Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2019

[MKE Zoo guy]

Starting out the new year with positive news. They have finally taken down the construction walls for the shoreline exhibit in the aviary. Sadder news both waterbucks have passed away

Looking forward to the new year with big things to come!

• Adventure Africa phase 1 opens
• Potentially new hoofstock and maybe a new large bird
• Adventure Africa phase 2 construction starts
• Redesigned gift shop reopens
• Birth of new animals
• And much more!

 

[savetherhino]

• Potentially new hoofstock and maybe a new large bird

I'm excited to see if this happens

 

[savetherhino]

Any idea what happens to the former Elephant yard?

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

Any idea what happens to the former Elephant yard?

Last I heard, they were going to use that area as a staging area for construction of the hippo exhibit.

 

[savetherhino]

Last I heard, they were going to use that area as a staging area for construction of the hippo exhibit.

It's gonna be an eyesore

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

It's gonna be an eyesore

Probably but so will the construction when the rhino areas go down next year hopefully. But then afterwards they should look nice again... hopefully!

 

[savetherhino]

Probably but so will the construction when the rhino areas go down next year hopefully. But then afterwards they should look nice again... hopefully!

I wonder what the long range plan is

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

I wonder what the long range plan is

Here’s what we know so far, things are changing due to economics but this is currently what we know.

I was able to upload a few of the layouts and designs from MCZ's Master Plan here.

Here is the 2013 master plan in its full form.
Milwaukee County Zoo Master Plan 2013

 

[savetherhino]

Unclear what happens long term with the empty elephant yard

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

Unclear what happens long term with the empty elephant yard

It appears that they will have two rhino yards potentially from my understanding thus far.

 

[savetherhino]

It appears that they will have two rhino yards potentially from my understanding thus far.

I would expect more Rhinos to be acquired then

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

I would expect more Rhinos to be acquired then

Once the passing of Mimi, they are hoping to acquire a male black rhino and start breeding program. Other rhinos maybe coming but nothing is set till the remodel happens.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

How old is Mimi now?

 

[Milwaukee Man]

How old is Mimi now?

I believe she’s in her low 30’s.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Looking forward to the new year with big things to come!

• Adventure Africa phase 1 opens
• Potentially new hoofstock and maybe a new large bird
• Adventure Africa phase 2 construction starts
• Redesigned gift shop reopens
• Birth of new animals
• And much more!

Don't forget, theres also the imminent arrival of a bull elephant coming very soon to meet the AZA standards.

 

[Valentinoamor]

I'm obsessed with Milwaukee's future plans. I'd love to work at that zoo in the future <3. Their Jungle complex would be a primate keeper's dream.

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

Don't forget, theres also the imminent arrival of a bull elephant coming very soon to meet the AZA standards.

To meet standards don’t we just need the ability to house a male not necessarily have one? Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to see a bull elephant, also wonder where it would come from?

 

[pachyderm pro]

To meet standards don’t we just need the ability to house a male not necessarily have one? Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to see a bull elephant, also wonder where it would come from?

Well the new standards require a third elephant, and the zoo states they wanted to hold a bull. I remember hearing about Tonka from zoo Knoxville being a possibility, which would be an interesting transfer.

 

[MKE Zoo guy]

Well the new standards require a third elephant, and the zoo states they wanted to hold a bull. I remember hearing about Tonka from zoo Knoxville being a possibility, which would be an interesting transfer.

Why Tonka, he seems to be a staple of Knoxville zoo? Kinda like Frankie the Jaguar is for us.

Also been wondering if they are going to be transferring in any elephants prior to open of the new area.

 

[JVM]

Quick question - does the zoo still hold the Tree Kangaroos or any other Australian species onsite? I ask because I know some other threads have recently listed the zoo as holding tree kangaroos (which could be out of date, of course) but also because I recall when the red pandas were kept in the Small Mammal House and in front of the Camel Yard, impending big cat construction, and when some of the birds were kept behind the scenes during Children's Zoo construction.