The second of the three cheetah litters born this year, Vaila and three cubs born April 26, are currently on exhibit. All others are off exhibit.
Three New Cheetah Litters - Metro Richmond Zoo
Three New Cheetah Litters - Metro Richmond Zoo
Metro Richmond Zoo Metro Richmond Zoo news
- Thread starter TZFan
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Great to know, thanks! Ill have to try and make it down there soon
I assume Kumbali is still out as well, since his exhibit is separate from their main cheetah one.
A Black-crested Mangabey has been born at Metro Richmond Zoo. The currently unsexed infant was born on July 29: https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/metro-richmond-zoo-welcomes-first-black-crested-mangabey-baby
I guess this one made news since it was a first for the species at the zoo. They have tons of primate babies.
The two wolf pups born in April have been named Sirius and Remus:
Metro Richmond Zoo names wolf pups after beloved Harry Potter characters | 8News
Sirius is a black wolf and Remus is a blond/brown wolf. The Zoo said the two children are almost as big as their parents Nitka, a white wolf, and Voodoo, a gray wolf. Luckily, since all the wolves are different colors, so they can be easily identified that way.
The two 6-month-old pups were named after characters from the children’s book and movie series Harry Potter. In the series, Remus Lupin was a werewolf and Sirius Black would transform into a black dog during full moons to keep Lupin company.
Metro Richmond Zoo names wolf pups after beloved Harry Potter characters | 8News
Sirius is a black wolf and Remus is a blond/brown wolf. The Zoo said the two children are almost as big as their parents Nitka, a white wolf, and Voodoo, a gray wolf. Luckily, since all the wolves are different colors, so they can be easily identified that way.
The two 6-month-old pups were named after characters from the children’s book and movie series Harry Potter. In the series, Remus Lupin was a werewolf and Sirius Black would transform into a black dog during full moons to keep Lupin company.
Black crested mangabey infant born July is a female and has been named Moxy:
Meet ‘Moxy’: The new name of Metro Richmond Zoo’s baby mangabey | 8News
Meet ‘Moxy’: The new name of Metro Richmond Zoo’s baby mangabey | 8News
Other 2021 News:
On January 29th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) African penguin named ET turned 41, making her the oldest African penguin alive in human care.
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On February 3rd, the zoo announced that a (0.1) African clawless otter named Phili passed away at age 16 due to natural causes.
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On June 25th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) common warthog was born on May 24th.
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On June 30th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) dromedary camel was born on June 23rd.
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On October 7th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) snow leopard was born on April 30th and was named Kelvin.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1466982237021337
On December 20th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2) crested screamers were born on November 29th.
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On December 31st, the zoo announced that they have finished construction on a new orangutan exhibit.
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On January 29th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) African penguin named ET turned 41, making her the oldest African penguin alive in human care.
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On February 3rd, the zoo announced that a (0.1) African clawless otter named Phili passed away at age 16 due to natural causes.
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On June 25th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) common warthog was born on May 24th.
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On June 30th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) dromedary camel was born on June 23rd.
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On October 7th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) snow leopard was born on April 30th and was named Kelvin.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1466982237021337
On December 20th, the zoo announced that (0.0.2) crested screamers were born on November 29th.
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On December 31st, the zoo announced that they have finished construction on a new orangutan exhibit.
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News from 2022:
On January 25th, the zoo announced that on December 7th, 2021, they performed a successful root canal on their (1.0) common chimpanzee named Kip.
Chimpanzee Root Canal
On January 28th, the zoo reported that ET, one of the zoo's (0.1) African penguins, is now the oldest of her kind to have ever been documented.
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On March 16th, it was reported that the zoo is set to acquire 25 more acres of land (although the zoo's website claims it to be 50 acres). Details on what exactly would be on the land were not specified.
Metro Richmond Zoo set for expansion | WRIC ABC 8News
On January 25th, the zoo announced that on December 7th, 2021, they performed a successful root canal on their (1.0) common chimpanzee named Kip.
Chimpanzee Root Canal
On January 28th, the zoo reported that ET, one of the zoo's (0.1) African penguins, is now the oldest of her kind to have ever been documented.
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On March 16th, it was reported that the zoo is set to acquire 25 more acres of land (although the zoo's website claims it to be 50 acres). Details on what exactly would be on the land were not specified.
Metro Richmond Zoo set for expansion | WRIC ABC 8News
I went to the zoo a few weeks ago. The major update is they're putting in a new train station, by the gemsbok yard; they were pouring the concrete while I was there. This means people will be able to walk past the first yellow-backed duiker exhibit, as well as the Baird's tapirs. The walking path is going to be a loop with a new path that starts between the mouflon and asian yards, goes all along the side and back of the asian yard, and then comes around the breeding diana monkeys exhibit to meet up in front of the new station. It looks like two new exhibits are being built just past the dianas, for primates or birds maybe? Not hoofstock yards.
Hoofstock
-no more markhor
A younger male got very aggressive and essentially killed the few others they had, which were all older. They still have him, but he isn't on exhibit. Not sure if they'll bring in new ones but it sounded unlikely.
- there's still bontebok back in the bachelor yard, and indian muntjac in another yard attached to the african hoofstock yard. You can possibly see both species in the colder months, when the foliage is barren, but both yards are heavily wooded so you're very unlikely to see them when the leaves are out.
-only a few grant's gazelle left. The sign is gone, but they're still there.
Others
-they've cut down all of the bamboo in the aviary and almost all of the other plant life in there.
-only one african clawless otter left, and he's fairly old. Given the rarity of the species, I think it's more likely that they'll bring in a more common species once he passes.
-a few new crowned cranes in with the pelicans and anteater.
-there's a very young siamang in the exhibit next to the lars.
-a baby skunk is in the nursery.
I'll upload photos soon, I was about to and then discovered I never uploaded photos from last September, either, oops!
Hoofstock
-no more markhor
A younger male got very aggressive and essentially killed the few others they had, which were all older. They still have him, but he isn't on exhibit. Not sure if they'll bring in new ones but it sounded unlikely.- there's still bontebok back in the bachelor yard, and indian muntjac in another yard attached to the african hoofstock yard. You can possibly see both species in the colder months, when the foliage is barren, but both yards are heavily wooded so you're very unlikely to see them when the leaves are out.
-only a few grant's gazelle left. The sign is gone, but they're still there.
Others
-they've cut down all of the bamboo in the aviary and almost all of the other plant life in there.
-only one african clawless otter left, and he's fairly old. Given the rarity of the species, I think it's more likely that they'll bring in a more common species once he passes.
-a few new crowned cranes in with the pelicans and anteater.
-there's a very young siamang in the exhibit next to the lars.
-a baby skunk is in the nursery.
I'll upload photos soon, I was about to and then discovered I never uploaded photos from last September, either, oops!
Herps
-the herp area has had some more changes, including the anaconda is gone! I have no idea if it's off exhibit while they build it a larger one or if it left the zoo entirely, but it was nice not to see it squeezed in there.
-Anaconda exhibit now has McCord's snake-neck turtle and peach throated monitor.
-the komodo has new glass, and the humidity issue in the turtle/agouti/sloth exhibit has been fixed, so they're easily visible.
-the exhibit that once held burmese and reticulated pythons is now boarded up.
-I didn't see the king cobra, and there's nowhere it could have been hiding its entire body. Don't know if it was off exhibit for something or gone.
-Northern pine snake is gone, that exhibit now holds the eastern milksnake. The former milksnake exhibit is empty.
-The northern water snake exhibit now has eastern cottonmouth.
-Star tortoises are where the western diamondback was.
-There's southern pacific rattlesnake where the common cantil was.
-The spotted python exhibit is now empty.
-Canebrake is now signed as Timber, still with northern copperhead.
-Exhibit that had the smaller yellow retic now has a yellow-tailed cribo. Exhibit under it, that had beaded lizard, is empty.
-Alligator snapping turtle tank now has elongated tortoise.
-Back hall is still blocked off.
-the herp area has had some more changes, including the anaconda is gone! I have no idea if it's off exhibit while they build it a larger one or if it left the zoo entirely, but it was nice not to see it squeezed in there.
-Anaconda exhibit now has McCord's snake-neck turtle and peach throated monitor.
-the komodo has new glass, and the humidity issue in the turtle/agouti/sloth exhibit has been fixed, so they're easily visible.
-the exhibit that once held burmese and reticulated pythons is now boarded up.
-I didn't see the king cobra, and there's nowhere it could have been hiding its entire body. Don't know if it was off exhibit for something or gone.
-Northern pine snake is gone, that exhibit now holds the eastern milksnake. The former milksnake exhibit is empty.
-The northern water snake exhibit now has eastern cottonmouth.
-Star tortoises are where the western diamondback was.
-There's southern pacific rattlesnake where the common cantil was.
-The spotted python exhibit is now empty.
-Canebrake is now signed as Timber, still with northern copperhead.
-Exhibit that had the smaller yellow retic now has a yellow-tailed cribo. Exhibit under it, that had beaded lizard, is empty.
-Alligator snapping turtle tank now has elongated tortoise.
-Back hall is still blocked off.
ZAA lists that they had 42 cheetah in 2020, does anyone know what the number stands at now?
The International Cheetah Studbook available on the Cheetah Conservation Fund website notes that, as of December 2020, Metro Richmond Zoo had 31 cheetahs (14 males and 17 females).
2020 International Studbook • Cheetah Conservation Fund
Interesting, the ZAA Masterplan for the Cheetah AMP program shows 42 (16 males and 26 females) as of January 20 2020. Actually, looking a little further, the below were proposed to move in 2020 according to the AMP program:
Send:
(2) Females to Alabama Gulf Shores
(6) Females to Pittsburg Zoo
(1) Male to Frank Buck Zoo
(2) Males to Tanganyika WP
Receive:
(2) Females to Metro Richmond from Pittsburg Zoo
(1) Female from Virginia Safari Park
So, that would bring the proposed numbers to 34 (13 Males and 21 Females)
Unfortunately the ZAA does not show updated numbers, so what happened after January 2020 is not really clear.
One has to be a member of the ZAA to have access to the resources.
On May 17th, the zoo announced that (0.0.3+?) black-tailed prairie dogs were born.
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On May 23rd, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) Colombian black spider monkey was born on March 28th.
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On June 6th, the zoo announced they have opened up a new train station on the other side of the main lake. It will replace the old one, which had to be demolished for a new area.
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On July 19th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) demoiselle crane was born on June 10th and is on exhibit in the aviary at the entrance of the facility.
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