Remembering Sproing
One of the hardest things we do is say goodbye to the animals we love and care for. Earlier today, we said goodbye to our geriatric, 19-year-old Turkmenian markhor, ‘Sproing’, who had…
Read MoreHartmann’s mountain zebras and ostriches will be off-view from May 31 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.
The Jihad Shibley Rocky Mountain Aviary is presently closed.
Why the closure? It’s nesting season for our owls! Our great grey owls, especially the younger members of our parliament, can become protective of their nests and territory during this time.
To support their natural behaviors and prioritize safety for both our birds and visitors, we’re taking a proactive step by temporarily closing the habitat. Thank you for your understanding.
Penguin Plunge (indoor) will be closed from February 20 through to May 17, 2024, while we complete upgrades to the building’s mechanical system to ensure it is in tip-top shape for the four species that call it home. Penguins will be viewable outdoors only (weather permitting). Thank you for your understanding.
Polar bears ‘Baffin’ and ‘Siku’ will not be viewable in their main habitat on May 16 for a couple of hours beginning at 12:00 p.m. while new mulch is added to their habitat. We thank you for your understanding while we add new substrate to the space for the bears to engage with and explore.
Bite-Sized
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved 20-year-old male mandrill, ‘Yusufu’.
Last month, during their daily morning check, our vigilant Animal Care staff noted a sudden change in Yusufu’s behaviour, accompanied by signs of significant abdominal discomfort. Diagnostic testing under anesthesia by our Animal Health team revealed signs consistent with an acute serious intestinal issue. Based on his deteriorating clinical condition he underwent emergency abdominal surgery which revealed a large portion of his small intestine was significantly compromised and needed to be removed. Though Yusufu remained stable during the procedure, and despite the incredible efforts of the Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team, tragically he passed away during recovery from surgery.
His necropsy revealed previous episodes of abdominal inflammation, significant changes in the removed intestinal segment, and degenerative changes in his heart. Additional information will be confirmed once histology results are available. The median life expectancy for mandrills in human care is 18.3 years.
Yusufu, born at Zoo de Granby in August 2003, became part of the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo family in April 2014, alongside his sister, ‘Layla’. With his larger size and striking colors, Yusufu was easily recognizable and a favourite zoo resident to staff, volunteers, and visitors alike.
Saying goodbye to the animals we love and care for is never easy, especially when the loss is sudden and unexpected. Mandrills are a social species, and our ACHW team has been carefully monitoring Layla’s behaviour while the team works with the AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) to find her a new suitable mandrill for companionship.
We know our community will share in our deep sadness at this news. Yusufu will be greatly missed by staff, volunteers, and our community. Please keep our ACHW team in your thoughts during this difficult time.