Flamingo that escaped 17 years ago sighted in the wild: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article259861105.html
2021 News: On April 24th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) mantled guereza monkey was born the weekend prior. On August 17th, the zoo announced its name, Solana. Log into Facebook Log into Facebook On May 3rd, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) American bison, a (0.0.1) common squirrel monkey, and (0.0.2) domestic sheep/goats? (breed not specified) were born. Log into Facebook On May 27th, the zoo announced it has opened a new entry complex to the public. Sedgwick County Zoo - 50th Birthday Celebration Announcements | Facebook On June 1st, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) kea parrot was born. It is the first time the species has been born at the facility. We are very excited to announce the... - Sedgwick County Zoo On June 28th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) common chimpanzee named Audra passed away at age 51 due to advanced heart disease. Log into Facebook On August 26th, the zoo announced they have acquired (5.0) African painted dogs from an unspecified facility in February. Log into Facebook On September 9th, the zoo announced that (0.0.6) slender-tailed meerkats were born on August 24th. We’re going back 2 back with birth... - Sedgwick County Zoo On September 28th, the zoo announced they have acquired (1.1) snow leopards (a first for the facility) named Tashi and Jata from Zoo Boise in Idaho and the Great Plains Zoo in South Dakota respectively. The zoo also announced they have acquired (1.1) Amur leopards named Lev and Storm from the San Diego Zoo in California and the Hogle Zoo in Utah respectively. Log into Facebook On October 27th, the zoo announced they have acquired a (0.1) common chimpanzee named Mahale from the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas. Log into Facebook On November 2nd, the zoo announced that their (0.1) common hippo named Sweety Pie has turned 50 years old. Log into Facebook
2022 News: On March 10th, the zoo acquired (2.1) Aldabra giant tortoises named Bainbridge, Noble, and Galena from the Wildcare Foundation in Oklahoma. Log into Facebook On April 7th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) Pineywoods cow was born on April 6th. Log into Facebook On April 11th, the zoo announced their names, Berlari and Lembu. Log into Facebook On April 15th, the zoo announced they had officially opened Stingray Cove to the public. Stingray Cove is now officially... - Sedgwick County Zoo On April 20th, the zoo announced they have a new President and CEO, Scott Newland. Log into Facebook On May 12th, the zoo announced that construction on the new Martha C. Buford Safari Express is underway, opening in Summer 2022. Construction on the Martha C. Buford... - Sedgwick County Zoo On May 13th, the zoo announced that due to no new cases of avian influenza has popped up in a ~100-mile radius, they have decided to let their flamingos, pelicans, farm birds, African storks, and cranes back on exhibit. Log into Facebook
On June 2nd, the zoo announced that on June 3rd, they will reopen their Australian/South American bird exhibits to the public, though all birds might not be in their exhibits by June 3rd. The zoo also announced that the Tropics Building will be closed due to roof repairs happening in autumn. Log into Facebook
On June 17th, the zoo announced they have reacquired a (1.0) Aldabra giant tortoise named Rocket who has spent the last decade at the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma and the Bronx Zoo in New York. The zoo also announced they have acquired (0.2) Galapagos giant tortoises named Ynez and Soledad from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas. They are the facility's first Galapagos giant tortoises and, along with the Aldabra giant tortoise, are now on exhibit just outside the South America/Australia exhibit. Log into Facebook
From a recent visit, Pacific Black Ducks, Pink-eared Ducks, and Hardheads can now be found in the Australia aviary. In South America, the iguana/tortoise pit has been meshed in and also contains a spectacled owl.
In effect, the 2 12 year old female tortoises arrived rom the Gladys Porter Zoo. They go by the names of Ynez and Soledad. Note: I could not trace either from among the GPZ (the oldest were 9-10 year olds) offspring. They are certainly not any of the 3 hybrid (1 born 1956 and 2 in 1995) or the only Chelonoidis becki female tortoise (born 2005) they held in 2018.
There seems to be a renewed interest in giant tortoises in US and AZA zoos. Sedgwick Zoo now maintains 3.1 Aldabran and 0.2 Galapagos tortoises. I assume that it might also signal the evolution towards another SSP is in the making. In Europe, Praha Zoo, Czech Republic is now managing an Aldabran\Seychelles giant tortoises studbook / ESB/EEP.
@Kifaru Bwana I've never understood why there isn't an Aldabra giant tortoise SSP to begin with. Aldabrans are actually more common in AZA zoos than Galapagos giant tortoises are, are of high conservation and exhibit value, and I'd imagine (as with the Galapagos) there would be concerns about overproducing or genetically mismatching animals that will live for potentially over a century. I haven't seen or heard a specific reason why they've lacked a program for so long.
On July 22nd, the zoo officially opened the Martha C. Buford Safari Express. Log in or sign up to view
On August 15th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) Chocoan peccary named Buck passed away on August 14th at age 23 due to age-related illnesses. Log into Facebook
The one and only American cream draft horse in the AZA, a female named Shasta, has passed away. Sedgwick County Zoo’s American Cream Draft Horse dies
On October 7th, the zoo announced that due to avian influenza, their flamingos, farm birds, and pelicans are off exhibit. Log into Facebook
When I visited two months ago, I learned that today (October 18th) is Pudgie the female Nile Hippo's 50th birthday. With the other hippo, (also a female) Sweetie Pie being 51 years old, then this may be the first time that a zoo has had two hippos that are 50 or older at the same time. What I mean by that is two hippos that are both currently 50 years older and living at the same place at the same time. EDIT: I found out that Bert and Bertha at the Manila Zoo were both alive in 2008 at age 56, but both have since died.
