Saint Louis Zoo Saint Louis Zoo news 2024

[Smaggledagle]

Other July 2024 News Worth Mentioning:

On July 13th, the zoo announced they renovated the Humboldt penguin exhibit (which includes a few new raised areas and new surfacing) which is now open to the public.

Saint Louis Zoo penguins see renovated habitat for the first time | Watch our resident Humboldt penguins see their renovated habitat for the first time This spring, the outdoor space at Penguin and Puffin Coast was... | By Saint Louis ZooFacebook

On July 26th, the zoo opened a new exhibit for South American sea nettles in the Bayer Insectarium to the public.

Saint Louis Zoo

On July 27th, the zoo announced that a Palawan peacock pheasant hatched which is currently being hand-reared.

17K views · 477 reactions | Nutrition Saint Louis Zoo keepers On this final day of #NationalZooKeeperWeek, we're highlighting all the work keepers do that the public doesn't often get to see like making sure each animal gets the proper diet and medication! Watch along as a keeper Mel Miller makes some plates for several species in the Bird Garden. You can see the meals involve many components and get sprinkled with supplements that are important for our birds' health! Next, keeper Taylor Woods makes a "chick plate" for a Palawan peacock pheasant chick that keepers are hand-rearing. She cuts up fruit in very small pieces and also squashes live mealworms before feeding them to the chick. The chick will get this meal 3 times a day. As the little bird gets bigger, keepers will no longer have to chop the food so small. At Penguin & Puffin Coast, penguins receive a varied diet with sustainably caught capelin, smelt, herring and mackerel. Watch as keeper Sam Rekart makes sure each penguin receives a vitamin in their fish. Other birds may receive vitamins sprinkled on food. This helps ensure the birds thrive! In our Quarantine area, keepers like Mallory Carmean (pictured) often have the task of getting animals used to new diets. When an animal first arrives at the Zoo, they spend time in quarantine separate from the Zoo’s other animal residents to prevent spread of any diseases and give new arrivals time to adjust. Quarantine keepers often need to get all types of species accustomed to diets that vary slightly from what they're used to such as different brands and types of food, different amounts, and (for many species) different hay as most hay is locally sourced. Feeding 16,000 animals here is no easy task and we couldn't do it without a lot of dedicated people! #NationalZooKeeperWeek #NZKW24 | Saint Louis Zoo | Louis Prima · Che La Luna

 

[pachyderm pro]

Today was the groundbreaking for Destination Discovery, the new children's zoo slated to open in 2026. Here's a PDF complete with more than a dozen new renderings of the complex: https://stlzoo.tndc8ws007.techienet.../2024/06/Photos-for-Destination-Discovery.pdf

Saint Louis Zoo on Instagram: "Today, the Zoo broke ground on the Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery with the help of some families involved in Family Engagement Sessions, a series of engagements over the course of two years influencing the messaging, design and experiences for Destination Discovery. We’re on pace with our target public opening of 2026 and we look forward to sharing more updates as they’re available on the new experience for children and families at the former site of Emerson Dinoroarus and Emerson Children’s Zoo. Michael Macek, Saint Louis Zoo Director and Amanda Bender, Fred Saigh Curator of Destination Discovery, thanked the special guests for their thoughts and contributions during the creation of Destination Discovery."

 

[birdsandbats]

Today was the groundbreaking for Destination Discovery, the new children's zoo slated to open in 2026. Here's a PDF complete with more than a dozen new renderings of the complex: https://stlzoo.tndc8ws007.techienet.../2024/06/Photos-for-Destination-Discovery.pdf

Saint Louis Zoo on Instagram: "Today, the Zoo broke ground on the Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery with the help of some families involved in Family Engagement Sessions, a series of engagements over the course of two years influencing the messaging, design and experiences for Destination Discovery. We’re on pace with our target public opening of 2026 and we look forward to sharing more updates as they’re available on the new experience for children and families at the former site of Emerson Dinoroarus and Emerson Children’s Zoo. Michael Macek, Saint Louis Zoo Director and Amanda Bender, Fred Saigh Curator of Destination Discovery, thanked the special guests for their thoughts and contributions during the creation of Destination Discovery."

Really glad to see they are making a children's zoo area, despite earlier comments from zoo spokespeople in the past saying that this would never happen.

 

[DavidBrown]

Today was the groundbreaking for Destination Discovery, the new children's zoo slated to open in 2026. Here's a PDF complete with more than a dozen new renderings of the complex:

If I read the graphics correctly it looks like the new children's zoo will feature flamingoes, maras, Tasmanian devils, NA river otters, sheep, and prairie dogs. Am I missing anything? Are any of these new species that were not at the zoo previously?

 

[birdsandbats]

If I read the graphics correctly it looks like the new children's zoo will feature flamingoes, maras, Tasmanian devils, NA river otters, sheep, and prairie dogs. Am I missing anything? Are any of these new species that were not at the zoo previously?

The cavies and sheep are new species. IIRC the otters have been bts for a few years since the old Children's Zoo closed.

 

[USZOOfan42]

Today was the groundbreaking for Destination Discovery, the new children's zoo slated to open in 2026. Here's a PDF complete with more than a dozen new renderings of the complex: https://stlzoo.tndc8ws007.techienet.../2024/06/Photos-for-Destination-Discovery.pdf

Saint Louis Zoo on Instagram: "Today, the Zoo broke ground on the Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery with the help of some families involved in Family Engagement Sessions, a series of engagements over the course of two years influencing the messaging, design and experiences for Destination Discovery. We’re on pace with our target public opening of 2026 and we look forward to sharing more updates as they’re available on the new experience for children and families at the former site of Emerson Dinoroarus and Emerson Children’s Zoo. Michael Macek, Saint Louis Zoo Director and Amanda Bender, Fred Saigh Curator of Destination Discovery, thanked the special guests for their thoughts and contributions during the creation of Destination Discovery."

Looks like it’s going to be impressive! Is is quite ofd Detroit Zoo has not even announced there is a children’s zoo being built but saint louis is announcing the whole plan before construction.

 

[USZOOfan42]

It’s a real shame that echidnas or tree kangaroos aren’t included, it was my personal favorite habitat at the zoo. The meerkats were also a very fun habitat to watch.

 

[pachyderm pro]

Something of note is that there is no mention of the llama walkthrough or the Java finch feeder aviary which were both discussed when the project was first announced. I wonder if those plans have been dropped.

 

[JVM]

Really glad to see they are making a children's zoo area, despite earlier comments from zoo spokespeople in the past saying that this would never happen.

Yeah, it was very surprising when that was the story. Makes you wonder if something was going on behind the scenes, maybe a different concept that didn't work out.

It’s a real shame that echidnas or tree kangaroos aren’t included, it was my personal favorite habitat at the zoo. The meerkats were also a very fun habitat to watch.

I'd throw in the loss of Fennec foxes, too. My visit to Saint Louis one of the only negatives was that the zoo has very few small mammal displays (though there are a few) and it's clear the Children's Area was the hub for these sorts of species. A new meerkat exhibit could honestly be added relatively easily anywhere in the zoo and if the Savanna development comes to pass down the line we could easily see them return there. Shame they don't have space for even a smaller new Australia exhibit, especially as echidna and tree kangaroo don't seem to be very demanding species.

Something of note is that there is no mention of the llama walkthrough or the Java finch feeder aviary which were both discussed when the project was first announced. I wonder if those plans have been dropped.

It's very possible, but I hope not. Those were both among the cooler ideas they had and it would be great to see more variety in feeder aviaries. If the plans were scrapped I hope it was for serious reasons and not a lack of funds.

 

[Daktari JG]

What are the plans for the current location of the prairie dogs? That is without question the oldest
exhibit there

 

[birdsandbats]

Something of note is that there is no mention of the llama walkthrough or the Java finch feeder aviary which were both discussed when the project was first announced. I wonder if those plans have been dropped.

I'm not surprised the Java Sparrows were dropped, considering how difficult they can be to obtain.

 

[CMP]

Today was the groundbreaking for Destination Discovery, the new children's zoo slated to open in 2026. Here's a PDF complete with more than a dozen new renderings of the complex: https://stlzoo.tndc8ws007.techienet.../2024/06/Photos-for-Destination-Discovery.pdf

Saint Louis Zoo on Instagram: "Today, the Zoo broke ground on the Henry A. Jubel Foundation Destination Discovery with the help of some families involved in Family Engagement Sessions, a series of engagements over the course of two years influencing the messaging, design and experiences for Destination Discovery. We’re on pace with our target public opening of 2026 and we look forward to sharing more updates as they’re available on the new experience for children and families at the former site of Emerson Dinoroarus and Emerson Children’s Zoo. Michael Macek, Saint Louis Zoo Director and Amanda Bender, Fred Saigh Curator of Destination Discovery, thanked the special guests for their thoughts and contributions during the creation of Destination Discovery."

Seems somewhat inspired by SDZ's Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, superficially similar to what they did with Primate Canopy Trails. I quite like design style; it feels modern and exciting. Overall, a nice revamp and although it would be great to have another small animal building, I'm just happy the Tasmanian Devils will be back.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I'm not surprised the Java Sparrows were dropped, considering how difficult they can be to obtain.

Huh, really ... Why exactly?

 

[PossumRoach]

Huh, really ... Why exactly?

Java sparrows are federally considered invasive in the US over the fact that they are invasive in Hawaii. Some mainland states also ban the ownership of java sparrows probably due to fears of them damaging crops.

 

[JVM]

I'm not surprised the Java Sparrows were dropped, considering how difficult they can be to obtain.

See though, I feel like this is the kind of thing a zoo should have thought about and planned for before announcing plans like this. Maybe they had a plan to obtain them that fell through subsequently, and that would make a lot of sense, but I really hoped they didn't simply fail to foresee difficulty here. This wasn't some far-off master plan idea.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Java sparrows are federally considered invasive in the US over the fact that they are invasive in Hawaii. Some mainland states also ban the ownership of java sparrows probably due to fears of them damaging crops.

IMO, this is the administration response tool kit that will never address the invasive species issue. As if accredited zoo facilities have created the Java sparrow invasive issue. Hell, no!

Going further: if and how the administration will combat invasive Java sparrows in Hawaii is anybody's guess and it will not be effective in stabilising that the invasive Java sparrows will fully establish themselves in Hawaii or any other state, nor reduce it, nor be an effective method at eradication of the invasive Java sparrows.

I can cite a good number of examples here on the European Continent and United Kingdom where these kinds of responses by the Administration are ordained and where nothing is done effectively to combat the esta lishment and / or eradication of invasive species across Europe (raccoon, raccoon dog, American mink, nutria, musk rat, Canadian beaver, various sturgeon species (plant centers and animal trade areas), North American sliders (red- and yellow-eared), American crayfish spp., tropical fish (of a wide assemblage of spp.), various parrots, pheasants ... et cetera.

Also: Chinese muntjac (the solution would be capture and transfer back to the PR of China given its IUCN threatened status (restoration ecologie and reintroduction / re-establishment), fallow deer (allthough in the Holocene the species was far more wide-spread / exterminated after the Roman period and re-introduced by the hunting community in the 17th and 18th century.

In all cases the response by Govt. and institutions tasked with invasive species and how to deal with the bigger ecological and biodiversity threat issues is lame, pathetic and beyond the pale as well as unrealistic and wholly inadequate.

 

[USZOOfan42]

I'd throw in the loss of Fennec foxes, too. My visit to Saint Louis one of the only negatives was that the zoo has very few small mammal displays (though there are a few) and it's clear the Children's Area was the hub for these sorts of species. A new meerkat exhibit could honestly be added relatively easily anywhere in the zoo and if the Savanna development comes to pass down the line we could easily see them return there. Shame they don't have space for even a smaller new Australia exhibit, especially as echidna and tree kangaroo don't seem to be very demanding species.

I have not visited the zoo in at least 5 years and I spent at least an hour in the children’s zoo watching all of the animals run around and interact, I got amazing pictures of the devils just sitting and watching me. It was such a fun and interactive exhibit. The foxes would chase my finger if I remember correctly.

 

[PossumRoach]

IMO, this is the administration response tool kit that will never address the invasive species issue. As if accredited zoo facilities have created the Java sparrow invasive issue. Hell, no!

Going further: if and how the administration will combat invasive Java sparrows in Hawaii is anybody's guess and it will not be effective in stabilising that the invasive Java sparrows will fully establish themselves in Hawaii or any other state, nor reduce it, nor be an effective method at eradication of the invasive Java sparrows.

I can cite a good number of examples here on the European Continent and United Kingdom where these kinds of responses by the Administration are ordained and where nothing is done effectively to combat the esta lishment and / or eradication of invasive species across Europe (raccoon, raccoon dog, American mink, nutria, musk rat, Canadian beaver, various sturgeon species (plant centers and animal trade areas), North American sliders (red- and yellow-eared), American crayfish spp., tropical fish (of a wide assemblage of spp.), various parrots, pheasants ... et cetera.

Also: Chinese muntjac (the solution would be capture and transfer back to the PR of China given its IUCN threatened status (restoration ecologie and reintroduction / re-establishment), fallow deer (allthough in the Holocene the species was far more wide-spread / exterminated after the Roman period and re-introduced by the hunting community in the 17th and 18th century.

In all cases the response by Govt. and institutions tasked with invasive species and how to deal with the bigger ecological and biodiversity threat issues is lame, pathetic and beyond the pale as well as unrealistic and wholly inadequate.

I know I will sound like a crackpot but here goes.

I previously said this on zoochat:

This is why I do not take the attitude towards invasive species seriously. The fact that cats always “get away with it” makes me think that the issue is a cultural one rather than an environmental one.

And I still stand by it. And I will double down a bit. I don’t mean to downplay the impact of invasive species, but I feel like they and the wildlife trade (including accredited zoos*) are scapegoats for governments to deal with compared to other human activities that put a great pressure on wildlife such as agriculture, technological items with rare metals, and car-dependent infrastructure. No need to keep the food and automobile industry accountable once you deal with those evil pesky wildlife traders and making those environmental organizations quiet down a bit. You could have the trade of a taxa banned over a handful of incidents, but heaven forbid you question car ownership even after hearing news after news of automobile accidents.

Some of the invasive listings I seen also seem like superstitions more than anything such as Flying foxes in the Lacey Act (because they will definitely survive the rust belt and plague orchards), dholes in the Lacey Act (because the superstition of the US livestock industry which already destroyed carnivore populations cannot afford to deal with a silly hypothetical), and brushtail possums in the US and Japanese invasive species lists (this is all because of the invasion in NZ which I argue anything could be invasive there when given the chance, including sloths and lorises. So the possums were only unfortunate enough to be brought to NZ)

Spoiler: *

I don’t want to make the parenthesis into a run on sentence so I am making this asterisk here. I could already hear some users saying “but that’s not true” or “don’t you dare lump ethical zoos with wildlife traders”. Yea, no. The accredited zoo world could attempt to distance themselves from the rest of the wildlife trade as much as they want even to the point of working with organizations that want them gone in the end game. But that will never change the opinion of anti zoo organizations and many laymen who unfortunately don’t know any better nor do they care to. The fact that the EU+UK ban doesn’t give accredited zoos (which I assume have to be tested for being escape-proof in the first place) any exception in the first place, shows that in the eyes of the detached-from-animals lawmaker accreditation can make a zoo only go so far towards being better than any other establishment or individual keeping wildlife.

 

[Forge]

The cavies and sheep are new species. IIRC the otters have been bts for a few years since the old Children's Zoo closed.

Otters have actually been visible right up to recent months I believe. I saw them a number of times I actually went in to their “Dinoroarus” exhibit

 

[Daktari JG]

announced births in August of Speke's gazelle, addax and Somali Wild Ass
Saint Louis Zoo | St. Louis MO