Sacramento Zoo Sacramento Zoo News

BenFoxster said:
Thanks for the feedback Argus, looks like I overestimated the zoo's layout and footprint.
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It's alright, their current map does not particularly convey their actual space very well for that sort of thing, in my opinion. Several areas that seem to show "green space" are actually full of bts space or other things. Hoofstock row backs up directly to Sutterville road, with only the access road between the barns and the fence. The okapis too also back up pretty tightly to the fence line.

BenFoxster said:
Guess I'll just wait to see what new masterplans the zoo is able to come up with, though it looks like it will be a struggle to keep both the lions and the orangutans; seems like the giraffes, zebras, red pandas, cheetahs, okapis, roos, emus, tortoises, and gators will be the easiest and most likely to stay. I'd rather they not lose either the orangs or the lions but it seems like they may have to choose between one or the other.
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Yeah we shall see. I have some ideas I'll share at some point this weekend.

BenFoxster said:
Maybe dedicate an acre of the zoo's land towars making a new entrance and parking lot?
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They need parking badly, but honestly I'm not sure where they'd effectively cut an acre of their own parcel that wouldn't be complicated with the existing roads and facilities.
 
Some thoughts on potential upgrades and/or changes to the existing site:

Mombasa Lagoon currently sits empty as the flamingos were moved due to avian flu. This is quite a chunk of empty space, and ideally I'd love to see them enclose it and move the flamingos back. There is enough space they could make it relatively similar to the conceptual one from the new zoo, and enclosing it would allow species like ibises and Inca Tern to be added.
If that is not the route the zoo wants to go, there might be enough space for a Pygmy Hippo. I say might due to the fact there is no existing housing or significant fencing, it would require a lot more effort than turning it into an aviary.

Moving the flamingos back to the lagoon opens up the old Chimpanzee dome, and facilitating the connection of it to the orangutan exhibit could double the space and climbing opportunities for the apes.

On big cat row, I believe the "center" exhibit is now empty, adding that to the lion's space would probably be beneficial.

African Birds - take out the old black metal rounds and instead put a modest walk-through aviary over that area. This would be considerably more visually appealing and gives the birds much more space. The turacos, red-billed hornbills, and lapwings should work fine, and a couple other species could potentially be added. A small sub-exhibit could house the owls.

Reptile house - there is a lot of unused space and the collection has gone rather generic. Merging some of the smaller exhibits to provide more adequate housing could allow more sizable species to return. A total revamp and modernization would be ideal, but a lot more costly and require shuttering the building entirely.

I find it difficult to consider significant changes to hoofstock row as it currently stands. The zoo has discontinued Ostrich with the zebras on a couple of occasions due to aggression concerns, and I'm not sure mixing the zebra is perhaps the best move. The Rhino exhibit was specially tailored to be Rhino proof and so he might as well stay. I do not feel the giraffe exhibit has the space to warrant the inclusion of another species, particularly due to lack of a holding barn for anything smaller with no real space to build one. I'm also not real sure the front of the exhibit is escape-proof in terms of smaller, more agile hoofstock. Any notable changes here would probably require one species to leave, which is not ideal from a megafauna standpoint.
 
Haliaeetus said:
Some Caribbean Flamingos have hatched.
SacramentoZoo on Instagram: "It's cuteness overload here at the Sacramento Zoo! It's been a little over a week since our baby flamingos hatched, and how quickly they grow! When Caribbean flamingos are fully grown, they can be up to 4 feet tall."
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They've had an interestingly high success rate breeding flamingos after moving them into an old chimpanzee dome. Wonder what the birds are finding satisfactory compared to their open air lake.
 
Piece of February / June 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On February 23rd, the zoo announced they built a new capybara exhibit next to the old exhibit, which is open to the public.

Sacramento Zoo

On June 18th, it was reported that the zoo extended their operating agreement with Sacramento City Council until June 2028, when a new contract is finalized and negotiated.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article308833830.html

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On September 3rd, the zoo announced their female (0.1) okapi named Kivuli is pregnant.

Sacramento Zoo
 
I’m surprised no was mentioned this yet, but it looks like Sacramento’s getting a new species, and an unlikely one at that… naked male rats!

SacramentoZoo on Instagram: "Something is coming to the Sacramento Zoo... From underground! Stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out what, or who, is burrowing into the zoo!"

A surprisingly good choice. I think this can be a very unusual but charismatic small animal, and it does seem that considering the zoo’s size focusing on small rarer species might be the best option for their future. I don’t think San Diego has naked mole rats so these might be the boy ones in Cali.
Also surprising considering that this species was never mentioned being part of the Elk Grove Zoo project’s master plan.
 
BenFoxster said:
I’m surprised no was mentioned this yet, but it looks like Sacramento’s getting a new species, and an unlikely one at that… naked male rats!

SacramentoZoo on Instagram: "Something is coming to the Sacramento Zoo... From underground! Stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out what, or who, is burrowing into the zoo!"

A surprisingly good choice. I think this can be a very unusual but charismatic small animal, and it does seem that considering the zoo’s size focusing on small rarer species might be the best option for their future. I don’t think San Diego has naked mole rats so these might be the boy ones in Cali.
Also surprising considering that this species was never mentioned being part of the Elk Grove Zoo project’s master plan.
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Interesting - wonder if they're going in the reptile house or if something new is going in for them. Agree it's a pretty solid choice.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
San Diego does have them, they are on the lower floor of Spineless Wonders. Living Desert Zoo also has them. These would be the only ones in Northern California though, I believe.
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Thanks for the confirmation, I just realized that on every trip to SD I don't think I ever realized there was a lower level in Spineless Wonders. Now I have something to look forward to next time I go. And I forgot Living Desert was in Cali, I always think its just out of the border.
 
Great Argus said:
Interesting - wonder if they're going in the reptile house or if something new is going in for them. Agree it's a pretty solid choice.
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I'm personally hoping they get a dedicated small building or faux cave for themselves. I'm still of the belief that the zoo should save up and eventually demolish the reptile house and start over from scratch. They could really give themselves a major spotlight attractiong by starting over and trying to make a smaller scale "MOLA" or "Slimey, Scaley, Spectacular" esque attraction. Having a lot of small species could also increase the duration of time guests spend at this smaller zoo.
 
BenFoxster said:
I'm personally hoping they get a dedicated small building or faux cave for themselves. I'm still of the belief that the zoo should save up and eventually demolish the reptile house and start over from scratch. They could really give themselves a major spotlight attractiong by starting over and trying to make a smaller scale "MOLA" or "Slimey, Scaley, Spectacular" esque attraction. Having a lot of small species could also increase the duration of time guests spend at this smaller zoo.
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There were plans to replace the reptile house with some kind of new building (in a different part of the zoo) before the Elk Grove plans happened. It was even funded by at one point. At this point it doesn't seem likely they could afford to tear it down and replace it, although I'm sure that is a long-term plan. The naked mole rats would almost certainly be in the reptile house - the zoo doesn't have any other indoor spaces.
 
DavidBrown said:
There were plans to replace the reptile house with some kind of new building (in a different part of the zoo) before the Elk Grove plans happened. It was even funded by at one point. At this point it doesn't seem likely they could afford to tear it down and replace it, although I'm sure that is a long-term plan. The naked mole rats would almost certainly be in the reptile house - the zoo doesn't have any other indoor spaces.
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Thanks Mr. Brown, yeah the funding to replace it with a new building was exactly what I was referencing. I hope they could bring the plans to replace it back, the sooner the better. But when they do they should wait until they have a concrete plan so that this building can serve as a long term investment that will stand the test of time and last won’t be outdated in a few decades.
 
Austin the Sengi said:
After the initial plans to relocate the zoo to Elk Grove fell through. It appears that the zoo is now proposing to the city for a longterm expansion of their existing location in Land Park by (potentially) acquiring two adjacent plots of unused land.

Sources: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article312211884.html; Zoo Update
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I wish them luck. Hope this can go through. The city is only going to have one zoo so might as well support it and make it as great as they can. They can make parks, parking lots, and stores anywhere they want
 
Austin the Sengi said:
After the initial plans to relocate the zoo to Elk Grove fell through. It appears that the zoo is now proposing to the city for a longterm expansion of their existing location in Land Park by (potentially) acquiring two adjacent plots of unused land.

Sources: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article312211884.html; Zoo Update
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Taking over the area with the pony rides was proposed in the 1988 master plan and the idea was discarded back then. That was before the area was vacant, so maybe it would work now. Everything old is new again.

In 1988 it was a proposed Australia area, a version of which the then-Sacramento Zoo director Steve Taylor did build in Cleveland when he moved to the Cleveland Zoo.
 
Austin the Sengi said:
After the initial plans to relocate the zoo to Elk Grove fell through. It appears that the zoo is now proposing to the city for a longterm expansion of their existing location in Land Park by (potentially) acquiring two adjacent plots of unused land.

Sources: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article312211884.html; Zoo Update
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Interesting, I wonder how jumping South Land Park Drive would work. That's the easiest access point for most attractions in the park so I find it hard to believe they'd take it out. Doing an overpass type situation seems awkward for the low acreage. Have to wait and see I guess.
 
Great Argus said:
Interesting, I wonder how jumping South Land Park Drive would work. That's the easiest access point for most attractions in the park so I find it hard to believe they'd take it out. Doing an overpass type situation seems awkward for the low acreage. Have to wait and see I guess.
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In the 1988 plan the proposed solution was to build a tunnel under the road. The logistical problem that you cite was part of why it was never pursued.
 
 
BenFoxster said:
The naked mole rats are officially here now. They are indeed located in the reptile house.

SacramentoZoo on Instagram: "We are so excited to reveal that naked mole-rats are officially here, for the first time in Sacramento Zoo history! This October 4th, stop by the zoo to take a look at one of nature's weirdest wonders in our reptile house! Our education department will be on site with fun kid's activities, including making your own tunnel, as well as handing out one-of-a-kind naked mole-rat trading cards, from 9 am to 2 pm. Learn about the complicated group relationships of these African rodents and their critical role in their native ecosystem this October 4th here at the Sacramento Zoo! We hope to see you there!"
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Wonder what size exhibit they took over - or what modifications were made. Nice to see another interesting species back in the reptile house though.
 
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