Varecia variegate rubra
RED RUFFED LEMUR
HABITAT: tropical forest RANGE: Madagascar DIET: fruits, leaves, nectar, seeds LIFESPAN: 15-20 years CE E V NT LC CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
FAST FACTS: The Red Ruffed is the largest of the lemurs; they live in pair-bonded families up to 16. Lemurs are a type of primate called prosimians, which means "before apes". The Ruffed Lemurs have dense fur, especially around the neck. Lemurs rely on their sense of smell as a way of communicating with other animals. They have special scent glands on their wrists and bottoms that leave scent trails on branches to mark their territories. Since the arrival of humans on Madagascar, at least 15 species of lemur have gone extinct.
OUR LEMURS: Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Timmy Male April 19, 1985 Born at the Baton Rouge Zoo; Louisiana Born at Jackson Zoo Phoenix Male May 2, 2013 Son of Timmy Female
Picture Picture Picture Ceratotherium simum simum
SOUTHERN WHITE RHINO
HABITAT: savannah grasslands and shrublands RANGE: southern and central Africa DIET: grasses LIFESPAN: 33-40 years CE E V NT LC NEAR THREATENED
FAST FACTS: The white rhino is the second largest land animal after elephants and can weigh between 5,000 and 6,000 pounds. They got their name by mistaking Afrikaans “vite” meaning wide- for their lips, when English speakers heard the word they thought it was “white”. They will frequently wallow in mud to cool off and protect themselves from insects. Their horn is made out of keratin which is the same substance hair and fingernails are made out of. In the late 19th century, it was considered extinct. However, in 1895 a small population of less than 100 individuals was discovered in South Africa. After more than a century of protection, southern white rhinos now number about 20,000, confined to protected areas and private ranches.
OUR RHINOS: Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Ronnie Male 1974 On loan from the Birmingham Zoo; Alabama Big Mike aka Male Nov 6, 2011 Born at The Wilds (in central Ohio) Jaycambo
Picture Picture Picture Bugeranus carunculatus
WATTLED CRANE
HABITAT: wetlands RANGE: Sub-Saharan Africa DIET: grains, grass seeds, small reptiles, frogs, insects LIFESPAN: CE E V NT LC 20-30 years CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
FAST FACTS: The Wattled Crane is so named for the two wattles, one on each side of its throat. It has been noted that the wattles enlarge with aggression and shrink with fear. They stand up to six feet tall and weigh up to fifteen pounds. The Wattled Crane performs an elaborate courtship dance, which involves much bowing, tossing of the head, jumping into the air, and vocalizing between both birds. Pairs mate for life and live in flocks. The clutch size is one or two, however only one chick is raised from clutches of two and the other egg is abandoned. If a clutch or chick is lost, pairs may attempt to breed again. There are fewer than 8,000 Cranes left in the wild.
OUR CRANES: Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Catherine Female Feb. 10, 1985 San Diego Wild Animal Park; California Nicholas Male Dec. 26, 1995 Sao Paulo Zoo; Brazil
Picture Picture Picture Equus grevyi
GREVY’S ZEBRA
HABITAT: wetlands RANGE: Sub-Saharan Africa DIET: rough, fibrous grasses LIFESPAN: 15-20 years CE E V NT LC ENDANGERED
FAST FACTS: Zebras help other grazers because they can eat the tops off the course grasses that other grass eaters cannot digest. Grevy’s Zebras are the largest of the zebra species and the most nomadic. While in a group, a zebra’s strips blend together so that a predator has trouble telling one zebra apart from another. Grevy's Zebras can run up to 40 mph and foals can run with the rest of the herd within an hour of their birth.
OUR ZEBRAS: Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Catherine Female Feb. 10, 1985 San Diego Wild Animal Park; California Nicholas Male Dec. 26, 1995 Sao Paulo Zoo; Brazil
Picture Picture Picture Struthio camelus
OSTRICH
HABITAT: dry deserts, savannahs RANGE: central and southern Africa DIET: seeds, roots, grasses, leaves, insects, lizards LIFESPAN: CE E V NT LC 30-40 years LEAST CONCERN
FAST FACTS: They are the world’s largest bird and can be 7 to 9 feet tall and weigh 220 and 350 pounds. Ostriches can run speed up to 45 miles per hour, which is faster than a racehorse. After mating, the alpha male will make a communal nest and the dominant hen (female) lays up to 11 creamy white eggs, while the other hens lay 2 to 6 eggs each in the same nest. The shell of an Ostrich egg is as thick as china, and one egg weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs. The idea that an Ostrich will bury its head in the sand in the face of danger is a myth, although when it feels threatened, an Ostrich may sit down motionless with head and neck stretched on the ground in front of it in an attempt to become less visible.
OUR OSTRICH: Both of our ostrich are from a private collection.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Nefertiti Female Dull brown Black and white Tut Male Blue band on left leg
Picture Picture Picture Hippotragus niger
SABLE ANTEMOPE
HABITAT: grasslands and open woodlands near main water sources RANGE: southern Africa DIET: grasses LIFESPAN: CE E V NT LC 33-40 years LEAST CONCERN
FAST FACTS: Hippotragus means goat-like horse and niger refers to the animal’s dark color. The Sable Antelope can run as fast as 35 miles per hour. Separated mothers and their young make a piercing birdlike whistle to locate each other. They roam the dry acacia country of Africa in large herds of sometimes up to 100 animals. The herd is usually led by a master bull and among females, there is a dominance hierarchy based on seniority. The juvenile males leave the herd at about 3 years old; all the female calves remain. The Sable Antelope is facing habitat loss due to agricultural development, livestock overgrazing, and human settlement.
OUR SABLES: Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Spartacus Male July 31, 2003 Born at The Wilds; Ohio
Lola Female Jun 05, 2007 Born at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Picture Picture Picture Plectropterus gambensis niger
BLACK SPUR-WINGED GOOSE
HABITAT: marshes RANGE: Sub-Saharan Africa DIET: grasses, aquatic plants, fruit, fish, some insects LIFESPAN: CE E V NT LC 15-20 years LEAST CONCERN
FAST FACTS: The Black Spur-winged goose is the largest of the African water fowl. These geese build their nests in trees or out of reeds and grass found on the ground usually concealed in vegetation near water. They will use the spur in its wing for defense of territory and on predators. The male is larger than the female and has a large red facial patch that extends back from the bill. This bird’s habitat is slowly shrinking due to a decrease in rainfall in the northern part of its range.
OUR GOOSE : Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History Born and Jackson Zoo Male May 7, 2006 Four brothers, in various exhibits
Picture Picture Picture Leptoptilos crumeniferus
MARABOU STORK
HABITAT: marshes, swamps, savannahs near water RANGE: Sub-Saharan Africa DIET: insects, fish, reptiles, rodents, eggs, birds, carrion LIFESPAN: CE E V NT LC 25 years LEAST CONCERN
FAST FACTS: They will stand on the edges of grass fires and feed on animals that are fleeing from it. The stork will defecate on its own legs to help keep cool. Sometimes Marabou Storks can be found feasting on a lion’s kill.
OUR STORK : Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History St. Louis Zoo; Missouri Ken Male Feb. 5, 1992 Has a large throat sac
Picture Picture Picture Oreotragus oreotragus
KLIPSPRINGER
HABITAT: rocky mountain ranges RANGE: southern and eastern Africa DIET: flowers, shoots, fruits, shrubs, herbs LIFESPAN: 10-15 years CE E V NT LC LEAST CONCERN
FAST FACTS: Klipspringer in Afrikaans, means “Rock Jumper.” Females are slightly larger than males. They are monogamous; often when one is eating the other is on the lookout for danger. Once the young is born, it is hidden (cached) for up to three months before it joins the herd. Klipspringers do not need to drink water because they get enough from the plants they eat. They have a modified hoof structure that allows them to be especially agile on rocky terrain.
OUR KLIPSPRINGERS: Story coming soon.
Name Sex Birth Year Individual History
Amelia Female May 28, 2007 Born at Jackson Zoological Park; MS Kolte Male April 5, 2011 Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Alfie Male Sept 22, 2013 Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Arya Female Aug 4, 2013 Lincoln Park zoo, Chicago
Picture Picture Picture