Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo news 2016

Better yet The Lincoln park zoo is opening there new polar bear breeding faucility in fall maybe they will come from there.
 
Milwaukee County Zoo planning 44.6 million dollars in exhibit upgrades.

Exciting news to see the Milwaukee County Zoo finally making upgrades! "Alaska's Cold Coast" sounds very interesting!

YES!!! FINALLY!!!

It's so great that Milwaukee is finally branching out and spreading awareness about some of its future plans.

About the polar bears: yes, we do have just the single female 31-year-old Snow Lilly who will be 32 this December. While I do remain hopeful for polar bears in Milwaukee's future (seeing how we have a history with them being the first to have a successful polar bear birth), it does seem more realistic that brown bears may be the center of attention in Alaska Cold Coast based on the polar bear shortage issue. At least the brand new Arctic Passage can be seen only about 1.5 hours away at Henry Vilas Zoo. :)

I too would like to see the Primates and Small Mammals areas be improved after the mentioned projects. As stated before, my wish for Milwaukee is many new, creative, and improved exhibits, as small of a downsize in the current animal collection as possible, and plenty of new/returning species.
 
Yeah, the information posters by the construction site now say 2017 for an opening. From what I heard, there is still the issue of getting a construction bid granted (if that sounds correct - this was about a month ago I heard about this). I'll be visiting the Zoo next week and will make sure I get an update.
 
Yeah, the information posters by the construction site now say 2017 for an opening. From what I heard, there is still the issue of getting a construction bid granted (if that sounds correct - this was about a month ago I heard about this). I'll be visiting the Zoo next week and will make sure I get an update.
Thanks. wasn't it supposed to open like a year ago or something
 
I hate to be a Debbie Downer here, but given the zoo's history of way more talk than they actually do, I'll believe this when I see it.
 
Well, my internship is now complete - and what a wonderful experience it was! I have returned home to Milwaukee, and paid a visit to my home zoo yesterday. Here are some updates:

*Nothing was listed as being in quarantine at the time of my visit.

*The progress on the second entrance project has been...zero. Don't know what the buzz is (couldn't find anyone to ask about the construction bid result) but unless there is some serious construction momentum that occurs soon, there is no way it'll be done by summer 2017.

*Primates: the gorilla troop and pair of orangutans were quite active and fun to watch for a while. Elvis the colobus monkey continues to adjust to his new surroundings well. Lastly, seeing how they are now on exhibit, I think it's safe to announce this. We have a new young troop of six Japanese macaques - a male from Buffalo Zoo, two females from N.E.W. Zoo, and three from Minnesota Zoo (originally two females were to come, but a small baby discovered with one of the females just before the move came along as well). It'll be great to see new life injected into what I think is one of the highlight animal habitats in Milwaukee.

*A new structure was constructed in the middle of the outdoor jaguar exhibit, and replaces the large pile of logs that once stood as a climbing structure.

*As the species signage is no longer up, and based on the age and condition of the animal, I think it's safe to say that Hot Lips the Asian black bear has passed away at the beginning of the year. :( Don't know the future of the empty exhibit yet.

*Speaking of signage, the common eland signage has been taken down as well. Unsure what is going on at the moment.

*Mimi the black rhino, I've observed, has been quite active and more alert since moving to the larger rhino yard - quite a change from her usually dozing in her old (now Malayan tapir) exhibit.

*Tafari the male giraffe calf will be a year old in a week or two - how time flies!

*The elk calf born a little over two months ago grew up fast! It already is half the size of its mom and doesn't have the "baby spots" on its coat.

*The new prairie dogs were neat to see adjusting to their new exhibit.

*According to here Zoo Welcomes Seal Pup, Triton! | Milwaukee County Zoo the new harbor seal pup (and Milwaukee's third ever) is a male and has been given the name Triton.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: The two female moose were both swimming in their huge pool on the hot and humid day I was there. It's always neat to see the largest deer species take a dip.
 
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Nice update.
Questions

Did the colubus and mandrill exhibits get expanded yet?
What will go in the old malayin tapir yard?
Will the otters from the small mammal building go in the new exhibit once done?
any news on alaskas cold coast or the pachyderm expansions?

Thanks in advance. Oh and RIP hot lips. If I had to guess... Mabye fishing cats will get this exhibit.
 
@pachyderm pro:

*As the annual appeal campaign for the monkeys is still taking place, no the exhibit improvements haven't started. I probably don't see them starting for another year or two - they still haven't even began the red panda improvements yet, and that campaign has been done for nearly a year.

*Unsure about the original narrow Malayan tapir exhibit - it'll probably just stay empty for now.

*Milwaukee has no otters at the moment - the last one passed away back in March; a sloth has taken over their exhibit.

*Didn't find anyone to ask about Alaska Cold Coast or pachyderms.

*I am unsure exactly what will happen to the now empty Asian black bear exhibit. Fishing cats or Asian small-clawed otters would make the most sense to me as that exhibit size is fine, and would just need appropriate (and significant) renovations to accommodate one of those water loving small mammals.

As for an upcoming zoo, none are planned for the near future. Plenty of zoos on the bucket list though like North Carolina, Lincoln Park in Chicago (delayed for years), and Woodland Park. I do intend on a road trip to Omaha sometime in the next few years though and see the great Henry Doorly Zoo for myself, along with a few other animal attractions along the way there/back.
 
@pachyderm pro:

*As the annual appeal campaign for the monkeys is still taking place, no the exhibit improvements haven't started. I probably don't see them starting for another year or two - they still haven't even began the red panda improvements yet, and that campaign has been done for nearly a year.

*Unsure about the original narrow Malayan tapir exhibit - it'll probably just stay empty for now.

*Milwaukee has no otters at the moment - the last one passed away back in March; a sloth has taken over their exhibit.

*Didn't find anyone to ask about Alaska Cold Coast or pachyderms.

*I am unsure exactly what will happen to the now empty Asian black bear exhibit. Fishing cats or Asian small-clawed otters would make the most sense to me as that exhibit size is fine, and would just need appropriate (and significant) renovations to accommodate one of those water loving small mammals.

As for an upcoming zoo, none are planned for the near future. Plenty of zoos on the bucket list though like North Carolina, Lincoln Park in Chicago (delayed for years), and Woodland Park. I do intend on a road trip to Omaha sometime in the next few years though and see the great Henry Doorly Zoo for myself, along with a few other animal attractions along the way there/back.
Thanks. I recommend going to Lincoln park next year when the new polar bear and penguin habitats are done.
 
*As the species signage is no longer up, and based on the age and condition of the animal, I think it's safe to say that Hot Lips the Asian black bear has passed away at the beginning of the year. Don't know the future of the empty exhibit yet.
I am so disappointed to hear about Hot Lips - the Asiatic Black Bear species is just about gone from North American zoos, after all.

Are there any images of the new sloth exhibit available? I mean, I know it's a repurpose of the familiar otter exhibit, but
 
Another zoo I saw with Asian black bears is Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc. I believe Virginia Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Little Rock Zoo still have them as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there another zoo in Virginia and one in Texas that have the species too?

As for sloth exhibit photos, yes I do have a few, and will post them when I get the chance.
 
Another zoo I saw with Asian black bears is Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc. I believe Virginia Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Little Rock Zoo still have them as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there another zoo in Virginia and one in Texas that have the species too?

As for sloth exhibit photos, yes I do have a few, and will post them when I get the chance.
thanks, I am curious on what that looks like. please post a link once you do
 
I belive only Denver and philly still have them, sad there dying out
Yeah, and I'd heard one or both only had an elderly animal that is on it's last legs.

Another zoo I saw with Asian black bears is Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc. I believe Virginia Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Little Rock Zoo still have them as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there another zoo in Virginia and one in Texas that have the species too?
Thanks for the notes, I'll keep that in mind! I would love another opportunity to see one.

As for sloth exhibit photos, yes I do have a few, and will post them when I get the chance.
No problem, thank you in advance.
 
Another zoo I saw with Asian black bears is Lincoln Park Zoo in Manitowoc. I believe Virginia Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Little Rock Zoo still have them as well. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there another zoo in Virginia and one in Texas that have the species too?

As for sloth exhibit photos, yes I do have a few, and will post them when I get the chance.

I have seen 2 Asiatic black bears in Capital of Texas Zoo (Austin) in July. Virginia's Richmond Zoo is also supposed to have them, as I believe Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island
 
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