Saint Louis Zoo Saint Louis Zoo News 2023

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Updates from today's visit
-bullsnake is removed.
-Tamaulipan rock rattlesnake is temporarily off exhibit.
-Caspian cobra is back on exhibit in the same exhibit it last occupied.
-white throated ground dove has been added to the mix in the small walk in aviary.
 
Updates from around the zoo:
-The Bird Shows have started, at least with Spring Training sessions. It's a fun, but simple show.

-Giant Tortoises are back on exhibit.

-Chinese Alligators have returned.

-Gorillas are still in the introduction stage, so they are off-exhibit most of the time. Typically you only see one Gorilla outdoors when they are out
.
-The Giraffe Paddock now has Dama Gazelles mixed in with the giraffes, and two new giraffes have been introduced to the herd. It seems like we may have sent one of our old giraffes away.

-River's Edge continues to be a bit of a disappointment as of late. The area now is missing Andean Bear and Giant Anteater, as well as construction on the African Aviary and Red River Hog habitats. About once a walkthrough you overhear a guest asking "are there even any animals here?"
 
Forge said:
Updates from around the zoo:
-The Bird Shows have started, at least with Spring Training sessions. It's a fun, but simple show.

-Giant Tortoises are back on exhibit.

-Chinese Alligators have returned.

-Gorillas are still in the introduction stage, so they are off-exhibit most of the time. Typically you only see one Gorilla outdoors when they are out
.
-The Giraffe Paddock now has Dama Gazelles mixed in with the giraffes, and two new giraffes have been introduced to the herd. It seems like we may have sent one of our old giraffes away.

-River's Edge continues to be a bit of a disappointment as of late. The area now is missing Andean Bear and Giant Anteater, as well as construction on the African Aviary and Red River Hog habitats. About once a walkthrough you overhear a guest asking "are there even any animals here?"
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I wouldn't be surprised if Sukari (the giraffe) has passed away because she would now be twenty years old, and the life expectancy of a captive giraffe is about eighteen to twenty-seven years.
 
I have a few u*pdates from today's visit. This trip really just consisted of me photographing the baby prairie dogs and all the bird shows, so this list is nowhere near comprehensive.
-White-headed buffalo weaver is our of the Bird House and added to the small walk-in aviary.
-Tawny frogmouth back in exhibit across from elegant crested tinamou.
-Golden breasted starling removed from Bird House (used to share an exhibit with one of the buff-crested bustards).
-Both white-throated ground dove and Kenyan crested guineafowl are no longer in the Bird House but both species are present in other parts of the zoo.
 
I visited again today so I have a few more updates. It was the same deal as last visit where I really just photographed the baby prairie dogs and the bird shows the entire time but I did check the Herpetarium for changes.
-Bullsnake, Tamaulipan rock rattlesnake, Jamaican boa, and Mandarin rat snake have returned to their exhibits.
-Not really an update but more of a note about the bird show. Basically, the tawny eagle is not reliably viewable in the show. Out of the six total shows I saw on Friday and today, he was only in two. In the first show on Friday, he had a bit of problem with the grackles that live in the performance area and the trainers had some trouble bringing him back. He did make another appearance for the last show today and didn't seem to have any issues so hopefully he takes part in the shows more reliably from here on out. I just figured I would warn the people on here seeing how rare they are in captivity.
 
Updates from my recent visits:
-Bearded barbet has been removed from one of its exhibits (over in the corner next to where the Luzon bleeding-heart used to be).
-Rhinoceros hornbill has been moved next to the bateleur eagle in the Bird House, so the eagle only has access to the one exhibit now. Its honestly a small space for this species so I am really hoping its just a temporary situation. The larger exhibit on the other side of the central garden was still being used for this species, though.
-The "barbary" dove is now signed as ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola). Perhaps my identification was wrong, but this seemed to be a domesticated bird, which is why I assumed Barbary. I know it can be a little convoluted with this genus, and I don't claim to be an expert.
-There is a Bali Myna where white-headed buffalo weaver used to be in the Bird House.
-Eastern long-nosed viper has been added in the Herpetarium in a formerly vacant exhibit above rock rattlesnake.
-There are trumpeter swan cygnets in South Lake. The best place to view them is the dock-like structure between Caribbean Cove (the zoo's stingray touch tank) and Lakeside Café. It is used as a dining area so they are best viewed in the early morning or later evening.
-I noticed the white-naped cranes have eggs.
 
I’m new to the area so I apologize if this is old news, but it’s literally changed within my past two visits so:

There are now three Chacoan Peccaries in the old Red River Hog enclosure in River’s Edge.

(I know an arid South American animal does not really make sense for the theme of this area, and red river hogs are a little more charismatic, but I was pretty happy to see them. These are a very endangered species yet there are not many zoos who work with them, instead opting for the much more common Collared Peccary.)
 
SaritaWolf said:
I’m new to the area so I apologize if this is old news, but it’s literally changed within my past two visits so:

There are now three Chacoan Peccaries in the old Red River Hog enclosure in River’s Edge.

(I know an arid South American animal does not really make sense for the theme of this area, and red river hogs are a little more charismatic, but I was pretty happy to see them. These are a very endangered species yet there are not many zoos who work with them, instead opting for the much more common Collared Peccary.)
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...why not move them in the capybara area instead? Seems like a confusing move - unless it's temporary.
 
StoppableSan said:
...why not move them in the capybara area instead? Seems like a confusing move - unless it's temporary.
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I’m guessing that enclosure is the only one really fit for Suines? I don’t think it’s temporary as they already have the etched signs up for them.
 
Some Other 2023 News I Missed:

On March 23rd, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) eastern black rhino named Moyo to The Birmingham Zoo in Alabama.

The Birmingham Zoo is proud to announce the addition of two new Eastern black rhinoceros to your Zoo family. This announcement includes the official... | By The Birmingham Zoo - Facebook

On April 21st, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) toco toucan named Lucy to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky.

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On June 3rd, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (1.0) blue-and-gold macaw named Gilbert to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in Florida.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=642110021277988&set=a.557809683041356

SaritaWolf said:
I’m new to the area so I apologize if this is old news, but it’s literally changed within my past two visits so:

There are now three Chacoan Peccaries in the old Red River Hog enclosure in River’s Edge.

(I know an arid South American animal does not really make sense for the theme of this area, and red river hogs are a little more charismatic, but I was pretty happy to see them. These are a very endangered species yet there are not many zoos who work with them, instead opting for the much more common Collared Peccary.)
Click to expand...

On July 6th, the zoo announced the genders (3.0) and the names, Fen, Jebediah, and Tapo.

Saint Louis Zoo
 
I visited today for this first time in a while. To be honest its been really hot lately and its hard to find a good time to go. I love this place to death but its borderline intolerable at 90+ degrees. As always, I've got updates:
-All the greenhouse exhibits in the Herpetarium are unoccupied.
-Rio Pescado stubfoot toad is gone.
-Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake is back where it was last.
-Victoria crowned pigeons are nesting.
-Luzon bleeding-heart is back where it was last.
-Bearded barbet is back in the exhibit in the corner next to Luzon bleeding-heart.
-Congo peafowl is back and in the former horned guan exhibit by the Palawan peacock-pheasant.
-There is a horned guan where the indoor bateleur eagle exhibit was.
-The small-walk in aviary was closed. It seemed like there was a minor construction project going on.
-White-naped cranes continue nesting. The dad is very defensive towards visitors.
-There's now a Speke's gazelle in the mix with the lesser kudus and saddlebill storks.
-The burlap fence on the Sichuan takin/ central Chinese goral is finally gone.
 
I visited today for an event, so I didn't spend a long time on zoo grounds, but I did check the Herpetarium for updates. Everything's in the same place but there's some maintenance going on so a portion is barricaded. This blocks viewing for the following species: central African rock python, timber rattlesnake, Mount Bulgar viper, tokara habu, Chinese crocodile lizard, Mexican alligator lizard, giant Asian pond turtle, and alligator snapping turtle.
 
cloudedleopard611 said:
s. Everything's in the same place but there's some maintenance going on so a portion is barricaded. This blocks viewing for the following species: central African rock python, timber rattlesnake, Mount Bulgar viper, tokara habu, Chinese crocodile lizard, Mexican alligator lizard, giant Asian pond turtle, and alligator snapping turtle.
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I visited Monday and was wondering what I missed- thanks for this!

EDIT- Since I'm posting I might as well ask the the regulars of St. Louis, does the zoo still have gerenuk? I was expecting to see them, but didn't realize they were absent until after my visit. I also found the multiple yards of Somali Wild Asses to seem like that would be abnormal, is it possible this is a temporary arrangement that would lead species like gerenuk to be shortly off-exhibit?
 
ZooBinh said:
I visited Monday and was wondering what I missed- thanks for this!

EDIT- Since I'm posting I might as well ask the the regulars of St. Louis, does the zoo still have gerenuk? I was expecting to see them, but didn't realize they were absent until after my visit. I also found the multiple yards of Somali Wild Asses to seem like that would be abnormal, is it possible this is a temporary arrangement that would lead species like gerenuk to be shortly off-exhibit?
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The gerenuk has been gone for the better part of a year now. He was moved into a breeding situation at a different facility.

The St. Louis Zoo is very active in the Somali wild ass breeding program and houses both a breeding herd and an assortment of bachelors. They have always had multiple exhibits for them — females offspring, stud male, bachelors males, etc.
 
Kudu21 said:
The St. Louis Zoo is very active in the Somali wild ass breeding program and houses both a breeding herd and an assortment of bachelors. They have always had multiple exhibits for them — females offspring, stud male, bachelors males, etc.
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Wow- thanks for the information! That’s quite pleasing to hear, I was shocked to see so many, glad to see that they are actively involved in breeding this wonderful species.
 
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