Minnesota Zoo Minnesota Zoo News 2020

Dhole dude said:
in fact, a fairy decent portion of the zoos collection is of-display ambassador animals, although it is nice that they can bring these animals to various other places around the state, I still wish I could see all of the species the have their.
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Yes, so do I. For a lot of zoo collections, some of their ambassador animals are actually ones that I would like to see. But If your wondering I have never seen any goitered gazelles at the zoo. I always just see pronghorn in that exhibit, which are delightful animals nonetheless, but I have never seen goitered gazelle before.
 
CheeseChameleon2007 said:
Yes, so do I. For a lot of zoo collections, some of their ambassador animals are actually ones that I would like to see. But If your wondering I have never seen any goitered gazelles at the zoo. I always just see pronghorn in that exhibit, which are delightful animals nonetheless, but I have never seen goitered gazelle before.
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The goitered gazelles started rotating with the pronghorn back in 2016, and where on exhibit most of the time unfortunately. They went of exhibit around a year and a half ago, and presumably died last fall.
 
Dhole dude said:
Yes, they have two female Urial, i also think they should be moved outside and replaced with some sort of primate(since the tropics trail seems to be more primate focused now a days), but as I stated before, The zoo doesn’t want to build any new animal exhibits(except for the American elk) and instead is renovating old ones, like the red panda and urial exhibit.
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Correction, the urials are male, not female
 
Dhole dude said:
I’ll go be walk through of the new tiger lair renovation & tropics trail aviaries renovation. As you enter from the moose exhibit, there is a split of from the path with some pine trees and large, unique rock structures that looks like a giant tiger scratched it, there is a viewing window next to that which looks out out on the tiger exhibit. The waterfall was renovated to crash into a flat rock shaped like a giant tiger paw. Behind that is a giant tiger statue called “Zeus” dedicated to the zoos tiger keepers. The existing viewing to the pool was renovated to add a large viewing shelter.

All of the aviarys in the zoo where renovated. The South American aviary was renovated too add some new birds too the aviary, but there was a wait up so I couldn’t identify them. The entrance to the aviary was enlarged. Also inside the aviary is more perches for the birds, new railings, and a new observation deck for the keepers, I’m guessing that there will be a paid experience to feed the birds. I’d like to mention that I got to see what the warty pig holding area, and it looks fine, a bit odd seeing that the exhibit once held clouded leopards(i think) I also noticed that the zoos kemp’s Ridley sea turtle moved to the indo-pacific tropical reef in the tropics trail. The large tree in the rhinoceros hornbill exhibit was removed and replaced buy a temple ruin structure with many perches for the birds. Although it was not finished when I went. Two new climbing structures where added to the small clawed otter exhibit. And finally, the Bali myah/ bamboo partridge/ Indian star tortoise exhibit was expanded and now also contains emerald doves & Sri Lankan junglefowl.

That’s all I have for now. I’m currently going through the photos I took to check there quality, but I will post them soon.
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The old rhinoceros hornbill trees were not good for perching as the "branches" were much too large for them to grip properly and were incredibly unnatural. The new hornbill exhibit was redesigned and created to have percing areas that actually are appropriate to what they need. In addition, the branches of the new "fake" trees (6 trees total) were created using steel and epoxy in a technique that allows all the branches to actually move when the hornbills land on and hop around on... creating a much more natural habitat experience for these amazing birds. The new sculpted trees are species-specific to the areas of Sout East Asia that the Hornbills are from. Ficus Bengahensis and Ficus Religiousa. It is so lovely to watch them hop around on the braches that move as trees do in nature. They seem happy. Watched them being released into the exhibit and it was wonderful to see them hop from branch to branch exploring their new home. The temple, which the steel and epoxy trees are "growing" around was created with steel and concrete. The wine barrel is what has been successfully used for breeding in the past. It's strange I know but somehow it works...fascinating.
The waterfall at Tiger Lair is completely new construction and you are correct the waterfall is now turned off for the season. The waterfall was added because Tigers love them and adds too their enrichment and enjoyment of their habitat. I smiled when i read your post but It is not a "tiger paw " or a tiger scratched formation but rather, the unique rockwork at the renovated tiger lair is a very specific type of geology. Jointed Columnar Basalt, which exists in the Russian Far East, as well as several other places around the world...Giants Causeway is a pretty famous example or closer to MN the Devils Tower in Wyoming.
 
What information can you guys tell me about the dholes at Minnesota? I'm making a list of all the dholes in North America.
 
EsserWarrior said:
What information can you guys tell me about the Dholes at Minnesota? I'm making a list of all the Dholes in North America.
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I have seen the Dholes on multiple occasions, and there are about 2-3 Dholes there, not entirely sure since some of them are hiding. I am not sure of the sex of Dholes either, aptly named @Dhole dude who has been to the Minnesota zoo a number of times probably knows a little more information. Hope this helps :)
 
CheeseChameleon2007 said:
I have seen the Dholes on multiple occasions, and there are about 2-3 Dholes there, not entirely sure since some of them are hiding. I am not sure of the sex of Dholes either, aptly named @Dhole dude who has been to the Minnesota zoo a number of times probably knows a little more information. Hope this helps :)
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64 times to be exact:). They indeed have(or used to have) 5 dholes. I do not know there sex unfortunately. In the last year I’ve only seen 2 of the dholes out (but the viewing of them is limited at the moment) so that could mean some have passed, but I do believe they still have 5. If you want to know a little more, then @Gondwana may be able to help.
 
Gg3 said:
The old rhinoceros hornbill trees were not good for perching as the "branches" were much too large for them to grip properly and were incredibly unnatural. The new hornbill exhibit was redesigned and created to have percing areas that actually are appropriate to what they need. In addition, the branches of the new "fake" trees (6 trees total) were created using steel and epoxy in a technique that allows all the branches to actually move when the hornbills land on and hop around on... creating a much more natural habitat experience for these amazing birds. The new sculpted trees are species-specific to the areas of Sout East Asia that the Hornbills are from. Ficus Bengahensis and Ficus Religiousa. It is so lovely to watch them hop around on the braches that move as trees do in nature. They seem happy. Watched them being released into the exhibit and it was wonderful to see them hop from branch to branch exploring their new home. The temple, which the steel and epoxy trees are "growing" around was created with steel and concrete. The wine barrel is what has been successfully used for breeding in the past. It's strange I know but somehow it works...fascinating.
The waterfall at Tiger Lair is completely new construction and you are correct the waterfall is now turned off for the season. The waterfall was added because Tigers love them and adds too their enrichment and enjoyment of their habitat. I smiled when i read your post but It is not a "tiger paw " or a tiger scratched formation but rather, the unique rockwork at the renovated tiger lair is a very specific type of geology. Jointed Columnar Basalt, which exists in the Russian Far East, as well as several other places around the world...Giants Causeway is a pretty famous example or closer to MN the Devils Tower in Wyoming.
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Thant you for the information on the new renovation @Gg3 do you know what the board walk at the top of the walk through aviary is for? Are there any new birds added to the aviary?
 
CheeseChameleon2007 said:
I have seen the Dholes on multiple occasions, and there are about 2-3 Dholes there, not entirely sure since some of them are hiding. I am not sure of the sex of Dholes either, aptly named @Dhole dude who has been to the Minnesota zoo a number of times probably knows a little more information. Hope this helps :)
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Dhole dude said:
64 times to be exact:). They indeed have(or used to have) 5 dholes. I do not know there sex unfortunately. In the last year I’ve only seen 2 of the dholes out (but the viewing of them is limited at the moment) so that could mean some have passed, but I do believe they still have 5. If you want to know a little more, then @Gondwana may be able to help.
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Thanks for the help! Do you know anything about the individuals?
 
Dhole dude said:
Yes, the stupid empty tunnel was the nocturnal trail and displayed various rare animals over the years like leopard cats, banded palm civets, striped hyenas, northern Luzon giant cloud rat, greater slow loris, common water monitor, king cobras, fishing cats, clouded leopards, tawny frogmouths, binturongs, prevots squirrel, and Pygmy slow loris. And Minnesota zoo plans to renovate and reopen the exhibit sometime in the next decade.
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Where is this, "stupid empty tunnel"?
 
Dhole dude said:
It is the tunnel in between the red panda & warty pig exhibits & the walk- through aviary that used to be the nocturnal trail. It has been empty for about a decade.EDIT: Cross- post
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Okay, I did always think that tunnel was a bit strange. I thought you were referring to that small nocturnal area in the Jungle with the Burmese python.
 
Dhole dude said:
It’s ok

Also, It’s worth mentioning that the zoo will re-open the outdoor areas for member only starting this week. I will be visiting on Wednesday.
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Oh wow! I've been wanting to go to the zoo for a while!
I'm definitely going.
 
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