Zoo Miami Zoo Miami News 2022

I just rendered the video from my visit in March. It took 9 hours to encode and process the finished mp4 file. At 3 hrs 28 min long it will be the longest Zoo Miami video online to date. It covers over 75% of the zoo. The only major exhibits I didn't get were Mission Everglades and Australia. Certain animals such as the Sloth Bear and Orangutan etc.. weren't visible at the time of passing by their exhibits and I completely forgot about the Warthog & Babirusa exhibits since they're off the main path. Otherwise pretty much the entire zoo is covered and there will be about 150 chapters for all the various species covered. I don't know how long it will take to upload it to YouTube. It is a 4K 60fps file so I would assume it'll take at least 3 hrs to upload and more than likely over 3 days to process the various resolutions for viewing. I will premiere it on the 27th which will be the 10th anniversary of my channel. I hope you will consider watching it. The entire video includes a score and even a close "raptor" attack! I also made sure to make it give off 2008 vibes since that was the very first time I visited the zoo in March of that year. :D

Additionally, I will be posting photos and writing a review of my visit so stay tuned...
 
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Some updates from a quick visit this afternoon:

Stopped by the Harpy Eagle talk and learned quite a bit:
  • The chick (now 8 months and 1 week old) will be shipped off to Los Angeles Zoo within the next month. She’ll be in off-exhibit holding (previously occupied by their last chick, Hades) leading up to the move as she’s getting territorial with her parents.
  • Hades was shipped off to another Florida zoo within the last year. No idea which one, but some sort of “wild encounters” phrasing was mentioned. I’m unable to find a direct match. He was being glove trained and his destination correlates with the zoo’s desire to have him continue that training.
  • The zoo's Harpy’s are related so their yearly chicks are genetically worth nothing. They have looked into acquiring a genetically valuable pair in the future, but are very keen on continuing breeding with the current pair to showcase this species in captivity.
Some other notes from Amazon and Beyond,
  • As mentioned by @SusScrofa, most of the snakes inside of the reptile building are still off exhibit due to, as the signage on each window without an animal on display says, “a contagious fungus.” However, the new Cuban Racer was on exhibit.
  • The zoos Red Siskin initiative seems to be no longer. The exhibit has been closed for a few months, and there is now a sign saying a Jamaican Boa will be taking it over.
Finally, so great to see Asian River Life open again. I’ve only lived here since the start of the pandemic and have only been able to see the upper viewing area once before. So I can’t say if the misters in the clouded leopard exhibit are new, but they sure provide a nice quiet place to cool down in the zoo, especially on the lower level. There is still an additional clear plastic barrier half way up the fence of the clouded leopard exhibit on the lower level.
 
Joseph G said:
Some updates from a quick visit this afternoon:

Stopped by the Harpy Eagle talk and learned quite a bit:
  • The chick (now 8 months and 1 week old) will be shipped off to Los Angeles Zoo within the next month. She’ll be in off-exhibit holding (previously occupied by their last chick, Hades) leading up to the move as she’s getting territorial with her parents.
  • Hades was shipped off to another Florida zoo within the last year. No idea which one, but some sort of “wild encounters” phrasing was mentioned. I’m unable to find a direct match. He was being glove trained and his destination correlates with the zoo’s desire to have him continue that training.
  • The zoo's Harpy’s are related so their yearly chicks are genetically worth nothing. They have looked into acquiring a genetically valuable pair in the future, but are very keen on continuing breeding with the current pair to showcase this species in captivity.
Some other notes from Amazon and Beyond,
  • As mentioned by @SusScrofa, most of the snakes inside of the reptile building are still off exhibit due to, as the signage on each window without an animal on display says, “a contagious fungus.” However, the new Cuban Racer was on exhibit.
  • The zoos Red Siskin initiative seems to be no longer. The exhibit has been closed for a few months, and there is now a sign saying a Jamaican Boa will be taking it over.
Finally, so great to see Asian River Life open again. I’ve only lived here since the start of the pandemic and have only been able to see the upper viewing area once before. So I can’t say if the misters in the clouded leopard exhibit are new, but they sure provide a nice quiet place to cool down in the zoo, especially on the lower level. There is still an additional clear plastic barrier half way up the fence of the clouded leopard exhibit on the lower level.
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Wish I could've seen ARL during my visit. I can't remember the last time I saw it. I probably skipped it in 2016 and perhaps even back in 2012.
 
I revisited the zoo today. They were giving out free tickets throughout September, something I had just found out about. Some updates:

1. The Indian Rhinos are back on exhibit in their enclosure.

2. However, the Black Rhinoceros is off display as its enclosure is under construction.

3. Critter Connection is closed for repairs.

4. Wings Of Asia is even more closed off than before. Only a very small section is walkable, as construction is very much active now. This also means Indian Hornbill is not viewable at the moment.

5. New species in the aviary - Sulawesi Ground Dove. It is in the first enclosure with fruit doves.

6. Nyala and Bay Duiker (as usual) are all off-display. Not exactly sure what's with the Nyalas, but a keeper from a different section said sometimes they take hoofstock groups off for breeding purposes. Make of that what you will.

7. There is an unsigned Sulcata Tortoise in the Okapi/duiker enclosure.

8. There is an unsigned Green Iguana in the Amazon & Beyond aviary. Yes, I confirmed with a keeper it is a captive rescue specimen and not a wild one.

9. Many snakes are STILL off-exhibit due to the fungus infection outbreak. Sadly, the Cuban Racer is already gone and its exhibit is empty and unsigned. Never got to see it :(

10. Species in Amazon & Beyond that are new since my last visit (besides iguana) are Lystrophis semicinctus (off-exhibit) and Giant Haitian Galliwasp (not seen). There is also a "coming soon" sign for Axolotl; that species is now popping up everywhere it seems.

11. Crested Caracara is gone.

12. According to a keeper feeding the birds in the front pool by Mission Everglades, species in the exhibit that are actually part of the zoo collection include American White and Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Heron and "the ducks" (didn't specify species, but I saw Redhead, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Duck as well as signs for Ring-neck and Wood Ducks). The rest of the species would all be wild visitors. I'd assume this info is correct, but who knows.

13. There is a new Harris' Hawk being trained as an ambassador for shows and she can sometimes be seen in the enclosures on the side of the amphitheater that barely poke out into view. Also, these were the species on-show at the two presentations.
  • Serval
  • Indian White-rumped Vulture (only one currently in the Americas)
  • Eurasian Eagle Owl
  • Blue-gold Macaw
  • Green-winged Macaw
  • Hybrid Macaw (Green-winged x Blue-gold)
 
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SusScrofa said:
I revisited the zoo today. They were giving out free tickets throughout September, something I had just found out about. Some updates:

1. The Indian Rhinos are back on exhibit in their enclosure.

2. However, the Black Rhinoceros is off display as its enclosure is under construction.

3. Critter Connection is closed for repairs.

4. Wings Of Asia is even more closed off than before. Only a very small section is walkable, as construction is very much active now. This also means Indian Hornbill is not viewable at the moment.

5. New species in the aviary - Sulawesi Ground Dove. It is in the first enclosure with fruit doves.

6. Nyala and Bay Duiker (as usual) are all off-display. Not exactly sure what's with the Nyalas, but a keeper from a different section said sometimes they take hoofstock groups off for breeding purposes. Make of that what you will.

7. There is an unsigned Sulcata Tortoise in the Okapi/duiker enclosure.

8. There is an unsigned Green Iguana in the Amazon & Beyond aviary. Yes, I confirmed with a keeper it is a captive rescue specimen and not a wild one.

9. Many snakes are STILL off-exhibit due to the fungus infection outbreak. Sadly, the Cuban Racer is already gone and its exhibit is empty and unsigned. Never got to see it :(

10. Species in Amazon & Beyond that are new since my last visit (besides iguana) are Lystrophis semicinctus (off-exhibit) and Giant Haitian Galliwasp (not seen). There is also a "coming soon" sign for Axolotl; that species is now popping up everywhere it seems.

11. Crested Caracara is gone.

12. According to a keeper feeding the birds in the front pool by Mission Everglades, species in the exhibit that are actually part of the zoo collection include American White and Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Heron and "the ducks" (didn't specify species, but I saw Redhead, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Duck as well as signs for Ring-neck and Wood Ducks). The rest of the species would all be wild visitors. I'd assume this info is correct, but who knows.

13. There is a new Harris' Hawk being trained as an ambassador for shows and she can sometimes be seen in the enclosures on the side of the amphitheater that barely poke out into view. Also, these were the species on-show at the two presentations.
  • Serval
  • Indian White-rumped Vulture (only one currently in the Americas)
  • Eurasian Eagle Owl
  • Blue-gold Macaw
  • Green-winged Macaw
  • Hybrid Macaw (Green-winged x Blue-gold)
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Thanks for the update. Well appreciated.

I was just wondering if you saw Ongard in with Nellie? He's lived solitary for the past few years, but a Melbourne keeper (his birthplace); recently described him celebrating his 12th birthday with a lady friend. I presume this was Nellie as she's Miami's only female, but afaik she's always lived with Dahlip. Maybe she's rotating between the two bulls now, i'm not sure.
 
Jambo said:
Thanks for the update. Well appreciated.

I was just wondering if you saw Ongard in with Nellie? He's lived solitary for the past few years, but a Melbourne keeper (his birthplace); recently described him celebrating his 12th birthday with a lady friend. I presume this was Nellie as she's Miami's only female, but afaik she's always lived with Dahlip. Maybe she's rotating between the two bulls now, i'm not sure.
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I passed by the exhibit once and I only saw one elephant, I assume Nellie.
 
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Jambo said:
Thanks for the update. Well appreciated.

I was just wondering if you saw Ongard in with Nellie? He's lived solitary for the past few years, but a Melbourne keeper (his birthplace); recently described him celebrating his 12th birthday with a lady friend. I presume this was Nellie as she's Miami's only female, but afaik she's always lived with Dahlip. Maybe she's rotating between the two bulls now, i'm not sure.
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Ongard is actually housed both alone and with Dahlip or even Dahlip and Nellie. Their program is pretty versatile in terms of who they put together.
 
NOVAElephantEnthusiast said:
Ongard is actually housed both alone and with Dahlip or even Dahlip and Nellie. Their program is pretty versatile in terms of who they put together.
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That’s good to hear. It’s a little interesting to hear he’s grouped with Dahlip too. I’d assume this is just for social purposes, alongside Dahlip fulfilling a mentor role to Ongard.
 
I'm going to Zoo Miami in a few weeks(covid's passed so I can finally do the Kiwi tour) and wanted to know if 3 animals listed on the website are still at the zoo as I did not see them when I went last year, they are the Black Lemur, Aardvark, and Southern Cassowary. And if the zoo still has them where in the zoo are they?
 
King of Komodo Dragons said:
I'm going to Zoo Miami in a few weeks(covid's passed so I can finally do the Kiwi tour) and wanted to know if 3 animals listed on the website are still at the zoo as I did not see them when I went last year, they are the Black Lemur, Aardvark, and Southern Cassowary. And if the zoo still has them where in the zoo are they?
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Only the cassowary is still kept on exhibit in the Australian Center.
 
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