Tulsa Zoo Tulsa Zoo News

Briney a sea lion was put down after finding an inoperable tumor.

Tulsa Zoo announces the death of sea lion, Briney - FOX23 News

 

misidentified turtle

box turtle, Terrepene spp. probably a Mexican species, was mislabeled as bog turtle.

 

Thanks for letting me know. It looked wrong to me, but that's what it was labeled at the zoo. I think the head is too big for most box turtles, but my turtle knowledge is pretty weak. I changed it to Unidentified Turtle.

 

The Zoo welcomed its first siamang baby in 23 years.

Tulsa Zoo announces birth of endangered siamang, 1st siamang born at the Tulsa Zoo in 23 years - Story

 

I found another article on the siamang birth and Im only posting it for everyones amusement. They announce the birth of a siamang using the photo of a gorilla. I didnt know newborns could change species. This could be a major breakthrough in the surivial of endangered species. Get a newborn mouse and convince it to switch to a snow leopard. It will be revolutionary.

Oklahoma zoo welcomes new addition after rare birth | KFOR.com

 

Maybe they changed the photo since you posted, but the photo showing now is the one released by the Tulsa Zoo of the actual mother siamang and her baby.

 

Posted by Tulsa Zoo on Facebook at about 13:30 today:

We are proud to announce the hatching of nine Aldabra tortoises. The zoo has now successfully hatched 109 Aldabra tortoises since it began this important breeding program in 1999.

The Tulsa Zoo is the only Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)-accredited institution that has an Aldabra tortoise breeding program, and the zoo is one of only two U.S. institutions to currently breed this species.

Only three zoos have ever successfully reproduced Aldabra tortoises and the Tulsa Zoo is the only zoo to successfully breed this species more than once.

Our first Aldabra tortoise hatchling emerged from its egg in the winter of 1999 and we have continued to collect fertile eggs every 2 to 3 years since that time.

The hatchlings started to pip, or cut through their shells, on Feb. 9, after an incubation period that lasts from 95-120 days. Once the tortoises pip, it can take up to 5 days to fully emerge from the shell and usually 2 to 3 more days before they are ready to be taken out of the incubator and placed on substrate in an exhibit.

Several of the tortoise hatchlings are on exhibit in the Conservation Center. The hatchling tortoises currently weigh 50 grams and guests can watch as they grow in their new exhibit.

The Tulsa Zoo is also home to three adult male and two adult female Aldabra tortoises. The adult male tortoises weigh nearly 400 lbs, while the adult female tortoises weigh around 175 lbs. Their ages range from 31 to more than 100 years old.

Photo by Aaron Godwin

 

Yep the photo changed. Someone out there must have contacted them and let them know they made a mistake. Some poor fact checker probably got yelled at for missing that.

 

Another article about the Aldabra turtle breeding at Tulsa :
Tulsa Zoo winning race in Aldabra tortoise breeding programs - Tulsa World: Local

 

And more info about the Aldabra tortoises :
Aldabra Giant Tortoises Start Out Small - ZooBorns

 

Red-billed Firefinch Fledglings

This was posted by the Tulsa Zoo on Facebook this morning:

First we celebrated a baby, then we celebrated hatchlings, and now we are celebrating fledglings!

This week, four Red-billed Firefinches fledged, or developed the feathers necessary to fly and leave the nest, in the Robert J. LaFortune WildLIFE Trek Desert. The chicks are generally 18 days old when they are ready to fly and we estimate that they hatched on Feb. 7. Presently, the Tulsa Zoo is only one of two American zoos to exhibit this species.

The Red-billed Firefinch is found over much of Africa, from the edge of the Sahara to the South African Cape. Despite their delicate appearance, these seed-eating birds are well adapted to hot, dry climates and can be seen in large flocks. The males are predominantly rosy red, while the females are brown with red rumps.

There are currently fifteen Red-billed Firefinches living in the Robert J. LaFortune WildLIFE Trek Desert and twelve of them hatched there. Other pairs of this species are kept in an off-exhibit area and have also produced chicks, making a total of nineteen that have hatched at the Tulsa Zoo since June 2013.

 

A jaguar cub was born to parents Ixchel and Bebeto on March 26. A second cub was stillborn.

Baby jaguar born at Tulsa Zoo | Local News - Home

 

Another article about the jaguar-cub :
Tulsa Zoo Celebrates its Third Jaguar Cub Birth - ZooBorns

 

Observations from my trip earlier today.

1) The grizzlies are still off exhibit while it appears modifications are made. My assumption is that these modifications are underway to prepare for and safely exhibit the newly acquired males from the Riverbanks Zoo.

2) The Zoo's temporary "Zoorasic Park" exhibit featuring robotic dinosaurs is now open and will remain in Tulsa through October.

3) The pair of Southern ground hornbills formerly kept off exhibit followed by a short exhibit period in the former cheetah (now painted dog) exhibit are now on display in the former Dik Dik and leopard tortoise exhibit.

4) A new species to Tulsa, the white stork is now on display in the former ostrich yard located next to the snow leopard exhibit. Perhaps a new addition acquired for the new Africa/Rhino exhibit.

5) Work on the new Chapman rhino exhibit is starting to progress as the walls of the barn are starting to go up. New fencing has also been installed along the former kudu yard along with some young trees and relocated rocks. This exhibit is slated to open in 2014, however due to the progress made so far I wouldn't be surprised if the date is pushed back to early 2015.

 

I do hope on opening the new rhino habitat they will break up the current pair Buzby and Jeannie (as possible sibling behavior - both grew up together from Nov. 1982 - may be preventing any breeding to take place)?

Anyone know whether the female (at 24 … bad age for a non-breeding female) is cycling at all?

 

The zoos new sea lions 3 year old Reyes and 4 year old Cisco are now on display. Both are rescues.

Tulsa Zoo debuting 2 new sea lions from California - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

 

Three Malayan Tiger cubs were born August 8th to mom Jin and dad Gahara.

Adorable! Three tiger cubs born at Tulsa Zoo | KFOR.com

 

Another article about the Malayan tiger cubs :
Malayan Tiger Cubs Bonding with Mom at Tulsa Zoo - ZooBorns

 

Straight from the Zoo's Facebook page.

"Lexi, a 7-year-old Rothschild giraffe, gave birth to a calf at roughly 5 p.m. today on exhibit. The calf was born weak and our animal health and animal care staffs worked to perform live-saving measures on the male calf. We are heartbroken to say that the calf did not survive.

The pairing of Lexi and the calf’s dad, Samburu, who died last year, was based on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan®, which manages species in AZA-accredited institutions across the nation."

 

The male giraffe calf died due to a severe heart defect. There was no chance he could have survived once he was born. Its a rare defect so hopefully Lexi's future calves will be fine. At least keepers can take solace in the fact there was absolutely nothing that could have been done.

Tulsa Zoo says heart defect responsible for baby giraffe's death | www.fox23.com