Saint Louis Zoo Saint Louis Zoo News 2023

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CMP said:
I felt the same way my latest visit to the zoo. It is not as good as it used to be.
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It's such a shame because I feel like, with a small renovations, it could be so impressive. It's very rare for a city zoo to have such an immersive outdoor area. (Bronx's Congo and Lincoln Park's African Journey come to mind, but as I understand, decent amounts of those are indoor).

I love the classic parts of the zoo, but River's Edge has always been my favorite.
 
I always thought River's Edge intriguing and it sounded like a really unique exhibit - not the standard zoo biome habitat but not a taxonomic house - and quite looked foreard to it. I think in my visit, the African painted dogs, Hippopotamus and Spotted hyena were the only exhibits where I was able to really appreciate the animals, and the Sun Bear may count for its reclusive nature. Me trying to avoid the rain did not help a lot, but it felt like a lot of the animals were inactive or very distant and there were three no-shows plus the andean bear situation... the exhibitry was top notch, of course, though. The loss of bush dog and andean bear has obviously put a dent into it though, and the pig situation is a bit confusing. I won't blame the zoo for the cheetah/mongoose exhibit, I think I was just there on the wrong day for that one.

I feel like this sounds so negative -- but I really, really appreciate that Saint Louis has maintained and updated River's Edge over the years by adding new animals to it, rather than scrapping and starting over, and I hope they continue this. Would love to see what takes the Andean bear exhibit and any future changes.
 
JVM said:
I always thought River's Edge intriguing and it sounded like a really unique exhibit - not the standard zoo biome habitat but not a taxonomic house - and quite looked foreard to it. I think in my visit, the African painted dogs, Hippopotamus and Spotted hyena were the only exhibits where I was able to really appreciate the animals, and the Sun Bear may count for its reclusive nature. Me trying to avoid the rain did not help a lot, but it felt like a lot of the animals were inactive or very distant and there were three no-shows plus the andean bear situation... the exhibitry was top notch, of course, though. The loss of bush dog and andean bear has obviously put a dent into it though, and the pig situation is a bit confusing. I won't blame the zoo for the cheetah/mongoose exhibit, I think I was just there on the wrong day for that one.

I feel like this sounds so negative -- but I really, really appreciate that Saint Louis has maintained and updated River's Edge over the years by adding new animals to it, rather than scrapping and starting over, and I hope they continue this. Would love to see what takes the Andean bear exhibit and any future changes.
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I've often thought about what it would take to "update" River's Edge. With minimal changes, what would people consider to be an improvement? Here's some thoughts I've had over the course of the past year or so:

1) Improving South America is a must. It has experienced the biggest amount of loss thus far, even with things many may not even remember. There used to be Macaws on the right as you entered in! I think that a small aviary or two along the path to the Andean Bear habitat would be a huge improvement, as it's quite a long walk without animals from the start. I think also that if the Andean Bear is not viable any longer, moving the Jaguars into the habitat would be an excellent alternative. If Bush Dogs are out of the question to return, I'd probably combine the current anteater and capybara habitat. Perhaps a South American Tapir combined with the Capybaras would be a cool addition to the area.
2) Africa could stay the same and I would have no issues.
3) With Sun Bears apparently as a Phase Out species, and Rimba being old, I would suggest two alternative ways to use that habitat: Clouded Leopards, or a mixed species exhibit between small-clawed otters and gibbons/siamangs. Logistically, the clouded leopard would likely be easier, but gibbons are one of the few animals I feel the zoo is missing on a whole.
4) In the Missouri area, I think it would be a really great idea to add some sort of animal there, like a beaver. There is the space back there, they just do not use it and I think it's a missed opportunity.
 
Forge said:
3) With Sun Bears apparently as a Phase Out species, and Rimba being old, I would suggest two alternative ways to use that habitat: Clouded Leopards, or a mixed species exhibit between small-clawed otters and gibbons/siamangs. Logistically, the clouded leopard would likely be easier, but gibbons are one of the few animals I feel the zoo is missing on a whole.
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Considering the enclosure has that small pool with underwater viewing, I always thought fishing cat would be the ideal replacement for when the sun bear passes.

I just saw Rivers Edge for the first time last year and I didn't notice a decline at the level that's being discussed here. Yes the Andean bear exhibit is currently empty, but that's only a temporary circumstance. I get why some people might be upset about the peccaries, but the exhibit is already such a geographical melting pot that it's hard for me to be that up in arms about it. Otherwise the complex as whole seems just as good now as it's always been. I also see the removal of the macaws-on-a-stick as an improvement if anything, certainly not a loss.
 
Forge said:
I've often thought about what it would take to "update" River's Edge. With minimal changes, what would people consider to be an improvement? Here's some thoughts I've had over the course of the past year or so:

1) Improving South America is a must. It has experienced the biggest amount of loss thus far, even with things many may not even remember. There used to be Macaws on the right as you entered in! I think that a small aviary or two along the path to the Andean Bear habitat would be a huge improvement, as it's quite a long walk without animals from the start. I think also that if the Andean Bear is not viable any longer, moving the Jaguars into the habitat would be an excellent alternative. If Bush Dogs are out of the question to return, I'd probably combine the current anteater and capybara habitat. Perhaps a South American Tapir combined with the Capybaras would be a cool addition to the area.
2) Africa could stay the same and I would have no issues.
3) With Sun Bears apparently as a Phase Out species, and Rimba being old, I would suggest two alternative ways to use that habitat: Clouded Leopards, or a mixed species exhibit between small-clawed otters and gibbons/siamangs. Logistically, the clouded leopard would likely be easier, but gibbons are one of the few animals I feel the zoo is missing on a whole.
4) In the Missouri area, I think it would be a really great idea to add some sort of animal there, like a beaver. There is the space back there, they just do not use it and I think it's a missed opportunity.
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To be honest the first thing I thought of when the Andean bear exhibit became vacant is that it would work very well for jaguars with maybe a couple small modifications. What stood out to me as being especially good about it is that it would give them a chance to show their arboreal side, as jaguars are proficient climbers, something we do not really get to see with the current exhibit. It does beg the question, of course, of what would be done with the current jaguar exhibit. I feel like since they do have two tigers that are rotated and not exhibited together, maybe put one on either side. It might seem a bit repetitive but it could honestly be a good thing because the tigers are one of those animals that is a bit unreliable. You can normally see it in some capacity, but you don't typically get a good view. Its unfortunate because tigers are one of those species that your average zoo visitor would want to see. With two tiger exhibits instead of one people would make you twice as likely to get a good view.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Considering the enclosure has that small pool with underwater viewing, I always thought fishing cat would be the ideal replacement for when the sun bear passes.

I just saw Rivers Edge for the first time last year and I didn't notice a decline at the level that's being discussed here. Yes the Andean bear exhibit is currently empty, but that's only a temporary circumstance. I get why some people might be upset about the peccaries, but the exhibit is already such a geographical melting pot that it's hard for me to be that up in arms about it. Otherwise the complex as whole seems just as good now as it's always been. I also see the removal of the macaws-on-a-stick as an improvement if anything, certainly not a loss.
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I only poked in because others were discussing it, as I overall found it a great complex in spite of the weather when I reached it, but I think the loss of bush dog and Andean bear, combined with the giant anteater recently being off-display for exhibit improvements (and feared deceased) was the main cause of worry. The South America section has gone from five species to sometimes only one, leaving a major part of the exhibit feeling empty. It's very understandable why the macaws on sticks have moved, at least!

Is it possible they can retrofit the Andean bear exhibit in the future and bring the species back? I'd also like to see bush dog back - there's hope for that, especially since Miller Park has an interest in the species as well.
 
I forgot to post my updates from my visit yesterday. It was honestly relatively uneventful, not much had changed since I was there last.
-The giant tortoises have moved back inside.
-There is more detail in the mural for the former hybrid rattlesnake exhibit. On the left side, there is a painting of a fallen log overgrown with vegetation and with visible roots. It looks pretty different than the rest of the painting. It makes me think that they might split the exhibit into two smaller ones. There is a little bit of blank space between the two sides which could be painted into to merge the two settings together though. There are still painting materials out which indicates it is still actively being worked on. Either way, both sides are looking great and have a really nice level of detail.
-The large rhinoceros hornbill exhibit is under renovation.
 
Visited for the first time in a while today. It was mostly a nice visit. More crowded and sunny than I would have preferred, but it was nice being able to photograph the animals in the backdrop of fall foliage.
-A lot has changed in the Herpetarium. Unfortunately, a lot has been taken off exhibit. Fortunately, none of these are rare species:
-Central African rock python has been moved from its former exhibit into the lower floor section to replace the Madagascar ground boa. The former exhibit is still in tact.
-Mexican beaded lizard is gone, exhibit still in tact.
-Mexican lacehead rattlesnake gone, exhibit still in tact.
-New Caledonian giant gecko gone, exhibit partially deconstructed.
-There is now a large and heavily detailed fake tree in between the two sides of the backdrop mural in the former hybrid rattlesnake exhibit. It seems to be depicting a forest floor scene, so my initial guess of an arboreal species isn't holding up. Its honestly probably the most visually impressive exhibit in the whole building and even without an animal inside its still interesting to look at from an artistic perspective.
-There is some kind of unsigned tree frog on exhibit with western bearded anole. I only saw its back, so I don't have much to work with in terms of ID. It was rather chunky, seafoam green in color, with darker bumps on its skin and subtle striping on the legs.
-There are now river rocks in one half of the former emerald tree boa exhibit
-All Andean bear signage has been taken out of the viewing shelter for the species' former exhibit. This basically confirms what many of us had already suspected, that the species will not be returning.
-The second to last aviary on the Bird Garden Trail is unoccupied and covered by a curtain, for some reason.
-The horned guan in the small exhibit has moved down to another small exhibit, across from the bearded barbet exhibit.
-The rhinoceros hornbills are both in the large exhibit, leaving the small exhibit unoccupied.
- Spotted thick knee is back with the gopher tortoise.
-There are Kenyan crested guineafowl in the mixed exhibit with red and yellow barbet and Bali myna.
-Crested wood partridges have moved in with the superb starlings in what was their solo exhibit.
 
This is devastating news. She was one of my favorites. I wonder if the zoo will be looking for new elephants for the herd, or if they will try breeding again.
 
The loss of Rani and Donna in such a short amount of time must be a big blow for the elephant department. What a shame.
 
I had a day off today, so in very predictable fashion I picked the zoo for how I wanted to spend it. Not a lot had changed since my last visit, but I did notice a couple things:
-There are now "renovation in progress" signs in front of the covered greenhouse exhibits.
-I noticed there were workers inside the former Andean bear exhibit. Maybe this is related to repurposing.
-There is an American crow (presumably, could potentially be a fish or carrion crow as I am not an expert with corvids) visible from the back of the curtain-covered exhibit on the Bird Garden Trail.
-The central Chinese gorals were very interactive with one another today. Lots of chasing, sniffing, and a bit of head-butting. Its not exactly affectionate but its a significant change from the last time I saw them in the same space, where they merely existed alongside but independently of one another.
 
Went back for this first time in a while today. It was certainly good to be back. I appreciated the lighter crowds that come with the off-season. As always, here are the updates:
-The former hybrid rattlesnake exhibit has been finished and now occupied by Central American bushmaster. It was a bit disappointing that we didn't get a new or returning species but its still an impressive exhibit nonetheless.
-The previous central American bushmaster exhibit still has the species but the signage is replaced by the makeshift signage (piece of printer paper with common and scientific name), while the previously mentioned exhibit has the more typical style of signage.
-There is some kind of unsigned lizard on exhibit with the Smallwood's anole. I uploaded the photo for ID and it appears to be Hispaniolan giant galliwasp.
-One half (the part furthest from the viewer) of the former emerald tree boa exhibit is raised. Its probably going to be some kind of half water half land situation, so the animal moving in will likely be a semi-aquatic species.
-The east African crowned cranes moved back in with the okapi.
-The American crow exhibit is no longer curtain covered and is now signed.
-King vulture and bateleur eagle have moved back inside the Bird House. Both have been replaced by laughing kookaburra.
-Laughing kookaburra has been removed from the mix in the second Bird Garden Trail exhibit. The only species signed there right now is Edward's pheasant (as Vietnam pheasant) but the only one I saw was the unsigned tawny frogmouth.
-Gray-winged trumpeters now occupy 3 adjacent exhibits
-King vulture has moved next to elegant crested tinamou
-Edward's pheasant has been removed from the last Bird Garden Trail exhibit. It appears they have moved in with the bearded barbets next to the Luzon bleeding-hearts.
-It appears there is a new Luzon bleeding-heart, as the wires are covered in orange flags.
-The central Chinese gorals continue to be interactive with one another. I witnessed a lot of courtship behavior so fingers crossed it leads to something.
 
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IndianRhino said:
3 Amur tiger cubs were born November 13th to parents, Maxim and Reka!!

Three Amur Tiger Cubs Born | Saint Louis Zoo
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This is wonderful news! Not too surprised, though, as I would often hear one of the tigers vocalizing backstage while the other was on exhibit. Really excited this worked out. I’ve been regularly attending the zoo since before either of them arrived, and was hoping for this to happen! Wondering how quickly the public will get to see these babies!
 
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