Transitioning animals at the Zoo

October 23, 2017

Signs of change are all over the Zoo.  Guests are seeing the foundation of the new snow leopard and red panda habitats starting to take shape.  And a peek through the fencing by the elephant barn will show the exciting progress on the expansion of A Step into Africa that will open next summer.

Our Zoo curator is busy at working planning for and identifying the animals that will be coming to the Zoo next year, including red pandas, giraffes, zebras and much, much more.Likewise, he’s busy at work finding homes for the animals in the Main Zoo Building.  While some of the animals will move to the new Animals of the Savanna building next summer, many animals will go to other zoos, either permanently or temporarily, as the building will be demolished in 2018 to pave the way for a modern tropics complex in a few years.

Some of our first moves are underway.  Janice, the female sloth, will soon move to Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, MO.  And Lookout, the meerkat has departed to be with a companion at Zoo Boise, Boise, ID. Neither of these species are slated to return as part of the Master Plan, so we were very happy to find great homes for these animals.Some of the new animals for the future Animals of the Savanna building will be arriving at the Zoo this year, and will be temporarily housed in the Main Building.  Watch as we add some small African species over the coming months. By bringing in new species and individual animals we will be doing our best to ensure a smooth transition to the new habitats being constructed. This will benefit the animal care staff and most importantly, the animals in our care.

Transitioning animals to their new homes is a complex endeavor, so as new homes are identified, we will coordinate with these institutions to plan for these moves. We will be working hard to minimize the impact this will have on our guests, but to ensure you have the opportunity to visit a favorite animal, visit often and be sure to check back regularly to see the progress.– Larry Sorel, Zoo Director

Kumang Turns 40

October 15, 2017

It’s a very special day here at Seneca Park Zoo as we celebrate the life of our female Bornean orangutan Kumang, who turns 40 today.

Kumang has an interesting history, starting with her birth in 1977 at Bellvue Gardens in Manchester, England…a zoo that was in the process of closing at the time.  She, along with several other orangutans and gorillas, were rescued from the facility by Gordon Mills, the manager of singer Tom Jones.  Gordon had a private zoo with many animals and more than enough space for the new additions.Kumang’s mother died when Kumang was only 18 months old, and a young keeper named Jeremy Keeling hand-raised her, then integrated her back into the group of orangutans she arrived with.  Jeremy went on to found a primate rescue center called Monkey World, which has rescued hundreds of primates over the years and is still up and running today.

Gordon Mills donated Kumang and several other orangutans to San Diego Zoo when she was 7. She lived there until 1991, when the Orangutan SSP recommended she be sent to Seneca Park Zoo for breeding with a male named Jiggs.  SSP stands for Species Survival Plan, and in short, they promote cooperation among various institutions to ensure the long-term survival of the species in conservation care.

Bornean orangutans are currently listed as critically endangered by IUCN, with the demand for palm oil the main cause of their population’s decline.  You can learn more about palm oil and how you can help by visiting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s website.At Seneca Park Zoo, Kumang has given birth to 4 offspring: 2 males (Bandar and Datu) and 2 females (Dara and Bella).  She has been no less than a perfect mother to all of them, and we here at Seneca Park Zoo are so very proud of her and her parenting skills. Bandar and Datu have both been fathers to offspring, magnifying Kumang’s impact to the Species Survival Plan.

Happy birthday Kumang, we wish you many more!— Brian Sheets, Zoologist