Animal News

Zoo Acquires Young Male Wolf

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has recently become home to a two-year-old male grey wolf (Canis lupus) from the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The Zoo acquired the young wolf to serve as a companion for its lone older female wolf, L.P., also on loan from the Wildlife Science Center.

As pack, or social, animals, it is believed that wolves should be with others of their kind. According to Alan Sironen, the Zoo's Curator of Mammals, the new male wolf was chosen specifically for his personality and is expected to get along well with L.P. and provide companionship. "He has a history of interacting well with his pack-mates and other female wolves in Minnesota, which is why we expect a high level of success here at the Zoo," said Sironen. The young male and L.P. are currently in the introduction process.

The new male has some additional favorable qualities. He has demonstrated a high level of sociability with people. His keepers note he was very quick to train, allowing them to schedule regular feedings and to shift him on and off exhibit easily. His friendly disposition also creates a positive situation if the Zoo were to add wolves to its pack in the future.

As you can see from the photos, the Zoo's new wolf is quite striking in appearance. You can see him on exhibit at Wolf Wilderness in Northern Trek.

Another Masai Giraffe

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a baby Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) on August 10, 2008.

The baby giraffe, a female, is the 41st born at the Zoo since 1959. The new arrival is the fifth offspring for mother "Bridgit," who was born at the Zoo herself in 1993. The baby's father is "Walker," who moved to the Louisville Zoo in June to breed with females there.

As of this writing, the Zoo has six Masai giraffes in its herd, making it one of the largest in the country. The Zoo has another 13 giraffes on loan to other zoos.

For more information, read the news release.

Three's a Charm: Baby Black Howler Monkey

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a third black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) on May 21, 2008. The male infant is on exhibit in the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. He joins his mother, father and two brothers, one born in May 2007, the other in May 2006.

It is another important birth for this New World species according to Alan Sironen, the Zoo's Curator of Mammals. The Population Management Plan for black howler monkeys has recommended the parents as a breeding pair. Father Oz's genetics are unique in the zoo population of black howlers. He was acquired for breeding from the Alexandria Zoo in Louisiana. Mother Springer was born on October 5, 2002 at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Black howler monkeys are native to tropical rainforests of central South America. Second in volume only to the blue whale, black howler monkeys are the loudest animals on earth -- their yells can be heard up to two miles away. They also exhibit sexual dimorphism in coloration: mature males are black while females and young males are blond. The Zoo has also supported black howlers through conservation project grants (2004 grant recipient Dr. Mario Di Bitetti).

Baby Northern Spider Tortoise

On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2008, a Northern spider tortoise hatched at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The young spider tortoise is the second in less than a year for the Zoo and only the fourth of its subspecies (Pyxis arachnoids brygooi) ever to be hatched at a North American zoo. The latest hatching brings to seven the number of Northern spider tortoises living in the Zoo's RainForest and makes its collection of the species one of the two largest in the country. The Zoo also remains the only facility to have successfully hatched the subspecies under artificial light only.

The new hatchling is doing extremely well, weighing less than an ounce and measuring about an inch long, according to Animal Keeper Brad Poynter. So far, the hatchling mostly eats greens, recently trying the leafy top of a strawberry, as well as a dandelion.

Fully grown, Northern spider tortoises measure four to five inches long and weigh less than a pound. From the spiny forests of Madagascar's southern coast, the species recently was given "critically endangered" status because its native habitat is being destroyed.

More information: news release, photos, video

Baby Red Panda

One of the Zoo's newest babies is a male red panda cub born on June 19 to mother Ruth, who is on loan from Knoxville, and father Gordi, who arrived in October 2006 on loan from Buffalo. Gordi had several unsuccessful breeding attempts at other zoos and this is the first offspring for both parents.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's red pandas (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) are the more-endangered of the two red panda subspecies. Because of the Zoo's past success in breeding the other subspecies, the Species Survival Plan coordinator recommended this pair for breeding at the Zoo. Red pandas, who produce litters of one to three cubs, are extremely difficult to breed, with a window of opportunity that lasts 18 to 24 hours once a year in February. In their first season together, the Zoo's pandas have successfully produced an offspring. The cub, weighing in around 700 grams and still lacking the typical red panda coloring, currently spends most of its time in its den but is expected to become more visible in the month of September.

In conjunction with Fox 8, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo held a "My Name Is?" promotion to name the baby red panda. The baby's new name is Tian Tong which means "sweet boy." Thank you to all who voted.

Rhino Birth a Major Success in Zoo's Efforts to Save Rhinos from Extinction

A female black rhino calf was born in the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 11, at the Zoo's Rhino Building. Her arrival is a major success in the Zoo's ongoing breeding and conservation efforts to save the critically endangered black rhino from extinction. The new calf is the third born at the Zoo since 2001, and one of just a few born this year nationwide.

The yet-to-be-named rhino baby is especially significant because she is the first offspring ever sired by male rhino Jimma, who came to the Zoo in 2005 from Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan.

The rhino baby's mother is Inge, who was born in the wilds of South Africa and came to the Zoo in 1997 from Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa. Inge gave birth to all three of the rhinos born at the Zoo, including Kibibi, who was born in 2003 and now tips the scales at about 2,200 pounds. Inge's first offspring, female Azizi, was born in 2000 and now resides at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

Zoo Welcomes Newborn Black Howler Monkey

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) on May 28, 2007. The infant, whose gender is still unknown, can be seen clinging to its mother, Springer, in the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building. They are joined in the exhibit by father Oz and brother Mocoso, born just over one year prior on May 27, 2006.

"It is the second birth for this important breeding pair," notes Alan Sironen, the Zoo's Curator of Mammals, referring to a recommendation from the Population Management Plan for this New World primate species. Because of his unique genetics, the infant's father Oz was acquired for breeding from the Alexandria Zoo in Louisiana where he had been unsuccessful in producing offspring. Mother Springer was born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Black howler monkeys, whose habitats are tropical rainforests of central South America, have egg-shaped resonating chambers in their lower jaws allowing them to make their unique reverberating calls. Their most striking visual characteristic is the difference in coloring between males and females: mature males are black while the young and females are blond (a difference known as sexual dimorphism). The Zoo has also supported black howlers through conservation project grants (2004 grant recipient Dr. Mario Di Bitetti).

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Celebrates 40th Giraffe Birth

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo welcomed a healthy Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) calf into the world in January, making her the 40th born at the Zoo since 1959. At 6 feet tall and 160 pounds, the newborn giraffe was one of the biggest ever born at the Zoo. Named "Jada" by her keepers, the calf stood up on her own soon after birth.

With the new arrival, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's African Savanna is now home to seven Masai giraffes, including the baby's mom, Bridgit; father, Walker; and older brother, Mac, who was born at the Zoo in August 2005. Bridgit was born at the Zoo in 1993, and this is her fourth offspring. Walker was born at the San Diego Zoo in 1993 and has now sired 11 offspring.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has one of the largest herds of Masai giraffes in the country and has another 11 on loan to other zoos. It first displayed the species in 1955 and has had incredible success with its giraffe breeding since then with 40 births in less than five decades.

Zoo Welcomes Baby Allen's Swamp Monkey

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo announces the birth of a male Allen's swamp monkey (Cercopithecus nigroviridis) on September 11, 2006. This is the second offspring for mother Fern and father Zongo, both nine years old. The infant spends most of his time clinging to his mother, but has recently begun to venture out. He is learning to climb and balance on his own while Mom keeps a watchful eye on him. He joins his energetic two-year-old brother on exhibit in the Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building.

Native to the Congo and Zaire, Allen's swamp monkeys are currently threatened by hunting and habitat loss. In the wild, they can be found in swamp forests and near rivers. Their diet consists mostly of fruits, vegetables and small invertebrates. Atypical of monkeys, they have no fear of water and will actually dive and swim to find food and to escape predators.