they are still kept in separate exhibits
and going back to @Thomas point were you able to find out @Julio C Castro what they’re going to do with the old Grevy Zebra Exhibit?
San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Zoo Safari Park News 2022
- Thread starter IndianRhino
- Start date
they are still kept in separate exhibits
and going back to @Thomas point were you able to find out @Julio C Castro what they’re going to do with the old Grevy Zebra Exhibit?
Unfortunately I didn’t ask about their Grevy’s zebras, I didn’t do the Tram this time due to limited time from my tours that visit
Possibly dumb question - what is a generic giraffe? A hybrid of the various subspecies?
Hybrid of reticulated and Rothschild's giraffe. All because the science wavers between whether or not there are distinct species of giraffe. It happened with orangutans in zoos (leading to hybrids), it's happening with sloth bears (Sri Lankans being bred with Mainland), and it is especially happening with giraffes. Whoop dee doo.
That's not quite what's happened. The discovery of multiple giraffe species is a fairly new one, whereas hybridization has been occurring for quite a long time now. The rather poor decision was made a while back due to the then head of the giraffe TAG deciding there weren't enough of either population available to sustain a population and therefore recommended they all be treated as one population.
I'm not really sure what the waving off of this kind of stuff is about, hybridization is a huge issue. You can't really be championing orangutan conservation and sustainable assurance populations if you're simultaneously cross-breeding Sumatran and Bornean animals.
~Thylo
Generic is a mix of anything, not just those two. Some have Masai blood, for example.
Even without the new genetics research clear visible morphological characteristics ready defined Rothschild's, reticulated and Masai giraffe by which they can be separately destinguished.
Where European collections have sought very hard to clean up their act North America continues to falter! And you are right it is unconvincing argument in the face of conservation ex situ as well as a captive assurance. It is almost the thang with fashionable white lion and tiger back in the days.
Even now the AZA could make a mends and try to establish a third species purebreds and then let overtime the generics on phase out. Either reticulated combined with another import of new Masai bloodlines from Kenya/Tanzania.
Europe had/has multiple pure species, though. In the US, it's only Masai. There are *possibly* some Rothschild's, but I don't think that's been confirmed. Everything labelled reticulated here is a generic mix, they go back too far.
The issue in the US has been accidental admixture of both imported reticulated and Rothschild's giraffe from range states. If you check the ISB you will find all the imported animals had either reticulated or Rothschild's by their data. It was only later it got flunked.
Further some collections imported known Rothschild's from Europe (Busch Tampa and Rockton).
TBH: to make mends ... import founder stock from range state Tanzania Masai and either reticulated certified purebred from Europe.
Further some collections imported known Rothschild's from Europe (Busch Tampa and Rockton).
TBH: to make mends ... import founder stock from range state Tanzania Masai and either reticulated certified purebred from Europe.
Indeed they are readily distinguishable, and even today there are animals in the mixed population that strongly resemble one or the other.
There is no cleaning up the act here, though, and we're not faltering. The long-term plan is to phase-out the generics slowly as the Masai population builds. Masai are managed as their own SSP now, but progress is slow and they aren't breeding as successfully as the generics are. I do believe the population is slowly but surely increasing, though. Either way, there is no bringing new animals in from Africa or Europe. Not only is there not enough space, but it isn't really feasible to import giraffes into the country. Not only would it be an extremely expensive venture to try and import enough founders to establish a sustainable population, but US import laws make it extremely difficult and even more expensive.
I suppose it anyone had the space or fund to even try, it would be San Diego, but they're already acting as a breeding hub for the Masai population and with this new management I think there is little to no chance of them attempting something so bold.
~Thylo
Disney would also have the funding and space to do this, though I'm not sure if they're even a breeding facility for giraffes.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
They have bred in the past and are still are considered a breeding facility with the last births happening in 2020
Visited the park today for a couple hours and managed to do everything but the tram, the line was extremely long and my dad wasn't willing to wait, unfortunately. Anyways, here are some updates from my visit:
-The coatimundi habitat was empty today and signage was taken down.
-Looks like Newman, the sand cat, will be leaving the park soon. There was a crate in his habitat which I'm assuming is to crate train him.
-There is a Malagasy Tree Boa in one of the previously empty terrariums in Nairobi Village.
-The nursery was filled with a bunch of baby hoofstock today. Only springbok, Nile lechwe, gerenuk, and impala were signed but it looked like there were others as well, including a bontebok calf.
-The entirety of Mombassa Lagoon (but the flamingo pool) was drained of water so all the waterfowl were off habitat, it was definitely interesting to see the area without any water.
-The "BATS" house is still closed. I don't think it's been open consistently since before COVID as it was closed for a very long time, then reopened for a month or two, and has been closed ever since.
-Got a chance to see Hidden Jungle today, I have never been to this section before and I was very impressed. It is a beautiful set of walkthrough aviaries with numerous birds including some rarities.
-One of the nearby smaller aviaries holds Silver-beaked Tanager now, in replacement of Snowy-crowned Robin-chat. This aviary is definitely a rather random mix now with Vietnam Pheasant and White-breasted Woodswallow from Asia, Green Woodhoopoe from Africa, the tanagers from South America, and Laysan Duck from Hawaii
-The aviary right next to the previously mentioned one has Marbled teal now, in replacement of Superb starling.
-There was an unsigned Red-flanked duiker in the gerenuk yard, though it stayed in the back the entire time and was pacing a lot. Red-flanked duikers seem to be popping up everywhere around the park all of a sudden! There's this one, a few in the sitatunga/steenbok yard, plus another one in the former tufted deer habitat.
-Got to see the park's pair of red river hogs for the first time today. Their habitat is surprisingly very tiny but both girls were interacting with the okapi next door through the mesh door and their interactions looked positive to me. So I'm wondering if the park is hoping to mix their hogs with their okapi soon then.
-The kori bustard were nowhere to be seen and signage was taken down at their former habitat which they shared with secretary bird and white stork.
-A pair of Ruppell's vulture have moved in with the Lappet-faced vulture. I do not know if they still have any individuals in the African Marsh habitat since I wasn't able to go on the tram.
-A small group of unsigned ocellated turkeys were present in the Toco toucan habitat.
-The Desert Tortoise were no longer in the Burrowing Owl habitat and signage was taken down.
-A trio of California condors have arrived at the park and are now on habitat with long-time residents Tecuya and Molloko. The male is named Cal, and the girls are Aasch and Eva (who hatched in the wild).
-A number of grey kangaroo joeys have been born recently and all are doing well.
-The park's new tree kangaroo, Arona, was finally on habitat. She arrived in mid-2021 iirc but it took her a very long time to get used to her habitat. One of the other tree kangaroos, Polly, recently left the park and moved to the Columbus Zoo. This leaves just Arona and male Bek who will be introduced for breeding in the future.
-Stay tuned for some pictures in the gallery, I'll get them posted later today or tomorrow night at the latest.
-The coatimundi habitat was empty today and signage was taken down.
-Looks like Newman, the sand cat, will be leaving the park soon. There was a crate in his habitat which I'm assuming is to crate train him.
-There is a Malagasy Tree Boa in one of the previously empty terrariums in Nairobi Village.
-The nursery was filled with a bunch of baby hoofstock today. Only springbok, Nile lechwe, gerenuk, and impala were signed but it looked like there were others as well, including a bontebok calf.
-The entirety of Mombassa Lagoon (but the flamingo pool) was drained of water so all the waterfowl were off habitat, it was definitely interesting to see the area without any water.
-The "BATS" house is still closed. I don't think it's been open consistently since before COVID as it was closed for a very long time, then reopened for a month or two, and has been closed ever since.
-Got a chance to see Hidden Jungle today, I have never been to this section before and I was very impressed. It is a beautiful set of walkthrough aviaries with numerous birds including some rarities.
-One of the nearby smaller aviaries holds Silver-beaked Tanager now, in replacement of Snowy-crowned Robin-chat. This aviary is definitely a rather random mix now with Vietnam Pheasant and White-breasted Woodswallow from Asia, Green Woodhoopoe from Africa, the tanagers from South America, and Laysan Duck from Hawaii
-The aviary right next to the previously mentioned one has Marbled teal now, in replacement of Superb starling.
-There was an unsigned Red-flanked duiker in the gerenuk yard, though it stayed in the back the entire time and was pacing a lot. Red-flanked duikers seem to be popping up everywhere around the park all of a sudden! There's this one, a few in the sitatunga/steenbok yard, plus another one in the former tufted deer habitat.
-Got to see the park's pair of red river hogs for the first time today. Their habitat is surprisingly very tiny but both girls were interacting with the okapi next door through the mesh door and their interactions looked positive to me. So I'm wondering if the park is hoping to mix their hogs with their okapi soon then.
-The kori bustard were nowhere to be seen and signage was taken down at their former habitat which they shared with secretary bird and white stork.
-A pair of Ruppell's vulture have moved in with the Lappet-faced vulture. I do not know if they still have any individuals in the African Marsh habitat since I wasn't able to go on the tram.
-A small group of unsigned ocellated turkeys were present in the Toco toucan habitat.
-The Desert Tortoise were no longer in the Burrowing Owl habitat and signage was taken down.
-A trio of California condors have arrived at the park and are now on habitat with long-time residents Tecuya and Molloko. The male is named Cal, and the girls are Aasch and Eva (who hatched in the wild).
-A number of grey kangaroo joeys have been born recently and all are doing well.
-The park's new tree kangaroo, Arona, was finally on habitat. She arrived in mid-2021 iirc but it took her a very long time to get used to her habitat. One of the other tree kangaroos, Polly, recently left the park and moved to the Columbus Zoo. This leaves just Arona and male Bek who will be introduced for breeding in the future.
-Stay tuned for some pictures in the gallery, I'll get them posted later today or tomorrow night at the latest.
I totally missed the Nile Lechwe fawn! As for the desert tortoise, I imagine they’re temporarily off exhibit due to the weather or perhaps are moving down to the zoo for the BasecampVisited the park today for a couple hours and managed to do everything but the tram, the line was extremely long and my dad wasn't willing to wait, unfortunately. Anyways, here are some updates from my visit:
-The coatimundi habitat was empty today and signage was taken down.
-Looks like Newman, the sand cat, will be leaving the park soon. There was a crate in his habitat which I'm assuming is to crate train him.
-There is a Malagasy Tree Boa in one of the previously empty terrariums in Nairobi Village.
-The nursery was filled with a bunch of baby hoofstock today. Only springbok, Nile lechwe, gerenuk, and impala were signed but it looked like there were others as well, including a bontebok calf.
-The entirety of Mombassa Lagoon (but the flamingo pool) was drained of water so all the waterfowl were off habitat, it was definitely interesting to see the area without any water.
-The "BATS" house is still closed. I don't think it's been open consistently since before COVID as it was closed for a very long time, then reopened for a month or two, and has been closed ever since.
-Got a chance to see Hidden Jungle today, I have never been to this section before and I was very impressed. It is a beautiful set of walkthrough aviaries with numerous birds including some rarities.
-One of the nearby smaller aviaries holds Silver-beaked Tanager now, in replacement of Snowy-crowned Robin-chat. This aviary is definitely a rather random mix now with Vietnam Pheasant and White-breasted Woodswallow from Asia, Green Woodhoopoe from Africa, the tanagers from South America, and Laysan Duck from Hawaii
-The aviary right next to the previously mentioned one has Marbled teal now, in replacement of Superb starling.
-There was an unsigned Red-flanked duiker in the gerenuk yard, though it stayed in the back the entire time and was pacing a lot. Red-flanked duikers seem to be popping up everywhere around the park all of a sudden! There's this one, a few in the sitatunga/steenbok yard, plus another one in the former tufted deer habitat.
-Got to see the park's pair of red river hogs for the first time today. Their habitat is surprisingly very tiny but both girls were interacting with the okapi next door through the mesh door and their interactions looked positive to me. So I'm wondering if the park is hoping to mix their hogs with their okapi soon then.
-The kori bustard were nowhere to be seen and signage was taken down at their former habitat which they shared with secretary bird and white stork.
-A pair of Ruppell's vulture have moved in with the Lappet-faced vulture. I do not know if they still have any individuals in the African Marsh habitat since I wasn't able to go on the tram.
-A small group of unsigned ocellated turkeys were present in the Toco toucan habitat.
-The Desert Tortoise were no longer in the Burrowing Owl habitat and signage was taken down.
-A trio of California condors have arrived at the park and are now on habitat with long-time residents Tecuya and Molloko. The male is named Cal, and the girls are Aasch and Eva (who hatched in the wild).
-A number of grey kangaroo joeys have been born recently and all are doing well.
-The park's new tree kangaroo, Arona, was finally on habitat. She arrived in mid-2021 iirc but it took her a very long time to get used to her habitat. One of the other tree kangaroos, Polly, recently left the park and moved to the Columbus Zoo. This leaves just Arona and male Bek who will be introduced for breeding in the future.
-Stay tuned for some pictures in the gallery, I'll get them posted later today or tomorrow night at the latest.
The coati were moved to the main Zoo to be added to the children’s zoo. I would assume some sort of small primate will take their place, maybe marmosets again.Visited the park today for a couple hours and managed to do everything but the tram, the line was extremely long and my dad wasn't willing to wait, unfortunately. Anyways, here are some updates from my visit:
-The coatimundi habitat was empty today and signage was taken down.
-Looks like Newman, the sand cat, will be leaving the park soon. There was a crate in his habitat which I'm assuming is to crate train him.
-There is a Malagasy Tree Boa in one of the previously empty terrariums in Nairobi Village.
-The nursery was filled with a bunch of baby hoofstock today. Only springbok, Nile lechwe, gerenuk, and impala were signed but it looked like there were others as well, including a bontebok calf.
-The entirety of Mombassa Lagoon (but the flamingo pool) was drained of water so all the waterfowl were off habitat, it was definitely interesting to see the area without any water.
-The "BATS" house is still closed. I don't think it's been open consistently since before COVID as it was closed for a very long time, then reopened for a month or two, and has been closed ever since.
-Got a chance to see Hidden Jungle today, I have never been to this section before and I was very impressed. It is a beautiful set of walkthrough aviaries with numerous birds including some rarities.
-One of the nearby smaller aviaries holds Silver-beaked Tanager now, in replacement of Snowy-crowned Robin-chat. This aviary is definitely a rather random mix now with Vietnam Pheasant and White-breasted Woodswallow from Asia, Green Woodhoopoe from Africa, the tanagers from South America, and Laysan Duck from Hawaii
-The aviary right next to the previously mentioned one has Marbled teal now, in replacement of Superb starling.
-There was an unsigned Red-flanked duiker in the gerenuk yard, though it stayed in the back the entire time and was pacing a lot. Red-flanked duikers seem to be popping up everywhere around the park all of a sudden! There's this one, a few in the sitatunga/steenbok yard, plus another one in the former tufted deer habitat.
-Got to see the park's pair of red river hogs for the first time today. Their habitat is surprisingly very tiny but both girls were interacting with the okapi next door through the mesh door and their interactions looked positive to me. So I'm wondering if the park is hoping to mix their hogs with their okapi soon then.
-The kori bustard were nowhere to be seen and signage was taken down at their former habitat which they shared with secretary bird and white stork.
-A pair of Ruppell's vulture have moved in with the Lappet-faced vulture. I do not know if they still have any individuals in the African Marsh habitat since I wasn't able to go on the tram.
-A small group of unsigned ocellated turkeys were present in the Toco toucan habitat.
-The Desert Tortoise were no longer in the Burrowing Owl habitat and signage was taken down.
-A trio of California condors have arrived at the park and are now on habitat with long-time residents Tecuya and Molloko. The male is named Cal, and the girls are Aasch and Eva (who hatched in the wild).
-A number of grey kangaroo joeys have been born recently and all are doing well.
-The park's new tree kangaroo, Arona, was finally on habitat. She arrived in mid-2021 iirc but it took her a very long time to get used to her habitat. One of the other tree kangaroos, Polly, recently left the park and moved to the Columbus Zoo. This leaves just Arona and male Bek who will be introduced for breeding in the future.
-Stay tuned for some pictures in the gallery, I'll get them posted later today or tomorrow night at the latest.
@Animals R AMAZING! Did you ride the African Tram by chance and were you able to see the old Grevy Zebra exhibit? And did you ask anyone there what they’re doing with the old exhibit?
They just said they weren't able to ride the tram.
The okapi and red river hogs were previously mixed for a very brief amount of time, but the mix did not go well, and they had to be separated. That’s when the little makeshift red river hog yard was built.
