Calgary Zoo Calgary Zoo News 2015

I might be able to find out some things about Calgary's moose during that time for you. It wont be some of what you really want but dates, moves, offspring things like that. Give me a couple of hours.
 
I checked the records and there is no evidence of a male moose going from Calgary Zoo to Northwest Trek in 1971. In fact all moose moved from the zoo until 1975 went to San Diego Zoo. The only moose I have going from the zoo to the trek are females Rita Mcneil and Aspen in 2007. Are you sure he came from the zoo? And are you sure about the year? I cannot even find a record of any moose being there prior to female Mamie in 1981. She was joined in 1982 by female Caboose and male Kanuk (from Moose Jaw Zoo and Recreational Park).
 
Northwest Trek iconic moose

Thank you for your prompt and detailed response. I hadn't dare hope for such expertise.
It is a puzzlement, though. Our scanty Trek records variously cite both "Calgary zoo" (lower case) and "Calgary game farm" —which Alberta sources tell me never existed. So I was leaning towards the Alberta Game Farm, with its plentiful supply of hoofed critters.
However, this morning I received the following e-mail from the media relations person at the Calgary Zoo: "We do have a record of a bull moose that went to Tacoma in [sic] November 20th, 1971." Since our Trek records show the arrival of our iconic bull moose on Nov. 23, 1971, it seemed like a slam dunk!
I'm impressed, though, by the specificity of your information. Is there some zoo animal tracking resouerce I'm unaware of? I'd love to know more.
The book I'm writing is nonfiction ("the true story of . . . ") , so I need to get the facts straight.
Again, thanks from a grateful writer.
 
Moose at Trek in 1970s

You were asking whether moose were actually at Trek in the 1970s. Yes, we have ample documentation in the form of newspaper articles and photos, and Trek newsletters.
Besides the initial bull moose from Alberta (dubbed "Chocolate"), there is mention in early 1972 of two young female moose at the Edmonton Zoo that would be ready to be moved in the coming fall. I don't know if it was these, but Chocolate was soon joined by Eclair and young Bonbon (my dad was an inveterate punster!).
— Could it be that there were a lot of animals moving around from zoo to zoo that were not entered in the master list? :eek:
 
After checking again for the Calgary Game Farm I came up with nothing. Literally its not listed. So I decided to check all places in Alberta.

The Alberta Fish and Game nothing but a female arriving in 2010 from the zoo.

The Alberta Game Farm had 4 moose. In 1961 a bull moved to Assiniboine. An early bull named Duke went to Milwaukee. And there were two later cows.

And lastly Valley Zoo didn't have a moose until 1975 and those were mostly orphans brought in and not surviving.
 
Moose mysteries

Hi again, and thanks.
I too came up empty on a "Calgary game farm," and, with some guidance from a reference librarian out your way, honed in on the Alberta Game Farm as probable. But now, with that e-mail from the Calgary Zoo, I've had to reassess.
I am puzzled by the lack of agreement between yours and my information. Is there an zoo animal registry that you are consulting? If so, I'd love to know how to access it.
Do you wonder if various zoos and parks made some sales and trades without sharing the information? Or do you have another theory for the gaps?
You seem very knowledgeable, so let me ask too if you can point me to any
oldtimers—like retired keepers, volunteers, and frequent visitors—who can shed light generally on how a moose of the 1960s would have come into captivity, been confined, fed and cared for, and been transported a long distance.
Gratefully—
 
Thanks for the complement but Im just using a certain resource. I couldn't possibly know all this about moose in Canada on my own. I'm obsessive but not quite that obsessive. I sent you a PM with my source and how you can access it.

The records are only as complete as the institutions make them... particularly for anything that happened before the 70's. Now if the zoos involved are AZA accredited its far more likely the info is complete. Calgary and Edmonton would have pretty complete info. The game farm is more iffy as with the fish and game. What was most interesting is there is no moose listed at Northwest Trek at the time. Don't know what to make of that.

Is it possible he was an orphan? Maybe the government had control of him and placed him there. Happens a lot with orphaned moose. The provinces' ministries of natural resources tries to place orphan moose in zoos... well before rehab facilities were big.

I could not point you towards a keeper, volunteer or visitor with regards to Calgary. I'm an Ontarian. Toronto Zoo is my home zoo. Want to see me fully informed ask me about animals there.
 
The zoo has two new Hartmann's zebras, Liba and Eros who are going Chela. They are now all on display together.

The zoo's Grevy's zebras have left. Shelly Anne has headed to the Valley Zoo in Edmonton to potentially breed with male Shaka. Her daughter Lori Anne has gone to Toronto where she will hopefully breed for the first time with male Jake.
 
The penguin chick is named Emilio.

The rheas, Coco and Sweet Pea, have been laying eggs. Chicks may be on the horizon but the zoo cautions the parents are young and haven't started to incubate the eggs yet. But a good sign for the future.
 
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