Erie Zoo Erie Zoo News

From the Zoo's Website:

There's a new face in the Erie Zoo's tiger exhibit. We have welcomed a 3-year-old Amur tiger named Pavel from the Buffalo Zoo. The Russian name "Pavel" means "small and humble", but this boy is far from small! He weighs about 400 pounds and is still growing. Male Amur tigers can weigh as much as 660 pounds and they are the largest member of the cat family.

Pavel is adjusting well to his new home and will be rotated on exhibit with our female Amur tiger Anna and the male white tiger, Kumar.
 
Im visiting the erie zoo today and taking alot of pics to post on zoochat. If anyone wants to me ask any questions feel free to ask. thks matt
 
The Erie zoo is trying to get money to build a new polar bear exhibit and there also trying to import more polar bears since the lone female is old. But right now with canadas law I guess you can't import them until they change the law. Capybaras are in the outdoor gorilla yard now. Prehensile tailed porcupine is in the old pallas cat exhibit. The zoo had rock hyrax babies,meerkat babies,dismantle babies and penguin babies.
 
Honestly I don't want them to have access to more polar bears until they can update their exhibit. I do feel bad for Patches, but I rather they send her elsewhere until they can get something to happen. But I am glad it's something they are considering. I am curious where they would put it though. If they knocked down all the grottoes, maybe it be a decent size, but I doubt they're getting rid of their lions and tigers.

It's interesting to hear the use of the old outside gorilla exhibit. I do wish she'd go out there, but I heard she hardly left her inside area. Sort of like the orangs at Virginia Zoo right now.

I do miss this zoo and I hope I can visit again soon.
 
jusko88 said:
Coming soon in the childrens area is a Potratz Floral shop & Greenhouses Inc.
Click to expand...

Not to sound "stoopid," but what does that mean? A florist is opening an outlet in the zoo? They are providing landscaping for a portion of the children's area? Sponsoring a public program/show? Any idea?

Also, @ Blospz - while the park's lion grotto is nothing spectacular, with the budget angst the institution already has, I cannot see them jettisoning their tigers. They just spent a half-million dollars four/five years ago to renovate their barren, concrete tiger enclosure into a nicer facility. Related, I always wondered 'what the deal' was with the area into which the zoo's train loops. It currently holds a free-range area for some deer. Sounding like they cannot expand past the current acreage they have, I'm sure there is some way they could construct pedestrian walkways over the river and into that area. With apologies to the train-lovers out there, maybe they could start from scratch and create a polar bear compound back there?
 
there was a bunch of signs where domestic goats were saying that i guess a floral shop is opening up sometime this summer but didnt see any work being done so idk. ya that train ride had a bunch of mouflon, and one pere davids deer and a fallow deer. I was thinking the same thing bout maybe building a new polar bear exhibit there. Isn't this where the elephant exhibit used to be? the worker i talked to sounded like they trying to start on the project soon and trying to get donations for it. There also trying to import more polar bears from canada. I think though if they remove the barn animals and the big goat area by the polar bear and possibly get rid of the lion exhibit that would be alot of room for a new polar bear exhibit. the 2 black bears are only there until next year and how many lions does erie have? i seen 2 females on my two visits there. maybe ship them to cleveland zoo since i heard there trying to build a new lion exhibit.
 
I think for space and configuration, the easiest thing would be to build the exhibit in the wooded area. But maybe the cheapest would be to revamp the grottoes they are in now.
 
Keeper’s Corner Fall 2012

Keeper’s Corner Fall 2012

On May 5th, a baby white-cheeked gibbon was born to Cailay and Sweeney. Cailay was a first- time mother and has always been very high strung. These two factors caused concern as to whether she would be a good mother and keepers were prepared if she rejected the baby. But our worries proved to be unwarranted. Cailay has been an excellent mom. The whole family, including dad Sweeney, is enjoying their outside exhibit. Since the baby is very light colored, and very vulnerable to sunburn, outdoor access was delayed until the unusually hot weather moderated. This SSP recommended birth is very welcome to the population since there have not been many births recently. The baby has been named Chua, although the sex has not yet been determined. The family will stay together for several years before the youngster moves on to another zoo. At present time, Chua’s color is the same as its mother – a blonde shade. If it is a male, this color will eventually change to black like its father. No matter what sex the baby turns out to be, it will have the signature white cheeks, which is where the species gets its name.

The penguin family has grown considerably over the summer! A total of 5 chicks have hatched out to 3 separate pairs. With the hatchings approved by the African Penguin SSP, some of the chicks will remain here, while others will move on to other zoos. This brings the total number of penguin chicks hatched here to 25, with 21 surviving. This impressive number does not come easy. The animal keepers that care for them put a lot of effort into each step of the breeding process. When a pair is recommended to breed by the penguin SSP, sometimes this pair needs to be kept separated from the group until they become socially bonded. Then, if the pairing is successful, the pair needs privacy while they incubate the eggs. Any disturbance could result in the pair leaving the nest, or the eggs being cracked or broken. After a 30-42 day incubation period, if the eggs were fertile and the chicks are successful in hatching, the long process of raising the chick(s) begins. Both parents participate in the incubation and feeding of the chicks, although there have been instances where one parent is lax in doing their fair share! In that case, keepers must make sure the diligent parent is fed while at the nest, since she (or he!) will not leave the nest alone to eat. Sometimes older siblings of the newly hatched chicks will try to interfere with the raising of the young chicks. They are often separated from the group until the chicks are older. The last step is making sure that the chicks begin to eat from the keepers after they are weaned from their parents. This can sometimes take months. Chicks often have to be caught and hand-fed until they start eating voluntarily from the keepers. A penguin keeper must be very observant and patient every day to give these pairings the best chance for success. Fortunately, we have great keepers that make not only this breeding program successful, but also the many other breeding programs in which the Erie Zoo participates.

Another group that experienced successful births was our wallaby mob. Two wallaby joeys were born this year. Both are males, and it will be determined by the SSP as to whether they stay or if they will move on to other zoos this fall. Since the untimely death of the adult male this summer, a search has been underway to acquire another so that we can continue to participate in the breeding program.

The two black bears that have been on exhibit this summer will be moving to another zoo this fall or next spring. They were housed here temporarily for the Akron Zoo. We were disappointed that they took so long to adjust to our exhibit, even though keepers tried hard to make them comfortable. The fact that they were hand-raised may have been a factor. Even though hand-raising is unavoidable if a mother rejects her young, the animals unfortunately will not display normal social and adaptive behaviors as they mature. Mothers discipline their young and instill self-confidence, which means a great deal in their mental development.

The young red panda Scarlett will be moving to Front Royal, Virginia (an endangered species breeding center operated by the National Zoo) this fall. A new breeding male will be acquired soon from the National Zoo. If successful, we will hopefully have cubs again next year!

In July, Sprite, the 14 year old female Indian muntjac, succumbed to congestive heart failure. Since there are very few Indian muntjacs being bred in the U.S., it may be difficult to locate additional animals. Until then, the Barbados sheep have been re-located to this exhibit.

https://www.eriezoo.org/ShowNews.aspx?ID=20
 
Where are the gibbons located? I remember seeing siamangs, but never gibbons.

I found it amusing to read the zoo was shocked that the black bears never got used to their exhibit. Maybe that's a sign, despite care for their keepers, it's an inadequate exhibit for bears! I do commend the zoo for noticing this and sending them elsewhere. If they would just do this with Patches, the polar bear.
 
blospz said:
Where are the gibbons located? I remember seeing siamangs, but never gibbons.

I found it amusing to read the zoo was shocked that the black bears never got used to their exhibit. Maybe that's a sign, despite care for their keepers, it's an inadequate exhibit for bears! I do commend the zoo for noticing this and sending them elsewhere. If they would just do this with Patches, the polar bear.
Click to expand...

Does anyone know where Laurel and Libby will go? Columbus perhaps? Or are they keeping it secret?
 
Keeper’s Corner Fall 2012

Keeper’s Corner Fall 2012

> On May 5th, a baby white-cheeked gibbon was born to Cailay and Sweeney. Cailay was a first- time mother and has always been very high strung. These two factors caused concern as to whether she would be a good mother and keepers were prepared if she rejected the baby. But our worries proved to be unwarranted. Cailay has been an excellent mom. The whole family, including dad Sweeney, is enjoying their outside exhibit. Since the baby is very light colored, and very vulnerable to sunburn, outdoor access was delayed until the unusually hot weather moderated. This SSP recommended birth is very welcome to the population since there have not been many births recently. The baby has been named Chua, although the sex has not yet been determined. The family will stay together for several years before the youngster moves on to another zoo. At present time, Chua’s color is the same as its mother – a blonde shade. If it is a male, this color will eventually change to black like its father. No matter what sex the baby turns out to be, it will have the signature white cheeks, which is where the species gets its name.

> The penguin family has grown considerably over the summer! A total of 5 chicks have hatched out to 3 separate pairs. With the hatchings approved by the African Penguin SSP, some of the chicks will remain here, while others will move on to other zoos. This brings the total number of penguin chicks hatched here to 25, with 21 surviving. This impressive number does not come easy. The animal keepers that care for them put a lot of effort into each step of the breeding process. When a pair is recommended to breed by the penguin SSP, sometimes this pair needs to be kept separated from the group until they become socially bonded. Then, if the pairing is successful, the pair needs privacy while they incubate the eggs. Any disturbance could result in the pair leaving the nest, or the eggs being cracked or broken. After a 30-42 day incubation period, if the eggs were fertile and the chicks are successful in hatching, the long process of raising the chick(s) begins. Both parents participate in the incubation and feeding of the chicks, although there have been instances where one parent is lax in doing their fair share! In that case, keepers must make sure the diligent parent is fed while at the nest, since she (or he!) will not leave the nest alone to eat. Sometimes older siblings of the newly hatched chicks will try to interfere with the raising of the young chicks. They are often separated from the group until the chicks are older. The last step is making sure that the chicks begin to eat from the keepers after they are weaned from their parents. This can sometimes take months. Chicks often have to be caught and hand-fed until they start eating voluntarily from the keepers. A penguin keeper must be very observant and patient every day to give these pairings the best chance for success. Fortunately, we have great keepers that make not only this breeding program successful, but also the many other breeding programs in which the Erie Zoo participates.

> Another group that experienced successful births was our wallaby mob. Two wallaby joeys were born this year. Both are males, and it will be determined by the SSP as to whether they stay or if they will move on to other zoos this fall. Since the untimely death of the adult male this summer, a search has been underway to acquire another so that we can continue to participate in the breeding program.

> The two black bears that have been on exhibit this summer will be moving to another zoo this fall or next spring. They were housed here temporarily for the Akron Zoo. We were disappointed that they took so long to adjust to our exhibit, even though keepers tried hard to make them comfortable. The fact that they were hand-raised may have been a factor. Even though hand-raising is unavoidable if a mother rejects her young, the animals unfortunately will not display normal social and adaptive behaviors as they mature. Mothers discipline their young and instill self-confidence, which means a great deal in their mental development.

> The young red panda Scarlett will be moving to Front Royal, Virginia (an endangered species breeding center operated by the National Zoo) this fall. A new breeding male will be acquired soon from the National Zoo. If successful, we will hopefully have cubs again next year!

> In July, Sprite, the 14 year old female Indian muntjac, succumbed to congestive heart failure. Since there are very few Indian muntjacs being bred in the U.S., it may be difficult to locate additional animals. Until then, the Barbados sheep have been re-located to this exhibit.

https://www.eriezoo.org/ShowNews.aspx?ID=20
 
Samantha euthanized

The Erie Zoo has announced it has euthanized Samantha, it's longtime lone, female gorilla. For anyone who is familiar with Samantha's backstory, it is sad and believe staff did the best they could to comfort her, but hopefully she is now at peace.

Short article can be found here.
 
Keeper's Corner- Spring 2013

Keeper's Corner- Spring 2013
By: Cynthia Kreider, Zoo Director

We lost a beloved member of the Zoo family this past December, with the passing of Samantha, the lowland gorilla. She was the true matriarch of the zoo, having been a resident since 1965. Samantha was almost 49 years old and had been having health issues associated with old age for the last year or so. More recently she had been receiving treatment for congestive heart failure. She responded fairly well for several weeks, but then took a turn for the worse. A necropsy revealed that it was indeed heart disease, combined with diminished kidney function,that caused her death. It is the end of an era, with Sam being one of the original animals, arriving shortly after the Zoo Society began operating the zoo 50 years ago. We will all miss her. There have been many inquiries about what will become of “Panda” the rabbit, who was Sam’s companion. The animal keepers have decided to keep Panda in the Primate Center as company to the gibbons, siamangs, and orangutans when they are in their bedroom areas. He cannot be housed with them, but will have free reign of the area so he can visit them as he chooses.

We are pleased with the recovery of one of the grey kangaroos, “Saranu.” In June of 2011, she somehow broke one of her hind legs. Since kangaroos put tremendous pressure on their legs, it was an especially challenging break to try to repair. A pin was first used to hold the broken bones together to enable them to heal, but in just a few days, the heavy pin was bent just by Saranu moving around. After much consultation, a medical team was put together, consisting of zoo veterinarian Dr. “PJ” Polumbo DVM, and local orthopedic surgeons Dr. Mary Beth Cermak, and Dr. Nick Stefanovski. They performed surgery on Saranu, placing plates on the break and stabilizing the leg as much as possible. Every 2-3 weeks it was necessary to immobilize Saranu and change the bandage on her leg and take x-rays to see if the bone was healing. This procedure was done repeatedly for months by Dr. Polumbo, Dr. Cermak, Zoo, Vet Tech Sarah Quezada and I. After a few months, when the bones healed adequately, it became necessary to remove the plates, since the skin would not heal over them properly. Once this was done, it took several months for the skin to heal. Finally, on October 17th, it was determined that the bandages could be removed. A few weeks later, she was introduced to two young wallabies for company, and finally, on January 2nd, she was introduced back into the entire group of kangaroos and wallabies. It was a long hard road, but she is now moving almost normally on the leg, and is happy to be back with her buddies. We owe a huge thank you to Dr. Polumbo and Dr. Cermak for donating their time and expertise to reach this successful outcome. They never gave up, and their dedication and persistence paid off – THANK YOU!

There were many animal moves made in 2012. Animals born here moved on to other zoos, and animals were brought in from other zoos to participate in breeding programs. Of course the most significant move involved “Leela” the female orangutan born here in 2003 – the first orangutan birth in the zoo’s history. The Orangutan SSP recommended that she be transferred to the Toledo Zoo and paired with a male. In September 2012, she made the trip to Toledo, and she is doing great. She has been introduced to the young male “Bajik”, and they are getting along well.

More animal moves include the female leopard “Tya” moving to the El Paso Zoo, and a new female coming from the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in California. Since Tya has proven to be a non-breeder after producing a cub several years ago, her move to El Paso enabled us to bring in a different female to pair with our imported male “Edgar”. They were recently introduced and we have high hopes of her producing cubs. The sand cats also did some switching around, with our female moving to Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY and their two females coming here to pair with our imported male.

A male red panda arrived from the National Zoo last fall and is now paired with the female “Syringa”. Both have reproduced in the past, so we feel there is a good chance of having red panda cubs this summer. “Scarlett”, the female born in 2011 moved on to the Knoxville Zoo to be paired for an SSP recommended breeding there. Last yearalso proved to be a productive year for the flock of black-footed penguins. Seven chicks were produced and are doing well. The three penguins hatched in 2011 moved on to the Dallas World Aquarium and the Florida Aquarium last fall. A female rock hyrax born last year recently moved to the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. Her two brothers from the same litter will remain here with the group.

A new reptile has moved into one of the Wild Asia exhibits. Chameleon forest dragons were acquired from the National Zoo and will be on exhibit in March when the zoo opens for the season.

https://www.eriezoo.org/ShowNews.aspx?ID=21
 
I am still waiting for the day when they make the right decision to send their last polar bear to another zoo. Although it is a popular zoo animal there so it probably is not happening anytime soon.
 
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