New Female Amur Tiger Arrives at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Amur tiger Zeya came to us in October 2020 from Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, where she was born on November 25, 2017. She is to be introduced to our male Amur tiger, Thimbu, as part of the Species Survival Plan for this critically endangered species. Introductions are commencing in hopes for tiger cubs in our future!
Rosamond Gifford Zoo Welcomes New Giant Pacific Octopus
A new female Giant Pacific Octopus, Tellaro, went on exhibit on World Octopus Day – October 8 – 2020. She came to us from Canada after our old GPO, Ollie, passed away of old age in the spring. Tellaro is named for a tiny seaside town in Italy that has a special legend about an octopus that saved the town from invasion by pirates.
Learn more about the legend at www.thatsliguria.com/en/tellaro-the-town-of-the-giant-octopus.
Patas Monkey Baby Iniko - First to be Hand Reared "In Troubled Times"
Baby patas monkey Iniko was born at the zoo on June 8, 2020, and unfortunately her mother, Becca, did not survive the birth. Iniko is the first baby patas monkey in North America to be hand-reared, in the care of our General Curator, Dan Meates and his wife, Zookeeper Leisje Meates, with help from our animal care team. Her name means “Born during troubled times” to reflect her birth in a pandemic and the loss of her mother.
Learn more about Iniko’s story at justgiving.com/campaign/Iniko-appeal.
The Golden Girls Arrive at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Four Turkmenian markhor females came to us from the Columbus Zoo to expand our herd of these endangered mountain goats native to Central Asia. They are known as the Golden Girls and their names are, of course, Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia.
Humboldt Penguin Chick Hatches May 22, 2020
Humboldt penguin chick Cuatro hatched at the zoo on May 22, 2020, to parents Hugo and Malia and went on exhibit at Penguin Coast in August. She is the youngest chick in the colony of 31 birds and can be easily spotted as the only penguin with juvenile plumage – her chest is all white and she will not gain the wide black band across it until her first molt takes place sometime in 2021.
Cuatro catching her first snowflakes, December 2020
Snow Leopard Cub Introduced at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Snow leopard cub Marcy was born May 18, 2020, to our female snow leopard, Daania, and her mate, Senge, as part of the Species Survival Plan for critically endangered snow leopards. Marcy’s name was selected via a public naming vote, and she is an apt namesake for New York State’s highest mountain. At 3 weeks old she was diagnosed with Swimmer Syndrome, a condition affecting her hind legs that would have prevented her from walking if not treated successfully.
See the MyZoo Magazine story of how our animal care team helped Marcy overcome this challenge HERE
Amur Tiger Arrives at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Amur tiger Thimbu arrived at the zoo in late December 2019 and went on exhibit in January 2020. Thimbu was one of quadruplet cubs born at the Denver Zoo in 2010. He came to us at age 9 to be paired with a female (see Zeya, above) as part of the Species Survival Plan for Amur tigers, which are critically endangered in their native Far East Russia.
See the MyZoo Magazine story about Thimbu’s trip to Syracuse from Colorado HERE.