The Unexpected Joys of a Winter Visit to the Zoo

December 31, 2020

As the temperature drops and the snow flurries begin, many people forget the Zoo as a safe and fun outdoor destination.   Winter is a great time to visit Seneca Park Zoo, and the experience can be quite different than that on a warm busy summer day!

Winter Zoo visits can be quite peaceful.   There are typically few people here, so the hub bub of kids laughing and crowds meandering is replaced with quiet.  There’s a stillness in the air.  But there is still plenty to see and do.  Here are some suggestions on making the most of your winter visit.A must-see on a winter visit is the animals of cold Asia. The snow leopards and red pandas, in particular, are quite active when it’s cold outside.  This winter, keepers will be reintroducing snow leopard Timila and Kaba for breeding season, so you could have the opportunity to see them together.  Additionally, if you haven’t seen red panda Willie, you’ll love spending some time watching him and Starlight as they enjoy the cold air.   The wolves and tiger are also typically quite active!

Another good stop on your winter visit is the baboon habitat.  It has recently been completely reconfigured (link) and the baboons are having a ball! The baboon habitat has a covered area where you can get out of the wind or snow as well.

Keep heading into Animals of the Savanna to meet the Zoo’s newest resident, white rhino Jiwe’.  Whether Jiwe’ is inside or outside, he’s fun to observe as well.  As a juvenile, Jiwe’ can be playful and curious.

With the smaller crowds, a winter visit is a great time to spend some time at the aviary in the Animals of the Savanna building.   See how many species you can count.  Marvel at the variation in the songs of the different birds.  Admire the setting, which was all hand painted by artisans.

Another great winter stop is the Rocky Coasts Gallery, which can provide a quiet warm-up spot.   Take a seat on one of the benches and be mesmerized by the graceful California sea lions swimming back and forth.  Watch the videos in the gallery which provide interesting background about polar bears and sea lions from our conservation partners.  And be sure to spend some time at the reef tank.  See how many species of corals and fish you can find.  The signs in that area can help you learn more about coral in particular.A winter visit is a great time to read some of the interpretive signage throughout the Zoo.  You’ll be surprised about how much you can learn!  The “Why Save This Species” signs are fairly new and particularly interesting. You’ll find them by snow leopards, eagles, giraffes, and more!

Another great warm up spot is the ECO center.  North American River otter Ashkii is usually swimming in the pool visible from inside.  Have you ever seen a hellbender?  These elusive amphibians camouflage in their habitat.  But with a bit of time and observation, you can usually find them!

A great way to end your visit is a hot lunch special from Eagle’s Landing.  Every day there is a home-made soup, and a lunch special. Ask at the counter or better yet, pre-order your meal here (specials are listed at the top) and it will be ready for you when you schedule it.  The pavilion is heated and provides a comfortable, sheltered spot to enjoy your meal.

As you head out, you can take one last warm up stop at the ZooShop.  Be sure to check out the “Live Sustainably at Home” section.   There are many great items for yourself or for gifts!

Give a winter Zoo visit a try!  We are open 362 days a year.  Be sure to get your timed tickets in advance, and please – fill out the survey you’ll receive after your visit.  We love to get your feedback.

*Banner photo by Elesa Kim

Here’s the Dirt on the Baboons’ New “Digs”

December 2, 2020

If you’ve been to the Zoo lately, you may have noticed our incredible new baboon habitat. The baboon habitat opened as part of the A Step into Africa expansion in 2008, and, apart from some cosmetic work, it was largely unchanged since then. Our animal care staff noted that the baboons needed something new, so they made a plan to add a couple of new platforms. When Assistant Zoo Director Dr. Louis asked for help from Parks Director Patrick Meredith, Assistant Parks Director Chris Kirchmaier, and Horticulture Superintendent Mark Quinn, and the Zoo Docents contributed an enrichment grant to help make it possible, the plan exploded. The creativity of the Parks Department staff resulted in an environment rich with options for the baboons. By repurposing fallen trees from throughout Monroe County’s Parks, they used sustainable and naturalistic materials to build in new furniture throughout the habitat. Even more impressive, the Parks crew worked through nearly two weeks of daily rain and mud, placing large logs mostly by hand to facilitate a naturalistic but fun new design.  With the job complete, the results are amazing! So, a huge shout out to our amazing Monroe County Parks Department!Unlike what you see on your favorite home improvement shows, our baboons didn’t have to move out during renovations. They were able to enjoy their new home, and supervise the progress, as it was being constructed. The Parks crew was especially sensitive to ending each day at a “baboon-friendly” stopping point, so that the animals could assess the quality of each day’s work! And on the final day, it was a sight to see when the baboons were able to fully explore all the new additions to their home, and they continue to do so on a daily basis.

The new baboon abode provides an endless number of novel opportunities for digging, climbing, jumping, foraging, bouncing, lounging and just plain “hanging out”. You may not have known that baboons like to dig for insects and worms in the dirt, and they now have plenty of new soil to dig in!

Unlike other monkeys, baboons spend a lot of their time on the ground but they do sleep, eat, hang out and keep watch up high. So, we added logs and trees for climbing and sitting. Baboons also have a playful side, and we accommodated that too! For instance, there are hanging platforms and trampolines for jumping and swinging.

The novelty of the habitat enhancement is sustainable because we have options for hanging different enrichment items, like swings, that provide interest each day to enhance and improve the lives of our troop. Providing this enrichment on a daily basis is a very important aspect of what we do because it gives the animals choices in how they spend their time, control over their environment, and the opportunity to express their natural behaviors. In turn, this effort enhances their wellbeing.

While we’ve seen all the baboons up on new perches and trees, one baboon in particular has taken an extra liking to the trampolines! Kalamata bounces on the trampolines and makes his way from one side of the enclosure to the other by jumping off all the new platforms, without even touching the ground! He also uses the trampolines to lounge in the sun. It’s been amazing to watch him enjoy one of the structures we were most excited about!

So, please share in our excitement and plan a visit to the zoo so you can see for yourself how the baboons are doing in their new “digs”.

– Dr. Louis DiVincenti, Assistant Zoo Director – Animal Care & Conservation; Zoologist Jenna Bovee; Zoo Keeper Clare Belden; Zoo Keeper Linda Velasquez

Header photo –  by Clare Belden