The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Maryland Zoo News 2021

[TinoPup]

Don't think it's really their call. The last bears they outright owned have since passed (Magnet and Alaska).

Zoos can always refuse to participate, which yes, would then involve whoever owns the girls and what sort of conditions are involved with them being at Maryland. I imagine they put up a bit of a fight in trying to get something in return, but ultimately they do want to help the species.

 

[TinoPup]

A name change would be crushing but I agree. Also i don’t know if it’s just me, but I haven’t seen a Raven in almost two years. Plus the old eagle exhibit has been empty for months and the fox exhibit is now a subpar eagle home. Does anyone have any idea what the plan is? I’m sure there’s something in the works with so much inactivity lately. Especially as I’ve been told by keepers that they have a number of ravens behind the scenes and no replacement was even suggested by the zoo for the fox.

Their current ravens are in the ambassador program, since they're used at Ravens games and whatnot. The fox situation is the same as the polar bears, they have to wait for one to become available and since they aren't bred by (reputable) zoos, it doesn't happen often. There's plans for at least one new species but it's a very common one.

 

[Polar bear fan]

Their current ravens are in the ambassador program, since they're used at Ravens games and whatnot. The fox situation is the same as the polar bears, they have to wait for one to become available and since they aren't bred by (reputable) zoos, it doesn't happen often. There's plans for at least one new species but it's a very common one.

Would you be able to give us a clue as to that species’ name?

 

[TinoPup]

Would you be able to give us a clue as to that species’ name?

I'm not sure if it's info I'm allowed to share or not so I'd prefer to use caution, but it's a mammal just about every zoo has in their north american section.

 

[Zoofan15]

I didn't know anything about individual animals back then but I do remember Magnet from his inclusion in Zoo Tycoon! He won a contest out of 11 other zoo animals to be added to the game, and he got his own unique sprite and animation featuring his favorite enrichment item, a red ball Microsoft gifted the Maryland Zoo $20,000 to go towards improvements for the aging polar bear habitat and even made Magnet an honorary Microsoft employee!

I never knew that Magnet had produced a cub, even though it unfortunately was not successful. Thank you for sharing!

That’s the first thing I think of whenever I’ve heard Magnet mentioned on here. Apparently he was called Magnet as he stuck like glue to his mother.

Polar Bear

In-game, Magnet functions exactly like a regular polar bear, with the main differences being a different model showing off his cream-coloured coat and a distinct animation where he plays with his red ball.

Although a real-life animal, Magnet is still treated as a standard animal in-game, and as such it is possible to adopt multiple Magnets, including females.

 

[Polar bear fan]

I'm not sure if it's info I'm allowed to share or not so I'd prefer to use caution, but it's a mammal just about every zoo has in their north american section.

I would love to think it would be a pinniped, hoofstock, or canid species but alas we will probably end up with something much smaller.

 

[Zoofan15]

I would love to think it would be a pinniped, hoofstock, or canid species but alas we will probably end up with something much smaller.

Something beginning with “B” and ending in “ison”?

 

[Polar bear fan]

Something beginning with “B” and ending in “ison”?

That was my second thought after prairie dogs, which the zoo already has. I wonder where their barn would be though.

 

[SaritaWolf]

I’m thinking porcupine. They’d have to devote a lot of space to bison.

 

[Polar bear fan]

I’m thinking porcupine. They’d have to devote a lot of space to bison.

A porcupine could probably go in the old eagle area too, possibly an opossum though as well

 

[Aardwolf]

I'm not sure if it's info I'm allowed to share or not so I'd prefer to use caution, but it's a mammal just about every zoo has in their north american section.

For anyone who happens to visit the zoo, it's "sort of" on display already, as in, it's in a place visible to the public (not where it will be displayed), but set off the path and no one is going out of their way to call attention to it.

 

[Polar bear fan]

For anyone who happens to visit the zoo, it's "sort of" on display already, as in, it's in a place visible to the public (not where it will be displayed), but set off the path and no one is going out of their way to call attention to it.

Ooo that’s very interesting. Maybe I’ll have to try to make a trip soon. Is it a species that we are likely to see out during the day or should I lower my hopes of an early look?

 

[TinoPup]

For anyone who happens to visit the zoo, it's "sort of" on display already, as in, it's in a place visible to the public (not where it will be displayed), but set off the path and no one is going out of their way to call attention to it.

I haven't been in a few months so wasn't sure if they're still in that spot, or if they'd blocked that off from viewing

 

[zoogoer92]

Personally I'm really excited about this. While it's a beautiful exhibit, I think it's too small to house four bears and I'm excited that the bears will go to a cooler climate while giving the brown bears more space.

 

[TinoPup]

An article with photos on the opening of Main Valley. A Walk Through History: The Zoo Reopens Main Valley | The Maryland Zoo

 

[Aardwolf]

A snowy owl is now on display in what was once the old Amur tiger exhibit in the Main Valley. (This should not be taken as a sign that animals are suddenly going to be filling up the old exhibits again - this enclosure had previously been used as off-exhibit housing for snowy owls while the Valley was closed to the public, and the zoo is simply resuming its use).

 

[Kevin2342]

The Zoo’s female Coquerel’s sifaka, Anastasia, has passed away after apparently battling Addison’s disease. While the resident male will be leaving for breeding, Maryland does hope to bring back sifakas soon after.
Maryland Zoo announces death of Coquerel’s sifaka Anastasia

The male, Johann, is only 4 years old so he’s quite valuable for breeding. He just reached maturity not too long ago as Coqurel’s sifaka reach maturity around 3.5 years old. He never got moved here for breeding as Anastasia was too old. He got moved because he reached maturity and can’t live with his mom anymore and the Ana’s mate Gratian was swapped with Johann to Philadelphia Zoo. I have never heard any plans on the sifaka breeding at Philly, Gratian is very old so he’s not that valuable.

 

[NAIB Volunteer]

The "mystery" animal mentioned a few posts back is a North American porcupine. He is technically behind the scenes, but the zoo has signage welcoming him to the Main Valley and to look for a new, permanent exhibit in the near future.

 

[TinoPup]

The zoo has added two new bts experiences. Both are $49 for non-members and are each two days a week, at 915am, until Dec 31st. You will learn about the species and watch a training demo.
Rhino training - The zebras and ostriches are kept in the same barn, so you'll see them, as well. Rhino Training | The Maryland Zoo
Otter training - Otter Training | The Maryland Zoo

 

[Polar bear fan]

Quick update from today:
- Polar bear moves: Amelia Grey has already been sent to Oregon zoo, Neva is due to leave for the Midwest (location not specified) sometime mid this month.
- There are now two white storks on display, one in a small yard behind the sitatunga and another in the Bull Sitatunga yard.
- I saw nine female sitatunga today, up from the seven I’ve seen on my last few visits this year. This should give them a population of 0.9 sitatunga if mine and others’ observations are correct. Does anyone know if a new breeding male will be acquired? It’s been almost a year since the last bull died and nine or ten months since the last calf was born.
- The male North American porcupine is still in the main valley. The Raven and old eagle exhibits in polar bear watch are to be converted into porcupine exhibits. The zoo originally acquired an elderly female as well but she passed away. They are waiting for funds to renovate the aviaries for porcupines.
- The zoo hopes to have Grizzly sisters, Nova and Nita, hibernate on exhibit this year in the caves on Yard 1.
- I saw Samson on exhibit for only the second time in 2 years today. He still refuses to use the switch back or upper savanna yards, so he is always in one of the bottom three yards.
- Snapping turtles were recently added to the website, they live in Maryland Wilderness.
- The 2 Helmeted Guinea Fowl and Southern Bald ibis have acclimated to the African aviary well.
- Tortoises are inside for the season.
- Zoo lights has been extended all the way from the entrance to the barnyard this year.
- The Grey Crowned Cranes were moved to the Blue duiker exhibit which formerly housed Kirks Dik-Dik and Demoiselle Cranes.
- Penguin nesting season has arrived!
- I believe last year’s kudu calf has been moved already, I haven’t seen him on exhibit in a few months.
- I don’t know if this was reported but the only animals on exhibit in the main valley are a pair on Northern ground hornbills, A snowy owl, a North American porcupine and the prairie dogs. This is likely how it will be for a bit as extensive renovations would need to be done on almost every single other exhibit.

Maybe not very quick after all.