On June 5, the City of Calgary experienced a significant water emergency which continues today. We’re working very closely with the City of Calgary and Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) to adjust our daily operations to ensure compliance with the Stage 4 City Mandatory Water Restrictions in place, while ensuring the safety, health and well-being of the animals we love and care for.
Here’s how we’re adapting:
We appreciate your understanding as we make these necessary adjustments to support our community.
Indoor Gorilla Habitat: From July 2 until approximately the end of the month, the western lowland gorilla troop will not be viewable in their indoor African Rainforest habitat while work is done on the viewing windows. The troop will be viewable in their outdoor habitat throughout the project (weather and animal participation permitting). The rest of the African Rainforest building will remain open and accessible throughout the project. Thank you for your understanding.
African Savannah Yard: Hartmann’s mountain zebras and ostriches will be off-view until the end of the year while we complete exciting upgrades in the African Savannah Yard, including the construction of a new Savannah Barn for the animals. Our giraffe tower will continue to be viewable throughout the project. Thank you for your understanding.
Bite-Sized
We are excited to announce that our #WICZGorillaBaby has been named ‘Okabe’!
In Nigeria, our partners at the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) are working to help save and protect the Cross River gorilla, one of two subspecies of Critically Endangered western gorillas – the other being western lowland gorillas like Okabe. With a shared goal of helping western gorillas survive and thrive, we reached out to the NCF to ask them to help us find a name that pays homage to the species, the people and the culture where western gorillas are found.
The name ‘Okabe’ (pronounced oh-KAH-beh) means ‘to think’. It is derived from the Boyki language, which has a number of regional dialects and is an important Bendi language spoken by the Boyki people of the northern Cross River State, Nigeria.
Gorilla infant ‘Okabe’
