Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo news 2021

As 2020 was a tough year for all zoos across the world, Oakland saw a handful of new arrivals but also got hit hard by the pandemic. Cheers to another year for the zoo and hopefully the zoo continues to see more success.

Oakland zoo released some of their financials from 2020 and there is some discussion going on for a new hyrax exhibit at the zoo. Most likely one of the exhibits near the African Villiage section if the plan goes through.

https://assets-global.website-files...stees Meeting Agenda - November 18, 2020 .pdf

 

The House of Bugs at the zoo is currently seeing some sort of renovation and a new species, the Dragon-headed Katydid, was mentioned as one of the new inhabitants of the House of Bugs. Unsure the exact species though.

 

Can confirm a few other species including Giant Water Bugs, Garden Fruit Chafer Beetles, and Pink Toed Tarantulas are also currently waiting for their new homes at the renovated House of Bugs. The zoo also told me that there are other species being considered but it isn't finalized yet. The other inhabitants at the House of Bugs will still be there but I am sure a handful of the individuals passed away hence the empty exhibits in the house so this might be more of a refurbishing than a full-on renovation.

Another Hamadryas baboon was born on December 20th, 2020. I think it is a male. This makes the troop up to 15 individuals.


The zoo is planning on a new 400 sq feet exhibit dedicated to education on the illegal wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases. It is said to open in Spring of 2021 so I doubt there will be any animals. More information in the following link (while it really isn't that much more).

Oakland Zoo

Also with this link, the zoo may have confirmed Common Basilisk is now present at the RAD room although I am pretty sure this is a mistake on the editor's part and they are most likely not in view for the public.

 

Was unsure whether or not to post this in the 2020 or 2021 news thread but since this was released today I'll post it here. I'm sure some/most of this is already public information but today, on Instagram the zoo revealed species statistics for 2020. They are as follows

Births

• 1 wreathed hornbill
• 2 hamadryas baboons
  
• 8 American bison
• 30 milky tree frogs

Arrivals

• 1 giraffe
• 1 meerkat
• 1 military macaw
• 1 pink-toed tarantula
• 1 red-lored amazon
• 2 giant forest scorpions
• 4 amazons (species unspecified)
• 4 Schmit's red-tailed guenons
• 4 Vietnamese centipedes
• 6 dragon-headed katydids
• 5 domestic rabbits
• 18 lesser flamingos
• 20 fruit chafer beetles
• 95 mountain yellow-legged frogs
• 141 Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs
• Colony of leafcutter ants (# unspecified)

Rescued and treated by vet hospital

• 5 California condoers
• 6 mountain lions
• 21 Riparian brush rabbits

Sent to other zoos/returned to the wild

• 2 milky tree frogs (to California Academy of Sciences)
• 3 lesser flamingos (to San Diego Zoo)
• 16 Riparian brush rabbits (returned to wild)
  
• 60 mountain yellow-legged frogs (returned to wild)
• 82 Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs (returned to wild)

Overall I'd say the zoo had a good year despite the pandemic

 

Dr. Parrot, the man who took the role as president of Oakland zoo and brought it from its abysmal status as one of the worst zoos in the country to one of the best in California, is now retiring. The modern image of the Oakland zoo would be nothing without his efforts.

 

Here is an article about Joel Parrott's upcoming retirement, after 37 years at the zoo!

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfran...and-zoo-ceo-set-to-retire-after-37-years.html

 

The aviary next to the elephants is currently being expanded out to the exhibit next to it in the African Village. The conservation exhibit will be in the African Village huts. There's a lot of work going on at the zoo, lots of plants being cut and planted, touch ups, it's nice to see some areas being cared about which haven't been touched in years.

 

Mountain lion roaming San Francisco's Bernal Heights captured, taken to zoo

A mountain lion was taken to the Oakland Zoo

 

He was released back into the wild today

 

The Oakland Zoo gave a status update on some bison calves born last spring and future plans for them

Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

The Iinnii project seeks to restore American bison back to Blackfeet First Nations ancestral lands - the Rocky Mountain Front -. The calves 4.3 born last year will be returned to Montana next year! Oakland Zoo and others started the initiative with local Blackfeet communities in 2014, a very cool, needed and ambitious program is planned for these wild lands.

 

The Oakland Zoo just announced on their social media the arrival of two agile wallabies that were rescued from the illegal pet trade. They are on display with the common wallaroos and emus and only viewable from the train.
Oakland Zoo (@oaklandzoo) • Instagram photos and videos

 

A few weeks ago, tigers, cougars, bears, and ferrets at the Oakland Zoo received COVID-19 vaccinations.

• Big cats, bears, ferrets get COVID-19 vaccine at Oakland Zoo (ksnblocal4.com)

As it currently stands, the zoo has not reported any of the inoculated animals having adverse reactions.

 

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The Oakland zoo made some improvements to their hillside aviary

 

The zoo has announced that Mrs. Hornbill the wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) has been euthanized following the discovery of a large cancerous tumor in her pancreas and liver. She had been at the Oakland Zoo for 27 years and raised 5 chicks.

• Oakland Zoo (@oaklandzoo) • Instagram photos and videos

 

A baby bison was born recently at the zoo

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Threatened Yellow-Legged Frogs Bred At Oakland Zoo Released Into Wild Amid 'Global Amphibian Crisis'

The Oakland Zoo has bred more Yellow Legged Frogs and released them into the wild

 

The zoo has announced the arrival of two southern pudús (Pudu puda). The deer will be exhibited alongside the zoo's cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).

• Oakland Zoo (@oaklandzoo) • Instagram photos and videos

 

The zoo has announced that earlier today they had to say goodbye to Ginger the tiger (Panthera tigris).

• Oakland Zoo (@oaklandzoo) • Instagram photos and videos

My thoughts and condolences go out to the Oakland Zoo staff that took care of Ginger as well as the two remaining tigers that lived their lives with her.

 

Oakland Zoo Forced Euthanize Beloved, Ailing Tiger Sisters Molly and Milou

2 tigers at the Oakland Zoo have died