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Keeper Notes
Tuesday, August 31
We’re about to make some changes to the bird yards at Outback Station, where our cassowary currently lives. The fencing is going to be changed out, visibility improved, and a new species of crane will be joining us.
Cecil the cassowary will be moved to an expanded habitat adjacent to the train tracks, where he will be more visible to our guests. As he will also be at eye level, you will be able to get a better impression of just how hefty he is. He’s a small cassowary, but he’s still 90 pounds of attitude and looks a lot more impressive up-close-and-personal.
The peafowl yard will be re-shaped so that they can also get closer to guests. In the grand scheme of things, peafowl are about as rare in the zoo world as chickens. We considered looking for a new species of bird to house there, but Garbanzo, our beautiful but not-so-bright white peacock, turns out to be one of the most looked-for birds in the Zoo! Almost everyone knows him and recognizes him. So Garbanzo and Gigi stay.
The current cassowary yard will become the home for a new pair of African wattled cranes. New? Well, they’re new to us! After more than 30 years, this pair has still never bred. While this is a challenge, the reason we’re getting this pair is that we have the ability to perform artificial insemination here. That’s a whole topic in itself, but suffice it to say that the girls tend to cooperate, and the boys tend to be more interested in trying to destroy the insemination team. It’s going to be quite a ride.
Look for the changes in October!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, August 26
Recently I’ve been spending a lot of time with the meat-eating carnivores, which has given me the opportunity to do the fun stuff, such as training and enrichment. You may recall from previous updates that Moby, our clouded leopard, was previously trained to accept injections by hand. Since his return from Little Rock Zoo, the keepers and I have begun training him again, and I’m working on getting that behavior back. Moby is always eager to train, which makes the sessions productive and rewarding. Sometimes, however, he will offer behaviors that he wants to offer instead of the one he is being asked for. Usually he protests when he’s not reinforced for this, but soon figures out that by doing what he’s asked, he’ll get a tasty meatball, and they’ll keep coming as long as we’re on the same page.
I’ve also really enjoyed providing the sun bears, Xander and Sabah, with enrichment. The bears are curious and destructive, so it takes some creativity on our part to keep them engaged. One of Xander’s favorite items is one that we fill with his chow (the sun bears get chow and a variety produce several times daily). The toy has holes in it, so that he has to work to get the chow to fall out. When Xander has this toy, he lies on his back with it on his belly and rotates it around with his feet. The chow magically falls out in a variety of directions and he quickly scoops up the pieces with his tongue. He certainly enjoys playing with the toy, but maybe not as much as I enjoy watching him.
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, August 24
OK, it’s hot enough, thank you very much! Whew, like everyone else we are sweating our way through August. We keep most of our tortoise collection in outdoor holding pens off-exhibit behind the World of Reptiles building. We rotate individuals on- and off-exhibit all summer long, so that everybody gets many weeks of natural healthy sunlight. Natural sunlight is important for turtles and tortoises. The majority of the members of our turtle collection are Asian species, so they like it hot and humid and they are having a great summer this year. Although no babies have hatched this week, we have several incubators filled with developing eggs from a variety of species; next month or so, we should see some exciting hatches in our department. Otherwise, it’s been a nice quiet week in our corner. Please come visit us up in the World of Reptiles—we’ll leave the AC on for you!
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Thursday, August 19
There are some advantages of working at the Wieland Wildlife Home that are hard to put into words. As I sit typing, this there is a small portable perch about eight inches from the keyboard. On it is sitting our African grey parrot Larry. Larry’s a lovely guy; he’s been here for many years and he’s a great desk buddy as well as a great showman. As in any job, it’s easy to get to the point where you sometimes forget about the fact you’re working in a Zoo and get bogged down with politics, concerns about a sick animal or the budget, that clogged drain, meetings or whatever. And then you realize, sitting here with Larry or some other animal, just how lucky we are to be here at Zoo Atlanta. It’s a very friendly place to work; people are just so nice; we work in a beautiful environment, surrounded by amazing animals. In the Program Animals Department, we actually get to handle these animals, see them up close on a daily basis. You just have to slow down sometimes to smell the roses, or in this case the delicious and slightly musty smell of a grey parrot (which smells quite different from a macaw). And if your day isn’t going quite right, a soft “I love you” from Larry is pretty good tonic for the soul. Zoo Atlanta is a nice place to be, and with an animal friend in tow, it’s even better. Now where’s the paper towel to clean off the desk?
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Tuesday, August 17
The giraffe calf will soon be getting a name! She is getting more comfortable around her keepers and is starting to come over for some treats. She’s now going out into the exhibit with mom and her aunt Mona, our other female giraffe, along with the female waterbuck and ostrich. The calf is brave; you might be able to see her approach the other animals in the yard. She is being offered some of the diet the adults are fed and some browse, and she is starting to try some solid food. We have seen her mouthing the browse and eating some of it.
Until the calf gets a little bigger, animals like the zebra have been in a different yard, but the calf still gets to see them through the fence. You may have seen the zebra in the yard next to the main yard.
Andazi, our young female rhino, is also getting more comfortable with the keepers. She enjoys getting attention and scratches from us, and she is starting to learn new behaviors and has learned how to target.
If you haven’t voted to name the giraffe calf, be sure to go vote! Voting closes on Wednesday, August 25 at 5 p.m.
Amy Goodwin
Hoofstock Keeper
Tuesday, August 10
The last three weeks have been interesting ones for our lovely ostrich girls, “33,” “44” and “77.” Glenda the giraffe gave birth to her gorgeous daughter, and after about a week, the two of them went out into the exhibit. When you introduce a baby to the exhibit, you do it gradually and without the other animals out there. Then you start introducing the other species, one at a time to make certain that mother and calf don’t spook. During this introduction time the giraffe would go on exhibit during the day, and we started putting the ostrich out over night so they don’t have to stay in their holding yards. Well, changing their exhibit times wouldn’t disturb a lot of animals, but ostrich (bless them) have very small brains. Really. And I’m not sure they use what they have very well. They are very instinct driven. So suddenly we were asking them to do something different and they were muddled. You want us to walk through the gate the wrong way? Are you sure this is the right gate? Huh? What? Where? I think they were very relieved when life got back to normal.
I wish everyone could meet our girls as personalities. They’re three of the sweetest, most goofy, most mellow ostrich you could ever want to work with. They’re best friends, they flop down on the ground for back rubs when you walk in, and they are endlessly inquisitive, snapping their beaks chattily all the while. Delightful creatures! Have you hugged your ostrich today?
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, August 5
It’s sure been hot lately! Just like us, the animals like to stay cool in the summer. We do a variety of things to keep the mammals cool when temperatures rise. One of our favorite things to do is to provide the animals with ice treats. We often freeze food items in blocks of ice, such as fruit for the sun bears or crickets for the otters. The animals can then use the ice treats to cool themselves, but also get a tasty treat from inside the ice when it melts. We also set up fans for the animals, and some of the fans include misting systems. Many of the mammals also have access to a pool, and the tigers and sun bears are particularly fond of cooling off this way. When all of that isn’t enough to help the animals stay cool, we can give them access to air-conditioned indoor space. This might mean that you won’t seem them, but you’ll know they’re comfortable!
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, August 3
Well, what can I say other than “Sometimes natural behaviors will trump your best-laid plans!” You may have noticed that our wetlands exhibit has been experiencing some issues with low water levels—at one point last week it was just a big mud pit! We assumed that there was a problem with our plumbing but, on further investigation, we realized that our alligator (nicknamed “Tyson” for his especially cantankerous attitude) had excavated an underground lair to such a great extent that it was draining the entire exhibit deep into Mother Earth! His burrow went steeply down about four feet, then made a 90-degree turn and opened into a cavern at least 20 feet in diameter. Quite impressive! Somewhere in there, he must have broken the clay layer and it drained the exhibit. So, we have plugged the burrow and will get it all re-filled and opened up later this week. Tyson will then occupy himself with digging a new burrow, and hopefully not one quite so ambitious. Come see him in action, as well as the rest of our ever-changing exhibits in the World of Reptiles. We can't wait to see you at the Zoo!
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, July 27
Last week, we were saddened by the passing of Boma, our male rhino. The Veterinary and Animal Management Teams did everything possible to make Boma better, and it gives us some comfort to know he was receiving the best possible care.
Bo came to Zoo Atlanta in 1989. Losing an animal that has been a large part of so many people’s lives is particularly difficult. Bo was a charismatic mega-vertebrate, in other words he was a lovable lug. He was one of those animals that could make you smile even when he was being uncooperative or in the case of mating attempts inept.
He loved to be scratched and rubbed. He often came over to the keepers first thing in the morning with his head down for ear scratching. He would lie down and roll on is back for belly rubs.
He had a very close and trusting relationship with the people who cared for him every day. In these last weeks, when he was not feeling well and was not very interested in food, he still came over to train for the keepers for blood draws and injections. That is nothing short of amazing and is a testament to the extremely positive and caring relationship between Bo and his keepers.
Bo was also a bit of a showman. He decorated his horn with a wide variety of items, including flowers (lovely) and poop (not so lovely). Sometimes he managed to cover his horn and head with nearly all of his hay. Sometimes he just had one strand of hay draped over his horn. Usually, he made these horn decorating efforts for his mates.
As he was a member of an endangered species, there was great hope that Bo would reproduce. Although he tried with his first mate, Rosie, he was never successful. His relationship with Rosie was best described as platonic. Sometimes he tried to act tough with her, but she was the boss. Despite weighing 500 pounds less than Bo, Rosie was able to push him around, literally. Sometimes he tried a softer approach by nuzzling her and resting his chin on her back. This usually got him in trouble too. Rosie would whirl around and charge him. I think Rosie had good reasons for these reactions. For example, while mounted during one breeding attempt with Rosie, Bo began browsing leaves from the tree limbs that he could suddenly reach thanks to her serving as a stepstool.
Rosie left last fall to be paired with a new mate at the Columbus Zoo. We received our female Andazi this spring to be a new mate for Bo, but they hadn’t yet been introduced for mating. We will be contacting the Rhino Species Survival Plan about plans for a new mate for Andazi, but Bo was unique and irreplaceable. Still, we remain committed to supporting ex situ conservation of endangered black rhinos by continuing to be a breeding facility. Andazi is an important part of Zoo Atlanta’s future with black rhinos.
Rebecca Snyder, PhD
Curator of Mammals
Thursday, July 15
The summer turtle breeding season is upon us in a very big way! This week we’ve welcomed hatchling pancake tortoises both on and off-display, and we’ve founds literally dozens of eggs in the nests built by our Burmese mountain tortoises and impressed tortoises. Of course, we know better than to “count our chickens before they hatch,” but if these eggs from the impressed tortoises are fertile, then this will be a first for Zoo Atlanta in breeding this critically endangered species. In fact, only a handful of institutions have ever bred this species successfully. Even more gratifying is that one of this year’s nesting females is quite a survivor herself. She arrived here in 2004 in very bad condition after being rescued among a confiscated illegal shipment headed for the soup kitchens of China. Our vet, Dr. Sam Rivera, performed an emergency surgery on her and found that her stomach had been packed with small rocks. You see, the turtles are sold by the pound in the food markets, so some unscrupulous smuggler had forced rocks down her throat to raise her apparent weight. Dr. Sam saved her life in 2005, and she’s spent the last five years regaining her health. The eggs she produced this week indicate that she is essentially recovered, and are a truly wonderful chapter in her amazing story. Please do come visit us soon in the World of Reptiles and Trader’s Alley, where you can learn more about the amazing world of turtles and the ongoing conservation challenges that Zoo Atlanta and others are confronting. We can't wait to see you at the Zoo!
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, July 13
Have you seen how beautiful the tigers look in their exhibit? Although we didn’t make a whole lot of changes to their outdoor space, I think the changes that we did make are having a quite an impact. I feel like the tigers are much more visible, thanks in part to the new bamboo viewing area we created. The tigers seem to enjoy their new plants and sod as well, and still spend quite a bit of time in one of their favorite places, the pool.
Unfortunately, the tigers do not yet seem totally satisfied with the new training panel that we installed. Kavi, our more sensitive tiger, is particularly wary of that area. In order to train a tiger at the panel, we must open the outer mesh gates (of course, there’s a second barrier that remains in place to keep everyone safe from the tiger). When the outer doors are open, the tiger on exhibit can see you, the guests, just as well as you can see the tiger. So far the tigers aren’t convinced that you need that good of a view of them. We are working with Kavi and Chelsea to show them that the training panel is a fun and happy place, by providing them with treats near the training panel with the outer doors closed. As they become more comfortable, we’ll first open one side of the outer doors a little bit and then the other side. By taking things slowly, the tigers will quickly learn that good things happen at the panel. After that, we’ll actually begin training the tigers there. Stay tuned for updates on our tiger training demonstrations. It’s going to be awesome!
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, July 6
Many Zoo patrons take time to stop in at our Animal Superstars Wildlife Theater Show and Awesome Animals Show at Amy’s Tree Theater. These animals play an integral role as animal ambassadors and work to educate kids and adults alike. They are hand- selected based on their temperament and personality, and our professional trainers spend a vast number of hours working with these individuals getting them to be successful at their job. Training happens all over the Zoo, but no one else trains their animals quite like we do. We release our birds into an open space to fly and then ask them to come back – something that no other department does. Well, as much as we try to select the right individuals for this job, what happens when, for whatever the reason might be, it doesn’t work out? We had such a case with Alamo, one of the Wildlife Theater’s Harris hawks. Alamo has been a part of the Wildlife Theater since 2000, and although he did OK, being OK is not what we strive for. If we are going to release a bird into the sky, we want to be pretty confident that he or she will come back! So as it was, we decided Alamo was destined for other things. We decided to take him out of shows and move him into a habitat with a king vulture for companionship. He seemed much more comfortable and happy in his new role as an exhibit bird. Some of you may have spotted him in the exhibit over the last few months. However, after weeks of coordinating, just this morning, we sent Alamo on his way to the Cornell University Raptor Program to join a female Harris hawk. While we will miss him here, we are very excited that this great opportunity was available to him, and we think he will do well in his new home.
Sprina Liu
Assistant Curator of Birds
Tuesday, June 29
It’s shipping time, and we have five bird shipments set to go out to other zoos this week. Maybe you haven’t thought about how we get our birds from point A to point B. Sending a cockatoo to Kansas? “Can’t they fly themselves, heh heh?” No. Bad joke.
So we do indeed have a cockatoo to go to Wichita; a kori bustard for Kansas City; a macaw and two speckled pigeons for Houston; and a Harris hawk for Ithaca, NY. Each of these shipments will require a crate of the right size with appropriate modifications. The male kori bustard gets a very large crate. Koris can be nervous when shipped, so we pad the roof with three layers of bubble wrap. The floor has a non-slip surface. Above this is a layer of wood shavings to absorb any fecal material that might get slippery. The air holes are large but are covered with mesh so his beak can’t stick out of them. His water bowl is in the corner of the crate at chest level – if it was at ground level he could trip over it.
The macaw and the cockatoo and Harris hawk have similar types of crates, but these are sized according to the species. The doors and the side window vents are covered by a second layer of wire mesh so people can’t stick their fingers in and get bitten or grabbed by talons. The crates each have a perch, though parrots don’t often use them in shipment. They generally prefer to sit on the padded floor. The pigeons travel together and get a similar crate, but it doesn’t need a second layer of protective mesh. All doors and windows are covered with a nylon fabric that allows air to pass through but shields the birds from seeing everything happening. They stay calmer that way.
On shipping day we get the birds onto the earliest flights possible. Two people are needed so we‘ll meet at the Zoo at 4.30 a.m. to crate the birds and get them to the terminal by 5.30 for a 7.30 a.m. flight. Who needs sleep, huh? And it’s tough saying goodbye to birds you’ve loved and raised.
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Tuesday, June 22
You’d think that we could all take a breather because we finally opened the new Trader’s Alley exhibits. Not so! I’m sure you’ve heard about the sun bears’ reactions to their new exhibit, so I won’t bore you with the details. In short, they’ve found all the spots we didn’t really expect them to find in the exhibit and decided to renovate. Xander and Sabah are currently spending a few days in the building while we work on a few renovations in their yard. The keepers report that the bears are doing well inside and are staying cool in the air conditioning. The keepers have also provided the bears with a large pool in which they can soak and play.
The tigers are much less concerned with the details of their exhibit, but have been enjoying their pool and spend quite a bit of time lying on the sod. They look beautiful and seem quite content in their new space. Once they are fully settled in, we’ll get going again on breeding introductions.
In addition to continuing to work on the sun bear exhibit, we’ve also started working on plans for more new carnivore exhibits, which will open in spring of 2011. Today we met to discuss details for the indoor space, including shift doors, locking mechanisms and size and strength of the mesh. In the next meeting we’ll discuss water features that will be installed in the outdoor exhibits. Although an opening for these new exhibits is still months away, I know how the date sneaks up on us and how much work we have to do in the meantime. We hope that you’ll follow our progress and pay us a visit soon. In the meantime, enjoy Trader’s Alley!
Megan Wilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, June 15
Gromphadorhina portentosa? That’s the scientific name for one of the most loved and unfairly feared animals in the Program Animals Department – the phenomenal Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Some of the handlers were thrilled when we brought these beauties back to the Zoo last year (Rae’s a huge fan; she thinks they’re just gorgeous.) Others, not so much: “I am NOT touching one of those!” But the reality is that each of our handlers, being the true professionals they are, has learnt to handle them. For some people, they’ll never be adorable, but that’s OK. They even have names. The girls are all called Heidi and the boys are all called Spencer. Our adult Heidis and Spencers have also provided us with a number of baby Heidis and baby Spencers, and currently there are 22 new additions to the colony. Adorable.
The females give birth to live young. How do we prevent ourselves from a Madagascar hissing cockroach population explosion? We just separate the boys from the girls for as long as needed – works like a charm! The roaches can live about three years – a long time for an animal like this. In the wild, they live in the leaf litter on the forest floor. They can’t fly. Most roaches have an unfairly bad reputation. Of the many, many roach species in the world, only one percent of these are pests to humans. Of course, this tiny percentage comprises the pest species we know best. But spare a loving thought for Gromphadorhina portentosa – they’re really rather huggable!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, June 10
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May 23 marked the birth of Zoo Atlanta’s 18th gorilla baby since the opening of The Ford African Rain Forest in 1989. This brings our gorilla collection to 23, 16 of which have been born at Zoo Atlanta. The little male was born to Kuchi, a 23-year-old female we like to call super-mom. She is mother of the twins Kali and Kazi and is also the first mother to ever raise twins independently in a zoo. Kuchi is a very possessive and protective mother when the family is out in their habitat, usually holding on to her babies by the foot, even once they are old enough to run around. Eventually they get big enough to break away, and she can’t catch them. Kuchi has always been one of my favorite gorillas and was only 4 when I first met her. She was very impish and playful and had a habit of hoarding all the veggies during the morning feeding. This is her fifth baby, and her maternal skills are unsurpassed.
Charles Horton
Curator of Primates
Tuesday, June 8
Return of the wreathed hornbills!
I know, I talked about the wreathed hornbills last month, but you’re hearing about them again for a reason. It’s been nine long years since our wreathed hornbills have been on exhibit, but they are back at last! Betelgeus and Zelda have been living in a huge off-exhibit aviary. Now they are back on exhibit in Trader’s Alley, opening June 11! The birds moved to their new aviary on Saturday and explored the outside of the exhibit a very little. By Sunday they were all over it, exploring the plants, the perching, the ground area and the netting. They are going in and out of the building like professionals, as if they have lived there all their lives.
Betelgeus is already feeling very at home. His confidence is back in full force which means that he is once again highly territorial. Warning – never go into the exhibit with him! He may be a fruit eater, but he defends his territory with a vengeance. He’s a beast and we say that with real love. He is spectacular. He has character; he has style; he has attitude; and he’s an awesome husband to Zelda. Zelda’s the quiet and gentle type, demure. They are easily told apart. Betel has a yellow throat pouch; Zelda’s throat pouch is blue.
From the Trader’s Alley boardwalk, the exhibit will be seen through two plate glass windows. Currently the windows are mostly covered by screens. This is to give the birds some peace as they settle. We will gradually remove the screens through this week so that by Friday, opening day for Trader’s Alley, they will be on full view. I hope you love them as much as we do!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds
Thursday, June 3
OK, now it officially “feels” like summertime outside. Just like all of you, we are very excited about the soon-to-be-unveiled Trader’s Alley: Wildlife’s Fading Footprints, featuring all sorts of exciting carnivores. BUT WAIT, THER’S MORE! The new exhibit will also feature our Burmese star tortoises and mountain tortoises. Call us single-minded, but here in the Department of Herpetology, we think no exhibit is complete without some reptiles or amphibians!
Meanwhile, summertime breeding season has commenced. Those same mountain tortoises that are headed to their new exhibit built a massive nest of leaves in their current exhibit right in front of World of Reptiles, and laid 36 eggs! We are incubating those right now. Yesterday, our Forsten’s tortoises laid two eggs, and we anticipate breeding any day now of our giant monkey frogs and evergreen toads. Inside the World of Reptiles, we have two gorgeous new tiger salamanders on exhibit and a freshly shed cottonmouth to admire. Please come see us soon, both at Trader’s Alley and in the World of Reptiles, where the AC is always on for our guests; we hope to see you soon.
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, June 1
We're getting close to opening the new exhibits and officially showing off the new spaces we've created for our tigers, sun bears and tanuki. In all of the commotion, though, we haven't forgotten about the smaller meat-eaters in the department. The Asian small-clawed otters are doing well and have recently completed a spatial memory study conducted by Bonnie Perdue, a graduate student at Georgia Tech. Bonnie has worked on similar studies with other carnivores and enlisted the help of the otters to complete yet another research project. I’ll be anxious to hear about the results and will share them with you when they are available. Did you know that our otter family holds a place of distinction among otters is zoos? Based on information we have from other zoos, we've discovered that they've lived together for longer than any other Asian small-clawed otter family in captivity in North America! It's normal to send youngsters to live at other institutions when conflict arises, and we expect that this will occur at some point, but right now the family is doing great and we're proud to be a part of their success.
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, May 25
Memorial Day signals the beginning of show season for us here in the Program Animals Department. While we conduct them on the weekends year-round (weather permitting), Memorial Day weekend kicks off our daily schedule. We will have shows on Monday, May 31 (the holiday itself), but from that weekend until Labour Day in September, the show schedule will be as follows:
Tuesday through Sundays (no shows on Mondays, animals need a break...)
11 a.m. – Animal Superstars – Wildlife Theater
2 p.m. – Awesome Animals – Amy’s Tree Theater
3 p.m. – Animal Superstars – Wildlife Theater
Keep in mind, every show will be unique. Under the over-arching show titles, each presenter will bring a mixture of animals to the stage, and alter their show theme on a daily basis. Every show will be different, so be sure to catch as many of them as you can.
Oh, and check out our cool new Wildlife Theater entrance!
Jay Pratte
Lead Keeper, Program Animals
Thursday, May 20
As you likely know, we are getting very close to opening our new tiger, sun bear and tanuki exhibits in the first phase of our carnivore development. Wreathed hornbills will also make their debut. These stunning birds have been at the Zoo for 11 years and have successfully bred. But they have been behind-the-scenes in a large breeding area, and only Zoo staff has had the pleasure of seeing them. Unlike the ground hornbills, this species is arboreal and rarely comes to the ground. They also primarily eat fruit, though they will take animal prey on occasion.
Betelgeuse, the male, has been in this country since 1990 when he came from Indonesia. The female is named Zelda and was hatched at a zoo in Florida in 1989. Wreathed hornbills can live well into their 30s. The birds are highly intelligent just like the ground hornbills. Zelda is a very sweet girl, but Betel is highly territorial and we never go into the exhibit with him unless absolutely necessary. He’s big and aggressive with a 10-inch dagger on his face. We love him! What a character.
The pair are proven breeders, and their chick from last year is about to go to another zoo to meet his new girl. Very exciting! Like other hornbills, the female lays her eggs in a tree cavity and the male proceeds to wall her into the cavity until there is only a narrow slit left open. Meanwhile, she lays and incubates her eggs and then raises the chick. The male’s job is to provide her with a constant supply of food while she’s incarcerated. The entire process takes four months, after which she finally breaks out with her chick into the big wide world. Imagine what a relief that would be!
Look for the wreathed hornbills when their exhibit opens next month!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, May 13
Time to get excited—about amphibians, that is! We have several new additions just about to clear standard quarantine procedures with clean bills of health. We have two gorgeous tiger salamanders, and they are big ones, too. We have a small breeding colony of striped newts (an endangered species native to Georgia). And we have a young male giant monkey frog, who will join our females one-by-one in our specially built outdoor breeding chamber. They like to breed during our heavy nighttime thunder showers. The breeding chamber is off exhibit, but we’ll always have at least one giant monkey frog on exhibit. Then, hopefully, in the late summer we’ll have dozens of adorable babies—too cute! Meanwhile, we are looking forward to seeing you up the hill in The World of Reptiles; we hope to see you soon.
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, May 11
I just returned from visiting the construction site. It’s been about a week since I’ve been there, and I’m amazed at the progress that’s been made. The exhibits are getting close to completion now. One of the great things about the new exhibits is that you’ll get multiple views of the animals. One view will be through a barrier that’s designed to look like bamboo, but is actually made out of steel. Today the painters were painting the steel “bamboo” posts, and they are looking really sharp. You’ll also get a bird’s eye view of the tiger and sun bear yards. This will be especially neat for viewing the sun bears, which will likely spend quite a bit of time on their climbing structure. In addition, you’ll still get to see the animals in a more traditional sense, through large panes of glass. Even with all of these views, you’ll still probably need to spend a few minutes looking for the animals. This is especially true for the tigers, which are particularly adept at concealing themselves.
As for the animals themselves, Moby the clouded leopard has finally returned and is calmly undergoing his quarantine period prior to the exhibit opening. Sumatran tigers Kavi and Chelsea return early next week, so this week we’re making preparations for their arrival. Once Kavi and Chelsea return, we’ll have all of the carnivores back at the Zoo, and we’ll all be anxiously waiting for the day when we can move them into their new spaces. Based on what I saw today, I think it’s going to be a great day for everyone.
Megan Wilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, May 4
For those of you that read our previous update on Max, our prehensile-tailed porcupine in the Wieland Wildlife Home, or if you were lucky enough to catch his USTREAM segment (which, by the way, you can still go check out in archive here), we wanted to update you on Max's progress as he trains to be an education animal ambassador. But instead of a wall of text describing it, we thought we'd just show you. Enjoy the video!
Jay Pratte
Lead Keeper, Program Animals
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Tuesday, April 27
When was the last time you packed a flamingo? We’re shipping three young male flamingos out in two days time and everything is ready. The birds received their exit physicals from vet staff last week. Their bloodwork is normal; we checked that they don’t have intestinal parasites; their feet, wings, eyes, mouth, body condition, weights, etc., are all just fine. The paperwork is complete, and the weather forecast for travel is good in both Atlanta and Denver. The shipping crate is booked on the plane, which is a feat. The crates are so tall that only a few planes have cargo doors tall enough for them to be put on board.
The shipping crate itself is ready. It’s actually a Great Dane-sized kennel carrier that has been subdivided into four compartments, though only three will contain birds. They need to have enough room to stand comfortably and turn around, but not so much room that if the crate got accidentally jolted that they could crash around and potentially injure themselves. The water containers are in place. The floor is covered with a mixture of shavings and hay so their very wet feces get quickly absorbed and their feet don’t slip. The ceiling of the sky kennel has been padded with bubble wrap to protect their heads, and the doors and windows have been covered with material that allows plenty of air in but keeps them safe from prying eyes. The birds will be crated for about 11 hours but they should travel well. We put an enormous amount of work into getting our crates as safe as possible.
These young flamingos, numbers 15, 17 and 19, were raised by hand here at the Zoo in 2008. Each of them has probably 80 individual hours of nurturing in them spread over the course of their first year. They may not have names, but for us, the bird staff, they are all individuals in whom we have a huge investment. Personally I’ll miss number 17; he’s the one I always look for. Monica, on the other hand, is very sad to be parting with 19! They are going to a great home, and I have no doubt they will arrive safely, but it’s like packing your kid off to college, it hurts a bit.
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, April 22
Things are really starting to take shape on the construction site, where we are renovating and constructing tiger and sun bear exhibits. If you haven't made a trip to the Zoo recently, you should stop by to check on the progress. From the public path you can now see the wall that divides the tiger and sun bear exhibits, as well as construction of one of the large viewing areas. Although I have seen the plans a number of times and participated in many design meetings, it's exciting to see these changes taking place.
On the animal care side of things, we're doing our part to get ready for the opening of the exhibits. We've made arrangements for our breeding pair of Sumatran tigers, Kavi and Chelsea, to return to the Zoo in May. In addition, our new sun bears, Xander and Sabah, have arrived and are currently undergoing their quarantine period. The pair has settled in nicely to their temporary home and will be ready to move to their new exhibit as soon as it's ready.
We're also in the process of renovating our old muntjac exhibit to house yet another new species, tanuki (also known as raccoon dogs). These little guys are native to Asia, but don't let the name fool you – they are not simply the raccoons you see in your backyard! Although they do have similar facial markings to raccoons, they have very different bodies that are more fox-like. In fact, they are members of the canid family and are not related to raccoons. To learn more about tanuki and the threats they face in the wild, please come visit our new arrivals, Yoichi and Narita, in person when the new exhibits open in June.
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, April 20
With the return of spring – finally! – the Herpetology Department is busy putting many of our tortoises back outside. Radiated tortoises can be seen in their African savanna yard, and a new exhibit with Burmese mountain tortoises is located just outside the front entrance to the World of Reptiles. Please remind the little ones not to pet these tortoises, even if they come close to the enclosure fence.
In the back area, one of our staff members, Luke Wyrwich, has constructed a new misting system. When the hot days of summer come along, this system will allow us to let the tortoises "go play in the sprinkler" any time they want to. Thanks Luke!
Brad Lock, DVM
Assistant Curator of Herpetology
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Tuesday, April 13
Well, it must be true what they say; birds of a feather do flock together. There is a new avian addition at the Wildlife Theater. She is a 1-year-old cereopsis goose, aka the Cape Barren goose. She came to us from Sylvan Heights Waterfowl. Cereopsis geese are an Australian species characterized by their stocky bodies covered in grey feathers perched atop pink or brown legs with mostly black feet. Their most distinctive feature is their yellow and black beak. They are some of the least aquatic of the geese, spending most of their time grazing on vegetation in grasslands. Their numbers in the wild are very healthy, but they are still one of the world’s rarest species of goose. She is a very vocal bird, making grunting noises that make you think you’re standing next to a two -egged pig instead of a goose. She will be making her transition from quarantine to the Wildlife Theater in less than a week. Keep an eye and an ear out and hopefully you’ll be able to see her making her show debut later this year!
Mathew Hodges
Keeper I, Program Animals
Thursday, April 8
Spring is in the process of “springing!” Finally … whew, what a long, cold winter we had! But, boy are we ever excited around our department. Spring is, by far, our favorite season around here. We are very busily preparing all of our outdoor pens for the return of our impressive collections of turtles and beaded lizards! Atlanta is blessed with a (nearly, but not quite, year-round) climate for these creatures. So all the turtles, beaded lizards, our Komodo dragon, and even some frogs will enjoy fully natural environments for the next eight months or so. We rotate individuals on-and-off-exhibit so that nobody misses out on our glorious summers. We also are building a new outdoor tortoise exhibit in the front entrance area of World of Reptiles, so watch for that to be complete very soon. Inside the building, we have new Woma pythons from Australia on exhibit, and also a gorgeous Aruba Island rattlesnake. There are always new developments in our department, and we can't wait to see you at the Zoo!
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, April 6
It’s been a frustrating week and a rewarding week here with our spotted dikkops, who are breeding right now. They smashed their own eggs and we don’t know why. The normal process is for the bird to lay an egg in the nest, leave it for 36 hours then go back to the nest, cover the first egg and lay the second egg. Once the second egg is laid she begins to incubate the clutch.
The spotted dikkops have laid three clutches of eggs this year but they have not yet incubated any of them. If the eggs are left in the nest, (a half-hearted little scrape in the dirt) she will likely smash them a few hours after laying. Chris, their keeper, usually has a good idea of when the female is going to lay her eggs because she shows some behavioral differences the day before. Chris makes certain that he goes straight to the exhibit the morning that he expects the egg. He then removes it and replaces it with a fake egg, which the birds should be willing to incubate if they are going to follow through with the breeding process. Why is this frustrating? Because they smashed an egg this week, and we would much rather have the parents doing the work of rearing the chicks! But as I type, the first chick we are raising by hand is 12 days old and its sibling is coming out of the egg in the incubator located at the end of my desk. So by tonight, we’ll have two dikkop chicks, and the world will be the richer for it!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Tuesday, March 30
It seems like every time I write an update, I am reporting on the comings and goings of the carnivores. All four of our most recent departures are doing well. Mei Lan seems to have settled in to her new home in China, and the lion cubs made it safely to Mexico City. According to my contact at Africam Safari, the boys began eating almost immediately after their arrival. This is always a good sign and is not simply an indicator of hunger, but also of the level of comfort of the animal. I should be getting photos of the boys when they are out on exhibit in Mexico, and I’ll try to get those posted for everyone to see.
Our latest moves in the department are a result of the construction on the new tiger and sun bear facility opening this summer. Although Sumatran tiger Jalal has remained on grounds during the construction, he will soon make a very short journey to another location at the Zoo for the remainder of the construction. As they do with all of our carnivores, keepers have been working diligently with Jalal to train him to enter a crate for this very short move. Jalal has been doing beautifully, and appears ready for his relocation. His new temporary home will be brand new to him and will likely provide some enrichment for him, including new sights, smells and people he doesn’t see every day. After a brief stay there, he’ll move back up to the renovated tiger building, where he is sure to enjoy himself in the new space. Jalal’s move is necessary because we will soon be receiving two new sun bears that will later be a part of the new tiger/sun bear exhibit. As with all new animals at the Zoo, the sun bears will undergo their quarantine period after they arrive. Once they clear quarantine, they will move into the sun bear portion of the exhibit. And before we know it, Sumatran tigers Kavi and Chelsea will return as well. It will be nice to see the “old” faces return, and get to know some new faces, too.
Megan Wilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Mammals
March 23, 2010
Spring is here. The weather is starting to get warmer. The sun is starting to shine longer. The flowers are starting to bloom. And the Program Animals staff is busy getting the shows ready to debut on Memorial Day weekend. Part of that process is training our new addition, Maximillion the prehensile-tailed porcupine.
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Max has been here for just about a month. That doesn’t seem so long until you find out that he is just over four months old! But don’t worry, porcupine babies are precocial and can start climbing hours after being born. And climb he does! He uses that strong, prehensile tail to balance and support him as he climbs in and out of his enclosure. His tail is so strong that it can support his entire body weight!
Prehensile-tailed porcupines are found in South America and spend most of their time in the trees. These porcupines are nocturnal, but guests will be able to enjoy seeing him during the day because he has been trained to be awake. This suits him just fine! He’s young, curious, and bonding quickly to his trainers.
Max has been working on kenneling behaviors so he is comfortable travelling around the Zoo. He’s also starting to work on behaviors that will be essential to the shows, such as going to a station or target, standing up, and even hanging upside down! We’re not exactly sure when he’ll be going out on grounds regularly, but keep your eyes peeled because we’re hoping to have him ready to make his first appearance in a show at the beginning of the summer!
Max appeared on Zoo Atlanta’s USTREAM Channel on March 23. Check out the broadcast!
Shelley Raynor
Keeper II, Program Animals
Thursday, March 18
This morning, our golden lion tamarins kicked off what is going to be an exciting season of new arrivals in the Primate Department. Although we were blessed in January with the unexpected arrival of Ziggy, the new Schmidt’s monkey baby, we have several other primate moms that we know are pregnant. Today, first-time parents Robin and Theo gave birth to twins, which is very common with this species of South American monkey. Four-year-old Theo was born at Zoo Atlanta himself, and Robin arrived to become his new partner late last year. Tamarins are sexually mature by 2 years of age and have a gestation of around 128 days. Today’s event would indicate that Robin and Theo began mating shortly after their introduction last fall.
Golden lion tamarins are born with all their fur and their eyes open. Newborns usually weigh about 60 grams. The infants cling tightly to their mom for their first few weeks. After that time, babies stay mostly with the father except during nursing. The adult male (and in larger groups, his adult male offspring) undertakes the lion’s share of infant care. Theo has already been seen trying to take the babies for a ride, but Robin is not quite ready for that yet. When they’re about 5 weeks old, the infants should be demonstrating new curiosity and will be trying to explore things on their own. This could work out perfectly for us, because by the end of April, we plan to start our weekend free-ranging program on the outdoor island. This will enable guests to get an unobstructed view of the whole group! There will be interpreters available to watch over the tamarins and answer any of your questions about why Zoo Atlanta does the free-ranging program.
If you’re coming to the Zoo on one of these beautiful spring days, be sure to drop by the tamarin station in KIDZone and see if you can spot the new babies clinging to one of their parents.
Charles Horton
Curator of Primates
Tuesday, March 16
It’s time for a couple of “engagements” and “weddings” to take place in the gold-breasted starling world. We’ve got Handsome Charles and Demure Diana. (I’m showing my age). They need spouses, but they’re not recommended to breed with each other. So who do we pair them with? Well, we got lucky when we were offered six more birds, all brothers and sisters, three guys and three girls. They come out of quarantine next week, and then we start our Bird Department version of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.” Demure Diana will hopefully fall for one of the three brothers, and Handsome Charles will hopefully fall for one of the three sisters. How do we achieve this? We’ll place them in breeding exhibits at the opposite ends of our new Bird Propagation Center. Then we’ll place the three males alongside Diana and the three females alongside Charles. And then we wait and see. Soon we hope to see Diana batting eyelashes at one of her dates. We’ll watch them for a few more days till we are certain they are “engaged,” and then we’ll move the other two brothers. (Why? Because three hormonal young brothers fighting over one girl isn’t good for harmony.) Meanwhile Charles is hopefully falling for his princess, and her sisters will not be amused. Sooner or later they will have to leave the happy couple and go back to join their brothers. And what happens to the remaining foursome? The dating game will start all over!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, March 11
This has been a relatively quiet week for us—and sometimes that’s ok! The baby indigo snakes that we are raising up for release into the wild are growing like weeds, and gobble down virtually any type of food presented to them; this is the collaborative program with Auburn University and the Alabama and Georgia Departments of Natural Resources. Our staff went afield with our collaborators last week and found a half-dozen indigo snakes. They had some certain help from a specially trained snake-detecting dog! In a new program similar to that for indigo snakes, we met last week with a broad range of collaborators from institutions across the state to develop a plan for endangered bog turtles.Furthermore, Drs.Brad Lock and Sam Rivera from the Zoo are now meeting with another group to develop a similar program for endangered diamondback terrapins. I must say that it is quite gratifying to be invited to contribute to all of the local and regional conservation programs. Our reputation as leaders in international conservation has “come home” so to speak! Meanwhile, in the World of Reptiles, we are very excited to debut a new exhibit featuring our newly acquired, spectacular albino timber rattlesnake. This snake was an incredibly rare find! He has been at the University of Georgia for many years, but the public can now see him for the first time. Come see him, and the rest of our ever-changing exhibits in the World of Reptiles. We can't wait to see you at the Zoo!
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, March 9
Now that we know Mei Lan has settled into her new life in China, it’s time to bid farewell to a few more Zoo babies. The lion cubs, Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi, will be leaving soon for their journey to Puebla, Mexico. Over the past few weeks, we have been preparing them for their trip. We took a quick break from crate-training them to focus on training them for some medical procedures that we needed to accomplish before the trip. Last week, vet staff and keepers were able to collect blood from all the lions and give them vaccinations. This was all done with the lions wide awake and simply snacking on some meat during the procedures. It was an impressive accomplishment in a short period of time and everyone involved, including the lions, should be very proud of themselves. With the blood collection and vaccinations behind them, keepers resumed crate training the lions in earnest by providing the lions with bits of their meat for entering their crates. The training has gone very well.
We’re going to miss all three “cubs,” who now weigh between 320 and 365 pounds! But it’s time for them to begin their lives as adults. And it’s also time for their parents, Kiki and Kamau, to resume their lives together. We have received another breeding recommendation from the Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP) and will be keeping our fingers crossed for more cubs in the future.
Megan Wilson, PhD
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, March 2
Today we're going to meet the smallest vertebrate in the Program Animals collection. Bamani is a leopard gecko, whose name means "lizard" in Hindi. Their natural range encompasses rocky, dry grasslands and the desert regions of southern Afghanistan, Pakistan, into India and parts of Iran. Bamani was born November 17, 1999, and is an active animal ambassador for Zoo Atlanta.
Leopard geckos are differentiated from other geckos in that they are one of only a few species that possess eyelids. Leopard geckos also have claws instead of the sticky, adhesive pads we normally associate with geckos. It is surmised that the claws aid them in digging burrows, where they normally spend the daylight hours hidden. These reptiles are crepuscular and nocturnal, and fierce little predators. Their diet in the wild may consist of beetles, centipedes, spiders and even scorpions.
Leopard geckos shed regularly like other reptiles, and often eat their sheds. It is surmised that this is to hide their presence from potential predators. We are VERY careful when we handle Bamani for programs or encounters, as geckos can drop their tail if it is grasped, or if they become frightened (the tail will twitch and distract predators, giving the gecko time to escape). This process is called caudal autotomy and is a normal defense mechanism for many reptiles. They can regenerate the tail, but it will never grow back to its original state. Leopard geckos store fat in their tails for periods when food is scarce, so obviously the tail is important to them!
While Bamani is small, he is definitely a ferocious predator. We regularly feed him crickets, mealworms, and even big superworms! It's pretty amazing to watch this little lizard lunge at a segmented worm that is half as long as itself. So if you're lucky enough to see Bamani on encounter in the Zoo, or in one of our many programs, don't underestimate this little hunter. Appreciate the phenomenal big-cat colouration, notice the eyelids and claws, and be sure to check out the big fat tail. You may also see Bamani in the desert window box at Wieland Wildlife Home during the day.
See you at the Zoo!
Jay Pratte
Lead Keeper, Program Animals
Tuesday, February 16
Recently we received the crates that we will use to transport the three lion cubs, Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi, to their new home at Africam Safari in Puebla, Mexico. Because we’re going to train the boys to their crates before the trip, the first thing we needed to do was figure out where we should place the crates to facilitate training. We currently have one crate secured in their den area, and we’ve removed the doors so that they can easily investigate every inch of it. The first time the cubs had access to the crate, they were very interested in their new piece of furniture. All three of them went in and out of the crate and even climbed on top of it. They continue to get access to the crate on a regular basis. We’ll begin to feed the cubs in the crate (one at a time!) so that going in the crate is even more positive for them. Once they’re ready, we’ll add one set of doors and then the second set, and eventually, we should be able to close them in the crates while they remain calm. Although we can’t train the lion cubs for the entire move to Mexico, we can train them to accept being secured in crates, which will make for a more pleasant and less stressful move for all parties involved.
Megan Wilson, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator of Mammals
Tuesday, February 9
Winter still holds us in its chilly grip, and the combination of low temperatures, wind and rain have caused us to cancel our weekend shows periodically. This is not the end of the world (or the Program Animals Department) for those intrepid members and guests that brave the weather to come and visit their favourite animals. Even if conditions don't favour a show, we still bring some of our more cold-tolerant animal friends out to visit.
The construction on the new Complex Carnivores can also be quite startling for our birds, with machinery, strangers and sudden noises they're not used to. Along with the cooler weather, we're adapting to these conditions to still bring our animal ambassadors out for daily events.
Mandela, everyone's favourite milky eagle owl, will fly up and down the main roadway between the Wildlife Theater and elephants. We attach radio telemetry to his anklets, and he flies between two trainers for food rewards. It's very exciting to see close up. We are also going to train Savannah, our lanner falcon, to do the same thing. Quincy, the Eurasian eagle owl, and our red-tailed hawk, Nate, both do okay in the winter so are often found on encounter around the Zoo on the arm of a staff member or intern. Our chinchillas and rabbits don't mind the cold too much and also come out to meet Zoo visitors. While some folks look forward to the shows, these up-close-and-personal encounters allow us to introduce you to the individual animals, and to teach you more about why they're so special. We encourage you to come out to the Zoo, wander around and spend time in our indoor venues, and then brave the weather to meet some of our animal friends.
Spring will come, and the amazing new carnivore habitats will be finished in coming months. But amidst the tumult, the Program Animals Department and your favourite ambassadors will still be around. Keep an eye out!
Jay Pratte
Lead Keeper, Program Animals
Thursday, February 4
Great news for the Primate Department! Kelly, one of our new keepers, was the first to discover our newborn Schmidt’s guenon when she came into work on the morning of January 15. Primate babies are often born overnight or very early before we arrive. This is the first ever of this species born at Zoo Atlanta. It came as a surprise, since we had no way of verifying that 18-year-old Jill was pregnant, and she was just introduced to her mate Jasiri (J.J.) in April 2009. Jill is an experienced mother and is doing a great job.
This is especially exciting news for the Guenon Species Survival Plan, since J.J. was born in Africa and is considered a founder animal for the gene pool for this species. J.J. was orphaned when he was young and was raised in a sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo; he came to us from the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa last year. There are only 35 of these beautiful monkeys in North American zoos.
Newborn monkeys are capable of grasping their mom’s hair with their hands and feet as she leaps about in the trees. They are very precocious and develop very fast. Within a few short months, they look like miniature adults and rapidly develop their coordination and climbing skills. Come check out the new arrival in the Ford African Rain Forest – the family should be out and about with the baby on days when the temperature is sunny and above 50.
Charles Horton
Curator of Primates
Tuesday, February 2
I know, it’s only just February, but now is the time we in the Bird Department start thinking about the breeding season and making certain we have all the materials, nest platforms, nest boxes, etc., that we are going to need. Now that we have a new off-exhibit Bird Propagation Center, we will many more nest boxes. The more nest site opportunities we provide, the greater the chance of getting a pair of birds to breed.
Amethyst starlings are notoriously picky about their nest sites, and we’re aiming for 10 different nest boxes of different types to tempt them to choose one! Taveta and buffalo weavers don’t use boxes, but we still have to provide suitable places for them to build their stick or grass nests. The branches in their exhibits have to be the right thickness for them to build on, and we have to provide far more nest material than they will ever actually use, just so they can find what they consider appropriate. Last year our Madagascar teal rejected four boxes in a row before finally choosing their site. One box was moved three times, but it was the third site they approved. The first two sites were only a few feet from the third, but they had not been good enough. Third time was the charm. The Argus pheasant surprises us every year with her first egg, laid off a perch. I swear she does it deliberately. “You shoulda given me a nest box!” Well, she gets her box tomorrow. Watch her lay that egg tonight … bless her.
For the first time, we are also going to be putting out nest boxes on grounds for American bluebirds. There are only four places in the Zoo that are likely to attract them, the best being in the Masai Mara exhibit. So look for bluebirds flitting their way through the giraffe and zebra this spring – hopefully they’ll be able to raise a brood or two!
James Ballance
Curator of Birds and Program Animals
Thursday, January 28
This has been a big week for us here in the Department of Herpetology. We welcomed the arrival of 37 baby indigo snakes! Assistant Curator Dr. Brad Lock and Keeper David Brothers have spearheaded our collaborative involvement with a noteworthy conservation project for the endangered indigo snake—the largest snake in North America, and native right here in Georgia. We are working in partnerships with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, and Auburn University on an ambitious “head-start” program to bolster populations of wild indigo snakes in the Conecuh National Forest.
The program aims to capture gravid females in the wild; hold them until the lay their eggs; and then release the females back into their home territory. The babies are raised for two years on a diet matching that in the wild. After this period, two important things will have been accomplished: 1) the snakes will be large enough to avoid many of their natural predators; and 2) they will be large enough to accommodate a small radio transmitter. The transmitter will allow scientists to study the natural habits of juvenile indigo snakes; this aspect of their natural history has remained a complete mystery to biologists.
Guests won’t be able to see the snakes, however, because it is important that they not become accustomed to the presence of humans, so this is one of our behind-the-scenes research and conservation programs. This is another example of Zoo Atlanta’s firm commitment to conservation of biodiversity, both globally and locally. I am so proud of our department and our Zoo! Please do come visit us soon in the World of Reptiles, where you can marvel at our ambassadors on display representing our other conservation programs, including Asian turtles, the Guatemalan beaded lizard, and amphibians—we can't wait to see you at the Zoo!
Joe Mendelson, PhD
Curator of Herpetology
Tuesday, January 26
Cold, cold, cold … And still more c-o-l-d, cold … This chilly time of year, we’re frequently asked about how we care for our animals during these cold weather months. Besides our giant pandas, red panda Shandy, and the azure-winged magpies, which all seem to revel in the coldest of temperatures, the majority of Zoo Atlanta’s animals are tropical and sub-tropical species and not fans of the cold. So, what about those animals whose natural homelands range from the savannas of Africa to the most dense and humid rainforests of Southeast Asia? Do they go outside in the cold? Do they stay inside? Do they like the cold weather? What happens if and when it snows? How do we keep them toasty warm? These questions seem especially relevant for the Zoo’s largest inhabitants, African elephants Kelly and Tara. In general, they actually fare quite well in the brisk weather, but like all of the animals in our collection, they’re monitored closely and their care follows well-developed guidelines. Having lived in Atlanta for 23 years, our elephants are also well acclimated to the weather patterns. African elephants in the wild are known to face extreme temperature ranges, and their bodies are well designed to absorb heat during the day and dissipate it at night. Their vast surface area of wrinkled skin acts like one giant radiator. Elephants living in the deserts of northeast Namibia often face scorching temperatures that reach 105o during the day and fall to below freezing at night.
So what happens as the mercury plummets south in Atlanta and we swap T-shirts for turtlenecks? The elephants don’t don scarves, but they are provided with deep beds of sand and straw to sleep on, warm water for drinking, warm baths, and massive barn heaters to keep their indoor temperatures averaging a very comfortable 65o. As the outdoor temperatures fall, we also allow them more frequent access to their barn, providing them increased opportunity to choose where they’re most comfortable in response to the weather. On the coldest of nights, we have the ability to manipulate their barn temperature between 50o and 80o, but their behavior tells us that they seem most comfortable when it hovers near the 65o mark. The elephants are rarely locked completely inside their barn, as we reserve that for the coldest of nights and iciest of days. Given their choices, however, Kelly almost always wants to be inside where she can “supervise” barn activities, while Tara happily represents the snowbirds. She frequently takes her bamboo and hay and heads out into the coldest and most snowy days. She’ll return to the barn just long enough to greet Kelly and get a warm drink before grabbing another snack and heading back outside. Of course we’re only too happy to indulge our resident woolly mammoth with her winter needs. And for our own amusement, we’re always happy to build snow elephants and have snowball fights …
Me? I’m ready for summer and the beach, but remember that even on the coldest of days in Atlanta, there’s always something festive going on here at the Zoo. We’re here, the woollies are here, and we’re all waiting to share our winter wonderland with you. Join us!
Adam Stone
Elephant Program Manager
Tuesday, January 19
The Program Animals Department has a very strong internship program. We interview potential candidates that apply through our website or through our Volunteer Department, and based on their qualifications, they may be selected for a 12-week internship in either Wieland Wildlife Home or the Wildlife Theater. We have interns year-round in both areas.
The interns go through a very intensive learning process. Very quickly, they need to learn about daily routine and husbandry, animal behaviour, safety and handling techniques. At the Wildlife Theater the interns can potentially handle raptors and parrots, along with the other birds in the collection. Wieland interns works with mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. There is a lot of work to do in each area, so our interns are diligent workers, and need to be able to function with minimal supervision. Once the basics of animal care have been learned, the specific behaviours inherent to handling each species and animal in their assigned area need to be learned. And handling is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. Snakes and invertebrates can be daunting and invoke natural fear responses, and the birds all have the potential to injure the unwary. So far, our interns have gladly risen to the challenge.
In exchange for their hard work and dedication, we try to provide them with skills that will aid them if they continue to pursue careers in the animal field. We teach them a lot of biology and natural history, as well as increase their abilities to work with and understand a myriad of species. We also introduce them to conservation education and public speaking. Some of our interns have taken on extra projects in each area, including enrichment design, enclosure modification, and even training goals. We appreciate all of their hard work, and some days wonder what we would do without our interns.
We like some of them so much they stay and become keepers (*waves to Mathew and Becca*).
When you next visit Zoo Atlanta, watch for our interns behind the scenes or on stage helping with shows, or on encounter with our animal friends. Let them know you appreciate their dedication as much as we do. And if you're interested in an internship in one of the many areas here at the Zoo, check the website for opportunities.
Jay Pratte
Lead Keeper, Program Animals
Tuesday, January 12
Cold and ice – it’s getting tedious. I’ve been in Atlanta for nine years, and this is the worst cold we’ve had. The flamingos have been indoors for a week, and 75 flamingos together in a small building smells mighty fine. They can’t go out until we can get the pond ice-free. They can actually handle the temperatures, but it’s the ice that we can’t control and we have four inches of it over the pool. That’s a lot of ice and no place to put it! But bashing it into chunks is a great way to stay warm and it’s also rather therapeutic, a tension release.
The ground hornbills hate sub-freezing weather, and because they’ve had to stay indoors, Chris has been filling their building with enrichment, old Christmas trees, a mirror, their favorite giant plastic tractor, and other items to keep their brains busy.
Even the ducks at The Living Treehouse have been indoors. It so happens that the ringed teal and Madagascar teal are both species that like to perch on branches, and it’s still amusing to have your ducks sitting above you as you work. They stay out of the way and no, we have not been “decorated” by them from above as we work in there!
Changing frozen water bowls three times a day is no fun, especially as all the water has to be carried in jugs because the water hydrants aren&rsquo
