The zoo announced on facebook that, Asha is expecting her fourth calf in February 2022!!! https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2760817230814410
Indian rhinoceros Niki has been given an ultrasound ahead of her birth in eight weeks time. This is her second calf: Pregnant Rhino Niki Gets an Ultrasound At the Zoo - Photo Gallery
Last week, the zoo trust approved the construction contract for new cheetah and wild dog exhibits. These will eventually be part of the conservation preserve identified in the master plan as OKC focuses on breeding medium-sized carnivores. There will also be cheetah and wild dog habitats in the new, large-scale Africa project, but that project is not as far along at this point. For anyone curious about the Oklahoma City Zoo’s 10-year master plan, you can find a good overview from Ursa International (partners in creating the master plan.) Ursa International • Oklahoma City Zoo
Oklahoma City recently saw the hatching of six Taylor’s (shield-tailed) agamas. I’m not usually much of a herp guy, but these are pretty cute. The zoo posted some pics on this social media post: https://twitter.com/okczoo/status/1299375206088216577?s=21
In addition to the elephant and rhino pregnancies mentioned previously in this thread, both female giraffes are expecting! From the zoo trust minutes: “Dr. Lawson provided updates on Zoo animals, featuring new additions to the Zoo as well as animals expecting babies. Indian rhino ‘Nikki’ in November of 2020. Giraffes Ellie and Julu will give birth in 2021, while Asian elephant Asha expects a calf in February, 2022.”
Yeah, I know, but the plan to grow the herd significantly (to about 15) for the Africa project is cool for those of us who are local.
The zoo recently welcomed 2-year-old male okapi, Bosomi, from Sedgwick County. Per AZA recommendation, he has been matched with OKC’s 5-year-old female, Kayin, for breeding.
A few OKC updates from the last couple of weeks: 1. The zoo recently welcomed two, new white-tailed deer fawns. 2. The herpetarium is now exhibiting Lake Titicaca water frog. 3. A Chilean flamingo chick hatched at the end of September. It has found foster parents among the American flamingos. The American flamboyance has had great success raising chicks. 4. Four Yucatán box turtles have hatched. 5. Two-year-old female giraffe, Mashamba, arrived from Memphis Zoo. On SSP recommendation, she will eventually be paired with three-year-old Demetri for breeding. 6. I enjoyed this blog post about the combination of thyroid supplements and the new climbing structure allowing overweight male orangutan, Elok, to lose 50 pounds.
Took my daughter to the zoo today, and a new exhibit has opened. The Andean condors have been off show for a couple of years, ever since they tore down their very outdated habitat. For a couple of decades, some old WPA grottos were behind a wall across from the pinnipeds. The wall was torn down, the grottos remodeled, and a huge new flight cage was built around these grottos. The condors are back on view. The exhibit also features muntjac, red junglefowl, European white stork, cinereous vulture, and white-necked raven. In my opinion, this is a great use of a space that was out of public view for over twenty years.
The zoo has started the bidding process for design of a new pinniped habitat. According to the documentation, preliminary cost of construction estimate is $13 million. “Conceptual ideas should include items such as, but not limited to: underwater viewing, elevated decks, waterfalls, touch tanks, holding areas and life support.” This is planned for a currently undeveloped part of the zoo. According to the master plan, moving the seals and sea lions to a new habitat will also allow the zoo to bring penguins into the former pinniped location.
Indian rhino, Niki, gave birth around 3:25 A.M. today! At this point, calf and mom appear healthy. This is the sixth Indian rhino born at the OKC Zoo and the first born to the breeding pair of Arun and Niki. Video link
Sadly, the zoo announced the passing of 30-year-old Indian rhino, Arun. He was the father of the calf born just one week ago. Local news story
The Indian rhinoceros calf is a female and there is now a naming competition (closes Friday): A) Narayani: Means “Goddess of wealth and power” in Sanskrit, also a river in Nepal. B) Oni: Hindu meaning “desired” or “wanted”. C) Yabi: An acronym for the Yayasan Badak, a group of rhino protection units in Java and Sumatra funded by the International Rhino Foundation, one of the Zoo’s conservation partners. This is the Caretakers Choice! Baby Indian rhino born at Oklahoma City Zoo, Facebook contest being held to name the baby girl | KFOR.com Oklahoma City
Fishing cats arrive: The Oklahoma City Zoo has welcomed two fishing cats from Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium's (AZA) Fishing Cat Species Survival Plan. (SSP). Chet, 11, and Anna, 10, are the biological parents of Boon, who is six-years-old, and the grandparents of two-year-old, Puddles. “Chet and Anna’s arrival brings the Zoo’s fishing cat family to a total of five animals. This is especially exciting as there are only 27 fishing cats in the AZA animal population,” said OKC Zoo’s Curator of Carnivores, Tyler Boyd. “By welcoming this new breeding pair, we have the opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the conservation of this unique and vulnerable species.” Oklahoma City Zoo welcomes three generations of rare fishing cats | KOKH
Asha is now eight months into her pregnancy and the calf is developing well. They have shared an ultrasound of the calf: Watch an elephant calf ultrasound courtesy of the Oklahoma City Zoo The zoo said they will continue to provide regular updates.
Interesting post about the zoo’s head start program for Texas horned lizards. It’s a partnership with the University of Oklahoma’s Sam Noble Museum and Tinker Air Force base. Texas horned lizards head start
Merry Christmas Zoochatters! How did the Zoo celebrate the holiday? By announcing two giraffes, Ellie and Julu, are pregnant and due in May 2021. PREGNANT GIRAFFE: ZOO BABIES! Oklahoma City Zoo announces two giraffes are pregnant
