Phoenix Zoo Phoenix Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Smaggledagle
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Indu at Phoenix Zoo has died. Phoenix no longer holds Asian Elephants:
Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
On April 18th, the zoo announced they acquired 3 domestic rabbits named Benjamin, Lavender, and Pepper from Arizona Humane Society in Arizona which are now ambassador animals.
Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
On May 11th, the zoo announced that a siamang was born earlier in the week which is now on exhibit.
Phoenix Zoo
On May 13th, the zoo announced they moved their greater flamingos into the former Chilean flamingo exhibit while their exhibit is getting renovated. The zoo also announced that a greater flamingo hatched.
8K views · 334 reactions |
Flamingo Crossing How do you move a flock of flamingos? With the help of several staff, volunteers and banner material! This morning, we walked... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
8K views · 334 reactions |
Flamingo Crossing How do you move a flock of flamingos? With the help of several staff, volunteers and banner material! This morning, we walked... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
Mystic the cougar has died. At least she got to enjoy her new home for a little while.
Phoenix Zoo mourns Mystic the Mountain Lion | FOX 10 Phoenix
Phoenix Zoo mourns Mystic the Mountain Lion | FOX 10 Phoenix
The zoo announced via Instagram that their giant anteater is back on display, but now lives in the former jaguar exhibit.
Per the Zoo’s Facebook page, a pair of greater kudu bulls has arrived, one from Indianapolis and the other from Potawatomi Zoo.
2 Pieces of May / Piece of June 2025 News Not Mentioned:
On May 30th, the zoo announced the siamang's sex (1.0) and name, Hayden.
26K views · 1.3K reactions | It's a boy!!! Born on May 4, Hayden surprised us all! With his birth occurring on the iconic Star Wars Day, our keepers decided to name him Hayden,... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
On June 4th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) golden eagle named Leila from the Navajo Nation Zoo in Arizona which is now on display in Arizona Trail. The zoo also announced they transferred (0.3) desert bighorn sheep to Navajo Nation Zoo.
7.2K views · 426 reactions | We want to introduce one of our newest residents, Leila! The female golden eagle, from the Navajo Zoo, joins Nahashaza in the habitat on the Arizona... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
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On June 7th, the zoo announced they transferred their (0.1) maned wolf named Jessie to another unspecified facility. The former exhibit will remain empty until work at the new Veterinary Medical Center is complete.
13K views · 517 reactions | Our long-legged friend, Jessie, was transferred to another AZA accredited zoo as part of a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan. The... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
On May 16th, the zoo announced that 6 black-footed ferrets that were born in 2024 were released into the wild in March.
Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo
On May 30th, the zoo announced the siamang's sex (1.0) and name, Hayden.
26K views · 1.3K reactions | It's a boy!!! Born on May 4, Hayden surprised us all! With his birth occurring on the iconic Star Wars Day, our keepers decided to name him Hayden,... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
On June 4th, the zoo announced they acquired a (0.1) golden eagle named Leila from the Navajo Nation Zoo in Arizona which is now on display in Arizona Trail. The zoo also announced they transferred (0.3) desert bighorn sheep to Navajo Nation Zoo.
7.2K views · 426 reactions | We want to introduce one of our newest residents, Leila! The female golden eagle, from the Navajo Zoo, joins Nahashaza in the habitat on the Arizona... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
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On June 7th, the zoo announced they transferred their (0.1) maned wolf named Jessie to another unspecified facility. The former exhibit will remain empty until work at the new Veterinary Medical Center is complete.
13K views · 517 reactions | Our long-legged friend, Jessie, was transferred to another AZA accredited zoo as part of a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan. The... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
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Well-Known Member
Jessie has moved to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky.
Maned wolf returns, new giraffe arrives at Louisville Zoo
On June 16th, it was reported that the zoo bred and released 1,000 Chiricahua leopard frog tadpoles into the wild, which marks 30K frogs released altogether.
Phoenix Zoo has released 30,000 Chiricahua leopard frogs into wild
Phoenix Zoo has released 30,000 Chiricahua leopard frogs into wild
On July 2nd, the zoo announced they reacquired a (1.0) North American porcupine named Jasper from San Diego Zoo in California, which is now back on display in Arizona Trail.
7.1K views · 426 reactions | Guess who's back! It's Jasper, the North American porcupine! For World Porcupine Day, we are celebrating the return of Jasper to the Arizona Trail. For... | By Phoenix Zoo | Facebook
On July 19th, the zoo announced that 8 helmeted guineafowl hatched, which are currently being hand-raised behind the scenes.
7K views · 298 reactions | Fresh out of the incubator We have 8 hand-reared guinea fowl chicks growing strong behind the scenes in our Avian Propagation Center. Once they are big enough, they will join the rest of the flock on the Savanna! | Phoenix Zoo
7K views · 298 reactions | Fresh out of the incubator We have 8 hand-reared guinea fowl chicks growing strong behind the scenes in our Avian Propagation Center. Once they are big enough, they will join the rest of the flock on the Savanna! | Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo is listed in Zootierliste for Varecia spec. along with both species of ruffed lemur. Is there a hybrid ruffed at the zoo?
Michael, the male Bornean orangutan, was recently diagnosed with apocrine carcinoma, which is cancer of the sweat glands. He’s the first orangutan ever to be documented with this disease. He’s had two surgeries so far to remove the mass, tissue, and receive injections for further detection, but seems to be handling it like a pro so far.
Phoenix Zoo orangutan, Michael, undergoes two surgeries for rare type of cancer
Phoenix Zoo orangutan, Michael, undergoes two surgeries for rare type of cancer
DJD Zoo Pals
Member
I visited the Phoenix Zoo over the weekend and there are a couple of changes I noticed, both from the most recent species list here on Zoochat as well as ZTL.
- Visayan warty pigs are absent from their pit style enclosure in the children's area. Instead, a young pair of Aldabra giant tortoises are present and signed.
- Also in the children's area there is an aviary containing a pair of hooded vultures and a juvenile palm nut vulture. Both species are signed. I'm unsure exactly what was in that aviary previously but it's right across from the king vultures, so they may be taking the place of Madagascar crested ibis (which I did not see, nor did I see them signed anywhere).
- Chacoan peccaries were absent from their enclosure, with an "animal temporarily off display" sign in their place. They are still signed, however.
- There is a herd of ~6 impala out on the Africa Trail Savannah. I'm fairly certain they are signed as well.
- The orangutans appear to be having some minor alterations to their outside facilities. Unsure exactly what sort but the two individuals I saw appeared to be limited to their indoor quarters.
I didn't get a chance to ask anyone about hybrid ruffed lemurs @Coelacanth18, and the animals themselves were also not particularly cooperative considering the heat. When an opportunity presents itself I'll try and get an answer.
-DJD
- Visayan warty pigs are absent from their pit style enclosure in the children's area. Instead, a young pair of Aldabra giant tortoises are present and signed.
- Also in the children's area there is an aviary containing a pair of hooded vultures and a juvenile palm nut vulture. Both species are signed. I'm unsure exactly what was in that aviary previously but it's right across from the king vultures, so they may be taking the place of Madagascar crested ibis (which I did not see, nor did I see them signed anywhere).
- Chacoan peccaries were absent from their enclosure, with an "animal temporarily off display" sign in their place. They are still signed, however.
- There is a herd of ~6 impala out on the Africa Trail Savannah. I'm fairly certain they are signed as well.
- The orangutans appear to be having some minor alterations to their outside facilities. Unsure exactly what sort but the two individuals I saw appeared to be limited to their indoor quarters.
I didn't get a chance to ask anyone about hybrid ruffed lemurs @Coelacanth18, and the animals themselves were also not particularly cooperative considering the heat. When an opportunity presents itself I'll try and get an answer.
-DJD
That's disappointing, there aren't a lot of zoos in the USA that hold them now.
DJD Zoo Pals
Member
A couple additional updates from another visit today:
- There seems to be some sort of trapping campaign going on with the zoo's black-tailed prairie dogs, as the exhibit that was bustling with 6 of them last weekend had only one today. Over the course of the day I also noticed first one, then a second live trap appear in the enclosure. I didn't get a chance to ask what was up, but it could very well just be they're being moved to make way for enclosure maintenance or renovations.
- Speaking of renovations, it seems like there is a good deal happening in and around the Arizona Trail aviary building. For starters, the Diversity in the Desert room has been closed for at least a week, so I expect something may be changing in there. Additionally, there is a small cinderblock structure taking shape near the Southeast door to the aviary building, right next to the current ferruginous pygmy owl enclosure. It looks like it's intended to be a new enclosure, and while I'm unsure what it may contain in the future construction seems to be progressing at a pretty good clip.
- A cool morning helped facilitate activity in the zoo's primates, allowing me to confirm that there are no hybrid ruffed lemurs present, answering Coelacanth's question. The zoo has two black-and-white ruffed lemurs and three red ruffed lemurs.
- Having a look at the most recent USDA inspection sheet (completed on July 21, 2025) confirms that Visayan warty pigs have indeed left the zoo but also suggests that Madagascar ibis still have a presence, with one listed individual. It's very possible I missed it in one of the many Tropical Flights aviaries, so I'll have to go back and scrutinize them more closely when I get a chance. Additionally, the USDA inspection sheet indicates there are three Kirk's dik-diks somewhere on the zoo's grounds. I suspect these are behind the scenes somewhere, as I don't have a clue how I could have missed them otherwise.
- Finally, while trying to figure out the names of the individual nyala bucks I saw today I ran into a bit of a puzzle. The zoo posted their names (Rye, Rusk and Biscuit) back when they acquired three of them back in 2021. However, they now only have two. I haven't been able to find any record of a death or transfer on the zoo's social media. Looking back at USDA inspection reports shows there were three nyala present in October 2024, but the most recent report lists only two, consistent with what I observed today. Does anyone know what happened to their third nyala? And which one it was?
-DJD
- There seems to be some sort of trapping campaign going on with the zoo's black-tailed prairie dogs, as the exhibit that was bustling with 6 of them last weekend had only one today. Over the course of the day I also noticed first one, then a second live trap appear in the enclosure. I didn't get a chance to ask what was up, but it could very well just be they're being moved to make way for enclosure maintenance or renovations.
- Speaking of renovations, it seems like there is a good deal happening in and around the Arizona Trail aviary building. For starters, the Diversity in the Desert room has been closed for at least a week, so I expect something may be changing in there. Additionally, there is a small cinderblock structure taking shape near the Southeast door to the aviary building, right next to the current ferruginous pygmy owl enclosure. It looks like it's intended to be a new enclosure, and while I'm unsure what it may contain in the future construction seems to be progressing at a pretty good clip.
- A cool morning helped facilitate activity in the zoo's primates, allowing me to confirm that there are no hybrid ruffed lemurs present, answering Coelacanth's question. The zoo has two black-and-white ruffed lemurs and three red ruffed lemurs.
- Having a look at the most recent USDA inspection sheet (completed on July 21, 2025) confirms that Visayan warty pigs have indeed left the zoo but also suggests that Madagascar ibis still have a presence, with one listed individual. It's very possible I missed it in one of the many Tropical Flights aviaries, so I'll have to go back and scrutinize them more closely when I get a chance. Additionally, the USDA inspection sheet indicates there are three Kirk's dik-diks somewhere on the zoo's grounds. I suspect these are behind the scenes somewhere, as I don't have a clue how I could have missed them otherwise.
- Finally, while trying to figure out the names of the individual nyala bucks I saw today I ran into a bit of a puzzle. The zoo posted their names (Rye, Rusk and Biscuit) back when they acquired three of them back in 2021. However, they now only have two. I haven't been able to find any record of a death or transfer on the zoo's social media. Looking back at USDA inspection reports shows there were three nyala present in October 2024, but the most recent report lists only two, consistent with what I observed today. Does anyone know what happened to their third nyala? And which one it was?
-DJD
DJD Zoo Pals
Member
I can finally upload images! Here's a picture I took this weekend of the in-progress exhibit construction going on near the Southeast door to the aviary building. The stone is new, as last weekend it was bare cinderblocks.
-DJD
-DJD
Interesting, those look like terrarium windows to me, the three smaller horizontal and two taller windows, similar to the snake area in the aviary.I can finally upload images! Here's a picture I took this weekend of the in-progress exhibit construction going on near the Southeast door to the aviary building. The stone is new, as last weekend it was bare cinderblocks.
-DJD
I can finally upload images! Here's a picture I took this weekend of the in-progress exhibit construction going on near the Southeast door to the aviary building. The stone is new, as last weekend it was bare cinderblocks.
-DJD
Per this article, this construction is for air-conditioned reptile terrariums due to even their native desert heat getting to be too much to bear for them. There’s more information detailing the process and findings.
https://kyma.com/news/arizona-news/...rotect-desert-wildlife-from-the-extreme-heat/
On September 18th, the zoo announced they installed new climbing structures in the orangutans' outdoor exhibits over the summer.
6.4K views · 328 reactions | Oooooh, this is nice!! The orangutan habitats received a big upgrade this summer! Rayma and Wgasa spent this week exploring every inch of the upgraded space, featuring more climbing structures, ropes and hammocks. Thank you to our operations team for making the upgrade possible! Michael and Bess will remain in the day room on the left side as Michael continues to heal from the surgery | Phoenix Zoo