ZooBorns

Playing Mom for Two Otter Pups

2010-09-02T08:57:04-05:00

Longleat Safari Park in the UK is delighted to announce the birth of two otter pups although contrary to normal Longleat practice, the pups are being totally hand reared as human intervention became necessary to save the tiny two. Deputy Head of Section, Beverley Allen, took up the role of mum to the intrepid pups. “We try and maintain a hands off approach with any newborn at Longleat as nine times out of ten, mum is the best bet” explained Beverley. “We soon realized however that mum, Rosie, was just not producing enough milk and we’d have to step in to save their young lives”.

“I have to admit that being full time mum to two pups is pretty hard work. I’m feeding them by hand every 3½ hours on artificial puppy rearing milk, which is the next best thing to mum’s milk.

“They are now around four weeks old and their eyes should be opening in the next week or so. They’re completely helpless at the moment and are entirely reliant on me to look after them."

Cleveland Rhino Mom Delivers 100 Pounds of Joy

2010-09-02T07:24:14-05:00

The Eastern Black Rhino family at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomed a new female calf August 17, the fourth daughter born to mom Inge, and second offspring of dad Jimma. She was estimated to have weighed more than 100 pounds at birth. The baby rhino, who has yet to be named, is a significant addition to the zoo population as there are only 31 female and 36 male Eastern black rhinos in zoos in North America and they are considered highly endangered in the wild. There have been only two other Eastern black rhino babies born in the U.S. this year.

Photo Credits: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

The new calf, who now weighs 147 pounds, is gaining weight quickly and showing a high level of energy and playfulness. She is not yet on public display as she continues to bond with her mother, but the frisky calf can be seen in a video at the Zoo's website, clemetzoo.com.

Since her arrival in 1997 from the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, Inge has given birth to four calves at the Zoo, all female. Because Inge was born in the wild, her genes are very important to the overall zoo population and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Program.

"Inge keeps getting better and better at taking care of her calves," said Alan Sironen, Curator of Carnivores and Large Mammals. "This calf is particularly bold and energetic and they are fun to watch together."

Sironen said the Zoo is extremely fortunate to have had four consecutive female births, due to a larger portion of zoo births being males.

Two of her offspring, Kibibbi and Zuri, are still at the Zoo. The other, Azzizi, currently lives at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

The Zoo's successful black rhino program is a coordinated effort between the curators, veterinarians, research staff members and zookeepers. The Zoo's small crash of rhinos is unique in that it replicates what one might find in nature with a mother, older daughters, a young calf and a mature male.

Orphaned California Sea Lion Pups Find a Home at Brookfield Zoo

2010-09-01T12:10:31-05:00

The two unnamed female pups, born on June 7 and June 10, were abandoned by their moms at a popular tourist attraction—Pier 39 in San Francisco—which is a highly unusual place for a California sea lion to give birth. Lucky for them, they were rescued by staff from The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, eventually making their way to the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo. The pups are off exhibit for the moment while they get used to their new home but are doing great so far!

Read the whole story and see more pictures below the fold

Orphaned California Sea Lion Pups Find a Home at Brookfield Zoo

Brookfield, IL—Thanks to the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, two orphaned California sea lion pups have a new home at the zoo. They are currently off exhibit and getting acclimated to their new surroundings and the zoo’s other sea lions and learning how to swim before they venture out into the bigger pools at the Pinniped Point exhibit. Staff estimate it will be several more weeks before they will be able to have access to the outdoor pools.

The two unnamed female pups, born on June 7 and June 10, were abandoned by their moms at a popular tourist attraction—Pier 39 in San Francisco—which is a highly unusual place for a California sea lion to give birth. Female sea lions normally choose rookeries such as the Channel Islands in southern California away from human traffic and other potential dangers. After birth, females raise the young pups for up to nine months. As newborn sea lions that rely on their mother for nourishment, the helpless pups would have starved to death without human intervention.

Deemed unreleaseable back to the wild due to the difficulty of rehabilitating young pups, the Chicago Zoological Society stepped forward and offered to give the sea lions a permanent home at Brookfield Zoo. This commitment is quite an undertaking because the vulnerable pups require constant care for the first several months of life.

The pups were rescued by staff from The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, where they were stabilized and spent a few days prior to being transferred to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo until they were able to make the trip to Brookfield Zoo. During the month the pups were at Six Flags, Jennifer McGee, lead marine mammal trainer from Brookfield Zoo, took up residence in California to assist the Six Flags staff in the round-the-clock care the pups required.

“This endeavor would not have been possible without the collaboration and commitment from all three facilities,” said Rita Stacey, curator of marine mammals for the Chicago Zoological Society. “From this learning experience, we are now able to serve as a resource to other facilities that are contemplating handrearing sea lions should a need to intervene happen again in the future,” added Stacey.

Since their arrival at Brookfield Zoo, the inquisitive and rambunctious pups have doubled in weight. “By no means are they out of the woods yet, but we are very optimistic and encouraged from the behaviors we have seen that the pups will have a second chance at life here at Brookfield Zoo,” said Stacey. They are being monitored closely and will continue to be bottle-fed a specially prepared milk formula for a few more months. A new diet of fish will be introduced to them in the near future.

Although the commitment of Animal Programs staff is very intensive, the time being invested is helping the North American zoo California sea lion population. Because they were born in the wild, these new additions are extremely valuable genetically. California sea lions are managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Population Management Plan (PMP), a program that ensures the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population for the long-term survival of the zoo population. The Sea Lion PMP is managed by McGee, who is also responsible for the California Sea Lion Studbook, a record of the species’ pedigree and the demographic history of each individual in the North American zoo population.

Scientists observed that pupping patterns similar to 2010 were observed during 1998 and 1999, the last major El Niño years. El Niño oceanographic conditions are characterized by warmer coastal waters, which drive sea lion prey, such as anchovies and sardines, greater distances from shore. Pregnant California sea lions and yearlings (one-year-olds) may not have the energy reserves to swim the extra distance to acquire food, resulting in females giving birth before reaching normal pupping areas, females abandoning pups because of diminished nutritional condition, and emaciation or starvation of yearlings.

Additionally, domoic acid poisoning may be a contributing factor in the unusual pupping patterns during 2010. Domoic acid is a neurotoxin that accumulates in top-level predators during harmful algal blooms and causes disorientation, lethargy, and seizures in sea lions. These neurological symptoms prevent normal foraging, causing pups to become severely emaciated, sometimes resulting in death.

California sea lion pups are born in June and July and weigh 13 to 20 pounds. They do not swim for at least two weeks and stay in tidal pools until they can go to sea with their mothers. They nurse for at least five months and sometimes for more than a year. After a few days of giving birth, a mother leaves a pup while she forages at sea. After replenishing, the mother returns to her pup and nurses it again. As the pup grows stronger, the mother leaves it alone for longer periods of time. Mother sea lions recognize their pups on crowded rookeries through smell, sight, and vocalizations.

In the early part of the 20th century, sea lions were hunted for their skins and to reduce competition with fishermen for fish. As a result, their populations declined. Today, all marine mammals, including sea lions, are protected by the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act. There are now hundreds of thousands of sea lions along the Pacific coast. While not endangered, they still face challenges due to human activities, including the intentional dumping of toxic and hazardous waste, entanglement in fishing gear and other debris, and changes in global atmospheric conditions.

The Marine Mammal Center’s mission is to expand knowledge about marine mammals—their health and that of their ocean environment—and to inspire global conservation. Since 1975, staff and volunteers have rescued and treated more than 16,000 marine mammals at its outdoor hospital in Sausalito.

Frolicking Tiger Cubs Make Their Denver Debut

2010-09-01T08:26:44-05:00

Back in June we brought you the announcement of Denver Zoo's new Amur Tiger quadruplets. Now we bring you photos from their first foray outside. Amur Tigers are classified as critically endangered, with an estimated population of fewer than 400 individuals remaining in the wild. Once called Siberian Tigers because they were found throughout Siberia, they are now confined to Far East Asia along the Amur River, hence the new name.

Photo credits: Dave Parsons / Denver Zoo

DENVER ZOO’S FOUR TIGER CUBS MEET THE OUTDOORSVisitors Can See the Quadruplet Tiger Cubs Now

Denver, CO (August 31, 2010) – Denver Zoo’s four endangered, Amur tiger cubs took a breath of fresh air Monday as they explored their outdoor habitat for the first time. The cubs – females Zaria and Akasha and males Nikolai and Thimbu – were each given a clean bill of health in their last exams and are ready to meet the public. The quadruplet cubs, born May 31, are the first of their species to be born at Denver Zoo since 2003. Just in time for Labor Day, visitors can see the foursome now at the Feline II Building. The best time to see them will be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The cubs were born to mother, Koshka (Koosh-kuh), and father, Waldemere (Wald-uh-meer). Waldemere was born at Denver Zoo in 2003, but Koshka was born at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 2005 and came to Denver in late 2008. The two were paired under recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) which ensures healthy populations and genetic diversity among zoo animals. Fortunately, the couple has proved to be an excellent match.

Amur Tigers are seasonal breeders and in North America generally breed January through June. After a gestation period of approximately three months, two to four cubs are born in a sheltered den. They are nursed by their mother, who rarely leaves them. At about two weeks old their eyes open and their first teeth begin to erupt.

Amur tigers are classified as critically endangered, with an estimated population of less than 400 individuals remaining in the wild. These animals were once called Siberian tigers because they were found throughout Siberia. They are now almost completely confined to the Far East portion of Asia along the Amur River and because of this they are now commonly called Amur tigers. In addition to habitat loss, the biggest threats to these tigers comes from poaching, both for their fur and their other body parts which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Amur tigers are the largest member of the cat family. They can grow to nearly four-feet-tall and more than seven-feet-long. Koshka is smaller than Waldemere, weighing in at more than 280 pounds during her wellness exam, while Waldemere weighs an estimated 360 pounds. Amur tigers also have longer hair and more white on their coats than other tigers.

Blackpool Otter Time

2010-08-31T09:49:23-05:00

This trio of 9-week-old Asian Small-Clawed Otters pups was photographed yesterday at the UK's Blackpool Zoo by photographer khandog. This species forms monogamous pairs for life and young pups like these are fully weaned only at 14 months - that's a lot of baby otter time! Is that a yawn in the last picture or just munching on otter kibble?

World’s Largest Rodent Born at Paignton Zoo

2010-08-30T09:03:29-05:00

On August 18th, the UK's Paignton Zoo welcomed a baby Capybara to parents David and Davina. Sometimes called a the Giant Guinea Pig, these massive rodents can grow four feet long (a rodent of unusual size perhaps?). Capybaras love to lounge, and even sleep, in swamps and rivers with only their eyes and nostrils poking out.

Family portrait

The world’s largest rodent species has given birth at Paignton Zoo.The capybara, sometimes called the giant guinea pig, comes from parts of South America and can grow up to 1.3 metres in length.

Paignton Zoo is home to a pair of capybaras. Male David was born at Twycross Zoo in March 2008 and came to Paignton Zoo in July 2009. Female Davina, born at Chessington Zoo in October 2008, arrived at Paignton Zoo in August 2009.

The youngster – their first and as yet unsexed - was born on Wednesday 18th August.
Capybaras are found on grassland and in tropical rainforest. They spend a lot of time in the water: their eyes and nostrils are on the tops of their heads so that they can stay submerged with very little of their body showing.

One of the main parts of their diet in the wild is the water hyacinth. Paignton Zoo’s Gardens Department has grown plants especially for the resident capybaras to eat this year.

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) lives in family groups near to water, where they swim or wallow during the hottest part of the day. Up to 7 youngsters can be born after a gestation of 150 days (5 months). Mating takes place in the water. The capybara has slightly webbed toes, which help it to swim.

Capybaras are not at present endangered but their captive populations in British and Irish zoos are managed co-operatively.

Fossa Pups!

2010-08-27T15:19:28-05:00

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has two new Fossa pups, born on June 26, 2010. Native to the island of Madagascar, Fossas are the main predator of lemurs. They are very agile climbers whose ankles can rotate 180 degrees. This allows them to climb down a tree face-forward while gripping with their back feet. Looking like a cross between a cat and a weasel, they are most closely related to mongooses.

Photo Credits: Henry Doorly Zoo

The mother is nine years old and the father is ten years old, both from Madagascar and can be seen on display in Kingdoms of the Night®. After a gestation period average of 52-60 days, fossa pups can weigh between 60 – 100 grams at birth. They are fed an Esbilac formula four times per day by Zoo staff in the Nursery. The pups currently weigh approximately 700 grams or 1.5 pounds.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has been working in Madagascar since 1998 through the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP). The newest exhibit, Expedition Madagascar, links the work Omaha’s Zoo has been doing on the island. Madagascar is considered to be one of the top hotspots for biodiversity because it is home to the largest number of endemic (native only to this country) plant and animal species.

Get those Baboon Babies Some Names!

2010-08-27T15:00:58-05:00

Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo is home to New York City's newest and bounciest Baboon babies and they need your name suggestions. Jump over to the Zoo's naming contest to add your ideas. The Baboons, both male, were born July 23 and 28.

More pictures after the jump...

Many Mongooses for Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

2010-08-27T07:05:25-05:00

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo's Banded Mongoose baby boom continues! Five baby Banded Mongooses, born on August 2, made their exhibit debut this week. Combined with seven babies born in November, six babies born in March, and our original seven adults, Fort Wayne now has twenty five Mongooses in the colony.

Photo Credits: Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

With five new babies to care for, their mongoose mom is pretty busy. But luckily, she gets plenty of help form the other adults in the colony. “All the adults will help carry the babies, groom them, and play with them,” reports African Journey zoo keeper Nancee Hutchinson.

The babies are easy to spot – they’re tiny compared to the adults, but that won’t last long. “Mongooses grow very fast,” Hutchinson says. “The babies born in March are almost as big as the adults now.”

In the wilds of Africa, banded mongooses munch on insects, spiders, fruits, and even bird eggs, which they hurl against rocks to crack open.

Pipping Penguin from Egg to Baby Bird

2010-08-26T08:27:49-05:00

A short and sweet video showing the process of an African Penguin chick emerging from it's shell, called pipping, from egg to baby bird! The New England Aquarium has had a penguin baby boom this summer so if you live in the Boston area, definitely make the trip.