The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore The Maryland Zoo News 2024

 
Kevin2342 said:
1.0 colobus monkey Dexter has been transferred to the Philadelphia Zoo on a SSP breeding recommendation

That leaves the zoo with 1.0 colobus monkey, Bisi. Bisi is over 30 years old so what’s the plan for colobus monkeys? Are they going to get another one or just wait until Bisi passes away?
Click to expand...
I wondered the same thing. The species is quite attractive and would fit well with ... say next to the chimp exhibit.
 
I needed a mental health day and spent it alone in the, nearly empty, Maryland Zoo on this nice dreary Monday...and boy was I shocked to enter and find that every cage is gone from Main Valley, except the Round Cage and current Snowy Owl exhibit. No warning, no heads up, no social media acknowledgement. Gone...as are all those great old photos they printed up to attach to the cages.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I'd love to have seen the Zoo auction off these old artifacts, maybe in pieces, and put that money towards the prospective expansions. I know I'd throw a bid in on a panel of old wrought iron from Main Valley and let wildflowers reclaim it in my backyard :-)

I really didn't see a great deal today. Other things worth mentioning would be a very active and playful Nora before her departure tomorrow, a panel of glass is out in the exterior viewing of Chimpanzee forest. I was told it was broken from the visitor side, not the chimp side. I also hadn't been inside the Giraffe House in awhile, but noticed that the center structure with the faux tree has really been spruced up. Fresh dirt, running water, fake plants, a little keeper pathway. It really looks like it's getting ready to house something. Looking back at the Master Plan, they do mention Giant Elephant Shrew and Naked Mole Rat as part of the Giraffe House within 2-6 years of its publication. I could definitely see Giant Elephant Shrew going in this space.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I wondered the same thing. The species is quite attractive and would fit well with ... say next to the chimp exhibit.
Click to expand...
I am about to answer my own observation. It seems the animal in question is fairly old and will remain at the zoo untill it passes on. No immediate plans beyond that stage.
 
TheCappyCouple said:
Looking back at the Master Plan, they do mention Giant Elephant Shrew and Naked Mole Rat as part of the Giraffe House within 2-6 years of its publication. I could definitely see Giant Elephant Shrew going in this space.
Click to expand...
If these plans do fall through, and Maryland ends up becoming a new holder of this species (better known as the Black-and-Rufous Elephant Shrew). It would be fantastic news for the population as a whole, as there are currently four holders of this species nationwide.
 
TheCappyCouple said:
I also hadn't been inside the Giraffe House in awhile, but noticed that the center structure with the faux tree has really been spruced up. Fresh dirt, running water, fake plants, a little keeper pathway. It really looks like it's getting ready to house something. Looking back at the Master Plan, they do mention Giant Elephant Shrew and Naked Mole Rat as part of the Giraffe House within 2-6 years of its publication. I could definitely see Giant Elephant Shrew going in this space.
Click to expand...

The landscaping around the faux tree in the Giraffe House received a refresh a number of years ago now. I wouldn't necessarily take that as moving forward with some of the proposed small mammal exhibits. The Zoo is pretty much focused on the Main Valley projects at this time - red panda, owl/eagle, gibbon, sea eagles, and event space - as well as facility improvements such as a staff building.
 
Aardwolf said:
Anna, the Zoo's oldest African elephant, was euthanized after a fall from which she was unable to rise

Log in to Facebook
Click to expand...

That's very sad. Seeing Anna swim in the rain was one of the highlights of my visit to this zoo last year.

full
 
According to public documents, the Marsh Aviary is due to have it's decking replaced. Despite being completely rebuilt in 2014, sections of the decking have deteriorated. I would presume this is why the aviary has been closed long after the threat of avian flu has subsided. A preliminary timeline shows a start date of late next year, re-opening in spring 2026.

There are other proposals for a staff building and Main Valley event space as described in the master plan.
 
Other 2024 News:
On August 30th, the zoo announced they acquired 3 domestic goats (breed not specified) named Lightning, Mater, and Sally which are on exhibit.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

On September 20th, the zoo announced they bred and released a wood turtle into the wild.

101K views · 353 reactions | Last month, we teamed up with our friends at Susquehannock Wildlife Society to release another Zoo-hatched wood turtle into the wild! Our head-starting... | By The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore | Facebook

On April 27th, the zoo announced that 2+ black-tailed prairie dogs were born which are on exhibit.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

On July 30th, the zoo announced they built a new overlook structure inside the Amur leopard exhibit.

16K views · 443 reactions | Sofiya the Leopard New Climbing Platform | Exciting news! A new overlook has been added to the leopard habitat, allowing Sofiya to be closer to the cooling fans and stay comfortable on hot days.... | By The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore | Facebook

TheGytrash said:
A new baby chimp (0.1) has been born to first-time mother Rozi! She is currently being raised off exhibit because she wasn't getting enough milk.

Log in to Facebook
Click to expand...

On August 22nd, the zoo announced they confirmed that the chimp was sired by (1.0) Jack.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

Aardwolf said:
Another Abyssinian ground hornbill chick hatched out, the second ever in the Zoo's history after last year's Everest

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Click to expand...

On September 6th, the zoo announced that the hornbill was sexed as (1.0).

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore

NAIB Volunteer said:
Some campus updates: the Zoo is finally starting their long awaited and needed parking lot improvements which is set to begin next week and run through 2024. Some work has already started near the main gate and will be quite disruptive for visitors as non members are required to park elsewhere in Druid Hill Park or around Mansion House Drive. Visitors can enter the main gate or the polar bear gate (the former tram entrance near the rhino barn that was previously used when Main Valley was closed).

Parking Lot Renovation | The Maryland Zoo
Click to expand...

On October 16th, the zoo finally completed and opened the parking lot expansion to the public. Changes include a new elevated pathway, a new stormwater filter system, covered bike parking, and downward-facing smart lighting, among other changes.

8.5K views · 241 reactions | There’s now a better way to roll your crew into the Zoo! After a decade of planning and a year of construction, we have completely overhauled our parking... | By The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore | Facebook
New, Improved Parking Lot Makes It Easier to Roll Your Crew Into the Maryland Zoo | The Maryland Zoo

On November 1st, the zoo announced that 2 African penguins hatched.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
 
NAIB Volunteer said:
According to public documents, the Marsh Aviary is due to have it's decking replaced. Despite being completely rebuilt in 2014, sections of the decking have deteriorated. I would presume this is why the aviary has been closed long after the threat of avian flu has subsided. A preliminary timeline shows a start date of late next year, re-opening in spring 2026.
Click to expand...

Wait, so the Marsh Aviary has been closed this whole time? To this day, and even as of this writing, their website STILL does not mention that the aviary is closed, whether on their alerts page and on their maps (even the alert widget on the home page shows absolutely nothing). People who do not see this thread aren't going to know about that going in.

But then again, they also continued to show that the Giant Tree exhibit was closed well after my visit in May, where it was actually open (although they at least fixed that). Whoever is in charge of announcing this stuff and updating the website needs to wake up.
 
Astrotom3000 said:
Wait, so the Marsh Aviary has been closed this whole time? To this day, and even as of this writing, their website STILL does not mention that the aviary is closed, whether on their alerts page and on their maps (even the alert widget on the home page shows absolutely nothing). People who do not see this thread aren't going to know about that going in.

But then again, they also continued to show that the Giant Tree exhibit was closed well after my visit in May, where it was actually open (although they at least fixed that). Whoever is in charge of announcing this stuff and updating the website needs to wake up.
Click to expand...
When I visited last year I think I saw some birds inside, but the entrance to the Marsh Aviary itself was closed.
 
Had an outstanding pop-in visit at the tail end of the day today, as one of the only folks there! I finally saw the three Ostrich on exhibit after a few years. It's just been luck of the draw on my visits, as I learned from a volunteer that the Rhino do not cooperate with them in a shared exhibit. Another observation I made that I hadn't seen before, was a *Southern* Ground Hornbill. There are a total of four Northern Ground Hornbill between two yards off the crane barn, plus one in the Sitatunga Yard however, beyond that was a Southern Ground Hornbill with the bright red variation in color, in one of the holding yards behind the Sitatunga yard. I have not seen the zoo mention this at all though, it took them awhile to mention the Lappet-Faced Vultures a few years ago, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top