Saint Louis Zoo Saint Louis Zoo News 2023

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I visited today, here are the changes I noticed:
-American flamingos are back on North Lake.
-I noticed keepers in the former Chinese alligator yard doing work. Its possible that this is in anticipation of a new resident. The zoo recently posted about this species on their Twitter, which makes me think it might be returning.
-Northern garter snake is no longer in the Herpetarium.
-One of the horned guan exhibits is now unoccupied (the one near the Palawan peacock pheasant).
-Eastern screech owl is off exhibit again.
-Edward's ("Vietnam") pheasant is back in two places. One is mixed with the laughing kookaburra Bird Garden Trail exhibit (an unsigned tawny frogmouth has also been added to this exhibit) and in the last exhibit on the Bird Garden Trail.
-The small walk-in aviary is closed but I saw a horned guan in there from the outside. It seems that the one that was in the Bird House is now here and they are giving it time to acclimate before it is opened to the public.
-Cattle egret, snowy egret, American white ibis, and roseate spoonbill are in the Cypress Swamp now.
-Soemmering's gazelle has been added to the giraffe mixed yard but lesser kudu has been removed. As of now, the only lesser kudus on exhibit are the females in the yard with saddlebill storks and Soemmering's gazelle by the Cypress swamp.
-the western lowland gorilla exhibit in Fragile Forest was blocked off. Signage indicated it is because they are introducing a new individual, probably Zachary.
-Not a change to the zoo but I did my audit for another species list that I hope to have up by early next month.
-I did Dinoroarus to document the species for the list but I also took photos in there. I will post the animal exhibits for sure but I am on the fence about posting other stuff like the animatronics, signage, and immersion elements. If anyone has strong feelings either way let me know because I do not want to spam the gallery with irrelevant photos.
 
I visited today, here are the changes I noticed:
-American flamingos are back on North Lake.
-I noticed keepers in the former Chinese alligator yard doing work. Its possible that this is in anticipation of a new resident. The zoo recently posted about this species on their Twitter, which makes me think it might be returning.
-Northern garter snake is no longer in the Herpetarium.
-One of the horned guan exhibits is now unoccupied (the one near the Palawan peacock pheasant).
-Eastern screech owl is off exhibit again.
-Edward's ("Vietnam") pheasant is back in two places. One is mixed with the laughing kookaburra Bird Garden Trail exhibit (an unsigned tawny frogmouth has also been added to this exhibit) and in the last exhibit on the Bird Garden Trail.
-The small walk-in aviary is closed but I saw a horned guan in there from the outside. It seems that the one that was in the Bird House is now here and they are giving it time to acclimate before it is opened to the public.
-Cattle egret, snowy egret, American white ibis, and roseate spoonbill are in the Cypress Swamp now.
-Soemmering's gazelle has been added to the giraffe mixed yard but lesser kudu has been removed. As of now, the only lesser kudus on exhibit are the females in the yard with saddlebill storks and Soemmering's gazelle by the Cypress swamp.
-the western lowland gorilla exhibit in Fragile Forest was blocked off. Signage indicated it is because they are introducing a new individual, probably Zachary.
-Not a change to the zoo but I did my audit for another species list that I hope to have up by early next month.
-I did Dinoroarus to document the species for the list but I also took photos in there. I will post the animal exhibits for sure but I am on the fence about posting other stuff like the animatronics, signage, and immersion elements. If anyone has strong feelings either way let me know because I do not want to spam the gallery with irrelevant photos.

When I'm uploading photos and there's a special exhibit like that, I include a few to give an idea but not all of them (unless it's just a few, like Squam Lakes had a thing with 5 animatronic insects).
 
I visited today and honestly not much has changed from my last visit. Regardless, here are the changes that I did notice:
-The Luzon bleeding-heart dove is no longer on exhibit
-The spotted thick-knee formerly mixed with the gopher tortoise is no longer in that exhibit, leaving only gopher tortoise
-Gray-winged trumpeter has been given to the adjacent exhibit that most recently held red-legged seriema
-The Soemmering's gazelles are no longer in the large hoofstock yard near Cypress Swamp with lesser kudu and saddlebill stork
 
Changes I noticed during my visit today:
-Somehow the Herpetarium has gone nearly two weeks without a single change.
-King vulture has moved in with red-billed magpie outside the Bird House, leaving their indoor exhibit vacant. Must have been a really recent change as the previous exhibit still had their feathers inside.
-The small walk-in aviary has reopened and there are tawny frogmouth chicks inside.
-there are unsigned Kenyan crested guineafowl in one of the exhibits on the Bird Garden Trail (the second to last). As of now, all the Bird Garden Trail exhibits are occupied.
 
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Changes I noticed today:
-There is now a western cottonmouth in the former eastern garter snake exhibit
-There is now a Rowley's palm pitviper replacing Fan-Si-Pan horned pitviper
-Congo peafowl is removed from the Bird House
-One of the unoccupied exhibits in the Bird House now houses tawny frogmouth
-There is a bearded barbet in the exhibit where the eastern screech owl used to be
-There are now red billed hornbills with the Kenyan crested guineafowl in on the Bird Garden Trail
 
Other 2023 News:

On March 11th, the zoo announced they acquired a (1.0) Amur tiger named Max and is now on exhibit in Big Cat Country.

Introducing Max! | Hello, Max! We are SO excited to introduce the newest Amur tiger to join Big Cat Country! Spoiler Alert! Max is a 10-year-old male Amur tiger that... | By Saint Louis Zoo | Facebook

On March 28th, the zoo announced they installed a new electric train which is now running to the public.

New All Electric Train named after Mary Meachum | All aboard the FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND electric train at the Zoo! This morning, a new locomotive joined the Emerson Zooline Railroad with a sustainable twist.... | By Saint Louis Zoo | Facebook

On April 4th, the zoo announced that they acquired (0.0.10) Antilles pinktoe tarantulas that were part of a US Fish & Wildlife confiscation.

This little pinktoe went wee, wee, wee all the way to the Saint Louis Zoo! | This little pinktoe went wee, wee, wee all the way to the Saint Louis Zoo! Recently, the Zoo saved 10 baby Antilles pinktoe tarantulas that were part... | By Saint Louis Zoo | Facebook

On April 25th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) Speke's gazelle named Dottie was born on February 17th and is now on exhibit.

Meet Speke's Gazelle Dottie! | Meet Dottie! Dottie is an endangered Speke’s gazelle calf. She was born on February 17, 2023, to mom Deidra Kay and dad Lando, who were both also born at... | By Saint Louis Zoo | Facebook

On May 1st, the zoo announced that it, alongside 3 European facilities, bred and released (0.0.~3,000) snails in the Partula genus into French Polynesia.

Saint Louis Zoo

On May 7th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) California sea lion named Ella from OdySea Aquarium in Arizona in November 2022 which is now on exhibit in Sea Lion Sound.

Saint Louis Zoo

On May 8th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) addax named Maximus was born on March 29th and is now on exhibit.

Meet Max the Addax | Let Max melt away your Monday mood! Addax calf Maximus was born to parents Amali and Bruce on Wednesday, March 29. The male calf is doing well and can be... | By Saint Louis Zoo | Facebook
 
Saint Louis just announced what they are doing with Discovery Corner!
The short of it is, they're calling it Destination Discovery, essentially overhauling the entire zone and having an overhead bridge akin to Primate Canopy Trails. There's some renderings in with the press release, along with the animal roster so far - Patagonian mara, alpaca, coati, Java finches, babydoll sheep, Tasmanian devils, Chilean flamingos, black-tailed prairie dogs and North American river otters are among the species highlighted in these plans.

Saint Louis Zoo | Saint Louis Zoo Unveils Name and Shares Plans for…

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Saint Louis just announced what they are doing with Discovery Corner!
The short of it is, they're calling it Destination Discovery, essentially overhauling the entire zone and having an overhead bridge akin to Primate Canopy Trails. There's some renderings in with the press release, along with the animal roster so far - Patagonian mara, alpaca, coati, Java finches, babydoll sheep, Tasmanian devils, Chilean flamingos, black-tailed prairie dogs and North American river otters are among the species highlighted in these plans.

Saint Louis Zoo | Saint Louis Zoo Unveils Name and Shares Plans for…

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Coati-habitat-Destination-Discovery_artist-rendering-Saint-Louis-Zoo.jpg

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I have to say, I'm quite happy with these plans. The old Discovery Corner, (Before they turned it into the current robotic dinosaur setup) while not terrible, was probably the weakest part of the zoo. While I did like the otter enclosure and thought the small building for tropical fish and tree kangaroos had its charm, I think this sort of revamp is exactly what STLZoo needs.
It is good to see that they reversed their initial judgment about discovery corner/family-friendly type setups, they are great places to keep screaming children occupied and away from the rest of the zoo ;)
I'm also very happy Tasmanian Devils remain in the long-term plan. The only question is if this area will remain an upcharge, or if it will now be included with the free admission.
 
Saint Louis just announced what they are doing with Discovery Corner!
The short of it is, they're calling it Destination Discovery, essentially overhauling the entire zone and having an overhead bridge akin to Primate Canopy Trails. There's some renderings in with the press release, along with the animal roster so far - Patagonian mara, alpaca, coati, Java finches, babydoll sheep, Tasmanian devils, Chilean flamingos, black-tailed prairie dogs and North American river otters are among the species highlighted in these plans.

Saint Louis Zoo | Saint Louis Zoo Unveils Name and Shares Plans for…

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I heard details about this project a few months ago and really liked what the zoo appears to be going for. Looks like a lot of new ideas design wise with the overhead otter slides, a Java finch feeding aviary (finally something other than lorikeets), and a walkthrough mara/guanaco enclosure. Also nice to hear Tasmanian devils will be returning which is probably the most interesting part of the development. It all looks really promising, lots creativity and many species which will be new to the collection.
 
The only question is if this area will remain an upcharge, or if it will now be included with the free admission.
Looking again, I think this is less than a question than I would've liked.
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Admission
Admission costs and other details for Destination Discovery will be available later. Zoo members may use their member benefits for free admission and Destination Discovery will be included in the Adventure Pass.

It definitely still looks to be an upcharge, which is fine, but it also means many visitors likely won't end up experiencing it.
 

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Java Sparrows are rare species (from a US perspective), so to see them being included in a feeding aviary is very cool. Same with Guanacos.
I’m surprised if this ever gets a pass since per the Lacey Act this species is invasive (albeit primarily in Hawaii, but we all know how superstitious bureaucrats could get)
 
I’m surprised if this ever gets a pass since per the Lacey Act this species is invasive (albeit primarily in Hawaii, but we all know how superstitious bureaucrats could get)
Zoos can get past the Lacey Act. Any zoo with Meerkats is an exception, for example.
 
Zoos can get past the Lacey Act. Any zoo with Meerkats is an exception, for example.
Im not surprised by the fact that the zoo is getting them. I am surprised by the fact that they are placing these birds into a walkthrough aviary. I am sure the enclosure is secure enough for the government to accept the acquisition of these birds. But when it’s a walkthrough which involves visitors coming in and out I see it as a liability. Not that I think these birds could survive St. Louis or anything.
 
Saint Louis just announced what they are doing with Discovery Corner!
The short of it is, they're calling it Destination Discovery, essentially overhauling the entire zone and having an overhead bridge akin to Primate Canopy Trails. There's some renderings in with the press release, along with the animal roster so far - Patagonian mara, alpaca, coati, Java finches, babydoll sheep, Tasmanian devils, Chilean flamingos, black-tailed prairie dogs and North American river otters are among the species highlighted in these plans.

Saint Louis Zoo | Saint Louis Zoo Unveils Name and Shares Plans for…

Animals-And-Us-at-Destination-Discovery_artist-rendering-Saint-Louis-Zoo.jpg

Coati-habitat-Destination-Discovery_artist-rendering-Saint-Louis-Zoo.jpg

Java-finch-aviary-Destination-Discovery_artist-rendering-Saint-Louis-Zoo.jpg

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Really glad they decided to go down this route and use this space for animals once again! Quite pleasantly surprised about the Tasmanian Devils, as the population isn't doing so great at the moment. Most U.S zoos are down to just 1-2 individuals, so I wonder if Saint Louis will be considering importing.
 
I'm interested myself in the graphic of the free-roaming guanaco ...
I assume no breeding?
Or maybe the breeding pair/animals are in a separate paddock elsewhere
 
Just checking, are we sure about the guanaco? I know that's what is in the picture, but the Facebook post says cavy will be mixed with alpaca - which makes sense, not only for safety reasons, but because there really aren't that many guanaco in AZA these days. I think this may have been a clipart mix-up.

Although there is one zoo that I know of that had free-roaming guanaco... but that was in the 70s, when the zoo motto was "anything goes"
 
Just checking, are we sure about the guanaco? I know that's what is in the picture, but the Facebook post says cavy will be mixed with alpaca - which makes sense,

I'd guess people saw the picture included in the post, and either skimmed through the article quickly or didn't even read it, because it clearly says the mix would be mara/alpaca, as does the zoo director during his remarks in the video. From what I can find guanacos are never mentioned anywhere.
 
I'd guess people saw the picture included in the post, and either skimmed through the article quickly or didn't even read it, because it clearly says the mix would be mara/alpaca, as does the zoo director during his remarks in the video. From what I can find guanacos are never mentioned anywhere.
I’m kind of excited about that Patagonian mara exhibit. And that otter exhibit kind of reminds me of Akron’s Grizzly Ridge. Plus, I’m really glad Tasmanian devils are coming to the zoo.
 
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