Reid Park Zoo Reid Park Zoo News 2009-2012

Jackandthecats, there is a significant difference between Ruby at the LA Zoo and Tembo at the San Diego Zoo. Ruby is very dominant and does not get along well with other elephants. She was sent to Knoxville in 2003 to be with African elephants and was returned to Los Angeles in 2004 because they were not able to integrate her into the herd. Gita was not her best friend as some people think. Gita merely tolerated Ruby. In fact, Ruby got along better with Gita than she did with Tara, an African elephant who was at the LA Zoo at the same time.

On the other hand, Tembo has been with Sumithi and Devi at the San Diego Zoo for more than 20 years and gets along extremely well with both of them. I don't think she cares that she is with Asian and not African elephants. They are her friends.

As far as the whole concept of keeping African and Asian elephants separated, it makes no sense in non-breeding groups. Why is this different than mixed exhibits of other species which zoogoers enjoy so much, e.g., orangutans and siamangs, etc. I recognize that the Asian and African elephants would never meet in the wild, as would orangutans and siamangs, but there are many examples of mixed exhibits in zoos where the animals would never meet in the wild that are very successful.
 
Mixing Asian and African elephants

I have questions and concerns about mixing the two elephant species. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

How can you breed or raise calves in a mixed herd? Africans spread the deadly herpesvirus to Asians, last I heard. The entire exhibit would be contaminated, even if the Africans were removed. What's up with that?

I also note that the two species are often lumped together as though the behavioral and ecological differences were minor. Does anyone know of a scientific comparison? They are different genuses, which may not reflect other distinctions, but it's a clue.
 
Well, since this elephant discussion is starting to become a separate topic, I have created a new thread just for it. We are starting to hijack a thread that is supposed to be just for Reid Park news.

It is certainly a topic worth discussing, so I don't mind, but let's move it over to this new thread. Please do NOT post any more of the discussion on this current thread, unless it is a question specifically about Reid Park Zoo. Much thanks.

http://www.zoochat.com/2/asian-african-elephants-together-187814/#post384760
 
updates, January 20, 2011

Two rheas were put on exhibit a few weeks ago in the South America loop (same area that had rheas years ago). One is normal and one is white.

Construction has officially started on Expedition Tanzania (elephant expansion).

Young male lion from Fort Worth Zoo went out on exhibit today for first time. He has had access to the exhibit for a couple weeks but was too shy to venture out until now.

A female malayan tiger and a female bairds tapir will be arriving in late Spring as mates for our males of both species. They are coming from different east coast zoos on the same truck (hopefully not in the same crate ;)).

The empty yard that formerly held muntjacs may be filled sometime soon with saurus cranes.
 
Dr. Charles Foley of the Tarangire Elephant Project in Tanzania will be giving a presentation at the zoo on March 13, 2011. This is one of the projects our zoo supports and our new elephant exhibit (currently under construction) will have a tie to this project as part of the educational graphics. This is the main reason the new exhibit is called Expedition Tanzania.

Events – Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
 
Arizona Docent said:
Dr. Charles Foley of the Tarangire Elephant Project in Tanzania will be giving a presentation at the zoo on March 13, 2011. This is one of the projects our zoo supports and our new elephant exhibit (currently under construction) will have a tie to this project as part of the educational graphics. This is the main reason the new exhibit is called Expedition Tanzania.

Events – Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
Click to expand...

Dallas has ties with him as well!
 
Female tiger has arrived and is in quarantine, but tapir was not shipped due to risk of disease that showed up in other animals at its home zoo.

Zoo website just confirmed a rumor we have been hearing that we will have earlier summer hours (for the first time ever). June - August will be 8am to 3pm (rest of year is 9am to 4pm as usual).

Once again we will reopen on Friday nights for at least the first half of summer. First date is May 20th, time is 5pm to 8pm. I have never gone because I don't get home from work until 7pm, but I am going to see if I can get off early at least one or two Fridays this year.
 
In anticipation of our quarantied female tiger being introduced to the male, the tiger exhibit will receive a couple modifications this month.

1) A mesh fence will be installed across the middle so tigers can be separated if necessary (especially if they produce cubs). For those of you who are familiar with the exhibit, it will connect from the back wall to the rock wall in the middle of the viewing cave. The cave has two large glass panels separated by natural rockwork, so one window will look into one side and the other window will look into the other side. Each side will still have harpwire viewing also, since there is already harpwire on either side of the viewing cave.

2) A training wall will be installed in one of the two harpwire panels on the left of the viewing cave. This will be a door that can be opened by keepers to a mesh panel that they can get the tigers to stand up to for training sessions - similar to the one Houston has for tigers and Philadelphia has for pumas. This area will also feature a new tug-of-war interaction (tigers pulling on their side and people pulling rope on other side). I believe the new exhibit at Bronx Zoo has this (although I have not seen it).
 
Brings to mind a question I've had. What will happen to the current elephant exhibit?
 
Ituri said:
Brings to mind a question I've had. What will happen to the current elephant exhibit?
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At the moment, no one really knows. It was such a challenge to raise enough money for the new elephant exhibit that no one could even dream about having money to do anything with that area. However, I recently had a talk with our curator and he said they will start discussions on that soon.

The original master plan drawn up well over a decade ago shows that as an Australia area (which we currently do not have). That is still a possibility, but not set in stone. One person at the zoological society told me they think we need a new master plan, which if it comes about would certainly address this. Another person on senior zoo staff (not society staff) told me in a private conversation that they would like to see some kind of indoor exhibit so people could get out of the heat in summer. Of course indoor exhibits likely cost more, so it remains to be seen if that is feasible.

An idea I heard a while ago (but not lately) is to connect it to the current event gardens (former rhino exhibit) to have a larger area for money-making private events. I can tell you that idea is vehemently opposed by the entire docent staff, who already dislike the current event gardens and would prefer to see an animal exhibit in that prime location near the front of the zoo.

Only time will tell...
 
Our male giraffe died yesterday in an unfortunate incident (he was apparently accidentally fed oleander mixed in with his browse). Being woefully ignorant myself on all things botanical, I have learned that oleander is toxic to giraffes and many animals. The zoo issued a press release this morning, both to local media and on our website (link attached).

Zoo Stunned by Giraffe Death on 7/19/11 - Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ

This leaves us with three female giraffes (too soon to know anything more, but I would guess we will seek a replacement male in the very near future).
 
Oleander is highly toxic to, I think, all mammals. Its so common in the Southwest and southeast because it grows really well and its found a lot in residential areas. Many people don't actually know that it is poisonous, so if you are a parent with small children you may want to keep an eye out if oleander is anywhere near where you live.
 
Here is an updated link from the zoo website detailing exactly how the giraffe incident happened. It was accidentally fed by an apprentice keeper who has since resigned from the zoo.

The link is very detailed and I must admit I am impressed with the transparency of our staff in revealing full details to the public so quickly. I think this can only help to improve our status in the community by showing we have nothing to hide.

Giraffe Incident FAQ - Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
 
Milwaukee Man said:
3 lion cubs were born at the zoo on Thursday!
Click to expand...

The zoo issued the press release much sooner than I expected (considering I was told at a meeting this morning - just 6 hours ago - not to say anything to anyone until the release comes out). The photo in the attached article was taken this morning during the cubs' first (very quick) exam. Obviously it will be a while before they are out on exhibit and before regular people (like us docents) will be able to see them. But for those of you who know how I feel about cats, I am obviously excited.

Tucson zoo welcomes three lion cubs

It’s a boy! And a boy! And a girl! - Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
 
Here is a video of the lion cubs' first medical exam, which was done very quickly to prevent stress on the mother.

 
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