San Diego Zoo Safari Park San Diego Zoo Safari Park News 2015

In the new issue of ZooNooz, the chairman's intro page has this very brief statement that I think most of us will find exciting.

"Some of our key goals are to expand the Safari Park's Asia and Americas experiences..."

 

An odd animal friendship: the hand-reared Indian rhino calf and a female Ankole calf.

Unique Playmates Unsure of Each Other

 

Here's are articles on the zoo's frozen zoo.

'Frozen Zoo' aims to resurrect near extinct species | CTV News

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2948779/Survival-endangered-species-hinges-Frozen-Zoo.html

 

One of the California Condors that helped repopulate her species is being treated for cancer.
Condor Who Helped Rebuild Her Species Treated for Cancer - Times of San Diego

 

Sounds like the Dholes have a new exhibit down on Asian Savanna. Seems like they're finally on-exhibit for the public to see

Feeling Confident in His New Digs: Dhole Explores New Habitat at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

 

Sounds like a great addition, and it seems that they are breeding fairly well, hopefully other holders are added across the US for this species. But if they're in the Asian Savannah area, they aren't on general display, you'd have to buy an extra ticket to see that area

 

This is exciting, but I am unclear exactly where the exhibit is. Does anyone know?

 

All the article says is on the Asian Savanna. Something tells me it'll only be viewable for those who purchase tickets to the Asia Safari.

 

Three acre habitat sounds remarkably like the size of the old tiger habitat. Any chance they are in there? The caption says they are now visible to park guests, which leads me to think you would not need a special reserved safari to see them. I could be wrong of course, but that is just how it sounds to me.

 

Also remember at one time (a few years ago) the map was showing dholes in the old lion habitat, which is also three acres I believe. Since the new path from tigers to Condor Ridge now goes alongside here, perhaps they finally are in the old lion area?

 

The fence for the old lion exhibit was taken down, so it sounds like they are now in the new Tiger exhibit. I wonder if they reopened the path down to that exhibit from the suspension bridge side?

Here is a link to their video: http://bcove.me/jxrju4xh
Looks like the tiger exhibit (I recognize that concrete cylinder) and it is not on public display.

 

That's definitely the old tiger exhibit. As someone mentioned the old lion exhibit no longer exists. At the end of the video the animal care person says that the dholes will only be seen by people taking backstage tours.

Is this the wave of the future, making people pay a premium to see species on top of regular admission fees? Is the park planning on building an entire Asia area that is only accessible for an extra fee like the Asia area at the Bronx Zoo?

 

Their entire Asian Savanna is already only viewable through an extra fee,same with parts of their African Plains exhibits.

 

The end of the path at the new tiger exhibit says something like future Asia exhibits coming. The path end has a temporary blockade and is definitely intended to be added to. I think eventually this exhibit will be opened to the masses.

 

Almiyi, one of the first Californian condors hatched in captivity from wild collected eggs, has died :
San Diego Zoo Safari Park condor, Almiyi, one of first hatched in captivity, is euthanized at age 32. | UTSanDiego.com

 

The condor cam chick is a female and has been named Antiki.

Say Hello to Antiki!

 

Any updates with the elephant breeding program? No births in 3 years, since Mabulahne left for Reid Park in 2012.

 

Disappointed on my recent visit with high cost and poor viewing of many exhibits if you don't pay for extra tours. Limited viewing areas for African elephant.

 

June 22 a male Ugandan giraffe was born. Congo is now on exhibit with the rest of the herd.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Welcomes Baby Giraffe | KPBS

 

So, I guess this is news worthy.

I was at the Wild Animal Park about a week and a half ago. They have some interesting rhino developments going on. The Black Rhinos are going off exhibit. That exhibit is being expanded and will soon hold 6 new female Southern Whites from South Africa. This will be in addition to those in the field exhibits. These SWRs will be there for the sole purpose of perfect rhino IVF teachniques. Once they have the technique down, the plan is to use these SWRs as surrogates for Northern Whites. According to the info I got, they have samples of 13 mostly unrelated animals on store.

The more I think about this, the more I think this could potentially be the biggest zoo conservation story of our time.