San Antonio Zoo San Antonio Zoo News 2025

Piece of November 2024 News Worth Mentioning:

On November 27th, it was announced that the zoo started a new breeding program with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Arizona and the Los Angeles Zoo in California for the New Mexico ridge-nosed rattlesnake of which several already hatched.

Los Angeles Zoo

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On January 9th, the zoo announced that 4 western green mambas hatched in late 2024, which is the first time since 2010 that San Antonio has successfully bred the species.

12K views · 148 reactions | We’re excited to announce the hatching of 4 Western green mambas! These snakes are known for their striking green scales and incredible speed, making them one of Africa’s most unique and fascinating reptiles. The hatchlings are thriving under the care of our Ectotherms team after hatching towards the end of 2024. This is the first time this species has successfully reproduced at San Antonio Zoo since 2010, making this achievement particularly exciting. While these babies are under the close eye of our Ectotherms team behind the scenes, you can visit their vibrant parents in Africa Live! | San Antonio Zoo

On January 11th, it was reported that a family sued the zoo for $1 million+ in damages after a rotted tree limb fell on top of them during a trip to the facility in March 2023. Another family filed a lawsuit over the same tree limb incident in May 2023, of which the trial is set for September 2025.

Another lawsuit filed over tree limb injuries at San Antonio Zoo
Another family injured by large tree branch at San Antonio Zoo files lawsuit
 
Visited the zoo today and here are some updates since I last visited a few months ago. Some of these may have been mentioned already but I tried my best to provide only new information:
  • Congo Falls construction is progressing well. The open top habitat appears to be farther along with rockwork ongoing. The netted habitat appears to be behind this schedule though.
  • The new giraffe barn is really nice from the outside and was holding the new female on my visit. With the expanded habitat the sitatunga have been venturing out more into the yard rather than hiding under the boardwalk. Additionally currently the planned rhino expansion has not occurred, it does appear fencing is in place though with a gate to be installed at some point, so I imagine this will occur eventually.
  • The Africa Live aviary appears to be emptier than normal, with multiple species moved to the row of bird cages by the capybara. It would seem they are intentionally emptying this space, maybe with an eye on redoing the mesh as currently it has gaps in it and a large grackle population has gotten in. The South American aviary also appeared emptier without the Roseate Spoonbill or Scarlet Ibis. I do wonder if these could also be a response to bird flu.
  • The small restaurant between Africa Live and the American flamingos has been removed. It is currently just a gravel area with additional flamingo viewing.
  • I counted at least 15 meerkat today so the zoo appears to now have a pretty massive group between its 2 connected exhibits.
  • The former American Mink exhibit now holds Prevost's Squirrel. The nearby Clouded Leopard, Fishing Cat, and Fossa exhibits have all received new climbing structures. The old Fossa exhibit is still empty, so its unclear what will take up residence here.
  • In the reptile house the Palestinian Viper have moved to the exhibit formally housing the juvenile Komodo Dragon. In there place is a mixed exhibit for Blotched Bluetongue Skink (Tiliqua nigrolutea) and Hosmer's Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia hosmeri). The Blotched Bluetongue appears to be a rarity as it is not listed on Zootierliste in any American collection and only in 2 European collections.
  • The Congo Peafowl have had 3 chicks. They are currently all in the Bird House split into 3 separate habitats.
  • A wild common gallinule was across from the Capybara which is a rare site this far inland and a great surprise.
  • The lesser flamingo are no longer in the Children's Zoo. It would appear they have been sent to another institution as this exhibit now is home to black-necked swan.
  • One last sad piece of news, the last elderly Bush Dog has likely passed away or been taken permanently off exhibit. In it's old exhibit were the bat eared fox, which were acclimating to this new larger space. There former exhibit across the pathway is currently empty, as is the former porcupine exhibit across the way (currently under renovation).
 
nczoofan said:
Visited the zoo today and here are some updates since I last visited a few months ago. Some of these may have been mentioned already but I tried my best to provide only new information:
  • The former American Mink exhibit now holds Prevost's Squirrel. The nearby Clouded Leopard, Fishing Cat, and Fossa exhibits have all received new climbing structures. The old Fossa exhibit is still empty, so its unclear what will take up residence here.
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as much as i love prevost's squirrels, its a shame to lose the american mink. Do they still have Caracal?

also very exciting about the Blotched Blue-Tongue Skinks! definitely got to go see them!
 
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King of Komodo Dragons said:
as much as i love prevost's squirrels, its a shame to lose the american mink. Do they still have Caracal?

also very exciting about the Blotched Blue-Tongue Skinks! definitely got to go see them!
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The caracal was not signed anymore on exhibit. From my experience the caracal did not enjoy the crowds ever and was aggressive at the glass, so maybe it's best a new species take its place.
 
nczoofan said:
  • One last sad piece of news, the last elderly Bush Dog has likely passed away or been taken permanently off exhibit. In it's old exhibit were the bat eared fox, which were acclimating to this new larger space. There former exhibit across the pathway is currently empty, as is the former porcupine exhibit across the way (currently under renovation).
Click to expand...
Very sad news that I had been anxiously awaiting every time I've seen this thread (or the prior ones) updated. I'm just incredibly thankful he was able to hold on as long as he did, giving me an opportunity to see him last summer. He was a real character, as is the norm for his species.

If I were able to selfishly have any species proliferate throughout US zoos with no regard to conservation value or logistics, bush dogs would easily be within my top 5 picks.
 
3 Pieces of March 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On March 6th, the zoo announced that after examining the limestone excavated from the construction of Congo Falls, experts determined that it was the same primary stone used to build many historic structures in the city of San Antonio, including the Alamo Church.

San Antonio Zoo

On March 7th, the zoo opened a new restaurant called Sazoombi Sanctuary to the public.

San Antonio Zoo

On March 14th, it was reported that the zoo will now start accepting cryptocurrency donations, as well as those in the form of stock and donor-advised funds.

San Antonio now accepting donations in the form of cryptocurrency

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King of Komodo Dragons said:
A dead wild black vulture found onsite at the zoo has tested "not negative" for avian flu. Due to this, the zoo stated

"Hixon Bird House, Lory Landing, and Flamingo Mingle will be temporarily closed Fish feeders will be temporarily emptied, as fish food may attract wild birds Some birds in our care will be temporarily relocated off habitat"

x.com
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On March 20th, the zoo reopened the previously closed Hixon Bird House, Lory Landing, and Flamingo Mingle areas to the public.

San Antonio Zoo
 
Smaggledagle said:
3 Pieces of March 2025 News Not Mentioned:

On March 6th, the zoo announced that after examining the limestone excavated from the construction of Congo Falls, experts determined that it was the same primary stone used to build many historic structures in the city of San Antonio, including the Alamo Church.

San Antonio Zoo
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I do hope the Zoo and management are going to make a big thing out of the cultural heritage of the limestone that is so ever present at the Zoo and gives it a unique character of its own. Very Earthy...
 
Just saw a post on my Facebook feed stating that a new tiger habitat will part of the expansion on the other side of the freeway named after ex basketball player Charles Barkleyz who happens to be visiting the city right now. They said it will be part of the next phase after they finish gorillas this summer. I still honest to god hope they get Asian elephants in there with a big giant modern habitat like they promised and move the gibbons clouded leopards and asian small clawed otters over there.
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The Horse Boy said:
Just saw a post on my Facebook feed stating that a new tiger habitat will part of the expansion on the other side of the freeway named after ex basketball player Charles Barkleyz who happens to be visiting the city right now. They said it will be part of the next phase after they finish gorillas this summer. I still honest to god hope they get Asian elephants in there with a big giant modern habitat like they promised and move the gibbons clouded leopards and asian small clawed otters over there.
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That was an April Fools Day post.
 
StoppableSan said:
That was an April Fools Day post.
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D'oh, but that won't stop me from hoping the aformentioned Asian district to be a dream come true. That zoo seems VERY committed to elephants even if they gave them up by closing their very ugly small one in the African area 2 years ago
 
The Horse Boy said:
D'oh, but I still hope that aformentioned Asian district will become real. The San Antonio Zoo seems very committed to elephants even if they gave them up by closing their very ugly small one 2 years ago
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Considering Tim Morrow's adamant about getting elephants back (not to mention it'll be the next project after Congo Falls/The Ralston gets complated later this year), and their VP of Animal Care, Daryl Hoffman was the Large Mammal Curator at Houston Zoo and was Buffalo Zoo's lead keeper for elephants, rhinos and sea lions (and as a bonus, board member of the International Elephant Foundation/Executive Director of the Elephant Managers Association, all but guaranteed. It ain't a matter of if, rather a matter of when.

The April Fools Day post is even funnier when you read into it. :D
 
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StoppableSan said:
It ain't a matter of if, rather a matter of when.
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It's also a matter of 'who' and which herd type will live there. I personally hope they'll designate it for bulls only like Denver does. But a matriline split from Houston or White Oak or an European os ALS import would also be legit :p
 
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