Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo History and Past #2
- Thread starter Zoogoer2000
- Start date
Another tidbit from another prof;
A Rainbow lorikeet flock (not sure if it was the last flock or not) was lost because they contracted a type of round worm from Raccoon feces that ended up in their aviary because the Raccoons climbed on the top of the aviary and the lorikets ate the seeds from the feces and died. Likely why the aviary hasn't really been used since.
A Rainbow lorikeet flock (not sure if it was the last flock or not) was lost because they contracted a type of round worm from Raccoon feces that ended up in their aviary because the Raccoons climbed on the top of the aviary and the lorikets ate the seeds from the feces and died. Likely why the aviary hasn't really been used since.
I knew they had something wrong with them. I thought it was a brain disease but I believe you if you say it was round worm. THats a pity they are so bright and colourful and it was fanatastic that you could intereact with them. Stupid wild raccoos ruin everything...Thanks for the tidbit and glad to see you back.
Sorry, I can't remember the exact species of round worm, but my prof mentioned that they did/can cause brain issues in most of the species they infect.
Neither am I which is why i was kinda caught off guard. Could of been the first flock that suffered, he worked there for 33 1/2 years.
They were beautiful and you could feed them a syrup of some sort or sugar water... I never had an opportunity to do it myself. Went to do it one time and was turned away by a staff member... I think they were full or something. I cant remember.
It would be nice if we could get them back. Unlikely but it would be nice to see more flash in the aviary.
Round worm is one of the reasons puppies and kittens are dewormed usually before going home. Never had a pet with round worm but I did have a chinchilla with ring worm. THat wasnt pleasant. She lost circular spots of fur. THe skin was red and raw. Only had her 8 days at that point so back to the pet store she went after the vet explained no only were our dogs and other pets (a degu, budgie, cockatil, and a gerbil) at risk so were we. Plus we were headed on vacation during the treatment period and it wasnt fair to the pet sitter to ask her to do the treatments with a very young completely untamed contagious chinchilla. I remember seeing her in the store when we returned and she wasnt the same sweet little thing anymore. She really hated people.
It would be nice if we could get them back. Unlikely but it would be nice to see more flash in the aviary.
Round worm is one of the reasons puppies and kittens are dewormed usually before going home. Never had a pet with round worm but I did have a chinchilla with ring worm. THat wasnt pleasant. She lost circular spots of fur. THe skin was red and raw. Only had her 8 days at that point so back to the pet store she went after the vet explained no only were our dogs and other pets (a degu, budgie, cockatil, and a gerbil) at risk so were we. Plus we were headed on vacation during the treatment period and it wasnt fair to the pet sitter to ask her to do the treatments with a very young completely untamed contagious chinchilla. I remember seeing her in the store when we returned and she wasnt the same sweet little thing anymore. She really hated people.
Chinchillas arent rabbits. They are rodents who are slightly bigger than an guinea pig but weigh less. They are very soft and often used for fur coats. Its like a big hamster crossed with a kangaroo rat (mostly the legs and how they hold themselves), with a long busy tail they use for balance and big round ears. I loved my second one. She was on the small side and loved playing behind my curtains.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla]Chinchilla - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
Poor you never having had a pet. I've had dogs all my life and at various points also had hamsters, gerbils, degus, bunnies, budgies, cockatils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, african dwarf frogs, fish of all sorts, turtles, hermit crabs (one misguided summer when we offered to take the schools crabs over the holidays). No cats due to allergies. And my mom drew the line at mice and rats (if she doesnt wild ones why pay for tame ones), ferrets (she doesnt like them for some reason), and all lizards and snakes. Currently all I have is a dog and thats just fine by me.
At least when I first saw the lorikeets they were in the Australian Free flight aviary, where we keep the kookabura, crowned pigeon, cockatoos, cormorants ect.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla]Chinchilla - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
Poor you never having had a pet. I've had dogs all my life and at various points also had hamsters, gerbils, degus, bunnies, budgies, cockatils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, african dwarf frogs, fish of all sorts, turtles, hermit crabs (one misguided summer when we offered to take the schools crabs over the holidays). No cats due to allergies. And my mom drew the line at mice and rats (if she doesnt wild ones why pay for tame ones), ferrets (she doesnt like them for some reason), and all lizards and snakes. Currently all I have is a dog and thats just fine by me.
At least when I first saw the lorikeets they were in the Australian Free flight aviary, where we keep the kookabura, crowned pigeon, cockatoos, cormorants ect.
Zoogoer2000
Well-Known Member
The lorikeet feeding aviary was the Australasia exterior aviary. They then moved into an aviary inside, which has since been built over with the wombat/bettong/wallaby exhibits.
Okay, now I know where you're talking about. I was just talking about that section with my brother, wondering why it was closed. Now I know.
JBZvolunteer
Well-Known Member
Not to get the thread off topic, but it was probably because there is a rabbit breed called a chinchilla rabbit.
Regarding the outdoor area next to the Tree Kangas:
This area has been used. For instance in 2013 the weeds, foliage, and underbrush were all cleared out and Kookaburras were out there (alternating the two females - you could hear them calling, one inside, one outside). The zoo was holding four rooks temporarily and that's where they were. The Shovellers were out there, briefly I think.
The area is difficult because of West Nile virus, Avian Flu, raccoon feces, and Dog Strangling Vine (see below).
Most of this I knew but confirmed some and learned more from the senior keeper there yesterday.
From Ontario Invasive Species Awareness Program web site:
Impacts of Dog-Strangling Vine
Dog-strangling vine forms dense stands that overwhelm and crowd out native plants and young trees, preventing forest regeneration.
Colonies form mats of interwoven vines that are difficult to walk through and interfere with forest management and recreational activities.
Leaves and roots may be toxic to livestock. Deer and other browsing animals also avoid dog-strangling vine, which can increase grazing pressure on more palatable native plants.
The vine threatens the monarch butterfly, a species at risk in Ontario. The butterflies lay their eggs on the plant, but the larvae are unable to complete their life cycle and do not survive.