Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo News 2019

Well good luck on your finals!

 

Yeah, good luck here too!

Lesser flamingo exhibit update: what is the status of Oakland's colony exactly?

 

Not 100% sure. I’m fairly certain they are surplus animals and not meant as a breeding colony but with exhibit renovations that could mean that they might be steering away from that. I also know some zookeepers were sent to South Africa to help orphan flamingo chicks so maybe possible training for the future when they come back? Sufficient to say I don’t know much about the flamingoes and was surprised to even hear about the exhibit change.

 

Benghazi, a 23-year-old male reticulated giraffe, passed away yesterday.
Oakland Zoo on Instagram: “Today is a very difficult one for us at Oakland Zoo. It is with heavy hearts we share the passing of our beloved Benghazi Giraffe. Ben was…”

 

Four wolf pups have been born at Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo

 

Back from AP World test and I'm floored with the news about the wolf pups. I only just asked the zoo a week ago if they noticed anything with the pair. I honestly feel that 2019 thus far is the zoo's year as there is just so much stuff that has happened in 5 months. This will be my definitive last post for a while though and I'm thankful for everyone else's efforts in posting news and such.

 

I don't know if someone has already pointed this out but it appears the zoo's elephants have a new shade structure.
Oakland Zoo on Instagram: “Hay look at that! These hanging nets full of orchard grass help engage our elephants in natural behaviors (reaching up with their trunk to…”

 

Osh the elephant turns 25 today

 

Eleven bison have left Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo says bye to 11 bison headed to Montana

 

Nice to see the Iinnii Initiative return some of the Pablo Allard herd members back to the wild to start a new herd in Montana on Blackfeet community land!

I appreciate the article as it somewhat describes in detail the history of the Pablo Allard bison herd from its inception in 1883 to the present and the genetics and the brief on the Iinnii Initiative.

Aside, I found it equally fascinating to learn - I did not even know all this - that bison are socially structured on family matrilines and that female calves stay with and do better when family herd members accompany them. Hence, this reintroduction of 11 bison to Blackfeet reserve in ... constituted 6 cows and 5 calves. The remaining herd at Oakland should now consist of 7 cows and their 5 other offspring (I am not sure on the sex of the calves here)!

The original import from April 2018 reported 14 female bison from the Blackfeet Reservation - I really do hate that latter wording (given the black page US history over native communities): Oakland Zoo News 2018 [Oakland Zoo] (top of page).

 

Re: Elephant bull Osh.

Surmising (again) the last - beknowest to me - herd composition;
M Osh (born 1994, arrived ??)
F M’Dundamella (estimated age - YoB 1969, arrived 12/1993)
F Donna (estimated age - YoB 1979, arrived ??)
F Lisa (estimated age - YoB 1977, arrived ??)

What are the future plans for him within the remit of the AZA African Elephant SSP (given that he is of no use at all at the Oakland Zoo with 3 current old and non-reproductive cows there?

Any new herd additions perhaps foreseen in the none too distant future?
Other plans?

 

How the Oakland Zoo got its herd of plains bison (B. b. bison).

 

The boardwalk at the wolf exhibit is temporarily closed to give the wolf pups time to acclimate. No date given for the reopening. (The rest of the boardwalk, meaning jaguar and condor, is still open).

 

Two male bison from northern Colorado have arrived at to Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo helping return American Bison to tribal lands in Montana

 

Oakland zoo has obtained a new pair of white handed gibbons named Mei and Rainer. It’s bittersweet for me but at least gibbons make a return at the zoo.

 

This is a video the zoo posted of the new gibbon couple. This move was recommended by the SSP

 

Oakland zoos four gray wolf pups hav emerged from their den and hav made their public debut

Gray wolf pups thriving, exploring at Oakland Zoo – SFBay

 

The gender of the wolf pups hav been revealed. Their 2 Boys and 2 girls. Also another article talking about the wolf pups public debut

Gray wolf pups begin exploring their habitat at the Oakland Zoo​

 

A quick note: the zoo has fully implemented their new automated parking system beginning on Monday, August 5th. Since the zoo has gotten stupidly popular since California Trail opened, traffic backs up down Golf Links Road to the off ramps. This appears to be an effort to alleviate some of the congestion brought on by going through the manned booth.

Full statement can be found on the zoo's site here.

It's not the only automation going on though. It seems the main zoo cafe (which now appears to be the only real dining spot in the original zoo) has done away with cashiers. An order is placed on a screen, and you take a buzzer that, well, buzzes when your meal is ready. Not sure if cash is accepted, but it was rather painless.

The Landing Cafe is still fully staffed given California Trail's emphatic success, but, as predicted, seating remains a problem. A second seating/dining area near, say, the bear pool might prove useful.

 

The oldest lion, Leonard, has passed away. He was euthanized due to arthritis and kidney failure. Sad times for the zoo...