Toronto Zoo Toronto Zoo- Births, Deaths, Arrivals and Departures 2014

Oh the zoomobile people. Try as they might they are just fountains of misinformation. I would love to know where they keep getting the wrong stuff from. Not all of it is script errors. I dont even know why you need to say anything other than Watusi when talking about the zoos future inhabitants. Most have no clue what they look like anyway. And Norm's name is just that Norm. Not Norman. His litter was named after the cast of Cheers, Norm, Woody, Lilith and Rebecca. It was just before they went with ironic names for the next two litters, Jimmy, Dean, Schneider, and Porkchop, Sausage, Ham and Bacon. This just seems like a bad year for commentators on the zoomobile either because someone is purposely screwing them up or they are sloppier than usual in collecting info. Hopefully next years crew does a little better.

The electronic signs probably wont bother most people if its like Rippley's because most people don't stop long enough to read. They dont are what fish they are looking at. Just that they are fish is good enough for the vast majority of people. Its just people like us who might care.
 
According the keepers twitter Red Panda, Maki, was moved to Safari Niagara. Makes me wonder if Cassie and Ralphie have a little secret or two.
 
So excited for the clouded leopards! I loved merriweather but I never got to really see her much because she was old and wasn't very active. I hope the new clouded leopards are a little more visible!

As for the zoo mobile commentators I am pretty sure they all have the same script that they read off of and sometimes add their own little facts depending on how long they've been there. I also have heard them say Norman was the wart hogs name.
 
I know they have a script but after awhile its only a guide. They mix things up. Add facts they have learned or think they learned. Im sure rumors make their way on.

I can 100% guarantee they are wrong about Norm. Its possibly the same commentator passing along the same incorrect info or they have spread it around, trying to be helpful. I have had access to the studbooks and he is definitely Norm. Cloudedleopard6 you werent around then but oh man when I went through there some of the warthog names were hilarious. There was the ironic names ours had. I liked them a lot. The was a couple Kevin Bacons, Pumbas, Gonzo who was the son of Miss Piggy and Arnold Ziffle (Named after the pig from Green Acres), Sir Piggley but my favourite was Lord Pigglesworth III (there was no first or second). I wish I could remember more because they would give you a good chuckle. All the other studbooks lack the imagination that seems to go into naming warthogs. I thought the last litter the zoo had Zuma, Winnie and Petunia lacked the creativeness of the others. Maybe the next litter will get more interesting names... has to be hard coming up with so many different names all the time.
 
TZ fan what your saying about the zoomobile is true and you can tell which ones have been around longer than others! I don't know how many times I've heard "the yak milks pink, ours drivers tried and it and it made them yak!" Or "so and so and so is the cutest animal at the zoo besides our driver"

And oh I believe you about the warthogs name! Just pointing out that's not the first time that's been mistaken! And oh gosh those are pretty hilarious names! I wish I could find out all the animals names! I know a lot of them and love most animals but I mainly know the main animals names and a few of the smaller, more unknown animals to just casual zoo goers
 
The keepers might be be calling him Norman affectionately.

At work we have a penguin named Doug (it is her name in the studbook), however we frequently call her Douglas (including in presentations), simply as we find it more endearing than Doug.

There's nothing wrong with it, not like anything is getting hurt from a little affectionate joking around with names. Its honestly doesn't matter what the staff call the animals, as it makes no difference to their care/to the public one way or another.
 
Went tot he zoo yesterday. Not much happened.

- Excited to see the Clouded Leopard area being boarded off with sign indicating new clouded leopards coming.

- Watched Charles doing a small patrol throughout the outdoor enclosure. He picked up food along the way and at one point sat in front of the face eating. Ngozi brought Nneka to him at one point, and she climbed all over Charles as he ate.

- Yesterday was Humphrey's second full day in the large pool enclosure. The day before was his first. His small enclosure is under construction with a bulldozer present. During the Polar Bear feeding, the keeper threw small fish out for Humphrey, who became very needy and vocal, wanting more and more fish. Aurora and Nikita were both in the grassy yard looking over, knowing it's feeding time and getting anxious about it. At one point they got pretty physical with each other.

- Saw a bunch of Ground Hornbill in the Kudu exhibit chance a Marabou stork, causing the stock to fly from one side of the exhibit to the other to get away from them. Kinda funny.

- Przewalski's horses were kept out of the drive-thru and the Mouflon were in. Prefer the Horses, as the Mouflon seem pretty skiddish, as they try to stay out of sight. All the Yaks were in the last yard, including the two babies. Hoping I got some decent pictures of them.
 
Went to the zoo today. Not much on the news front, but overall, I had a good time.

- Tree Kangaroos are still being given time to breed. So far if seems unsuccessful.

- Humphrey spent today teaching himself to start diving underwater. Eventually he got tired and took a rest on the rocks.

- From what I overheard at the White Rhinos there has been breeding happening after hours, no confirmation on that. Also, today the girls were fighting with Tom to the point that they were banging horns with each other. Tom has some cuts under his eyes.

- The Lemurs were at war with each other. From what I understand, a female was reintroduced to the group, sending the group in a rage. I'm not sure why the female was taken away for, but there were at least 8 keepers in the Lemur enclosure to calm everything down. Never heard Lemurs make the noises they were making before. Overheard a Keeper say that if things don't calm down by night time, they'll have to be separated.

- Went to the Orangutan Keeper talk for the first time. Aside from the usual conservation talk, the Keeper mentioned that the SSP said one of the boys, Budi I believe, will become the zoo's new breeding male. The other boy will eventually be sent to another zoo. Also, while talking to the Keeper after the talk, she vented her frustration with the Outdoor Orangutan expansion. It was supposed to start construction this summer, but focus was turned to the Pandas. In her eyes the Orangutans are at the bottom of the food chain in terms of funding. Construction has been pushed back to 2018, if we're lucky.
 
Tree kangaroos have proven to be extremely difficult to breed in captivity. The zoo has had success in the past so there is reason to be hopeful even though its taking time. Fingers crossed eventually they work things out and breed.

Good to hear the white rhinos are starting to try breeding. Still might take time given their youth but eventually we should hear the pitter patter of little rhino hooves.

Was a new female lemur added or was one being reintroduced to the group? Must have been very interesting to watch that kind of aggressive behaviour from them. It's certainly not typical activity. 8 keepers is a ton to have in there with them so definitely sounds like they were unhappy campers.

Budi is the only orang male who could breed at the zoo. Ramai, Sekani, Jingga and most importantly Kembali are all related to Dinding. Kembali cant be bred to the girls. Budi on the other hand can breed because he is Puppe and Moleks's son giving him the right genetics to breed with Ramai and Sekani. Unfortunately as Jingga's half brother he cannot breed with her so she will have to go too but probably until shes 12 or 13. I would prefer to see both boys go and a new male come in. Jingga is very special to the zoo. She is the first 4th generation orang. Her great grandmother Abigail was there opening day. Abigail had the first baby to be born at the zoo, Jingga's grandmother Chantek. Chantek in turn had the first 3rd generation baby's at the zoo, Jingga's uncle Cherdrek who only survived a couple of months, and was followed the next year by Jingga's mother Ramai the first survivor of the 3d generation. I would love to see her stay and go on to produce the first 5th generation orang. But Budi could have babies with Ramai and Sekali and then go with Kembali. It would be 7 years minimum before Ramai, Sekali and Jingga would be ready to breed again or of the first time.

Four more years for the orangs outdoor! Thats so sad. I really hoped that $2 million donation would have gone to it.
 
It's great news that there are plans for the orangutans to breed again! Hopefully this won't happen though until their new exhibit is completed.

One other thing that I forgot to mention from my last visit is that I saw 2 little pied cormorants, but I thought we only had 1. Did we get a new one or am I remembering wrong?
 
I have to disagree with you Arcticwolf about the orang breeding. While it would be nice for babies to arrive to a beautiful new exhibit with the length of an orang childhood its more pressing to get Ramai and Sekali breeding asap. At 29 Ramai will only be allowed to breed another 10-12 years, which means just two more babies in all likelihood. And Sekali at 22 has 15-18 years so for her it likely means 3 more little ones. With their genetic value its more important to get them breeding as soon as possible. Each year without a baby decreases the number of offspring they will be able to produce resulting in a less diverse gene pool for the species as a whole.
 
I didn't realize that some of the orangutans won't be able to have many more babies. I also didn't know that they were genetically valuable. Now I'm starting to agree with you because keeping the gene pool diverse should come before waiting for a new exhibit.
 
I agree the orang projections on the necessity to breed now (even before a new exhibit is built) is the best alternative.

Nice to know that rhino bull Tom has somehow mastered it … It is still early days, but the current response of the females to him seems to indicate that their oestrus is over ...
 
Remember with orangs the babies are dependant on mom for 6-8 years. The AZA wont allow breeding before 14 for a female. If she must stop breeding about 40ish that means she has just 26 years or so to breed. That works out to about 4 babies per female. Might get lucky with a fifth depending on the length of each babies childhood. Theres a very good reason the orangs as a species arent able to bounce back the way other species can. Mothers invest so much time in their single infant that they have the longest childhood of any mammal.

Puppe was the most genetically valuable female in the group and the AZA but shes too old to breed now. It is because she is considered a founder being a wild born animal. As her son Budi is one of the most genetically valuable males. Molek's captive born genes lower his status but hes still fairly high. Helps that

Sekali is now the most valuable of the zoos females... top ten. Shes from two founders Abigail and Dinding. They both only have 3 breeding offspring. More will hopefully produce in the next 10 years but right now its only the three.

Ramai is next. She is currently the only breeding descendant of her grandfather Mias, a founder, and her mother Chantek, daughter of Abigail and Mias. All of her mother Chantek's following offspring 3 young males are of less value being born to a less valuable father. Doesnt hurt too that her father is Dinding.

Kembali ranks next because two of his grandparents are founders but Molek is from longer captive stock.

Jingga is last but thats largely because she is a rarer 4th generation.
 
TZFan said:
Was a new female lemur added or was one being reintroduced to the group? Must have been very interesting to watch that kind of aggressive behaviour from them. It's certainly not typical activity. 8 keepers is a ton to have in there with them so definitely sounds like they were unhappy campers.
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From what I understand, a female was being reintroduced to the group. Not sure why she was removed to begin with. Eventually the Keepers dwindled down to 4 that stayed in the Lemur enclosure.

Also, I know we'd all love to see baby Orangutans soon, but the Keeper told me that Budi is still very immature, and seemed scared of his potential mates, especially Sekali. It'll be a couple more years (around 5-7, I think) before he starts showing interest in the girls.
 
I agree with cypher although it would be more beneficial for the species if the zoo could start breeding Budi now, it's likely not going to happen for another 5-7 years as orangutangs do not mature fully until they are around 13-15 just like humans. Although Budi is starting to mature now and his face is starting to mature, it will be years before his maturation is complete and he will be able to breed.
 
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Budi breeding isnt outside the realm of possibility but you're right it could take awhile. It's a shame the male who was selected to arrive this year died. Its more important to keep breeding than it is to keep Budi and Kembali. If we we talking about lions or tigers where you could have 2-4 each time waiting isnt a big deal. In a species where 3-4 offspring in a lifetime waiting just isnt worth the loss of two offspring.

I'd rather see another male arrive if only for him to stay long enough achieve two pregnancies and return to his home zoo. There has to be a genetic match out there somewhere who isnt doing anything because he has a young baby with his mate. I can think of a couple... Atlanta and San Diego both have infants. Either of those males could come up at least 5 years before hes needed at home again. Or how about looking to Europe... they might have a surplus male that would be a great addition to the AZA stock.

Although there is an alternative. I dont know if its been tried yet with orangs in general but the zoo does have Molek's frozen sperm. Thaw some and try AI with both females while they are out for their routine exams. Just time the exam during estrus and hope for the best. It would be pretty cool to have the first orangs conceived through AI if thats not been done... or maybe the first from a frozen sample... or a deceased father... all are possibilities.

With such highly desirable genetics as Ramai and Sekali have breeding should be the first priority. If we had more run of the mill genetics then a wait wouldnt be as bad for the species. Budi has great genetics from Puppe but his good genetics could do a lot outside of the group when hes fully mature.
 
I'd love seeing a male brought in, even if it's just to get the girls pregnant. I hate to say it, but I've never seen a full grown male Orangutan in person. Yeah, I know, sloppy. But waiting for Budi to become of age, seems like it can take forever.
 
You never saw Molek or Dinding? What a shame they were both impressive males.

If not for an infection following surgery we would have already had a new male Kutai from Oregon. We were so close. The SSP didnt want the zoo waiting on Budi. Just our luck right?
 
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