Helsinki Zoo Korkeasaari Zoo, Helsinki

[Shirokuma]

The ESB for Finnish forest reindeer is now coordinated by Hanna-Maija Lahtinen at Korkeasaari. I might be wrong but I think before it was coordinated from Nordens Ark.

The zoo has just released three females born there last year and a two year old male from Ähtäri Zoo to the Seitseminen and Lauhanvuori national parks with two animals going to each area. They are able to return to enclosures where there is supplementary feeding to ease their introduction and are monitored via GPS.

More information on the reintroduction programme in general can be found here.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

The ESB for Finnish forest reindeer is now coordinated by Hanna-Maija Lahtinen at Korkeasaari. I might be wrong but I think before it was coordinated from Nordens Ark.

The zoo has just released three females born there last year and a two year old male from Ähtäri Zoo to the Seitseminen and Lauhanvuori national parks with two animals going to each area. They are able to return to enclosures where there is supplementary feeding to ease their introduction as are monitored via GPS.

@Shirokuma, I do think too it was managed previously by Nordens Ark.

Any more background information on the current status of forest reindeer in Seitsemisen and Lauhanvuori kansallispuisto (national parks)? I assume both parks have populations of forest reindeer already on site?

I heard recently that some zoos breeding forest reindeer ex situ transferred individuals to restocking programs in Scandinavia. Cannot now remember where I read that, but will check up various leads.

 

[Shirokuma]

@Shirokuma, Any more background information on the current status of forest reindeer in Seitsemisen and Lauhanvuori kansallispuisto (national parks)? I assume both parks have populations of forest reindeer already on site?

I'm not sure of more details myself but there is a website on the programme. I also just edited my original post to include the link.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I'm not sure of more details myself but there is a website on the programme. I also just edited my original post to include the link.

Thanks for your info.

I include the page on conservation status from Suomenpeura (= forest reindeer).
Conservation status

The populations mentioned are within the region of Suomenselkä. The original founders were wild to wild transfer from Kainuu population from the 1970's and 1980's (2.8 with first releases in 1981). The period in captivity was designed to prevent the animals from migrating back to Kuhmo/ The current number is around 1,250 - 1,350 individuals. It is hoped eventually this population will connect with the Kainu population.

Another population of a few dozen individuals resides in the area around Ähtäri, which are descendants from a release project initiated by Ähtäri Zoo in the time frame 1989 - 1993. Both populations may come close, but do not connect around Alajärvi.

Source: from above cited page.

 

[Shirokuma]

Story about the bears’ winter preparations

Helsinki zoo bears preparing for hibernation after exceptionally long year

 

[carl the birder]

i saw on the map the the blue sheep are gone
wen did this happen?? and what is there now

 

[Marco Penello]

Fantastic new species at the zoo: a breeding group of Bukhara urial has arrived. Helsinki is a new EEP participant.

 

[JurassicMax]

Last Friday an European bison (Bison bonasus) was born at the zoo for the first time in 15 years.
Recently 3 Eurasian forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) were born.

Sources:
Instagram of Korkeasaari Zoo (20/05/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPFhJTJhtBd/
Instagram of Korkeasaari Zoo (31/05/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPiU7QBBIS0/

 

[JurassicMax]

Last Friday an European bison (Bison bonasus) was born at the zoo for the first time in 15 years.
Recently 3 Eurasian forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) were born.

Sources:
Instagram of Korkeasaari Zoo (20/05/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPFhJTJhtBd/
Instagram of Korkeasaari Zoo (31/05/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPiU7QBBIS0/

The gender of the 3 Eurasian forest reindeer are known, the oldest one is a male the other two are females.

Source:
Instagram of Korkeasaari Zoo (Comments) (31/05/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPiU7QBBIS0/

 

[JurassicMax]

The gender of the 3 Eurasian forest reindeer are known, the oldest one is a male the other two are females.

Source:
Instagram of Korkeasaari Zoo (Comments) (31/05/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPiU7QBBIS0/

Last update on the Eurasian forest reindeer, the zoo now has 1 adult male, 3 adult females and the 3 new-borns. Making it total of 2.5 reindeer.

 

[Platypusboy]

Two minks arrived from Tallinn zoo recently.

 

[Platypusboy]

Four male takins arrived from München and Brno in July of this year.

 

[carl the birder]

Two minks arrived from Tallinn zoo recently.

european or american ?

 

[twilighter]

european or american ?

European

 

[Platypusboy]

Updated free flying bird list for Africasia house :

Rainforest side :

Bali myna (3.0)

Crested partridge (1.1)

White rumped shama (0.1)

Mindanao bleeding heart dove (?.?)

Desert side :

Bali myna (0.2)

Village weaver (?.?)

 

[Platypusboy]

Urial is now gone from the collection.

 

[twilighter]

Urial is now gone from the collection.

They didn't stay long. Do you know what happened and where they been sent?

 

[Platypusboy]

A sign at the zoo said that they were all put down due to a health problem except for one male that got sent back to Tallinn zoo

 

[twilighter]

A sign at the zoo said that they were all put down due to a health problem except for one male that got sent back to Tallinn zoo

So sad to hear...I haven't seen them on my visit, but thought that they are just off-show.

 

[Platypusboy]

So sad to hear...I haven't seen them on my visit, but thought that they are just off-show.

It was very sad to hear indeed, the sign said they were gone by this summer.