White Oak Conservation Center » White Oak Conservation Center

29-03-2008

Okapikpr, how are the curassows at the centre doing?

I believe you have Blue billed, wattled and helmeted curassows. Are these species breeding on a regular basis?
Do you have any pictures of them?
What are the exhibits like, and do you have any pictures of the exhibits?

I've just read on your site that the wattled curassow, like the yellow knobbed (which I've seen at Antwerp), whistles. Have you got ant clips of these birds whistling, or maybe audio recordings?

If possible, could I use some of this information on my site, as I am doing a page on curassows at the minute, and it is always good to find a zoo that is participating so enthusiastically in these birds, and in conserving their natural environment.

29-03-2008

What ever happened to San Diego's D. b. minor's?

Curassows
30-03-2008

We have a small complex (12 pens) for these semi-large flighted birds. We hold three species Wattled, Blue-billed, and Northern Helmeted. We regularly breed all of the species every year. The captive population is very small for these birds and the founder # is less than 10 (i believe) for all three - not much to work with. We do double-clutch these birds (taking the first clutch to artificially incubate and rear, a second clutch is laid and raised by parents) to jump-start these numbers as high as we can.

The complex is basically a shelter with caging running out the sides, keeper hallway in the center of the shelter. The pens are heavily foilaged with shrubs, grasses, and small trees. Perches are also available. There are five pens along each side of the complex and those side-by-side have guillote doors to allow access to adjoining pen(s).

We have just entered clutching season...so i'm sure there will be more news regarding these birds later this year

Writhedhornbill is sent you a pm regarding your other questions.

30-03-2008

They were sent to Peace River in Winter 2003-04. The breeder male died soon after arrival. The breeding female was sent to Milwaukee in 2006. and their male offspring still resides at Peace River...I assume he was transfered to their new facility in Rum Creek.

02-08-2008

White Oak's NGO partner, Gilman International Conservation has launched its new website:

Gilman International Conservation Foundation

A new White Oak website is in the works.

19-09-2008

I really havent posted many updates of White Oak.

We've had several births this year including Giant Eland, Bongo, Addra Gazelle, Nile Lechwe, Gerenuk, Lesser Kudu, an Okapi calf, MS Sandhill Crane, 4 cassowary chicks, and a litter of cheetahs. We will also be expecting Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Gerenuk, Addra, Giant Eland, Grevy's Zebra, and another Okapi in the next year.

White Oak suffered some damage from Tropical Storm Fay...we continue to clean up from this storm after loosing dozens of trees and much fenceline. And the flood waters finally receded a few weeks ago. We also continue to watch our Red Bay trees die as the range of the invasive Ambrosia Beetle (who burrow into the trees and allow for fungus to invade the tree's core) spreads south from South Carolina.

A male Somali Wild Ass arrived from Marwell this summer and has been introduced to our herd of 0.4 that we acquired last fall from San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Two juvenile Andean Condors (our newest species) arrived last winter and they will temporarily remain at White Oak until their eventual release into the Andes Mountains.

As for the Okapi, our young calf is doing well and growing quickly. We recently finished moving some animals arround to allow for our next round of breeding. I do have another female pregnant that is due this winter.

Last winter our two elderly tigers passed away. We received two young male tigers from a tiger rescue facility in May.

And finally this summer we indentified a bat colony on our property as a rare population of Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat. We have started observations on these bats to provide important data to bat conservationists.

14-11-2008

Gilman International Conservation and White Oak Conservation Center has published its first ever annual report and is available on GIC's website.

http://www.giconline.org/docs/White_..._Final_Web.pdf

15-11-2008

okapikpr,

An impressive and informative annual report. An incredible amount of conservation projects being supported in situ that complement the coop breeding programmes at home. That is the way of the future zoo!

Just one criticism - if you pardon me - I wish GIC would include a annual listing of its animal inventory (including births, deaths, arrivals and transfers). Oh well, hopefully for next time when 2008 is under the hammer!

Cheers,

Jelle

15-11-2008

That's part of White Oak's mystique. Just like the curve ball i'm about to throw at you all. We call it the White Oak Experience!

15-11-2008

Here is an article from nine years ago about White Oak Conservation Center:

Even those who live by White Oak hardly know about it 05/23/99

15-11-2008

Well be prepared ... when I get to the States om my regular travels I will surely stop by and take in the magical nature of the place!

Will pm you later ...!

Jelle

02-12-2008

Some more articles regarding White Oak.

stmarysmagazine.com Blog Blog Archive White Oak Plantation. Where Georgia Meets Florida in Africa.

Amelia Island Living.com Shrouded in Mystique, A Rare Glimpse of White Oak Plantation

Sherman's Fox Squirrel at White Oak Plantation

Jacksonville.com

22-01-2009

The latest edition of White Oak's newsletter, Karatasi, has been posted.

http://www.giconline.org/docs/Karata...Winter2008.pdf

And a further update on some recent animal activities:

0.0.3 Maned Wolves born
0.1 Bongo born
An Andean Condor arrived from San Diego
1.0 Komodo Dragon soon to be shipped to Jax Zoo

02-05-2009

White Oak Plantation and the Howard Gilman Foundation have a new website:

WhiteOak Plantation

3 Weeks Ago

A Southern White Rhinoceros was born at White Oak this morning. This is our fourth 2nd generation captive birth to occur at White Oak - and the first since the mid-1990s.