Will the new rainforest exhibit be bringing in a lot of new species to the zoo, or is it providing new exhibits for species that were mostly there already?
Both. Of the species named earlier the only ones already at the zoo are Giant Anteater, titi, the two tamarins, sloth, troupial, flamingo, saki, and tinamou. All the others will be new. ~Thylo
The King Vultures are still there, currently in the Austalasia outdoor walk-thru bird exhibit. One would assume they would go to the new rainforest building. I missed that in compiling my list, along with White-faced Whistling-Ducks. Not sure about the fruit bats and a few of the other previous rainforest inhabitants. Thanks to Thylo for identifying the titi monkey species. I was glad to see its is something different than Bolivian Gray.
A takin escaped today before the Zoo opened to the public, but the animal was recaptured and it looks like everything is now fine
On my visit to the zoo today, I asked a worker about the date for the rainforest opening. He said they just announced today that its been delayed to about mid-August. Maybe the rainforest opening could then be my birthday present.
Date for rainforest opening is now after Labor day. In happier news the zoo now has free daily Armadillo encounters between 12 -2. It's located between the camels and the cranes. They have both Six-banded and Nine-banded Armadillos and they allow you to touch them on their backs. I did it yesterday and it was a cool experience. Also the zoo now has 2 Hooded Vultures but the location is horrible, they are in with the zebras but in the back and off to the side in a exhibit within a exhibit. There is just chain link fence separating them so to see them one end up looking thru 2 sets of fence. Hopefully it is not their permanent location. I am also a birder and had my spotting scope in the car, so I went to my car got my scope and went back in to the zoo so I could get decent looks.
While I am not an insider, I am a member at the zoo and I have a friend who donated to their sponsor wall. They are supposed to be the first from the public to see it and no date yet. As soon as I know something I will post it.
i inquired on the website today and got a vague late fall opening. As to the species list what is known has been discussed previously on this thread.
Went to the zoo today, asked around about the rainforest, nothing firm just likely late 2018. I saw a sign for some? of the monkeys outside the rainforest building. It included Howler Monkey, White-faced Saki and Bolivian Gray Titi. So I am not sure if they will have Coppery Titi or not. On the Faces of the Rainforest big exhibit sign most of the animals shown are known to be in there but there was 2 that haven't been listed previously. Assuming they are showing animals that will be in there. That 2 species were Squirrel Monkey and an unknown species of treefrog. The frog was whitish with lots of small black spots.
No exact date yet, but got an email saying opening in November and members will have an early morning preview.
Finally got a date for the new rainforest ! Grand opening and ribbon cutting is November 29th @ 9:30 A.M., membership required.
Here is a slightly adjusted re-post of what I know so far. This is from emails, newsletters etc. I am not aware of anyone who has more details. I will post a list after I go on the 29th. Giant Otter Giant Anteater Tamandua Bolivian Gray Titi Linne's Two-toed Sloth Tamarin sp. not sure if it is the Cotton-top Tamarins or Golden Lion Tamarins or both Howler Monkey sp. Wattled Curassow Troupial sp. Keel-billed Toucan Hyacinth Macaw Piranha sp. Dart Frog sp. Chilean Flamingo White-faced Saki Elegant Crested Tinamou Red-footed Tortoise "Blue-crowned" Motmot (not sure definitely which species)
In filtering on the zoo's website by exhibit , the following species can be added for the rainforest. Agouti Yellow-rumped Cacique Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog Sunbittern Cotton-top Tamarin The new rainforest looks like it is going to have several monkey species, with 6 confirmed so far.
