New Koala Joey Emerges from Mother’s Pouch at the San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo’s Conrad Prebys Australian Outback has a new resident, after koala mom Cambee gave birth to an adorable little joey. The little one was actually born last November, but only recently emerged from her mother’s pouch. Immediately, the joey clung to her mom’s back, and she will go everywhere with mom over the next few months. Animal care staff said they are thrilled with having a new joey, and can’t wait to get to know her.

“It is always fun when we get to work with koala joeys and watch their personalities develop, said Lacy Pearson, San Diego Zoo keeper. “At this age, she has not shown us her personality yet, but she is doing great, and has already started to eat eucalyptus leaves.”

The San Diego Zoo has the largest breeding colony of Queensland koalas and the most successful koala breeding program outside of Australia. Researchers at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research are studying koala populations, both at the Zoo and in the wild, to better understand the species’ complex ecology, mating behaviors and health. The information gleaned from this work will help further develop conservation strategies for koalas.

Zoo guests can see the koala joey and her mother, along with the other koalas in the colony, at the Zoo’s Australian Outback habitat. During Nighttime Zoo, June 19 through Sept. 5, the Zoo offers extended hours, allowing visitors to view the koalas during their more active hours of early morning and early evening. Nighttime Zoo features entertaining shows, music, animal encounters, the beautiful Centennial puppets, and much more. All Nighttime Zoo activities and entertainment are included with San Diego Zoo admission or membership. For guests who can’t visit the Zoo, the koalas can be viewed online, on the Zoo’s Koala Cam.

Nick Mertens

13 juni 2016

Rare Red Ruffed Lemur Born at the San Diego Zoo

First of Its Species to Be Born at the Zoo in 13 Years 

© San Diego Zoo

On May 18, 2016, a male red ruffed lemur was born at the San Diego Zoo’s behind-the-scenes Primate Propagation Center. It has been 13 years since the last red ruffed lemur was born at the Zoo, and excitement is in the air. 

The San Diego Zoo has a successful history of breeding red ruffed lemurs; in fact, more than 100 born have been born here since 1965. That success is attributed to the Zoo’s Primate Propagation Center, a facility specifically designed for breeding lemurs.

Red ruffed lemur Morticia is a first-time mom, but she has proven to be a great mother, said Kristen Watkins, a primate keeper at the San Diego Zoo. For the first week after the birth, it was important for keepers to get daily weights on the infant, to make sure he was gaining weight. A rising weight indicates that the baby is successfully nursing and that mom is taking good care of him. Morticia is willing to let keepers borrow her infant in exchange for some of her favorite fruits, but she is eager to get him back, Watkins said. The infant has been gaining about one-third of an ounce (10 grams) a day and is getting more active and aware of his surroundings. Although he currently weighs only 6.6 ounces (188 grams), red ruffed lemur babies grow up fast. During his first month, keepers expect him to be exploring outside of his nest, with Morticia watching closely.

This rare species is included in Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature SSC Primate Specialist Group, and every birth of a red ruffed lemur is a critically important one. They are only found in one region in the entire world: the Masoala Peninsula in Madagascar.

Guests at the San Diego Zoo can look forward to seeing the red ruffed family—and the rest of the Zoo’s amazing lemurs—when the new Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks exhibit area opens in summer 2017.

Nick Mertens

3 juni 2016

Discovery of New Genetic Diversity Renews Hope for the Survival of the Tasmanian Devil

San Diego Zoo Global Partnership with University of Sydney,

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Helps in Fight to End Extinction

© San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo Global, in partnership with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, is pleased to share encouraging news from staff at the University of Sydney. Following nine years of research into the genetics of the Tasmanian devil, the veterinary faculty has found new genetic diversity for the species after genotyping fecal samples taken in the UNESCO World Heritage site in southwest Tasmania.

Testing these fecal samples has confirmed that Tasmanian devils are living in the area, and that this population holds genetic markers different from those in the “insurance population” that is living in breeding facilities and zoos throughout Australia.

“We are excited, because it means that if we go and collect devils from the southwest, we will be able to increase the genetic diversity of our insurance population—but also to do genetic rescue to increase genetic diversity of devils across Tasmania,” said Kathy Belov, professor, University of Sydney. “Every effort should now be made to access devil samples from southwest Tasmania, to ensure the genetic diversity of the species is maintained in the longer term.”

Known for its pristine and rugged terrain, this area has no road access. Researchers must access the area by way of a long hike, a chartered boat or a hired helicopter. The funding requests for these access methods had been unsuccessful. The samples used for genotyping were secured by a collaborator who was hiking in the southwest area in January 2016.

“This discovery is a perfect example of academic research and conservation management working together for the greater benefit of the devil,” said Dr. David Pemberton, manager, Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

© San Diego Zoo

Rebecca Gooley, a Ph.D student at the University of Sydney, received the first round of testing results this week. The genetic testing was performed on fecal samples collected at four locations in southwest Tasmania, from five Tasmanian devils. Using 17 microsatellite markers, Gooley was able to show there were at least nine different alleles (a variant form of a gene) across three markers, with an additional four alleles giving a weak signal.

In addition to its partnership with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, San Diego Zoo Global is funding a post-doctorial fellow, Dr. Catherine Grueber, as part of the Devil Tools and Tech project that operates within the Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group, in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. This position is supervised by Kathy Belov.

The discovery of the Southwest population of Tasmanian devils, with new genetic variations, is a thrilling discovery for this species,”said Bob Wiese, chief life sciences officer for San Diego Zoo Global. “Our partners in Australia are working so diligently to prevent the extinction of the Tasmanian devil and we’re proud that their years of work are paying off and bringing new hope for the survival of this beloved animal.”

Tasmanian devils are facing extinction in the wild due to devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a rare, contagious cancer found only in devils. DFTD is transmitted from one animal to another through biting, a common behavior among devils when mating and feeding. The disease kills all infected devils within six to 12 months, and there is no known cure or vaccine. 

Nick Mertens

25 mei 2016