Luka has arrived safe and sound, and will eventually be joined by two male bears. Female bear once considered boy reaches Nashville Zoo
The boys will be girls as well. JK. Learning the other species that will be part of this complex is interesting. Guinea pigs, ok. Pudu and Viscacha, neat. Coatimundi and Andean Bear. Coatimundi, seriously? Coati! This complex along with other South American favorites like Giant Otter and Spider Monkey will be a great addition. Does anyone know who the designers are? Are they CLR or Portico? If so, I'll hold back my excitement as both produce cookie cutter slop and lack total originality. Yes, I get the Zoos input is put forth and they say we want this, like they did, but with this.
The designers are neither firm. Nashville has always gone its own way and the Director stays very involved in the designs. Like much of what Nashville does, this will have its own identity
Well I hope one of the males is Curt, the juvenile male from the Smithonsian National Zoo who is currently at San Antonio Zoo with older relatives. If his sister was going to be compatible with Luka when she was a "male", I don't see why he wouldn't be. Speaking of Curt's sister, Nicole, she has been moved from the Smithsonian National Zoo but her destination is unknown to the public.
Thanks, Zooplantman. Great to hear. I asked around some as some of the animals seemed unlikely or whimsical. All that is mentioned will be there and more. The guinea pigs, won't be the normal per store kind, either. Sounds promising and a great addition to this younger Zoo. The elephant expansion will not take away from the existing exhibits. The barn expansion, holding yards and new yards will all be in addition to what is already there.
Three clouded leopard cubs Sip, Saam and Natida are now on display. Two younger cubs Giaao and Juup were born May 29 and are being hand reared off display for now. Clouded leopard cubs now on display at Nashville Zoo - WSMV Channel 4
Shell Station, an interactive exhibit with Sulcata tortoises, opened today. Nashville Zoo opens new Interactive Tortoise Experience tomorrow, July 4th - Clarksville, TN Online
A male giraffe calf has been born and a naming contest is being held to name him. Help name Nashville Zoo?s first male baby giraffe
The Zoo received $10 million for future developments. City gives Nashville Zoo $10M for major new developments | WKRN News 2
Juno, the zoo's elephant recently sent to the National Elephant Center has died. This is the third elephant death at the center in the parks 3 years. Another death at elephant center with Disney ties - Orlando Sentinel
This fall, the trio of African elephants will leave for new homes. Hadari and Rose are headed for the nearby Elephant Sanctuary, and the new destination for the third female, Sakari, is unknown at the moment. 3 elephants at Nashville Zoo to be relocated to new homes | WKRN News 2
What are people's thoughts about this? Are they going to replace those elephants with a younger herd for breeding and protected contact?
I think they are probably giving them away because they want to replace them with a younger breeding herd and don't have space to keep both.
Hadari is actually a privately owned elephant and will be moved to the sanctuary at the owners request so they can still visit and be near her. It was decided to also retire rosie to the sanctuary as well due to her age. Sukari will be moved to another AZA facility.
I wish that the Elephants going to the "sanctuary" were instead going to a place that would eventually allow them to return and join a breeding herd, if only to have the chance to participate in raising a calf, which I understand is one of the best things forms of stimulation a female Elephant can get. Instead they are going to be warehoused with people who will likely use them as a political tool sooner or later. I also don't believe their story about how Bunny died (sorry to dig that up) and have to wonder what they would do if anyone else allowed an animal in their care to do such a thing without making them out to be monsters.
