San Antonio Zoo San Antonio Zoo News 2016
- Thread starter Milwaukee Man
- Start date
The Zoo bought a building from a charter school. Here is the announcement: https://www.facebook.com/SanAntonioZoo/posts/10153712531656539:0
Also, an image is included in this link indicating there area, but also area for a possible future zoo expansion. The zoo needs it badly.
Also, an image is included in this link indicating there area, but also area for a possible future zoo expansion. The zoo needs it badly.
I'm planning to go to San Antonio in october of this year; I'm going to check out the zoo, but not sure if I should check out Sea world or the Aquarium. Any preference?
Yes, the article itself only talks about the zoo preschool taking over the charter school building. However, as you point out, the areal map shows an area next to the preschool for future zoo expansion (across the freeway from the current grounds). The expansion area appears to be almost as large as the current grounds, which is really nice.
The aquarium is not very good. I haven't been inside and don't plan to. It is a mall aquarium, yet worse than the Sealife chain (not that they're that bad). The aquarium is connected to all the illegal shenanigans of the owners of the Portland Aquarium. These, as well as Austin Aquarium and one in Idaho I believe are owned by the same people (I'm positive about all but the Idaho one). From what I have heard the tanks are too small, dirty and you don't see anything interesting. The admission price also seems to be a ripoff. You will most likely see more at a lesser price at the Richard Friedricch Aquarium at the Zoo.
With all that said, I recommend Seaworld. They are quite underwhelming, but better than that Aquarium. There isn't underwater viewing for anything except the shows and fish. The beluga whales aren't visible except during their show. There isn't a wild Arctic section (no walrus/polar bear) but a walrus is in one of the shows if that interests you. The aquarium in there is rather good for a Seaworld aquarium, and most people don't visit it as its in a far corner of the park. The dolphin exhibit sure is a letdown though...
It does. Large exhibit, no underwater viewing. You will see a pair at the zoo opposite the bird house. They are larger, and in a smaller exhibit. I didn't mention them because they are common.
Also, if you like roller coastrrs, Great White and Steel Eel are decent. I could tell you more, but pm me instead of posting in this thread please.
My roommate won free tickets to the aquarium and we went. Can confirm, it's not worth seeing. I don't recall the tanks being dirty, but there's nothing particularly interesting. It's mostly focused on touching and interacting with animals, there isn't really anything in the way of good exhibits or noteworthy animals.
Buying a preschool, eh? That's certainly interesting. Hope it works out.
And yeah, I noted the large expansion area too. Hope they can think of some cool stuff to put there. SAZ really isn't as bad as a lot of people say it is, but it is really lacking in interesting exhibits and doesn't have much to make it stand out. It would be nice if they could build something really cool.
Video of baby Mastchie's Tree Kangaroo born ~7 months ago: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=YAUOAHVoVaY
The zoo will be receiving a male red bird of paradise on March 3rd. After quarantine, he and the zoo's resident female should go on display in May, presumably in Hixon bird house. The male lesser bird of paradise is just beginning to show adult behaviors, no word if it'll be on exhibit with its female either. The giraffes STILL are not feeding, so rest in peace my chance of seeing topi in an exhibit with them. Also, at least one of the hoofstock yards (currently housing addra/dama gazelle) has been completely refurbished. There is now dirt and plants throughout all of it, and while the concrete is still there, it's under a lot of dirt. More of it has also been planted (not sure what kind of plant).
Sorry for not being clear. Basically there is no public giraffe feeding, yet. The giraffes are still to new to the zoo, and are being trained by keepers to come over to the fence and feed. Because feeding was a priority over mixing species, it is unlikely that topi will be mixed in by the time I move away from Texas.
Giraffe Feeding is now open at the zoo
()
The zoo is doing some amazing things for its highly hated grottos. The gazelle one has been covered completely in dirt and planted. They moved that poor, endlessly pacing (not like it had much room to do anything else) anteater out of the aviary into one of the grottos. The grotto has been leveled with dirt. It has plants! I suppose since the zoo cannot destroy what they've built, they can just build over it. Link to a photo: https://www.facebook.com/SanAntonioZoo/posts/10153867733411539:0
Yes very nice (although I did see the anteater swimming in the large aviary pool there, which was a first for me).
I remember the first time I visited many years ago I though the lion and tiger grottos would be ok if they had natural substrate and some trees instead of just cement. In the last couple years they refigured them to do exactly that and it is miles better.
I remember the first time I visited many years ago I though the lion and tiger grottos would be ok if they had natural substrate and some trees instead of just cement. In the last couple years they refigured them to do exactly that and it is miles better.
Actually the jaguar exhibit was redone in the same way the lion and tiger were redone. It used to be really awful. The inside is much better, but it is still too small for my liking.
The swimming anteater was quite unusual - he (or she) went in twice and swam the entire large pool. It was such a unique experience that I made mention of it in my southwest zoo book and included a photo. Here is a series of photos I posted on ZooChat: http://www.zoochat.com/603/going-swim-332264/