San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo News 2023

[Kudu21]

I noted just now from the most recent map version the Steller's Sea-Eagle icon at Eagle Trail has been replaced by a California Condor - have Steller's been replaced by CA Condors?

As of last week, there were still Steller’s sea eagles in Eagle Trail — no sign of California condors either. The line-up for those aviaries was the same as it has been for a while: Steller’s sea eagle, ornate hawk-eagle, Andean condor, harpy eagle.

Also, for what it’s worth, since there has been some discussion about it recently, the common wombat is back on exhibit next to the Tasmanian devils. I saw it out and about last week.

 

[animallover22]

Can someone who has already been to the zoo recently give a list of current mammals of the San Diego Zoo and the safari park, both on and off exhibit. You can ask one of the keepers at the zoo for more details.

 

[Chlidonias]

Can someone who has already been to the zoo recently give a list of current mammals of the San Diego Zoo and the safari park, both on and off exhibit. You can ask one of the keepers at the zoo for more details.

There are threads for species lists here San Diego Zoo Species List - May 2022 [San Diego Zoo] and here San Diego Zoo Safari Park Species List (08/08/21) [San Diego Zoo Safari Park]

 

[Zoofan15]

Amur leopard cubs sexed as two females:

The Amur leopard cubs have been sexed as 0.2 and named:

From socials:

The female cub with the darker fur and smiley face marking on her forehead is Ulybka, which means "smile" in Russian.

The other female cub with the lighter fur and blurred markings is Zorinka which means "little star" in Russian.

 

[Kudu21]

I made an impromptu visit to the zoo for a couple of hours this afternoon and noticed a few things:

The African penguins are back on exhibit in African Rocks! The exhibit they were in temporarily in the bear line is now empty.

The reindeer are officially all gone. No updates on what will become of that exhibit.

The bontebok now have access to two yards in the old Horn and Hoof Mesa, taking over one of the two gerenuk yards.

There was a trailer backed in and opened up in the gateway to the Grant’s zebra/domestic donkey yard in Urban Jungle.

The mandrill exhibit in Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is closed for construction.

I finally saw the new fishing cat on the Tiger Trail!

 

[Great Argus]

The African penguins are back on exhibit in African Rocks! The exhibit they were in temporarily in the bear line is now empty.

Good to hear, as that means bird flu is no longer a concern for the present moment.

Unrelated, has there been any updates on the Hippo renovations/construction?

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

Good to hear, as that means bird flu is no longer a concern for the present moment.

Unrelated, has there been any updates on the Hippo renovations/construction?

No, but I would expect Amahle and Funani to return to their old exhibit before the end of 2023.

 

[Jacob F]

I made an impromptu visit to the zoo for a couple of hours this afternoon and noticed a few things:

The African penguins are back on exhibit in African Rocks! The exhibit they were in temporarily in the bear line is now empty.

The reindeer are officially all gone. No updates on what will become of that exhibit.

The bontebok now have access to two yards in the old Horn and Hoof Mesa, taking over one of the two gerenuk yards.

There was a trailer backed in and opened up in the gateway to the Grant’s zebra/domestic donkey yard in Urban Jungle.

The mandrill exhibit in Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is closed for construction.

I finally saw the new fishing cat on the Tiger Trail!

But why were the penguins put in the bear line?

 

[Julio C Castro]

But why were the penguins put in the bear line?

The exhibit was a closed off with a net and tarp on top during the avian flu precautions being taken by the zoo, was just a temporary situation.

 

[Kudu21]

Good to hear, as that means bird flu is no longer a concern for the present moment.

Unrelated, has there been any updates on the Hippo renovations/construction?

Indeed! The flamingos and waterfowl have yet to return to the lagoon at the front of the zoo, and the marsh is still drained in Northern Frontier, but otherwise, it seems most of the bird exhibits have gone back to normal.

The last I have heard, the hippos and okapis should be back on exhibit in Ituri Forest by the end of summer.

 

[ctfctf7]

Indeed! The flamingos and waterfowl have yet to return to the lagoon at the front of the zoo, and the marsh is still drained in Northern Frontier, but otherwise, it seems most of the bird exhibits have gone back to normal.

The last I have heard, the hippos and okapis should be back on exhibit in Ituri Forest by the end of summer.

What work has been done to the hippo exhibit?

 

[Nile Hippo Expert]

What work has been done to the hippo exhibit?

They are replacing the glass at the main exhibit.

 

[Smaggledagle]

Other 2023 News:

On April 16th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.0.5) Brazilian salmon tarantulas to the Los Angeles Zoo in California.

https://lazoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Animal-Transaction-Commission-Report-May-2023.pdf

On May 16th, it was reported that the zoo transferred (0.2) koalas named Kolet and Kumiri to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in New York.

https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/rosamond-gifford-zoo-will-have-two-koalas-for-the-summer/

 

[Grant]

Other 2023 News:

On April 16th, it was announced that the zoo transferred (0.0.5) Brazilian salmon tarantulas to the Los Angeles Zoo in California.

https://lazoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Animal-Transaction-Commission-Report-May-2023.pdf

On May 16th, it was reported that the zoo transferred (0.2) koalas named Kolet and Kumiri to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in New York.

https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/rosamond-gifford-zoo-will-have-two-koalas-for-the-summer/

On May 18th, it was mentioned that the zoo acquired a (0.1) black-footed cat named Zoey from the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois.*

*Information was given by @MeiLover on the Brookfield Zoo News 2023 thread.

0.1 Black-Footed Cat Zoey went to the Safari Park

 

[StoppableSan]

According to several timestamps in this video, it looks like at 6:02, they actually expanded the polar bear exhibit into the former reindeer exhibit!

 

[pachyderm pro]

According to several timestamps in this video, it looks like at 6:02, they actually expanded the polar bear exhibit into the former reindeer exhibit!

That is not the former reindeer exhibit, but rather an existing off-exhibit yard that has been around for many years. In fact, the reindeer enclosure is explicitly mentioned at 11:05.

 

[StoppableSan]

That is not the former reindeer exhibit, but rather an existing off-exhibit yard that has been around for many years. In fact, the reindeer enclosure is explicitly mentioned at 11:05.

Ahhhh, dang. I saw the news about the reindeer being phased out and then a couple days later this vlog coming out. The rockwork does look a lot similar to the reindeer exhibit...

 

[Jambo]

Ahhhh, dang. I saw the news about the reindeer being phased out and then a couple days later this vlog coming out. The rockwork does look a lot similar to the reindeer exhibit...

Is there any indication what the plans are for the Reindeer exhibit?

 

[Arizona Docent]

...She was the zoo’s last Asian elephant
They are now down to 3 (2.1) African elephants.

I have not been following ZooChat or San Diego, but I find it surprising they now have only African elephants. Elephant Odyssey was opened (as I understand it) specifically to house Asian elephants.

 

[DavidBrown]

I have not been following ZooChat or San Diego, but I find it surprising they now have only African elephants. Elephant Odyssey was opened (as I understand it) specifically to house Asian elephants.

Originally it housed the Asian elephants from the WAP combined with the Asian elephants and one African elephant already at the zoo. All of those Asian elephants have died now. They did not have a reproductive elephant herd, so there are no replacements.