The zoo's two Bald Eagles (kept bts for the bird show) have died from avian flu.
Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter MKE Zoo guy
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As I stated on the Bird Flu thread, this could be potentially catastrophic for Milwaukee's bird collection depending on how the Wisconsin state vets and the USDA decide to handle the situation. They could very well be asked to depopulate the entire bird collection. This will set the precedent for how positive cases in collection animals are handled in other facilities moving forward.
Do they have any high value/endangered/rare species that this would be catastrophic to the SSPs for?
Here is a full list of the bird SSPs the zoo is involved with. I'm not sure this will be detrimental to any one population, but as a whole could be a serious issue.
Endangered Species: Conservation | Milwaukee County Zoo
I looked at all of the bird resources I have. Milwaukee participates in almost every single bird SSP.
I don't believe that the zoo would have to depopulate the entire bird collection. The 2 bald eagles were part of the bird show, which is a different area of the zoo than the majority of the exhibit birds. I don't think the two areas are cared for by the same department so there shouldn't be a big concern with cross-contamination or spreading the flu between the bird show and Aviary building. I hope not anyway.
While this might very well be the case, as it often is at many facilities, the fate of the birds is ultimately at the determination of the state vets and the USDA and what they determine the threat level to be to the wider wild bird population and ultimately the poultry industry.
It does, luckily, appear that these entities are being more lenient with zoological facilities with positive cases thus far in the outbreak — no other facilities with positive cases have been asked to euthanize any birds; however, it is always a possibility — one that no one would want to see — but one that is very much on the table. People should realize that. At my facility, we have two separate bird departments, with additional birds in outreach, education, and hoofstock departments, and we were still told that depopulation of the entire bird collection was a very real risk, no matter the status of the birds, if a positive case was reported in the collection. Once a positive case is on site, the situation is no longer in the hands of the zoo at that point.
I very much hope that Milwaukee will not have to face such a tragic and catastrophic outcome, but we cannot pretend that it isn’t a potentiality.
Seems that everything is ok in the aviary
World Penguin Day
World Penguin Day
I just uploaded some photos of an official guidebook from the zoo that was published in 1973. I thought someone made a comment on this thread regarding a picture of Humboldt penguins sharing a pool with tapirs, and another asking for pictures of the guidebook but I cannot find those comments now.
In any case, it's very interesting looking at pictures taken of the zoo just over 10 years after it officially opened- when all the exhibits and buildings were state of the art and brand new. In lots of places, the zoo remains virtually unchanged from the time the guidebook was published. Of course the biggest difference between then and now the zoo collection, and I tried to showcase many of those differences in the pictures I uploaded. The most notable differences in collection are in the zoo's Primate, Small Mammal, and Reptile buildings, as well as the South America yard, Waterhole yard, and Asian animals section; which is almost non-existent compared to today's collection. Animal husbandry and availability has greatly changed in the past 40 years so it is very cool to see just how different the zoo was when it opened.
In any case, it's very interesting looking at pictures taken of the zoo just over 10 years after it officially opened- when all the exhibits and buildings were state of the art and brand new. In lots of places, the zoo remains virtually unchanged from the time the guidebook was published. Of course the biggest difference between then and now the zoo collection, and I tried to showcase many of those differences in the pictures I uploaded. The most notable differences in collection are in the zoo's Primate, Small Mammal, and Reptile buildings, as well as the South America yard, Waterhole yard, and Asian animals section; which is almost non-existent compared to today's collection. Animal husbandry and availability has greatly changed in the past 40 years so it is very cool to see just how different the zoo was when it opened.
The odds of this are incredible, but I actually have the exact same guidebook. It's interesting to note that minus the Adventure Africa exhibits and the otter exhibit, much of what is in the book still exists almost identical today. On the other hand, the collection was just plain ridiculous and it was quite the shocker during my first read through. Giant pangolins, Amazon river dolphins and proboscis monkeys all in the same zoo sounds like something an adolescent ZooChatter would have put in the old fantasy zoo forums. To think there was actually a time when it was a reality is really something to behold.
With that said, it was also a reminder and how downright abysmal the zoo used to be. That seal exhibit in the small mammal house was a particularly awful disaster.
Where is the best listing of the former species held at the zoo or does one need to be created.
I can't believe I forgot about that thread
Two new impala, Basil and Paprika, have joined the impala herd:
Zoo Welcomes New Impalas | Milwaukee County Zoo
Zoo Welcomes New Impalas | Milwaukee County Zoo
AnonGibbon
Active Member
Does anyone know anything about a new(ish) baby Japanese macaque? There was this video posted to the MCZ Youtube on Mar 1 but no others mentions of a baby macaque in the news or on their other social media. It would not surprise me if there is a new baby considering there has been a baby every year since 2019, with Daisuki, Nikko, and Kumo.
There was a baby just born this past week. The zoo hasn’t announced anything just yet, but they typically don’t for a bit. Maybe within the next week or two they will.
AnonGibbon
Active Member
Exciting! But that would be a different baby than the one in the video? Unless the video is an old one of Daisuki, Nikko, or Kumo. The title of "new macaque baby" makes me think otherwise though.
I heard from a zookeeper today that Marlee the giraffe is pregnant and is due any day now!
Ziggy is also pregnant and believe she's due in July. Her pregnancy is the result of failed birth control, however, there is no genetic issue or overrepresentation of genes as a result of this breeding, but it's just about timing with having two calves in one year.
Ziggy is also pregnant and believe she's due in July. Her pregnancy is the result of failed birth control, however, there is no genetic issue or overrepresentation of genes as a result of this breeding, but it's just about timing with having two calves in one year.
looks like cuttlefish are back in the ARC
Milwaukee County Zoo - Dwarf cuttlefish | Facebook
Milwaukee County Zoo - Dwarf cuttlefish | Facebook
Different species, though.