Miller Park Zoo Miller Park Zoo News

Construction has begun on the smaller exhibits in the animal building. These enclosures will hold small asian species.
The zoo obtained a new male short-tailed opossum for breeding. We are one of the few zoos that breed them and have supplied many different zoos over the years.

 

is it known what type of small asian species. Their master plan is quite big and includes Asian hoofstock and even orangutans.

 

This current section only will contain smaller asian species and is limited to the Animal Building only. It was said to contain Fairy Bluebird, Python, Tree Shrew, and Pygmy Slow Loris

 

thank you

 

No problem, it should open by mid spring

 

Two female river otter pups born:

Otter at Miller Park Zoo gives birth

 

1.1 Pygmy Slow Loris arrived from Busch Gardens

 

"Sabrina" one of our female Snow Leopard cubs from 2015 will finally be leaving for Buffalo Zoo next week. This brings our current group to 1.5

 

Interesting. I guess Buffalo Zoo isn't recommended to have a breeding pair anymore.

 

Im not sure if Sabrina is recommended to breed or not. Couldn't she be sent there to be paired with a male?

 

There is no male there yet...but after talking with a zoo regular there, rumor is the lone female they have at the Buffalo Zoo may be transferring. There's also been talk a male will eventually come to the zoo. So in other words, perhaps Sabrina was sent to Buffalo on a future SSP mating recommendation.

 

That may be. I have not been to Miller Park since February and I don't recall if she had a breeding rec or not

 

A male Sumatran Tiger named "Rojo" is moving to Miller Park today from the Topeka Zoo. This move is part of a greater plan to bring a breeding male to Topeka for their female.

 

Updates from my visit today:
The new Asia complex is almost complete and looks very nice. I believe the species being kept include 1.1 Pygmy Slow Loris, some type of python species, and a small aviary of asian birds

Several new south american birds were added to the tropical rainforest including: Troupial, White-Tailed Trogan, Red-capped cardinal, and several Tanagers

Candy the 35 year old Sun Bear is still alive and looks healthy and active

3 Greater Flamingos have died leaving a flock of 20, they do not appear to be nesting at all

A new Honeybee exhibit was added to the ZooLab

The otter pups have access to exhibit now. I didn't get to see them as they also had access to holding and were back there. I know there are 0.2 pups though

 

those birds are not new.

 

Those birds added are new individuals although the species itself has been exhibited.

 

Candy, one of the oldest Sun Bears in captivity was euthanized this morning following a very sudden drop in health. She was 33 years 7 months old.

 

An article on Candy's passing:

'She will be missed:' Beloved Sun Bear 'Candy' dies at Miller Park Zoo

 

A sad loss indeed, but she lived to a ripe and respectable old age all the same.

Am I correct to assume that sun bears are on phase out in North America?

 

Yes. The population is mostly geriatric, reproduction has been absent outside of one pair, and they are split between two subspecies. Also they desperately need space for the other two tropical bear species managed.