On my last visit to Korkeasaari I saw to my surprise that Musk enclosure (no.27) was empty. I am planning a visit during Christmas holidays - I try find out what happened.
Musk oxen had health problems. And they died one after another. Korkeasaari is hoping to get a new pair during the next year.
The zoo received 485000 visitors last year. Some of the plan in future is a ''Finnish'' forest area which will be opening in 2017 with European elk and Golden eagle, hopefully also lynx and reindeer will be added in this area. An Australian building and a seal enclouse is also intended in future
Does Korkeasaari currently hold seals? Zootiereliste says they do but when I visited last September I did not see any. I'll be going again in March. Are there any new exhibits/species? Or any zoo babies?
I visited yesterday and was once again very impressed. It's a really great zoo; I particularly enjoy the use of natural rocky outcrops for alpine species, there are some wonderful enclosures in this regard. Some observations: -The zoo is quite unphotogenic at the moment. The snow has recently melted and spring growth has yet to come though so everything looks muddy and unkempt. The zoo staff are making use of this period to clear vines from enclosure in Cat Valley, and to do gardening generally. I'm sure in a couple of months it will look fabulous. -The Barbary Macaque enclosure is tented over for the improvements they are making. I'm not sure if this is standard practice in winter in Finland, or for some other more interesting reason. -There have been some primate births over winter: 0,0,1 White Faced Saki & 0,0,4 Pygmy Marmosets. -The Mishmi Takins have moved to Ahtari in central Finland.
I'm really sad the takins have left the collection. I wonder what will replace them or if it is part of the bigger redevelopments.
I'm getting sad to see that Korkeasaari gets rid of so many species year after year, and I can only ask myself why? I remember the first time I visited the zoo back in 2005, they had seals, musk ox, arctic fox, baboons, mountain goats, Himalayan tahrs and more. I have since then kept coming back but seeing all these species gone makes me sad, and now also takins and according to the map also kangaroos and emus are gone. Is the zoo planning for a big renovation?
The emus are still there and there are still signs for the kangaroos. I assume they were indoors because of the temperature. I was really disappointed not to see the takins, it's hard to believe whatever replaces them will be an improvement.
Elk have returned to the zoo after 15 years. They are currently in the former takin enclosure but just for the summer as they will move to another collection. They are two females, a mother and calf. As far as I can tell, construction of the new Finnish forest development will begin at the end of the summer.
Elk at Korkeasaari By "Elk" are you referring to European Elk -- what we Americans call "moose", or North American Elk, which I believe Europeans call "Wapiti"?
European elk (Alces alces). The zoo did have wapiti until quite recently. Père David's deer are now in that enclosure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYSZzKZh85o
Until the end of August some of the enclosures have been made walk through for a limited time each day. They are the enclosures for wallabies (minus emus who have been moved), vicuña and mara (initially with a guide), and tortoises.
