Latest news with #WilderInstitute
CTV News
10-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Calgary Zoo otter pup dies suddenly while playing with littermate
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has announced the death of an otter pup. Three-month-old North American river otter Remi died on Tuesday while in the pool. The zoo says Remi was playing in the water with littermate Howe, but failed to resurface. A necropsy determined the otter pup suffered a life-ending cervical spinal cord injury during play. 'We believe her passing was swift and she did not suffer,' the zoo said in a Wednesday social media post. 'While the test results confirm it was a tragic accident, they offer little comfort in a time of such deep sorrow.' Though Remi's time at the zoo was brief, officials say she left a lasting impression, and will be fondly remembered for her 'playful, curious nature' and her 'tender moments' with Howe and her mom Kate. 'We are leaning on one another as we mourn this heartbreaking loss and honour the short but meaningful life of a truly special little otter.'
CBC
02-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Calgary Zoo adds 5th female gorilla to troop
The female population of western lowland gorillas at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo just grew by one, with the addition of 24-year-old Johari, who arrived from Toronto last Friday. The transfer is months in the planning stages and there's lots of reciprocity. "We spent some time getting to know her," animal care director Colleen Baird told reporters Wednesday. "We sent a caregiver of ours over to Toronto to start to get to know her there. We also have a Toronto caregiver here so we can transition and get to know her even better." Zoos and conservation facilities around the world are working together. "It's really exciting. We work through a very long-term plan with our gorilla genetics and our troop in general, population globally," she explained. "This has been in the works for some time. We are always looking at what the troop dynamic looks like over time." Including Johari, the zoo now has a troop of five females and two males, including silverback Jasiri. "They will hopefully have some offspring as well as other troops in our collection," Baird said. That's important because the global population faces huge challenges. "They are critically endangered," she added. "We have them here so we can talk about what's going on globally out there and how they all tie together." Johari is a bit older than a lot of gorilla mothers and she hasn't had any offspring so far, but experts are excited about a possible connection with Jasiri. "We were able to say, we are ready for her. Let's bring her in. Jasiri is a great match so let's bring them together to have that offspring and give her the ability to have an offspring, which she hasn't had yet." Having a child can change a female's status in the troop. "Sometimes they don't conceive right away, sometimes the genetic match just isn't there," Baird said. "She is at a point in her life where we are ready to do it. She's healthy, there should be no reason why she can't be successful." Johari arrived in Calgary on June 27, so the next two weeks will be about looking for the best time to introduce her. As part of the genetic diversity program, any offspring would likely be sent to another facility.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Calgary Zoo announces new addition to gorilla troop
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has welcomed a new gorilla into the fold. Officials say western lowland gorilla Johari arrived at the zoo last week. The 24-year-old female came from the Toronto Zoo. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan recommended Johari as a potential breeding partner for Calgary silverback Jasiri. 'We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Johari to our troop,' said Colleen Baird, the zoo's director of animal care, health and welfare, in a Wednesday news release. 'She brings a charismatic personality and playful spirit that will be a wonderful addition—especially alongside Dossi, as they both share an endearing habit of accessorizing with enrichment items.' Johari will spend a couple of weeks in quarantine in the African Rainforest building before being gradually introduced to the troop. Gorilla Johari The Calgary Zoo's newest member is gorilla Johari. (Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo) Her arrival follows the death of two-year-old Eyare, who died last November after being hit by a hydraulic door. Officials said the death was the direct result of human error. In the time since, the zoo says it has completed a full review of its practices and implemented 'significant changes' to enhance safety and animal wellbeing practices. 'We will never forget Eyare,' said Baird. 'We owe it to her and to all the animals in our care to uphold the very highest standards of welfare.' Johari's arrival brings the total number of gorillas in the troop to seven.
Calgary Herald
12-06-2025
- General
- Calgary Herald
Two healthy whooping crane chicks hatched at Wilder Institute's Archibald Biodiversity Centre
The Wilder Institute's Archibald Biodiversity Centre greeted its first whopping cranes hatched at the facility on May 28 — coincidentally, Whooping Crane Day. Article content The whooping crane program moved to the biodiversity centre in 2023, and the cranes spend their first year settling into the new environment, not expected to breed during that time. Now in their second year, Tim and Bombadil, who have been together since 2014, laid two fertile eggs. Article content Article content Article content One egg was cared for by Tim and Bombadil, and the second was foster incubated by another pair of bonded whooping cranes, Gary and Inukshuk, with physical limitations that make natural breeding difficult. Article content Article content 'Some pairs, like Gary and Inukshuk, cannot naturally breed, but display all of the natural behaviours that make them excellent foster parents. Allowing them to raise offspring reinforces their own pair bonds and provides them with an opportunity to contribute to their species' recovery efforts.' Article content Both chicks have received clean bills of health and will continue to grow under the care of the Wilder Institute's animal care, health and welfare team. Article content Article content Article content The Wilder Institute is home to Canada's only conservation breeding program for whooping cranes. Article content In the 1940s, only 21 whooping cranes remained in the wild, according to the Wilder Institute, but with the help of whooping crane captive breeding and reintroduction programs, that number is now at approximately 698. Article content 'The Wilder Institute has been dedicated to whooping crane recovery for more than 30 years,' said Diana Christie, conservation program manager for the whooping crane program. Article content 'The two reintroduced populations remain fragile and are not yet self-sustaining, which makes every successful hatch critically important. By joining conservation breeding efforts or being released into wild populations, these chicks will contribute to their species' recovery and help build a stronger foundation for the future of whooping cranes in North America.'
CTV News
10-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Babies are ‘stealing the spotlight' at the Calgary Zoo this summer
Officials say there are new additions for visitors to the Calgayr Zoo to see everywhere they look.(Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo) It's baby season at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. Officials say there are new additions for visitors to see everywhere they look. 'These arrivals aren't just adorable; they're part of important conservation work,' said animal care manager Patrick Thompson in a Tuesday news release. 'We hope they spark a love for wildlife in every visitor.' Already this year, the zoo has welcomed two Southern Bald Ibis chicks, three Spur-Winged Lapwing chicks, two North American River Otter pups, two Wood Bison calves, three Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur pups and a Humboldt Penguin chick. The zoo is also celebrating the pregnancies of the Malayan Tapir named Sempurna – who is expecting her first calf later this summer – and the Rock Hyraxes. It's also hoped there will be baby Turkmenian Markhors in the future as they've been observed breeding. Calgary Zoo babies Officials say there are new additions for visitors to the Calgayr Zoo to see everywhere they look.(Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo) 'Zoo babies are stealing the spotlight this summer,' Thompson added. 'They bring a sense of energy and wonder, making each visit feel fresh and full of surprises.'
