Thank you!!! They usually don't post the studbook until January, I didn't know it was out!
The 3 cheetah boys are now at Roer's Zoofari in VA, btw.
Turtle Back Zoo Turtle Back Zoo News
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Thank you!!! They usually don't post the studbook until January, I didn't know it was out!
The 3 cheetah boys are now at Roer's Zoofari in VA, btw.
After being damaged in a 2019 storm, a new and improved bald eagle exhibit has opened, along with the debut of a new male eagle named Freedom.
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Dedicates New Bald Eagle Exhibit
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Dedicates New Bald Eagle Exhibit
The West African dwarf crocodile has been moved to the reptile house.
The river otter exhibit has been renovated.
The squirrel exhibit was demolished and the squirrels moved to the tragopan exhibit (bizarre choice tbh)
The cow they had is gone.
The aquarium, Tropical Currents, is closing.
If anyone has any questions I'm willing to answer them.
The river otter exhibit has been renovated.
The squirrel exhibit was demolished and the squirrels moved to the tragopan exhibit (bizarre choice tbh)
The cow they had is gone.
The aquarium, Tropical Currents, is closing.
If anyone has any questions I'm willing to answer them.
Just posting some stuff that I happened to remember:
The cranes and muntjacs are gone. No idea what happened to them.
The pheasantry is closed
The South American exhibit was gutted and replaced with... a cheetah. Yay.
They are down to 2 sea lions now. JR and Zeus.
The zoo acquired a new American alligator, Pineapple.
The cranes and muntjacs are gone. No idea what happened to them.
The pheasantry is closed
The South American exhibit was gutted and replaced with... a cheetah. Yay.
They are down to 2 sea lions now. JR and Zeus.
The zoo acquired a new American alligator, Pineapple.
South american exhibit? The cheetah doesn't have an exhibit, she's an ambassador. They rotate her through different exhibits so people get a chance to see her sometimes. In colder months she's often in the bear area.
The South America exhibit with the rheas, capybaras, swans, etc.
Ah okay, wasn't sure if you meant that one or maned/anteater
A few new updates:
-A new great horned owl across from the bald eagle exhibit
-Two new Bourke's parrots
-The flamingos have three nests going, fingers crossed for eggs
-They've replanted a few exhibits in the herp building, particularly the alligator exhibit
-They're going to be doing some renovations to Amazing Asia, including "planning a habitat to highlight a few
amazing Asian species, including Clouded leopards". They didn't elaborate on the extent of renovations
-A new great horned owl across from the bald eagle exhibit
-Two new Bourke's parrots
-The flamingos have three nests going, fingers crossed for eggs
-They've replanted a few exhibits in the herp building, particularly the alligator exhibit
-They're going to be doing some renovations to Amazing Asia, including "planning a habitat to highlight a few
amazing Asian species, including Clouded leopards". They didn't elaborate on the extent of renovations
I found this article that provides some info about the Amazing Asia renovation plans:
Critics Pan Plan For New Exhibit At Turtle Back Zoo
That is much more detailed, thanks!
The exhibits themselves will be pretty small tbh. Like the main clouded leopard exhibit won't even be 500 sq ft and the Red Panda exhibit will be only 200 sq ft. Maybe they'll be designed well but still, not exactly doing more than the bare minimum on exhibitry.
Unfortunately the zoo has some of the biggest push back in the country when it comes to dealing with locals and getting things approved
If you read the article it seems most if not all are vague and non specific reservations suggestive of secretive behaviour by planning department. I think it is diabolical bellshit.Unfortunately the zoo has some of the biggest push back in the country when it comes to dealing with locals and getting things approved
I mean having read up on the situation the zoo has not been transparent in the past. This will replace the muntjac/crane exhibits but in the past the zoo has gone forward with expansions into public parkland with little notice or comment. Now I think there is a nice medium but if I remember correctly there last project that was canceled was a 7 million dollar amphitheater that would have eaten into the parkland, and the zoo had to cancel it because of how deeply unpopular it was (and how it was largely public money). The article definitely is petty and has rather stupid critiques but the zoo really has refused to establish an official boundary of its site, as I imagine they feel this boxes them in, yet at the same point it brings a lot of negative response in the same community that funds it.
To my earlier point though there are definitely ways of create larger exhibits for both species on the existing site, sadly this is just a trend with many of the exhibits at the zoo (especially for cats like the existing leopards).
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Thanks for the clarification. These boundary issues I was unaware of. Yet in the way the reservations in the newspaper seemed as you Saïd somewhat Petty. I do feel the zoo could do with better community relationship building.
There's a long history of BS on both sides, but especially the anti-zoo side. I imagine they're being vague because they're waiting to hear what limits will be set and aren't sure of the exact perimeters yet. Why put all your effort into establishing the details through XYZ when you know you're going to have to make changes at steps ABC?
Are the owls at where the porcupines were supposed to be?
I think that the zoo should get rid of either the snow or clouded leopards rather than try to get a clouded leopard. I felt like their enclosures were the worst amongst the carnivore exhibits on my visit. I also believe that they should have the tragopan and squirrels in a better enclosure as a prt of improving Asia.
Unless things have changed, they already have a clouded leopard or two (off exhibit). It used to rotate on exhibit with the Amur leopard, but that's not happening anymore. So since they have at least one, it would be nice to see it on exhibit.
Animals are not escaping the Turtle Back Zoo. With the flooding from Ida online people have been saying animals like lions gorillas penguins and bears have escaped the zoo. Big problem is the Zoo doesn’t have gorillas. Police have verified the statement as false. The idea has been floating around social media with a fake amber alert text message.