Lincoln Park Zoo Lincoln Park Zoo News 2023

What species were once exhibited in Regenstein African Journey but no longer? A species of colobus might have been one.
 
wild boar said:
What species were once exhibited in Regenstein African Journey but no longer? A species of colobus might have been one.
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There were colobus in the enclosure that now holds Diana monkeys. Other species held throughout the years include African elephant, Bactrian camel, Grant's gazelle, warthog and ostrich. The latter is still present elsewhere in the zoo.
 
wild boar said:
Were these a part of the exhibit after the 2003 renovation?
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Yes, they all were. The elephants weren't around for long and were promptly replaced by the camels. The enclosures they were in now hold black rhino. Grant's gazelle and ostrich were both in the main savanna with the giraffes, and the warthogs were replaced by red river hogs.
wild boar said:
Have these not returned?
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They have returned after a somewhat lengthy absence as mentioned on the last page of this thread.
 
Backing up everything @pachyderm pro has said about African Journey -- would like to add Secretary bird was also briefly in the main savanna at African Journey. I never saw them there however. I'd like to also mention the Plains Zebra were a later addition.
 
The zoo shared this update regarding the lion cubs on Facebook on May 31:
As we’ve shared the highs of the lives of the lion cubs here at the zoo since their birth – from opening their eyes to their first steps outside - it only makes sense to share the lows as well.

Since a few weeks of age, lion cub Lomelok has had sporadic mobility challenges that have been closely monitored by animal care staff and zoo veterinarians. However, Lomelok has recently shown increased intermittent rear limb mobility concerns and reduced activity levels. These changes called for additional testing.

Over the weekend, Lomelok volunteered for a hand injection by his care team. He was sedated and received a full examination including radiographs and bloodwork. At this time there are no clear answers regarding this mobility change and we eagerly await the bloodwork results. We are dedicated to his health and wellbeing and continue to monitor him closely.

Lioness Zari and the three cubs will remain behind the scenes until further notice as we keep a close eye on Lomelok. The rest of the pride (Jabari, Hasira, Cleo, and Pilipili) will have regular daily access to the outdoor habitat but may choose to spend their time indoors near Zari and the cubs.

We will provide updates here as they become available. We know Lomelok and the cubs have captured many hearts, and that includes our own. We have some of the best zoological vets and care staff in the world here at Lincoln Park Zoo, and we’re grateful that Lomelok is in their expert hands.
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An additional update was posted June 8:
Lioness Zari and her cubs, including Lomelok, may once again be visible outdoors today along with the rest of the pride.

The extensive testing over the last week has ruled out many possible explanations for Lomelok’s mobility concerns. The latest results suggest Lomelok was born with a narrowing of the channels that carry nerves from the spinal cord. As a result, the nerves are compressed which is contributing to his mobility challenges. In such a young and rapidly growing cub, surgery is not an appropriate option at this time.

Lomelok is not out of the woods and our care and veterinary teams continue to monitor him around the clock. Our main focus is ensuring Lomelok is comfortable, but also that he gets to be a typical curious, playful lion cub.

Supporting Lomelok’s psychological wellbeing is just as important as supporting his physical health. This means giving the pride the opportunity to be together and for him to continue learning how to be a lion through social interactions with his siblings, the rest of the pride, and the outdoor habitat.

We anticipate Lomelok will have good days and bad days. Depending on how he is feeling, you may see typical rough-and-tumble lion play, Lomelok taking time to rest on his own, or see him traversing the habitat with an atypical gait.

Until further notice, the pride will spend the late afternoons and evenings behind the scenes to encourage Lomelok to rest. We appreciate the continued kind words of support and appreciate guests’ understanding if the cubs or pride may not be visible at certain times.
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In addition, the zoo has begun summer hours and is now open until 7PM on weekends, although some animals such as the gorillas are taken off-display earlier in the day. I made a visit from 3 to 7 and still had a great time and managed my first red panda sighting since I began my monthly visits in the winter.

The aviary exhibit for the shorebirds (the avocet and stilt) was empty and the opening covered with a thin black material. I will keep posted if this is related to any long-term change.
 
I just visited LPZ yesterday, and have a few things to share.

Highlights:
  • When I went to see the vultures, there was food in the enclosure for them. One of them picked up a rat that was almost cut in half. This was promptly greeted by exclamations of disgust and "That's a mice!"
  • One of the Francois' langurs yanked on the tail of one of the others, who was understandably not pleased.
  • I saw one of the lion cubs on the big rock between the two sections of their home.
  • A jambu fruit dove, a Nicobar pigeon, and a green broadbill were sitting in/on nests.
  • The Guam rail was visible.
  • The pygmy slow loris was the most active I have ever seen a member of its species.
  • Two cactus mice were trying to use their wheel at the same time. Needless to say, it didn't work out very well for them.
News/Updates:
  • There is currently an orbweaver in the Regenstein African Journey.
  • As has been mentioned, there's is a large tree-themed playhouse in the children's zoo building, so most of the tanks are gone. The only remaining animals are the owl and the turtles.
  • The children's zoo is closed off because of the night herons.
  • One of the nocturnal exhibits in the Small Mammal-Reptile House was empty, and most of the furnishings were gone. I don't recall what used to live there.
  • JVM said:
    The aviary exhibit for the shorebirds (the avocet and stilt) was empty and the opening covered with a thin black material. I will keep posted if this is related to any long-term change.
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    I saw that all of the stilts were behind a bamboo fence, and only the avocet was out. This fence can be seen in this photo: McCormick Bird House - American Avocet - ZooChat
  • The Allen's swamp monkeys were off exhibit today.
  • The takin, peccary, and camels were off exhibit. They may have been inside.
  • The red-winged blackbirds are nesting, and will defend their nests if they feel threatened. I saw signs about them in the zoo, but I got dive bombed by a male on the nature boardwalk because I didn't move.
Questions:
  • Does anyone know what species of cichlid LPZ has?
  • Where did LPZ get their Puerto Rican parrots. One of them was bald, and the other had a bald patch. Are they rescues?
 
A Jambu Fruit-Dove has hatched.

The beaver exhibit is currently empty.

The black bear exhibit is currently blocked off, as is outdoor viewing for the now empty otter exhibit.
 
JVM said:
Has anyone seen the beavers or otters since last year?
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I did not see either when I visited earlier this month, but they both have a habit of being elusive. As mentioned above almost the entire of the children's zoo is sectioned off for the black-crowned night herons so their status should be clearer once the birds move out for the season.
 
pachyderm pro said:
I did not see either when I visited earlier this month, but they both have a habit of being elusive. As mentioned above almost the entire of the children's zoo is sectioned off for the black-crowned night herons so their status should be clearer once the birds move out for the season.
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Yeah, I was asking since in all of my monthly visits from December to April, no sign of either, including before the night heron coverage was sectioned off.
 
Tapir Master said:
https://x.com/lattefan/status/1692207016314331331?s=46&t=4q4SnPrPTmXjTKE-Sfpwjg

https://x.com/lattefan/status/1692208893554831575?s=46&t=4q4SnPrPTmXjTKE-Sfpwjg

I’m surprised that no one had talked about this. I never would had expected gorillas to be distracted by cellphones around them. At least with the disclaimers, guests can be mindful of how they use media around them.
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The first time I heard about this, I was shocked to think a zoo visitor would assume a gorilla would be interested in their photos and videos. Sometimes even friends and family are disinterested in mine, haha.

I think it's really interesting this affects the animals. It's incredibly worrying that they could pick this up from visitors and potentially be injured as in Amare's situation, but it'd be really interesting to do a study in a less dangerous setting about this behavior.
 
Tapir Master said:
https://x.com/lattefan/status/1692207016314331331?s=46&t=4q4SnPrPTmXjTKE-Sfpwjg

https://x.com/lattefan/status/1692208893554831575?s=46&t=4q4SnPrPTmXjTKE-Sfpwjg

I’m surprised that no one had talked about this. I never would had expected gorillas to be distracted by cellphones around them. At least with the disclaimers, guests can be mindful of how they use media around them.
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Other zoos have struggled with this in the past, not surprising it's beginning to happen at other places.
 
There have been a couple new arrivals at the zoo this month that haven't been mentioned here yet.

Most recently, a female Grevy's Zebra was born early on Aug. 21. (New Arrivals: Grevy’s Zebra | Lincoln Park Zoo)

Two Prehensile-Tailed Skinks were born on Aug. 13. (New Arrivals: Prehensile-tailed Skinks | Lincoln Park Zoo)

And earlier this month, the zoo announced the arrival of a male (Oro) and female (Chispa) Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloth. Both came from the Philadelphia Zoo. (Oro and Chispa, Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloths | Lincoln Park Zoo)
 
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