The new animals were announced today. Henry Vilas will add: a pair of red pandas, the previously mentioned grizzly bears, and (the biggest surprise) Somali wild asses! WKOW 27: Vilas Zoo adding new animals, asking for funding help
I was thinking and hoping that they would be bringing back zebras. The big question I now have is, where are they going to put the Somali wild asses?
Based on a Q & A article I once found on the zoo website, they do intend on bringing zebras back with the construction of an African complex. About the wild asses, they more than likely will go in one of the hoofstock exhibits near the giraffes. The only exhibit I could think of was the largest one where (I believe) a group of sheep live at the moment.
All that I know is that the area from the giraffe exhibit to the rhino exhibit is being planned for it and it's been planned for about 10 years now. In a recent email I asked the zoo what they have planned after the Arctic Passage opens and they said they are working on a new 10 year master plan, so I'm assuming that that'll include the new African Savanna exhibit. I don't know any other details than that.
I went to the zoo today and saw some animals have been moved. The rhea has now been moved with the alpacas. The Barbados sheep have been moved to the exhibit where the rhea used to be (between the ostrich and camels) and the old Barbados sheep exhibit is currently being renovated (I assume that the wild asses are going to be put in there).
On May 9th, the Zoo will be hosting "Arctic Adventure," a special opportunity to see Arctic Passage before the grand opening later the same month! Henry Vilas Zoo : Arctic Adventure By the way, has anyone heard what polar bears will most likely be moved to Madison?
I'm definitely going to try and go. And I have not heard anything about polar bears yet. Considering that they're opening in May, they probably already have that planned out.
Oh wow, I didn't know Henry Vilas was going to be the first zoo this year with their renovated polar bear exhibit. Suka and Sakara, twins from Toledo who are at Como Park Zoo, are expected to go to Henry Vilas. Then when they reach sexual maturity, plans will be made to pair them up with mates.
https://www.vilaszoo.org/uploads/media/13019_board-11x17-prelim.pdf I'm trying to figure out how much of the exhibit will have grass. I was seeing a lot of mock rock in those photos.
Those seem to be just photos of the pools and restaurant. Based on other designs I've seen, the polar bears will have mostly grass, along with a tall rock area for panoramic views; and I'd imagine the grizzlies would have plenty of grass as well.
The zoo posted a picture on their Facebook page awhile back of the polar bear exhibit and it has plenty of grass.
- Here is the picture from facebook. It looks like a very exhibit, which is majority grass. I wonder if the polar bears and brown bears will be rotating between the 2 yards? https://www.facebook.com/HenryVilasZoo/photos/a.89641989961.85152.48100984961/10152725368799962/?type=3&theater
