It certainly seems that way, though more have left of late than I'd expect given they haven't even broken ground on the new site yet afaik.
Sacramento Zoo Sacramento Zoo News
- Thread starter BeardsleyZooFan
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It certainly seems that way, though more have left of late than I'd expect given they haven't even broken ground on the new site yet afaik.
As reported on the zoo's social media pages - a male Sumatran orangutan infant was born on May 1st to first-time parents, Makan and Indah. While Indah was showing appropriate maternal behaviors, she was having trouble nursing her infant so he is currently being handreared with the goal of eventually reintroducing him to Indah.
I believe this is the first great ape birth for Sacramento in at least 2 decades! Hopefully they're able to reintroduce the infant to Indah successfully when the time is right.
The Orangutan infant is healthy and doing well - reintroduction to Indah was attempted but she again did not provide adequate nursing and care and the decision was made to separate them again. Indah has been examined by the veterinary hospital and is confirmed to be in good health and recovering well, so this appears to just be a struggling new mother case.
It has been 4 decades. The last baby orangutan was born in the early 1980s.
There was a baby chimp born in the early 2000s, so that was the last great ape birth before now in Sacramento.
I saw that in a recent article about the young one, a long time indeed. Given the size of the exhibit and working towards moving locations I'm a bit surprised they're actually breeding the orangs personally. A healthy youngster is good publicity for the zoo though.
Assuming that the new zoo in Sacramento is happening and that it will not have any great apes as announced, it seems like the future of orangutans in Sacramento is limited.
When I was a kid, the current orang and chimp exhibits were wonderful improvements on what came before them, which were a truly barbaric 1940s cage for the chimps and a horrible grotto for the orangs. The gorilla had been sent to LA Zoo where he got to live with other gorillas. In the 21st century these exhibits are barely adequate. Hopefully the orangs will have a great new modern home in another zoo in the near future.
The site plan showed a new space for orangutans down the line I thought? So there'll at least be *a* great ape species at the new zoo.
There is a space for apes, but they are not in the phase one plan of the zoo. Beyond phase one everything becomes conjecture.
Member email today - the chimpanzees will be leaving shortly. The males are going to Kansas City and the females are going to a yet unnamed facility (though apparently the facility has had chimps for a long time and has a much larger exhibit than Sac.)
The White Rhino is a well-represented bull from SDZSP that apparently is going on a breeding break and should arrive before too long.
The White Rhino is a well-represented bull from SDZSP that apparently is going on a breeding break and should arrive before too long.
Blackleopard207
Well-Known Member
I’m guessing this is in preparation for the new zoo? It seems like they’re phasing out species pretty quick.
Yes, it is assumably. Sac has a smaller troop of chimps than recommended and rather than bring in more they've opted to send out the chimps was more how the email phrased it. As chimps are not present on the current plans for the new zoo I'm not too surprised by the move but I didn't expect it to be this early. They sure seem to be offloading species pretty steadily even though I don't believe ground has even been broken on the new site. If the chimps are leaving though, I'd like to see the orangs get to use that exhibit as well.
Sorry to disrupt the news thread, but is there a timeline for the closure of the current zoo and opening of the Elk Grove one? I am very likely to be in the area next year and be in the cities of Sacramento and Elk Grove both either way so it's not a huge difference but still curious to plan.
Thank you. I anticipated that answer but sometimes it really helps to have someone else clarify. Is the current location set to close before the new zoo is opened?
That I do not know - as far as I'm aware this project is still in the 'moving forward but not officially approved' stage. Things are still in the review and discussion process so although things are looking promising, no actual construction is happening yet. I do not expect we will hear dates re closing of the old zoo until the new project is fully authorized and under way.
The last projected date I saw for the opening of the new zoo is 2027. Almost certainly there will be a period before then when the old zoo closes so that animals can be moved to the new zoo. As Argus said, there is still no official announcement of construction timelines, and no dates announced yet for that transition period of the old zoo closing.
Other 2023 News:
On May 8th, the zoo announced they transferred their (0.1) aardvark named Padmae to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California.
Sacramento Zoo
On May 13th, it was reported that the zoo transferred a (1.0) jaguar to the San Francisco Zoo in California.
San Francisco Zoo receives jaguar from Sacramento
On June 1st, the zoo announced that a (1.0) lar gibbon named Ewell will be turning 50 years old in summer 2023.
Sacramento Zoo
On May 8th, the zoo announced they transferred their (0.1) aardvark named Padmae to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California.
Sacramento Zoo
On May 13th, it was reported that the zoo transferred a (1.0) jaguar to the San Francisco Zoo in California.
San Francisco Zoo receives jaguar from Sacramento
On June 1st, the zoo announced that a (1.0) lar gibbon named Ewell will be turning 50 years old in summer 2023.
Sacramento Zoo
