Gorilla construction underway

Walking into the zoo you might notice some changes around the primate building. The entrance on the Great Ape side has been closed off and a construction fence has gone up around the outdoor gorilla exhibit.

Construction has begun on Gorilla Forest, a new gorilla exhibit that will open in 2013. While still providing the up-close experience that Como Zoo is known for, this new exhibit will expand the outdoor area the gorillas have here at Como as well as providing them a brand new holding area with an off-exhibit day room and give an opportunity to house more than one troop of gorillas.

The dust of construction has just now begun to fly with the demolition phase as the site around the outdoor exhibit is prepared. The pathways have been pulled up and huge piles of soil are being piled up by the construction fence. So far the apes and monkeys appear to be taking it all in stride. Some show a bit of nervousness when the jack-hammering gets too loud, but others are trying to watch what's going on. Hopefully the weather will stay as beautiful as it is right now so the construction crew can make good progress with the new additions to the building before winter.

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And then there were three...

Yesterday we introduced the Grant's Zebras in hopes they will breed. The male Ulysses has watched the two females Thelma and Minnie for a year or two from his exhibit across the visitor path at the hoof stock area as they ran together in a display with the lesser kudu, crowned cranes, and yellow-billed stork. After making some minor changes to the yard to ensure a safe introduction, the three of them were united in the exhibit before the zoo opened for the day. Initially Ulysses was a bit confused as to where he was, then chased Thelma and Minnie around the display to say hello, followed by checking out the display on his own. Now, they are comfortably munching hay as if they'd always been together. Our hope is they will breed within a month or so at which time Ulysses will move back over to his display with the ostrich and the other inhabitants of the female zebras exhibit will get to go out for the season. Keep your fingers crossed for a black and white baby next year!

Sparky Shows Begins This Weekend!

The zoo keepers in the Aquatics building are gearing up for the start of Sparky shows this Summer. Sparky and her trainers will be going on a "zoo hop" this year, pretending to visit a zoo and learning about and mimicing animals such as a kangaroo, crocodile, giraffe and more. Zoo keepers will also be participating in a weekly trash weigh in to see how much trash they produce in a week and see which zoo keeper can produce the least amount of trash. The Sparky show runs every day at 11:30 and on weekends an additional show occurs at 3 PM. Come cheer on Sparky and her trainers!

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