Thank You Everyone!

I just wanted to thank everyone who came out to the zoo this long weekend. It was a huge success!

Here’s a quick update on Sandy and Penelope, our white handed gibbons. Previously I wrote about Sandy’s quest for a companion and how we think that Penelope may be just what he is looking for. Well last week we decided to introduce them. Things went well for a first encounter. At first Penelope really didn’t know what to think of Sandy, but as the day came to an end she was playing games with him. As Sandy has been a father before, he knew exactly how to deal with Miss Penelope and her childish hair pulling games. Sandy was a true gentleman, comforting Penelope with a kind arm around her shoulder, hoping that she would spend some relaxing time with him. Unfortunately, because Penelope is so young, she is full of energy. This means that Sandy will have his hands full for a while. He defiantly thinks it is worth the extra effort.

Stefanie

Just In Time For The Long Weekend!

Now that the beautiful weather is upon us, all of our animals are able to stay outside for the summer, including Lexi, our 9 year old female cheetah. This past Monday, Lexi was put outside into her new and improved enclosure in Carnivore Alley. The first thing she did was run to her favorite spot in the grass and sleep in the sun! After she woke up from her cat nap, Lexi was re-energized and amused herself by stalking the nearby chickens. By the end of her first day back outside she had remembered all of her favorite spots to lounge, including on top of her shelter.

Maggie is About to Retire!

In 1989 Maggie the crab-eating macaque was born into the Bowmanville Zoo family where she was hand raised by one of our keepers. Here at the zoo, she was trained to spin a wheel. With her new found talent and great personality Maggie was chosen for a new gig on TSN. The executives decided that they would "do something random" with their show, and they ended up bringing Maggie onto their broadcasts to make Stanley Cup Playoff predictions.

This year it has been announced on TSN that the 2009 playoffs will be the last year Maggie will make predictions for the network. She will be retiring at the end of the 2008-2009 hockey season. Here at the zoo we have made a special retirement villa for her and her two friends. Here she will enjoy basking in the sun and laying in the hammock.

Stefanie

Introducing...................Me

So I have been updating all of you over the past few weeks and I completely forgot to introduce myself. I am the Head Keeper here at Bowmanville Zoo. I have many responsibilities here at the zoo but my favourite is being the baboon trainer. Two years ago I was asked to hand raise a baby male baboon, Sammy. He came to us at two months old and needing a bottle every 4 hours, even at 3 in the morning! I gladly adopted him. We went everywhere together, even to hockey games. Now Sam is in his terrible two's and has integrated himself into the larger adult troop. In this troop are Alf (the dominant male) Tony and Nikki (adult females). I spend many afternoons working with the entire group, learning new behaviours, going for strolls through the zoo, and educating our guests in our Animatheatre.

Stefanie

New Best Friends???

The goal of Bowmanville Zoo is to give our animals the best quality of life possible. In captivity animals can suffer from lack of mental stimulation, obesity and boredom. Here at Bowmanville Zoo our animals are given carefully calculated amounts of food appropriate for their species, and are supplemented with any vitamins and minerals that they need. Along with that, exercise and training are very important components of daily life to maintain maximal health. As animal husbandry and management is our top priority we find new and different ways to stimulate them each day. Today we thought that introducing Jonas to Limba our Asian elephant would be a new and exciting event for both of them. As you can tell by the picture they both were very curious. By the end of their encounter Jonas and Limba have seemed to find a new friend.

Introducing Jonas

Hey everyone!

I thought it was about time for you to meet another one of my favorite animals, Jonas, the Siberian tiger. Jonas came to us last summer as a 3 month old cub. You may even remember having your picture taken with him in our photo opportunity booth last summer. Over the past few months we have watched him rapidly grow into a beautiful tiger. Although he is not fully grown he still expresses all hunting traits of a wild tiger which he manifests in Ontario by, stalking squirrels and chasing birds. His favorite part of the day is when his trainers, Marcel and Niall, take him for a long walk, let him swim in the creek and teach him new behaviors.

Stefanie

EXPEDITION PREDATOR!

As part of your admission this season we have included our newest attraction, EXPEDITION PREDATOR!

Get on board Bowmanville Zoo's antique tram and take a ride through the WILD WOODS where you will come face to face with a lion, tiger, jaguar or wolf. This is a one of a kind experience that allows you to get up close and personal with some of the world's largest predators. As you venture through the Wild Woods you will learn the personal story of each animal, different daily enrichment that we provide for our large predators and much more.

Don't forget we open this weekend, April 25, 2009.

Stefanie

Head Keeper