The Calgary Zoo thread

[Regulator75]

It happened again, 85 fish dead.
Yes they're Tilapia, (a garbage fish) but this shouldn't be happening.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...905/story.html

An equipment failure at the Calgary Zoo killed 85 fish in a pool they shared with hippos.

The failure of an ozone sensor has confounded zoo officials after they replaced the pool control system during post-flood repairs in the Savannah building in the Destination Africa area.

The malfunction killed nearly half of the pool’s population of tilapia earlier this week, with about 100 of the fish surviving the ordeal.

[DOOM]

Really? Lame thread title.

It's unfortunate what happened, but the animals at the Calgary Zoo receive great care.

The Calgary Zoo helps animals much more then it harms them.
http://www.calgaryzoo.com/about-us/c...ation-research

[Acey]

Hate to be that guy, but the thread title irks me a bit as it suggests negligence; I know several people who work at the zoo and how dedicated they are to the animals (more so than their own kids, I think...) They work long hours and do everything in their power to keep the animals safe and happy. The flood was devastating, and they put countless hours to get the zoo back in shape.

[Looch City]

I guess Stampede is over so we turn our attention (back) to the zoo?

[TurdFerguson]

Seems to me like a routine genetic strengthening exercise. The local species, as it exists in captivity, will be better off for it. Perhaps this will even lead to a stronger, more resilient tallapia population that we can share with the world!

/glass half-full man

[Nehkara]

I agree with the others in this thread. The thread title seems unnecessary and the Calgary Zoo does great work.

It's really unfortunate this happened.

[troutman]

I'm amazed people order Tilapia at restaurants. Hippo poop eaters.

[Regulator75]

I'm sure they do their best, but every year or so something happens that shouldn't. Perhaps the title is a bit harsh, so be it.

Even without the flood, lets try to recall the "reported" negligent incidents.

2 Penguins.
Entire tank of sting rays (40?).
South American capybara crushed under a hydraulic door.
Let's not forget the knife wielding Gorilla.

Zoo officials were criticized after a hippo died in 2007 after being transported improperly to Calgary.
The zoo has lost several animals over the past two years, including four gorillas and six-year-old Hazina the hippo.

A freak accident at the Calgary Zoo claimed the life of a goat after the animal became entangled in an exhibit toy.
A 2-year-old male Turkmenian Markhor, a type of wild goat, died after a rope became tangled around its neck before the animal lost its footing.
A Calgary family visiting the zoo witnessed the terrible accident. They say prior to the animal's death, they saw the Markhor in distress with a rope wrapped around its neck.

Aubrey Williams tells CTV News it was her family tried to get the attention of zoo staff, but claim it was several minutes before anyone showed up.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

It happened again, 85 fish dead.
Yes they're Tilapia, (a garbage fish) but this shouldn't be happening.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...905/story.html

So fish sticks on special at the cafe?

[Regulator75]

Let's not forget the sad state of the original Polar bear exhibit.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Let's not forget the sad state of the original Polar bear exhibit.

I need you to be more passive-aggressive in this thread.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I need you to be more passive-aggressive in this thread.

I'll try.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Let's not forget the sad state of the original Polar bear exhibit.

I remember that poor guy, walking in circles endlessly.

What about the exhibit (I think opposite the underwater Polar bear window) with all the items found in a seal's belly?

I know some of the volunteers as well, and they are super passionate. I wonder if the incidents at our zoo are typical for zoos that size?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Let's not forget the sad state of the original Polar bear exhibit.

They closed it.

San Diego still has a very sad polar bear exhibit as does the New York Central Park zoo.

The San Diego zoo has euthanized elephants recently, and lost a tiger in its breeding program

The national zoo in Washington lost a panda cub.

Animals in zoos die occasionally.

Calgary is a world leader in tiger breeding, giraffe breeding, they saved the whooping crane from extinction. They have done a lot of good work and have been humble enough to call in outside experts to evaluate their processes.

They also closed their elephant exhibit (a huge draw) because it wasn't large enough for the animals to live in a herd.

This is a zoo that cares about animals and is a world leader.

[JiriHrdina]

A lot of the cited incidents happened years ago. I would say they learned a lot and have improved, including moving out elephants not suitable for calgary. We are zoo members. They do terrific work.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by TurdFerguson

Seems to me like a routine genetic strengthening exercise. The local species, as it exists in captivity, will be better off for it. Perhaps this will even lead to a stronger, more resilient tallapia population that we can share with the world!

/glass half-full man

i can only wonder what kind of tune you will be sining as you entertain our talapia overlords......

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i can only wonder what kind of tune you will be sining as you entertain our talapia overlords......

I'd be worried if piranha took over the world, not tilapia.

I agree, the zoo is doing good work. Unfortunate though.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by GGG

They closed it.

Yeah, back in 1999 (I believe).

[terminator]

So to all the advocates of zoos or partcularly the calgary zoo:

Do you believe the Tigers live a happy life? What about the pacing brown bear? Or the eagle that has never stretched its wings?

[burn_this_city]

The Calgary Zoo does a respectable job with the animals in their care. It's incredibly difficult to keep a variety of animals healthy and happy. In the age of the internet and TV I think that keeping animals captive for education purposes is ridiculous. There's no reason to keep large intelligent animals in environments inadequate for their natural behaviour. I like that our zoo has focused on breeding endangered species, that should be the focus of zoos worldwide. The old days are gone and we know better than to keep animals we can't properly provide for in prison for their entire lives.