Maryland Zoo (from June 9)

My first adventure back out into the world beyond work and home was a jaunt up to the Maryland Zoo.  I am a member there, so admission is already covered for me.  From my home in the DC suburb of Takoma Park to Druid Park in Baltimore is about 40 minutes door to gate--my commute to work take longer most days (a lot longer!)

For this post I am just going to share some of the photos from that visit as I have so often shared about this zoo from in the past both here and in my previous blog "randuwa.blogspot.com" (a blog that I have lost access to with blogspot and no amount of sending help emails has ever gotten a reply from this mothership....)  I will add comments where it makes sense with the images.  It goes without saying--although I will say it here:  I do love this zoo and believe it is doing right by the animals in its care and bringing awareness of the larger issues of ecology and conservation and human dominion/husbandry over our fragile planet to the community.  Not to put too fine a point on it.

PENGUIN COAST

The Maryland Zoo's African Penguin habitat is the best one in North America.  It opened in 2013 and provides a home to the largest colony of these birds outside of South Africa.  This year it celebrated the birth of Millie--the 1,000th African Penguin chick born here since the program began.  The amazing complex is also home to two trios of other African birds: the White-breasted Cormorants and the Pink-backed Pelicans.

These first images are of some of the solo birds; however, there are currently 86 African Penguins in the colony with a capacity of 100-110 birds.

To meet Pink-backed Pelicans is to love this beautiful member of this unique species of birds.  Of all the pelicans in the world, this species is the most beautiful to me. 

AMERICAN GRIZZLY BEARS

Back in the winter of 2017, the Maryland Zoo took on the responsibility of caring for a pair of orphaned Grizzly Bears sisters.  Found motherless in Montana and initially cared for by the Montana Bureau of Wildlife Management, the girls needed a forever home and returning them to the wild was not a good option.

The Maryland Zoo was also facing a hard reality concerning one of its signature exhibits, The Polar Bear habitat.  Once the home of 3 amazing Polar Bears, it is now down to a single Polar Bear with no prospects of acquiring more in the foreseeable future.  Other zoos are grappling with this reality, too.  Most notably the Philadelphia Zoo which just turned it's former Polar Bear habitat into a new home for it's Humboldt Penguin colony.

The sisters are easily distinguishable as one is large and one is small.  They began their lives at the Maryland Zoo under the monackers "Big Bear" and "Little Bear".  After the typical naming contest, they were christened "Nova" and "Nita".  Nova means "chases butterflies" and replaced little bear's title.  Nova simply means "bear" and is now the name of Nita's larger sister.

THE AFRICAN JOURNEY

The Maryland Zoo has four focus areas: An interactive Farm, animals of North America, animals of the Polar regions, and Animals of Africa. 

SITATUNGA: A SIGNATURE SPECIES

Of the hoofstock species representing Africa, the arboreal antelopes, Sitatunga, represent a signature species.  They are also a great example of breeding success.  This past autumn, three calves were born to the herd and increased its current size to 12 animals.  When you look at them, you can see in their markings, coloration, and horns striking similarities to the species of Bongos.  You can also see their unique qualities.  Likewise they have shared aspects with the Kudu and Waterbuck species. 

This three images features females.  They are smaller and redder in coloration than the males.  Don't find their combination of stripes and spots gorgeous.

A small group of Addra Gazelles (also called Dama and/or Mhorr Gazelles) resides at the Maryland Zoo.  This is a Critically Endangered species from Africa's drought plagues and war torn Sahel region.  They are part of AZA Species Survival Plans (SSP), but success has been spotty.  The Philadelphia Zoo is down to one Elderly female and looks to drop it from their collection when she passes, while the four members of the National Zoo's herd grew to seven with three successful births there this past year.

The zoo also has a trio of Lesser Kudu which it hopes will breed, as well.  They share the space with the Addra and a pair of Saddle-billed Crane.

AFRICAN AVIARY

The Maryland Zoo has a wonderful walk through aviary for its African birds (also another for its North American birds).  I love walkthrough aviaries.  You really get a chance to see the birds from many angles and without the annoying filter of wire meshing or glaring glass.

 Hadada Ibis

 Von der Decken Hornbill

 Hamerkop

Waldrapp Ibis

The Blue-bellied Rollers are the most colorful inhabitants of the aviary.  There are no songbirds per se, I think owing to the ease at which smaller birds can escape.  Most are water-birds, but the Blue-bellied Roller is the exception.

 BEYOND THE AVIARY - MORE AFRICAN SPECIES

The zoo is home to a pair of Common Warthogs.

EXCEPTIONS

There are a couple of species that are exceptions to the Maryland Zoo's geographic focuses.  Two from Central America/Caribbean ecosystems (and arguably both regions are technically part of North America) are Panamanian Golden Poison Dart Frogs and Caribbean Flamingos. 

The Panamanian Golden PD Frog is virtually extinct in the wilds of Central America.  Not even it's iconic status as Panama's National Animal could stop the devastation wrought by a fungal virus transported to the region from Africa, presumably by tourists or scientists or conservationists who had been to Africa previously.  Ironic.

 
The Caribbean Flamingo is the most brightly pink-orange member of this species with just six members.  It's also a slighter bird in size that it's more commonly kept Chilean Flamingo.