| SHIPPING SEASON FOR THE ZOO |
| Winter is animal-shipping time at the Zoo. This may seem a strange thing to say, but each summer over 100 young are produced by dozens of Zoo inhabitants. Breeding not only plays an essential conservation role in providing healthy and often at-risk animals to other zoos (lessening the need to take animals from their wild homes), but this activity contributes to animal health and enrichment of their lives by allowing them to follow this natural life cycle while in capitivity. Generally the Zoo must find room to house them here, and we don't wish to allow inbreeding or aggressive behaviour that may eventually occur in tight quarters. Just as with human families, there is a time when parents must liberate their offspring to pursue their own lives. On the line-up in the coming weeks are: a herd of 12 Markhor going to Ontario; Arctic Foxes and a Lynx to the Yukon; Arctic Foxes to Nova Scotia, Detroit and France; a Dromedary Camel, Bennett's Wallabies and Reindeer to Ontario; Goeldi's Muskox to North Dakota; Red Kangaroos to Ontario and Texas; Elk and Bison to Ontario; Crested Screamers (large birds) to Missouri; and Pronghorn to Quebec. All of these animals must be caught up, given a clean bill of health by Zoo Hospital staff, piles of documents must be applied for and compiled by Zoo Office staff, and travel arrangements made. Who knew that this many animals have travel plans? |
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