Milwaukee County Zoo Milwaukee County Zoo News 2024

pachyderm pro said:
Stumbled upon some updated concept art for the interior of the new rhino/hippo house. Figured it would be of interest to some.

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I'm curious to see what the final product ends up like, especially with the financial difficulties that Milwaukee has encountered over the past few renovations. If I remember correctly, they mentioned having birds in the building. I wonder if they will still be included or not.
 
EsserWarrior said:
I'm curious to see what the final product ends up like, especially with the financial difficulties that Milwaukee has encountered over the past few renovations. If I remember correctly, they mentioned having birds in the building. I wonder if they will still be included or not.
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I do figure that the new director will be able to talk over the Milwaukee County reps that a local zoo requires good investments into top notch state of the art exhibits if the MCZ is not to lose its standing and visitor appeal over time given the high level of competition in the states around Milwaukee and accredited zoos. He certainly did that with the old pinguin exhibit designs that happen to be sub standard and not the latest quality exhibit it should have been in the first place.

This is part of the old adage that some updating and renovation is okay (especially true in the Milwaukee reign of historical development up to the present). No it is not ..., animal welfare, general well being as well as the quality and quantity of zoo exhibits has really taken a huge step forward and any zoo needs to be well aware of that and invest in its visitor appeal, zoo husbandry and exhibit quality and conservation - education messages can only be transmitted effectively if the general visiting public remains engaged in the zoo and its appeal to them and how it appeals to them to do better on our environment and natural world. Amen!
 
pachyderm pro said:
Stumbled upon some updated concept art for the interior of the new rhino/hippo house. Figured it would be of interest to some.

231010_MKE_Rhino--1536x994.jpg
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I really looks like some nice concept art for the new rhino exhibit with also good separation area from general public (probably more to protect the inhabitants than visitors ...). I take it this will be the mother with calf indoor exhibit.

At back of house there seems to be the new hippo habitat and indoor exhibit with a viewing area from the other side of the barrier or perhaps even more likely the keeper area....(to the back with those steel barriers).

Is there already some design drawings or concept art for the outdoor rhino and hippo habitats?
 
 
savetherhino said:
Today (4/25) the zoo broke ground on Adventure Africa part 3.
Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "Rhinos Return! Today we broke ground on the final stage of Adventure Africa, where guests will be able to view rhinos in a new indoor and outdoor home and hippos in an indoor space. This joint project with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee prioritizes animal care and wellbeing. Thank you Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee County Supervisors, Zoological Society of Milwaukee Board and fundraising co-chairs for joining us to celebrate the return of rhinos! #RhinosReturn #mkezoo"
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Exciting that they're finally getting a move-on with this project. Further details can be found on the zoo's website: Adventure Africa Phase III - Rhino Habitat - Milwaukee County Zoo

I found these details especially interesting:

The pathway will be separated into two indoor spaces, allowing for a North and South habitat, each with its own entry and viewing area. The North habitat will include a shallow pool so it can be used by rhinos or hippos, while the South habitat will be designed to feature rhinos, red river hogs, or other species yet to be determined. The new indoor spaces for rhinos will enhance the guest experience by providing a more engaging view of the animals — up close and unobstructed.

For the current outdoor West habitat, the existing wall will be removed to become one larger space for the rhinos, tailored to better suit their needs. One of the existing pools will be filled-in to create a zookeeper chat/interaction area — designed for outreach and educational presentations. Plans for a public rhino interaction are being finalized.
 
This is fantastic news. I've been worried for months Adventure Africa would have to be delayed with the penguin reconstruction happening. We're going to have two very improved exhibits coming soon and when they're complete, Milwaukee will be back to housing all four major African megafauna. (Would they be the only ones in the Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana area?) I love how flexible the new spaces are sounding, too. If all of these promises pan out, then I think Milwaukee has a much brighter future than zoochat might have predicted.
 
JVM said:
We're going to have two very improved exhibits coming soon and when they're complete, Milwaukee will be back to housing all four major African megafauna. (Would they be the only ones in the Wisconsin/Illinois/Indiana area?)
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Yes, and I think the only other midwestern collections to still hold all four are Saint Louis, Cincinnati and Toledo.

I have a lot of hope for this last phase of Adventure Africa. Rhinos don't have vast space requirements like elephants or necessitate underwater viewing like hippos, so naturally they are easier to design for. It'll be interesting to see what "other species yet to be determined" they end up bringing in, although I do hope they don't bite off more then they can chew in this regard and overstock the complex. Regardless, things are looking up for the zoo with this, the penguins and the revamped entrance all coming in the near future.
 
4/27/24 News
  • Construction on the Humboldt Penguin exhibit continues. The final product will give the exhibit as much-needed expansion.
  • Several birds in the Aviary building were nesting. (Waldrapp Ibis, Inca Terns, Hamerkops, Abdim's Storks, Nicobar Pigeons, and one of the species in the Congo Peafowl exhibit were the most notable. The Crocodile Birds were also quite defensive, with one of them sticking behind the fake termite mound and the other chased the Thick-Knees around.)
  • There appears to be a new Japanese Macaque that was born recently. It was clinging tightly to its mother's stomach. If everything goes well, I expect the zoo to announce it soon.
  • The viewing balcony for the outdoor gorilla/bonobo exhibits was open, both species were outdoors and were enjoying the weather. (Cannot wait to see if they have new outdoor plans for the bonobos on the new master plan.)
  • There is an Eastern Indigo on exhibit in the Reptile and Aquatics Center. (They are in the exhibit that is two over from that large exhibit that has been blocked off forever.)
  • The False Water Cobra exhibit is either being constructed or torn down. (I do not recall if they had this species or not, but there was a sign for them!)
  • There was a sign posted on the Piranha tank stating: "New Animals Arriving Soon!" Fingers crossed that they get some from Henry Vilas, and then it'll encourage them to renovate that part of the aviary :p
  • As expected, the former Mudskipper/Mangrove and Octopus exhibits were still under construction.
  • There was a Brown Swiss calf born yesterday. According to the keepers, they will hand-raise the calf, as it cannot get colostrum from its mother.
  • The oryx side of the Pachyderm Mall was blocked off. Both the oryx/hogs were off-exhibit.
  • There were no zebras on exhibit anywhere.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Yes, and I think the only other midwestern collections to still hold all four are Saint Louis, Cincinnati and Toledo.

I have a lot of hope for this last phase of Adventure Africa. Rhinos don't have vast space requirements like elephants or necessitate underwater viewing like hippos, so naturally they are easier to design for. It'll be interesting to see what "other species yet to be determined" they end up bringing in, although I do hope they don't bite off more then they can chew in this regard and overstock the complex. Regardless, things are looking up for the zoo with this, the penguins and the revamped entrance all coming in the near future.
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Of course, Toledo’s rhino is Indian.
 
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EsserWarrior said:
The False Water Cobra exhibit is either being constructed or torn down. (I do not recall if they had this species or not, but there was a sign for them!)
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when I was there I noticed the former false water cobra exhibit was now being occupied by a Copperhead

also, @EsserWarrior forgot to mention in the reptile house that the Hellbender exhibit was drained and renovated for the one single baby spider tortoise that was hatched at the zoo, which explains why the spider tortoises were on exhibit for only a short period before the ornate box turtle filled in that exhibit once again. I saw the baby and I thought that the hellbender tank would be too small for the little guy, I would have liked it better if they kept the hellbender and used one of the 3 smaller square tanks to house it or even the poison dart frog tank
 
brown bear 555 said:
when I was there I noticed the former false water cobra exhibit was now being occupied by a Copperhead

also, @EsserWarrior forgot to mention in the reptile house that the Hellbender exhibit was drained and renovated for the one single baby spider tortoise that was hatched at the zoo, which explains why the spider tortoises were on exhibit for only a short period before the ornate box turtle filled in that exhibit once again. I saw the baby and I thought that the hellbender tank would be too small for the little guy, I would have liked it better if they kept the hellbender and used one of the 3 smaller square tanks to house it or even the poison dart frog tank
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I actually did not forget it and mentioned it at the beginning of the year :p But yes, the enclosure is still holding the spider tortoises.
 
EsserWarrior said:
4/27/24 News
  • There appears to be a new Japanese Macaque that was born recently. It was clinging tightly to its mother's stomach. If everything goes well, I expect the zoo to announce it soon.
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Their female Japanese Macaque Rikka did indeed give birth to her third infant on April 23rd! :)
Baby Alert! | Baby Alert! Join us in welcoming the newest member of our Japanese macaque family, born April 23 to Rikka! Both mom and baby are doing great! Rikka... | By Milwaukee County ZooFacebook
 
The zoo has officially announced the arrival of 0.1 eastern bongo, Nyota, and 0.1 Baird's tapir, Frida. I saw both when I visited this past weekend.

Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "Meet Eastern bongo Nyota and Baird’s tapir Frida Eastern bongo Nyota recently turned 2 years old and has joined Zuri, 14, and Sydney, 13, in the African Forest habitat. The animal care team tells us Nyota is an easy-going animal, and often follows Sydney and Zuri around, hanging out wherever they are. Baird’s tapir Frida is 5 years old. According to her animal care team, Frida is very outgoing, inquisitive, and she doesn’t seem to have a discerning appetite, munching on everything her team offers. You can spot her in the South American Yard, currently rotating access with male Iibu. Eastern (also known as mountain) bongos are listed as Critically Endangered and Baird’s tapir (also known as the Central American tapir) are listed as Endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Link in bio to learn more. #bongo #tapir #savingspecies #MKEZoo"
 
pachyderm pro said:
The zoo has officially announced the arrival of 0.1 eastern bongo, Nyota, and 0.1 Baird's tapir, Frida. I saw both when I visited this past weekend.

Milwaukee County Zoo on Instagram: "Meet Eastern bongo Nyota and Baird’s tapir Frida Eastern bongo Nyota recently turned 2 years old and has joined Zuri, 14, and Sydney, 13, in the African Forest habitat. The animal care team tells us Nyota is an easy-going animal, and often follows Sydney and Zuri around, hanging out wherever they are. Baird’s tapir Frida is 5 years old. According to her animal care team, Frida is very outgoing, inquisitive, and she doesn’t seem to have a discerning appetite, munching on everything her team offers. You can spot her in the South American Yard, currently rotating access with male Iibu. Eastern (also known as mountain) bongos are listed as Critically Endangered and Baird’s tapir (also known as the Central American tapir) are listed as Endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Link in bio to learn more. #bongo #tapir #savingspecies #MKEZoo"
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how many Tapir are at the zoo?
 
Kendi, the zoo's male giraffe, was attempting to breed with Maya, a female giraffe last month, when he injured his prepuce, the sheath of skin that covers the penis. The zoo's statement notes that most breeding injuries in giraffes don't require intervention and that Kendi's specific injury "is believed to have never been seen before in the species." Kendi was immobilized in early April
to better determine how to treat his injury, the zoo started outreach to veterinary specialists. This was necessary because, according to the zoo, a number of factors complicate giraffe immobilizations and anaesthetization and he currently recovering .

Kendi, a Milwaukee County Zoo giraffe, required surgery for a unique breeding injury
 
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