"New York City Zoos" by Joan Scheier
What Is New On This Site
On the 2nd of February 2007 we added some more photos of Keepers of the Staten Island Zoo. We also added a photo of a red fox named Vixen.
On 21 January 2007 we have added numerous photos of the Keepers of the Zoos and the Aquarium. Check out the side navigation bar to find photos for a
particular Zoo or the Aquarium.
On 13 August 2006 we added two photos of the Pudu and one photo of Spangles, one of the two Spectacled Bear at the Queens Zoo. According to the press release
about Spangles:
The Queens Zoo's bespectacled twin brother bears, ”Pancho and Cisco, have been split up so that they can hopefully
have offspring with new female partners. Pancho is now at the St. Louis Zoo waiting to meet Maria, while Cisco remains at Flushing Meadows ready for his first encounter with Spangles, who came from the Houston Zoo.
The 13 year old brothers have been longtime favorites at the zoo, but Zoo Director Robin
Dalton thought it was time for them to be separated so that they can increase the breed.
According to Senior Zookeeper Raul Vasquez, bespectacled bears are the only bears native
to South America and are on the endangered species list. We want to be able to have a diverse gene pool, he said.
Pancho was shipped by truck to St. Louis in a specially built large cage. Meeting him at
the other end was Vasquez. Zoo officials wanted Vasquez to be there when the crate was opened so that Pancho would feel at home.
I called him out of the crate and he came right toward me, the keeper said.
Although bears are wild animals, these two got to know their keeper and learned to
respond to commands. Pancho has a great bond with the keepers, Vasquez said. He knows his name
and responds to commands to sit down, open his mouth and show his paw. It helps us check that the animal
is in good health. The keepers are never in danger as they are behind a barrier, but it still allows them to see how the
animal is doing.
He remained in St. Louis for two days, instructing the zookeepers there on the bear's favorite foods
(fruits, vegetables, fish and ice bars frozen with fruits or vegetables) and favorite activities
(swimming, climbing and playing with pine boughs). He loves the smell of pine and rubs it on
his body, Vasquez said.
Meanwhile, Cisco acted gloomy the first few days his brother was gone and zookeepers spent a
lot of time with him. But then he got a scent of Spangles and now he has seen her so he's better, Vasquez said.
He'll do very well now.
Both zoos have decided to wait to introduce the new bears to each other. We want to get Spangles acclimated
to her new home. Until then, she is on view at different times here, Vasquez said.
He noted that Spangles had not been previously trained, but calls her very intelligent. We are already
training her and she knows her name. We are trying to get the same level of bonding with her as we have with
the other bears.
The Queens Zoo prides itself on its animal enrichment and training program for furthering the physical and
psychological well being of animals in its care, according to Vasquez. He and another zoo official recently
led a program in Venezuela teaching the techniques used at Flushing Meadows.
Enrichment methods include hiding food so the animals can forage, spraying different scents into their
enclosures and offering structures for climbing, scratching and resting.
This is where we will note changes to the web site. The biggest one is the happy news that as of the 22nd of February 2006 Joan's latest book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
You may order The Central Park Zoo Book now and The New York City Zoos and Aquarium book at:
Joan is available for book talks with slides, for both the Central Park Zoo and The New York City Zoos and Aquarium books.
Please contact her through e-mail cpzbook@aol.com or nyczoos@aol.com
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