Philadelphia Zoo Philadelphia Zoo News 2025

[Antimony96]

As of February 1st, the zoo is once again open to the public! I visited this morning; the Rare Animal Conservation Center and indoor portion of KidZooU are closed for renovations, and construction on the once and future Bear Country is in full swing. Other notes:

1. Due to the ongoing H5N1 scare and despite the Eagles banner at the front of the zoo (Super Bowl weekend!), even all the cold-tolerant birds (except the emus, for some reason) are indoors, though I could see (and hear!) several geese and flamingos in a mesh indoor pen. Most of McNeil Avian Center is also closed aside from the entrance room.

2. Some animals were obviously much happier with the 40F weather than others--all of the big cats on display (snow leopard, lion, tiger) were much more active than how I tend to see them. Got a great view of Yuki the snow leopard using the Zoo360 trail directly above Koosaka the tiger. Of the ungulates, the barnyard animals, zebras, and Ankole Watusi were out, while the hippos, giraffes, red river hogs, and rhino were indoors.

3. Spoke with several docents; there are hopes to bring back venomous snakes "in a year or so", and while Spiders Alive! will be closing in September there's uncertainty as to what will succeed it in the former Small Animal House. A new meerkat mob will be debuting later this year.

4. The baby orangutan Jambi is extremely lively and was definitely the star attraction today!

 

[CarLover]

How long will the bird exhibit closures last? When does the avian flu become less hazardous?

 

[Brayden Delashmutt]

Posted this on the other thread, forgot the year lmao. Anyways

Out of curiosity, since the exhibit is open again now, what do you guys think is gonna go in the maned wolf exhibit? Hopefully they get another one but I'd also like a hyena or wild dog? Maybe red wolves or something if there's room?

 

[StoppableSan]

Posted this on the other thread, forgot the year lmao. Anyways

Out of curiosity, since the exhibit is open again now, what do you guys think is gonna go in the maned wolf exhibit? Hopefully they get another one but I'd also like a hyena or wild dog? Maybe red wolves or something if there's room?

Temporarily it's hosted the southern ground hornbills. Last I heard they were considering different options, though I'm not entirely sure what those options were. The Southern end of the zoo's due for redevelopment anyways, I believe the Bear Country renovation's the zoo's way of regaining momentum.

 

[Brayden Delashmutt]

Temporarily it's hosted the southern ground hornbills. Last I heard they were considering different options, though I'm not entirely sure what those options were. The Southern end of the zoo's due for redevelopment anyways, I believe the Bear Country renovation's the zoo's way of regaining momentum.

Interesting. I'd love to see mexican wolves there too, the yard seems big enough from what I've seen on Google earth. The map had them unlabeled so I'm curious

Is there any reason the maned wolves were phased out in the first place?

 

[Antimony96]

Posted this on the other thread, forgot the year lmao. Anyways

Out of curiosity, since the exhibit is open again now, what do you guys think is gonna go in the maned wolf exhibit? Hopefully they get another one but I'd also like a hyena or wild dog? Maybe red wolves or something if there's room?

For the last year it held the southern ground hornbills (whose former exhibit was given to Old World vultures). Currently it's empty due to both the cold and avian flu concerns.

But yeah, as of now the zoo has exactly zero canids.

 

[Brayden Delashmutt]

For the last year it held the southern ground hornbills (whose former exhibit was given to Old World vultures). Currently it's empty due to both the cold and avian flu concerns.

But yeah, as of now the zoo has exactly zero canids.

Interesting. I wonder what the incentive was to give their last canid away. Hopefully this is temporary

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

A baby black-and-white colobus monkey was born on January 27th!
Black-and-White Colobus Monkey Baby Born at Philadelphia Zoo

 

[Smaggledagle]

Piece of Late December 2024 News Not Mentioned:

On December 26th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) Himalayan red panda named Lucy to Millbrook School's Trevor Zoo in New York in late 2024.

Millbrook School's Trevor Zoo

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On March 15th, the zoo announced they received a $75,000 grant towards educational enhancements of the new Bear Country exhibit, which is now set to open sometime in March 2026.

Philadelphia Zoo

 

[Austin the Sengi]

Do we know as to when the Rare Animal Conservation Center’s renovations are scheduled to be completed?

I am currently looking into a visit sometime this spring, and I was just wondering if I could time my visit with the renovation’s completion?

 

[Haliaeetus]

A baby black-and-white colobus monkey was born on January 27th!
Black-and-White Colobus Monkey Baby Born at Philadelphia Zoo

The baby Colobus is a girl.
Philadelphia Zoo on Instagram: "It's...a...GIRL! We're excited to officially introduce you to Yeti, our female baby colobus monkey born in January. Colobus monkeys are born white and then transition into the black-and-white coloring as they get a bit older. Yeti is doing great with her family and can be seen in PECO Primate Reserve or up above in the Zoo360 Trails!"

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

The baby Colobus is a girl.
Philadelphia Zoo on Instagram: "It's...a...GIRL! We're excited to officially introduce you to Yeti, our female baby colobus monkey born in January. Colobus monkeys are born white and then transition into the black-and-white coloring as they get a bit older. Yeti is doing great with her family and can be seen in PECO Primate Reserve or up above in the Zoo360 Trails!"

And her name is Yeti according to the article.

 

[Atrox1214]

Has anyone been in the reptile house lately? Last time I was there the former alligator/nile croc exhibits had been remodeled but were still empty, but did not look fit for large crocodilians, I wasn't sure what the plan was, it's a shame if large crocodilians are gone for good.

 

[ZooElephantMan]

Do we know as to when the Rare Animal Conservation Center’s renovations are scheduled to be completed?

I am currently looking into a visit sometime this spring, and I was just wondering if I could time my visit with the renovation’s completion?

What kinds of changes are they making to the building?

 

[Antimony96]

What kinds of changes are they making to the building?

Seems like routine renovations. I went last week and currently half of the main hallway (the half with the naked mole rats) is open.

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

A historic birth announcement - Mommy, a 97-year-old Galapagos Tortoise just became the oldest first-time mother Galapagos Tortoise when she recently had four hatchlings with her 96-year-old mate Abrazzo.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2025/04/03/tortoise-mommy-hatchlings-philadelphia-zoo/

 

[StoppableSan]

Philadelphia Zoo's oldest resident gives birth to 4 critically endangered tortoises

Another article highlighting the tortoise hatchlings without the paywall.

 

[Atrox1214]

What kinds of changes are they making to the building?

I spoke to a volunteer who said that they are prepping for their AZA inspection in June, so they are going through all of the exhibits to make sure everything is up to speed. On Monday they had half the rare animal conservation center closed, along with two of the smaller exhibits in big cat falls, the larger giant otter exhibit, and the cheetah yard. They said all the exhibits should be done in a couple weeks.

 

[PercideRolo]

I spoke to a volunteer who said that they are prepping for their AZA inspection in June, so they are going through all of the exhibits to make sure everything is up to speed. On Monday they had half the rare animal conservation center closed, along with two of the smaller exhibits in big cat falls, the larger giant otter exhibit, and the cheetah yard. They said all the exhibits should be done in a couple weeks.

AZA is getting more stringent with their guidelines and what is acceptable according to “their” rules. They’re teetering very close to the AR groups and the like. The future of accreditted Zoos is looking mighty bleak. No more concrete flooring. They must find a suitable way to cover it that also works with cleaning and debris build-up.

 

[pachyderm pro]

AZA is getting more stringent with their guidelines and what is acceptable according to “their” rules. They’re teetering very close to the AR groups and the like. The future of accreditted Zoos is looking mighty bleak. No more concrete flooring. They must find a suitable way to cover it that also works with cleaning and debris build-up.

So you’re criticizing the AZA for… holding zoos to high standards? That’s kinda the whole point of the organization. And it’s good they’re being more stringent with what’s acceptable, as honestly they don’t go far enough in the eyes of many. Nowhere near AR groups which don’t want zoos to exist outright.