Seeing Pacha! - Tapir And Other Puente Notations

After being unsuccessful in seeing Pacha's face on my first try the Thursday before, I jammed there first thing (last) Monday morning.  

I didn't notice signage last week, but was drawn to it immediately once I observed he wasn't out yet.  The photo is my Goobie!  I am so happy to see Goober's face here.  It's a wonderful nod to him, he was a beloved Zoo Friend to myself and many, and I know he will be there watching over Pacha.  

I don't think the Zoo used his photo, or our beloved Tallulah Chimpanzee (at the new Chimp yard), as a tribute to these wonderful passed residents, but to those of us who love them, it means something.  

When it was time for Pacha to come out, I positioned myself to be able to view him as close as possible when he came out.  This view is inside passage way, next to the Anteater inside viewing window.

In my first video, you can hear me say two things of note... I mention the spots on his footies.  I was told to look at his feet, as he still has his babie spots visible!  This is the closest I'll get to a babie Tapir, unless Pacha gets a breeding partner in the future.  So, seeing his little watermelon toe spots is special, make sure to look for them! ... I also wonder outloud, when I see Evita Anteater pass by the fence, if there will be interaction between them.  There wasn't, but when I got home and looked for Pacha content on the Zoo's socials, they coincidentally posted a video from the same position, and scene, that shows them interacting.  Check it out!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9xGddTrPCn4&si=nGU0kw1bijpbUWmv

https://youtube.com/watch?v=VaS3POmltaQ&si=MpWDszrw47CZbms6

I asked the Curator whether my friend Cusco, the Guanco, would be coming back to the Puente after Pacha was over quarantine and was told no.  He is now being housed off exhibit permanently.  Cusco is one of my besties, I love visiting this guy, so this makes me very sad to hear, as now I will never see him again.  Cusco was hand raised and is used to seeing people, and liked waiting to see his train go by, and now he doesn't get to see either.  

I've written before that I think they need to clean-up South Gate area, where Hoofstock species previously were, so those areas can be used.  That or by the Przewalski maybe there's a space that could be renovated for him.  Cusco should be visible.  ...  The Farm has also just popped into my mind, as I'm writing this.  Maybe he would do well there?  Maybe he and Slider could be companions?  Both were hand raised, maybe they would get along?  I may be on to something!  Will investigate the possibility.

Upon hearing news that Cusco won't be coming back to Puente, I asked whether there's been talk about bringing back Capybara to this enclosure, as not only were they popular, but Pacha has lived with them before and it would be nice for him to have companions.  There has been no talk of it.

I forgot to ask about the female Spectacled Owl that was listed in Acquisitions.  I'm curious if she will be housed with our male, Quetzal, here at Puente.  Will seek that info and share when I know.

Related Post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2023/11/meet-pacha-zoos-new-tapir.html

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Fossa Finally On View! - Hi Violet!

Getting back to posts I wrote a couple weeks ago. Finally getting to adding photos and video links.

In early October, I had been round to try and see the Fossa, in the Madagascar, eternity to complete exhibit, a couple times.  

The exhibit is split into two enclosures, one at ground level and one upstairs.  I never liked the idea of this, in fact thought, Why the hell would anyone think putting these Animals on top of a concrete structure was a good idea.  My first impression is, it's too small, and awkward looking.  I don't like it for them.  From what I first heard, it sounded like they would have full access to top and bottom, but then I learned they can not be housed together, so there it is, each one gets a small area.  

At the time, there was supposedly some kind of issue with the bottom enclosure, so the male hadn't been moved down from FCC yet.  The female initially had access to the bottom, which I heard she liked, but is now exclusively on the top level only.  Hopefully they will be rotated between the two areas.

I scanned the enclosure for her, and saw her sleeping on the ground by the shift door to the lower level.  After hearing that she liked the lower level, I felt bad she was sleeping by the door, seemingly waiting for it to open so she could go in.  I don't know, obviously just my thought.  I said, Hi Violet. She continued sleeping, so I waited hoping to eventually see her face.  I was looking at the phone for something, when about a minute later, I heard patter, and turned my head.  She had come over, right up to the fencing to greet me!  It was so sweet! and I'm lucky their footies make a good slapping sound on the cement, or I wouldn't have seen her.

Hi Kim!

My video, includes overview of enclosure:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GQ6nlpw8RxI&si=nD05WozDHm5twf-Y

In case you think the Fossa are new to the Zoo, they have been here near six years.  Like other wonderful Animals, they were kept hoarded away in various places.

Meet our Fossa ("Foosa") female Violet and male Dorian, in this post I did over five years ago when I finally got to see them for the first time.  They were being kept in an awful caged area, that was behind the scenes but viewable.  They had arrived at SFZoo eight months earlier, and held hostage in either the hospital and/or a quarantine area.  

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/03/sfzoo-stop-collecting-animals-you-have.html

Anyway, glad we are all getting to finally have access to view this beautiful species.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Meet Bajkit and Solonga - New Przewalski Horses

Getting back to posts I wrote a couple weeks ago. Finally getting to adding photos and video links.

Also on Halloween day, I got lucky and was told the new Przewalski Horses were out, so I went over to see them.  I've had physical limitations last couple months, so I haven't been that far in awhile.  When I first walked up, their neighbors, the Peccary ladies were lined-up close to the fence, trying to get a look at them!

They are beautiful!  They seem a bit shy, but when I talked to them they stood and looked at me.  So, shy, but curious I think.  

Here's the video of my first view.  You will hear that I had not previously learned how to pronouce this species, which is lame, since I've known for some time they were being acquired.  So for those who are not familiar like me, Przewalski is pronounced, "Shuh-vahl-skee".

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g7_l-1BZs8Y&si=f_nAnVpVHFiVb-em

Our two ladies are Solongo age 14, and Bajkit, pronounced "Bah-keet", she is 19 years old and the darker of the two.  Get to know them, as the Zoo will most likely change their names.  

This video from Brookfield Zoo where they moved to SFZoo from.  This was a great post that talks about the two females as individuals and the breed in general.  It's where I got the pronuciation of Bakjit's name. 

https://fb.watch/osi74kEjg5/?mibextid=NnVzG8

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Animal update from the same day...  

Andean Condor Claudia, who was moved back down to the main Zoo (to the previous Bobcat enclosure) from an off exhibit enclosure at FCC, has been relocated to the Puente.  When Claudia first arrived at SFZoo she was housed there, but taken off exhibit over four years ago.  

It was a surprise when I happened upon her sunbathing at the Puente.  Claudia is a special friend who I spend extended time with.  She will always comes to greet me, and just hang next to me for as long as I will stay there with her.  

I have a nice video of her flying down to greet me, but for some reason saving to upload to YouTube isn't happening now.  Here's a few screencaps.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Happy Birthday Slider!

Getting back to posts I wrote a couple weeks ago, finally adding photos and video links...

As I keep noting, I'm behind in so many posts. There have been Animal updates I've wanted to make in the recent times and just didn't get that far.  So, working backward, I'll start with Halloween day.

One of my besties is my Farm Friend Slider. Born October 31, 2009, Slider celebrated his 14th Birthday on Halloween.  

I inquired with a Keeper several days prior, to see if he could have Birthday treats.  It had been years since, and it was about time to start celebrating his Birthday again.  I was thankful everyone was on board, and very happy to get to once again spend Slider's special day celebrating with him while he enjoyed his cake and other treats.

Here are two of my videos from Slider's Birthday party!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=j8F9nVCVylKxzO0u&v=SE0-A720FqM&feature=youtu.be

https://youtube.com/watch?v=af8jqs9BImI&si=0dyWtjMj-LsIen4w

I Love this boy and so happy to see him!  It had been awhile, usually I have to talk to him from the barrier fence in the parking lot.  The only place to view him, is in the sand corral and I've seen him there less than half my visits over the past several years.  He has been kept most often out of public view, either in the grass corral or his bedroom area.  He often is in one of those places all day, only coming out to the sand corral on average about four times a week.  In my opinion he doesn't get rotated enough.  He definitely shouldn't be in the back grass corral or bedroom for entire days.  He should have access to the other areas for at least a couple hours each day.  Not only for his own enrichment, but he has lots of friends who rarely get to see him.  Management needs to make this happen.

He used to go to the front area on red barn side, but hasn't been given access there since his birthday four or five years ago.  He loved it!  See him running along side his friend Lee in my video below.  In the clip, you can hear his Keeper say, "it's exercise" and "he loves people".  Why he's been denied these varied enrichments for so long is beyond me.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WhQfyLhy8C0&pp=ygUPbGVvODExc2Ygc2xpZGVy

He also had access to the yellow barn contact yard (one time?), when the farm reopened after the shutdowns.  Another great space for his friends to visit with him!  

Seeing my cute friend after no face time for months.  I think he missed me as much as I missed him!

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While waiting for Slider's party, I stopped at Meerkats, who were still actively enjoying their Halloween Enrichment.  

This is male Mkhaya.  Named by a Curator, it is the name of Mkhaya Game Reserve, a nature preserve in Swaziland, South Africa.

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Face-time With Tica! - Finally Seen Our Ocelot!

While I may not have seen Pacha our new Tapir on my visit Thursday, I got super lucky, and after almost six months, I finally saw our lady Ocelot, Tica!

When I went round to try my luck, I saw there is now a nest box up at the viewing window.  She was napping, but when I excitedly saw her, I said Hi Tica, and she got up and looked at me :). So happy to see this beautiful little girl's face.  And her nesting material is in a heart shape!

Good to see she seemed comfortable.  It took her along time to get used to being in view.  From outside sources, she allegedly came from places where she was not on public view, and possibly had never been outside.  

Look forward to seeing more of Miss Tica!

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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Meet Pacha! - The Zoo's New Tapir!

It's been at least a month since I read in the Joint Zoo Committee Minutes that our SFZoo would be getting a Tapir!  To say that this news was exciting, is an understatement.  Anyone who knows me, knows I had bond with our beloved Tapir, Goober.  I loved my friend Goobie, and miss him everyday.  He was the first Tapir I knew, and immediately became endeared to the species.  He is the reason this blog is named, I Am Not An Anteater, and his photo is the background.

When there is a new Acquisition, I try to learn everything I can about that Animal.  Mostly for my own knowledge, but since the begining of my research on all the Animals in 2008, I also enjoy sharing what I've learned.  One of the things I am passionate about, and no surprise by this, is knowing their original names.  I'm a name purest, and have made it no secret how I feel about name changing.  I'm sure the Zoo will waste no time Re-Naming him, so I'm here to tell you, his name is Pacha!

I immeadiately found it was most likely two-year old Pacha who would be moving here from his birth Zoo in New Orleans.  I had planned to share info right away, but there is still tough stuff going on in my life, that either puts me at momentarily motivated, or doing nothing at all.  So here we are, a month+ later and Pacha is already here and out on view.

Within an hour of hearing he was out, I changed my errand route direction and headed to the Zoo.  Overcome with emotion, I had tears streaming, at the possibility of seeing a Tapir again.  All I saw was his little backside peeking out from behind the lean-to, while disappointing not to see his face, I was happy just knowing he was there.

Get to know Pacha.  Born on July 2, 2021, to Mama Ixchel and Papa Tybalt, he was the first Baird's Tapir born at the Auduon Zoo.  

Read about his birth and see his adorable babie photos...

newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org/endangered-bairds-tapir-born-at-audubon

When Pacha was a year old, he picked his own name out of three chosen by his Animal Care Staff.  I'm personally glad he chose this name.  Pacha is translated in the native Quechua language, to "world above", which is rooted in Incan Mythology of the Cosmos.  I love the meaning.  One can hope, Pacha will be able to keep his name, but one can not hold their breath on that.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mItsN6Z0xjU

Yesterday I saw that his home Zoo gave him a send-off, with Going Away themed Enrichment.  

https://m.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100077266899460&story_fbid=347113224540905

Hoping to get lucky and see his face this week!

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Blogger's Statement

"Personal Opinions and Facts presented publicly are Not against the law or any rules. ... Censorship and Retaliation Actions in an attempt at Suppression are frowned upon by Healthy Societies."

For Full Statement see this post:

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-zoo-status.html

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