Philadelphia’s is still alive, just an older male left. He doesn’t seem to be on exhibit very often. I saw him on my last visit (as the zoo was closing), but that was the first time in a while. It is indeed the last holder in the country.
So the Zoo is home to Giant Pandas Gao Gao, Bai Yun, and their son Xiao Liwu. According to the agreement the Zoo has with China, all of Bai Yun and Gao Gao’s cubs have to be returned to China when they are 4. Xiao Liwu is 6, is he staying? Because Gao Gao and Bai Yun are no longer breeding, is he going to stay in San Diego and a new female will be brought in to breed with him?
A male Baird's tapir was born 6/13/2018, keepers are assisted rearing him. This is the first calf born at the zoo since 1988. His name is Don, he was named after a veterinarian at the zoos' hospital. I will post photos in the media section.
Not to my knowledge, their bear collection (as of fall of last year) is Bornean Sun, Spectacled, Grizzly, Polar and Giant Panda.
The San Diego Zoo is fostering a dozen flamingo chicks and a duiker was born there to first time mom Peep in the Ituri Forest exhibit Duiker Calf Born at the San Diego Zoo A Dozen Flamingo “Foster Chicks” Are Thriving at the San Diego Zoo
In related news to the zoos Institute for Conservation Research, here is an article about the field operation to save viable cells from the vaquita: "SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Researchers at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research announced they successfully saved viable tissue cells from two rare and critically endangered vaquita porpoises...." San Diego Zoo saves viable cells from endangered Vaquita Porpoise
The San Diego Zoo had its first hatching of gold breasted starlings!! http://zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/2018/08/23/a-starling-is-born-or-hatched/
In 2019 the zoo will open the William E Cole Family Hummingbird Habitat. It will be located near the children's zoo, which is where the current hummingbird aviary from 1964 is located. I am not sure if it will be in the exact same spot or nearby. In addition to hummingbirds it will feature a handful of colorful songbirds. If you scroll to the bottom of this link and then scroll through the rolling slides, you will see two artist renditions (one of the outside and one of the inside). Hummingbird Habitat at the San Diego Zoo
I’ve been told by zoo officials that they are working with China on Xiaou Liwu ‘s future in San Diego. They stopped short of saying he would be staying or would have a female friend in the future, but they do seem to be in the works to ‘keep’ him.
