Some animals will experience temporary new homes this season.

You can already visit African painted dogs CJJ and Monkey Wrench on the south side of the African Lion exhibit, and soon, the American Red Wolf pack will move temporarily to the African painted dog yard.

Lions Simba and Amahle are still choosing to keep their own space, but we are continuing to work with them toward cohabitation and, hopefully, starting a pride of their own. The new lion facility has more than enough room and flexibility behind the scenes to house both lions and both dogs safely and comfortably.

These moves are happening so we can build a larger, upgraded habitat for the American Red Wolves to thrive in.

This project is part of Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium’s master plan, aimed at not only building new attractions, but also improving the living spaces of our legacy animals.

Projects planned for the next several years include Humboldt penguin, which will move into the future aquarium space, and reticulated giraffe, which will have a larger, mixed species yard adjacent to their barn.

As an AZA-accredited zoo, all GPZ animals live in habitats with the space, enrichment, and veterinary care necessary to live healthy, happy lives. However, we are committed to continually improving experiences for our guests and animals alike – and not just meeting, but exceeding, the very best care standards.