Minnesota Zoo What to Do With the Former Musk Ox Exhibit

[SharkFinatic]

I know it’s been a while since this has been discussed, but how do you all think the Minnesota Zoo should utilize the former musk ox exhibit, since AFAIK, it’s still just sitting empty? I know another species of hoofstock would definitely be the most likely replacement, but I’m not sure which one would be the best fit, so I’d like to see what the rest of you think.

 

[Dhole dude]

I know it’s been a while since this has been discussed, but how do you all think the Minnesota Zoo should utilize the former musk ox exhibit, since AFAIK, it’s still just sitting empty? I know another species of hoofstock would definitely be the most likely replacement, but I’m not sure which one would be the best fit, so I’d like to see what the rest of you think.

The former Musk Ox exhibit has held a bachelor herd of Przewalski's horses after the last Musk Oxen died. They were supposed to be released in Russia, but those plans fell through after the war & Covid. Afiak the exhibit is supposed to remain an extra Przewalski's Horse exhibit for the foreseeable future, until the rest of the herd eventually moves up to this exhibit for future developments.

 

[DavidBrown]

How large are those exhibits? With a new barn would there be room for the zoo to convert that area to an African hoofstock area with giraffes, rhinos. zebra, etc, as several master plans have proposed developing an African animal complex at the zoo?

 

[wild boar]

I know it’s been a while since this has been discussed, but how do you all think the Minnesota Zoo should utilize the former musk ox exhibit, since AFAIK, it’s still just sitting empty? I know another species of hoofstock would definitely be the most likely replacement, but I’m not sure which one would be the best fit, so I’d like to see what the rest of you think.

There are a few seemingly plausible options that would maintain the theme of only exhibiting cold-tolerant species outdoors.

Over the past several years, one of the recurring ideas in the different plans has been to erect an exhibit for elk on some of their currently undeveloped land. With the Asian wild horses that had been amassed for the later canceled release in Russia finally gone, I wouldn’t be surprised if elk are acquired for this enclosure instead of one that has yet to be built. That is, if they really are seen as a priority addition to the zoo. Manitoban elk are native to Minnesota, so they are probably the most likely candidate of the different subspecies, but Roosevelt elk and rocky mountain elk are also options. Minnesota's regulations in place to control Chronic Wasting Disease would not preclude the zoo from acquiring elk or other cervids from another state, either.

Transcaspian urial, Bukharan markhor, and mountain goats all might be considered, but none seem likely. When the urial were still in the Tropics Trail, there were plans for an outdoor enclosure for the species, and the muskox enclosure could theoretically serve the same purpose. Now that urial have been gone for a few years and also now that red pandas, whom urial were supposed to share that proposed enclosure with, are being added as a replacement for the dholes (much to my disappointment), the urial most likely aren't a priority.

In terms of other caprines, the ibex, tur, tahr, mouflon, and aoudad species are only barely worth mention, as are the takin subspecies only held by San Diego and private hands. I suppose rocky mountain bighorn and Dall sheep are possible, but still very unlikely.

Bactrian deer and Père David's deer would both be able to handle the Midwestern climate. The latter would be easier to source as they are in more zoos and are recommended by the Taxonomic Advisory Group, or at least the population is recognized.

Also, the enclosure might continue to serve as an auxiliary space for the hoofstock species that are already held. This is honestly probably the most likely. Well, that or orphaned white-tailed deer.

 

[wild boar]

The former Musk Ox exhibit has held a bachelor herd of Przewalski's horses after the last Musk Oxen died. They were supposed to be released in Russia, but those plans fell through after the war & Covid. Afiak the exhibit is supposed to remain an extra Przewalski's Horse exhibit for the foreseeable future, until the rest of the herd eventually moves up to this exhibit for future developments.

All of the formerly Russia-bound individuals have either been relocated to other zoos or assimilated into the primary herd.

What future developments are you referring to?

 

[birdsandbats]

How large are those exhibits? With a new barn would there be room for the zoo to convert that area to an African hoofstock area with giraffes, rhinos. zebra, etc, as several master plans have proposed developing an African animal complex at the zoo?

This particular exhibit is about 7.6 acres, although about 4 acres of that is a lake.

That all being said I don't want to see an African exhibit at Minnesota as I think it would ruin the feel of the zoo and ultimately be unnecessary given how close Como Park is.

 

[DavidBrown]

That all being said I don't want to see an African exhibit at Minnesota as I think it would ruin the feel of the zoo and ultimately be unnecessary given how close Como Park is.

That seems to be the realistic reason that Minnesota Zoo has probably never built an Africa zone, but it keeps coming up in their master plans.

 

[StoppableSan]

Hot take, elephants.

It would divert heavily from Northern Trail's theme at first glance - that being said, if you tie it together with theming about mammoths and the Pleistocene era (especially since Columbian mammoths and mastodons were found in Minnesota), it would tie in quite nicely. Past that, you would have another reason to go on the Treetop Trail, and Minnesota Zoo would have an incredibly progressive facility merely by reinforcing the fencing and adding a barn. Plus, it adds another point of difference from the megafauna-heavy Como Park Zoo.

Mammuthus columbi (Columbian Mammoth) | Science Museum of Minnesota

 

[birdsandbats]

Hot take, elephants.

It would divert heavily from Northern Trail's theme at first glance - that being said, if you tie it together with theming about mammoths and the Pleistocene era (especially since Columbian mammoths and mastodons were found in Minnesota), it would tie in quite nicely. Past that, you would have another reason to go on the Treetop Trail, and Minnesota Zoo would have an incredibly progressive facility merely by reinforcing the fencing and adding a barn. Plus, it adds another point of difference from the megafauna-heavy Como Park Zoo.

Mammuthus columbi (Columbian Mammoth) | Science Museum of Minnesota

I really don't like that idea, it really messes with Minnesota's cold climate vibe.

 

[StoppableSan]

I really don't like that idea, it really messes with Minnesota's cold climate vibe.

Even if it was an Elephant Odyssey-esque exhibit? Less so with the utilitrees (obviously) but moreso with interpretive graphics and other animal analogues that were native to Minnesota during the Pleistocene era. Like the quality/immersion of Russia's Grizzly Coast and the rest of the Northern Trail, but... elephants.

 

[birdsandbats]

Even if it was an Elephant Odyssey-esque exhibit? Less so with the utilitrees (obviously) but moreso with interpretive graphics and other animal analogues that were native to Minnesota during the Pleistocene era. Like the quality/immersion of Russia's Grizzly Coast and the rest of the Northern Trail, but... elephants.

Yeah. Minnesota Zoo's whole point is that it basically only has cold climate animals. You can go in the dead of winter and not really miss any animal.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

What about Asian elephants? Those are supposed to be relatively cold-hardy, yes?

 

[wild boar]

Even if it was an Elephant Odyssey-esque exhibit? Less so with the utilitrees (obviously) but moreso with interpretive graphics and other animal analogues that were native to Minnesota during the Pleistocene era. Like the quality/immersion of Russia's Grizzly Coast and the rest of the Northern Trail, but... elephants.

I imagine an elephant exhibit that is three or four acres of land in size typically could be easily converted into an adequate, probably fantastic, elephant exhibit, but this muskoxen enclosure is an exception. The terrain varies in a way that the far edge of the enclosure is on a hill with a steep incline from the lake to that edge. Probably 70 percent of the total land area is on the hill.

I think I could get on board with the idea of elephants at the Minnesota Zoo, but this enclosure is not the space to do it. That being said, I don't really think that mimicking the theme of Elephant Odyssey is or would ever be the way to go. There are a variety of approaches that could be taken in terms of the theme, but I would hope that it would be original, if there needs to be a theme at all.

 

[DavidBrown]

Hot take, elephants.

It would divert heavily from Northern Trail's theme at first glance - that being said, if you tie it together with theming about mammoths and the Pleistocene era (especially since Columbian mammoths and mastodons were found in Minnesota), it would tie in quite nicely. Past that, you would have another reason to go on the Treetop Trail, and Minnesot

Back in the late 1970s after it opened, the Minnesota Zoo did consider building a complex for Asian elephants, orangutans, and rhinos, but that obviously never happened.

 

[tigris115]

Back in the late 1970s after it opened, the Minnesota Zoo did consider building a complex for Asian elephants, orangutans, and rhinos, but that obviously never happened.

Does any concept material exist of this?

 

[SharkFinatic]

I think another possible use of the space could be as a waterfowl exhibit, due to that enormous lake in the middle, although it would probably require building an enormous flight cage around it to prevent the birds from escaping.

 

[DavidBrown]

Does any concept material exist of this?

I'm sure that it does. There is an article from Smithsonian magazine from shortly after the Minnesota Zoo opened that features the new zoo and mentions the elephant-rhino-orangutan plan as a possible future development. I asked a zoo designer acquaintance who is familiar with Minnesota Zoo history about it, and apparently it was designed in conceptual form. I have never seen drawings or any concrete plans beyond the mention in the Smithsonian article.

 

[evilmonkey239]

I think Persian onager would be a good choice if they could obtain some from The Wilds.

It would require a lot of expensive refurbishments, but alternatively, perhaps with some adjustments, polar bears could go in the habitat.

 

[Dhole dude]

All of the formerly Russia-bound individuals have either been relocated to other zoos or assimilated into the primary herd.

What future developments are you referring to?

I am aware, although there is still a single male horse held at the former Musk Oxen exhibit.

I can’t get into any details for those plans as they have yet to be revealed to the public. They should be revealed in due time, although knowing the zoo that could be a long time from now . All I will say is they are very exciting!

Does any concept material exist of this?

There might be some in the zoo’s original guidebook, which showed the original Northern Trail plans, but I don’t have a copy of it so I can’t know for sure.

 

[MidwestFan]

It would require a lot of expensive refurbishments, but alternatively, perhaps with some adjustments, polar bears could go in the habitat.

Could be an impressive polar bear exhibit for sure, but I see that as unlikely, as it will continue to be nearly impossible to source any bears, and Como Park Zoo already has the species close by.