Saint Louis Zoo Saint Louis Zoo News 2018

Well...this was an absolutely incredible zoo. Got to see all of your recommendations, except the children's zoo (thanks to a violent thunderstorm.)

I'll follow up with more detailed thoughts, but the short version is that I think STL has the best attention to detail of any zoo I've been to. They mix a strong collection of unusual creatures with some of the best exhibits I've seen for more common species. Probably the best elephant exhibit I've been to, for instance, and the Sichuan takin exhibit could have just been a yard, but the rocks in the middle show off their climbing ability. Just great.

The penguin exhibit, though, was definitely the highlight. I wasn't sure why there was a line, or a sign on the door that said "Please don't touch the penguins," and then I quickly realized that it's because it's an open-air exhibit and the penguins are right there in front of your face. Really breathtaking, and one of my favorite exhibits now in any zoo.
 
Some more updates:

  • Many of the exhibits in the Aviary and the Bird Garden are being renovated. The small walk-through aviary in the Bird Garden isn't under construction yet, but workers were inside assessing things.
  • Many of the reptile exhibits were also being renovated.
  • No macaws on exhibit at River's Edge.
  • The restaurants will be Candy Crossing and Starbucks.
 
Hyak_II said:
Settle down here big chief, you asked this question three days ago to a zoo that doesn't seem to have a regular poster that also contributes to the post ;)
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jayjds2 said:
And with that attitude, you wonder why nobody does... it’s exactly why I didn’t.
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I wasn't trying to be rude, I though that statement was a little humorous. I have a weird scene of humor. Looks like Wyman thought it was funny...
 
birdsandbats said:
Thank you everyone for not answering! I can now confirm the answer is no.
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I haven't had much Internet access this past week so I missed your post. For everyone's future reference, the tuataras at Saint Louis have not been on exhibit for a long time, if ever.

I'm glad you still decided to visit though, as the Reptile House has many other notable species on display like Chitra indica, tomistoma, mountain chicken frog, Arakan forest turtle, an unusual species of PDF whose name escapes me, and many varieties of pitviper including the endangered Mangshan and Armenian.
 
Coelacanth18 said:
I haven't had much Internet access this past week so I missed your post. For everyone's future reference, the tuataras at Saint Louis have not been on exhibit for a long time, if ever.
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It’s the former of the two, as I remember them quite clearly (and have photographic proof) from when I was younger. I believe they were once in the exhibit that now holds Jamaican iguana. If not in that one, then in one of the very few that are similarly styles.

On a side note, does anyone know which species of Galápagos tortoise Saint Louis has?
 
Coelacanth18 said:
I haven't had much Internet access this past week so I missed your post. For everyone's future reference, the tuataras at Saint Louis have not been on exhibit for a long time, if ever.

I'm glad you still decided to visit though, as the Reptile House has many other notable species on display like Chitra indica, tomistoma, mountain chicken frog, Arakan forest turtle, an unusual species of PDF whose name escapes me, and many varieties of pitviper including the endangered Mangshan and Armenian.
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Was it Chitra indica? They were signed as Chitra chitra. Didn't see any Arakan Forest Turtles. One of the big enclosures in the middle was empty, was they where they were kept?

Also, earlier in this thread @jayjds2 mentioned Golden White-Eyes. I didn't see them (or a sign for them). Where were they kept?
 
birdsandbats said:
Was it Chitra indica? They were signed as Chitra chitra. Didn't see any Arakan Forest Turtles. One of the big enclosures in the middle was empty, was they where they were kept?

Also, earlier in this thread @jayjds2 mentioned Golden White-Eyes. I didn't see them (or a sign for them). Where were they kept?
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They were definitely listed as Chitra indica before, so that is strange. Maybe they were initially misidentified.

The Arakan forest turtles are actually not on display, my bad. Saint Louis does keep them behind the scenes, though.

If I remember correctly, the golden white-eyes are/were in the free-flight aviary located in the central atrium. They were signed at least two years ago.

For reference, this is my species list from July 2016, with a full list of species on display at the Reptile House: Species List for Saint Louis Zoo
 
jayjds2 said:
On a side note, does anyone know which species of Galápagos tortoise Saint Louis has?
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Are their giant tortoises for the most part not Aldabran / Seychelles tortoise, right?

Do they still hold a group (in the past they used to have up to 6 or 7 or just the one as I have been ..... reliably been informed) Galapagos tortoise or have they received more (newer) ones lately?
 
Coelacanth18 said:
If I remember correctly, the golden white-eyes are/were in the free-flight aviary located in the central atrium. They were signed at least two years ago.
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My visit to STL was over the course of two days. On the first day, that area had a giant net blocking the entrance with no explanation. I did see keepers around in the bird house, but I didn't ask about it since this was my first visit and I thought this was normal. The next day it wasn't. Sunbittern and Spur-Winged Plover were both signed and found. I also saw a pair of unsigned Ringed Teals. I am guessing the net was to help the Ringed Teals adjust to their new habitat.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Are their giant tortoises for the most part not Aldabran / Seychelles tortoise, right?

Do they still hold a group (in the past they used to have up to 6 or 7 or just the one as I have been ..... reliably been informed) Galapagos tortoise or have they received more (newer) ones lately?
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I’m not sure how many of each species they have, but they do have both Aldabran and Galapagos. I am curious which of the latter species Saint Louis has because Toledo’s C. darwini was first kept at STL (and before that, a private collection).
 
jayjds2 said:
I’m not sure how many of each species they have, but they do have both Aldabran and Galapagos. I am curious which of the latter species Saint Louis has because Toledo’s C. darwini was first kept at STL (and before that, a private collection).
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Nope, the individual you refer to was sent on B/L from St. Louis to San Diego and from there when it was found to be a C. darwini to Toledo Zoo (as being a non-breeder location) and no female representatives of the C. darwini in US collections available.

As I described they HAD 6-7 indidivuals in the past, but that group was disbanded and dispersed to other collections (and I do not know where 4-5 ended up). I believe the Toledo's zoo C. darwini was part of that group.
 
birdsandbats said:
Thank you everyone for not answering! I can now confirm the answer is no.

In other news, two restaurants are being added to the zoo.
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birdsandbats said:
Some more updates:

  • Many of the exhibits in the Aviary and the Bird Garden are being renovated. The small walk-through aviary in the Bird Garden isn't under construction yet, but workers were inside assessing things.
  • Many of the reptile exhibits were also being renovated.
  • No macaws on exhibit at River's Edge.
  • The restaurants will be Candy Crossing and Starbucks.
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The Starbucks is now open. This is the first Starbucks to ever be located inside a zoo:

St. Louis home to Starbucks' first zoo location
 
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