Maryland Zoo Highlight #2 -- A Walk around the Wetlands and Grasslands

 African Animals feature prominently at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.  Among the hoof-stock, two members of the genus Tragelaphus can be found.  Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii)  and Lesser Kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) are an excellent pairing for guests to see and compare the commonalities and differences of these two genetic cousins.  The most significant common trait are the spiraling horns that all of the males and some of the females in the genus share.  It is the reason for their genus' existence, in fact.  Other similarities include their markings made up of thin white stripes and spots.

Among their major differences are the fact that Sitatunga coats are thick and slightly shaggy, white Lesser Kudu bear short hair that tends to reflect sunlight with a little shimmer.  This makes sense when you know that Sitatunga live in swampy forested areas with lots of shade, while Lesser Kudu live on the open savanna's.   One of my favorite differences is in the way in which the two species react to danger.  Not surprisingly the Lesser Kudu are excellent runners and flee.  The Sitatunga, however, are excellent swimmers and they will seek safety by hiding in water!  They will submerse their entire bodies with the exception of their nostrils and wait patiently for the danger to pass.

The Maryland Zoo has very successful breeding programs for both species.  Presently, our most recent Sitatunga buck passed into Ancestry last autumn, and so our herd consists of nine females, eight adults and one yearling.  We are awaiting a replacement male as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums decides on the best fit for our herd to ensure the greatest genetic diversity within the stock of Sitatunga within their care.  Our herd of Lesser Kudu is a but smaller.  We have two long-time female residents: Lemon and Meringue.  Meringue is Lemon's offspring.  We have a young new Buck, Zahi, who will be turning 3 this year.  He's been with us just over a year and wasted no time getting together with Meringue, who last summer bore Mandazi, a lovely male.  As Mandazi matures, he will necessarily be transferred to another zoo where he can carry on his lineage.  Lemon is probably past calf bearing years at this point in her life.

Sitatunga females are this bright burnt umber color, while the males are a dusky hickory brown.

Zahi with his crown of spiral horns basking in the warm sun.

Also in this area you might encounter one or more of our Cape Porcupines.  The zoo is home to 3.  Our regal "old man" Kayin who is around 20 which pushes him past the high end of the average lifespan of his species by five years!  This past autumn, the Maryland Zoo received a younger pair from another AZA institution.  Rocco, the male, is deferential to Kayin, and doesn't come out into the yard when Kayin is out.  Dill, the female, on the other hand, seems to enjoy Kayin's company.

Old Kayin (pronounced Cane) also sleeping the warm sun.

Finally, on the bright, slightly cool breezy day of my visit the warthogs were out.  The Maryland Zoo is home to two, a companion pair.  Hodor is our male and he was born at the Detroit Zoo in 2015.  KeeWee is our female and a member of the last litter of warthogs born at the Maryland Zoo, also in 2015.  Warthogs are one of the species for whom life expectancy varies greatly between wild and captive populations.  In the wild a range of 7 to 11 is generally accepted; however, in the care of a zoo or wildlife refuge that can commonly live to 20 or beyond.  On this day, I caught KeeWee peering at me through the camouflage of an upended tree stump--which is incongruous when you consider just how poor warthog's eye sight is!  It is more likely that the sound of my voice caught her attention and then she's waiting to catch a whiff of human odor to confirm what her ears were telling her.