I was finally able to go to the zoo today, and I lucked out with great weather compared to the heat we've had. I noticed a lot of smaller details and updates; apologies if any of these have already been reported.
Only 1 gazelle and the male impala out in the savanna yard. There were also 4 cinereous vultures (more than I remember normally seeing) and there is a sign by the exhibit saying that the vultures in the exhibit are offspring of the off-exhibit breeding pair.
I saw Belle the elephant for the first time. She was standing in front of the water pool throwing mud on herself and drinking water.
I also saw the Waterbuck outside for the first time in quite a while, including the male that was born here last(?) year.
The ostrich that was missing feathers on its back looks to have grown them all back.
Throughout my visit I felt like some of the animals seemed more comfortable, less stressed than I had seen them in the past. Alex the orangutan sat up on a platform and watched the people, the flamingos were actually swimming in the pond which I had never seen before. Especially in Impala Plains did the animals seem more relaxed than last year. The zebras and impalas grazed, one impala even walking right along the fence line. It was nice to see them look much more comfortable than they did last year.
On a less happy note, some parts of the zoo don't look very well kept. Weeds are overgrowing the River Otter exhibit and Badger exhibit, the weeds in front of the Red River Hog practically prevents you from seeing him. I also don't understand why Jozi the rhino doesn't have access to both rhino yards while she's the only rhino here. Now, let's talk hippo exhibit.
-Its different from what I thought it would look in my head. Of course I have the same problems as anyone else, it's rather basic, that now useless empty gap between hippos and the savanna yard that should have been used to make the exhibit itself feel less awkward and cramped. It looks very narrow and awkward. I also think rearranging some of the exhibit features would make it less cramped. There are so many walled-off parts where they've put large hippo posters with quotes. The posters look fine, but they could be put up somewhere else and potentially serve more purpose. If the hippo skull feature was on the other side, more by the new hippo statues, a lot of the big wall that's there now could be more space for both the hippos, and more places for people to stand and see them. An overall fine exhibit in my opinion, but I wish "a big improvement from the old space" wasn't the only thing I could say about it.
Only 1 gazelle and the male impala out in the savanna yard. There were also 4 cinereous vultures (more than I remember normally seeing) and there is a sign by the exhibit saying that the vultures in the exhibit are offspring of the off-exhibit breeding pair.
I saw Belle the elephant for the first time. She was standing in front of the water pool throwing mud on herself and drinking water.
I also saw the Waterbuck outside for the first time in quite a while, including the male that was born here last(?) year.
The ostrich that was missing feathers on its back looks to have grown them all back.
Throughout my visit I felt like some of the animals seemed more comfortable, less stressed than I had seen them in the past. Alex the orangutan sat up on a platform and watched the people, the flamingos were actually swimming in the pond which I had never seen before. Especially in Impala Plains did the animals seem more relaxed than last year. The zebras and impalas grazed, one impala even walking right along the fence line. It was nice to see them look much more comfortable than they did last year.
On a less happy note, some parts of the zoo don't look very well kept. Weeds are overgrowing the River Otter exhibit and Badger exhibit, the weeds in front of the Red River Hog practically prevents you from seeing him. I also don't understand why Jozi the rhino doesn't have access to both rhino yards while she's the only rhino here. Now, let's talk hippo exhibit.
-Its different from what I thought it would look in my head. Of course I have the same problems as anyone else, it's rather basic, that now useless empty gap between hippos and the savanna yard that should have been used to make the exhibit itself feel less awkward and cramped. It looks very narrow and awkward. I also think rearranging some of the exhibit features would make it less cramped. There are so many walled-off parts where they've put large hippo posters with quotes. The posters look fine, but they could be put up somewhere else and potentially serve more purpose. If the hippo skull feature was on the other side, more by the new hippo statues, a lot of the big wall that's there now could be more space for both the hippos, and more places for people to stand and see them. An overall fine exhibit in my opinion, but I wish "a big improvement from the old space" wasn't the only thing I could say about it.
), and there were even a couple new species that I don’t recall seeing in previous exhibitions like Muttaburrasaurus and Deltasuchus. There was even a Citapati with a mask on! The one unexpected thing was that Robin the moose can actually be viewed through small fence gaps on this trail. When looking, a forested off-display paddock connected to a building on the path (with a moose info sign) can be seen.
Although I still wish it provided a more immersive experience (Impala Plains is the least successful in this regard), it was nice to see the habitats more populated and in use. Impala Plains has all four species out and about, with a female impala and a crowned crane hanging out close together, and the ostriches strutting around the front barrier. African Forest now has a pair of African spurred tortoise and (at least that I counted) five Kenyan crested guineafowl coexisting with the bongo girls (still no duiker sighting for me). It was funny watching the birds constantly following one of the bongos where ever she went! Finally, although Brittany and Ruth were out for a brief period of time, it was primarily Belle who was out in the elephant habitat. She was generally walking around, munching on some hay, and even made herself a mud hole by the entrance to the elephant barn. The elephant habitat itself, although not the most natural looking (I feel one way to improve this is by removing the cable barriers on the lower slopes, and replacing the gray concrete walls with mudbank walls), still does well in terms of offering a variety of activities for the pachyderms, and the grass I was pleasantly surprised to see has thrived. Overall, this complex could reach a higher potential in terms of an immersive African experience and naturalistic exhibitry (not great, though nice), but I was glad to see it improved from before. 
A couple final notes: first, as usual for Milwaukee County Zoo, the educational signage is excellent from the filtration system, to the Zoo’s specimens and their diets, to even how they communicate. There is also a corner of the underwater hall (closed off at the moment) that features a hippo skull and other interactive elements. Second, the side opposite the underwater window has no features - I think an African fish tank or a reptile terrarium or two would be cool additions.
Was it you?
