Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Jacksonville Zoo News 2023

Small update to start 2023:

The zoo announced on social media that they replaced the glass viewing windows in their Giant Otter exhibit.

 

More details about the bear attack last month, including police bodycam footage:

New details of bear attack at Jacksonville Zoo, according to latest report

 

Female Sumatran tiger Kinleigh-Rose moved from Jacksonville to the Topeka Zoo on February 15:

Topeka Zoo’s new female tiger arrived

https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/second-new-tiger-arrives-at-topeka-zoo/

 

For the second time ever at the Zoo, a Coquerel's sifaka was born!
The parents are Aemilia and Gulliver, currently the zoo has 4 sifaka's including the one year old Emmett.

Source:
Instagram of Jacksonville Zoo (01/03/2023)

 

The zoos Land Of The Tiger exhibit has been nominated for USA Today's "Best Zoo Exhibit".

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens ‘Land of the Tiger’ nominated for Best Zoo Exhibit in the U.S.

 

I noticed on Google Maps photos recently as of February that the zoo's bull elephant Ali has no visible tusks anymore. Last time I saw him in 2021 he had only his left tusk. Did he damage it and it broke off or was it surgically removed??? Also I see that Masked Lapwings are now in the Emerald Forest aviary and the zoo still has the Racket-Tailed Roller in the Australia aviary.

 

From what I remember, during one of the times that I previously volunteered. I too had a similar question regarding Ali’s tusk. According to what a staff member said, they told me that during his musth period, Ali was apparently messing around with some tire enrichment in which, while doing so, his tusk somehow managed to crack off due to his roughhousing. With the zoo’s vets surgically removing what was left of the tusk not too long afterward.

As for the lapwings, they must have been added into the aviary sometime last year. Since I did manage to see (and photograph them), during my second-to-last visit back in December.

 

Ali looks like he just keeps growing! When I saw him closeup in February 2020 for his 30th birthday he appeared bigger than he did in 2014. I remembered finding the media kit for his tusk surgery in 2019 which went well. Catching Ali on exhibit is always a struggle. Sheena & Thandi always seem to end up in the front exhibit when I'm there unless its Ali's birthday which is a shame because they're puny compared to him. Once I heard that he was supposed to shift onto the big habitat at 3pm so I would wait for him to come out but he never did.

 

Was thinking about going to the zoo on Wednesday but after looking at the latest price hikes was like YIKES!!! How does the zoo think it needs to charge $30 a ticket in advance and $35 the day of??? I can go to Six Flags and get more bang for my buck based on that price!

 

Most zoos are raising prices nowadays it seems. At least Jacksonville is fairly large and of good quality. AZA membership should still get you in for $15.

 

For the first time in the zoos history, a Tawny Frogmouth has been hatched.
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

 

Baby Blue-Eyed Black Lemur born! Still off exhibit

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

 

The zoo is teasing a new animal, which judging from the photo might be an Amur Leopard

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They should get an African Leopard instead. I saw Niolai panting unnecessarily too often when he was in that exhibit. As of April they were still holding Yellow Billed Storks, ibises and spoonbills in there. Have they left yet?

 

Other 2023 News:

On February 24th, it was mentioned that the zoo transferred (1.1) giant otters named Ken and Merume to the Houston Zoo in Texas.*

On March 17th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) North Sulawesi babirusa named Jeffery passed away at age 10 due to declining health caused by cancer and internal fluid.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

On April 6th, the zoo announced they added Inca terns to the Tuxedo Coast (Mangellic penguin) exhibit (possibly from the Walkthrough Aviary in the Range of the Jaguar area). The zoo also announced they added streaks to the viewing windows to help the birds from avoiding to fly into said windows.

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On April 24th, it was announced that the zoo transferred a (0.1) generic giraffe named Daisy to the Topeka Zoo in Kansas.

Topeka Zoo

On May 18th it was announced that the zoo transferred (2.0) black-faced ibises to the San Francisco Zoo in California.

https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/20319/JtZooAg51823

*Information was given by @Jake From State Farm from the Houston Zoo News 2023 thread.

 

Recently, the zoo announced that the mystery feline was in fact, a newborn jaguar, the zoo’s first in 10 years! With the following announcement originating from the zoo’s Instagram account:

“For the first time in 10 years, the Zoo has welcomed a jaguar cub! The little one was born April 7 to first-time mother and father, Babette and Harry, respectively. Mom and cub have been spending ample quality time behind-the-scenes. Before its public debut in Range of the Jaguar, the cub has some growing to do. In the meantime, visit the Lost Temple herp house to view a video of mom and baby in their cozy dens behind-the-scenes”.

~ @Austin the Sengi

 

The SSP was in dire need of some new cubs, so this is even better news than if they got a leopard!

 

In more baby news, a Mongoose Lemur was born for the first time at the facility

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

 

Male African Lion Catali was euthanized due to age related issues

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=724871319407376

 

Jaguar cub named:

The male cub has been named Banks, following a vote.

He remains off display, but a video stream can be seen outside his exhibit.

Meet Banks; Jacksonville Zoo’s jaguar cub has been named

The name “Banks” is a homage to the St. Johns River and the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The social media polls proved to be a tight contest:

1. Banks received 2,185 votes, or 30%
2. Zuco received 2,174 votes, or 29%
3. Duwey received 2,164 votes, or 29%
4. Tabai received 816 votes, or 11%