WILDLIFE
Scarborough - Canada - July 02 - 2014 - A Blanding's Turtle released back into its natural habiat searches for food in Rouge Valley Park. Ten baby turtles were re-introduced Monday to a pond in eastern Toronto, bolstering the species’ endangered population in what is soon to be one of the largest metropolitan parks in the world.
The Toronto Zoo carried out the reintroduction of the Blanding’s turtle in the surrounding Rouge Park.
“This is the first reintroduction of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area and marks a significant step in 15 years of turtle monitoring and research in the Rouge Valley,” said Bob Johnson, curator of amphibians and reptiles at the Toronto Zoo.
The Blanding’s turtle — primarily found in the southern Great Lakes region — is known for its yellow throat and jaw, and is referred to as the “turtle with the sun under its chin” in some First Nations legends.
In June, a bill was tabled in the House of Commons that would formally establish Rouge Park as an urban national park.
The turtles, which have a life span of about 80 years, have lived in the Rouge Valley area for “hundreds and hundreds of years,” according to the Toronto Zoo’s Adopt-A-Pond co-ordinator Julia Phillips. But before the re-introduction, only six Blanding’s turtles were left in the Rouge Valley wetlands. Increased development around wetlands in Ontario have caused turtle populations to decline by destroying wetland habitats and attracting more predators to the area, such as raccoons.
“This is the first year of a 20-year project,” Mr. Phillips said. “We plan on introducing more turtles, in higher numbers in future years.
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The turtles were hatched from eggs collected from a stable source population in Southern Ontario in 2012, and raised in captivity by the Toronto Zoo. The specific location of the turtles is was not disclosed in order to minimize disturbances and give the animals the best chance for survival.
The Toronto Zoo carried out the reintroduction of the Blanding’s turtle in the surrounding Rouge Park.
“This is the first reintroduction of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area and marks a significant step in 15 years of turtle monitoring and research in the Rouge Valley,” said Bob Johnson, curator of amphibians and reptiles at the Toronto Zoo.
The Blanding’s turtle — primarily found in the southern Great Lakes region — is known for its yellow throat and jaw, and is referred to as the “turtle with the sun under its chin” in some First Nations legends.
In June, a bill was tabled in the House of Commons that would formally establish Rouge Park as an urban national park.
The turtles, which have a life span of about 80 years, have lived in the Rouge Valley area for “hundreds and hundreds of years,” according to the Toronto Zoo’s Adopt-A-Pond co-ordinator Julia Phillips. But before the re-introduction, only six Blanding’s turtles were left in the Rouge Valley wetlands. Increased development around wetlands in Ontario have caused turtle populations to decline by destroying wetland habitats and attracting more predators to the area, such as raccoons.
“This is the first year of a 20-year project,” Mr. Phillips said. “We plan on introducing more turtles, in higher numbers in future years.
Related
- Five things to know about Rouge National Urban Park
- Ontario green energy project could ‘kill, harm and harass’ endangered Blanding's turtle
- Rouge park is one of the most pristine areas in Toronto that provides a natural habitat for the Blanding’s turtle.
The turtles were hatched from eggs collected from a stable source population in Southern Ontario in 2012, and raised in captivity by the Toronto Zoo. The specific location of the turtles is was not disclosed in order to minimize disturbances and give the animals the best chance for survival.
Female Blanding’s turtles lay six to 11 eggs during the spring mating season, with hatchlings emerging in the late summer or early fall. Blanding’s turtle nests are threatened by racoons and skunks, but cooler summer temperatures can result in fewer hatchlings as well.
Parks Canada has been tasked with creating a long-term turtle monitoring plan in the park, while Earth Rangers provided support by building a facility to house the turtle eggs and babies at the Toronto Zoo.
“We will be tracking and monitoring their survival,” said Mr. Phillips. “Blanding’s turtles represent a very good flagship species. If they are doing well it is a good indicator that the wetlands as a whole are doing well.”
Story by Tyler Anderson / National Post
Parks Canada has been tasked with creating a long-term turtle monitoring plan in the park, while Earth Rangers provided support by building a facility to house the turtle eggs and babies at the Toronto Zoo.
“We will be tracking and monitoring their survival,” said Mr. Phillips. “Blanding’s turtles represent a very good flagship species. If they are doing well it is a good indicator that the wetlands as a whole are doing well.”
Story by Tyler Anderson / National Post
Canadian Zoo looks for name for baby gorilla
Toronto - Canada - The Toronto Zoo says it needs helps naming its new baby gorilla. The female Western Lowland Gorilla was born on January 10 to Ngozi and Charles. The three-month-old baby is the 15th gorilla to be sired by Charles and born at the Toronto Zoo since it opened in 1974, zoo officials say.
Names can be submitted online on the zoo's website until April 22 and the winning name will be announced at the end of the month. The zoo says the name should be suitable for a female and African names are desired. The name must also start with the letter "N" in line with the zoo's tradition of naming baby gorillas with the first initial of the mother's name. The baby's older brother Nassir was born in 2009.
The zoo says the new baby is genetically significant for the Western Lowland Gorilla population because they are animals belonging to a critically endangered species. The Toronto Zoo is a longtime partner in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan which focuses on conservation to help prevent extinction.
The zoo says Ngozi likes to rock her baby and that staff and visitors will often find the mother gorilla tenderly gazing at her newborn's face. She has not put the baby down since the day she was born, zoo officials say, and she probably will cuddle her new baby until the little one is ambulatory.
This means Charles has 15 children and who knows how many grandchildren by now.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Toronto Zoo/Corrina Aimers
Names can be submitted online on the zoo's website until April 22 and the winning name will be announced at the end of the month. The zoo says the name should be suitable for a female and African names are desired. The name must also start with the letter "N" in line with the zoo's tradition of naming baby gorillas with the first initial of the mother's name. The baby's older brother Nassir was born in 2009.
The zoo says the new baby is genetically significant for the Western Lowland Gorilla population because they are animals belonging to a critically endangered species. The Toronto Zoo is a longtime partner in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan which focuses on conservation to help prevent extinction.
The zoo says Ngozi likes to rock her baby and that staff and visitors will often find the mother gorilla tenderly gazing at her newborn's face. She has not put the baby down since the day she was born, zoo officials say, and she probably will cuddle her new baby until the little one is ambulatory.
This means Charles has 15 children and who knows how many grandchildren by now.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Toronto Zoo/Corrina Aimers
Polar bear born in the Toronto Zoo
Toronto - Canada - Say hello to Humphrey, one of three cubs who were born in November of 2013 at the Toronto Zoo. His mother gave birth to three cubs but this one is the only survivor of the litter. He is three months old in this video as he reacts to the sensation of cold, wet snow on his paws for the first time. Zoo staff have been raising the cub indoors, nursing it by hand and shooting plenty of adorable videos. We're not sure how he feels about the snow and the so-called "polar vortex" but we would like to think you're hearing oh-so-cute squeals of wonderment and joy.
The cub will be ready for its public debut sometime in the spring. In the meantime, Humphrey has reached some exciting new stages in his development, growing much larger and feeding 5 times a day and from a dish on his own. The staff at the Toronto Zoo say he has an outgoing personality coupled with a voracious appetite.
The zoo also went to the public earlier this year to help name a polar bear cub born in November. More than 14,000 people voted to pick a name from among six offered by the zoo.
The winning name was Humphrey but the zoo also gave the cub an additional Inuit name — Piujuq — meaning "good and nice."
The cub will be ready for its public debut sometime in the spring. In the meantime, Humphrey has reached some exciting new stages in his development, growing much larger and feeding 5 times a day and from a dish on his own. The staff at the Toronto Zoo say he has an outgoing personality coupled with a voracious appetite.
The zoo also went to the public earlier this year to help name a polar bear cub born in November. More than 14,000 people voted to pick a name from among six offered by the zoo.
The winning name was Humphrey but the zoo also gave the cub an additional Inuit name — Piujuq — meaning "good and nice."
Black Bear cubs born at the Oregon Zoo
Awesome foursome
Sumatra tigers enjoying lunch
German zoo's polar bear twins make public debut
Munich - Germany - Two 14-week old polar bear twins and their mother Giovanna explore their enclosure at the Hellabrunn Zoo. The cubs who were born on December 9, 2013 were presented to the public for the first time. The two 14-week-old polar bear twins don't yet have names, but they're already stars. The tiny cubs — one male, one female — were greeted by nearly 100 reporters as they skipped across their enclosure during their first public appearance Wednesday.
The still unnamed cubs were born on December 9 and they made their first outing under the watchful eye of their mother, "Giovanna". Giovanna is only 7 years old so she is a very young mother and everything is excellent," said the zoo's Polar World head, Helmut Kern.
They all live separately from their father Yogi, who was temporarily relocated to Stuttgart zoo earlier this month. Any attempt at a family reunion is deemed risky as adult male polar bears occasionally kill polar bear cubs.
(AP Photo/dpa, Sven Hoppe)
The still unnamed cubs were born on December 9 and they made their first outing under the watchful eye of their mother, "Giovanna". Giovanna is only 7 years old so she is a very young mother and everything is excellent," said the zoo's Polar World head, Helmut Kern.
They all live separately from their father Yogi, who was temporarily relocated to Stuttgart zoo earlier this month. Any attempt at a family reunion is deemed risky as adult male polar bears occasionally kill polar bear cubs.
(AP Photo/dpa, Sven Hoppe)
Gorilla gives birth unexpectedly at Prague zoo
Prague - Poland - It was an unexpected birth that took everyone at the Prague zoo by surprise. Nobody noticed that 24-year-old gorilla Shinda — who is a bit overweight — was pregnant. After several miscarriages, she was expected to remain childless.
Zoo director Miroslav Bobek says, "It seems that a miracle happens from time to time." Bobek says the zookeepers had given up any hope she could get a baby. As the birth on Saturday afternoon was smooth and both mother and newborn have been doing well, visitors have been already allowed to see them. The baby's gender is not yet known.
The gorillas are among the most popular animals at the zoo. .
Adorable baby gorilla raised by humans gets a loving hug from her new mum
This is the heartwarming moment a baby gorilla who has been hand-reared by humans got a loving hug from her new foster mom.
Afia, a Western lowland gorilla, was left fighting for her life after being born by emergency caesarean 10 months ago.
Her real mum, Kera, was too sick to raise Afia and is still battling illness after being treated for severe anaemia following the C-section.
Afia, a Western lowland gorilla, was left fighting for her life after being born by emergency caesarean 10 months ago.
Her real mum, Kera, was too sick to raise Afia and is still battling illness after being treated for severe anaemia following the C-section.
So it was left to keepers at Bristol Zoo to raise Afia until she was well enough to be adopted by a gorilla family of her own. Now, after more than 1,570 bottle feeds, nearly 1,400 nappies and 112 piggy back rides, Afia is no longer being cared for by keepers but is spending 24 hours a day with her new gorilla family. And she has literally been welcomed with open arms by her new mum, who placed a reassuring and comforting hug around her adopted daughter as the pair roamed their home at the Gorilla Island enclosure.
Romina and Afia were initially introduced in October 2015
The process of introducing Afia to her primate family has been a long and delicate one for the keepers, with initial introductions beginning in October when Afia spent time in direct contact with surrogate mother, Romina, for the first time.
Lynsey Bugg, curator of mammals, said: “Since her birth in February, our team has worked tirelessly to hand-rear Afia 24/7 while being mindful to ensure human imprinting was kept to a minimum.
“Our ultimate goal has always been to reunite Afia with her gorilla family, so we all feel immensely proud and relieved to now see her where she belongs."
Lynsey Bugg, curator of mammals, said: “Since her birth in February, our team has worked tirelessly to hand-rear Afia 24/7 while being mindful to ensure human imprinting was kept to a minimum.
“Our ultimate goal has always been to reunite Afia with her gorilla family, so we all feel immensely proud and relieved to now see her where she belongs."
After such an eventful year, it’s wonderful to watch Afia with her new family. We know each of the gorillas so well and are really proud of them all.“This has not only been a huge career highlight for me, but also for my whole team.“We have all learned a lot and celebrated together. This will be a year we will never forget.” Afia will still require milk feeds from her keepers until she is around four years old but she is now fully a part of her new family – just in time for Christmas.
Top pic: SWNS
Top pic: SWNS
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