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Transfer Animals continued
Substitute Creature
Our Share the Care program
invites friends of Brookfield
Zoo animals to show they
care by choosing an animal or
species to support. Currently,
we include 190 species—from
addax to white-cheeked
gibbons—in our popular
adoption program.
But what happens if “your”
animal transfers to another
institution? In nearly all
cases, we transfer your care to
another animal of the same
species here at Brookfield Zoo,
sometimes even the offspring.
When it’s time for Share the
Care renewal, we make sure
to let you know that we have
transferred your care to another
animal, and we provide you
with information about that
animal. And when we receive
from another institution a new
animal eligible for our Share the many organizations, new generations can
Care program, we often make
it available for adoption, too.
24 GATEWAYS | ALL THE RIGHT MOVES
to avoid moving a male into a troop where
another male resides. You may recall that
Ramar was already living independently
before JoJo came to Brookfield Zoo. With
primates, we also try to maintain family
ties and are proud to house seven gorillas
representing four generations at Brookfield another example of an animal recovery
Zoo. In contrast, dolphin social structure
is matriarchal, so males are more likely
to change institutions than females are.
Bird species are more flexible and we can
move either a male or female. However,
we avoid separating pairs of birds like
macaws, which form long-term bonds.
When we move animals as part of an
SSP, we are improving the diversity of a
threatened species’ gene pool so it may
continue to survive, hopefully even thrive, have been reintroduced in Puerto Rico
on Earth.
Reintroduction to the Wild
For some animals, populations are
dwindling in the wild but their habitat
is not particularly threatened, so with
careful monitoring and a thoughtful
breeding program maintained among
be reintroduced to their natural habitats.
For example, we are proud to have been
selected to participate in the Gray Wolf
Recovery Plan.
The care of animals in reintroduction
programs is very different from others
because they must learn survival skills.
Animal care staff do not interact with
the animals. They try to be as hands-off
as possible. In fact, we want the animals
to be leery of humans so they don’t run
into trouble once they are reintroduced to
native habitats.
As with the AZA SSPs, coordinating
organizations—in the case of gray wolves
it’s the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—
direct which animals living in different
institutions should breed, and with
painstaking assessment and care, they
also determine which animals should be
released to the wild and when. Thanks to
the success of this program, 97 Mexican
gray wolves are back in their native habitat
in the southwestern United States.
Puerto Rican crested toads are
and reintroduction program in which
we participate with other organizations.
The only toad native to Puerto Rico, this
species is critically endangered in the
wild. We keep a few of the amphibians
on display so zoo guests can learn about
their conservation story, but those bred
for reintroduction are separated from
the rest and carefully handled to prevent
the transmission of disease from other
toads. Since 1992, hundreds of thousands
from more than 20 participating zoos.
Animal Welfare
Sometimes it is in the best interest of a
particular animal or its group to move
an individual. In the wild, it is normal
for the offspring of many species to leave
or be pushed out from the group. It’s
nature’s way of dispersing genes to avoid
inbreeding and promote robust genetic
diversity. For some animals, staying in
a group can even be problematic for
them. For example, at a certain age,
male lions are pushed out of a pride.
When animals in managed care are no
longer reproductive and space is limited,
institutions may opt to transfer them
where there is more room. To prevent
problems in social structure, an institution
may house only the males or females of a
particular species, such as gorillas.
Again, in every instance, we ensure
the safety and well-being of the animal,
whether transferring from our facility to
another zoo or vice versa. In instances
when the partnering institution is not
an AZA member, we are rigorous in our
inspection of its facilities and staff to
make sure they are as deeply committed