In Focus - Cassowary

Status: Endangered

Geographic Region:  North-Eastern Australia, New Guinea and Aru Islands

Meaning of name: Papua New Guinea word kasu- meaning horned; and weri- meaning head

Habitat: Deep rainforest

Threats: Dogs, cars, habitat loss and wild pigs.

Left in Wild: 2500 to 3000

Cassowary at Australia Zoo

The Cassowary is the largest native land animal in Northern Australia, and the heaviest bird in Australia, weighing in at 85 kilograms- being generally 40 kilograms heavier than the Emu. There are three sub species of cassowary in the world, The Southern, Northern and Dwarf Cassowary. All three sub species are extremely shy and very hard to spot in the forest.

Cassowaries can live up to 40 years in the wild and have been known to live to over 60 years in captivity. The cassowary has many threats to its precarious existence with car accidents making up a large portion of their fatalities. Other threats include wild pigs eating their eggs, wild dogs hunting them for food and recent weather events that have devastated their habitats.

The most distinguishing feature of the cassowary is the bony looking horn upon its head. The horn or casque is actually quite porous, made of a spongy material covered with skin and will continue to grow for the cassowary's entire life. Not that you would want to get close enough to feel its horn as they are very dangerous and have been known to seriously injure, and in rare occasions even kill people with their very large claws.

Cassowary Feet - deadly weapons

Cassowaries are good swimmers and have been seen swimming in the ocean to escape dingos and wild dogs. They also swim across Northern Queensland's Daintree River to get from one side to the other. They do not have tongues and so drink by scooping up water with their bottom beak.  

Stu’s Zoo Pick for the Cassowary

Most Australian zoos and wild life sanctuaries have cassowaries and participate in breeding programs. Perth Zoo located in Western Australia has a great rainforest walk-through exhibit that showcases both the cassowary and its habitat. 

Australia Zoo

Other good opportunities to view cassowaries in natural-looking environs include the enclosures at Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and  Dreamworld all located in South East Queensland in Australia. 

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

 © July 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

In Focus – Tiger

Status: Endangered 

Geographic Region: Asia

Meaning of Name: Subspecies demographic identification: Bengal, Malayan, Sumatran etc 

Habitat:  Siberian forests, swamps to tropical forested areas

Threats: Habitat destruction, Poaching

Left in Wild: Approximately 4000

One of the male Sumatran Tigers at Australia Zoo

The tiger is the largest cat species in the world. In fact the only two land carnivores larger than the tiger are the polar bear and brown bear.  There are six subspecies of tiger that exist today, down from nine. They are the Bengal, Malayan, Sumatran, Siberian, Indochinese and South China tiger. There are great fears that the South China Tiger is extinct in the wild with only 59 left in captivity.

Although the tiger is revered in most of the countries that they are found in, all subspecies of tiger are in danger of extinction in differing variations. This is mainly due to the large hunting grounds an individual tiger will occupy and subsequent conflict with humans. Farming, fencing, towns and roads have all played a part in the fragmentation of the tiger’s territory. Today tigers are only found in small pockets across Asia with their habitat reducing dramatically. 

 

Sumatran Tiger at Australia Zoo

Tigers are territorial, solitary animals but have been known to befriend other tigers to the point where they will share their kills with companions. There are no set rules as to why tigers befriend other tigers making it notoriously difficult to pair them up in zoos. Tigers are one of the rare animals that live just as long in zoos as they do in the wild with the average life expectancy of a tiger approximately 20 years.

Tigers love water and are very good swimmers, they will spend a good portion of a hot day relaxing in a shallow pool to keep cool. They will also follow their prey into rivers and lakes to make a kill. The Jaguar is the only other cat that enjoys water in the same way. Tigers have become nocturnal hunters due to their close proximity to humans however scientific observations in non-populated areas have noted the tiger’s still hunt in the day in those areas. 

Stu’s Zoo Pick for the Tiger 

You would be hard pressed to go to one of the big zoos today without seeing a tiger. Tigers are one of the big ticket animals that zoos tend to make sure they have.  Australian zoos like the Perth Zoo and Taronga Zoo participate in Sumatran tiger breeding programs and have good enclosures to view tigers. The following zoos have excellent enclosures that not only give you an opportunity to see these big cats but also information and displays on conservation. 

Bronx Zoo

Tiger Mountain at the Bronx Zoo has two species of tiger, the Siberian Tiger and Malayan Tiger both are housed in great enclosures mimicking the tiger’s natural habitats. Complete with deep water pools, rocks and grassed lopes the design of the enclosures focuses on animal enrichment as the top priority. The surrounding area at Tiger Mountain is set up in a way that encourages you to explore, whilst learning about the tiger and its battle to survive in the wild. This is also a great exhibit to learn about all of the animal enrichment programs that the zoo has implemented to keep the tigers from getting bored including methods like a treat spinner and a deer hide that hangs overhead.

One of the great educational displays at Tiger Mountain - Bronx Zoo

Tiger relaxing in the great enclosure at the Bronx Zoo

Australia Zoo

Tiger Temple is one of the new exhibits at Australia Zoo. It has three excellent viewing areas where you can see the Sumatran tigers at rest, play or having a swim. The enclosure is very well themed with great educational messages throughout. There are daily keeper talks scheduled and are worth visiting.  

Entrance into Tiger Temple - Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo,  Part of the Australian-wide zoo effort to save the Sumatran Tiger

Dream World

Tiger Island is a great exhibit with both Bengal and Sumatra tigers on display. The tiger demonstration held twice daily is a great way to learn more about these big cats. 

Part of the tiger demonstration at Tiger Island - Dreamworld

© June 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au 

In Focus – Koala

Status: Least Concern 

Geographic Region:  Eastern states of Australia

Meaning of Name:  Comes from the aboriginal name gula - meaning no drink.

Habitat:  Eucalyptus woodlands of Australia

Threats:  Land development and disease

Left in Wild:  60,000 to 80,000

Koala at Alma Park Zoo

There is a common misconception that the koala is a type of bear due to their bear-like appearance, however they are actually a herbivorous marsupial with the wombat being its   closest relative. Eucalyptus leaves are the koala's main diet but provide little energy intake, resulting in koalas sleeping for up to 20 hours a day. Koalas rarely drink water as they get most of the water intake from the eucalyptus leaves. They have however been known to search out water during prolonged hot periods, even venturing onto verandas and into back yards in search of a drink.The picture below shows a firefighter giving a Koala a drink after a devastating bushfire destroyed its habitat - follow this link to read more about this story. 

Koalas can live for up to 14 years in the wild however male Koalas will rarely live that long due to their more destructive nature. The longest living koala lived for 23 years at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Koalas are asocial animals preferring to be on their own than socialising in groups. Male Koalas are very territorial animals and have been known to be aggressive towards humans who venture into their space. Males are significantly larger than females and will have territorial battles with other males. Size however does not have any bearing on who a female mates with as they are more attracted to males that can make a more impressive grunting noise.The more impressive the grunt the more manly the koala, so to speak. Size and colour tone does vary between koalas dependent on geographical locations as well. A Koala in the state of Victoria in southern Australia will be significantly larger with darker fur than Koalas found in the northern state of Queensland.

Koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Land development has played a large part in the destruction of the koala’s habitat across Australia and disease such as Chlamydiaceae has ravaged some populations across the country. The Koala was hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s for its pelts, but populations have been slowly recovering in some states. Unfortunately a cull of over a million individuals in Queensland in the 1920s halted the recovery of that population and it has struggled to have any meaningful recovery since. This has made the Queensland  koala more susceptible to drought, disease and environment destruction. In 2012 the Australian Government declared the Koala populations in both Queensland and New South Wales vulnerable, which is probably a gross understatement of its true status. Today it is very rare to see a Koala in the wild in Queensland.

Donation box at Alma Park zoo

Stu’s Zoo Pick for the Koala

Many wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in Australia have great koala enclosures. Here is a list of zoos that I have reviewed where you can see and even hold a koala.They are: Perth Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Alma Park Zoo, Cairns Wildlife Dome, Australia Zoo and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - the largest Koala sanctuary in the world.

 

Koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Daisy Hill Koala Centre, located south of Brisbane in the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, is also a great place to see and lean about the koala.You can view it's resident koalas as well as see interactive displays and information on the conservation efforts being employed to help save the Queensland koala.  The centre is run by the Queensland Government and is free of charge. The woodlands around the centre are a great place to have a picnic and observe  wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and birds.

Ocean Park in Hong Kong will be receiving a number of koalas from the South Australian Government mid 2014. These koalas will be housed in a purpose-built $5 million themed enclosure with the park also growing a 13 hectare eucalyptus forest ensuring ample food for the new arrivals.
© May 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

Are birds boring?

I admit it – some bird exhibits at zoos don’t excite me at all.  I don’t rush to the bird section of a zoo as soon as I arrive, and I certainly don’t linger around that section once I have come upon it. Don’t get me wrong, I love birds and enjoy the huge variety that visit my home regularly.  But when it comes to zoos, well that’s a different story.
  

Bald Eagle in its aviary at the Bronx Zoo

Zoos have come a long way in the last 50 years. Huge advancements in animal welfare has ensured the improvement of enclosures immeasurably both in size and look, yet when I visit the bird section in some zoos it’s like nothing has changed at all.  I don’t mean that these birds are being mistreated or even housed incorrectly. I mean it’s just boring – after seeing the tenth aviary that looks the same as the last nine.  All ten with their strategically placed dead branches acting as perches, where two or three equally uninterested birds sit motionless staring right back at me. Frankly I’m ready to move on. Why? Because today I expect more from zoos!  

Bird spotter cards at Central Park Zoo's impressive rainforest enclosure

A Scarlet Ibis at the Central Park Zoo

So no, of course birds aren’t boring – but yes in some cases I believe their enclosures are. Birds are social, complex,  smart animals that deserve to be housed in enclosures that bring those traits out, and in turn give us the opportunity to see them. These type of enclosures are also better environments for the birds. I have seen some fantastic examples of enclosures that showcase birds at their best at many zoos, and yet some shocking examples at those same zoos.  The Australian Wetlands enclosure at Perth Zoo in Western Australia, is a great example of both ground dwelling and tree dwelling birds living together in a large netted enclosure representing several environs. Both the Bronx Zoo and Central Park Zoo, in New York, have enclosures that don’t just house birds but also incorporate reptiles and mammals from specific habitats making for a natural enclosure that looks great and also helps in the zoos animal enrichment programs. 
 

A couple of beautiful Long-Tailed Glossy Starlings in the Central Park Zoos rainforest enclosure

 Of course not every bird is suited to these enclosures, especially birds of prey like eagles and owls, but every bird deserves to be housed in a large natural enclosure that represents their own habitat. Birds are not boring so zoos should stop putting them in boring enclosures, both the birds and the people who come to see them deserve better. 

Another impressive enclosure at Central Park Zoo

On a slightly different note, a recent study by the British Trust for Ornithology has suggested that over 100 million birds fly into windows every year in the United Kingdom and a third of these feathered friends die. After you have digested the magnitude of that figure, it’s interesting to note how zoos stop captive birds flying into windows in some of their enclosures. Vertical strips are placed on some windows, but another way to stop birds from flying into windows is smearing soap all over the windows as shown below at the Bronx Zoo. So if you have random birds flying into your windows - soap is a great solution! 
© May 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

Zoos - A home away from home

You may recall that on a recent trip to the Bronx Zoo, how surprised I was to see so many animals housed indoors due to the chilly conditioned outside! Especially larger animals like rhinos and giraffes.  Whilst in New York I also visit Central Park Zoo which houses many animals from more temperate / colder climates.  The day before I visited Central Park Zoo it snowed, so seeing polar bears, snow leopards and snow monkeys outside in that environment looked totally natural. But as we all know it can get very hot and humid in New York City over summer, so what happens to those colder climate animals over those hotter months?

This prompted me to look into what zoos do to protect animals from climates that they are not accustomed too.

 

Giraffe indoors at Bronx zoo

One easy solution for zoos, is to house animals that are more suited to the zoo’s natural environment. Perth Zoo, in Western Australia is a good example of this. Most of their animals are from Australia, Asia and Africa. This suits the Perth weather conditions where they get quite extreme temperatures, regularly going over 40 degrees in summer but rarely going under 0 degrees in winter. Even so, Perth Zoo has measures to cool off even their more well-adjusted animals.   Over the hotter days many of the animals receive their favourite treats in ice blocks. This is a great way to cool them down and can also be part of their animal enrichment programme. Animals also have the option to rest back into their night time air-conditioned enclosures over the hotter parts of the day.

Sea World at the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, has a great Polar Bear enclosure with an environment set up to replicate an Arctic Summer. This is a state of the art enclosure giving Sea World the ability to create micro climates by adding sprinklers, mist and wind generators. As soon as it heads towards a humid 35 degrees, the bears can retire into their five air-conditioned dens with temperature controlled pools. The bears prefer the temperature of the water a comfortable 17 degrees. It’s also interesting to note that in Canada polar bears natural habitats can get over 40 degrees in summer.

 

Polar Bear enclosure at Sea World, Queensland

Front entrance polar bear enclosure Sea World Queensland

New York of course presents a slightly trickier environment – reaching very hot conditions in summer and very cold conditions in winter. To give the animals the most comfortable environment over these periods the Bronx Zoo has completed giant temperature controlled enclosures so that the public can still see these amazing animals no matter what the conditions are outside. This is no different to Central Park Zoo creating a huge indoor rainforest walk with temperatures to suit - or the Madagascar enclosure at the Bronx Zoo albeit for smaller animals. For visitors, these warm environs are a great haven from the cold winter winds outside too.

 

 One of the impressive indoor enclosures at the Bronx Zoo

It is useful to remember, when visiting zoos, that their first priority is animal comfort.  So be prepared for the fact that you may not get to see the animals in their more natural enclosures, but rather in purpose built viewing enclosures which mimic their natural habitat. What you do get to see then, are great technologies and climate control systems in play.  It all adds to the experience for both visitor and animals - and saves you from having to visit extreme parts of the globe to see these animals too!
© April 2013-Stuatthezoo.blogspot.com.au

In Focus - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Status: Vulnerable  

Geographic region: Galapagos Islands (East Pacific Ocean)  

Meaning of name: Saddle Tortoise (Spanish)

Habitat:Coastal fringes and high lands of the Galapagos Islands 

Threats:Introduced feral animals  

Left in wild: Approximately 19,000        

One of the longest living animals on earth - Galapogas Tortoise, Perth Zoo

           

There are 14 known sub species of the Galapagos Tortoise of which 10 still live in the wild. Research is being conducted to identify specific genetics within population groups. Recently a sub species called the Floreana Tortoise, thought to be extinct for over 150 years, has possibly been rediscovered on the Wolf Volcano on the Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos Tortoise is the largest tortoise in the world, growing to a length of 150cm. They are also the longest living vertebrae in the world and can live up to 100 plus years in the wild and have been known to live over 150 years in captivity.

Galapagos Tortoises’ have a very slow metabolism and can go long periods without food. When they do eat they enjoy flowers, native fruits and leaves. The males can be very territorial especially during the mating season.

Galapagos Tortoise Perth Zoo

Stu’s Zoo Pick for Galapagos Tortoise

With so many zoos participating in successful breeding programs and repopulation schemes of the Galapagos Tortoise, I thought I would focus on some of the more famous individuals. Here are a few that have touched many hearts - to become priceless ambassadors for their species.

Harriet (Oldest recorded of her species)

Harriet was hatched around 1830 on the Galapagos Islands and was collected by Charles Darwin to be taken back to England in 1835. In1842 Harriet arrived in Brisbane and lived in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens for over 100 years. Harriet spent the last two decades of her life at Australia Zoo in Queensland, where she became somewhat of a national treasure. In 2005 Harriet turned 175 years old and there was a huge celebration including thousands of party guests, tortoise shaped birthday cake and a huge international media contingency. Harriet was happiest when munching on her favourite red hibiscus flowers. Harriet passed away on 23^rd of June 2006 leaving behind many admirers of her species and an impressive life story. 

Harriet's Memorial Plaque at Australia Zoo

Lonesome George – (Last of his sub species) 

George was rescued from Pinta Island in 1971 after a wild goat population decimated the food source on the island. The island was meticulously searched for any other surviving species of the Pinta tortoise with no results. The Pinta tortoise a sub species of the Galapagos Tortoise was declared a functionally extinct species with George being the sole survivor.

Although many efforts were made to mate George with other female sub species they were all unsuccessful. George passed away in 2012, found by his caretaker of 40 years. He died of heart failure and as the last of his species. George was estimated to be over 100 years old. 

NJ – (First Galapagos Tortoise hatched in Australasia)

NJ was hatched at Western Plain Zoo, Dubbo, Australia in 2011 and was the first hatchling born in captivity in Australasia.  NJ’s gender will not be known for several years (hence the obscure name).

NJ’s Mother was 90 at the time of NJ’s birth. As a hatchling NJ weighed 87 grams and will grow up in 30 years to a massive 256 kilos.