At Seneca Park Zoo, the animals in our care are active participants in their health care. Through behavioral training, they voluntarily take part in health care procedures, allowing our team to monitor and support their health while minimizing stress.
That training, and the trust behind it, was put to the test on Monday.
When a large tree fell into the baboon habitat, our team had to act quickly to ensure the safety of the baboons, our guests, and our staff. In the middle of an unexpected emergency, something remarkable happened.
The troop looked to the people they knew best.
The two dominant males calmly presented their hips for the sedative injections needed to safely secure the area, responding to cues they had practiced countless times before.
That response wasn’t luck. It wasn’t instinct.
It was trust.
Trust built through years of patience, consistency, and care.
We’re incredibly grateful to Clare Belden, Maggie Kinsella, Morgan Saidian, and our entire animal care team for their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the animals in our care.
The story here isn’t about a fallen tree.
It’s about trust, care, and the extraordinary relationships that make conservation care possible.
Written by Jaiya Astacio, Communications Coordinator.
