Helsinki Zoo Korkeasaari Zoo, Helsinki

Eurasian Eagle Owl is back in Korkeasaari zoo animal list.

A starwing eagle owl was brought to Lohja bird sanctuary in 2023. The owl was found to have limited flight range due to an old injury in a wing, making it impossible to return in wild. A special permission was made by the ministry, to let the owl to be permanently incorporated in Korkeasaari zoo.

Eurasian eagle owls are endanger in Finland.

Korkeasaaren eläintarha
 
Korkeasaari no longer has emus. Their 19-years old sister, Xara and Xantippa, were euthanized today. Xara had got critically ill (they do not know what the disease was and are running lab tests currently) and Xantippa was also very old.

The emus might return to Korkeasaari one day, but they have no plans at the moment.
 
Some slightly old news, but the zoo has released an article on their website last month compiling most of the major births in the zoo, during this spring and summer. The births in this article include:

- Two Musk oxen
- Two Pallas's cats
- Four Finnish forest reindeer
- Three Persian goitered gazelles
- Five Markhors
- Two Urials
- Village weavers
- Dwarf mongooses
- White-rumped shamas (First ever succesful breeding in Korkeasaari!)
- Ruffs
- Indian peacocks
- A Bearded vulture (already released into the wild)

Source: Eläinten poikaset ilahduttavat Korkeasaaressa
 
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Platypusboy said:
Some slightly old news, but the zoo has released an article on their website last month compiling most of the major births in the zoo, during this spring and summer. The births in this article include:

- Two Musk oxen
- Two Pallas's cats
- Four Finnish forest reindeer
- Three Persian goitered gazelles
- Five Markhors
- Two Urials
- Village weavers
- Dwarf mongooses
- White-rumped shamas (First ever succesful breeding in Korkeasaari!)
- Ruffs
- Indian peacocks
- A Bearded vulture (already released into the wild)

Source: Eläinten poikaset ilahduttavat Korkeasaaressa
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Some impressive breeding results (except for the Indian blue peafowl...).

I am missing any news on the kulan breeding herd. Last time I herd it stood at only 0.2 kulan (it formerly regularly bred this critically endangered wild ass species)!?
 
Korkeasaari Zoo’s TV show will return with a new season on January. The show will be broadcasted on national TV channel Nelonen and its free streaming service Ruutu.

According to the Zoo’s website, the third season of the show will include subjects such as one of the tiger cubs leaving the zoo, manul and muskox youngs growing up, a male gazelle arriving, and a male lion becoming part of the Zoo’s pride. The season will also include a visit to the Zoo’s wood and metal workshop, work of the gardeners, and a look at the preparations for the Night of the Cats event.

IMDB page of the series & Korkeasaari’s webpage about the series (in Finnish) with a link to a streaming service
 
I visited the zoo earlier today for the first time in a LONG time and there has definitely been some changes since my last visit.

Here are the main updates:

- The Boreal owl aviary (former Eurasian kestrel aviary) was empty and without signed.
- The old Pere David's deer enclosure is now signed as a space for young male reindeer to develop, but the enclosure was nonetheless empty at the time.
- A singular Snowy owl was now in the former Hawk-owl aviary.
- Some of the monkey species have been switched around enclosures in the Amazonia-house.
- Burrowing parrots now reside in the peafowls' winter holding (peafowls are held elsewhere).
- In the tunnel between the Amazonia and Africasia houses there is a new info board for the EAZA's Vietnamazing campaign. Additionally tags for species that occur in Vietnam can be found on their enclosures'.
- I only saw one Mindanao bleeding-heart dove today, possibly meaning the other individual has passed away. Perhaps @aeemeli can confirm.
- Unfortunately the Gundi's are no longer at the zoo. :( No info was given whether they were sent to a different zoo or if they died.
- The Eurasian pygmy-owl aviary connected to Borelia was empty.
- Not necessarily an update from today's visit, but Korkeasaari has revamped their website! Personally I didn't think the website needed a update, but it looks good nonetheless.

So in summary, while it was nice visited again and seeing all the new species, it did feel like there had been a considerable decrease in species today. Especially disappointing was the lack of owls, with Boreal, Eurasian-pygmy, Northern hawk and Tawny all seemingly gone from the collection, leaving on Snowy and Eurasian-eagle owls.
 
Korkeasaari zoo has lost Szimba. Their 12-years old asiatic lion male to gastrointestinal issues.
He only moved to Korkeasaari last year. He was able to spend some time with their three adult females, and the zoo is devestaded of losing him. It is unclear if there is any hopes for cubs.

They are trying to get a new male as soon as possible.
 
I saw on the website that alpine marmots are no longer shown on the map or the list of animals. Are they gone from the zoo? I must have missed the news.
 
Aramar said:
I saw on the website that alpine marmots are no longer shown on the map or the list of animals. Are they gone from the zoo? I must have missed the news.
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Huh, good observation. I suppose they might actually be gone, though this would be upsetting news. :(
 
Some of the last years Finnish forest reindeers have been positioned into rewilding program and will be released into the wild at early summer 2025.

The rewilding program is continuation for earlier program from 2016-2023.

All big Finnish zoos and some big goverment organizations are part of the said program.
 
Mymmeli said:
New female urial has joined the herd in Korkeasaari.
Zoo of origin is not mentioned.
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Great to hear, I'm glad that the zoo is dedicated in breeding these urials. On the zoos profile for urials, they mention that they've received females from both Liberec and Nordens ark in the past. Now I don't know if this is true for this individual as well, but these are the most likely sources.
 
Platypusboy said:
Great to hear, I'm glad that the zoo is dedicated in breeding these urials. On the zoos profile for urials, they mention that they've received females from both Liberec and Nordens ark in the past. Now I don't know if this is true for this individual as well, but these are the most likely sources.
Click to expand...

I know the previous ones are from Nordens ark, so this new might be from Liberec.
 
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