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Endeavor Buin Zoo recibe al primer orangután que llega a Chile
20 Feb 2013

All of a globetrotter. So define "Peek" at Bioparc Fuengirola, the famous Spanish zoo. The orangutan of 19 years will, from May, part of the family of Buin Zoo , and will thus become the first animal of this species in Chile stepped ashore .

Peek is a Bornean orangutan, born in 1993 at the zoo in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and is part of the 144 living in captivity in Europe.

By 2003, the country had seen in 69,000 orangutans in the wild, a number that was reduced according to the latest estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to experts warn, loss of habitat to 80% in the last 30 years, poaching and trafficking have reduced its population to 50,000, which makes it a species under threat of extinction.

For Ignacio Idalsoaga , Buin Zoo director , Peek's arrival is something unprecedented: "It will be our first experience with great apes, so they are preparing their habitat with the highest standards" .

The new "house" Peek will feature more than 700 square meters . There the orangutan will have lush vegetation, a small lake and also have air beds and very thick ropes that allow the animal of 100 kg, it can balance and move through the heights.

Peek is the fourth issue in Latin America after Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

From the Spanish fleet, Jesus Recuero Bioparc veterinarian, says the challenge is to invest in the preservation of the natural habitat of orangutans and conserve the population living in the various parks for playback.

"For us it is a challenge, because we're talking about a species that has very stringent measures. The orangutan is a very strong and intelligent animals, and there are very few institutions that operate " , Ezekiel mentions Hidalgo, director of conservation and research of Buin Zoo.

In the world only 264 zoos have this species in captivity, and that measures are needed to ensure their safety and physical and psychological wellbeing.


Translation courtesy of Google :)
 
I have various photos from Buin zoo waiting for a new gallery. Buin zoo is the largest private zoo in SA and quite nice
 
I have posted some pictures of Buin zoo on the gallery.
Here is a brief history of Buin zoo.
Dr. Ignacio Idalsoaga is the most sucessfull veterenarian of Chile. He established Chile ´s largest pet cementary and finest animal hospital. He would recieve many injured wild animals from the authorites and general public, so he decided to found a zoo for them. In 1990 he recieved government permission to open a zoo. by 1995 Dr I.I. had the largest private zoo in the country. A visit to Africam Safari Puebla in Mexico in 1998 allowed him to contact the Camachos, Frank and Amy, who shared their expertise on how to run a zoo as a family business of high international standards. Buin zoo has 12 hectacres open to the public. It holds 400 species and is a member of ALPZA - asociación latinoamericana de parques zoologicos y acuarios.
After i finish loading up the pictures i will write a review.
 
Another article in spanish on the efforts by Buin zoo to save fauna hurt by the forest fires. Kodkods, colocolos, grisons, opussums, skunks, foxes are still being treated. As the article states,If they survive, they cannot be released, the forests where they lived are burnt.
Fauna silvestre de zonas afectadas huye de los incendios hacia sectores poblados | Emol.com
Also a youtube video on rescued fauna at Buin zoo including the kodkod

When zoos have an important role in the rescue and treatment of wild animals in a terrible event like this the international press ignores it completely.
 
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When zoos have an important role in the rescue and treatment of wild animals in a terrible event like this the international press ignores it completely.
Could not agree more.

Buin Zoo is doing a better job than some wildlife authorities and they do have the capabilities and trained vet and animal care staff to deal with emergencies. Well done!
 
Nice, it seems these unfortunate fires in central and southern Chile have amalgamated relations between zoo and wildlife biology. It demonstrates the key role local zoos like Santiago de Chile and Buin can play in wildlife conservation and direct action efforts.
 
Buin zoo now has 3 kodkod rescued from the early 2017 forest fires. They are one adult and two cubs. Santiago zoo has one rescued kodkod, also a cub. These felines cannot be released because their habitat has been destroyed by the fires. Maybe an ex situ breeding group could be considered.
 
Buin zoo now has 3 kodkod rescued from the early 2017 forest fires. They are one adult and two cubs. Santiago zoo has one rescued kodkod, also a cub. These felines cannot be released because their habitat has been destroyed by the fires. Maybe an ex situ breeding group could be considered.
That would both be beneficial for in situ conservation initiatives and PR as well as ex situ conservation breeding and allow for husbandry expertise to be build up!
 
I do hope some "good" comes out of the bad!

One good is the great relationships being built between in situ and zoos and what great work they can do together for conservation. I expect also ... they can develop good husbandry skills for a delicate felid species that might some time somehow benefit the species and help with rehab and increasing wild populations.

I recommend all to watch the TV show Cultura Verdadera that was aired specifically to highlight the fires (incendios) and what can be done to recuperate and better protect Chile's wildlife (especies nativos)!

Enjoy: Cultura Verdadera – Fauna afectada por incendios – Lunes 06 de Febrero 2017
 
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