Calgary Zoo Calgary Zoo news 2008-2011

Another "jackass" situation:

CTV News | Man hurt by tiger after entering Calgary Zoo

 

I wonder what emotion took this guy over ~eye roll~ ?

I swear, you could make a Guiness Book of World Records Special Eddition out all the idiotic, stupid things these characters have pulled over the years

 

The stupidity boggles my mind. I hope this idiot's family doesn't press the zoo to have the tiger euthanized; it was only doing what was coming naturally. Just getting a little stimulation

 

oh dear, the guy must love tigers a lot.

 

According to CBC; "Calgary police are investigating and may lay breaking and entering or trespassing charges against the men." Maybe that's what it takes to get through to people...seeing how as they're not concerned about their own PERSONAL safety, maybe having them pay a fine will make them listen instead?

 

The Calgary Zoo has come under serious fire for the past couple of years, as many high profile deaths (4 gorillas, a hippo, a capybara, an elephant, 41 stingrays, etc) has resulted in many negative articles in various Canadian newspapers. The latest in a long line of deaths was a capybara crushed by a hydraulic door that has been called "human error". Now the zoo has announced that there will be a full-scale external investigation into the day-to-day activity of the entire zoo:

Embattled Calgary Zoo announces external review

 

Wow that is serious...

 

Does anyone know if they plan on breeding the elephants again?

 

More news regarding animal deaths at the Calgary Zoo

Zoo denies deer mistreatment claims
CBC News - Calgary - Zoo denies deer mistreatment claims

Apparently ZooCheck Canada did not receive completely reliable information about the mule deer at the Calgary Zoo and relayed that incorrect information to the media. This incident really decreases Zoocheck's credibility.

Media coverage of the Calgary Zoo is getting a little out of hand. I am shocked that this article regarding bison sibling rivalry, which resulted in no injuries, was considered worthy of national CBC coverage.
CBC News - Calgary - Sibling rivalry blamed for attack on newborn bison at Calgary Zoo

 

Dinosaurs Alive!

Animatronic dinosaurs have invaded the Calgary Zoo, showcasing how outdated some of the models in Prehistoric Park have become.


Roaring beasts bring zoo's dinosaur park to life

 

The seemingly endless supply of bad news continues for the once highly regarded Calgary Zoo. After a threat of a possible gorilla escape made headlines a week or so ago, the director of conservation has now resigned. Unfortunate as it is, there are either negative reports or animals deaths just about every month at Canada's second largest zoo.

The Canadian Press: Calgary Zoo director cites 'challenging' few months in her resignation

 

I was at the zoo today, and it appears that in response to the gorilla escape they have put up temporary hot-wires around all of the viewing areas. I also believe that the gorillas were shut in today. One side not to be made, the wall that the gorilla was on was the one that leads to the enclosed area between the main building and the wild dog enclosure. There was a similar
event many years ago involving a female orangutan, and like the gorilla, ran back into her enclosure when she saw her keepers.

 

Creatures of the night to close

"Our Creatures of the Night Exhibit has delighted our visitors for over 31 years, featuring exotic nocturnal and Australian species in the dark ambience that people have found mysterious and alluring. Now, we have had to make a decision to close this old enclosure and look forward to new exciting projects ahead. After careful examination, this aging building is nearing the end of its life expectancy, with significant deterioration occurring to the flooring and the heating and ventilation systems. To put the funds towards restoration does not make sense in this case and would divert money from other pressing plans for newer infrastructure. We are currently working diligently on a plan to re-house our animal inhabitants. Stay tuned...just around the corner - penguins of the Antarctic Landing in 2012!"

I wonder if this includes the whole australia building?

 

Bronx, Woodland Park and now Calgary have all closed their nocturnal houses in the last year....and there aren't really that many left in North America. One of the main reasons is that those type of buildings are extremely expensive to operate, and not always environmentally progressive.

 

Last zoo with an operation nocturnal house wins!

 

I swear Toronto started the trend of closing them down They closed theirs some years ago to make way for the Great Barrier Reef/oceans exhibit, though they still display the Sugar Gliders in that area, though in a renovated exhibit, along with the frogs that were in there.

 

We still have the bat area in Africa, with the mole rats, etc.

 

Oooh that's true!

 

Outcome of investigation.

Here is a link to the Calgary Heralds report on the zoo's independent inquiry.

Calgary Zoo probe reveals 'unacceptable actions'

It states that the wild dog pack will be moving on, any ideas as to where to, and what may be replacing them?
It will be interesting to see what comes out of these changes.

On another note, there have been 3 P.Horses born at the zoo ranch, and a new children's area at the zoo has been completed with the addition of a carousel.

 

For one thing quite a few of the issues were deemed systemic and due to animal management failures at top level. This has led to the resignation of a top official. It will be interesting to see which highly qualified and communicatively able individual will take up this position and move quite a few of the proposed actions in the AZA-CAZA review plan forward.