This list is accurate as of 6/13/2019. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is an amusement park with wildlife located in Vallejo, California. LAND Exhibits next to "Boomerang" roller coasters Gator pit: American alligator and red-eared slider Rotational Tiger Exhibit: Rotates between Siberian and Bengal tigers Elephant Exhibit: Empty (Exhibit held both African bush and Asian but they moved out a year or 2 ago) Elephant Ride Area: Empty North America Bobcat Exhibit: Bobcat Eagle Exhibit: Bald eagle Cougar Exhibit: Cougar Wolf Exhibit: Grey wolf (Six Flags claims they're arctic and tundra wolves but I find that highly unlikely) Animal Nursery Tortoise Exhibit: Radiated tortoise Sloth Exhibit: Empty and signed as "Under Construction" (usually houses Linnaeus's two-toed sloth) Bat Exhibit: Indian flying fox Skunk Exhibit: Striped skunk Africa/Asia Tiger Exhibit: Bengal tiger Lion Exhibit: Southern lion Giraffe Exhibit: Reticulated giraffe Tava's Jungleland Pillar-Shaped Aviary: Military macaw Pillar-Shaped Aviary: Sulfur-crested cockatoo Aviary: Von der Decken's hornbill Aviary: Sulfur-crested cockatoo Walk-thru Lorikeet Aviary: Empty (hasn't been inhabited in many years) Tortoise Exhibit: Empty (usually houses spurred tortoise; I don't know if this is permanent or temporary absent) Dilapidated Exhibit: Empty (I have no idea what this held but it may have been a fox or raccoon?) Reptile House within Tava's Jungleland Outdoor Exhibit: White-throated monitor Small Terrarium: Empty Small Terrarium: Empty Small Terrarium: Empty Terrarium: Empty (usually houses Gila monster; I don't know if this is permanent or temporary absent) Terrarium: Taiwan beauty snake Terrarium: Mandarin rat snake Terrarium: Borneo short-tailed python Terrarium: Green tree python Terrarium: Empty Butterfly House Walk-thru Butterfly House: I didn't go in because it was too hot today to go into a humid building but it usually contains approximately 10 butterfly species (such as blue morpho and tree nymph butterfly), a koi fish pond, an empty turtle pond, and a Nicobar pigeon SEA "Toyota Harbor" Holding Tank Dolphin tank: Common bottlenose dolphin "Toyota Stadium" Holding Tanks Dolphin tank: Common bottlenose dolphin Dolphin tank: Common bottlenose dolphin Dolphin tank: Common bottlenose dolphin These tanks used to house a single orca, Shouka, and a single dolphin, Merlin. Merlin's still here but Shouka moved to SeaWorld SD about five years ago) Shark Experience Main Tank: I could identify nurse shark, sandbar shark, zebra shark, and southern stingray. There were some other small fishes but I'm no fish expert and outdated backlit graphic signs don't help much Cylindrical Tank: Unidentified fish "Blue Hole" Tank: Whitespotted bamboo shark, zebra moray, and other small unidentified fishes Sea Lion Nursery and Science Center Sea Lion Tank: California sea lion (this exhibit normally houses 2 walruses but one individual is permanently gone and the other is on a temporary breeding loan with SeaWorld and will eventually return according to a keeper) Exhibits near DC-Themed Section of the Park Sea Lion Cove: California sea lion and Pacific harbor seal Stingray Bay: Southern stingray Penguin Passage: Jackass penguin STARS OF THE ANIMAL SHOWS "Discover Our Ocean Friends" (at Toyota Harbor): Common bottlenose dolphin "Drench!" (at Toyota Stadium): Common bottlenose dolphin "Seals, Sea Lions, and Otters!" (at Sea Lion Stage): Asian small-clawed otter and California sea lion "Odin's Temple of the Tiger" (at Odin's Temple of the Tiger): Bengal and Siberian tigers "Wildlife Experience Show" (at Discovery Stage): Bald eagle, golden conure, Indian flying fox, hyacinth macaw, king vulture, military macaw, North American porcupine, Patagonian conure, rainbow boa, scarlet macaw, and turkey vulture
I expect the "Bengals" are mixed subspecies. The elephants were gone when I last went, and that was some 4 years ago I think. I didn't even know they had a reptile house! Previously, most of the small fish in the main and cylindrical tank have been tangs, large angelfish, and triggerfish. Some nice species there! No more ground hornbill?
After my first full day of work I learned many things and thus need to update/correct/add more information to some of the things on here. I stated Six Flags was home to both Amur and Bengal tiger however after the recent passing of Odin (from old age), Six Flags now only has Amur. In addition to American alligators and red-eared sliders, Alligator Isle is also supposedly home to an alligator snapping turtle although in the many times I've gone I've never seen him/her I was correct in guessing the "Dilapidated Exhibit" in Tava's Jungleland was once home to a fox. The Animal Nursery lineup has already changed: Where was previously the radiated tortoises (who where rather cleverly named Chimi and Changa by the way), now resides a month old lion cub and the skunk exhibit is now home to ferrets. Also I confirmed that the "under construction exhibit" will once again be home to a sloth (species unknown but probably also Linnaeus's) The male lion passed away (also from old age) so the park now only has two lionesses and the new male cub. The butterfly house is home to a lot more than "approximately 10 butterfly species." It is actually usually home to anywhere 40 to 70 species of lepidopteran at any one time. The majority are butterflies but it's also home to Atlas moths. Two more things about the butterfly house: it is home to two, not one, Nicobar pigeons, and the radiated tortoises will eventually be moving in here (a former turtle pond is being converted) I found out the main tank in "Shark Experience" still has spotted wobegong (I thought they'd left as I hadn't seen them in my last couple visits) I saw a bird of prey being held behind the scenes, I believe it was a red-tailed hawk and I assume it's occasionally used in the "Wildlife Experience Show" because it was being held in that area. Finally, I can indeed confirm @Great Argus that the ground hornbill is no longer here (whether it died or moved I don't know)
Are you working there? No surprise you haven't seen the Alligator Snapper... (Nor have I, nor did I have any clue to its presence) Being as they're mostly aquatic and without any underwater viewing in a vegetated pond, would easily go undetected even by those looking for it. I didn't know they had wobbegongs. I know they had a Harris' Hawk, but that was a while ago. Red-tail is quite possible given occurrence of rehab birds. Ground hornbill more likely moved, since they live so long.
Yes, no direct contact with animals. Basically I just stand around the exhibits, educate guests about the animals, and tell guests to stop it if they're doing something stupid (i.e. running, trying to cross a barrier, yelling at an animal, etc.) Getting paid to stand around exotic animals all day? That's my kind of job!
I feel like they don't have anything major in the animal department... Elephants are gone, as are the lories and some other small animals... The one (two?) walrus they still own are out on loan... They pretty much have basic species in average enclosures for the most part. Very few species of any real interest to most avid zoo-goers (which is not the point of Six Flags, so not much weight there).
Here's what I've learned (I hope I'm allowed to share this): Most of the animal department completely agrees with what the two of you have said. Apparently, over the last couple years corporate has been under the impression that the guests don't care about the animals (which I assume is code for they didn't think the animals were making them any money). So cooperate has been slowly leaning away from animals and focusing on rides with the eventual plan of becoming a ride-only park. However cooperate recently did a large guest survey and to their surprise (but not mine) just as many people come to see animals that come to ride roller coasters. Apparently this is sending shockwaves through the cooperate ladder. So, *fingers crossed,* this hopefully means in the near future we'll be seeing more money pumped into the animal sector.
Interesting, and fingers crossed. They do have the only dolphins in the northern 2/3 of the state, and my guess is that's a large draw. Also they still do have a lot of the bigger popular animals (lion, tiger, giraffe, camel, wolf, sea lion, seal, penguins, alligator, sharks), which are what the average visitor wants to see. Far as sharing, just use discretion. If it's been released to the public or it's something you're told as an answer to guest's questions, you're good. I wouldn't recommend posting every new insider thing you learn straight off the bat, but things like you've posted the last couple days are fine. Pretty much all stuff you could find out as a visitor if you did some digging. Per my own experience, when I learned of new animals or developments I respected my institution and didn't share until it had shared the news publicly. Most people appreciate and take note of respect like that. My two cents, and look forward to hearing how things go.
@Great Argus Thanks for the information. I'll keep it in mind. (Also there are not camel and there haven't been in like 4 to 5 years) @drill Sorry for not seeing your question. Did you end up going? Also here are a few more species I've discovered call SFDK home (and I've made sure I'm allowed to say this things): Butterfly house The koi pond in the butterfly house is also home to butterfly goldfish Wildlife Show Animals I confirmed the unknown birds of prey are red-tailed hawks The "scarlet macaw" is actually a ruby macaw (a scarlet/green-winged macaw hybrid) There is an umbrella cockatoo There is a serval cat There is a silvery-cheeked hornbill There is even a southern tamandua (I knew they used to one but I think this is a new one) Reptile House BTS (A very kind keeper allowed me briefly BTS. That is actually one thing I've definitely noticed, all the keepers are extremely nice) The Gila monster is off exhibit due to a malfunctioning heating rock and once that's fixed will be back on exhibit There were many tanks and I couldn't see most of the inhabitants but I definitely saw a European legless lizard Eastern indigo snake Boa constrictor Also, sidenote the job is going absolutely amazing. I wake up genuinely looking forward going to work
I decided to make a Google Doc species list, like the one I made for Sacramento, so I could update it as needed: Six Flags DK Species List. Also, I have discovered a few new species since I last posted: red fox, yellow-headed amazon, and yellow-naped amazon
Okay so here is the complete Six Flags Discovery Kingdom species list. Ginormous thanks to @Great Argus for being a life saver when it comes to fish IDs. The Google Doc is still available and will be updated as needed for as long as I work here but this post is accurate as of Nov. 26, 2019. (Six Flags DK Species List) 140 species (90 species of vertebrate + average of 50 species of butterfly ≈ 140 species) Mammals (18 species + 1 hybrid) Amur tiger and Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris altaica and P. t. tigris) California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) Grey wolf (Canis lupus) House cat (Felis catus) Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius) Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) Lion (Panthera leo) North American cougar (Puma concolor couguar) North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Reticulated giraffe-Rothchild’s giraffe hybrid (Giraffa reticulata × G. camelopardis rothschildi) Serval (Leptailurus serval) Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Western bobcat (Lynx rufus fasciatus) White-nosed coati (Nasua narica) Birds (17 species + 1 hybrid) Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) Golden conure (Guaruba guarouba) Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) King vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) Military macaw (Ara militaris) Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) Orange-winged amazon (Amazona amazonica) Patagonian conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus) Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Ruby macaw (Ara chloropterus × A. macao) Silvery-cheeked hornbill (Bycanistes brevis) Southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) Umbrella cockatoo (Cacatua alba) Yellow-headed amazon (Amazona oratrix) Yellow-naped amazon (Amazona auropalliata) Reptiles (20 species) Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Ball python (Python regius) Blood python (Python brongersmai) Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) Borneo short-tailed boa (Python breitensteini) Carpet python (Morelia spilota) Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) European legless lizard (Pseudopus apodus) Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) Green tree python (Morelia viridis complex) Mandairn rat snake (Euprepiophis mandarinus) Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) Rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria) Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) Rufous beaked snake (Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus) Taiwan beauty snake (Orthriophis taeniurus) Woma python (Aspidites ramsayi) White-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis albigularis) Fishes (35 species) Asfur angelfish (Pomacanthus asfur) Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber) Blackbar soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) Brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) Bermuda chub (Kyphosus sectatri) Blue ring angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis) Butterfly goldfish (Carassius auratus) Cortez angelfish (Pomacanthus zonipectus) Darkfin hind grouper (Cephalopholis urodeta) Dog-face puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) Double-saddled butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis) French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) Gray angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) Jack-knifefish (Equetus lanceolatus) Koi (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) Leopard moray (Gymnothorax favagineus) Lookdown (Selene vomer) Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) Permit fish (Trachinotus falcatus) Pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) Powder blue tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) Sailfin snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) Schooling bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes) Six-banded angelfish (Pomacanthus sexstriatus) Singular bannerfish (Heniochus singularis) Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) Spotted moray (Gymnothorax isingteena) Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) Starry puffer (Arothron stellatus) Yellow longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) Zebra shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) Butterflies (40 to 70 (average of 50) species) (A few regulars...) Autumn leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide) Common postman (Heliconius melpomene) Cairns birdwing (Ornithoptera euphorion) Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) Dead leaf (Kallima inachus) Forest giant owl (Caligo eurilochus) Giant owl (Caligo memnon) Glasswing (Greta oto) Grecian shoemaker (Catonephele numilia) Isabella tiger (Eueides isabella) Jazzy leafwing (Hypna clytemnestra) Large tree nymph (Idea leuconoe) Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) Peleides blue morpho (Morpho peleides) Small postman (Heliconius erato) Tiger longwing (Heliconius hecale) *Note SFDK is occasionally also home to a moth species: Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) Exhibits Land Butterfly Habitat Free-flying: 40 to 70 species of butterfly, Nicobar pigeon Butterfly goldfish, Koi Empty (Radiated tortoise coming “soon”) Alligator Isle Alligator snapping turtle, American alligator, Red-eared slider turtle Odin’s Temple of the Tiger (Rotational) Amur tiger, Bengal tiger Tava’s Jungleland Military macaw Umbrella cockatoo Empty Sulphur-crested cockatoo Empty Empty Reptile Discovery (within Tava’s Jungleland) White-throated monitor lizard Empty Empty (Gila monster coming “soon”) Taiwan beauty snake Mandairn rat snake Borneo short-tailed python Green tree python Empty Giraffe Encounter Reticulated giraffe-Rothchild’s giraffe hybrid Lion’s Lair Lion (adults) Tiger Island (Rotational) Amur tiger, Lion (cubs) Animal Nursery/Vet Clinic Empty Empty (Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth coming “soon”) Indian flying fox Ferret Wolf’s Den Grey wolf Red fox (Technically not on show but if you look behind-the-scenes you can spot it) Cougar Rocks (Rotational) North American cougar Small Animal Exhibits (behind Cougar Rocks) Western bobcat Bald eagle Sea Dolphin Harbor Common bottlenose dolphin Seal Cove California sea lion, Pacific harbor seal Stingray Bay Southern stingray (males) Penguin Passage Black-footed penguin Pinniped Nursery and Science Center California sea lion Shark Experience Atlantic spadefish, Bermuda chub, Blue ring angelfish Cortez angelfish, Darkfin hind grouper, French grunt, Giant trevally, Golden trevally, Gray angelfish, Lookdown, Nurse shark, Permit fish, Porkfish (big individuals), Sailfin snapper, Sandbar shark, Schooling bannerfish, Six-banded angelfish, Southern stingray (females), Spotted wobbegong, Starry puffer, White jack, Zebra shark Porkfish (small individuals) Asfur angelfish, Blackbar soldierfish, Brownbanded bamboo shark, Dog-face puffer, Double-saddled butterflyfish, Jack-knifefish, Leopard moray, Pinktail triggerfish, Porkfish (big individuals), Powder blue tang, Singular bannerfish, Yellow longnose butterflyfish Shows Discover Our Ocean Friends (at Toyota Harbor): Common bottlenose dolphin Drench! (at Toyota Stadium) Common bottlenose dolphin Seals, Sea Lions, and Otters! (at Sea Lion Stage): Asian small-clawed otter, California sea lion, Pacific harbor seal Odin's Temple of the Tiger (at Odin's Temple of the Tiger) Amur tiger, Bengal tiger Wildlife Experience Show (at Discovery Stage) Bald eagle, Golden conure, Grey wolf, House cat (?), Hyacinth macaw, Indian flying fox, King vulture, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, Military macaw, North American porcupine, Orange-winged amazon (?), Patagonian conure, Rainbow boa, Red fox (?), Red-tailed hawk (?), Ruby macaw, Serval, Southern tamandua (?), Silvery-cheeked hornbill (?), Southern ground hornbill, Sulphur-crested cockatoo (?), Striped skunk, Turkey vulture, White-nosed coati, Umbrella cockatoo (?), Yellow-headed amazon, Yellow-naped amazon *Question mark (?) implies I’m not 100% certain whether or not these are species are used in the show. I know some of them, like the southern tamandua and the house cat, used to be, but I don’t know if they still are. *Additionally it’s possible/probable that some more of the large behind-the-scenes reptile collection is occasionally used, but the rainbow boa is the only one I’ve seen.
Can you get a species list for Six Flags Great Adventure? They have a pretty large collection with relative rarities. Thanks for this list!
JUNE 2021 UPDATE: Sea Dolphin Harbor Common bottlenose dolphin Seal Cove California harbor seal, Pacific harbor seal Stingray Bay Southern stingray (males) Penguin Passage Black-footed penguin Walrus Experience Pacific walrus Shark Experience Atlantic spadefish, Bermuda chub, Blue ring angelfish, Cortez angelfish, Darkfin hind grouper, French grunt, Giant trevally, Golden trevally, Gray angelfish, Lookdown, Nurse shark, Permit fish, Porkfish (big individuals), Sailfin snapper, Sandbar shark, Schooling bannerfish, Six-banded angelfish, Southern stingray (females), Spotted wobbegong, White jack, Zebra shark Porkfish (small individuals) Asfur angelfish, Blackbar soldierfish, Brownbanded bamboo shark, Dog-face puffer, Double-saddled butterflyfish, Jack-knifefish, Laced moray, Pinktail triggerfish, Porkfish (big individuals), Powder blue tang, Singular bannerfish, Yellow longnose butterflyfish Land Butterfly Habitat Free flying: 40 to 70 species of butterfly and moth (Often including Atlas moth, Cairns birdwing, Clipper, Cracker, Glasswing, Indian dead leaf, Longwing, Peleides blue morpho, Owl, And more), Nicobar pigeon Goldfish, Koi Empty Alligator Isle Alligator snapping turtle, American alligator, Red-eared slider turtle Odin's Temple of the Tiger Siberian tiger Reptile Discovery White-throated monitor lizard (on warm days) Empty Huachuca mountain kingsnake Taiwan beauty snake Olive python Mexican west coast rattlesnake Bredl’s python Rhinoceros rat snake Tava's Jungleland Umbrella cockatoo Ruby macaw Hyacinth macaw, Scarlet macaw, Military macaw Sulphur-crested cockatoo Empty Empty Cougar Rocks North America cougar Wolf's Den Grey wolf Animal Nursery/Vet Clinic White-nosed coati Ferret Linnaeus's two-toed sloth Indian flying fox White-throated monitor lizard (on cold days) Tiger Island Siberian tiger Lion's Lair Lion Giraffe Encounter Giraffe Shows Discover Our Ocean Friends (Location: Dolphin Harbor Theater) Common bottlenose dolphin Drench! (Near: Toyota Stadium) Common bottlenose dolphin Odin's Temple of the Tiger (Location: Near Boomerang Coast-to-Coaster) Tiger Seal, Sea Lions, and Otters (Location: Near Penguin Passage) Asian small-clawed otter, California sea lion, Pacific harbor seal The Wildlife Experience (Location: Tava's Jungleland) Bald eagle, Golden conure, Grey wolf, Hyacinth macaw, Indian flying fox, King vulture, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, Military macaw, Lowland paca, Orange-winged amazon, Patagonian conure, Rainbow boa, Red fox, Red-tailed hawk, Ruby macaw, Serval, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Striped skunk, Turkey vulture, White-nosed coati, Umbrella cockatoo, Yellow-headed amazon, Yellow-naped amazon