The Akron Zoo has received a new male snow leopard from the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa. His name is Tai Lung (most likely named after the villain of the first Kung Fu Panda movie). He will rotate on exhibit with Shanti, the female snow leopard.
The musk deer exhibit is complete with a new sign. New residents were in the exhibit. Not the ones you were expecting. Red-breasted geese have moved in. The zoo joined the SSP last year. This is the first time the species has been on exhibit. Tai Lung had access to the snow leopard exhibit, but I did not see him. The area has been fenced off while he adjusts. The renovation of the Wild Prairie barn area appears to be complete. And now Curious Creatures. I believe were are getting closer to a formal announcement on the changes. At this time, nine exhibits have now changed since a year ago when it opened. Three exhibits have been added. Exhibits that have not changed are naked mole-rat, leafcutter ant, mantis shrimp, panther chameleon, big-eyed tree frog, octopus, moon jelly, glass bottom boat, and carnivorous plants. The Learning Lab animals also remain the same. And now the changes: LAUNCH = CURRENT Flamboyant Cuttlefish #1 = Spiny Balloonfish Exhibit (may change) Flamboyant Cuttlefish #2 = Relocated Garden Eel/Knifefish/Sea Apple/Shrimp Exhibit Garden Eel/Knifefish/Sea Apple/Shrimp Exhibit = Pufferfish/Triggerfish Exhibit (details to come) Electric Eel Exhibit = Cichlids added with electric eels Mata Mata Turtle Exhibit = Spotted Turtle/Cichlid Exhibit South American Sea Nettle Exhibit = Pacific Sea Nettle Exhibit Flashlight Fish Exhibit = Spotted Jelly Exhibit Fluorescent Coral Exhibit = Reorganized and new non-coral species added Chain Dogfish Exhibit = Potbellied seahorses added NEW EXHIBIT = Green Tree Monitor Exhibit NEW EXHIBIT = Flamboyant Flower Beetle Exhibit NEW EXHIBIT = Partula Snail Exhibit (by glass) / species of walking stick likely behind
Farmland’s closure appears to be coming soon. Bella and Sophie, the zoo’s infamous Boer goats that are really big girls with attitudes to match, are now in the renovated yard in the back area behind the Wild Prairie barn next to the Sika deer. They have re-enforced the fence between the two holding areas. The other larger goats are also missing. They may have moved to another institution. They were trying to find a new home for Cleatus the Guinea hog. There is a cart by the train for purchasing tickets. The newly installed Granary at the Wild Prairie barn has signage. There are also species signs for polypay sheep and pygmy goat. This is making me believe that construction is coming soon. I just do not know why they left Farmland on the map. Maybe a Pride of Africa is coming soon too. The building by Komodo Kingdom added as a food stand for Wild Lights is currently a lemonade stand. I think it will sell more snacks later because there is a permanent sign below the lemonade sign.
Boxie, a female Galapagos tortoise from Columbia Park Zoo, will join female Pagos at Akron. Pagos is 29. Boxie is nearly 100.
Musk deer are now on exhibit, but they have not been announced yet. Since they are shy and spook easily, they may not be out during the week because of noisy field trips. They also have to get adjusted to the red-breasted geese. And geese getting adjusted to them. The zoo is now making their own cotton candy at the zoo's Snack Stand. All of the larger goats are living together in one of the two holding areas behind the Wild Prairie barn. The retired Sika deer is in the other. The sheep and the pygmy goats will soon move to the barn's public area so Farmland can be removed.
Akron’s parks department made this document on on all of their parks. There is a page on the zoo because it is on city-owned land. It outlines the current continuous zoo property. The zoo owns more land. The have acquired nearby properties as it becomes available. The overhead photo used is several years old because the new parking lot is not included. http://www.akronohio.gov/cms/resource_library/files/c2dacb6d1749cca5/2018_park_slides_release.pdf
Akron’s Christopher Nelson is presenting Pride of Africa and Wild Asia at the Fall AZA Conference. Pride of Africa and Wild Asia The Akron Zoo’s big exhibit project for 2015-2021 will include renovation of the oldest exhibit area in the park. Features include single- and mixed-species animal exhibits; animal feeding experiences; water play; and messages of successful approaches to human-wildlife conflicts, of social responsibility, and our impacts on species survival. http://annual.aza.org/profile.cfm?p...5F8D10B-F04D-A206-2B64-A48F47734394&xtemplate
At least means an announcement should be made by mid-September. With the year countdown beginning this weekend, all should be revealed sooner than later. Hopefully.
