Posts Tagged ‘Primates’

Apr
26

How Do You Convince a Pygmy Marmoset to Have Babies?

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Mammals: Our Furry (and Hairy!) Friends,Primates

Pygmy marmosets. Those cute little monkeys found in South American rainforests. The tiniest on the planet. Wouldn’t it be just adorable if they had babies? Why yes, it would…but it’s a tricky business.

Pygmy marmosets: yep, they’re adorable.

As you may have read in recent blogs, pygmy marmosets have some unique characteristics, including what they eat and the way they parent. You may have also learned that pygmy marmosets, as well as 300 other species of animals, have a special plan for breeding in zoos to make sure they don’t breed with others in their family tree and that there is enough space for them.

Now let’s take that a step further: what is the Houston Zoo doing to breed them responsibly so we make sure that we’ve got enough marmosets in zoos, especially if the wild population takes a turn for the worse? Our pygmy marmosets happen to be some of the most successful at having babies of any zoo, so let’s take a look at what we think we’re doing right.

It all goes back to April 2006. Pygmy marmoset pair Per and Mia were both 4 years old and new to the Zoo, so before putting them out to roam with other animals in our Natural Encounters rainforest exhibit, we figured they needed some quiet time to get to know each other. And get to know each other they did…in a few short months, sure enough, twins arrived. We suspected that it was because they were kept in a quiet, smaller area, but at this point we weren’t quite sure.

Then came Bobby and Tilly. This pair was introduced when they were both 4 years old, which seems to be prime time for marmosets to get a mate. They turned out to be the most successful family the Zoo has ever had! They had a total of 8 offspring that made it to maturity.

Bobby, Tilly, and one of their offspring

The secret? We think it’s the same thing, which we called the “closet method” – let them get to know each other in a small, quiet space with no interruptions, and then they have babies. Once they have a couple births, we can introduce them to other animals and let them all frolic together in our rainforest exhibit.  This makes sense, because pygmy marmoset families don’t move around much in the wild – they have a small range where they live and they don’t venture out much beyond it.

To test the “closet method” theory, we’re working with the SSP coordinator to reach out to other accredited zoos and seeing how successful they have been in breeding marmosets, and also finding out basic information about how their marmosets live, what they do for enrichment and training, and even what they eat. If we understand how people are housing and managing them, and also what success in breeding they’ve had, we hope to establish a pattern and then help zoos around the country become successful with their marmosets.

So where are our marmosets? Right now, they’re all behind the scenes so they can relax and get to know each other. You never know when they’ll be ready to be in the rainforest, though, so keep an eye out when you visit.

Thanks to Abby Varela, Senior Keeper at the Houston Zoo, for the fantastic information and photos!

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Apr
25

Species Survival Plans: Helping Protect Animals in Zoos and in the Wild

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Conservation,Primates

In zoos, we have many animals that are endangered or threatened in the wild, and part of our job is to make sure we help protect them. One way we do this is through Species Survival Plans (SSPs). These plans are specially created for over 300 species of animals to make sure we take care of the population we have in zoos responsibly and work to protect their counterparts in the wild.

These plans are managed by an organization called the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In order to be a member of this organization, a zoo or aquarium has to go through a rigorous accreditation process to be sure they are providing a safe, healthy environment for animals, as well as caring for them properly, among many other standards. The Houston Zoo is proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

One way we do this is to be sure we have a large enough number of animals in zoos that are as genetically diverse as possible (for example, making sure animals that breed are not related). This is especially important, because if an animal is on the brink of extinction in the wild, zoos will have animals with diverse enough genes to breed with the wild animals and help bring the wild population back. An example of a success story was the reintroduction of the Arabian Oryx, which was declared as extinct in the wild in 1972. Because of the Species Survival Plan, there are now more than 1,450 Arabian Oryx worldwide.

Arabian Oryx

Let’s take the adorable pygmy marmoset, which we learned about in a recent blog, as an example of what an SSP does. First, experts from the zoo world figure out how many marmosets are living in zoos that can be a part of the Species Survival Plan. Then, they figure out if they want that population size to stay steady or to grow. In the case of pygmy marmosets, we want their population to grow. Then, we figure out the marmoset family tree…who’s related to who, and how. Then, we make a plan to keep introducing animals with different sets of genes so they will not breed with marmosets in their same family.

So how do we do all this, especially if many of the pygmy marmosets at the Houston Zoo are related (mom, dad, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles)? We move animals from one zoo to another. So if a male marmoset at another zoo isn’t related to our female, and the SSP thinks they would be a good breeding pair, we move one or the other so they can be together, breed, and (hopefully) have adorable, tiny, pygmy marmoset babies.

Pygmy Marmoset

But while we’re learning more about breeding, it’s not always an exact science…especially with animals like pygmy marmosets. Stay tuned for another blog about them, where you’ll learn why we’re one of the most successful zoos at breeding these animals, and what we think helps them have success.

Thanks to Abby Varela, Senior Keeper at the Houston Zoo, for the great information and photos!

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Apr
24

Pygmy Marmosets: Small but Mighty Monkeys!

Posted by in Behind the Scenes,Mammals: Our Furry (and Hairy!) Friends,Primates

If you’ve never seen a pygmy marmoset, just try to imagine the tiniest, most adorable, most delicate monkey you can think of – and you’re just about there. These tiny animals are literally the smallest monkeys in the world (about as heavy as a small pear), and they live in rainforests in parts of northern South America like Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru.

In the wild, pygmy marmosets dwell in trees and scurry up and down tree trunks and across branches and vines. They have nails resembling claws that help them hang onto trees while they use their teeth to munch through branches to access their favorite meal, which is tree sap (they also eat insects). When they have babies, they usually give birth to non-identical twins. They live in groups, usually ranging from 2-9 marmosets each: this includes a monogamous pair with offspring from the last 4 litters.

A unique feature of pygmy marmosets is called “alloparenting.” Alloparenting is when individuals that are not the parent help care for offspring (for example, siblings). Mom typically carries the babies for the first couple of days of their lives, then hands them off to dad most of the time, and often you will see brothers and sisters carrying the little guys around and caring for them. While alloparenting is pretty common among primates, marmosets and tamarins are unusual in that the males are involved in the care of infants – this isn’t the case among other primates. Pygmy marmosets are sometimes compared to gorillas in how they parent, keeping an incredibly watchful eye and letting the family eat before dad gets to eat. Sound familiar?

At the Houston Zoo, you can sometimes find pygmy marmosets in our Natural Encounters building. They live in the rainforest area with a host of other incredible animals, including golden lion tamarins, and even a sloth. Sometimes, though, you can’t see them, and for good reason – they need peace and quiet to breed and have babies, so we have a comfy off-exhibit area for them to stay while that process is happening.

How do we and other accredited zoos decide what animals should breed? It’s a highly calculated choice that is made to ensure both the survival of a species and that there’s enough room in zoos to house pygmy marmosets and many other kinds of animals. It’s called a Species Survival Plan (SSP). More on that coming soon in a future blog! In the past couple of years, the Houston Zoo has been one of the most successful zoo at breeding pygmy marmosets – it’s a tough thing to do. We’ll also tell you what we learned about breeding marmosets at our zoo and what we’re learning as we go.

Thanks to Abby Varela, Senior Keeper at the Houston Zoo, and the National Primate Research Center for the fantastic pygmy marmoset information!

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Mar
30

Double Point Days in the Naturally Wild Swap Shop

Posted by in Children's Zoo,Chimpanzees,Conservation,Endangered Species,Just for Kids,Primates,Spotlight on Species,Swap Shop,Uncategorized,Wortham World of Primates

How can you get DOUBLE points in the Swap Shop?  We are again offering double points for Nature Journals on the animals in the spotlight at the Houston Zoo. 

Chimpanzee

Nature Journals can be as simple as information on sheets of notebook paper.  They can be as detailed and elaborate as you like – the only limit is your imagination.  But remember, the more work you put into your journal, the more points you will get.  So, do some research and get ready for double points!  Please note that in order to get double points, the journal must be on the animal or animals in the spotlight and brought in the day of the event.

The upcoming Spotlight on the Species are as follows:

April 20 – Bear Awareness Day

May 17 – Endangered Species Day

May 25 – Chimpanzee Spotlight on the Species      

Ring-tailed Lemur

August 31 – Lemur Spotlight on the Species

Need more information on the Naturally Wild Swap Shop?  Click here.

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Feb
25

New Baby Sifaka Gains Weight!

Posted by in Births and Arrivals - New Animals!,Primates

This post written by Lynn Killam

Zenobia grooming infant “Julius”

Our new baby sifaka, born January 28th, is gaining weight nicely. How do we know this? Well, in this species, we implement management techniques that we practice with no other primate: we weigh the infant regularly. When most primate babies are born, we have a very strict hands-off policy, unless there is a problem of some sort. Thankfully, most parents take excellent care of their babies and we have very few medical issues in most cases. And, if we EVER tried to remove a primate baby from its mother, we would be in serious jeopardy of losing a finger, or worse! Most mama prosimians, monkeys and apes are fierce protectors of their infants and would not tolerate anyone trying to take their baby away for a weight or any other reason.

However, in Coquerel’s sifaka, we have a different strategy, learned directly from the Duke University Lemur Center/DULC where most sifaka are bred outside of Madagascar. In fact, a zoo cannot receive sifaka unless they send staff to DULC to study how to manage them in the way that they recommend. The Houston Zoo has sent three primate staff members to DULC to do just that, and we came away with a newfound admiration for all the technicians there who do this on a much more frequent basis than we have to, as they have a large collection of sifaka. While there, we learned that preventing infant mortality in sifaka is directly correlated with monitoring weights. Baby sifaka are quite tiny at birth, from 85-115 grams (3 to 4 ounces) and cling tenaciously to their mother’s belly for warmth and easy access to nutrition. They can, however, lose weight easily and lose grip on mother’s fur as they lose strength. To prevent this, we know how to intervene if even a few grams are lost in the first days of life: veterinarians are standing by to give needed fluids if a weight loss is discovered. In a quick and simple process, a decline is reversed and the baby goes right back to mom.

Baby sifaka being weighed.

The part of all this that remains the most challenging is the removal of the infant from the mother, and that is done with lightning speed by the keepers. Staff has worked with Zenobia using positive reinforcement throughout her pregnancy to help her be more comfortable with this process, but it is still a daunting task. We have a team of trained sifaka-snatchers who, like Ninja warriors, go in and grab the baby safely, seemingly even before mama “Zenobia” realizes that it has been spirited away. The infant is placed on a small stuffed surrogate so that it immediately has something similar to mom to cling to, and then is weighed on a gram scale. Keepers wear masks and gloves so that no danger of cross-contamination is present, and once a weight is obtained the baby is given right back to mom. If veterinary intervention is required, it happens with delicacy and speed, and before the mom gets too impatient the baby is safely back on her belly.

All of this is done with great respect for the impressive set of teeth in the lemur’s mouth: she has sharp canines as well as needle-like grooming teeth. Safety of the keepers as well as the sifaka is always paramount in the minds of zoo staff, who are acutely aware that a primate bite can be serious. We are very grateful that Zenobia seems to accept us removing her infant and getting it back to her quickly for these all-important weigh-ins. She has allowed it after the birth of all of her three sons, and she has been a terrific mother to all of them. After the infant is returned, she sniffs and grooms her baby vigorously as if to reassure him that all is well.

As with all zoo animals, sometimes extraordinary lengths are taken to ensure the health and welfare of our collection, and the husbandry of the sifaka kids is certainly one of those examples. And, as you can see from this photo, our new family is flourishing!

Zenobia with infant Julius and papa Gaius in the background.

 

 

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Oct
10

Conservation Gala Live Blog

Posted by in African Forest,Conservation,Events,Primates

Hello and welcome to the 2012 Houston Zoo Conservation Gala Live Blog. The post below is a documentation of both the Conservation Gala, and Jane Goodall’s speech at the Houston Zoo on October 10, 2012.

Feel free to browse through the events of what was a fantastic and inspiring evening.

 

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Sep
18

Baby Lemur Explores His World

Posted by in Births and Arrivals - New Animals!,Primates,Wortham World of Primates,Zoo News

This post written by Lynn Killam

Our new baby Ring-tailed lemur (recently christened “Howie”) is now 8 weeks old and growing up fast! He began life as a tiny replica of his mother Cairrean, clinging tightly to her belly, and has transformed into a pint-sized rodeo rider who sticks to his mama’s back like a pro as she navigates the exhibit. In the past couple of weeks, he has been getting off mom and delighting guests and keepers alike with his antics: bounding across vertical vines and branches and hopping into tree limbs, with the occasional fall into the grass as he misjudges his landing spot. He will pop back up unhurt and bounce back onto the safety of his mother’s fur, or occasionally, his papa’s back.

 

As you observe our lemur family, look for grooming behavior. Grooming is a bonding technique that all primates engage in, and it is quite pleasurable for the groomer and the “groomee”. Little Howie grooms his mother’s furry ears with gusto, and she will reciprocate by combing him thoroughly with her grooming teeth.

 

Little Howie seems curious about everything: from the wild grackles and doves that light on branches near him, to the Hottentot teals and Madagascar big-headed turtles who inhabit the exhibit with him. Travis the Crowned lemur and Beet the Red-fronted lemur also share their home with the Ring-tails, and they have surveyed each other with great interest. Howie’s father Tango is extremely protective of his new son, and has been seen scent-marking vigorously when Travis or Beet come too near.

 

Howie is starting to sample solid foods, although is still nursing. Come to the zoo to watch him grow and develop over the next few months!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sep
07

How Can Technology Save Great Apes?

Posted by in Mammals: Our Furry (and Hairy!) Friends,Primates

     In 1844, Samuel Morse sent the first message using a radical technology that would revolutionize personal communication. Messages that previously required days, or even weeks of traveling were suddenly delivered at unbelievable speeds over the telegraph. Through trail-blazing and exponential advances in technology, dots and dashes became voices, and those voices began expressing themselves through e-mails and text-messages. Improvements in technological communication have been embraced so greatly that we no longer limit our digital interaction to humans. Wildlife organizations and field researchers alike continue to explore the benefit of technology, and its place among animals. Just as those pivotal strides were made to affect human lives, great apes can significantly benefit from utilizing the varied tools of technology.

Orangutans play with iPads at the Houston Zoo

     It is no secret that a separation exists between the public and the plight of the great apes. A common attitude is one of distanced apathy. If a person is not directly exposed to something such as the devastation of palm oil deforestation, it is difficult to relate to that person on a level that results in conservation action. In order to truly save these great animals, we need to not only tell the stories of the great apes, but tell them in real-time. The weather reporter in the field creates concern for a storm, because he is standing directly in that storm. We too must report loudly from the middle of our storm. The current capabilities of Facebook, Twitter, and a number of other social media sites allow pictures and videos to be shared in up to the minute transmissions in a way that has not yet been widely adopted by organizations working with great apes. Social media is largely beneficial in that these programs place the animals directly in front of the public, beginning a relationship and hopefully establishing a foundation of environmental stewardship simply by allowing the person to log onto their favorite social media website. Utilizing this method of communication allows those working with great apes to spread their message thousands of miles instantly in an extremely cost efficient manner.

     When considering technology as a way to save great apes, we cannot rely on one particular device or program to tip the scales. In order to make a significant difference towards saving great apes, our conservationists, anti-poaching teams, and all those with close contact with these animals must become fluent in as many technologies as they have access to. As the current digital tools evolve, it is imperative that we stay abreast of trends in order to relate the message to the masses, who will also be adopting these new advances. Just as casting a wide net will catch many fish, casting a large digital shadow will result in more viewers, donors, and visits to conservation webpages.  We must arm ourselves not with guns and prejudice, but with technology and a passion to share the incredible lives of the great apes.

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