Yes, I incorrectly thought they were iridescent sharks, but they are in the Lied Jungle in the moat around the white handed gibbons.
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium News 2022
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Wow, I really wish I knew that when I visited in 2019... I'd have loved to have seen those.
~Thylo
Are Shedd and Omaha the only US holders of Mekong Giant Catfish?
Persephone
Well-Known Member
Tennessee Aquarium had them when I last visited. Unsure if they still do.
I didn't see any in 2019, they had the related Chao Phraya Giant Catfish, though.
~Thylo
Persephone
Well-Known Member
They’re still listed on the website. (I assume Giant Pangasius is the same thing.) Could just be an artifact, though.
Visited the zoo today and a couple of updates, first the Desert Dome Plaza is finishing construction but most of the pathways are open to visitors.
Work on the Oasis Grille and Giant Screen Theater facelift is ongoing.
The refurbishment on the African "island" exhibit in the Lied Jungle is ongoing and the faux trees have been covered.
By Glacier Bay Landing, it looks like work is getting close to completion for the reported Memorial Day weekend re-opening. Not sure how I feel about the red/blue on the carousel building yet, will need to see it next to the rest of the area before passing judgment.
The seaplane has been mounted in its new location to the west of the area, just north of the North Entrance to the zoo.
Over in the Desert Dome, the Bat Eared Fox exhibit looks to have had some work done, with the plexiglass still in place over the exhibit, hard to get a decent photo with my phone. It appears the African Wild Cats will be on the move. The short lived Black and Rufous Elephant Shrew exhibit (former Swift Fox) has been now signed for African Wild Cat. Don't worry, elephant shrews are still on exhibit in the Lied Jungle.
Down in Kingdoms of the Night, the Woma Python exhibit has been replaced by two exhibits, one each for Lined Leaf Tailed Geckos and Henkel's Leaf Tailed Geckos. I was finally able to spot a Togo Slippery Frog in their dark and lush exhibit! Despite how it stands out in this photo, this image is infinitely better than what your eyes actually see down here.
One last change that I noticed for the first time. In the African Elephant/Plains Zebra habitat yard, there has been a permanent fence built near the east end of the waterhole yard that allows the zebra to enter to be safe from the elephants. This was put in within the last month or two. Hopefully this will allow the zoo to try and finally get the two species to mix. There was a more temporary fence in place for a while, but it was not very robust until now.
Work on the Oasis Grille and Giant Screen Theater facelift is ongoing.
The refurbishment on the African "island" exhibit in the Lied Jungle is ongoing and the faux trees have been covered.
By Glacier Bay Landing, it looks like work is getting close to completion for the reported Memorial Day weekend re-opening. Not sure how I feel about the red/blue on the carousel building yet, will need to see it next to the rest of the area before passing judgment.
The seaplane has been mounted in its new location to the west of the area, just north of the North Entrance to the zoo.
Over in the Desert Dome, the Bat Eared Fox exhibit looks to have had some work done, with the plexiglass still in place over the exhibit, hard to get a decent photo with my phone. It appears the African Wild Cats will be on the move. The short lived Black and Rufous Elephant Shrew exhibit (former Swift Fox) has been now signed for African Wild Cat. Don't worry, elephant shrews are still on exhibit in the Lied Jungle.
Down in Kingdoms of the Night, the Woma Python exhibit has been replaced by two exhibits, one each for Lined Leaf Tailed Geckos and Henkel's Leaf Tailed Geckos. I was finally able to spot a Togo Slippery Frog in their dark and lush exhibit! Despite how it stands out in this photo, this image is infinitely better than what your eyes actually see down here.
One last change that I noticed for the first time. In the African Elephant/Plains Zebra habitat yard, there has been a permanent fence built near the east end of the waterhole yard that allows the zebra to enter to be safe from the elephants. This was put in within the last month or two. Hopefully this will allow the zoo to try and finally get the two species to mix. There was a more temporary fence in place for a while, but it was not very robust until now.
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A couple updates today. I made a late afternoon visit since it was beautiful in Omaha today, so I only visited Lied Jungle and the Desert Dome complex.
The Lowland Paca and the Red Backed Bearded Saki signs have been removed from the last South American exhibit before the exit. The Saki has not been on exhibit my past two trips. The Paca I haven't seen for years so may not have been around for a decent time.
The young Malayan Tapir born last August is a male. Was previously unknown. Still working on finding out the young one's name.
The lights were on in the cave exhibit behind the waterfall and looked like they may be prepping to add something back to this exhibit. The keeper had the door open and was looking around in this exhibit. This space last held Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantulas. At the top of this exhibit, it looked like there were a couple orb weaving spiders of some kind.
![IMG_6649[1].JPG](https://www.zoochat.com/community/data/attachments/543/543040-dd0502a76a5c4e10d9e028d5425aef11.jpg?hash=3QUCp2pcTh "IMG_6649[1].JPG")
The Lowland Paca and the Red Backed Bearded Saki signs have been removed from the last South American exhibit before the exit. The Saki has not been on exhibit my past two trips. The Paca I haven't seen for years so may not have been around for a decent time.
The young Malayan Tapir born last August is a male. Was previously unknown. Still working on finding out the young one's name.
The lights were on in the cave exhibit behind the waterfall and looked like they may be prepping to add something back to this exhibit. The keeper had the door open and was looking around in this exhibit. This space last held Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantulas. At the top of this exhibit, it looked like there were a couple orb weaving spiders of some kind.
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![IMG_6649[1].JPG](/data/attachments/543/543040-dd0502a76a5c4e10d9e028d5425aef11.jpg?hash=3QUCp2pcTh)
Several renovations have been completed and set to be revealed for the holiday weekend. Some include a new location for the carousel, kiosks at the entry gate, and the previously mentioned Desert Dome Plaza.
Omaha Zoo unveils new renovations for weekend
Omaha Zoo unveils new renovations for weekend
The Zoo’s oldest giraffe, a female named Dottie, has passed away.
https://www.1011now.com/2022/06/01/dottie-oldest-giraffe-omaha-zoo-dies/?outputType=amp
https://www.1011now.com/2022/06/01/dottie-oldest-giraffe-omaha-zoo-dies/?outputType=amp
The zoo updated their map recently with all the changes to the carousel area and the Desert Dome Plaza.
https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2140/2022_ohdzoo_map_52722.pdf
Of note, the elevator near the Orangutan Forest is noted to be "closing" in the fall of this year. I've heard rumblings of the changes to this area, but will let the zoo formally announce anything pertaining to this. Also of interest, the former Cat Complex area is listed as a "Future Development Site". My excitement has certainly piqued.
https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2140/2022_ohdzoo_map_52722.pdf
Of note, the elevator near the Orangutan Forest is noted to be "closing" in the fall of this year. I've heard rumblings of the changes to this area, but will let the zoo formally announce anything pertaining to this. Also of interest, the former Cat Complex area is listed as a "Future Development Site". My excitement has certainly piqued.
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What rumblings have you heard orangutan-wise?
This or that kind of things... or maybe a giant interactive Meerkat manor!
I guess you will have to wait until the zoo announces it to find out.
What does Omaha have left in its existing master plan that they have not yet built?
I believe was supposed to be a Congo exhibit
Depends on who you talk to.
Pate says they are complete with the master plan, and its his opinion that ultimately matters.
But things that eventually fell out of the master plan were the South American/Andes portion at the north end (eventually the Red Barn area became Glacier Bay Landing), the polar bear exhibit to be located where the former Gaur exhibits were located in the train loop at the north end (across tracks from Alaskan Splash Pad), the Komodo Dragon exhibit in the Desert Dome plaza, and the Congo Forest area where the former Cat Complex sits.
I do not believe that a Congo Forest exhibit will be the plan for that development site as the Okapi and Bongo seem like they are staying put for a long time in their current spots. I will be pleasantly surprised though to be wrong.
The South American portion eventually turned into a Pacific NW area, but there has never been anything concrete released about that area of the zoo.
I took part in the zoo's Locked Zoo event on Tuesday night to see how this "escape room"/"scavenger hunt" would be like as it is the first time they've done something like this. Only the Desert Dome, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Pavilion, Scott Aquarium, and the insect portion of the Grewcock Butterfly house were open. They put up barriers at the entrance to the African Grasslands and the paths north of the Desert Dome to keep guests confined to the front of the zoo.
The improvements to the Desert Dome Plaza are pretty much done, it looks nice but honestly one wouldn't know much changed there to be honest. Sure, the pergola on the seating area for the food counter at the Desert Dome looks great, but with how young the trees are here it has a long way to go to get to their concept art of the area. I will get some pictures next time at the zoo of the area along with the carousel relocation.
A short bit of news, I did not see it posted in this thread yet, there is a three-month old Johnson's Crocodile in the Desert Dome sun room, sign says it hatched in March.
Most of the exhibits in the Scott Aquarium and Desert Dome had the lights off in their exhibits so you couldn't see into most of them, most notably the terrariums and smaller aquarium tanks/penguin exhibit. Of note however, in Kingdoms of the Night, the first exhibit with Springhaas and Greater Bushbabies was empty and looks to be getting modified. Couldn't read the sign in the dark of what was happening in there but the exhibit was completely empty.
The improvements to the Desert Dome Plaza are pretty much done, it looks nice but honestly one wouldn't know much changed there to be honest. Sure, the pergola on the seating area for the food counter at the Desert Dome looks great, but with how young the trees are here it has a long way to go to get to their concept art of the area. I will get some pictures next time at the zoo of the area along with the carousel relocation.
A short bit of news, I did not see it posted in this thread yet, there is a three-month old Johnson's Crocodile in the Desert Dome sun room, sign says it hatched in March.
Most of the exhibits in the Scott Aquarium and Desert Dome had the lights off in their exhibits so you couldn't see into most of them, most notably the terrariums and smaller aquarium tanks/penguin exhibit. Of note however, in Kingdoms of the Night, the first exhibit with Springhaas and Greater Bushbabies was empty and looks to be getting modified. Couldn't read the sign in the dark of what was happening in there but the exhibit was completely empty.
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The aviary has reopened:
Henry Doorly Reopens Aviary at Zoo & Bird Exhibits at Wildlife Safari Park | NEWSRADIO 1040 WHO
The Lee G. Simmons Aviary at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium reopens to guests on Friday.
“We are very happy to report that 100 percent of our birds stayed healthy. With the help of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, we were able to test samples from the wild Canada geese on Zoo grounds, all of which were negative. We feel confident that it is safe to return the birds to their outdoor spaces.”
Henry Doorly Reopens Aviary at Zoo & Bird Exhibits at Wildlife Safari Park | NEWSRADIO 1040 WHO
The Lee G. Simmons Aviary at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium reopens to guests on Friday.
“We are very happy to report that 100 percent of our birds stayed healthy. With the help of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, we were able to test samples from the wild Canada geese on Zoo grounds, all of which were negative. We feel confident that it is safe to return the birds to their outdoor spaces.”
Went to Late Night at the Zoo tonight and uploaded 15 photos to the gallery of Kingdoms of the Night with the lights on for a number of exhibits. Didn't get all of the smaller terrariums because we were in there around close and were starting to get ushered out so I took photos of the bigger exhibits and the Togo Slippery Frog exhibit.
Word of advice to any travelers seeking to for sure see the Togo Slippery Frogs, your best bet is to visit during Late Nights at the Zoo with the lights on in KotN. Otherwise it is very difficult to see them with the normal lighting in the exhibit during the day. However, Late Nights at the Zoo are only on select Thursday evenings so it is difficult to plan for, but just giving anyone who is traveling to the zoo who wants to cross off a lifer, your best bet is at this event around 10 pm.
Word of advice to any travelers seeking to for sure see the Togo Slippery Frogs, your best bet is to visit during Late Nights at the Zoo with the lights on in KotN. Otherwise it is very difficult to see them with the normal lighting in the exhibit during the day. However, Late Nights at the Zoo are only on select Thursday evenings so it is difficult to plan for, but just giving anyone who is traveling to the zoo who wants to cross off a lifer, your best bet is at this event around 10 pm.
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