Category: Animal News

October 3, 2018

Seneca Park Zoo’s male spotted hyena Lou is 26 years old today, making him the oldest spotted hyena in human care. Lou was born at the Buffalo Zoo on October 3, 1992 and came to the Zoo with his mother, Drek, on July 6, 1999. Seneca Park Zoo’s animal care staff has experience in “elder care” hyena husbandry considering Lou’s age and that his mother Drek lived to be 27 years old. The average life expectancy for spotted hyenas is 22 years in human care, and less in natural range due to trapping, poisoning, and a decline in densities of prey.Lou’s longevity can be attributed to a few factors: good genetics, a low-stress lifestyle, as well as an excellent diet and veterinary care. The secret ingredient that I believe puts him above and beyond average health is the attention and care he receives from the entire Zoo staff. Every day Lou has positive reinforcement training. This form of training helps Lou develop strong relationships with his caregivers. This bond allows us to medically care for animals here at the Zoo because the animals choose to take part in their own health care.

Lou’s training is an enjoyable experience for him where he gets many meat treats and lots of praise. And we always make sure it’s fun. He even spins in excitement before, during, and after his training sessions. If Lou does something wrong during training, we won’t acknowledge it. We only acknowledge the behavior we want Lou to repeat, therefore calm behavior is the only behavior he displays.His favorite enrichment item is his straw bed. I feel myself relax when I see Lou lying on his side with the bright sun warming his body. The wind blows the soft tuft of hair on the top of his head and I know he is having a good day. During your next visit, spend time with Lou to see what a content hyena looks like.

Every day is a gift. We treat each day as one with Lou!

– Mary Ellen Ostrander, Zoologist

September 20, 2018

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Seneca Park Zoo officials announced Wednesday the return of female polar bear Anoki to Seneca Park Zoo. Anoki was born at the Zoo to parents Aurora and Yukon in 1996.

Anoki left Seneca Park Zoo in 1998 to go to Albuquerque Biological Park. In 2008, she moved to the Maryland Zoo where she quickly became a guest favorite. Seneca Park Zoo has been home to polar bears for over 55 years. The Zoo has been without a polar bear since April, when Aurora died of natural age-related causes. The return of Anoki was determined through discussions with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which manages populations of animals in conservation care.

Check out the local news coverage below!

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WHAM: Polar bear ‘Anoki’ returns to Seneca Park Zoo

WROC: Polar bear Anoki returns home to Seneca Park Zoo

WXXI: Polar bear ‘Anoki’ to make a return to Rochester

Democrat & Chronicle: A polar bear born at Seneca Park Zoo in 1996 is coming back

Rochester Business Journal: Polar bear native returns to Seneca Park Zoo

WBNG: Polar bear born at NY zoo in 1996 returns to birthplaceRead the Official Press ReleasePlan Your Next Visit

August 14, 2018

Monroe County is committed to providing the best care possible for the animals at Seneca Park Zoo. This year, that commitment was manifested in a dramatic upgrade of the Animal Hospital’s diagnostic imaging capability. In May, the antique radiograph machine, dating to the 1970s and designed for use on humans, was replaced by a new, state-of-the-art digital veterinary machine. The system replaces traditional film processing that required a dark room and chemicals with computer generated images. This technology allows us to obtain higher-quality, more diagnostic images almost instantly, and positions us well for providing excellent veterinary care for our existing animals as well as new species being added with the Animals of the Savanna and the eventual tropics complex. The new table top has a capacity of 600 lbs. and floats in four directions to accommodate a lion, tiger, or adult orangutan. With our aging elephants and new large animals like giraffe and zebra coming to the Zoo, one of the best features of the new system is portability. The new digital interface communicates with our existing mobile x-ray unit, so we are able to obtain digital radiographs anywhere in the Zoo.We have already been able to put this new technology to great use. For example, you may know that elephants actually walk on their tiptoes. Over a lifetime, 8,000 lbs. on tiptoes catches up with elephants who are prone to a variety of foot problems. We’ve been able to obtain incredible images of our senior elephants’ feet to monitor signs of arthritis or other degenerative foot problems that may occur as they age.

We have also used the tabletop system as a screening tool for the animals who have come to the hospital recently for their annual health assessments or pre-shipment exams. No radiographic abnormalities were noted in Kaba the snow leopard and Katya the Amur tiger as well as many smaller animals like our nicobar pigeons and spotted turtles.Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo’s support for our Zoo has been essential in helping us acquire these new technologies. As a result of her personal involvement, including visiting the Animal Hospital to see the equipment in action, the 2019 Monroe County budget will continue investing in the Zoo’s veterinary care program through the purchase of new ultrasound and anesthetic equipment. County Executive Dinolfo’s commitment to animal care at our Zoo means that we can continue to provide state-of-the-art healthcare to our Zoo animals, and because our Animal Hospital is open to the public, it means we can share better stories with our community. The digital system allows us to connect with our guests to more effectively teach them about animal anatomy, physiology, and veterinary care.

Be sure to stop by the Animal Hospital at your next Zoo visit to see our new digital radiograph machine!– Dr. Louis DiVincent, Assistant Director – Animal Care and Conservation

(Featured image at top: Male snow leopard Kaba’s thorax or chest. You can see his spine, ribs, heart and the great vessels as well as amazing detail throughout his lungs)

July 11, 2018

This spring, we welcomed red pandas to Seneca Park Zoo with the opening of the new Cold Asia area. Red pandas are small mammals with thick, reddish fur and long, bushy dark-ringed tails. Previously classified into the raccoon family, Procyonidae, red pandas are now in their own family, Ailuridae. They’re found in the very high altitudes of the Himalaya Mountains where the climate is temperate and cool. Their main diet consists primarily of bamboo leaves and shoots. The average life span of the red panda is 8-10 years in nature, compared to 10-12 years in human care. One of their most unique adaptations is a modified wrist bone that allows them to grasp food and climb down trees head first.Red pandas are the original pandas and were discovered long before giant pandas were. They share the same name because panda translates to the Nepali word for ‘bamboo eater’, which is the primary food source for both species.

Giant pandas are part of the bear family, are much larger in size, and are more dangerous than red pandas. With red pandas, zoo keepers can generally share the same space with them, while taking care to keep us both safe. Keeper staff is trained to read their behavior, and how to move around them in a safe manner.Seneca Park Zoo is home to two red pandas, a four-year-old male named Blaze and a one-year-old female named Starlight. Blaze was born on July 19, 2013 and Starlight was born on June 17, 2017. Blaze is lighter and more orange in color, and has longer whiskers and ear fur. Starlight on the other hand is darker and redder in color, and has shorter whiskers and ear fur. Blaze is shyer and tends to keep to himself, while Starlight is young, bold, and unusually curious.

Blaze’s favorite thing to do is take a long nap in a nice, quiet place way up high. Starlight moves about more, and is fascinated with her keepers’ shoes. Their favorite enrichment includes sod and new logs, while their preferred treats are all kinds of grapes, apples, pears, and blueberries.Red pandas are very elusive creatures that are extremely difficult to spot in their natural range. While it’s much easier to see them at zoos, it’s not without some inherent challenges. Red pandas are adapted to living in very cold climates, so the best season to see them outside will be in the winter, which is also when they’ll be the most active. In the meantime, the best days to visit the red pandas at the Zoo are when it’s cool and cloudy. Red pandas are most active at dawn and dusk, so planning your trip for before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. will give you the best chances of seeing them exploring their outdoor area.

Midday is nap time, at which point Blaze and Starlight take turns at going in and out. We encourage you to stop by their habitat a few times during your visit or hang out by their area for a bit longer than normal to increase your chances of seeing them. When the red pandas are visible, the best way to keep them that way is to quietly observe and admire them. They are very sensitive to quick movements and loud noises. This will help them adjust to their new surroundings a lot quicker. Although they are getting more and more comfortable with their environment each day, this is the first time they’re living in an open-air habitat. We thank you for your support, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do!– Heidi Beifus, Zoo Keeper

(Featured image: L-R; Blaze and Starlight)

May 24, 2018

When I was asked to write a blog to honor Lilac’s 40th birthday, I thought to myself, “How can I put into words how remarkable Lilac is?”; “How can I express what a special elephant she is and how much she means to me?” It isn’t going to be easy, but I’ll do my best.Lilac has been a guest favorite at Seneca Park Zoo since her arrival in 1979, when she was approximately a year and a half old. Lilac is the smallest of our four female African elephants, weighing in at 7,200 pounds. What she lacks in size she most certainly makes up for in personality! Her small stature allows her to be quick and agile, which helps in her role as the herd’s matriarch. Lilac is always full of surprises and she likes to keep her trainers guessing. Just when you think you’ve got her figured out she does something unexpected! There is never a dull moment with Lilac – she has a spunky personality!

Zoo keepers try not to have favorites when it comes to the animals under their care, but I must admit that Lilac holds a special place in my heart. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with her for the last 20 years. My time spent with her has truly enriched my life and I can only hope that I have had a positive impact on her life. She has taught me so much – patience, perseverance, and trust, just to name a few.  I am so thankful for the bond that we share.During your next trip to the Zoo, be sure to visit Lilac in A Step into Africa. Her beauty and wonderful personality may inspire you to take action for her counterparts in natural range. It’s estimated that 96 elephants are poached each day in Africa for their ivory. With your help, we can continue making strides toward decreasing that number. If you want to support efforts that will help save this species from extinction, attend one of our ZooBrew events this summer. A portion of every ticket sold goes to the International Elephant Foundation (IEF), a long-standing conservation partner of the Seneca Park Zoo Society that is dedicated to saving elephants and their habitats worldwide.– Sue Rea, ZoologistPhotos courtesy of Sue Rea

May 14, 2018

When Seneca Park Zoo’s oldest resident arrived in Rochester, Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States and a gallon of gasoline cost just 34 cents. Can you guess who it is and when she arrived?

Believe it or not, Gertrude, one of two king vultures at Seneca Park Zoo (see featured image above; photo by Marie Kraus), was born in 1966 and arrived at the Zoo in 1968. According to statistics provided by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), king vultures have a life expectancy of 29 years. At 50 years old, Gertrude is 10 years older than 40-year-old African elephant Genny C, who herself is two years past the life expectancy of African elephants in zoos. And, she is nearly two times older than 26-year-old Lou, everyone’s favorite spotted hyena, who is the oldest hyena ever in conservation care.A lifetime of excellent nutrition, veterinary care, and mental stimulation means our Zoo animals are living longer than ever before. Since we commit to each animal for its lifetime, this longevity means that we have to consider the senior needs of many of our animals in novel ways. For example, Lucy, our spider monkey, has experienced significant tooth wear over the course of her 43-year life, so we cut her food into very small pieces and soften her biscuits to make sure she can eat properly. Genny C, Lou, and Katya, our 13-year-old Amur tiger, all receive a joint supplement each day to help them maintain healthy joints and cartilage as they age. Physical and mental stimulation are also critically important as animals age. In the winter, you might find our elephant keepers jogging around the barn to keep the elephants moving. In the spring and summer, you may have seen Lou the hyena in action playing fetch and doing other behaviors with a zoo keeper. These interactions not only provide Lou with important physical therapy, but mental stimulation in the form of problem solving and cognition as well.

These little things mean our animals live comfortably into their golden years. While definitely a good thing, it also means that we see diseases related to old age that don’t often occur in the natural range. The most common condition is arthritis, a disease many older people have that causes joint pain. Several of our African penguins, including 24-year-old Fred and 23-year-old Herbie, receive meloxicam, an anti-inflammatory drug, and tramadol, a pain medication, in their fish to keep them comfortable.

Because older animals would become prey or die of poor nutrition in their natural range, we also see diseases like cancer, heart disease, and kidney and liver disease as our animals exceed their normal life expectancies. When these diseases occur, keepers, managers, and veterinary staff all work together to pursue treatment options and to carefully evaluate the animal’s quality of life. When we can no longer keep an animal comfortable, euthanasia is considered only after all treatment options have been explored. It is never an easy decision, but is one that we make as a team of caregivers dedicated to providing the best quality of life we can.

Look forward to seeing many of our senior ambassadors at the Zoo!– Dr. Louis DiVincenti, Director of Animal Health and Conservation

March 22, 2018

If you’re visiting with Seneca Park Zoo’s bald eagles, snow goose, snowy owl or sandhill cranes, you may wonder, “What keeps those birds from flying away?” It’s a common question. These birds live in open-air habitats with no barriers to keep them from flying away. So why do they stay?

The story behind each bird is a little different but they all came to Seneca Park Zoo as rehabilitated birds. These birds all sustained injuries that prevent them from surviving on their own in their natural ranges. Wildlife bird rehabilitators initially received these birds and nursed them back to health. The birds are all tested for their ability to take and sustain flight. If they can fly well, they are released. Those that aren’t able to fly normally will have trouble finding food and avoiding predators. Once it is determined that they are non-releasable, the search for a permanent home begins. That’s where we come in.Maverick, one of the Zoo’s two bald eagles, came to us from a rehabilitation center in Florida. Maverick was brought to the rehab facility with a wing fracture. The origin of this injury is unknown. Veterinary staff recommended amputation of the distal part of his wing and Maverick was transferred to Seneca Park Zoo in September of 2016.

Abe, the older of the bald eagles, arrived from Washington State in April of 1999. He was found by a game agent after breaking the tip of his wing on a tree branch during flight. The veterinary hospital where he was taken was unable to repair the injury and had to amputate the end of his wing. Abe came to us shortly after and has resided here for the past 19 years.Both eagles can move around their exhibit with ease and can often be seen on the higher perches. Staff makes sure they have lots of “steps” available to get them where they want to go.

Living alongside the eagles is a female snow goose. She was found here in upstate New York by a local rehabilitator with a broken and disfigured wing tip. The cause of her injury is unknown but veterinary staff at Seneca Park Zoo made the decision to amputate part of her wing shortly after arrival.The snowy owl, Winter, was found in South Dakota with a compound fracture of her wing in 2011. A portion of her wing was amputated and she was transferred here in 2012. Unlike the eagles, Winter is a little bit more vulnerable to injuries from wild animals so keepers secure her at night into the indoor area of her habitat. She even knows when it is time to head indoors. Keepers bring her food and she meets them inside.The sandhill cranes arrived together from Florida in 2011. The female crane has a broken bill while the male has an amputated wing. Neither would be able to survive on their own. To help with our cold winters, the cranes have a heated indoor area that keeps them nice and warm.– Robin English, Veterinarian Technician

March 18, 2018

With old habitats closing and new habitats opening, quite a few of our animals are traveling this spring! There is a lot of preparation involved in sending an animal from one zoo to another. The whole process usually starts with a recommendation by the Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort among accredited zoos to maintain the genetic diversity of species in conservation care consistent with the needs of each zoo. When we receive a recommendation to move an animal, Garrett Caulkins, Zoo Registrar, contacts the other zoo to share important information about that animal, like diet and medical history.Their veterinarian and I discuss the animal’s health and determine what we need to do to make sure that animal is healthy enough to travel. We also want to ensure that the animal has no diseases or parasites that might be spread to the other animals at the Zoo. Usually, what we call a pre-shipment examination is performed – it’s just a fancy way of saying the veterinarian does a good check-up on the animal before the shipment. This way, the health of each animal coming into the Zoo is well-characterized before it arrives, so we don’t have to address it immediately. This allows time for the animal to acclimate to its new home. During the pre-shipment exam, we listen to the animal’s heart and lungs, obtain fecal and blood samples, take radiographs, update vaccinations, and perform any other screening tests specific to the species. For example, for primates, we might do a tuberculous test under the skin just like a person might have done. Once all the test results are available and the animal is fit for travel, moving arrangements are made.Many times, a familiar keeper will travel with the animal to its new home to make sure the journey is safe and to help make the transition smoother. After arrival, depending on the animal, it may be housed in the Zoo hospital for quarantine or in its habitat if the animal has special needs. For example, our new giraffe will be quarantined once they arrive in their new habitat in A Step into Africa. We are very sensitive to animal welfare, so our goal is to get any new animals into their new home and comfortable living with any new companions as quickly as possible. For the first month or so, we monitor the animal closely every day to make sure that they are eating normally and integrating into their habitat, social group, and routine. Our keepers, curators, and vet staff all work together through issues like introducing the animal to the existing group or letting it into a new habitat space for the first time. As a result of our thorough planning, preventive health program, and concern for animal welfare, most animals make the transition really well!– Dr. Louis DiVincenti, Director of Animal Health and Conservation

November 7, 2017

It’s a special day at Seneca Park Zoo as one of the Zoo’s four African elephants, Genny C, is 40 years old. Genny C arrived with Lilac in 1979 and has been a favorite among Zoo guests and staff for over three decades. Her beauty and wonderful personality have made it hard not to fall in love with her.

Genny C loves her time with her keepers, especially bath time. Genny C knows over 70 different behaviors, which help keepers and veterinary staff monitor her health. Her favorite reward is a bagel! Genny C and Lilac have spent most of their lives with one another, so the duo are seen together quite often. Genny C always has something to say. If you listen closely, you will likely hear her making some sort of noise.Since Genny C enjoys spending time with her keepers, she has been involved in many research projects that have helped researchers learn more about elephants in conservation care and in their natural range. Some of these include ground breaking work understanding infra-sound (below human hearing) communication among elephants and a multi-institutional study of elephant reproductive cycles. Genny C’s trust in her keepers has also allowed the Zoo to bring in other elephant professionals and zoo veterinarians to learn from her.

Genny C is in good health and weighs in at a healthy 8,214 lbs.! We fully expect her to be with us for many more years.During your next trip to the Zoo, be sure to visit the elephant habitat and spend some time with Genny C She may just inspire you to take action for African elephants. If you want to support efforts that help save this species from extinction, attend a ZooBrew (or ZooBrrrew in the winter). A portion of every ticket goes to International Elephant Foundation. It is estimated that 96 elephants are poached each day, but with your help, we can continue making strides towards decreasing that number.– Lindsay Brinda, Elephant Manager

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