#shes part of the AZA breeding program

[thedisablednaturalist]

Im fucking sobbing looking at the new black footed cat at Utah's Hogle zoo

Shes just a fucking baby

Baby with a 60% successful kill rate

[rjzimmerman]

Apache, the male (front) and Ela, the female (behind).

The story from the Brookfield Zoo:

With the start of a new year comes a new alpha wolf pair at Brookfield Zoo. Last month, a 7-year-old male Mexican wolf, named Apache, arrived from Albuquerque Bio Park in New Mexico. Animal care staff is hopeful that he and 2-year-old Ela will have a successful breeding season this winter and produce a litter of puppies this spring. Coincidentally, Ela’s name means earth in the Apache Native American language.

“While this is Ela’s first experience meeting a male outside of her natal pack, she is a confident wolf and we expect her to bond well with Apache,” said Joan Daniels, curator of mammals. “Ela’s familiarity with the successful den sites in the habitat at Brookfield Zoo and observations of her mother Zana rearing a litter in 2017 makes her the perfect partner for Apache.”

Due to Brookfield Zoo’s breeding success in the past, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan requested the zoo establish this new breeding pair as well as participate in ongoing reproduction studies for the species. As part of its continued partnership in the multi-agency Mexican Wolf Recovery Program led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Chicago Zoological Society has contributed to the program. Over the years, CZS has collaborated on two cross-fosterings of pups born at the zoo; the release of one of its adult females to the wild, who subsequently had a litter of pups; and took part in population-wide fertility studies evaluating methods to improve pregnancy rates.

As one of the world’s rarest species, breeding in protective care amongst Mexican wolves is critical for the species’ survival. Currently, there are about 114 Mexican wolves living in the wild in the U.S. and approximately 31 in Mexico. The necessity of this transfer for the survival of this species makes the services provided by LightHawk even more crucial. LightHawk is a nonprofit organization that partners pilots with conservation organizations to help transfer endangered species to new homes. Pilot Chuck Yanke and Julie Tromblay, his co-pilot, volunteered to fly Apache to Illinois. “We are extremely grateful to Chuck and Julie for donating their time and services to help in the conservation efforts for the Mexican wolf,” added Daniels. Back in October, all the wolves at Brookfield Zoo, with the exception of Ela, were placed at other facilities based on recommendations from the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan.

Video showing us Apache and Ela:

[exclusivepiner]

Columbus zoo cheetah

The Wilds, one of the largest conservation centers in North America, is home to rare and endangered animals from around the world along with hundreds of indigenous species. Due to threats including habitat loss and fragmentation, conflict with livestock and game farmers and unregulated tourism, cheetahs now inhabit just 10 percent of their historic range in Africa and are almost completely extirpated from their historic range in Asia.įor more information about conservation initiatives at The Wilds and to book a Winter at The Wilds Tour, please visit The Wilds’ website. From working with communities living within cheetahs’ native ranges and helping to reduce farmers’ livestock losses to cheetahs by introducing Anatolian shepherd guard dogs, to assisting with health exams of cheetahs in Africa and learning more about cheetah populations through camera traps, scat analysis and habitat monitoring, we remain dedicated to working with our conservation partners to make a positive impact on the future of cheetahs,” said Columbus Zoo and Aquarium President/CEO Tom Stalf.Īccording to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), cheetahs are considered vulnerable in their native ranges in Africa. “As an organization committed to wildlife conservation, we recognize the importance of helping to preserve a sustainable cheetah population in human care, and we are also grateful for the support of our Ohio communities as this enables us to continue contributing to projects benefiting cheetahs in Africa. The Wilds is one of nine cheetah breeding centers created through this initiative to ensure a sustainable cheetah population in human care. The cubs’ birth was the result of breeding recommendations from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Cheetah Sustainability Program-part of a Species Survival Plan® (SSP)-a program coordinated by AZA and Conservation Centers for Species Survival (C2S2) to manage a sustainable population of cheetahs, whose numbers are declining in their native range. “The birth of these rare cheetah cubs is cause for celebration. They are adorable, but more importantly their births represent a significant contribution to the sustainability of this species’ population, and we are extremely proud to be directly involved in protecting the future of cheetahs,” said The Wilds Vice President Dr. Finnick has been the father of three previous litters at The Wilds.Īlthough Pumzika and her cubs will not be out of their behind-the-scenes den for a few months, guests may have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the litter in their den on a television monitor in the Carnivore Center at The Wilds during a Wildside Tour sometime within the next several weeks. Finnick is seven years old and came to The Wilds from the White Oak Conservation Center in Yulee, Fla. During these exams, the team learned that the litter consists of three males and three females, and the cubs appear to be healthy and are growing steadily.įive-year-old Pumzika was born at the San Diego Safari Park and arrived at The Wilds in July 2019. Yesterday, staff worked diligently and quickly to provide well checks on all of the cubs. Because Pumzika is a first-time mom, The Wilds’ animal management team continues to ensure that any potential disturbance of the cubs and their mother in their den box is limited and minimal. This litter is Pumzika’s, first, and The Wilds’ animal management team notes that she is providing great care to her cubs. Cumberland, OH – The Wilds welcomed a litter of six cheetah cubs born at the conservation facility on October 30 to mother, Pumzika, and father, Finnick.

[marinebiologyfacts]

Hiya, I just wanted to ask, what are you thoughts on parks such as Sea World that use marine mammals in their shows?! Also if any attacks by Killer whales do show that they shouldn't be kept in captivity? I'm very curious on the matter and want to know different perspectives. Many thanks!! ☺

So I’ve actually answered a question like this before, you can check it out here: https://marinebiologyfacts.tumblr.com/post/163865591058/i-dont-know-if-youve-been-asked-this-before-but#notes

Please read that post before you read on.

First of all I am by no means an expert on this issue so take what I say with a grain of salt.  Sea World is an AZA accredited facility and as such have to maintain a high level of care to stay in the AZA. That being said I’m honestly not sure we have the capabilities or the technology to keep Orcas in captivity, but then again I don’t know much about their needs. However, I’m not sure anyone really knows 100% about what Orcas need to thrive in captivity the way many other captive animals do. It’s kind of a double edged sword because we’ve also learned much more about these animals from the ones in captivity, and have increased the quality of their care exponentially. We also now have a better idea on how to preserve wild populations. Another issue many people have has to do with wild caught animals and Sea World no longer take Orcas from the wild they have a breeding program.

As for the attacks, part of that is human error. We see these animals and becasue they are intelligent, we see ourselves in them and personify them to a dangerous degree, we see them as cute instead of potentially dangerous. People think they can form some kind of special bond with them, and in some cases that’s true to a degree, but at the end of the day these are wild animals and need to be treated as such. One woman in 2010 who was killed was killed after a show, this was a whale that was known to be problematic, and she was too close to the side of  the pool. You can read more about it here if you want. When aquariums (and zoos) keep any large potentially dangerous animals, there are safety protocols in place. Accidents still happen, deaths still happen. Usually it’s a fluke or plain old carelessness.

While Sea World has it’s issues, they’ve come a long way and are getting better and better with their care and practices as they learn more about the animals they keep. No matter how good they get, it’s important to remember that there’s always room for improvement.

[ezatluba]

This endangered Amur tiger (also known as a Siberian tiger) was photographed at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Program for the

ANIMALS

Key facts that 'Tiger King' missed about captive tigers

By focusing on its larger-than-life characters, the popular Netflix docuseries leaves out important information on big cats.

BY RACHAEL BALE

APRIL 1, 2020

Netflix’s recent documentary miniseries Tiger King has wild animals, ex-felons, a brief presidential campaign, polygamy, a murder-for-hire plot, and a huge cast of eccentric characters. It follows Joseph Maldonado-Passage, better known as “Joe Exotic,” the owner of Oklahoma’s Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, which was, in its heyday, a prominent cub-petting, tiger-breeding operation and private zoo. Now Maldonado-Passage is serving 22 years in prison for plotting to have a critic murdered, killing five tigers, and illegally selling tigers across state lines.

Captive tigers in the U.S. outnumber those in the wild. It's a problem.

'Tiger King' sentenced to 22 years for violence against tigers and people

Tips for ethical animal encounters

Because the series is character-driven, it doesn’t spend a lot of time on the animal welfare and trade issues that surround the captive-tiger breeding industry. Exotic pets, captive wildlife, the illegal wildlife trade, and even Joe Exotic are topics National Geographic routinely covers, so here’s some contextual information.

Is tiger breeding conservation?

Some private tiger breeders argue that they’re helping shore up tigers, which are endangered in the wild. But their cats will never be released into the wild, both because they wouldn’t know how to fend for themselves and because of their genetics. There are multiple subspecies of tigers in the wild, each adapted to live in a certain part of the world. A Bengal tiger is not a Siberian tiger is not a Sumatran tiger. Most privately owned tigers in the U.S. are of mixed or unknown lineage and therefore are excluded from participating in captive-breeding efforts at accredited zoos and institutions that seek to preserve the subspecies.

What makes a good sanctuary or zoo?

According to the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, an accrediting organization, a true sanctuary exists to provide lifetime care to animals that have been abused, neglected, discarded, or are otherwise in need of help. A true sanctuary does not breed or allow hands-on interactions with animals, and it maintains high standards of care and operation.

Tiger and liger cubs—born from a male lion and female tiger—pose at Myrtle Beach Safari, in South Carolina, owned by Bhagavan “Doc” Antle. Young cubs are a big part of the business. At about 12 weeks old, cubs are considered too big and dangerous for tourists to pet.

For zoos in the U.S., accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums requires facilities to go above and beyond the basic requirements set by the government in terms of animal health, welfare, guest education, safety, recordkeeping, and more. Conservation is typically promoted as an important part of a zoo’s mission. (Many other countries have accrediting organizations too.)

“Pseudo-sanctuaries” and “roadside zoos” are loose terms that describe unaccredited facilities with low, or at least problematic, standards of operation and care.

What’s the deal with cub petting?

It’s easy to understand the impulse to want to play with an adorable tiger cub. But did you ever wonder why a facility seems to always have them? Or what happens when they’re not cute and tiny anymore?

Cub-petting facilities often speed-breed their tigers so there’s a constant supply, National Geographic reported in December. As soon as a litter is born, the cubs are removed from the mother, making her go into heat sooner so she can breed again.

An endangered Sumatran tiger watches over her playful cubs at Zoo Atlanta.

Interacting with humans is also stressful for cubs. They’re very young; they’re not with their mother; and they’re being passed around amid bright lights, noise, and milling people that, to their tiny selves, could be predators.

Cubs are only economically (and legally) useful for a short time—eight weeks to 12 weeks old. They quickly get too dangerous to interact with visitors. They may become breeders themselves, or go on exhibit. There’s evidence that some are killed.

What's up with the ligers?

Cross-bred species abound in private zoos and menageries. In the wild, lion-tiger hybrids such as ligers and tigons don’t exist. In fact, the lions and tigers live in separate parts of the world. Cross-breeding species can cause genetic defects and health problems, according to Luke Hunter, a big cat scientist and conservationist, who talked to National Geographic in 2017 about big cat hybrids.

White tigers aren’t hybrids, but they’re not exactly natural, either—at least, not in the numbers we see in captivity. They’re simply tigers with white fur, and they’re rarely found in the wild. Intensive inbreeding to create and sell white tigers over the years means some suffer congenital defects that require lifetime care, wrote AZA CEO Dan Ashe in a recent post.

How can I tell if the tigers are well cared for?

If you’re thinking about visiting a sanctuary or zoo, here are some tips to help you identify ethical and responsible places. Tigers are big, nocturnal, solitary animals, and that means they have some special needs in captivity, according to graduate research by Leigh Pitsko, now at Smithsonian’s National Zoo. They need space to exercise, and they shouldn’t be crowded with other tigers. They need a place to hide if they’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by human visitors, and they should always have access to shade and water. Toys, activities, and climbing equipment are important for keeping tigers’ brains active, and enclosures with natural flooring substances, not concrete, are important not only for the health of their feet and skin but also for their well-being. The more natural their enclosure, the better.

To learn more about tigers in the U.S., including the patchwork of laws concerning ownership, the history of why there are so many tigers in the U.S., and the efforts to protect both tigers and humans, check out our December feature.

To see how tigers have been traded across the U.S., check out these maps.

Wildlife Watch is an investigative reporting project between National Geographic Society and National Geographic Partners focusing on wildlife crime and exploitation. Read more Wildlife Watch stories here, and learn more about National Geographic Society’s nonprofit mission at nationalgeographic.org. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to ngwildlife@natgeo.com.

[thatfishchick]

Fun fact : AZA members that keep African penguins are often part of the species survival plan. Species survival plans are captive breeding programs that work to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse captive population. This means that, sometimes, zoos and aquariums exchange animals as the needs of the survival plan and the genetics of individual populations.

These penguins are on display at the Georgia Aquarium, but one of their little ladies moved over 800 miles away to live on the Jersey shore at Jenkinson’s Aquarium. Her name is PJ, and she’s a dainty little lady who wears four translucent gold beads on her left wing. Look for her the next time you’re at Jenks!