Woodland Park Zoo Woodland Park Zoo News 2024

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Neil chace said:
I for one am glad to see another zoo go out of common hippos. It's one of the most costly species to keep, and once LSS systems are factored in are also take up more space than any others (except maybe elephants). Especially once we factor in that most zoos don't even keep hippos in natural social groupings or exhibits with large terrestrial areas, it definitely seems for the better that hippos are becoming slightly rarer in zoos. It lets the zoos focus on other, more endangered species.
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You might be surprised to find that I agree with you entirely here. As great as it has been to see Common Hippos at Woodland Park Zoo over the years, the exhibit really is an outdated one and not at all adequate for the species in the modern age. The indoor area is small and the outdoor pool is not heated at all and so the hippos have had to put up with cold water for far too long. It's an old-fashioned setup where twice a week the keepers drain the water and hose everything down, instead of having a modern filtration system. To top things off, that part of the zoo gets really congested along the visitor pathway and the viewing areas for the hippos are awkward. Sending 'Lupe' away gives the zoo an opportunity to redo that entire zone if they fundraise for it. Fill in the pool, widen the pathways, net the whole thing and make it into an exhibit for Spotted Hyena, Leopard, or a type of primate.
 
snowleopard said:
You might be surprised to find that I agree with you entirely here. As great as it has been to see Common Hippos at Woodland Park Zoo over the years, the exhibit really is an outdated one and not at all adequate for the species in the modern age. The indoor area is small and the outdoor pool is not heated at all and so the hippos have had to put up with cold water for far too long. It's an old-fashioned setup where twice a week the keepers drain the water and hose everything down, instead of having a modern filtration system. To top things off, that part of the zoo gets really congested along the visitor pathway and the viewing areas for the hippos are awkward. Sending 'Lupe' away gives the zoo an opportunity to redo that entire zone if they fundraise for it. Fill in the pool, widen the pathways, net the whole thing and make it into an exhibit for Spotted Hyena, Leopard, or a type of primate.
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Maybe the exhibit could work for a non-breeding group of African Wild Dogs?
 
LycaonSekowei said:
What could possibly go in the hippo exhibit when Lupe eventually leaves?
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Ive been thinking about this myself, if they want to keep the exhibit relatively intact I believe "Nile Crocodiles" would be an amazing addition (some modifications between the hippo exhibit and the savanna would need to be made). This would be a species that would bring in visitors, as loosing hippos will be a significant loss. I think pygmy hippos would be a good option as well. They could also fill in the pool and have it be an okapi exhibit.
 
A 0.1 Humboldt Penguin chick hatched on March 24th to mother Mini and father Gomez.
Thanks to the expertise and dedication of the penguin care staff, Woodland Park Zoo has one of the most successful Humboldt penguin breeding programs in North America. The new hatchling brings the total number of successful hatchings to 91 since the zoo’s first breeding season in 2010, a year after the new penguin habitat opened. With the addition of the new chick, the zoo’s colony currently consists of 48 penguins. Parents Mini and Gomez were paired under a breeding recommendation made by the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan, a cooperative, breeding program across accredited zoos to help ensure a healthy, self-sustaining population of penguins. Before the new chick reaches fledging age and goes outdoors in the habitat, she will be removed from the nest so penguin keepers can condition her to approach them for hand feeding and other animal care activities. She will also be given round-the-clock access to a shallow pool where she can swim in a more controlled and less crowded environment. #worldpenguinday #humboldtpenguin #woodlandparkzoo #seafoodwatch | Woodland Park Zoo | Woodland Park Zoo · Original audio
 
Milwaukee Man said:
Female gorilla Akenji is pregnant. This will be her first baby, which is expected around late June or early July.

Woodland Park Zoo Gorilla Expecting First Baby
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This was reported on March 15 by @snowleopard.
snowleopard said:
A baby Gorilla is due this summer. It will be the zoo's 3rd baby Gorilla since March 2020. Here's a detailed blog post all about the upcoming birth:

A baby gorilla is on the way! Pregnant gorilla will be a first-time mom this summer
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GoldenTakin said:
Ive been thinking about this myself, if they want to keep the exhibit relatively intact I believe "Nile Crocodiles" would be an amazing addition (some modifications between the hippo exhibit and the savanna would need to be made). This would be a species that would bring in visitors, as loosing hippos will be a significant loss. I think pygmy hippos would be a good option as well. They could also fill in the pool and have it be an okapi exhibit.
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In terms of conservation importance the only Crocodylus species that would qualify for Woodland Park is the Sahelian/West African (which however range(s)(d) as far north as the Upper Nile and currently still subsists in parts of the East African arc mountainous regions of Uganda) Crocodylus suchus.

The only "Nile crocodiles" of any interest would be Malagasy - however these are recently arrived Nile crocodiles having colonised from SE Africa, whereas by contrast the original Madagascar crocodiles are the long extinct original Madagascar crocodile Voay robustus (allthough this is between 2,000 cal. BP and 7,670 - 7,510 cal. BP
 
River otter pups debut/sexed as 1.1:

From socials:

Valkyrie's two river otter pups, a male and female, have aced their swimming lessons and have graduated to the outdoor pool! Guests will have the opportunity to watch the yet-to-be named pups twirling, rolling, somersaulting, dog paddling and just being otterly fun.
 
0.0.2 Scaly-sided Mergansers have hatched this Spring.
Woodland Park Zoo on Instagram: "Scaly-sided mergansers are a species of diving ducks that are very rare in zoos and in the wild. Woodland Park Zoo is home to nine of these special birds, including two ducklings that hatched this spring to parents Sam and Veronica. The yet-to-be-named little ones will be viewable to the public in our Temperate Wetlands habitat later this summer. Scaly-sided mergansers are native to Eastern Asia, primarily Manchuria and southeastern Russia. They live in fast moving forest streams where they use their agility and eyesight to capture fish and other invertebrates. They're named for the scaly pattern on their flanks. These beautiful birds are endangered due to many challenges including loss of habitat and food sources, and illegal hunting. #SundayVibe #ScalySidedMergansers #DivingDucks #DucksOfInstagram Image descriptions: 1) Two fluffy scaly-sided merganser ducklings swimming in a white tub. Their heads are brown with black eyes and beaks and white chins, and their bodies are dark grey fluffy plumage with white spots. 2) Two scaly-sided merganser adults swimming in the pond. Their heads are brown with dark orange beaks. Their bodies are greyish with a scaly pattern of dark grey, white and black on their flanks. Their feet are orange. 3) Close up of the head of an adult scaly-sided merganser. It's head is brown with a brown eye and orange beak. There is a greyish, white, mottled, scaly pattern on its breast and flanks. Its back is darker grey."
 
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