San Antonio Zoo San Antonio Zoo News 2022

Visited the zoo the other day. I haven't had much time in recent months so I haven't provided many updates. So I thought I'd list a bunch of developments. Some may have been noted before and others may be new information :)

  • Some newer species on display in the reptile house include Dinnik's Viper (Vipera dinnik), Texas River Cooter, and Cagle's map turtle. As well some yellow-spotted river turtles are now mixed with the roti-island snake necked turtle. The 4 baby komodo dragons are now on display next to the Mang Mountain Viper.
  • In the aquarium the nursery tank is now holding Minckley's cichlid (Herichthys minckleyi). The lungfish is no longer on display.
  • In the bird house there are now 3 exhibits holding Micronesian kingfisher.
  • With Neotropica open, both Jaguars are now on display all day. The male was enjoying the view from the bridge over the guest pathway.
  • The old ocelot and howler monkey exhibits have been combined into one larger exhibit for the howlers and agouti.
  • Sitatunga have been moved from the hillside habitat to the giraffe habitat. The steepness of the yard was not great for them and hence the move. The old yard is now empty and It does not seem like the zoo has plans to fill it quickly.
  • The yellow-backed duiker calf is technically off display, but its yard can actually be seen at the end of the walkway between the warthogs and aviary.
  • The animatronic dinosaurs have finally left the zoo :)
  • Lastly all of the previous covid-restricted areas have been reopened to guests. This includes the area for the small monkeys behind Neotropica and the gibbon viewing.
 
nczoofan said:
Strangely the iguana was on display a last summer in the same exhibit. Then they tore out the interior and renovated it, and now are calling it a new species.
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I was quite sure the individual was already on-site last year. Is he just a display individual or is a breeding candidate?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I was quite sure the individual was already on-site last year. Is he just a display individual or is a breeding candidate?
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Not sure. It seems like as of now just a display individual although they could fit a pair in that exhibit, but it wouldn’t be spacious.
 
273639344_10159550989611539_242267303634524894_n.jpg

The zoo just posted this exhibit plan on Facebook with the caption "Something WILD is coming to San Antonio Zoo! Who can guess what it is?"

Looks like gorillas are on there way to San Antonio replacing the empty cheetah/sitatunga enclosure, as well as the former African rift area, addax, addra gazelle, secretary bird, and giant anteater. I would imagine some of those species will be relocated, which already happened in the sitatungas case.
 
Gorillas were confirmed in San Antonio's business paper. It is paywalled but it states the exhibit will be called Congo Falls and cost $15 million. It is part of a larger $65 million dollar phase 1 of the master plan which includes the aforementioned new entrance, as well as 15 million in infrastructure improvements for the aging zoo. The exhibit name is a tribute to the old Gorilla Falls exhibit from when the zoo last held gorillas 32 years ago. PGAV has designed this exhibit as well.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2022/02/08/zoo-congo-falls.html
 
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Kifaru Bwana said:
What about all them spp being moved out of the way?
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It hasn’t been officially announced so who knows. The anteaters elderly, although it could definitely move to another exhibit with ease. The secretary bird are newer and will also likely be moved around. The addax and addra gazelle are less likely to stay on exhibit, but two additional gazelle were recently brought in, so they may find a way to keep them. Lastly there is an elderly kirk’s dik-dik, although with that species’ phase out by the TAG, it seems likely the zoo will go out of them. Thats about it though, the areas been emptied of species in recent years as its been clear they had plans to redevelop.
 
Visited the zoo yesterday and here are a few observations:
  • As was mentioned above, a dama gazelle calf was born 6 days ago. Another calf is due next week. I have posted a few pictures as well. The calf seemed very active, yet the dik-dik was being slightly aggressive towards the calves and even adults. I would imagine they may need to separate him for a bit, as he could hurt one of the calf's while small.
5 Day Old Dama Gazelle & Kirk's Dik-Dik Sparring

5 Day Old Dama Gazelle & Kirk's Dik-Dik Sparring

  • Media owner nczoofan
  • Date added
The zoo staff was aware of this interaction. I am unsure what they'll do but with another calf...

5 Day Old Dama Gazelle

5 Day Old Dama Gazelle

  • Media owner nczoofan
  • Date added
  • Lots of construction was ongoing around the zoo. The aquarium was being repainted and horticulture staff were cutting back vegetation everywhere, as its almost spring here.
  • Tiny Tots Nature Spot has now been closed for construction. This involves the main building, diamondback terrapins, Aldabra tortoises, prairie dogs (previously empty), and the large fish tank. The rest of the area is still accessible though. Construction did not seem to have started, yet we should see the butterfly house go vertical soon.
  • The temporary red-rumped agouti exhibit next to the lorikeets is now filled again. I couldn't see what species was on display though as it was hiding in a hut.
  • The yellow-backed duiker calf is getting more comfortable on exhibit. The father has been separated from the calf and mother though.
Yellow Backed Duiker Calf

Yellow Backed Duiker Calf

  • Media owner nczoofan
  • Date added
  • Saw the zoos Malayan tapir for the first time in a while. They are mostly blind and seemed scared to enter the outdoor exhibit, but seemed otherwise to be in good health.
  • Mangrove pit viper are now on display in the reptile house.
  • It seemed like a shark laid eggs in the main marine tank in the Aquarium, as they were attached to the rocks of the exhibit.
  • The former hooded crane exhibit (across from the bald eagles) has been deconstructed and become a pollinator garden. Come spring it will be planted.
 
nczoofan said:
Visited the zoo yesterday and here are a few observations:
  • As was mentioned above, a dama gazelle calf was born 6 days ago. Another calf is due next week. I have posted a few pictures as well. The calf seemed very active, yet the dik-dik was being slightly aggressive towards the calves and even adults. I would imagine they may need to separate him for a bit, as he could hurt one of the calf's while small.
5 Day Old Dama Gazelle & Kirk's Dik-Dik Sparring

5 Day Old Dama Gazelle & Kirk's Dik-Dik Sparring

  • Media owner nczoofan
  • Date added
The zoo staff was aware of this interaction. I am unsure what they'll do but with another calf...

5 Day Old Dama Gazelle

5 Day Old Dama Gazelle

  • Media owner nczoofan
  • Date added
  • Lots of construction was ongoing around the zoo. The aquarium was being repainted and horticulture staff were cutting back vegetation everywhere, as its almost spring here.
  • Tiny Tots Nature Spot has now been closed for construction. This involves the main building, diamondback terrapins, Aldabra tortoises, prairie dogs (previously empty), and the large fish tank. The rest of the area is still accessible though. Construction did not seem to have started, yet we should see the butterfly house go vertical soon.
  • The temporary red-rumped agouti exhibit next to the lorikeets is now filled again. I couldn't see what species was on display though as it was hiding in a hut.
  • The yellow-backed duiker calf is getting more comfortable on exhibit. The father has been separated from the calf and mother though.
Yellow Backed Duiker Calf

Yellow Backed Duiker Calf

  • Media owner nczoofan
  • Date added
  • Saw the zoos Malayan tapir for the first time in a while. They are mostly blind and seemed scared to enter the outdoor exhibit, but seemed otherwise to be in good health.
  • Mangrove pit viper are now on display in the reptile house.
  • It seemed like a shark laid eggs in the main marine tank in the Aquarium, as they were attached to the rocks of the exhibit.
  • The former hooded crane exhibit (across from the bald eagles) has been deconstructed and become a pollinator garden. Come spring it will be planted.
Click to expand...

They posted a video today of the dikdik trying to fight everyone, calling it cute :(
 
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