Dalmatian Pelicans Make Their Zoo Debut
There are some new beaks in town! We are now home to four Dalmatian pelicans! If you’re wondering why these pelicans aren’t sporting any spots, it’s because their name comes from the…
Read MoreAs of August 26th, the City of Calgary has resumed Stage 4 Outdoor Water Restrictions while they complete urgent repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main. We will continue to adjust our daily operations to ensure compliance with the restrictions that are in place, while ensuring the safety, health, and well-being of the animals we love and care for.
We are taking the following steps to limit the use of city water:
Kinsmen Zooventure Playground, September 3-5: The Kinsmen Zooventure Playground in Destination Africa will be closed from Tuesday, September 3rd, through to Thursday, September 5th, to accommodate maintenance and resurfacing work.
Gateway to Asia, September 11: Gateway to Asia will open at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11th, to accommodate a private event.
Zoo Closure, September 19: The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will be closed to the public (including members and day admission) on Thursday, September 19th, 2024, while we host the final event of the 2024 AZA Annual Conference.
Zoo Closure, September 26: The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th for a private staff and volunteer celebration. The last entry for members and day admission will be 3 p.m. The zoo grounds will be cleared by 4 p.m.
Thank you for your understanding!
African Savannah Yard: Our Hartmann’s mountain zebras and ostriches will be off-view until the end of the year while we complete exciting upgrades in the African Savannah Yard, including the construction of a new Savannah Barn for the animals. Our giraffe tower will continue to be viewable throughout the project.
Thank you for your understanding.
Bite-Sized
Saying goodbye to the animals we love and care for is always difficult, but it is especially so when they have been a member of our zoo family for a long time. Earlier this month, we said farewell to our beloved male cougar, ‘Odin’.
At 15.5 years old, Odin was considered geriatric for his species. In recent years, he had been under the diligent care of our Animal Care, Health, & Welfare (ACHW) team for age-related health challenges like progressive kidney disease and stiffness associated with arthritis. Although he responded well to this care for the past 1.5 years, he recently started to show signs of increased difficulty when moving around and decreased muscle mass. When his well-being began to rapidly decline, the ACHW team made the compassionate decision that euthanasia was in his best interest. Odin’s necropsy confirmed the progression of degenerative changes to his kidneys, to multiple joints, and his spine.
Odin came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo from a BC wildlife rescue facility in 2010 after being orphaned in the wild in 2009. With the median life expectancy of male cougars in human care being 13.6 years, Odin’s advanced age at the time of his passing reflects the exemplary care he received from our ACHW team throughout his golden years.
This big cat leaves behind a big legacy here in Calgary and beyond, having touched the hearts of staff, volunteers, and visitors throughout his long life with us. Please keep Odin’s dedicated care team in your thoughts during this difficult time.