The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Maryland Zoo News 2022

[Polar bear fan]

Female Polar bear Neva has been moved to The Hogle Zoo in Utah.
Utah's Hogle Zoo welcomes new polar bear

Her departure marks the end of an era for the Maryland Zoo marking the first time in decades they have been without polar bears.

 

[Aardwolf]

There have been brief gaps before, but yeah, this is the first time that the zoo has had no immediate plans to reacquire the species

 

[Polar bear fan]

There have been brief gaps before, but yeah, this is the first time that the zoo has had no immediate plans to reacquire the species

Is it possible that a large overhaul could occur in the main valley so that the bears could be brought back in a number of years?

 

[Aardwolf]

The Main Valley by itself is bigger than many AZA zoos - which makes sense because for over 100 years it was the entire Baltimore Zoo. No formal plans have been announced concerning its long term fate, but with that much real estate (and enough expenditure), almost anything is possible

 

[Polar bear fan]

The Main Valley by itself is bigger than many AZA zoos - which makes sense because for over 100 years it was the entire Baltimore Zoo. No formal plans have been announced concerning its long term fate, but with that much real estate (and enough expenditure), almost anything is possible

I really hope something comes soon. Do you know how large the Main Valley itself is? A pair of hornbills, some prairie dogs, and a snowy owl seem to be the only animals in so much space.

 

[TinoPup]

3 penguin chicks have been born so far this season, at the end of October. They're expecting 10 in total. The name theme for this year is desserts

Press release: Maryland Zoo Welcomes First Penguin Chicks of the 2021-2022 Breeding Season | The Maryland Zoo

Video about the theming:

 

[TinoPup]

I really hope something comes soon. Do you know how large the Main Valley itself is? A pair of hornbills, some prairie dogs, and a snowy owl seem to be the only animals in so much space.

Because in order to use it, they would have to tear the entire place up. Very little of it is suitable for holding animals without serious overhaul at minimum.

Regarding polar bears, it has nothing to do with what the zoo wants. They would not be without the species right now if it absolutely wasn't the best thing for the species. There aren't any bears to be brought in.

 

[Polar bear fan]

Because in order to use it, they would have to tear the entire place up. Very little of it is suitable for holding animals without serious overhaul at minimum.

Yes, of course you’re right. It’s just that the crane barn yards used to rotate crowned cranes, hornbills, demoiselle cranes, lappet faced vultures, white stork, and vulturian guinea fowl. It’d be nice to just reinvigorate a little bit.

Regarding polar bears, it has nothing to do with what the zoo wants. They would not be without the species right now if it absolutely wasn't the best thing for the species. There aren't any bears to be brought in.

Again you are obviously right. There are a few new, younger pairings in the country that will hopefully be getting into a groove soon and those offspring will need places to go, so in a decade the population may have a couple dozen breeding age relatives that will need individual homes.

 

[NAIB Volunteer]

Yes, of course you’re right. It’s just that the crane barn yards used to rotate crowned cranes, hornbills, demoiselle cranes, lappet faced vultures, white stork, and vulturian guinea fowl. It’d be nice to just reinvigorate a little bit.

Crane Barn did get a new roof in 2016, but the area was mainly used as either winter quarters or temporary holding space. It's a decent bird holding barn, but the barn itself isn't conducive to proper animal holding considering the new-ish Africa Barn (opened in 2013-14) and the previous Sitatunga barn (by the train station) can also house birds in better conditions (especially winter). Considering that the lappet faced vultures passed a while ago and the other birds are exhibited elsewhere now, there doesn't seem to be a need at the moment. Doesn't mean that Crane Barn can't house anything after a refresh in the future it just doesn't make sense right now

 

[NAIB Volunteer]

According to the Zoo's social media pages, Oscar, the North American porcupine, has been making special enrichment journeys to the former bald eagle exhibit in Northern Passage until a more permanent exhibit can be constructed for him. They did not provide any update on when he will be permanently displayed.

 

[Polar bear fan]

According to the Zoo's social media pages, Oscar, the North American porcupine, has been making special enrichment journeys to the former bald eagle exhibit in Northern Passage until a more permanent exhibit can be constructed for him. They did not provide any update on when he will be permanently displayed.

It’s interesting that the porcupines were brought in before an exhibit was even started. I know when I was there last they said that all the funding was being used to get the polar bear girls transferred so the new exhibit was on the back burner. What happens if they can’t get funding secured for a couple years? I cant imagine Pittsburgh didn’t have room to hold two porcupines for a few months.

 

[NAIB Volunteer]

It’s interesting that the porcupines were brought in before an exhibit was even started. I know when I was there last they said that all the funding was being used to get the polar bear girls transferred so the new exhibit was on the back burner. What happens if they can’t get funding secured for a couple years? I cant imagine Pittsburgh didn’t have room to hold two porcupines for a few months.

It's quite common to secure animals before an exhibit is ready or funding is available. Especially if the receiving zoo has holding space (in this case Main Valley), the zoo can begin training programs (such as this), acquaint the animal to their keepers, and generally integrate them into the collection. Happens all the time

 

[Polar bear fan]

It's quite common to secure animals before an exhibit is ready or funding is available. Especially if the receiving zoo has holding space (in this case Main Valley), the zoo can begin training programs (such as this), acquaint the animal to their keepers, and generally integrate them into the collection. Happens all the time

I didn’t know that thanks! I always assumed that there was at least funding set up before animals were secured.

 

[NAIB Volunteer]

I didn’t know that thanks! I always assumed that there was at least funding set up before animals were secured.

For major marque exhibits, yes, that's the case. But for smaller exhibits or animals, it's very common to acquire what you can, when you can.

 

[Aardwolf]

Completely agree - and I can't speak to what the situation is now, but a few years ago, North American porcupines were very much in demand and hard to find. I tried getting some for our zoo and the SSP told me that there was a crazy line for them, so I moved on. Sometimes, you have to get the animal when you can.

PS: Oscar is from Philly, not Pittsburgh

 

[Polar bear fan]

Completely agree - and I can't speak to what the situation is now, but a few years ago, North American porcupines were very much in demand and hard to find. I tried getting some for our zoo and the SSP told me that there was a crazy line for them, so I moved on. Sometimes, you have to get the animal when you can.

PS: Oscar is from Philly, not Pittsburgh

Ahh thank you, The keeper said she thought they came fro Pittsburgh, but she said she’d only recently started working with him. Has the SSP seen enough births to maintain demand? I only remember one baby at Prospect Park being born recently. It’d be nice for Maryland to get a younger female and start breeding the species, but I have a feeling breeding age females are few and far between based on your feedback.

 

[Polar bear fan]

The zoo’s two bull elephants, Tuffy and Samson, are in the process of being introduced for socialization. It may take a while though.

 

[Polar bear fan]

A few updates from the zoo
African Journey
- A white stork is now living with the kudu and Addra gazelle. This is a different stork than the one who currently lives behind the large sitatunga exhibit. The saddle billed storks are still signed but they were not in any of their three typical exhibits.
- Beau, the new male sitatunga, has been introduced to two of the female sitatunga. They tend to sprint away from him, but he seems very interested in them.
- There is currently construction taking place in the Giraffe barn, and while the two remaining girls were outside I haven’t seen Caesar on any of my last three visits.
- There were only two Colobus boys on exhibit, Bisi should be about 29 or 30 years old so it would not be surprising if he had passed away. It’s also possible that Gonzo or Dexter were transferred for breeding.

Maryland Wilderness
- The cave exhibit is open again after a long construction period, many of the exhibits are still very similar on the outside to before the renovation.
- The last of the three older sheep ladies appears to have died, with a pair of goats now inhabiting the exhibit next to Daphne and Delilah.
- The Trumpeter swans have a new nest (or maybe just a pile of weeds) across from the viewing deck.

Northern Passage
- The old eagle exhibit (first raven, then eagle, now empty) has been deconstructed in preparation for the North American Porcupine exhibit.
- The grizzlies are still hibernating, so the only animal on exhibit is Vega currently.

 

[Aardwolf]

A few updates from the zoo
African Journey
- A white stork is now living with the kudu and Addra gazelle. This is a different stork than the one who currently lives behind the large sitatunga exhibit. The saddle billed storks are still signed but they were not in any of their three typical exhibits.
- Beau, the new male sitatunga, has been introduced to two of the female sitatunga. They tend to sprint away from him, but he seems very interested in them.
- There is currently construction taking place in the Giraffe barn, and while the two remaining girls were outside I haven’t seen Caesar on any of my last three visits.
- There were only two Colobus boys on exhibit, Bisi should be about 29 or 30 years old so it would not be surprising if he had passed away. It’s also possible that Gonzo or Dexter were transferred for breeding.

Maryland Wilderness
- The cave exhibit is open again after a long construction period, many of the exhibits are still very similar on the outside to before the renovation.
- The last of the three older sheep ladies appears to have died, with a pair of goats now inhabiting the exhibit next to Daphne and Delilah.
- The Trumpeter swans have a new nest (or maybe just a pile of weeds) across from the viewing deck.

Northern Passage
- The old eagle exhibit (first raven, then eagle, now empty) has been deconstructed in preparation for the North American Porcupine exhibit.
- The grizzlies are still hibernating, so the only animal on exhibit is Vega currently.

Gonzo was sent to Sioux Falls in 2020
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[Polar bear fan]

Gonzo was sent to Sioux Falls in 2020
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Is the zoo planning to acquire new individuals? Bisi isn’t young anymore and the SSP wouldn’t want Dexter alone.