This attack has unfortunately been just what the activists have been waiting for. ALS has a matriarchal herd that has access to 200 acres that used to be camping sites. I don't think ALS has ever made IDA's annual "10 Worst" lists for just this reason. They're doing so much undisputed good for the species that all this is quite a shame. Any word on how the keeper is doing?
Visited today. From what was said by an employee there, there hasn't been much more attention in any form about what happened. I think everything is now under control on the situation. Elephant rides are closed for at least the remainder of the season. The "Elephants and Friends" show now includes some of the dogs that work with the elephants, something I only knew of today. Sometime last year (likely June), two blue-throated macaws hatched. Brilliant news regarding the species. A male ostrich now roams the Rocky Ridge Veldt (alongside giraffes, zebra, rhino, etc.). Out of all the times I visited ALS in my life, this is the first time I saw a male ostrich. Photos to come in the coming week.
Two male Rothschild giraffe calves have been born. The elder calf was born Aug 31 and was named Milo, while the younger calf was born Nov 7 and has been named Viazi.
The giraffe calves have a little brother now as well Kanali born Nov 19 2020. Next spring the exhibit should be super lively with three playful boys. Additionally Asian elephants, Lily and Johnson, have a new bundle Imke born Nov 22 2020. Facebook doesn't make it explicit if its a boy or girl though the writing for the name is in pink so I assume its a female.
It's as follows: George (Chanda x Phoebe) Johnson (Chanda x Kitty) Jenny Maggie Lily (Motek x Warda) Piccolo (Alexander x Lily) Hannah (Johnson x Lily) Luna (Johnson x Lily) Imke (Johnson x Lily) Natasha (Tusko x Whimpy) Opal (Rex x Natasha) Anna Mae (Johnson x Opal) Onyx (Johnson x Opal) Nellie (Johnson x Natasha) Rose (Johnson x Natasha) Sunita (Johnson x Natasha) Emily (Rex x Kitty) Gigi ("George" x Emily) All are females except for Johnson, George, and Onyx. Emily is slated to go to Fort Worth with another cow. Most likely Gigi, however there is a slight chance Gigi has actually passed away in the recent past. However that's an unknown at the moment. Gigi is also most likely the result of a half sibling pairing (Johnson x Emily), as George has been chemically castrated for a number of years, including prior to when Gigi was conceived.
Thank you @Hyak_II So the herd is still around the 15 mark which is good to see. It must be the second largest group in north America! I wonder if they still use the old barn now or are they all living in the new barn!
The deal to send Emily and Nellie to Forth Worth is dead. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/african-lion-safari-1.5938024
In the end, I am happy for this decision. It would be foolish to separate Gigi from her mother and Nellie from Natasha.
The Safari is hoping to open when Ontario begins opening back up in Phase 1. They have announced their baboon troop will be off display as well as other unnamed covid concern animals. That probably should include the lions, cheetahs and their other primates. Anyone looking to go might want to contact the safari to find out what is off display due to covid before they visit. The Misumu Bay Wetplay area will remain closed until it's eventually allowed to reopen in a later phase.
A report on the 2019 elephant attack on a keeper has been completed. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/elephant-ride-attack-african-lion-safari-caza-1.6104657
The safari has won two CAZA awards this year for their Asian elephant program, the Colonel G.D. Dailley Award for the program itself and the Peter Karsten Award for conservation.
Visited again yesterday. The park's elephants weren't being used in any presentations whatsoever. Thus, the "Elephant Swim" and "Elephants and Friends" shows are no more, and the elephant rides are never coming back (that area was torn down). The former elephant show is now "Little Ray's Nature Center", a reptile show run by Little Ray's Reptile Zoo. All the birds in the drive-through areas and boat ride are off-exhibit due to the avian influenza outbreak (although the ostriches could still be seen). All birds in the walking area are still on-display. The park no longer has siamang, as ring-tailed lemurs are on their former island. The king and cinereous vultures, which were formerly in separate cages, share an enclosure now. The othe renclosure now contains a single Abyssinian ground hornbill. A two-toed sloth named Moe was acquired just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. This was its first year on display. No major additions or removals to the drive-through enclosures were made since my last visit three years ago. A cage that formerly had two black lemurs now contains a silvery-cheeked hornbill. Goats aren't at the Pet's Corner. Not sure if it's due to COVID or if they were transferred/died. There were some species changes to the park's on-show bird collection. Current bird highlights include Buffon's and blue-throated macaws, black-chested buzzard-eagle, boobook, tawny and Chaco owls, white-necked raven, augur buzzard and lesser yellow-headed vulture. Photos from the visit are up in the gallery.
Do you know if the safari bus is any good - or do most people just take their cars and hope they don’t get unlucky?
I've only ever done the drive-through with a vehicle, never the bus, so I can't accurately say if the bus is any good.
