhibit for native species. It is set to open in 2031. Michigan zoo envisions 2031 opening for massive waterfront aquarium
 
USZOOfan42 said:
The zoo has announced plans to build a 370 million dollar aquarium in Kent County. It will for sure be on a body of water, and the director is prioritizing along the grand river. The facility will be 15-30 acres holding 3 million gallons! There will be 5 major sections with the only publicly known section being based off Michigan waters, having sections based off each lake and iconic landmarks like sleeping bear dunes and picture rocks. The other 4 sections will not be announced for a bit, but all of them are supposedly different than any other aquarium in the world. It will be built to compete with other large aquariums of the US, having a large coral reef display and stingray and shark tanks. The aquarium will not house dolphins, as the director thinks they are too expensive. Plans also call for an outdoor park like exhibit for native species. It is set to open in 2031. Michigan zoo envisions 2031 opening for massive waterfront aquarium
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Even though they explicitly said there wouldn’t be any cetaceans, I wonder if any other marine/aquatic mammals will be included in the aquarium? North American river otter I at least think have a good chance despite already being present at the zoo.
 
We already knew about river otter habitat revamps from the master plan, but it's been more publicly announced and will start construction soon.
John Ball Zoo on Instagram: "Otter-ly exciting news We’ve officially begun construction on a brand-new, state-of-the-art habitat for our North American river otters — and we couldn’t be more excited to bring you along on this journey! ️ River otters are more than just playful and curious swimmers — they’re also a key part of Michigan’s freshwater ecosystems. Once in decline due to habitat loss and pollution, they’ve made an inspiring comeback in parts of our state thanks to ongoing conservation efforts. Our current otter habitat has served us well for 43 years, but it’s time for a major upgrade. The new space will total 3,209 square feet — making it over 60% larger than the original 1,300-square-foot habitat. This new habitat will give our otters more space to dive, play, and explore — while also giving you a closer look at a species that’s native to Michigan and thriving right in our backyard. Thanks to our friends at @kentcountyparks, we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of wild river otters living nearby — a perfect reminder of why this project matters. The new river otter habitat was made possible by a generous lead gift from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation. The Zoo is still seeking additional donors to support this habitat and other initiatives within the 10-Year Master Plan. #Otter #OtterlyAmazing #OtterlyWild #JohnBallZoo"
 
AlmightyKingPrawn said:
We already knew about river otter habitat revamps from the master plan, but it's been more publicly announced and will start construction soon.
John Ball Zoo on Instagram: "Otter-ly exciting news We’ve officially begun construction on a brand-new, state-of-the-art habitat for our North American river otters — and we couldn’t be more excited to bring you along on this journey! ️ River otters are more than just playful and curious swimmers — they’re also a key part of Michigan’s freshwater ecosystems. Once in decline due to habitat loss and pollution, they’ve made an inspiring comeback in parts of our state thanks to ongoing conservation efforts. Our current otter habitat has served us well for 43 years, but it’s time for a major upgrade. The new space will total 3,209 square feet — making it over 60% larger than the original 1,300-square-foot habitat. This new habitat will give our otters more space to dive, play, and explore — while also giving you a closer look at a species that’s native to Michigan and thriving right in our backyard. Thanks to our friends at @kentcountyparks, we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of wild river otters living nearby — a perfect reminder of why this project matters. The new river otter habitat was made possible by a generous lead gift from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation. The Zoo is still seeking additional donors to support this habitat and other initiatives within the 10-Year Master Plan. #Otter #OtterlyAmazing #OtterlyWild #JohnBallZoo"
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First phase of the master plan (aside from the hippos) has officially started! The renderings look amazing, reminds me of the hippo exhibit. Construction should start this year for the Africa section too.
 
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