Santa Barbara Zoo Santa Barbara Zoo News

Per a zoo email today, current zoo members have access to special member preview hours for the Australian Walkabout exhibit from 9am to 10am from January 8-17. Walkabout hours will be 9am to 4pm and will have limited capacity. As of my most recent visit on December 12, the Australian animals were settling into their space and could be viewed from outside the walk-through space. In addition to the animals within the Walkabout exhibit, there are 2 bird exhibits on the perimeter: one exhibit contains a sulphur-crested cockatoo and the other has 2 kookaburras and 2 tawny frogmouths.

Also, they expect the otter pups to be visible to guests in late January.
 
Elena said:
Per a zoo email today, current zoo members have access to special member preview hours for the Australian Walkabout exhibit from 9am to 10am from January 8-17. Walkabout hours will be 9am to 4pm and will have limited capacity. As of my most recent visit on December 12, the Australian animals were settling into their space and could be viewed from outside the walk-through space. In addition to the animals within the Walkabout exhibit, there are 2 bird exhibits on the perimeter: one exhibit contains a sulphur-crested cockatoo and the other has 2 kookaburras and 2 tawny frogmouths.

Also, they expect the otter pups to be visible to guests in late January.
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So if those birds are in the walk about aviaries do you know what replaced them in the entrance area?
 
Westcoastperson said:
So if those birds are in the walk about aviaries do you know what replaced them in the entrance area?
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As far as I could tell the only birds in the small exhibit near the entrance were blue-faced honeyeaters that were placed in there while they're renovating the Tropical Aviary attached to the Ewwww! exhibit. If I remember correctly, they still had a tawny frogmouth sign at that space but I didn't notice one in the exhibit.
 
The long-awaited new exhibit, called Australian Walkabout, opens tomorrow. The walk-through complex is 15,000 sq. ft. in size (a third of an acre) and cost $3 million. There are 3 Western Grey Kangaroos, 4 Bennett's Wallabies and 2 Emus, which makes it very small in terms of the animal collection.** There is also an aviary, home to 3 species: Kookaburra, Tawny Frogmouth and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Here is an article about Australian Walkabout:

Free-Roaming Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Emus at Santa Barbara Zoo's Australian Walkabout - The Santa Barbara Independent

** Many major U.S. zoos have Australian sections with mobs of at least 12-15 macropods, although I'm not sure that anywhere can top Zoo Neuwied in Germany. That facility has a huge enclosure with approximately 150 kangaroos and wallabies, and at least 10 emus as well!
 
snowleopard said:
The long-awaited new exhibit, called Australian Walkabout, opens tomorrow. The walk-through complex is 15,000 sq. ft. in size (a third of an acre) and cost $3 million. There are 3 Western Grey Kangaroos, 4 Bennett's Wallabies and 2 Emus, which makes it very small in terms of the animal collection.** There is also an aviary, home to 3 species: Kookaburra, Tawny Frogmouth and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Here is an article about Australian Walkabout:

Free-Roaming Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Emus at Santa Barbara Zoo's Australian Walkabout - The Santa Barbara Independent

** Many major U.S. zoos have Australian sections with mobs of at least 12-15 macropods, although I'm not sure that anywhere can top Zoo Neuwied in Germany. That facility has a huge enclosure with approximately 150 kangaroos and wallabies, and at least 10 emus as well!
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Your right the animals of the exhibit are underwhelming but botanically this exhibit seems great. Instead of basic cut grass like many Australian walkthroughs it uses a much more “wild” look. The article also states the exhibit features several different species of native Australian trees which is very interesting. I can’t wait to visit this exhibit in the future.
 
Male Amur leopard, Kasha, underwent surgery as described in an Instagram post by the Zoo this afternoon:

"Last Thursday, Amur leopard Kasha (father to cub Marta) was showing signs of not feeling well. After receiving a full health exam from the Zoo’s wonderful veterinary team, CT scan results showed that a large piece of bone had become lodged in his right primary bronchus, the tube that carries air from the windpipe to the lungs. Tests also revealed pneumonia in the area secondary to the presence of the bone.

The large chunk of bone, roughly 2 inches long and with some meat attached, likely came from a rabbit that Kasha had eaten the day before, which is part of his normal diet. Since the team caught it quickly, they were able to jump into action and remove the bone with help from Dr. Andrea Wells, an internal medicine specialist from Advanced Veterinary Specialists in Santa Barbara. She was able to remove the piece by using a bronchoscope to go down the windpipe and utilizing special grabbing tools to pull it out.

While it was a very difficult procedure to safely remove the piece of bone, Dr. Wells worked her magic and it was a success! As of today, Dr. Julie Barnes, the Zoo’s VP of Animal Care & Health, reports that Kasha is recovering nicely but still at risk of some complications, namely the possibility of continued secondary pneumonia. He is being monitored closely as he continues to recover.

Feel better soon, Kasha! A HUGE thank you to the amazing Animal Care & Health team and Dr. Wells for their incredible skill and commitment to providing the best possible care for the Zoo’s residents. And as always, we couldn’t make it happen without the continued support of all our SB Zoo members and Foster Feeders!"
 
Other 2022 News:

On March 2nd, the zoo announced that one of the (0.1) red-necked wallabies now has a name that was chosen by the public, Kalina.

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On March 8th, the zoo announced that they have acquired (2.0) California condors numbered 979 and 984 from the Los Angeles Zoo in California.

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On May 4th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) capybara named Pearl passed away due to an unspecified illness.

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On July 2nd, the zoo announced that the Kallman Family Play area has reopened to the public as their "Anthill" was resurfaced.

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