Last week, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Seneca Park Zoo officials announced that a third zebra, a five-year-old female named Lydia from Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, has arrived at the Zoo. Lydia was born September 18, 2013 and has lived at Columbus Zoo since she was a month old. She joins two other female zebras, Liberty and Dottie.
In a related move, female ostrich, Echo, moved to Columbus Zoo to join their flock. Lydia’s arrival in Rochester created the perfect opportunity to place Echo with other ostriches. We will miss Echo, but we know this is in the best interest of her overall welfare.
Featured image from L-R: Lydia, Liberty, and Dottie.
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Read the Official Press ReleaseCheck out the local news coverage below.
This morning, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo joined Seneca Park Zoo officials to kick-off demolition of the antiquated Main Zoo Building. This demolition marks culmination of the County’s first phase of Master Plan improvements at the Zoo, which included the new Cold Asia habitats, Animals of the Savanna expansion, and Zoo Tram.
The building was decommissioned over the summer with all resident Zoo animals being relocated to other areas of Seneca Park Zoo or to other zoos around the country. Removal of the outdated 1931 structure makes way for a second phase of Master Plan improvements, to include a new Tropics Complex featuring animals from the ecosystems of Borneo, Congo, and Madagascar.
Demolition of the Main Building is expected to wrap-up before the end of this year. Upon its conclusion, the footprint it once occupied will graded and planted with grass, for the time being. Planning and design of the new Tropics Complex and entryway improvements will begin in 2019, with construction commencing in 2020 and an anticipated opening date of 2022.
Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Seneca Park Zoo officials announced Wednesday the return of female polar bear Anoki to Seneca Park Zoo. Anoki was born at the Zoo to parents Aurora and Yukon in 1996.
Anoki left Seneca Park Zoo in 1998 to go to Albuquerque Biological Park. In 2008, she moved to the Maryland Zoo where she quickly became a guest favorite. Seneca Park Zoo has been home to polar bears for over 55 years. The Zoo has been without a polar bear since April, when Aurora died of natural age-related causes. The return of Anoki was determined through discussions with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which manages populations of animals in conservation care.
Today, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Zoo officials cut the ribbon on the new Animals of the Savanna expansion. The five-acre area features habitats for two female Masai giraffes, Iggy and Kipenzi, two plains zebra, two ostriches, and the Zoo’s resident white rhino, Bill. The Animals of the Savanna building includes indoor habitats for those species as well as homes for many smaller species native to the African savanna, like naked mole rats.
The expansion also includes a Zoo tram that will take guests from the front of the Zoo to the new area beyond the elephant barn, and the Savanna Outpost, a brand-new concessions and retail area.
On Friday, August 17, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo announced that a second Masai giraffe, a one-year-old female named Iggy from the Virginia Zoo, arrived at the Seneca Park Zoo as a part of the Animals of the Savanna expansion. The new Animals of the Savanna area is set to open to the public on Thursday, September 13, 2018.
On Thursday, August 16, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo joined officials from the Seneca Park Zoo to announce that the new Animals of the Savannaexpansion project will officially open to the public on Thursday, September 13, 2018. This is the second major project in Phase I of Seneca Park Zoo’s Master Plan Expansion Project.
The expansion is a new five-acre area of the Zoo featuring animals from the African Savanna, including Masai giraffes, plains zebra, ostriches, a southern white rhino, naked mole rats and over a dozen other species. In addition to the new habitats and animals, the expansion includes a tram that will take guests from the front of the Zoo to the new area beyond the elephant barn. Additionally, the Savanna Outpost is a new concessions area, and will include an opportunity for guests to feed giraffes in the future.
The morning of Thursday, July 26, Ashley Doerzbacher of 13WHAM / Fox Rochester stopped by Seneca Park Zoo to check out the new Cold Asia area, as well as the 4.5-acre Africa expansion – slated to open later this summer. Check out her coverage below!
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Rochester, N.Y. — The first steps in a major expansion at Seneca Park Zoo are now complete.
New habitats for the red pandas and snow leopards at the zoo opened last month, and there are more additions coming soon.
Ashley Doerzbacher took us inside the new Cold Asia area this morning, and also showed us a sneak peek at the expansion of the A Step Into Africa area, which is opening soon.
On Friday, June 1, 2018, Seneca Park Zoo officials joined Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo, members of the Monroe County Parks Department, and members of the public to cut the ribbon on the new Cold Asia area. Cold Asia features a habitat for the Zoo’s newest members, two red pandas named Blaze and Starlight, as well as a brand-new home for the existing snow leopards, Kaba and Tamila.
Read the official press release here.Check out local coverage of the event:
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Rochester City School District (RCSD) 2nd-grade students participated in a new experiential learning program at Seneca Park Zoo designed to drive science, math, and English Language Arts standards. The custom program was co-created by RCSD staff and the Seneca Park Zoo Society Education team for the benefit of RCSD students.
Read the official press release here.Check out local coverage of the program:
Seneca Park Zoo Society has received an extraordinary accolade: we were named one of the best places to work in our region. The designation is based on the results of an anonymous survey taken by the full-time and year-round part-time staff of the Zoo Society.
I believe Zoo Society staff reported high levels of workplace satisfaction for one primary reason: we share common values, working toward a mission we all believe in. When you come to work every day knowing that the people around you share your values, and want to do everything possible to connect our community with wildlife so they are moved to conserve it, it matters. We do meaningful work here. We are doing our part to leave the world a better place. THAT is motivating. I could not be more proud of the team we have assembled to carry out the Zoo’s mission.Why write a post with what might seem like self-serving information? Because YOU are part of the reason we have received this award. Our guests, members, volunteers, and supporters:
Share our mission and believe in the role zoos play in saving animals from extinction
Inspire us to provide best-in-class experiences with the Zoo, while you are here on site, and through outreach programs
Support the Zoo in numerous ways, from telling friends and family about what’s happening here, to contributing to conservation causes, to enrolling your children or grandchildren in camps and classes, and so much more.
You are both a cheering section, and an echo chamber, championing the Zoo’s efforts and reinforcing the importance of our work.
In addition to the support of the Zoo community, the Zoo Society is proud to work in partnership with Monroe County to fulfill the Zoo’s mission of inspiring our community to connect with, care for, and conserve wildlife and wild places.
There is no better time to come enjoy the Zoo and bring friends and family as the Zoo begins its phenomenal transformation. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your enjoyment of all that is Seneca Park Zoo.– Pamela Reed Sanchez, President and CEO
