The Calgary Zoo is attempting to clear the air after what they say are unfair media reports that call into question the recent sale of Montreal Biodome penguins to the Alberta zoo.
OpenFile Montreal rounded up some of the problems the zoo has had in the past in a blog post published on Saturday:
“The penguins from the Biodome have joined 38 other penguins from five different institutions – including as far away as Edinburgh, Scotland,” she said in a follow-up email to OpenFile Montreal.
The Calgary Zoo opened a new Antarctic exhibit called Penguin Plunge in February where four species of penguins can be found – three of which are considered to have a conservation status of threatened or endangered. Working with the penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP), the zoo bought the penguins for the ultimate purpose of breeding to contribute to the SSP.
“As animals are born – or hatched – in zoos or aquariums, the SSP assists in identifying animals that can move to other zoos or aquariums so that they can in turn be part of a breeding program,” said Skene. “If they remained at the same institution, then in-breeding would result and that is not of course genetically advisable. Being able to participate in breeding, parenting and raising young is of course an important and valuable experience for these animals and part of providing an environment which encourages natural behaviours.”
A CBC Montreal video report claiming that the Calgary Zoo has no resident penguin expert is not entirely correct, says Skene. While the zoo has posted the position of lead keeper with penguin experience since October, they are not without experts on the species.
“In calculating our total penguin experience we include both our management and keeper staff which totals more than 50 years of direct experience working with several different species of penguins,” Skene wrote to the CBC in a reply to their report that she provided to OpenFile Montreal. “These staff members have worked at eight different institutions with penguin exhibits both in North America and Europe. In addition, we have invested more than $20,000 over the last year in sending managers and zookeepers to visit 20 different institutions in North America, Europe and Asia that house penguins in preparation for the opening of Penguin Plunge.”
Photo: pdbreen via Flickr (http://opnfil.es/HOwwxY)
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OpenFile Montreal rounded up some of the problems the zoo has had in the past in a blog post published on Saturday:
“In 2010, a zoo audit found that Calgary Zoo's fatalities included “a baby elephant, a hippo, a wild goat, four gorillas and 41 stingrays” and a capybara crushed in a hydraulic door. Last year a newborn tiger cub also died, and four mule deer died after accidents in their enclosure.”The post led Calgary Zoo’s manager of communication, Laurie Skene, to leave a comment, saying the reports about the zoo are misconstrued. Skene says the media failed to explain the circumstances of the deaths recorded in the audit, noting that the majority of the above animals died from health ailments such as cancer or congenital heart defects that the zoo could do nothing about. Skene says the penguins will be well-taken care of.
“The penguins from the Biodome have joined 38 other penguins from five different institutions – including as far away as Edinburgh, Scotland,” she said in a follow-up email to OpenFile Montreal.
The Calgary Zoo opened a new Antarctic exhibit called Penguin Plunge in February where four species of penguins can be found – three of which are considered to have a conservation status of threatened or endangered. Working with the penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP), the zoo bought the penguins for the ultimate purpose of breeding to contribute to the SSP.
“As animals are born – or hatched – in zoos or aquariums, the SSP assists in identifying animals that can move to other zoos or aquariums so that they can in turn be part of a breeding program,” said Skene. “If they remained at the same institution, then in-breeding would result and that is not of course genetically advisable. Being able to participate in breeding, parenting and raising young is of course an important and valuable experience for these animals and part of providing an environment which encourages natural behaviours.”
A CBC Montreal video report claiming that the Calgary Zoo has no resident penguin expert is not entirely correct, says Skene. While the zoo has posted the position of lead keeper with penguin experience since October, they are not without experts on the species.
“In calculating our total penguin experience we include both our management and keeper staff which totals more than 50 years of direct experience working with several different species of penguins,” Skene wrote to the CBC in a reply to their report that she provided to OpenFile Montreal. “These staff members have worked at eight different institutions with penguin exhibits both in North America and Europe. In addition, we have invested more than $20,000 over the last year in sending managers and zookeepers to visit 20 different institutions in North America, Europe and Asia that house penguins in preparation for the opening of Penguin Plunge.”
Photo: pdbreen via Flickr (http://opnfil.es/HOwwxY)
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