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Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Zookeepers found this bright-eyed squirrel monkey infant slinging to its mother's back on Sunday morning, June 24. It was born sometime over night. These petite monkeys are quick on their feet, so look closely to see baby when you come through the South America exhibits at Dickerson Park Zoo. Another female is expecting, too, so soon there will be two babies!
The maned wolf is found in open, grassy habitats of central and eastern South America. Their long legs enable them to peer through tall grasses while they rotate their large ears to listen and search for prey.
Maned wolves are nocturnal and feed on small animals, ants, grubs, fruits and berries. While hunting, the maned wolf taps the ground with a front foot to chase out prey, and then pounces to catch it.
With an estimated wild population of 2200-4500, the maned wolf is threatened by extinction. Populations are dwindling due to habitat destruction from agricultural development. Conservation efforts are being made by instituting a species survival plan and protecting wild habitat.
Dickerson Park Zoo is currently home to six Maned wolves including 5- month old pup, Meek, pictured above. With only approximately 96 maned wolves in captivity in North America, the zoo takes pride in the maned wolf breeding program.
To the delight of zoo guests and zookeepers, the birth of a giraffe calf today at Dickerson Park Zoo made Father’s Day even more special.
The calf, which stands between five and six feet tall, was born shortly before noon. The mother, Cheka (pronounced CHEE-kah), is a 14-year-old giraffe that came to Dickerson Park Zoo from the San Diego Wild Animal Park in May 1995. The calf, Cheka’s sixth, is unnamed.
Cheka gave birth in the zoo’s exhibit yard while curious zoo guests and watchful zookeepers looked on. Cheka was among the rest of the giraffe herd, including the sire, 20-year-old Stretch. This is third giraffe birth this year for Dickerson Park Zoo and the zoo’s twenty-fourth overall.
Guests can view Cheka and the newest calf in the exhibit along with Gidget and Kamili, the zoo’s other adult females, and two juveniles – the calf’s half-sisters Mia (born in January) and Olivia (born in February).Two other giraffes, Emma and Hitaji, are in an adjacent yard.
