After the deaths of Erie Zoo’s longtime residents Nala, a 24-year-old African lion, and Viktor, a 17-year-old Amur tiger, each who died solely six days aside, questions on changing the huge cats have been requested of zoo officers by neighborhood members.
But there are not any plans to interchange Nala and the zoo has no rapid plans to interchange Viktor, mentioned Jenn Salandra, the zoo’s curator.
Related:Nala, the African lion dubbed Queen of the Erie Zoo, was euthanized at age 24
Taking a breather
“We nonetheless have two lionesses and now they only have extra space,” Salandra mentioned. “And we do nonetheless have a feminine tiger … proper now it simply means Tikva spends extra time in the public habitat than she used to as a result of they’d take turns earlier than.”
Salandra mentioned Viktor’s loss of life was arduous on the zoo employees, however they plan to make use of this time once they solely have one Amur tiger, Tikva, to deal with attainable adjustments to the setting.
“We wish to take the time and actually have a look at the habitat itself and have a look at the again areas too and are there adjustments we wish to make that can profit them?” Salandra mentioned. “So we’re taking a breath right here slightly bit. It’s loads simpler to do this when you’ve got only one (animal) to do it with.”
Related:Erie Zoo’s Amur tiger, Victor, dies. Second animal loss of life in 6 days
Several species at the Erie Zoo are proven on a rotational schedule, together with the zoo’s two Amur leopards. It’s a typical false impression that the zoo solely has one animal representing a species, mentioned Emily Smicker, spokeswoman for the zoo.
“We get that query loads, ‘Oh you bought a brand new tiger?’ No, we’ve had two, you’ve truly most likely seen them each as a result of they’re each very huge animals,” she mentioned. “We nonetheless have the species represented right here, so we’re nonetheless capable of fulfill our mission of training about the Amur tiger, and now Tikva, she’s the one on the public eye.”
Working with out accreditation
If the Erie Zoo was to ever change Viktor, its standing with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) may make that course of more difficult.
Last November, the zoo misplaced its 37-year accreditation from AZA, and with it, entry to quite a lot of sources, together with faster allowing and transferring of animals.
When zoos want to add animals to their assortment, they’re required to supply references who can vouch for his or her zoo, that are sometimes different zoo officers, Salandra mentioned.
Related:Erie Zoo loses accreditation; eligible to reapply in September 2022
“When we had been accredited, that accreditation virtually serves as a reference, so that you don’t should do as a lot of that paperwork course of as a result of that mainly serves as your reference,” she mentioned. “When you don’t have that you need to perform a little bit extra, present extra info.”
The lack of accreditation would not forestall the Erie Zoo’s eligibility to get new animals or animals of various species, Smicker mentioned.
Animal switch course of
Even with out accreditation, the Erie Zoo nonetheless works with AZA to switch endangered species, which is a posh course of.
“(AZA) takes a very robust have a look at all their genetics of animals in zoos they usually make suggestions of which animals go the place primarily based on their genetics,” Salandra mentioned.
For that, AZA makes use of a system known as a Species Survival Plan (SSP). Its perform is to maximise genetic range and appropriately handle the demographic distribution and long-term sustainability of animal populations. There are at present almost 500 SSP Programs for particular endangered species.
Once AZA makes suggestions about which animals must be moved the place, many elements must be addressed.
“Every animal transfer we do contains the sending zoo, the zoo the animals leaving, the receiving zoo, the place the animal goes and no matter supervising species administration program, which might be an AZA SSP however there are some others comparable,” Smicker mentioned.
“We should fill out sure allowing, that may be allowing for USDA, the species administration program, primarily based upon state, nation, the kind of transportation,” Smicker mentioned. “Tons of permits relying on the species and the place they’re going.”
The precise technique of transporting an animal additionally requires intensive planning, Smicker mentioned.
“(For) each animal that travels, we have now to have a contingency plan for if an emergency occurs and we have now to cease alongside the method,” Smicker mentioned. “We contact different respected animal services alongside that path and they’re absolutely conscious we’re crossing throughout this time and we would have to cease and see you.
“We even have to rearrange with different zoos throughout the nation for particular sorts of crates or transporting autos. There’s solely sure haulers which have the expertise to maneuver a few of these animals.”
Animals being transferred should bear varied well being checks from veterinarians from each the sending and receiving zoo after which spend time quarantined in specialised services.
“Those services should be specialised to ensure their habitats are absolutely arrange and are assembly the standards needed for that species, dimension, spacing,” Smicker mentioned.
Salandra confused that these animals aren’t simply right here for leisure.
“The mission of zoos is: We protect, we preserve, we educate. That’s our greatest factor and why we do what we do,” she mentioned. “We know that it’s not at all times a constructive mild to be considered in, however our mission is to encourage the youthful era to wish to save these species, and that’s why we do what we accomplish that that possibly in the future they spend money on that species.”
Smicker echoed Salandra’s sentiments.
“Other species have turn into basically extinct in the wild and are solely capable of develop their populations doing what we do with the shifting and animal administration applications,” Smicker mentioned. “We perceive that zoos don’t at all times have the finest popularity, however our objective right here is to preserve the species and train individuals about that, in order that’s our high precedence.”
Baylee DeMuth might be reached at 814-450-3425 or bdemuth@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @BayleeDeMuth.
