Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden News From the Cincinnati Zoo 2009

A few things that I learned on my visit to the zoo today (I'm unemployed and a member, I go a lot):

a. They're hoping their female polar bear is pregnant after breeding activity last week.

b. I still can't manage to see the orangs. If anyone happens to know why, that would be great.

c. I noticed this the other week but the Tayra and Fossa exhibits switched and I couldn't understand why. Today, it made sense: the zoo is now exhibiting a highly active pair! (Presumably, a breeding pair)

d. I was in the Cat House today (yes, that Cat House) while a zoo planning committee of specialist was going through and I overheard a few wonderful plans for the building. Firstly, it seems they agree with many of you and want to give many of the cats larger environments. They also want to spruce the general interior with more natural vegetation so that it's not a dark, dense building. They want to switch the route of the building (so that the entrance is what is now the exit), and connect and revamp many of the spaces and turn the building more into a small carnivore home (presumably because of the zoos larger plans for cats..). In the present carcal exhibit, they are planning fennec foxes. There was talk of combining the Geoffrey cat and tayra exhibit to make way for a large bearcat exhibit, better digs for the fossa and to put a oncilla where the fossa presently are. Spruce up the pallas cat exhibits, add a snake exhibit where the black-footed presently is, give more space to the clouded leopard (and more sprucing to keep the cat in the eye of visitors), and a new fishing cat exhibit.

Thought that was interesting.

e. Cincinnati won't be actively breeding gorillas anymore.

 

Those genes are very well-represented in the North American population.

 

Aren't most of the most prominent zoo genes well-represented at this point? I feel like most zoos have a distance relative to Bronx or Atlanta at this point...

 

@tigertiger: thanks for the updates! It is about time that the cat house had another renovation, as I think that the last time it was touched was the mid-1980's. There is a fantastic collection there, but the enclosures could be improved. In regards to the gorillas, there are currently almost 45 of them between the Bronx and Atlanta zoos and you are probably right in that the genes from many offspring are spread all around North America.

 

Do they have an oncilla now??? As far as I know, there are none in the U.S. Also, I thought they were going to demolish the Cat House and Cat Canyon for an entirely new big/small cat exhibit. This was in a press release they put out in conjuction with their planned small cat breeding farm. Is this Cat House revamp temporary, or is this part of the new exhibit and I was mistaken about it being demolished?

 

You are mistaken, the Cat House and Canyon existing structures will be modified and renovated for the new exhibit.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Now what about that oncilla?

 

They don't have one now at all and I'm pretty sure that you are correct and that none are in the US. I don't have any idea what stage they would be in acquiring/etc. one either but I think in general they are still in the early planning stages.

 

Article about the zoo's new $19.6 million entrance.

Zoo's new entrance $19.6M investment | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

 

The new map is finally posted on the website....and it is awesome!!!! One of my new favorite maps.

http://www.cincinnatizoo.org/plan/documents/09SummerMap.pdf

 

Cincinnati Zoo gets a new Black Rhino from the Columbus Zoo (Klyde)...

Cincinnati Zoo has black rhino again | Cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com

 

I think this is one of the best maps I've seen so far!

 

I hope a mate is already lined up for this valuable likely lad!
(and resume Cincinnati Zoo's long successfull association with this species)

 

Nope, Klyde is one of the lower ranked Black Rhino males in the country...he may be lucky if he ever sees a female again. Cincinnati has decided to only maintain a single black rhino to give more room to their Asian rhino species.

 

Updated picture of Maddie the Bonobo
Maddie, our 3 month old baby Bonobo, is getting bigger! on Twitpic


zoo has acquired a Bactrian Camel! named Humphrey

 

It is the same in Europe. There are about a dozen very heavily represented lines with reps in virtually every zoo group now. The few unrepresented or wildcaught animals left are mostly ones which don't breed.

I think an exchange of Gorillas between SSP and EEP(America x Europe) could be beneficial to both at this stage.

 

sumatran rhino update.

Any current news on the Sumatran rhinos? Has 'Emi' been mated again yet? Is there any set plan what to do with her daughter 'Suci'?

 

I'll be at Cincinnati next week visiting with a rhino keeper--I'll ask! I'm looking forward to seeing the rhinos that I've heard her talks so much about. I almost feel like I work with them. We'll be there on my grandaughter's birthday--meeting a rhino is not something every 12-year-old gets to do!

 

Przewalski's Horses have arrived at the zoo, the first in 74 years.

Rare Horses Coming to Cincinnati Zoo - :: Cincinnati news story :: LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV in Cincinnati

 

Goodie! I was wondering if I'd get to see the Przewalski's when I go this Saturday!