List of species on exhibit at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park 1-4-2014 Inspired by geomorph and his great post I will attempt to do the same, list every species on exhibit. I will be listing the animals based on the path that I took today which took 5.5 hours with a pregnant wife, four kids (only one is mine) and my sister. We started at 11 am and the zoo was so full that we ended up parking at the third to last row in the parking lot. I have never seen the zoo this full without it being a weekend in the summer. Find a copy of the parks map and follow along. First things first, Entrance Area, (2 pathways, one through a aviary and one around it) We started through the aviary and ended the day going the other way. Wings of the World (walkthrough aviary, 28 bird species) Southern bald ibis African openbill stork Falcated duck Bartlett’s bleeding-heart dove African spoonbill Ringed teal Sunbittern White-winged wood duck Scarlet ibis Northern purple roller Victoria crowned pigeon Roseate spoonbill Wattled starling Surinam crested oropendola Madada ibis Nicobar pigeon Ocellated turkey Taveta golden weaver White-headed lapwing Green imperial-pigeon Storm’s stork Red-crested turaco Elegant crested tinamou Golden-breasted starling Red-breasted merganser Hawaiian goose Black-bellied whistling duck Himalayan monal Flamingo Exhibit (3 birds) Just past the aviary and right before an animal ambassador stage Chilean Flamingo Moluccan radjah shelduck White-faced whistling duck Exhibits by wooden structure of the lagoon. Southwest African meerkat Exhibit on opposite side of meerkats Storm’s stork (also in wings of world aviary) Bar-headed goose Common shelduck Red-breasted goose Shares back wall of meerkats exhibit Black duiker Nairobi Station (2 exhibits, then a nursery) Fennic fox Ornate monitor Lion cubs in the nursery Nairobi Station past nursery (11 exhibits) Lesser hedgehog tenrec Pancake tortoise African bullfrog Blotched blue-tongued skink Chinchilla Black milksnake Whites tree frog Ball python Sugar Glider African Grey Parrot One empty cage Exhibit on Other side of Nairobi Station, just past the black duiker (1 enclosure) Red-knobbed Hornbill Malay Great Argus Pheasant Local birds sign on lagoon Black-crowned night heron Mallard Northern pintail Exhibit seen from wooden bridge in lagoon Empty exhibit being remodeled Lagoon Birds (13 birds) Red-crested Pochard Bar-headed Goose Swan Goose White-faced Whistling Duck Orinoco Goose South African Shelduck White-breasted Cormorant Shoebill Stork African Darter Red-crested Pochard Pink-backed Pelican Bar-backed Pelican Black-crowned Night Heron Old Lemur Island Just a bunch of local ducks Kalahari Cupboard (I swear it says that on the map) 2 exhibits Red River Hog Other Exhibit Cavendish’s Dik Dik Here they have built a boat playground that has seating for the restaurant on the boat and a net so kids can climb down into a play area. Across from the boat (1 building exhibit) Rodrigues (Flying Fox) Fruit Bat From here there are several restaurants before coming up to Lorikeet landing, which we looked in and then walked to the Hidden Jungle Lorikeet Landing (walkthrough aviary) (1 bird) Rainbow Lorikeet Hidden Jungle Entrance Cave (17 exhibits) White-eyed Assassin Bug Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (2 exhibits) Emperor Scorpion (2 exhibits) Angolan Python Tropical Girdled Lizard Pancake Tortoise African Giant Millipede Giant Lead-tailed gecko Madagascar Tree Boa Mali Uromastyx Banded Velvet Gecko Mombassa Golden Starburst Tarantula Horned Baboon Tarantula Empty exhibit Fort Hall Baboon Tarantula Hidden Jungle First Walkthrough Aviary (14 birds) Purple-crested Turaco Black-cheeked Lovebird Blue-capped Cordon-bleu African Fire-finch Magpie Mannikin Purple Grenadier Long-tailed Paradise-whydah Northern Red Bishop Pink Pigeon Speckled Mousebird Pin-tailed Whydah Melba Finch Lavender Waxbill African Pygmy Goose Hidden Jungle Second Walkthrough Aviary (18 birds) Black-cheeked Lovebird Hottentot Teal Green Woodhoopoe Ross’s Turaco Marbled Teal Long-toed Lapwing Oriole Warbler Yellow-crowned Gonolek Reichenow’s Helmeted Guineafowl White-headed Buffalo Weaver Black Heron Speckled Mousebird Superb Starling Eastern Hammerkop Taveta Golden Weaver Red-capped Cardinal White-crowned Robin-chat Old World Comb Duck The hidden jungle ends just past the lorikeet landing 2 exhibits behind Lorikeet landing Exhibit one (2 birds) Congo Peafowl Great Blue Turaco Exhibit two (5 birds) Bearded Barbet Crested Guineafowl Madagascar Crested Ibis Red-billed Pintail Old World Comb Duck Now down the path to a fork in the road, one way leads to the tram the other to the gorillas, we went towards the tram. Walkthrough Exhibit Ring-tailed Lemur Now we go down the elevator and start the Africa loop and the first area Africa Woods (7 exhibits) animals in same exhibit are separated by a coma Bontebok Eastern Giant Eland Sudan Red-fronted Gazelle Hooded Vulture, Western Eqyptian Vulture, South African Shelduck Yellow-backed Duiker, Okapi Southern Gerenuk, Kori Bustard, Western Red-flanked Duiker, Demoiselle Crane East African Crowned Crane Africa Outpost (7 exhibits, big lagoon) European White Stork, Secretary Bird, Kori Bustard Local Hummingbirds sign with plants to attract them. Not counting as exhibit. (Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Costa’s Hummingbird, Allen’s Hummingbird) Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Southern Warthog, South African Bat-eared Fox Lesser Flamingo (big lagoon) Kikuyu Colobus (island exhibit) Greater Flamingo (big lagoon) Empty exhibit (Jameson research island) African Sacred Ibis (island exhibit) Abdim’s Stork (island exhibit) South African Cheetah Southern Steenbok, Kori Bustard, West African Crowned Crane, Abdim’s Stork Next is probably the part everyone is most excited about. I wrote down every name as the guide pointed them out, hopefully I didn’t mix any of them up. Loading barn Nyala Africa plains exhibit Grant’s Gazelle Thomson’s Gazelle Kenya Impala Fringe eared Oryx Reticulated Giraffe East African Crowned Crane Marabou Stork Southern White Rhinoceros Yellow-billed Stork East African Sitatunga Nile Lechwe Lake Victoria Defassa Waterbuck Masai giraffe (not sure if he was right about this since he said it was in the other yard as well) Cheetah South African Cheetah Lake Greater Flamingo Single yard East African Black Rhino Island in large yard Dalmatian Pelican Great White Pelican Desert Exhibit Addax Marsh (saw at least five different bird species) Blue Crane (I believe I saw it, not confirmed by driver) Yellow-billed Stork Goliath Herons (I believe I saw it, not confirmed by driver) Egyptian Geese (I believe I saw it, not confirmed by driver) Western Rueppell’s Vulture Single Exhibit with a baby born one hour ago Soemmering’s Gazelle Large yard Ellipsen Waterbuck Sable Antelope Patterson’s Eland Gemsbok Ostrich Masai Giraffe Blue Wildebeest Cape Buffalo Northern White Rhino South African Springbok Rothschild’s Giraffe Right side Exhibit Somali Wild Ass Barbary sheep Up top hard to see, tram guy said they were there but no detail Ibex (unknown) Sheep (unknown) Back to top of large yard Uganda Kob Greater Kudu Roan Antelope Northern Side of Bridge West African Crowned Crane East African Bongo Antelope Red-fronted Gazelle Pink-backed Pelican Dalmatian Pelican (he said it was a second group they keep separate for genetic purposes) Exhibit cut into the large yard with a newborn Grevy’s Zebra Exhibit on top of the hill Ankole Cattle Barbary Stag (Red Deer) Other animals that I didn’t see today that are in the fields somewhere according to lots of signs East African Kori Bustard Black Spur-winged Goose Scimitar-horned Oryx Saddlebill Stork Southern Ground Hornbill African Sacred Ibis Red or Zambesi Lechwe Blesbok European White Stork I asked the tram guy afterwards if there was any animal that he didn’t mention and wasn’t on the signs that was out there are he said Sitatunga Now I need help with this list, if there are any more animals that anyone knows about on the tram, lets add them to the list. Lion exhibit just after the tram African Lion Cheetah run is across from the lion exhibit Africa Plains Enclosure that is just before the Asia Enclosure that can’t be seen without a behind the scenes tour Grant’s Gazelle Thomson’s Gazelle Kenya Impala Fringe eared Oryx Reticulated Giraffe East African Crowned Crane Marabou Stork Southern White Rhinoceros Yellow-billed Stork East African Sitatunga Nile Lechwe Lake Victoria Defassa Waterbuck Tiger Exhibit Sumatran Tiger Must turn around and go back due to construction Elephant Yard African Elephant Up the hill that puts you by the bats exhibit, walk around the lagoon trail past the hidden jungle to a bird exhibit and a wooden bridge that leads to the gorillas Red-crested Turaco Hadada Ibis Hammerkop Gorilla’s, not out because the exhibit is being remodeled Western Lowland Gorilla Bird cage after the Gorilla’s Western White-crowned Robin-chat White-bellied Bustard Emerald Starling Walk all the way to the through the village to the restaurant past the bazaar, One exhibit behind the restaurant Geoffroy’s Marmoset Kids play area (1 exhibit) Buff-crested Bustard Exit, opposite side that we came in (4 exhibits) South African Shelduck, Coscoroba Swan Salmon-crested Cockatoo Hyacinth Macaw Lowland Paca The tree shop used to have the cockatoo in there but currently they do not have a bird on there bird post until something replaces the cockatoo in the entrance way. Now as you can see I missed part of the zoo, the New Tiger Trails opens up on memorial day this year and past that is the American Exhibit Condor Ridge. Tiger tails is looking pretty cool and I can’t wait until it opens. I could have gone up to Condor Ridge following the new path today but everyone is ready to go so lets do it off memory from one month ago. Note: There is also nothing about the Asia Enclosure since there are no signs anywhere for the Asia enclosure and I am only writing up about known and seeable animals on exhibit. Condor Ridge by memory from last month two bird exhibits that don’t change Thick-billed Parrot Bald Eagle Three exhibits that change occasionally Ocelot or North American Porcupine (seen both over the last two months) Harris’s Hawk Burrowing Owl and two other bird species (can’t recall what they are) Final two exhibits Big Horn Sheep California Condor A little fun, what is supposedly in the new tiger trails exhibit peafowl red-crowned cranes western tufted deer crocodile monitors sailfin lizards reticulated pythons fly river turtles Chinese thread turtles And there is a crazy rumor that there might be a tiger as well We are finished
An interesting note, there is not a single fish species that is seen or listed anywhere at the Safari Park.
There used to be a tank of Rift Lake cichlids at the field camp section of African Outpost, but I haven't seen it for some time.
The last bolded section with what is supposedly in Tiger Trails isn't going to be there. It is just the Sumatran tigers now.
Hey Otter Lord, That is unfortunate, I'm surprised that they got rid of the plans to have other animals as well. Do you know if there are future plans to add some more animals since they have a long pathway that will have no exhibits on it on the east side? (at least that's what it looks like by the plans pictures)
No, I haven't heard of any plans. Everything else is speculation. Anything they build out towards condor ridge is good because they need to link that area of the zoo with the African portion using the space in between. At the moment that area after the exhibit (which used to be a protea garden), both the old tiger and lion exhibits, and a small valley are potential space for new exhibits. Although, the topography is tricky in that area is rough and requires a bit of ingenuity to design something creative. The park still has to fulfill promises on an Asian tram. I can foresee a set-up similar to their African one, where it currently surrounded by a strong lion exhibit and village area with amenities. So I strongly presume that they would make more attractions in that area so Asia was more accessible, which also bringing maybe some bigger-ticket Asian animals since they don't have Asian elephants anymore.
They have already laid the cement going to condor ridge, it was just poured when I was out there this weekend. It was a bit of a windy trail, I thought that they were making space for a few animal exhibits. I never hear anything about the Asian tram, I wish they would say something about it but it has been years and I'm starting to wonder if it will even be started in the next five years. I just realized that the park isn't raising any money for an exhibit right now, I wonder if they are just focusing on Africa rocks at the zoo and there not going to announce much more until all the funds are raised for that. Both the park and seaworld are opening up big attractions this year, I think they might even be in the same month, I wonder which one will bring in more tourist? I got to admit that I am a little more excited about the seaworld exhibit now that there isn't going to be anything but tigers.
It would make sense that the park has no new developments currently planned, because they are making a new masterplan from what I understand.
Some corrections to your list. The African Plains exhibit that you "cannot see without a tour" is the same as what you've listed as African Plains. This exhibit is supposed to be East Africa too. It also still has Ugandan giraffe, not Masai. South Africa now has Masai. Dik dik are in with the Nyala too. Grevy's Zebra are in the African veldt exhibit which previously held Addax. This is the exhibit behind the marsh with the vultures and blue crane. Barbary sheep are in the old Grevy's zebra exhibit on the hillside between Central and South Africa. It has been this way since I visited in late December and the same way when I visited today. Southern ground hornbill are left of the lake that has the pelican islands. There is a small land area on the shore for them. Red lechwe are with the Bongo in the Central Africa Rainforest exhibit. No blesbok in Central Africa. Central Africa has Uganda Kob, Northern White Rhinoceros, Greater Kudu, & Roan Antelope. Scimitar horned Oryx are in North Africa still with Ankole and Barbary red deer. Barbary sheep are not with the Somolian wild ass anymore and it has been that way for quite some time. The mountain exhibit has Nubian ibex and desert bighorn. They aren't mentioned in the tour at all but I spotted them with my camera lens. There are Bactrian camels with the Przewalksi's wild horse on the hillside exhibit by condor ridge as well.
Thanks Otter for the correction, btw if you go back and read I wrote "Africa Plains Enclosure that is just before the Asia Enclosure that can’t be seen without a behind the scenes tour" I should have phrased it better, I meant that the Asia enclosure required the behind the scenes tour. I thought the driver was wrong when he said Masai giraffe, thanks for the correction.
