Good morning from Finland!

T

Timo

Member
I found that ZooChat by twitter, and seems to be very interesting.

I am Head Keeper of Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates in Helsinki Zoo, Finland. Main department is Africasia, where we have a South African area (Cordylys giganteus, boomslang, Dwarf Mongooses, Village Weaver etc.) and Madagascar (Tomato Frogs etc.) and Asian area (Rhynchophis boulengeri, Scaphiophryne marmorata, P.leucomystax, Morelia viridis etc.).

Another "works", after Zoo day, I have in my home where I am keeping and breeding about 50 reptile and amphibian species in private my collection, cooperation with Russian wonderful herpetologists.

In situ work is very close of my heart. I have done ecological work in finnish nature more than 15 years and working with some book project of reptiles and amphibians ecology in Finland. Another nature which is important to me is South African Afromontane Forests and those conservation. We have had grant from working there from society of Friends of Helsinki Zoo for amphibian survey and conservation work in Ngome Forests, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. That kind of field work gives a lot for working animals in captivity. It gives many good hints for environment in Zoo.

This year I nominated to two great IUCN/SSC area, amphibian and viper specialist group. They work is wonderful and I being a proud when see that closer and helping by that amphibian and viper conservation in Finland and partly in south Africa.

And my "hobby" are butterflies and insects in nature, and nature photography.

I hope I have a time to write here because believe this will be very good area. I am sure I learn here many things for my days with animals!!

Timo Paasikunnas
 
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Thank you Blackduiker!
We have so called public feeding with mongooses and, a lot of discussion with people. That is very important with Zoo work and when people wants to hear more, it is very fruitfull to me too, I believe I learn about those questions a lot myself!

In Finland, many people don't ask very easily because we are quite quiet people.
 
Welcome Timo. Impressive C.V. too and a keeper / in situ biologist ... nice 2-way affair.

BTW Korkeasaaren is a great zoo (although having visited only once, I instantly loved it ... not least for L.B.'s snow leopards and free range zoo exhibits).

How is the Cordylus husbandry/breeding? :confused:
 
Hello Kifaru Bwana,

Sometimes I am almost too happy when talking about my Zoo and my animal work, and too long text...

If you are coming again, at 11 o'clock I will be often with mongoose and public.

Cordylus husbandry is under the work, we got male and after quarantine, I believe we show those with females in public terrarium in autumn. Our old giganteus females are passed away, they came from Pretoria Zoo more than 10 years and was adult. Maybe you saw those in your visit? These lizards are very wonderful, is my opinion.

We have a lot of new things coming in Africasia. A new space for Gundi's is ready and waiting for animals from other Zoo and, underground we are opening new exhibition from South Africa Afromontane a little bit later.

-Timo
 
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