Salisbury Zoo: Salisbury, Maryland - part 3 of 5

 This section of the zoo is home to a couple of areas.  Along the southern perimeter are the habitats of the North American River Otters and the Spectacled or Andean Bears.  In the central area are a series of habitats devoted to animals native to Central America: Coatimundi, Ocelot, Emperor Tamarinds, Black-handed Spider Monkeys, Agouti and a couple of species of ducks.  This is an area that is currently the focus of some renovation and then site of the major redevelopment of the Andean Bear habitat.  The latter is a capital project with an initial price tag of $6,000,000.00.  Both ambitious and exciting.  Given the zoo's history of successful breeding of this species, it also elevates its most iconic animal.

In anticipation, the North American River Otter habitat is closed.  Which is a blessing, because it was over 50 years old and woefully lacking by any objective AZA standard.  I asked the volunteer at the table near the entrance about it on my way out and she agreed adding that there are plans to replace it after the major work of the Andean Bear habitat is completed.

The area of Central American animals was uneventful.  It's nestled into a thick little grove of towering long-needle pines and bamboo.  The White-nosed Coatimundi were not gone, but so was the entirety of their habitat: ergo, not simply "no en casa," but "no casa!"  The placement of their habitat would require it to be removed within the design parameters of the new Andean Bear Habitat, and listening to an interview with the zoo's Director, Chuck Eicholz, he mentioned a new home for the Coati coming sometime this fall.  Later, I came upon new construction near the Bald Eagles which I assume is going to be their new habitat.

So out with the old and in with the new!  No Otters, no Coatimundi, and the Ocelot, Agouti, and Tamarinds were also enjoying siestas away from the prying eyes of guests.  The Andean Bears?  Both mama, Chaska, and offspring, Raymi were out and about.  A quick review of the history of Chaska.  Chaska was born to mother, Billie Jean, and father, Nikki, at the Smithsonian National Zoo in 2012.  She is a Twin and her brother, Bernardo, was transferred to the Chester Zoo in the United Kingdom when she came to the Salisbury Zoo in 2014.  Her mother successfully bore three sets of twins before retiring 2023 at the age of 17 to the Cape May County Zoo in New Jersey.  And Chaska is proving to be equally as maternal.  

In 2015, she gave birth in January to a female cub named Alba, who was sired by 24 year-old male, Gritto.  A feat on his part that surprised many.  In October of that year, Gritto suffered a stroke and died.  Alba was transferred to the San Diego Zoo in 2016.  In 2017, a young male named Pinocchio was patriated to the Salisbury Zoo from Ecuador where he'd been rescued as a cub, and had grown up with no place to go, unable to be returned to the wild having been acclimated to humans.  in 2020, the pair produced a male cub, Sinchi--meaning "Strong" in Quichua.  Sinchi was transferred to the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania in 2021 (where I spent time with him on my July visit to that zoo), just in time for Chaska and Pinocchio's second iteration, twin males: Inti and Raymi.  Anticipating the need to relocate the animals during the construction period, and with the young males ready to strike out on their own.  Inti was transferred to the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin, followed by Pinocchio's move to the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee.  Later this month Raymi's passport approved, he will cross the "pond" like his uncle, Bernardo, and take up residence at Zoo Zurich in Switzerland.  As fate would have it, today, September 2, is his final day at the Salisbury Zoo.  And he was in rare form--what a gift to see him just before starting his new adventure. 

The current habitat is made up of two areas.  This large open yard with opportunities to climb and lounge in hammocks.

On this visit, Chaska was taking full advantage of the siesta in the hammock made from recycled fire hoses option until she heard something that caught her attention.

Unfortunately, the thickness of the chain link fencing made getting unobstructed photos impossible.  The only other option is a generous viewing carol with plexi-glass that was so smudged and filthy that even those images defied my ability to make them look sharp.  

The second area with its climbing tree and pool.

SPECTACLED [Andean] BEAR

Tremarctos ornatus

Partly Cloudy with a Change of Bear SHOWERS!

What goes up, must come down...
Bon Voyage, mon Beau Comarade!

Unfortunately the chain link conundrum was also present at the Black-handed Spider Monkey habitat, ergo, the only primates I could snap a pic of were the Homo sapiens sapiens kind!

Likewise, no Agouti or Emperor Tamarind were home, but a sleepy Gray Squirrel was happy to oblige!

Salisbury Zoo: Salisbury, Maryland - Part 2 of 5

 Crossing toward the center of the zoo, you encounter a pair of aviaries on either side of a rather generous habitat that is home to the Red-necked or Bennett's Wallaby.  The zoo added this collection of Australian fauna in 2018 redeveloping an area that had been a grassy lawn with a small habitat for a Bobcat.  The aviaries are home to a combined total of 5 bird species: Kookaburra, Tawny Frogmouth, Spotty Whistling Duck, Straw-neck Ibis and a pair of Masked Lapwing.  To date, the zoo has been successful at breeding the Wallabies.  

I applaud the zoo for making this choice in expanding its collection into a new geographic set of biomes.  The design of the area creates a lovely immersive experience and one where guests who are patient can really get some up-close time with the animals.  Visitors will also encounter the public restrooms and gift shop in this area.  There is a small food kiosk in the same building as the restrooms; however, it was closed and a small food truck offering ice-cream was parked in front of it.

A couple of views of the habitats.  You can the first aviary on your left with the second in the background to the right.

Closer to the viewing area for the Wallaby habitat and you get a better look at the second aviary.

STRAW-NECKED IBIS

Threskiornis spinicollis

As I was admiring these magnificent birds, a dad with his young son came up.  The boy was excitedly shouting, "Look, Dad!  Look!  A toucan!"  The Dad recognized the error and staired at the placard with the bird's image and some words on it.  Then he said, "I don't think that's a toucan.  It's an..." and then he proceeded to attempt to pronounce "ibis" in about half a dozen ways, none of which turned out to be correct.  Did I intervene?  No WAY!  Why would I spoil this kid's opportunity to see what a great dad he has?

Standing the edge of the habitat, I was scanning far and wide to catch a glimpse of the Red-necked Wallaby with I caught sight of a young couple enjoying the exhibit from another vantage point.  The young man was waving at me in a low-key, giggling his hand, sort of way.  When he had my attention, he made a downward pointing gesture, and damn, there he was.  Sitting practically at my feet!  I gave the stranger a thumbs-up thank-you.

Moving around to were the couple had been looking gave me an even better opportunity to enjoy the little guy.  Can you see him?

RED-NECKED WALLABY

Macropus rufogriseus

KOOKABURRA

Dacelo nonaeguineae

Looking down I caught sight of a pair of these little amazingly beautiful birds.

The female was very curious of my attention.  I wondered if she thought I was bringing food?

MASKED LAPWING

Vanellus miles

Salisbury Zoo: Salisbury, Maryland - Part 1 of 5

The Salisbury Zoo, just two hours from my home, is the county seat of Wicomico County on Maryland's eastern shore.  It is a lovely little zoo situated on just over 12 acres.  Aside from Salisbury University, I think it is safe to say that this zoo is the most significant public attraction in the city of around 33,000.  The zoo prides itself on being free to the public, and in a move absolutely unconventional for such zoos--the parking is also free!

A little background: founded in 1954, the Salisbury Zoo claims to be home to 150 animals--and just like every other zoo, I can't for the life of me account for that number!  The impetus for the zoo was the unregulated release of wild animals in the city park where the zoo remains today.  The first official animal was an abandoned fawn.  In 1963, The Bronx Zoo gave the Salisbury Zoo its first Alpaca and American Bison.  Over the years to come, the Salisbury Zoo narrowed its mission to focusing on species from the Americas.

Fast forward to 2017 and my first visit.  By this point, the zoo had for its size, an impressive cadre of animals: a Jaguar, Alpacas, American Alligators, an Ocelot, Geoffrey's Spider Monkeys, Coatimundi, American Bison and Prairie Dogs.  Also Capybara, Beaver, North American River Otter, White-tailed Deer, Flamingos, Macaws, Southern Rhea, Burrowing Owls and Roadrunners--and more.  Two additional species in particular: The Spectacled Bear (a.k.a. Andean Bear) and the Red Wolf were foci of Species Survival Programs.  

The bulk of the habitats were constructed during a boon time in the 1970's and were showing their age--wrapped in the "duct tape" and "chewing gum" of a caring and committed crew of keepers and support staff.  In 2020, they lost their Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation.  Among the issues were the lack of a full-time veterinarian and deferred maintenance of aging infrastructure and habitat components.  This led to the loss of the Jaguar, but the AZA provided a pair of Canadian Lynx in their stead.  Also, support continued for the zoo's extremely successful Spectacled Bear reproductive program.  One of the most fruitful in the country.

We'll begin this visit from the east gate with a cluster of habitats around the edge of the Wicomico River (a stagnant body of water that is more like an elongated pond that forms the northern border of the zoo.  What is there:

• American Alligator Habitat
• Spectacled Owl Habitat
• The William Morgan Conservation Center (hosts exterior habitats with Reptiles and Amphibians)
• Two-toed Sloth
• Caribbean Flamingo
• Green-winged Macaw
  

What I saw.  Alligator and Sloth no en casa.  But here's the rest!  Enjoy.

The East Gate Entrance.  I had such a nice chat with a lovely young woman volunteering at the table just beyond the chartreuse gate house.

The current Spectacled Own habitat.  Over the past few years, it's been home to other bird species.  At one point a veritable flock of colorful "chatty" Sun Conures.  

SPECTACLED OWL

Pulsatrix perspicillata

The William E. Morgan Conservation Center.  It was intended to be an education center, but the volunteer confided to me that apart from the exterior Herpetarium habitats, it's basically a storage facility.

There are four habitats with 6 species

SPOTTED TURTLE

Clemmys guttata

AMERICAN FLAMINGO

Phoenicopterus rubus

Now, boys...let's get along!

GREEN-WINGED MACAW

Ara chloropterus

Wild Turtle viewing deck on the Wicomico River.