Gladys Porter Zoo Gladys Porter Zoo News

Pancake tortoise bred at Gladys Porter Zoo :
April 15, 2013
Tiny Pancake Tortoises Hatch at Gladys Porter Zoo

Tortoise 1

Three Pancake Tortoises have hatched at Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas. The first tortoise began to pip on March 31st, followed by two more hatchlings on April 1st and 10th.

Found on rocky hills and savannas of east Africa, Pancake Tortoises have unusually flat and thin shells. These flexible and agile tortoises are excellent climbers, and escape from predation by fleeing or squeezing into tight crevices instead of hiding in their shells. Due to habitat loss and poaching, they are listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Tortoise 2

Tortoise 3

Tortoise 4
Photo credits: Gladys Porter Zoo

In the wild, Pancake Tortoises live in isolated groups, and many individuals may be found sharing the same rocky crevice. Males compete for females during the breeding seaon in January and February, and nesting occurs in July and August. Females generally lay one egg at a time, but may lay several eggs over the course of a few months. In captivity, females will breed year-round, with an incubation period of four to six months. The tiny young are independant as soon as they hatch.
Source : Zooborns

 

Orang utan baby at Gladys Porter Zoo :
New Baby Orangutan Makes It Three Generations at Gladys Porter Zoo - ZooBorns

 

Moja the male silverback gorilla suddenly died yesterday. One minute he was happily thumping his chest the next he collapsed and died.

Gorilla collapses, dies at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville : News : ValleyCentral.com

 

The long delayed aquatic building will finally have its grand opening on September 28, 2013.
Russell Aquatic Ecology Center – Grand Opening | Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau

 

The zoo just announced via their Facebook page that Taz, the last Jentink's Duiker, has passed away. The end of an era.

 

So sad!!!! Glad I visited him in 2010!

 

So sad. Good thing I went a month and a half ago - looks like I got some of the last photos ever.

 

Statement from the zoo's website:
"The Gladys Porter Zoo staff mourns the loss of one of its most unique and endangered creatures. Taz, a male Jentink’s duiker, passed away in his behind-the-scenes quarters during the night of Thursday, December 19. The duiker had reached an advanced age of over 17 years, and had been monitored for the past year by Zoo veterinary staff for chronic kidney disease. The necropsy, conducted earlier today, revealed that the cause of death was pneumonia brought on by failing kidneys.He was the last known living specimen held in a Zoo anywhere in the world.
Taz was born at the Zoo on June 19, 1996 to the last wild-caught female from Africa and was sired by a Zoo-born male. After the demise of his sire in March of 2007, he became the sole animal on exhibit, and was visited by researchers and animal enthusiasts from near and far.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the Jentink’s duiker, Cephalophus jentinki, as one of the world’s rarest mammals. This little-known species of antelope is native to the African forests of southern Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire. Secretive in nature, the Jentink’s duiker was first discovered in the late 1800s. After that time, it was hardly seen until around 1950, when a single skull reaffirmed its existence.
Then, in September 1968, a male and two females of this species arrived in the U.S., landing at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. In November of 1970, the duikers reached their final destination – the soon-to-open Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, dedicated to preserving endangered species.
“While the entire Zoo staff is saddened over the end of an era for Jentink’s duikers here, we have great hope for this species" said Dr. Pat Burchfield, Director of the Gladys Porter Zoo. "As recently as last year, camera trap surveys have confirmed the presence of a small population of Jentink’s Duiker living within Sierra Leone’s Western Area Peninsula Forest Reserve. Hopefully, there is enough African tropical forest and individual animals remaining that this species will be able to persevere.”
Taz will be greatly missed. Visitors who would like to pay their respects may leave cards or flowers in the Zoo office for display in the breezeway."

 

Two female Komodo dragons arrived.

Zoo welcomes new addition - Local News - ValleyMorningStar

 

Jahat, the zoo's 15 year old male Komodo Dragon, has passed away of what they believe is heart failure.

Komodo dragon dies at Brownsville zoo - The Monitor: Local News

 

Texas zoo locked down after bear escapes habitat

 

Antelope escapes South Texas zoo, leads authorities on chase through downtown - San Antonio Express-News

 

... That must certainly be a sight to see.

 

The zoo is bringing in a helicopter to search for the kudu.

 

The runaway kudu has been captured.

 

The zoo has introduced its new silverback gorilla, Mbundi. He is on loan from Toronto, was born in Calgary and just arrived from Kansas City Zoo where he as been living in a bachelor group.

New gorilla on display at Gladys Porter Zoo - Brownsville Herald: Local News

 

Admission prices have increased $1 across all levels and $10 for all levels of membership.

Zoo admission prices increase - Brownsville Herald: Local News

 

Gorilla bachelors Nzinga and Bangori will be heading to Santa Barbara shortly.

 

Rhino, Milton, will be arriving from Rolling Hills shortly in hopes of breeding.

Zoo Bids Fond Farewell to Milton - KSAL.com

 

Just saw via Facebook that they've successfully hatched their first Orinoco Crocodile. If I'm correct, then it's only the second facility to do so outside of their home range.