Here is a link to the master plan (more of a description than a posting of the actual plans): Zoo Master Plan | Sequoia Park Zoo
Masala the red panda escaped her enclosure. Red panda on the loose after escaping from California zoo
Masala has been found safe and sound. Masala the red panda found safe and sound after California zoo escape | World news | The Guardian
Another article about the escaped red panda : Young Red Panda Found Safe, Unharmed After Escaping From Sequoia Park Zoo | NBC Bay Area
The Zoo is joining in on aiding the recovery and reintroduction of the California condor, building a veterinary quarantine facility. An icon returns home: Sequoia Park zoo helps with California Condor reintroduction - KIEM-TV | News Channel 3
Here is a recent article about plans to add a 'Redwood Canopy Skywalk' to the zoo. From the article: "Alongside the skywalk, there are also plans for a “Native Predator” exhibit. This will feature mountain lions, black bear and coyotes. The new skywalk will pass above this exhibit before moving outside the zoo boundary into the tall trees of Sequoia Park." New Redwood Canopy Skywalk for Sequoia Park Zoo
Female white-handed gibbon Joh-leen passed away. Sequoia Park Zoo’s Joh-leen the gibbon dies, leaves behind mate, Bono – Times-Standard
Bono the white-handed gibbon is off to Santa Barbara next month. Bono, a White-handed Gibbon Leaving Sequoia Park Zoo Soon – Redheaded Blackbelt
Here is an article about a possible new bear exhibit: Black bears may be in Sequoia Park Zoo before the end of next year – Redwood Times
According to this page on the website, the Redwood Canopy Skywalk (see post 6 above) is scheduled to open in late 2020. There is only a passing mention of the accompanying native predators addition with no species mentioned. The rendering, however, shows a few black bears and one wolf. Redwood Canopy Walk | Sequoia Park Zoo
After I posted above, I read the article in the previous post that focuses on the native predator exhibit. It says it is slated for 2021 so I wonder if that means the skywalk will be delayed until then as well or if it will open first without the animal exhibits? Also what I took for a wolf in the rendering must be a coyote (based on the species list given).
I suppose since Sequoia Park is now my home zoo (geographically speaking) I ought to help out on this thread. Let's see what has happened here since February shall we? The zoo's four snake species (Western terrestrial garter snake, California king snake, California mountain king snake, and rubber boa) have apparently moved from the Secrets of the Forest building to the Lamoree Learning Lab. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1227655116314071040) The zoo's gift shop was moved and is now larger. I'm guessing to where Secrets of the Forest was*? (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1235318899664728066) The zoo closed its doors on March 17 due to COVID-19. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1239956510983294977) On March 27 the zoo said the Redwood Skywalk will be open by September and that in a couple weeks they'll begin the design phase of the new American black bear/coyote exhibit. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1243626254118649859) The zoo apparently has received two common ravens being kept in what looks like the bald eagle aviary**. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1250950628614049795) The zoo apparently has received two white-crested laughingthrushes. They are on display in the walk-through Nancy Hilfiker Aviary.(https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1253316480810266624) In January (although it was announced in March) the zoo received Hocus, a cotton-topped tamarin, from the Oakland Zoo as part of a Species Survival Plan recommendation. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1254764876364500992) The zoo apparently has an animal ambassador striped skunk. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1254896750999080960) A new bee hive was installed at the barn. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1255938185458257922) The zoo reopened on July 3 for members and on July 7 to the general public. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1278084725731733513) The zoo welcomed two southern screamer chicks on July 7. (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1287364667892006912) The zoo now has Pacific lamprey in an aquarium that once held Chinook salmon.(https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1295337293021052928) In August, 11 Chilean flamingo eggs were laid (https://twitter.com/SequoiaParkZoo/status/1299059413127487491). The Redwood Skywalk should be completed sometime next month. (Eureka City Council: Update on Redwood Sky Walk; grant sought for purchase of Pine Motel – Times-Standard) *I'll check if Secrets of the Forest is still present when I visit in a few weeks. **I'll check if the bald eagles are still present.
It's a shame that they dismantled Secrets of the Forest. It was a great little reptile-invertebrate and natural history exhibit.
I visited today (September 13) so here are some updates: Brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps fusciceps) Jack and Candy have access to both their normal exhibit and the former gibbon exhibit at the same time. The zoo wants to get capuchin or howler monkeys to mix with them. The snakes the moved to the Learning Lab are joined by a tarantula (species unknown). The gift shop has indeed taken over the building that once housed Secrets of the Forest. The Western pond turtles and California roach fish (Hesperoleucus symmetricus) are still in there though. The northwestern salamander (Ambystoma gracile) is now in a tank in the animal kitchen. The coastal giant salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) died. No word on what happened to the dampwood termites (Zootermopsis angusticollis) or the banana slug. The Pacific lampreys (Entosphenus tridentatus) share their exhibit with three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), and two species of Cottus sculpin. The northern bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtonensis) are still present, they just live alongside the common ravens (Corvus corax). No sign of the band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) or green heron (Butorides virescens) in the Nancy Hilfiker Aviary. The western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) has died. Schreber the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is no longer exhibited at the barnyard, instead it can be found outside the aviary. No sign of the house mouse (Mus musculus) exhibit in the barnyard.
The zoo is now home to Boo the western spotted skunk. She is a rescue. "The goal is for her to be an ambassador animal and to eventually rotate into the Barnyard." (https://www.instagram.com/p/CIGHN7YLQt-/)
Here is a fresh update (December 18th) of the 'Redwood Skywalk' project at the zoo. The link below contains a short video (under two minutes) that gives a great overview of the construction, with zero stairs anywhere as visitors will take a self-guided walk amidst the trees. Redwood News given exclusive first look at Redwood Skywalk’s progress - KIEM-TV | Redwood News
The Redwood Sky Walk opened sometime in late May/early June. Redwood Sky Walk | Eureka, California | Redwood Sky Walk
The zoo's official greeter, Chester the domestic cat, has passed away. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTZoVBINeXr/