I would be the last to claim storks should not be part and parcel of a regular zoo repertoire, but given its overall status and the "huge" population within European zoos I would rather the spaces in North America were filled up with a more conservation dependent stork species, like f.i. the Oriental stork C. boyciana).
Giraffe calf! It's a boy! Dallas Zoo welcomes first giraffe calf since 2015 | Dallas Zoo | Dallas News
Dallas Zoo welcomes first-ever rare Somali wild ass babies | Dallas ZooHoo! Exciting news! Also, the zoo has also recently acquired two female Hartmann's mountain zebras, which will be mixed in with the rest of the savanna.
Earlier this year, two female greater kudu arrived from the Houston Zoo, and one has since delivered a female calf.
The vulture exhibit near the hippos has finished reconstruction, and now exhibits two new palm nut vultures, along with what it used to have, hooded vultures, white backed vultures, and saddle billed storks (coming soon). Now on the monorail, in the pit several waterfalls empty into as you enter the wetlands habitat, dalmatian pelicans can be seen on exhibit! It also appears as if the reptile house is in the midst of a massive change, since roughly a fifth of the exhibits are off exhibit, including everything in ghosts of the bayou with the exception of the american alligators. The mystery tortoise is still unsigned, and is still under it's log so that all you can see is the glint of it's shell. The perentie exhibit now has a grand cayman blue iguana in it (the one that's been on exhibit) and a much smaller, juvenile, grand cayman blue iguana with it. The kookaburra are off exhibit in the Australian area (Is it possible they will try to exhibit the perentie outdoors there again? There doesn't appear to be room for them in the reptile house anymore unless something else moves).
In September, the Australian section of the zoo will close due to highway construction nearby. The 17 lorikeets will move to San Antonio, the Western Grey Kangaroos and Koalas will move to San Diego, the Wallabies will move to the Ellen Trout Zoo, and the kookaburras will move to the Bermuda Zoo and Aquarium. It is unclear if or when they will come back.
Cat Row is closing down for good and the 1930's-era exhibits will be confined to history. This is hard on the heels of the closure of the Australian section and a Master Plan for ZooNorth should be interesting when it is eventually released to the public. A very informative article: Dallas Zoo to close Cat Row habitat, rehome ocelots, mountain lions, bobcat | Dallas Zoo | Dallas News
As much as I love cats, I think this is a good move. However a bit disappointing they have no plans to replace it with a new animal exhibit but will instead just use it to expand the grass event area. But I suppose that is a fundraising necessity. Also a bit disappointing the zoo does not step up and donate the money needed to build the habitat for the mountain lions at the rescue facility they are moving to.
