Just to go back on their word even more, there is now another new Asian elephant: Karen. She is 47 and came from the Ringling Bros. She had already been bonded with Nicole (40) and is now bonded with Lucky (56).
I'm glad Lucky has company, but I'm also really surprised by there being two new elephants. For several years I've been hearing rumors that the SAZ were planning on eventually housing a herd of African elephants, and had thrown around the idea of a bachelor herd, this being the African section of the zoo. Again, I know those were just rumors, but I'd been hearing them for a long time, so I'd started to believe them. I'm not quite sure I follow a lot of the thinking behind this or, really, a lot of SAZ's other more recent changes. But again, I'm glad Lucky has company.
I believe the eventual plan is for African elephants to be exhibited where the Asians are at present. Once Lucky passes away, Nicole and Karen can presumably go back to Florida (they're just on loan from Ringling Bros). Then the zoo can redevelop that habitat and wait for Africans to become available. That's just my thinking, I have no clue how things will actually work out.
Ah, thanks jayjds. That makes sense to me. I also didn't realize that Nicole and Karen were on loan. I'm glad this has worked out for Lucky.
2 jaguar cubs were born recently. That's all the Facebook post has for info. They aren't on exhibit yet. I was hardly even aware that the zoo had two jaguars.
Last week, 7 Mexican black-tailed vipers hatched. Only 10 AZA facilities have them, and breeding success is sparse.
Video of the Tomistoma-babies : https://www.facebook.com/SanAntonioZoo/videos/10154385866991539/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
The new lion habitat opened today, christened "Big Cat Valley". The moat was filled and the viewing is now a large glass wall. Besides a few small plants being added, not much changed. The improvements cost $1 million.
The Big Cat exhibit renovations continue, the zoo has begun fundraising for a new and expanded Jaguar Habitat with a overhead walkway. It will cost $2 million dollars, and will feature a main and secondary habitat San Antonio Zoo - Timeline | Facebook
Of interest is that it will be going through another animal's habitat before reaching the new part of the jaguar habitat. It will be either the aviary or the spider monkey exhibit, hard to tell from the concept art.
