One other thing I forgot to mention on this map is that there seems to be a new raptor aviary on the main path, and the spot of the old raptor aviaries and oasis ponds are under construction.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens The Living Desert News
- Thread starter okapikpr
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It will be interesting to see what goes in where the construction cone is on the map. I wish they would put their sand cats and black footed cats on exhibit again! A while ago, when their old substandard exhibits were removed, staff replied to my query saying small cats would be part of the new expansion with lions. Since the lion exhibit is not yet built this theoretically could happen, but I have a feeling they went with the two mongoose species instead (there now as part of the rhino expansion).
Well it’s in the North American section where the old palm oasis was so maybe an update there. Last time I went the aviaries back there were closed and in disrepair so it’s probably updating those to be reopened. Also an update for the strange desert pupfish pond.
Also about the cats last I heard from an employee they were in breeding so if they have kittens there could be a good chance they will get put back on exhibit worth the lions.
Where is the new raptor aviary you're seeing? I'm not finding a raptor aviary that hasn't been there for awhile.
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Ah ok, so you meant that one. That exhibit has been there for a while, but I just checked the old map and it is the first time its been marked.
Unless something has changed recently, there should be another aviary that isn't marked on the map in the Baja Oasis Garden, that I think has a falcon species.
I don’t remember it on my visit a year ago, but it’s there now. Does anyone plan on going soon to see the new exhibit?
I got to see the new rhino savanna today, and I am a huge fan. I plan on posting pictures when I have time to go through them.
While it is completely open, it’s not entirely done. Both mongoose species are not in their exhibit yet, and only half of the savanna is open. The unfinished half appears to just be waiting for grass to grow.
The design of it is fascinating, the exhibit is on both sides of the path, connected in three parts, two under the path, and one above it (similar to the elephant exhibit at the San Diego Zoo). The naked mole rat exhibit is where the rhino savanna goes over the path. It is probably the largest naked mole rat exhibit I’ve seen, at least 30-40 windows.
For those like myself who where wondering how they were planning on mixing black rhinos with the waterbuck and springboks, both have areas where they can go where the black rhinos can’t reach them. The springboks have an area in the back for the length of the savanna, where they can go through gaps in the fencing but the water bucks and rhinos can’t follow, and there are two areas with larger gaps that the water bucks can access that the rhinos cannot. Additionally, the three places where both sides of the savanna connect, it appears it will be more complicated that just the rhinos will be able to walk back and forth as they please. There is a gate that if opened will allow the rhinos to cross, but there is a pole like fencing that will allow the water bucks and springboks to still pass across freely.
A few additional things:
While it is completely open, it’s not entirely done. Both mongoose species are not in their exhibit yet, and only half of the savanna is open. The unfinished half appears to just be waiting for grass to grow.
The design of it is fascinating, the exhibit is on both sides of the path, connected in three parts, two under the path, and one above it (similar to the elephant exhibit at the San Diego Zoo). The naked mole rat exhibit is where the rhino savanna goes over the path. It is probably the largest naked mole rat exhibit I’ve seen, at least 30-40 windows.
For those like myself who where wondering how they were planning on mixing black rhinos with the waterbuck and springboks, both have areas where they can go where the black rhinos can’t reach them. The springboks have an area in the back for the length of the savanna, where they can go through gaps in the fencing but the water bucks and rhinos can’t follow, and there are two areas with larger gaps that the water bucks can access that the rhinos cannot. Additionally, the three places where both sides of the savanna connect, it appears it will be more complicated that just the rhinos will be able to walk back and forth as they please. There is a gate that if opened will allow the rhinos to cross, but there is a pole like fencing that will allow the water bucks and springboks to still pass across freely.
A few additional things:
- Originally it had appeared as though the rhino savanna would connect to the giraffe, ostrich, and kudu exhibit. This is not the case.
- It appears that the plan is going to be to have 1 rhino on each side of the exhibit. Since only one of the halves is done right now, there was only one on exhibit, with the other in the barn at the end of the exhibit. It was difficult to see, but if you figured out where to look it was possible to see the second one.
- The new warthog and cape porcupine exhibit(s) is under construction, and from what I could see it seems like it will be very impressive. It is between the Leopard exhibit in village WaTuTu and the Giraffe exhibit
Did the report list anything about the sand cats and black footed cats?
4 sand, 3 bfc.
Are they visible by the public?
No, they’re all behind the scenes at the breeding center.
A giraffe calf was born earlier today, February 21.
JurassicMax
Well-Known Member
It's a female!
Source:
Instagram of The Living Desert (22/20/2022) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaTLY_qPWzT/
Per a zoo email today, a new Wild Prairies habitat has opened:
"The Living Desert's new Wild Prairies habitat is a multi-species walk-through aviary where you can share the same space with an all-female coterie (family group) of black-tailed prairie dogs! A new animal species to The Living Desert, these robustly plump rodents will cohabitate as they would out in the desert grasslands alongside burrowing owls, road runners, turkey vultures, and barn owls interacting in the large walk-through area. Adjacent to the Wild Prairies is a new, spacious habitat where our resident red-tailed hawks reside."
"The Living Desert's new Wild Prairies habitat is a multi-species walk-through aviary where you can share the same space with an all-female coterie (family group) of black-tailed prairie dogs! A new animal species to The Living Desert, these robustly plump rodents will cohabitate as they would out in the desert grasslands alongside burrowing owls, road runners, turkey vultures, and barn owls interacting in the large walk-through area. Adjacent to the Wild Prairies is a new, spacious habitat where our resident red-tailed hawks reside."
It is replacing the palm oasis aviary that was next the coyotes. The space had been under construction for some time so it's nice to see it's been finished.
During COVID that entire aviary was closed and overgrown. It was hard to even tell if it was there anymore. I believe most of the bird species are the original inhabitants of the aviary.
Most likely they aren’t and are instead waiting to be put in the new Lion exhibit but if they were they would be near the meerkats and fennec foxes.