Interview with Lorraine Spence; Tygerberg Zoo, Endangered Wildlife Breeding Centre

"Never!" She exclaims

"Never!" She exclaims. "Maintenance is never finished it is an ongoing progress. Only phases of maintenance are finished this one I'm hoping to have done before peak season starts."

Tygerberg Zoo has been very successful in their breeding achievements over the years. A couple of years ago their tigers had a few cubs, which I remembered very well and asked Lorraine what happened to them. She told me they grew up and were sold to another facility. Tigers are solitary animals so she was unable to keep them at the Zoo.

Currently she's looking for homes for her racoon babies. All movements of endangered animals and their offspring are kept on record through a program called ISIS. ISIS is a non-profit organization that maintains computer-based information systems used by the worldwide Zoological community. ISIS members use the basic biologic information (age, sex, parentage, place of birth, circumstance of death, etc.) collected in the ISIS system to manage genetic and demographic programs for their animal collections.

Lorraine tells me she's applying for a particular marmoset from China for the Zoo, but doesn't want to share too many details about her application until has come through, however she's very excited about it.

She says only happy animals are breeding ones so special care is taking to each individual species with regards to their diet, closure and habitat. Each employee is trained in which animals receive what food and when. She also swops and exchanges certain species with other animal facilities in the Western Cape to ensure that the Zoo stays fresh and new for frequent visitors.

They are also involved in a lot of research and programmes both in South Africa and internationally. Lorraine tells a wonderful story about one of their storks that had a radio transmitter attached their leg to document its migration route for a research program. Unfortunately on-route home, the stork stopped over and was arrested as a possible terrorist due to its transmitter. Even after a phone call to the police to explain the situation, the bird was remained imprisoned for quite a while.

While there are many animal facilities in the Western Cape for monkeys, birds, lions and cheetahs, the Tygerberg Zoo is really one of its one of a kind and offers a variety of species ranging from reptile to bird, from hornbill to leopard, and marmoset to gorilla. They need local, national and international support to keep their good work going.

Interview with Lorraine Spence; Tygerberg Zoo, Endangered Wildlife Breeding Centre

By: Celeste

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