San Antonio Zoo San Antonio Zoo News 2013

My understanding is that a lot of the changes are temporary. The capybara had to be moved for the water treatment construction that is on-going right outside their exhibit - the City of San Antonio and the zoo are partnering to construct an ultraviolet water treatment plant that will clean about 2 million gallons of water that flow through the zoo exhibits each day and into the San Antonio River. Construction is supposed to be finished by October or November of this year.

Most of the birds from the old Rift Valley Aviary were moved into the Phase II section of Africa Alive - I visited about 2 months ago and spotted most of the birds in the new walk-through aviary. Not sure about the eagles, but the move of the Andean condors is also temporary, while the construction of the new Zootennial Plaza is completed (the condor aviary is right next to the construction).

As I was told by zoo insiders, the Rift Valley and rhino yard deconstruction are in advance of Phase III of Africa Alive, which is still in the fundraising stages. The master plan for that phase keeps changing, but I know that the wish list includes a bigger elephant yard, a revamp of the savannah mixed species exhibit and potentially gorillas. I also noticed that the giraffe were no longer on exhibit in the savannah exhibit when I visited a couple of months ago, and the number of species in the exhibit space had dwindled by about a third. I'm assuming they are slowly being relocated in preparation of the new construction.
 
Are there any plans to re-aqcuire black rhino (with which the zoo has had a very long and successful tradition)?

What is the Phase III exactly meant to be for this particular a bit rundown part of the zoo?
 
Phase III will continue the revitalization in the center of the zoo that Phase I and II of Africa Alive started. The zoo is trying to change from postage-stamp exhibition (ex: the row-after-row exhibit of hoof stock, cages of monkeys, etc.) that was the norm in the past to more geographically-grouped and updated exhibits. The zoo is a little confined by their own geography, as that the zoo grounds are inside an old rock quarry, and many of the original exhibit spaces were grotto-and-moat designs (even for hoof stock) - ground-breaking at the time, but sorely outdated now. So it's an on-going process to modernize the exhibits while also reshaping the layout of the zoo itself to show the species in a more geographically-accurate process.

At one time, the plans for Africa Alive Phase III were posted on the zoo's website (back when Phase I was about to open and fundraising was in high gear for Phase II). I'm not sure of the current plans, other than the zoo plans to revitalize the elephant, savannah (zebra, ostrich, kob, marabou stork) exhibit and the rhino yard(s). The plan at one time was to bring in African elephants once the aging Asian population at the zoo had passed on. And I suspect they will bring back the black rhinos with a more forest-appropriate exhibit, as opposed to the dusty yard they had in the past, next to an identical yard for the white rhino who are still at the zoo.

So my educated guess is that they will demolish the current elephant, savannah and rhino yards and replace them with a larger African elephant exhibit, a new savannah, updated white rhino yard, and a forest section for black rhino and either gorilla or chimpanzee. Again, just my educated guess based on Phase III plans from the past 10 years and discussions with zoo personnel.
 
Hmm, with the amount of space they have, it may be best to copy Dallas and combine nearly everything. I can't see them host more than 3 elephants.

It's going to be a while before this zoo redeems itself to me.
 
The giraffes have been gone for a long time - at least three years, maybe more.

I do not think they have room for a good elephant exhibit and I personally think they should get out of elephants altogether.

Overall, however, the zoo is on the right direction and those who dismiss it should reconsider. The tiger exhibit is now more lushly planted and even the jaguar exhibit that was mostly cement seemed much more lush on my recent visit. The okapi exhibit (the newer of the two) is growing in nicely and is about the best I have seen.
 
Arizona Docent said:
Overall, however, the zoo is on the right direction and those who dismiss it should reconsider.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this comment. I started to say something similar this morning, but I couldn't find the right words. This zoo is old and still shows it in some places, but it is constantly evolving and improving. It's actually one of my favorite zoos.
 
The last time I attended the San Antonio Zoo was in November. In that visit the highest compliment I paid it was "it's not so dirty anymore." I was impressed by the gibbon exhibits in the canyon, very impressive height structure. The time previous I attended was shortly after Africa Live Phase 1 opened. In between the two visits the jaguars had moved from Amazonia and a small but dirt based enclosure to a larger concrete slab. The African savannah looked decimated, the elephant was depressing, the rift, including the cheetahs, was gone, the lions were also depressing (but so are more lion exhibits), but at least the rhino pits didn't have the stink of **** rising out of them anymore. Think about that for a second, the exhibit is a pit.

I'm quite pleased changes are being made but the laundry list is too long to say it's going to be a quick or imminent turnout to "good." I'd include getting rid of the small, wire monkey cages at the entrance, an update to their reptile and bird houses, and aesthetic updates to the north grottos and cranes of the world/crocodilian water pits to my large complaints on African. Oh and that new Okapi exhibit: I've seen that before: On every farm in Texas, cause it looks like a cow pasture.
 
@Trowaman: Hallelujah!

If the zoo has begun to rebuild certain sections with Africa III becoming a viable possibility, then I embrace such change wholeheartedly. Here is an excerpt from my review of San Antonio Zoo, a large establishment with a healthy annual attendance that is chock-full of crappy enclosures.

Excerpt:

"Of the 180 zoos and aquariums that I have visited in my lifetime San Antonio Zoo has some of the ugliest animal exhibits of them all. There is an absolutely wonderful children’s section that is geared specifically for kids 5 years of age and under, and a terrific new African zone that seems oddly out of place because it is of fairly high quality, and after that I’d like to see 80% of the zoo bulldozed into obliteration. There is a South American section that is almost exclusively metal cages from some ancient zoo era, hoofstock paddocks with tiered levels that resemble mini Wal-Mart parking lots, bear pits from the 1920’s, a small aquarium from the 1940’s that badly needs a makeover, row upon row of bird aviaries that visitors skip as if they aren’t even there, and a splendid assortment of creatures trapped in a vaguely unknown epoch of zoo design that most closely resembles a postage stamp collection. I’ve seen all of the big-name, major zoos in Texas and this one is the worst."
 
I think everyone associated with the San Antonio Zoo would say "you're preaching to the choir" and echo your desire for upgrades and renovation. There are still some blatantly out-dated exhibit spaces and still somewhat of a hodge-podge feel to the zoo layout. And I think the folks who work at the zoo everyday would certainly confess that they are all craving the changes that have been discussed here on Zoochat.

And the zoo has done the best they can to make some positive strides in the past several years. The historic WPA-constructed aquarium was recently renovated, the gibbon/otter/deer mixed exhibit is a beautiful reclamation of two old bear pits, and the Tiny Tots children's section is very good. And the Africa Alive exhibits have been a big stride forward, demolishing about a quarter of the old exhibits and replacing them with modern and engaging spaces for both the animals and the visitors.

But realize that San Antonio is a philanthropy-poor city - the vast majority of the regional employment is government, military and tourism - and generating the funding for major changes like the ones needed at the zoo will take much longer in that city. There are no multi-generation wealthy families or supporting foundations around to write checks, so the fundraising tends to be much more "a-dollar-at-a-time" - which means a $20 million+ multi-phase major exhibit like Africa Alive takes a lot longer to realize than it would in a city such as Chicago, San Diego or even Dallas or Houston. Not to mention funding existing exhibit renovations and improvements.

I would speculate that was one of the reasons the zoo decided to replace the outdated (and unused) sea lion exhibit and some snack shacks and invest in cosntructing the new Zootennial Plaza - anchored by a big carousel and restaurant - to celebrate their 100th anniversary next year. The new carousel will drive the turnstiles, and the restaurant and carousel both will be a strong revenue streams. And those extra dollars will help replace/renovate the old exhibit spaces much faster.

The fact that the zoo has been able to complete as much as they have in the past decade is quite remarkable, considering the economic climate of San Antonio. Yes, the zoo has a long way to go, but they are working very hard to get there. Just my observations...
 
San Antonio Zoo posted on their website that the giraffes will return next year as part of the zoo's 100th anniversary plans:

San Antonio Zoo - Giraffe Exhibit

Also, the San Antonio newspaper reported yesterday that the female Sumatran tiger at the zoo gave birth to a pair of cubs during the August 4th weekend, but the zoo has not officially made the announcement, even though they have installed a live video feed and monitor outside the habitat for guests to see the cubs and mother in the off-show den:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Sumatran-tiger-cubs-arrival-in-S-A-is-low-key-4718307.php
 
Interesting about the giraffes. From the description, I am guessing they will go back in the same hoofstock exhibit (with slight modifications) that they used to be in?
 
Based on the wording of the announcement on their website - and the fact I noted above about the difficulty of raising funds in San Antonio - I would assume that the "new" giraffe exhibit will be an update of their previously occupied space and not a redo (yet) of the entire savannah habitat. I think a renovation of that scope is still a few years away. Again, just my assumptions...
 
The article states that is the SA Zoo's decision, but it will take up to two weeks for the AZA to issue their decision. I would be very interested to see what they say. I think everyone on ZooChat agrees this exhibit is substandard and I personally agree with the guy from the conservation group who says the best thing would be to transfer her to Los Angeles Zoo or San Diego Zoo. Houston is closer, but based on my recent visit they do not have room for another elephant - I could be wrong, however.
 
Arizona Docent said:
I personally agree with the guy from the conservation group who says the best thing would be to transfer her to Los Angeles Zoo or San Diego Zoo. Houston is closer, but based on my recent visit they do not have room for another elephant - I could be wrong, however.
Click to expand...

I'm team Oklahoma City. Their website states their exhibit is designed for 4 cows, 2 bulls and offspring. Last I checked they have 2 females, 1 bull, and 1 calf. They are close-ish and definitely have room.
 
Trowaman said:
I'm team Oklahoma City. Their website states their exhibit is designed for 4 cows, 2 bulls and offspring. Last I checked they have 2 females, 1 bull, and 1 calf. They are close-ish and definitely have room.
Click to expand...

Yes, excellent suggestion.
 
Just found a note in an old dutch zoo-releated magazine from 1992 about a recent breeding-succes ( would also been 1991 or 1992 ) at San Antonio of 8 Bulwer pheasants.
Found nothing else about this breeding and would like to know if there are Zoochatters which can provide me with more information about this realy rare breeding-succes ??!!
 
I visited the San Antonio Zoo again yesterday, and I wanted to report a few things.

1. There is a tremendous amount of construction going on right now throughout the zoo. It's messy now, but the parts they have finished look very nice, so I think it will be worth it.

2. The north end of the African loop is open (I think someone else reported that in late summer).

3. I was finally able to see the Bat-eared Fox. I don't make it that far on most trips (it's as far from the entrance as you can get and up some steep hills and I'm old and fat), but every time I've been by there before, he's been hiding.

4. The Okapi moved to a new location. He has more space, a lot of grass, and shade. Plus there are views from above on the back side.

5. A post from earlier this year said that the cheetahs were gone, but that must have been temporary since I saw two of them.

6. Some people have talked about how much concrete was in the leopard enclosure and in the ungulate grottoes, so I paid special attention to that. About 60% of the leopard floor is concrete, but about 40% is dirt with some grass. It is also one of the bigger leopard enclosures I've seen. The addax and Dama gazelle grottoes are terraced with levels leading down to a moat at the botton. At first glance, they appear to be concrete, but closer inspection reveals that the retaining walls for the steps are concrete, but the bulk of the surface is dirt.

7. Some of the crocodylians have been moved and I think at least one is off exhibit. All of the signs in that section are gone, and I think that whole section is being renovated.

8. It's probably a combination of the end of summer and the heavy rain we've had the past few weeks, but the zoo was greener than I have seen it in a long time.

9. The zoo has two tiger cubs (siblings) and two juvy Angolan colubuses (I assume not siblings based on the age difference) that were very cute.

I got some nice photos, but they are not online yet (except a few on Facebook). I will try to remember to post a link to some pics when they are ready.
 
The leopard enclosure you refer to is actually a jaguar enclosure.

There are two okapi exhibits, the larger and greener one opened with the new Africa expansion a few years ago. Perhaps you had not seen it before and only knew about the second one in the hoofstock grottoes? Or is there something entirely new since my visit last summer?

There are tiger cubs!!!??? :eek: Do you know how old? I am returning in a couple weeks and would be very interested in this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top