San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Safari Park News 2021

When's the best time to go to see the Platypus?

~Thylo

 

I do very beginning of the day however there are times the keepers drain the pools for maintenance early in the day, so I do a lap through Tiger Trail then Condor Ridge to lead you in Walkabout Australia just as a precaution. Then try visiting near the end of the day, that whole area near the end of the day is pretty lonely compared to the rest of the park. The early morning allows for you to get better shots with your camera due to the peaking sunlight into the exhibit.

I don’t know if it has changed by today but there are timed tickets to go in, they’re free of charge and can go as many times as you’d like. They can be acquired in a post by the small pond leading to the Zeus Station.

 

Thank you! Where exactly is the Zeus Station? I don't see it on the park's map. If tickets are timed how can one visit as many times as they like?

Apart from Tiger Trail, which exhibits are currently closed?

~Thylo

 

Zeust Station is that large cabin like structure to have the appearance of a sheep sheering station if you follow the path up in Walkabout Australia It’s where you walk through to access the cassowary/tree kangaroo exhibits.

The timed tickets are allotted for how many people can be inside the exhibit at any given time, I believe it’s about 5 minutes per group and they have time codes on them. It’s more for them to keep track how many people are allowed in or wait to be allowed in at certain period of time due to the Covid restrictions, like they are timed stamped for every 15-30 minutes apart IIRC. They have them available most of the day however on my last visit during the end of the day, they didn’t have timed tickets but did have docents keeping track of how many people can go inside

As for exhibits besides Tiger Trail being closed, last I saw were Hidden Jungle, Lemur Walk, and Lorikeet Landing. I haven’t been there in a couple weeks and things change often, their app in the Apple store is helpful occasionally for closures but sometimes isn’t updated and it appears pretty sterile in appearance if I were to be blunt

 

They no longer have the timed tickets, though it was around 6:30 when I went there yesterday so they may have just stopped giving them out since it was so late (they close at 7). Like @Julio C Castro said I would say the morning is probably the best time to see them. I've been there in the evening on several ocassions and most of the time they are off exhibit during that time of day.

I'm guessing you plan on visiting soon, I hope you have a great visit!

 

I may be popping into the city for a few days

Not to be off-topic for this thread but since I'm already here, are there any exhibits besides the Leopards that are closed at the Zoo? Or anything I should know for either facility?

~Thylo

 

HOW DARE YOU ASK ABOUT THE ZOO WHEN ON A THREAD ABOUT THE SAFARI PARK?! just kidding but all seriousness, there aren’t as much as closures besides the Asian Leopard exhibit. There are more barriers placed in front of animals susceptible to COVID 19, some of the carnivore and primate species have plastic/rope barriers to push the crowds back. On my last trip a couple weeks ago everything was open at the time, they may have sectioned off the small mammals exhibits in Urban Jungle as of now due to their cases.

 

Does anyone know for elephant valley if the safari park will be using an architecture firm, zoo/design firm, or if it will be designed in-house?

 

Not sure if it's been reported here but the park's Red-Fronted Gazelles have been moved to the African tram, specifically in with the Sitatunga and Roan Antelope.

~Thylo

 

Nice! I plan to go back next month at the latest, most likely mid September and want to photograph them all

 

A female Southern White rhino calf was born on August 22nd to first time mom Kianga, and dad J Gregory! The park now has a multi-generational crash since Kianga's mom Kacy also lives at the park along with her 1-year old daughter Alice.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Boosts Rhino Conservation...

 

The safari park has posted a listing looking for a new curator of mammals.

~Thylo

 

Just thought you should know but I saw on Instagram that Gibbons have moved into the former lemur walk. If you do go visit there make sure to stop by there and take pictures of that if able!

 

interesting as that was what occupied the space previous to the Lemur Walk

 

Wait can you go inside with the gibbons?

 

Of course not

~Thylo

 

Thought so.

 

I think its DPA and architectsHGW, same team as Children's Zoo. The zoo/park are also always very involved too, so its really a combination of all three in your question.

 

What happened to the lemurs?

 

The generic giraffe calf born back in June has been named Nane, meaning eight in Swahili!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CT7p4qwNMLI/?utm_medium=copy_link