Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati Zoo News 2018

Update on the wildlife canyon moveout, the last remaining capybara at the zoo was sent to Ardastra Zoo in the Bahamas at the beginning of the month

 

The zebras are off exhibit until further notice for construction, and there is construction down and around the red pandas as well.

 

What for? Rhino Reserve modifications or something else?

 

Their is a possibility that Anana the polar bear may be pregnant:

Special delivery: Polar bear cubs soon for Cincinnati Zoo?

 

11 1/2 year old Pallas Cat "Buster" recently passed away. He was the father of 3 litters during his time at Cincinnati. In the 2 pallas cat exhibits in Night Hunters now is a new breeding pair "Mushu" and "Katarina"

 

Emperor Scorpians have been born at Cincinnati Zoo

https://www.wlwt.com/article/meet-cincinnatis-newest-zoo-babies/25425623

 

Three Pascagoula map turtle hatchlings have gone on exhibit in the Reptile House.

 

Polar bear "Anana" has experienced a pseudopregnancy. From Facebook:

While the lack of cubs is disappointing, this does at least mean that the renovations to the polar bear exhibits can begin after being delayed when Anana began to den up in the fall.

 

Unfortunate, especially as Little One turns 29 years old today

 

Nanuq in Columbus sired cubs in his late 20s so there's always hope. But I wouldn't be surprised if next year would be their last breeding season. But you never know what pairing they will do after that. Lets just hope Little One and Anana get along again this upcoming breeding season!

 

A pair of Congo peafowl is now on exhibit in the indoor aviary in Jungle Trails. I do not know whether a female has come to join the resident old male or if it is an entirely new pair.

 

A short video of what it's like going through the Festival of Lights - voted this year's Best Zoo Lights through USA Today.

 

A baby tamandua was born at the zoo.

Cincinnati Zoo welcomes baby tamandua

 

Cora the giraffe has left Cincinnati Zoo and is now at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Roger Williams Park Zoo introduces Cora the giraffe | Roger Williams Park Zoo

 

Fiona the hippo weighs in at 1,000 pounds:

Fiona the hippo hits milestone, weighing in at 1,000 pounds

 

A little blue penguin chick hatched two days ago.

 

2018 News Summary

Every other year the zoo is relatively uneventful in terms of opening new major developments, events, and having star births. There may never be another 2017 at the Cincinnati Zoo again. While that may be true for those subjects, the zoo made the biggest announcement in its history with the unveiling of their master plan - creating an anticipation that will last until the projects are complete.

January: Baby Aardvark, Winsol, is born - Gorilla, Anju, mother of a two-year old passes away
February: A Colobus was born
April: Wings of the World reopens after an extensive renovation and upgrade - A fourth rescued Manatee, later named Daphne, is put on display
May: A fire started at one of the restaurants near Manatee Springs - all of them were later demolished - Monkey Island closes and a Galapagos tortoise exhibit takes half its space.
June: The zoo announced their master plan. A $150 million dollar project for a new walkthrough kangaroo/penguin exhibit replacing Wildlife Canyon; a parking garage; renovations to Rhino Reserve, Seal Falls, and Lords of the Arctic; and a new seven acre Elephant complex. - The zoo added an outdoor Tamandua exhibit in the Children’s Zoo - The last White Tiger, Popsy, passed away - The Free Flight Aviary reopens with terns, turacos, gulls, a Seriema, exotic pigeons and more. It’s home to Keas in the colder months - Two red panda cubs were born
July: Bald Eagles took the space of Monkey Island’s other half
August: Two Guam Trails hatched - A custody battle brews with the Gorilla Foundation in California for silverback, Ndume - a former resident to Cincinnati
September: It was announced that Isla, a southern tamandua, was pregnant - Two of the zoo’s lion cubs, Uma and Willa were transferred
November: Wildlife Canyon closes (1989) to make way for Roo Valley (2020). Camels, Przewalski’s Horse, takins, warty pigs, capybaras, southern screamers are permanently off display for the moment or have found new homes
December: After months of anticipation - it was announced that Anana was in fact, not pregnant - The zoo’s annual Festival of Lights was voted Best Zoo Lights in the US - A southern tamandua was born - A Little Penguin hatched

 

I read on their website that they have their Blue Tree Monitor on display. Can anyone confirm this?

 

Yes, in the Dragons! exhibit. Been there for awhile.

 

I meant to say it was in the Reptile House on the site. I had a chance to go behind the scenes with a reptile keeper back in 2016, in which I saw the monitor behind the scenes. It was deemed unfit for public display, as it was too stressful on the animal. Though, in Dragons! would be a better exhibit, as it is a more private area (less people, quieter, more serene area).