Education Archives | Page 3 of 8

Our White-Headed Buffalo Weaver Breeding Journey

Posted on January 4, 2023January 4, 2024 by socialmedia

The white-headed buffalo weaver is a passerine species of bird that is endemic to east African countries. It resides in savanna/shrub habitat and feeds on a variety of fruits, insects, and seeds. Pairs build elaborate nests made of small sticks and twigs.

White-headed buffalo weavers have been in zoos for more than a century. As of 2021, there were just over 100 birds in 33 AZA-accredited institutions. The first recorded hatch in a zoo was in 1980, and zoo population then grew due to importation and continued breeding successes, reaching a peak of 130 weavers in 2016. Since 2016, the population has been declining due to an aging population and fewer hatches. Recommendations were made to improve husbandry, increase hatches, and increase space in institutions to compensate for the decrease in the population.

In fall 2020, animal care staff paired our buffalo weavers Simon and Edie. White-headed buffalo weavers usually lay 2-3 eggs with a very short gestation period of 12 to 14 days. Although they did begin to breed and lay eggs, none made it to the point of successfully fledging, despite diligent care from the zoo keepers. Simon and Edie simply weren’t providing the parental care a hatchling needed. A call was made to the Species Survival Plan coordinator for white-headed buffalo weavers, who suggested we investigate hand-rearing this species.

Discussions with a curator at a zoo successful in hand-rearing white-headed buffalo weavers were key to our subsequent success, as we adopted many parts of that zoo’s protocol into our own. Virtual meetings allowed our team to ask questions about husbandry techniques and milestones to look for. We re-purposed one of the Animal Health department’s incubators as a chick brooder and ordered a special matting recommended to form a nest cup for raising chicks. Having this network and community available to us was a game changer as we went into uncharted territory.

On October 30, 2022, a chick hatched, and we put the new protocols in motion. Keeper staff monitored parental behavior to determine the right time to pull a newly hatched chick from the parents. As there is no easy way to look directly into the complicated woven weaver nest, observing parental behavior is key.

At 5 grams, this little weaver had a lot of growing to do! A small group of staff tag-teamed feeding the little bird. We shared husbandry techniques and developmental milestones after each feeding, keeping detailed notes.

Using the same small team for each feeding was key to rearing the chick. The chick was fed seven times daily (every two hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for the first 12 days. In November, the chick grew from 6 to 80 grams.

This is an important milestone for Seneca Park Zoo, and we are proud to contribute to bolstering the white-headed buffalo weaver population in AZA zoos.

– Assistant Curator John Adamski

This is an important milestone for Seneca Park Zoo, and we are proud to contribute to bolstering the whiteheaded buffalo weaver population in AZA zoos.

Wildlife Action Crew: Rhinos and Poaching

Posted on November 11, 2022November 11, 2022 by socialmedia

Rhinos are a fascinating species. There are five species of rhinos still walking the Earth today. The five rhinos are the white rhino, black rhino, greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino, and Javan rhino.

The most endangered of the five rhinos is the Javan Rhino. The Javan Rhino inhabits Java, Indonesia. The smallest rhino species is the Sumatran Rhino which weigh 1,870 pounds. The greater one-horned rhino lives in parts of India. They have a singular horn that is not very large. The Sumatran and the Javan rhino have tusks. The black rhino is a browser. This means that they have a prehensile lip that they use to pluck their food. The white rhino is the largest of the rhinos and the second largest land mammal. They are grazers meaning they have a wide mouth with only molars which they use to grind their food down.

All five species of rhinos are endangered. The most endangered is the northern white rhino which is functionally extinct. This is because there are only two of them left and they are both females. The biggest threat to rhinos is illegal poaching. The cause for the massive poaching effort is because the people that poach these rhinos are generally poor. They see rhino horn as a paycheck as the horns generally bring in more money than having a traditional job like farming.

The reason for this is because of the large demand for rhino horn for traditional medicines in China. This medicine has no proven benefit, but many people believe it works. To prevent the illegal poaching of rhinos we need to start educating the people in that area and teach them of the effect illegal poaching has on the future of rhinos.

If you want to help rhinos, you can donate to organizations like the International Rhino Foundation. The money that goes to IRF positively affects rhinos. They do this by funding things like research projects, anti-poaching efforts, and habitat conservation.

Thank you to our Wildlife Action Crew teens for researching and writing this blog along with the other great content shared this week!

Keeper Connection: Why Don’t the Penguins Swim… Or Do They?

Posted on October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 by socialmedia

If you’ve spent any time at the penguin exhibit over the last 20 years or so, you’ve probably asked why our penguins never swim. It is, after all, the number one question asked when it comes to the penguins. But to answer that question would require one to get inside the tiny brain of a penguin. Something we’ve never quite been able to accomplish.

But things have changed in 2022! Guests that have gotten to the Zoo bright and early have been greeted by something long dreamed of by staff and guests alike: A pool full of swimming penguins.

So what has changed? While we have tried a number of tactics over the years, the final solution may ultimately be a combination of factors coming together. It’s also important to note that in conservation care, just like in their natural range, individual penguins take their cues from the rest of the colony. If there is a sense of danger, individuals are less likely to act on their own. In nature, this danger might be a nearby shark or a cape fur seal. In our habitat, the perceived danger may be our guests themselves.

The turnaround may have begun back in 2020, when the Zoo was closed for several months, due to covid. As guests returned, we roped off the area around the penguin glass for guest protection, as it’s a high-touch area. This “buffer zone” seems to have offered a bit of comfort, but again, only the penguins know for sure.

Another factor may be that we’ve started handling our younger birds more, making them more comfortable around their keepers and more trusting of humans, in general. This seems to be reinforced by the fact that they are more likely to swim with a keeper “lifeguard” on duty.

However, the most important move likely came when we brought in 8 new penguins from several other facilities. These penguins were “known swimmers” and did not have the same fears that our colony had developed over the years. Over time, their eagerness to swim has become contagious, first with our younger birds and then to the parents. To date, nearly half of our 34 penguins have been observed swimming with sometimes a dozen at a time.

Now I know that there will be some long-time members who read this with skepticism so we’ve included a little video evidence. My suggestion would be to come out and see them yourself! The best time is when they first come out first thing in the morning at roughly 10 A.M.

Better hurry though, the snow is coming and these are warm-climate penguins!

– Zoo Keeper Kevin Blakely

Ways you can help African penguins:

Adopt a penguin at SANCCOB – Adopt an African penguin or penguin egg that will be rehabilitated and released or adopt a ‘Home Pen’ bird that lives permanently at SANCCOB. Funds help to provide incubation, food, and veterinary treatment.
Donate to SANCCOB – Whether you donate your time or money, you can make a difference in the survival of endangered African penguins and other seabirds in distress. For more information, visit sancob.co.za.
Visit the Zoo to learn more about African penguins and the threats they face in nature through keeper chats, special experiences, and more.
Purchase sustainably sourced seafood – Purchase seafood caught or farmed in ways that support a healthy ocean. Ask your local grocer if they sell sustainable seafood and visit seafoodwatch.org to learn more about eco-friendly options.

Penguin Genetics & Breeding in Conservation Care

Posted on October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 by socialmedia

African penguins are in danger of extinction. Wild colonies along the coast of South Africa and Namibia are being depleted due to overfishing, climate change, and pollution. Seneca Park Zoo currently houses 34 African penguins, and we are doing all we can to ensure proper care, which includes maintaining a successful breeding program.

We participate in the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which involves Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions throughout North America that also have African penguins. Every three years, Institutional Representatives (IR’s) from accredited zoos gather to discuss African penguin populations. These meetings are led by expert advisors, and we all work together to maximize genetic diversity, manage demographic distribution, and long-term sustainability of the population.

The genealogy of each African penguin born in the SSP is known and they are ranked bases on how genetically valuable they are. At these meetings, we use the rankings to decide who would make the best pairings. Sometimes the two penguins are at the same institution, but other times we may need to send birds to other places.

This year the meeting was hosted by Cincinnati Zoo and IR’s from zoos all over came to discuss the 1128 penguins, in 51 AZA accredited institutions. There are currently 600 males, 525 females, and 3 unknown sex.

Before the meeting itself, we are all sent a Wants and Needs Survey, where we talk about if we would like to grow our colony, if we need to move out birds, how many birds we would like to bring in, or if there are any birds that shouldn’t be included in breeding over the next 3 years. Exclusions could be due to things like, medical conditions or age.

Once we arrive at the meeting, it is kind of run like a football draft, and we are all trying to make the best possible matches for our colony based on genetics. We utilize tools such as a MateRx, and this tells us if a paring is genetically valuable or not. The goal for the African penguin SSP is to grow the population to 1503 penguins, which means, we as a group need to hatch 68-74 chicks this year.

When looking at the MateRx 1, 2, & 3 are highly recommended and they would like to see 4 chicks produced from that pair. If a pair is a 4, they can produce up to 2 chicks. If a bird is a 5 or 6, we do not breed. This year we have 2 different pairs that are able to produce 2 chicks each. Here is a sample MateRx, so that you can get an idea of what we reference during the planning period. This has been my second meeting that I have attended, and look forward to assisting the Penguin SSP in the future.

This was a very brief overview, but I hope this answers some of the questions I often get about why we sent a penguin to another zoo, or why we decided to hatch chicks from one pair and not another. Also, did you know there are nearly 500 other SSP’s? That means this process is happening for other species as well. African penguin IR’s will tell you that their SSP is the best though!

– Kellee Wolowitz, Assistant Curator – Carnivores

Ways you can help African penguins:

Adopt a penguin at SANCCOB – Adopt an African penguin or penguin egg that will be rehabilitated and released or adopt a ‘Home Pen’ bird that lives permanently at SANCCOB. Funds help to provide incubation, food, and veterinary treatment.
Donate to SANCCOB – Whether you donate your time or money, you can make a difference in the survival of endangered African penguins and other seabirds in distress. For more information, visit sancob.co.za.
Visit the Zoo to learn more about African penguins and the threats they face in nature through keeper chats, special experiences, and more.
Purchase sustainably sourced seafood – Purchase seafood caught or farmed in ways that support a healthy ocean. Ask your local grocer if they sell sustainable seafood and visit seafoodwatch.org to learn more about eco-friendly options.

Seneca Park Zoo’s Original Seven Penguins

Posted on October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 by socialmedia

In April of 1997, the Rocky Coast Exhibit at the Seneca Park Zoo opened. This brand new, state of the art exhibit displayed habitats for polar bears, California sea lions, reindeer, Arctic fox, and African penguins. This was a very exciting time as it was the first time our Zoo had housed penguins.

A few months prior to the opening of the Rocky Coast we received our first 7 penguins from the Baltimore Zoo. They were all between 1 and 2 years old when they arrived. Their names were Blanca, Sydney, Rollo, Herbie, Newman, Chumly and Rocco.

Blanca is the only penguin that is still living here at the Seneca Park Zoo. He is 26 years old and enjoys spending his days with his mate Twiggy. Blanca and Twiggy are the parents to our most recent chick, Tonka. Throughout the years Blanca has had 8 offspring. These penguins now reside at the Erie Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Denver Zoo, Caldwell Zoo and Seneca Park Zoo. Blanca is adored by all of his keepers. He is sweet and sassy and you never know which one you’re going to get! Blanca always keeps us on our toes!

Blanca

Sydney

Rollo

Herbie

Newman

Chumly

Rocco

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Sydney lived his life at SPZ. He had 4 offspring with his longtime mate, Calista. These penguins reside at Fort Worth Zoo, Lowry Park Zoo and New York Aquarium. Sydney was euthanized in August of 2022. He was a favorite of the keepers for his laid back disposition and is deeply missed.

Rollo is currently 28 years old and resides at the San Diego Zoo. In 2002 he left SPZ for the Toledo Zoo, where he lived until 2012 when he went to the Pueblo Zoo. He has been at the San Diego Zoo since 2017. Rollo did not have any offspring.

Herbie currently resides at Jenkinson’s Aquarium in New Jersey. H is 27 years old and lived at SPZ until 2019. He went to Jenkinson’s Aquarium on a breeding recommendation from the Species Survival Plan. He and his new mate are very genetically valuable but have yet to have any offspring.

Newman lived at the Seneca Park Zoo until 2016 when he passed away at the age of 22. He had no offspring. Chumley and Rocco are also deceased. Chumly went to the Toledo Zoo in 2002 and was euthanized there in 2009. Rocco passed away at the Montgomery Zoo in 2009 where he lived for 4 years after leaving SPZ in 2005. Neither Rocco nor Chumly had any offspring.

Since the opening of the penguin exhibit in 1997, the Seneca Park Zoo has had one of the most successful breeding programs for African Penguins in the nation. 114 penguin chicks have hatched here! And to think it all started with these 7 penguins!!!

– Zoologist Sue Rea

Ways you can help African penguins:

Adopt a penguin at SANCCOB – Adopt an African penguin or penguin egg that will be rehabilitated and released or adopt a ‘Home Pen’ bird that lives permanently at SANCCOB. Funds help to provide incubation, food, and veterinary treatment.
Donate to SANCCOB – Whether you donate your time or money, you can make a difference in the survival of endangered African penguins and other seabirds in distress. For more information, visit sancob.co.za.
Visit the Zoo to learn more about African penguins and the threats they face in nature through keeper chats, special experiences, and more.
Purchase sustainably sourced seafood – Purchase seafood caught or farmed in ways that support a healthy ocean. Ask your local grocer if they sell sustainable seafood and visit seafoodwatch.org to learn more about eco-friendly options.

Seneca Park Zoo Summer Programming

Posted on April 28, 2022May 27, 2025 by tgwadmin

Summer is here and so is our summer programming schedule. Experience animal feedings, enrichments, keeper chats, conservation talks and more and plan a truly memorable Zoo experience. Check out the schedule below (Printable PDF) to see some of what we have in store for you to plan on Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day and reserve your tickets ahead of time here!

Thank you to our Summer Programming Presenting Sponsor:

Invasive Species Education and Reporting

Posted on March 18, 2022October 14, 2022 by tgwadmin

March 18, 2022

Invasive plants and animals are becoming more of an everyday problem with new invasives species emerging every year. With increased awareness of species such as the emerald ash borer, we at the Seneca Park Zoo wanted to know what invasives were in our area or threatening to be here soon. Partnering with Finger Lakes PRISM (Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management), the zoo has been including invasive species into our programming at the zoo, and in our parks in an effort to spread the word about these species that could have large negative effects in our environment.

The Seneca Park Zoo’s Naturalists lead volunteers through our local parks and green spaces to identify and report on the invasives we are seeing, as well as educating the volunteers to find these species on their own. Naturalists lead over 90 volunteers on close to 50 miles of trails in Western New York, specifically in places where invasives surveys have not yet been conducted. When an invasive species was found on these hikes, the species was photographed and reported to an app/website used to collect invasive species locations and information called www.imapinvasives.org. This reporting tool is a great way to notify invasive species managers who will locate and often remove the species you have reported.

The Seneca Park Zoo’s Naturalists and PRISM coordinators hosted two removal events for an invasive species located in the mouth of the Genesee River called water chestnut. This very invasive plant will create large mats of vegetation along the top of a water source, choking out other species, and making the water an unusable habitat for the organisms that rely on it. Over 1,000 pounds of water chestnut was removed from the Genesee River this year and about 600 pounds has been removed annually from the river for the last 5 years.The Seneca Park Zoo will be holding informational webinars and classes on emerging invasive species, such as spotted lanternfly, in 2022. There will also be more identification hikes to monitor our area for new “invasions” of species not seen in the area. For more information on these events visit here. Please join us in the fight against invasive species!

– Dave Will – Lead Zoo Naturalist for Citizen Science

Amur Tiger Katya Blood Draw

Posted on March 9, 2022October 14, 2022 by tgwadmin

March 9, 2022

Tracking the health of our zoo animals is at the forefront of what we do at the Seneca Park Zoo. One of the tools we have to monitor our geriatric animals is routine bloodwork to track trends. These blood values can indicate changes in organ function that the veterinarian can respond to with various treatments. With older animals, the risk of anesthesia to collect samples increases so Zoo Keeper Randi Krieger and Veterinary Technician Robin English began working with our 16-year-old (17 in May!) Amur Tiger, Katya, to try and get a blood sample without anesthesia. After many months of positive reinforcement, they were able to successful collect a blood sample from her tail. This behavior can now be used to track Katya’s health more frequently as she ages.

– Veterinary Technician Robin English

* Banner photo by Wayne Smith

Aquatic Support Systems: Behind-The-Science with our Aquatic Life Support Operators

Posted on January 1, 2022June 7, 2023 by tgwadmin

Aquatic Life Support Systems support polar bear, sea lion, river otter, and penguin pools, as well as eagle pond, sturgeon, hellbender, cichlid and reef tanks. These habitats require management of more than 250,000 gallons of water daily. Supporting aquatic life is something of a hybrid position, combining both animal care and facilities expertise. It requires chemistry, engineering, plumbing, mechanical and zoology knowledge. Our Zoo staff are also extremely adept problem-solvers, regularly troubleshooting and addressing any issues as they arise.

All AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are required to regularly monitor water quality. High quality of water enhances animal health programs, and tests for pH, chemicals, alkalinity, turbidity (clarity of water), and bacteria are done regularly. Seneca Park Zoo uses zero chemicals to treat water, meaning no halogen, bromine, or chlorine. Instead, we rely on sand filtration, mechanical filtration, and oxidation sterilization protocols. Aquatic animal habitats each require specific water quality measures. Sea lion and polar bear pools filter 1,000 gallons per minute and 700 gallons per minute respectively. The sea lion pool requires higher filtration because there are four animals that live in that habitat, whereas Anoki the polar bear takes a dip several times a day.

The Process
Filtration and sterilization begin with mechanical
filters. These giant inline strainers filter out large
particles, waste, and other debris like leaves and
sticks, that fall into the pools. After the water is
strained, it travels through five large pumps, which
pull the water through the system. All water flowing
through the pumps is measured for flow and volume
using special gauges.

Water is then pumped through horizontal sand
filters. Coarse-grained sand and gravel efficiently
remove suspended solids through straining and
absorption. Layers of graded gravel line the bottom
of the tank over networks of drainage pipes, and
over that, the sand.

After the water exits sand filtration, it is then sterilized with ozone. Seneca Park Zoo does not use chemicals for sterilization, partly because of the threats that traditional chemical treatments pose to ecosystems. Ozone is a superior disinfectant and one of the strongest oxidants, it is often used in drinking water supplies and air purification settings. The Zoo generates and contacts ozone on site, requiring specific knowledge and systems support for these complex processes.

Once water is contacted with ozone, it is then passed through a cyclonic separator that spins the water, followed by a heat source, removing the ozone completely

Polar bear water heads directly to the habitat. However, before making its way back into the sea lion habitat pool, water may be chilled. Sea lions require water temperature below 68 degrees or else it may be harmful to them. While not necessary in cooler months, water must be cooled during summers, and it is passed through a 55-ton chiller. This whole process takes seconds and is supported by hours and hours of hard work by our Aquatic
Life Support team. The next time you’re in Rocky Coast Gallery, know that just under your feet, systems and dedicated staff are working around the clock to ensure the best possible environments for the animals in our care.

Luke Hawley - Supervisor of Life Support Systems/Facilities
Adam Melinis - Assistant Life Support Operator

Holiday Recycling With the Zoo

Posted on December 22, 2021October 14, 2022 by tgwadmin

Holiday Recycling Tips & Guidelines

The holiday season can not only be a source of joy but also a large source of trash! In the months between November and February, Monroe County residents generate the highest amount of trash and recyclables of the year due to high consumerism. When we are shopping for, wrapping, and unwrapping gifts, we should be aware of what materials we are using and how we are disposing of our trash and recyclables. The more materials we recycle and dispose of correctly the less plastic and other pollutants end up in our green spaces and water ways.

The Seneca Park Zoo Society has been focused on removing trash from these areas with help from local volunteers with our Community Cleanup program. Since 2017, hundreds of volunteers have removed over 10,000 lbs. of trash from all over the Rochester area, not only removing the trash but reporting on what items are found to get a better understanding of what items are most impactful.

The first Community Cleanup of 2022 will be New Year’s Day at Turning Point Park. This will be a great chance to start the year off right and give back to our environment by helping to remove trash in a park that borders the Genesee River. Large groups and people of all ages are welcome!

If you would like to join us, stay tuned for more in 2022. Check out some of the recycling tips provided by Monroe County’s Department of Environmental Services for some great ways to improve your personal sustainability this holiday season. By working together we can all help to make Rochester a greener, cleaner place!

– Dave Will, Lead Zoo Naturalist for Citizen Science

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Category: Education

Our White-Headed Buffalo Weaver Breeding Journey

This is an important milestone for Seneca Park Zoo, and we are proud to contribute to bolstering the whiteheaded buffalo weaver population in AZA zoos.

Wildlife Action Crew: Rhinos and Poaching

Thank you to our Wildlife Action Crew teens for researching and writing this blog along with the other great content shared this week!

Keeper Connection: Why Don’t the Penguins Swim… Or Do They?

Ways you can help African penguins:

Penguin Genetics & Breeding in Conservation Care

Ways you can help African penguins:

Seneca Park Zoo’s Original Seven Penguins

Ways you can help African penguins:

Seneca Park Zoo Summer Programming

Thank you to our Summer Programming Presenting Sponsor:

Invasive Species Education and Reporting

Amur Tiger Katya Blood Draw

Aquatic Support Systems: Behind-The-Science with our Aquatic Life Support Operators

Luke Hawley - Supervisor of Life Support Systems/Facilities
Adam Melinis - Assistant Life Support Operator

Holiday Recycling With the Zoo

Holiday Recycling Tips & Guidelines

This is an important milestone for Seneca Park Zoo, and we are proud to contribute to bolstering the whiteheaded buffalo weaver population in AZA zoos.

Thank you to our Wildlife Action Crew teens for researching and writing this blog along with the other great content shared this week!

Ways you can help African penguins:

Ways you can help African penguins:

Ways you can help African penguins:

Thank you to our Summer Programming Presenting Sponsor:

Luke Hawley - Supervisor of Life Support Systems/Facilities Adam Melinis - Assistant Life Support Operator

Holiday Recycling Tips & Guidelines

Luke Hawley - Supervisor of Life Support Systems/Facilities
Adam Melinis - Assistant Life Support Operator