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News Bites
The latest noteworthy news from
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MADAGASCAR
GIANT DAY GECKO
WELFARE Permanent
Layover diligently to save these animals’ lives and
rehabilitate them, although in some cases,
O’Hare International Airport is one of the the animals are in such bad shape that they
busiest transportation and shipping hubs require euthanasia.
in the world. On any given day, a large Wild-caught animals that are confiscated
number of shipments containing animals usually are not released back into the wild.
arrives at and departs from the airport. Wildlife experts don’t know exactly where
Sometimes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service they were captured, or the country of
(FWS) confiscates these shipments due to origin may not want them back. Plus, once
SPINYTAILED improper permits, unsuitable crating that in human care, they could transmit diseases
LIZARD can jeopardize the welfare of the animals, back to wild animals. Those born in human
or even animals in deplorable health during care cannot survive in the wild because
inspection. At these times, FWS relies on they have never learned the appropriate
institutions like Brookfield Zoo to take behaviors that would allow them to survive.
animals during litigation procedures. We work with FWS to find permanent
Each year, FWS asks us to house homes for these animals in zoos, aquariums,
hundreds of animals, some in need of and related facilities accredited by the
medical attention. Confiscated animals Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
that are wild-caught and shipped into the We have also added rescued animals to our
country usually face health threats such own populations, especially when doing
as malnourishment or a high parasite so increases the genetic and demographic
load that can deplete their health and diversity of our programs.
immunity. Even when animals are bred You can spot some of our newest
under human care, their health can rescued travelers around Brookfield Zoo.
deteriorate quickly if the shipper did HABITAT AFRICA! THE FOREST proudly displays a
not crate them properly. Our animal Madagascar giant day gecko, and REPTILES
care specialists and veterinarians work AND BIRDS houses spiny-tailed lizards.
6 GATEWAYS | NEWS BITES
