Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo News 2018

Wyman said:
Maybe using the footprint of the current bison and camel exhibits for the Savanna, with the Lions looking out at Giraffes, Zebras, and other antelope? And as for the current Giraffe yard, maybe move the Hamadryas Baboons in with some Ibex?
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That might work but what will be in the old baboon exhibit?
 
My mistake, the crowned lemurs actually came to Oakland because the male swam to escape his exhibit. The pair was sent to the zoo shortly after.

Does anyone know if they are planning to breed the blue eyed black lemurs, cotton top tamarins, African elephants, and the African lions (Since they brought in the three males)?
 
TheEthiopianWolf03 said:
Does anyone know if they are planning to breed the blue eyed black lemurs, cotton top tamarins, African elephants, and the African lions (Since they brought in the three males)?
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Don't quote me on any of this, but I believe all of Oakland's lemurians are considered surplus animals, and are never supposed to breed. The blue-eyed black lemurs are brothers if I'm not mistaken.

No idea about the tamarins, but Osh has been rather shy around the three female elephants. I've been led to believe that he's intimidated by the ladies since they're substantially older than he is. A younger elephant may have to be brought in before any breeding occurs.

The lions were born in ~2014 and moved under the recommendation of the SSP, so I imagine that they'll breed eventually. They're mature now, but might wait until around five years old. While the exhibit space is plenty big enough to support a pride, the night houses are going to need to be expanded before they can house anymore lions.
 
@Buldeo, if any breeding with elephants is planned they should plan for another adult bull and one which is significantly older than "Osh" and a more dominant (and thus able to confront the harem herd and do the business) one to that.

BTW: Bull Osh is now 22 years of age, so very close to the 22-25 time frame where-upon wild bulls become sexually operative / dominant and hold territory in nature / wilds.

Not sure though, if the former complaint may still exist. However, there is a real question-mark over the females - as much older than bull Osh - that when they are yet non-primiparous are unlikely to breed at all as reproductive senescence kicks in after the age 20-25 with non-breeding female elephants.

A check on the Oakland Zoo pages for their elephant herd comes up with this info:
F M’Dundamella (estimated age - YoB 1969, arrived 12/1993)
F Donna (estimated age - YoB 1979, arrived ??)
F Lisa (estimated age - YoB 1977, arrived ??)
M Osh (born 1994, arrived ??)
LINK: African Elephant

Hence, one may conclude breeding from this group is a dead end / show stopper, I am afraid.
 
There are 1.1 blue eyed black lemurs. They brought a female from a zoo in Texas because of a breeding recommendation. I ask if they have any plans of breeding because the two lemurs haven’t produced any offspring since her arrival in 2014.
 
TheEthiopianWolf03 said:
There are 1.1 blue eyed black lemurs. They brought a female from a zoo in Texas because of a breeding recommendation. I ask if they have any plans of breeding because the two lemurs haven’t produced any offspring since her arrival in 2014.
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And what makes you think the zoo needs to “focus on breeding them,” as if they are not already?

6 facilities in America currently have male and female blue-eyed black lemurs. Only one has bred them any time recently. I guarantee you it is not a lack of trying.
 
jayjds2 said:
And what makes you think the zoo needs to “focus on breeding them,” as if they are not already?

6 facilities in America currently have male and female blue-eyed black lemurs. Only one has bred them any time recently. I guarantee you it is not a lack of trying.
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Sorry if I seem that I think that zoos (In particular Oakland) are not trying or putting a focus on the breeding of the species. I realize that my question was a little bit immature in the sense that I though zoos weren’t focusing as much on the lemurs. I didn’t know that only one facility in the US has actually managed to breed the species. I would like to rephrase my question and ask if there is any progress on the breeding of the blue eyed black lemur and if there are any plans for any other species in the zoo currently.

I noticed in the map of California trail that they still have an area in the exhibit with a pond exhibit and also a building. You could see it near the grizzly bear exhibit. I’m not sure if this means the original plans (beavers and waterfowl aviary) will be still in the California trail and they didn’t think it was important enough to mention it with the other animals or maybe they forgot to put the info on the website and on the map (Bald eagles are not labeled on the current map as well). If anyone has any info on this it would be appreciated.
 
Buldeo said:
The lions were born in ~2014 and moved under the recommendation of the SSP, so I imagine that they'll breed eventually.
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Nope.

The brothers are turning four in October, and are not recommended to breed. Per the keeper, their genetics are already well represented throughout the captive population, but they'll be kept intact on the outside chance that the population crashes.
 
Also according to the email I got from the zoo, a bison herd will be coming to the zoo between April 11th-16th. The bison will come from the Blackfeet nation and are referred to as “very rare” and “purebred”. Didn’t know about different breeds of bison but the more you know.

The zoo will also acquire 4 grizzly bear cubs from Anchorage in late May. They are orphans and will happily get a nice home.

The rest of the animals that weren’t mentioned so far will be at the zoo at late May. I can’t wait and I’ll definitely try to make the opening of the exhibit if not the first week.
 
TheEthiopianWolf03 said:
Also according to the email I got from the zoo, a bison herd will be coming to the zoo between April 11th-16th. The bison will come from the Blackfeet nation and are referred to as “very rare” and “purebred”. Didn’t know about different breeds of bison but the more you know.

The zoo will also acquire 4 grizzly bear cubs from Anchorage in late May. They are orphans and will happily get a nice home.

The rest of the animals that weren’t mentioned so far will be at the zoo at late May. I can’t wait and I’ll definitely try to make the opening of the exhibit if not the first week.
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A good portion of bison today are crossbred with domestic cattle. Only a few pure herds left.
 
Does anyone know if they will have smaller exhibits for reptiles or birds? That would make the exhibit really interesting if they did.
 
TheEthiopianWolf03 said:
A confirmed date was made for the opening of California trail. June 28th
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Well this is cutting it close. I booked a trip a little while ago and planned to visit the zoo on June 28-29. I had hoped the exhibit would open a couple weeks earlier. I will be glad to make it but not so keen on fighting the opening day crowds. Perhaps, though, I can meet up for lunch or something with @TheEthiopianWolf03 ?
 
Arizona Docent said:
Well this is cutting it close. I booked a trip a little while ago and planned to visit the zoo on June 28-29. I had hoped the exhibit would open a couple weeks earlier. I will be glad to make it but not so keen on fighting the opening day crowds. Perhaps, though, I can meet up for lunch or something with @TheEthiopianWolf03 ?
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I would be willing to meet up. It depends on my summer schedule though since I have some AP classes I need to prep for and other high school classes. I might make the opening day but only time will tell. Nevertheless glad to hear that you can make it in time for the exhibit!
 
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