In the Know.................................................................................. Insider “tails,” tidbits and tips

The Ins and Outs

of Animal Transport - John Davis, Director of Animal Care and Welfare

The animal managers at Riverbanks provide a high standard of care and welfare to the animals during all hours of the day and in all weather conditions. They provide the same level of care to the animals onsite as they do for those being transported between zoos.

Ensuring the safe transport of animals is paramount and supported by a well-developed and thorough plan. Animal Transport Plans are developed by both the sending and receiving zoos to determine the best method of transportation (planes, no trains or automobiles), what items must accompany which animals while on the road, and if staff members should accompany the animals to ensure their safety. Size of the animal, distance of travel and time of year are all factors that are considered prior to selecting the best form of transportation. There are a few airlines willing to accept small mammals, birds and reptiles that can be flown to their destination in climate-controlled areas. Flight arrangements are carefully made to minimize travel time for the animals when long distances are a factor. Sending animals by plane requires direct flights, free of delays, which can often be challenging. Weather conditions are the most important criteria for airline transport as animals can only board airlines in temperatures between 45 and 85 degrees, greatly limiting the times of year when transfers can be scheduled. If temperatures are not suitable for flight or if animals are too big to fly on a plane, zookeepers hop into a van and head out on the highways, as they did recently, to pick up a female siamang and sloth. These adventures are opportunities for zookeepers to provide their normal animal care duties while on the road. Two keepers, one driver and one animal attendant/trip navigator, work together ensuring safe travels for everyone. Animal transport is a regular occurrence at Riverbanks. It seems like only a few months ago that Amelia the giraffe was born at Riverbanks, but she will soon turn two years old. While she will not be fully grown for a couple more years, it is time for her to join a breeding herd of giraffes at another zoo. Before she moves on for her new adventure, zookeepers will stock Amelia’s trailer with hay, browse, water and her favorite treats to ensure she has all she needs during her ride. Ironically, guests frequently ask, “how do you move a giraffe?” Ground transport for giraffes is the preferred and probably best option. Since giraffes normally reach heights of 14 feet, sometimes taller, they are not candidates for frequent flyer miles. Instead, they move between zoos in special, custom-built trailers like those made for horses but much taller. The trailers can be adjusted up to 15 feet to comfortably house giraffes during their journey.

As some animals leave, others will arrive. With only a few more months to go before the new rhino habitat opens, three Southern white rhinos will soon call Riverbanks home. Just as it takes time and effort to create their new exhibit, it takes time and effort to plan every detail of their travels to ensure a safe arrival. Stay tuned to a future “In the Know” column where I’ll share insight into rhino transport!

Nur‘sss’ery Time

for Reptiles Hanging on a Vine

-Karyn Wheatley, Herpetology Keeper

The reptile staff is pleased to welcome some new members of the Riverbanks family. We recently hatched a clutch of green tree python eggs. Adult green tree pythons are known for their vibrant green coloring, but the hatchlings look quite different than their adult counterparts with colors ranging from bright yellow, red or dark brown-black.

Green tree pythons are primarily arboreal, or tree-dwelling, so as the snakes emerge from the egg, they find nearby foliage and branches to climb up into. Their prehensile tails allow them to capture prey from above, striking downward while still holding on to tree branches.

The reproduction of green tree pythons is a project the reptile staff has been working on for the past year. Successful reproduction of this species has many stages from introducing males to females to artificially incubating the eggs.

The eggs are very delicate and rely on consistent high temperatures and humidity levels in order for them to hatch. After hatching, these neonates often need special care and observations from their keepers to ensure they are healthy. This care usually takes place behindthe-scenes which means our guests do not get to view our hatchlings until they are juveniles, or sub-adults… until now!

Riverbanks is excited to share that a new Nursery is coming soon to the Aquarium-Reptile Complex. There, guests will be able to view several different species of reptile and amphibian babies, like the green tree python hatchlings.

As many of our species reproduce at different times of the year, the babies that will be in the new nursery will vary. Guests will be able to see hatchling turtles, geckos, non-venomous and venomous snakes, and amphibian larvae and froglets. There also will be eggs incubating in the nursery, so you just may get to see a live hatching!