Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2024

Milwaukee County Zoo has announced the passing of 46-year-old Ringo, the second oldest seal in an AZA institution and a longtime zoo resident since 1979.

He once famously lived at the Small Mammal House in the current sloth enclosure and was nicknamed the zoo's "greeter". He has been breeding for several years with offspring still at the zoo.

The zoo may bring in another male harbor seal in the future.

https://milwaukeezoo.org/about-us/our-blog/harbor-seal-ringo/

Ringo, like Patti, was one of my favorites. So sad to hear this.
 
JVM said:
Ringo, like Patti, was one of my favorites. So sad to hear this.
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He was one of my favorites too! You could always tell it was him by his cataracts even if you're otherwise unable to tell seals apart.

Also I'm surprised that a seal could even fit in the now-sloth-habitat to be honest. But I'm also sad they drained it. Clearly it wasn't even meeting the AZA standards for otters, which prompted construction of the new otter area, but I'm sure there's some smaller semiaquatic mammal that could have made use of the space to have an aquatic exhibit to give contrast in the otherwise mostly arboreal Small Mammal House.
 
well again, stated above it was in 1979 so the stabdards of lving were a little bit different so it was not normal for large animals to be found in tight spaces
 
I feel like there should be more to add to the sloth exhibit because for 2 sloths who sleep most of the time, one of those sloths are known to hide in the back area of the exhibit I feel like they could add other south american animals like when they used to exhibit agouti with them
maybe add the goeldi's monkey individual or the 2 cotton top tamarins in with them
 
A historical image of Ringo in the old habitat, if anyone is interested, from the Images of America: Milwaukee County Zoo book.
20241205_221413.jpg

turkeyfox said:
He was one of my favorites too! You could always tell it was him by his cataracts even if you're otherwise unable to tell seals apart.

Also I'm surprised that a seal could even fit in the now-sloth-habitat to be honest. But I'm also sad they drained it. Clearly it wasn't even meeting the AZA standards for otters, which prompted construction of the new otter area, but I'm sure there's some smaller semiaquatic mammal that could have made use of the space to have an aquatic exhibit to give contrast in the otherwise mostly arboreal Small Mammal House.
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I agree that it's disappointing what's become of it. It was not a sufficient exhibit for otters in terms of space, but it is quite a bit larger than the individual arboreal habitats and the having an active animal in there justified the large use of space, and it was good to represent a semi aquatic species. I'm not sure what would fit there today but sloth are such an inactive species that they didn't feel like they justified the large space any more than putting lemurs or monkeys in there would have. I never did see the agouti there.

The only other semiaquatic species I could imagine would be small-clawed otters, beaver, or capybara and all would need a larger exhibit nonetheless, and probably outdoor access if we're honest. I hope the plans to construct a brand new small mammal house remain; perhaps an indoor/outdoor exhibit for one of these species could be a good compromise to fill the same niche as that former space while avoiding its pitfalls.

brown bear 555 said:
I feel like there should be more to add to the sloth exhibit because for 2 sloths who sleep most of the time, one of those sloths are known to hide in the back area of the exhibit I feel like they could add other south american animals like when they used to exhibit agouti with them
maybe add the goeldi's monkey individual or the 2 cotton top tamarins in with them
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That's a smart idea. I don't know what the limits on a sloth mix are but I know Lincoln Park held sloth with pied tamarin for a people, I've seen them mixed with night monkey before, and I believe London has them mixed with several species such as tamandua, goeldis/callimico and more, so it's possible!
 

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James Krasting said:
New penguin exhibit to open on Wednesday! It says on the website that it will debut on Wild Lights Wednesday. I don’t know if that means it will open up at night or just the morning of Wednesday! It says the exhibit will be called “Penguins of the Pacific”
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Oh wow! It's my birthday week and I was already trying to plan some winter zoo trips around here... I suppose Milwaukee noticed they weren't on the list and had to compete! I probably won't be there right away but look forward to seeing the new exhibit!
 
Here is the zoo's year in review:
Births announced:
- 0.1 Japanese Macaque
- 0.1 prehensile-tailed porcupine
- 0.1 Eastern Bongo (sired at Dallas Zoo)
- 0.0.2 plush-crested jays

Deaths announced:
- 0.1 Nile Hippo
-1.0 Harbor Seal

Transfers announced:
- 1.0 Generic Giraffe

Arrivals announced:
- 1.0 Western Lowland Gorilla
- 1.0 Eastern Bongo

Other changes:
The zoo replaced their two steam train locomotives which have been here since 1958 with custom-built, more environmentally friendly diesel engines.
Milwaukee County Zoo animals that died and were born in 2024
 
do not forget the unveiling of the Refurbished and renovated Humboldt penguin exhibit, bringing their Humboldt penguins back to public viewing in a couple of months
 
JVM said:
A historical image of Ringo in the old habitat, if anyone is interested, from the Images of America: Milwaukee County Zoo book.
View attachment 752649


I agree that it's disappointing what's become of it. It was not a sufficient exhibit for otters in terms of space, but it is quite a bit larger than the individual arboreal habitats and the having an active animal in there justified the large use of space, and it was good to represent a semi aquatic species. I'm not sure what would fit there today but sloth are such an inactive species that they didn't feel like they justified the large space any more than putting lemurs or monkeys in there would have. I never did see the agouti there.

The only other semiaquatic species I could imagine would be small-clawed otters, beaver, or capybara and all would need a larger exhibit nonetheless, and probably outdoor access if we're honest. I hope the plans to construct a brand new small mammal house remain; perhaps an indoor/outdoor exhibit for one of these species could be a good compromise to fill the same niche as that former space while avoiding its pitfalls.


That's a smart idea. I don't know what the limits on a sloth mix are but I know Lincoln Park held sloth with pied tamarin for a people, I've seen them mixed with night monkey before, and I believe London has them mixed with several species such as tamandua, goeldis/callimico and more, so it's possible!
Click to expand...
to add, Racine zoo recently mixed their emperor tamarins with a new 2-toed sloth, so a sloth can be mixed with a more active species such as primates. not to mention I would think a small animal such as agouti, or primates, or even porcupines armadillos, or tamanduas would best fit in with the sloths because these are all considered small mammals which would fit perfectly in the small mammal building and it is nothing like a bird species, which would defeat the purpose of a small mammal building
 
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