Author Topic: Waterhaven Zoo and Aquatic Center (Read 18908 times)

Nique · « **on:** June 08, 2006, 09:00:40 AM »

Welcome to the North America Zoological Research & Rehabilitation Association!

NAZRRA’s mission is to guide, encourage and support the zoos, aquariums, and like-minded organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, environmental education and global conservation. Though we do run a fully functional zoo, our main operations are in research and rehabilitation. Other zoos, organizations and concerned citizens are able to contact us when they need help in relocation of animals or rehabilitation of injured or sick animals.

If you have any animal concerns, please write to our staff and a tactical team will be on its way as soon as possible. Also, all of our animals in our care are up for adoption while they are staying with us. If you choose to help care for an animal, you will receive an adoption certificate that you can print.

*Note: additionally, I will be using ‘real news’ items from around the world as inspiration

_____________________________________________

Dateline: June 8, 2006
Good Morning! As the newly appointed liaison for NAZRRA, I thought I might give you a quick rundown of our organization. We began our zoo with $1 million dollars and have been lucky enough to have plenty of money reserved for research and rehabilitation of our animal friends here in the sanctuary. Right now, we have 36 animals with 13 babies on the way.

Our Animal Guests:
4 Bongos
4 African Buffalo
3 Drom. Camels
2 Caribou
3 Addra Gazelles
4 Thomson’s Gazelles
2 Moose
4 Musk Ox
2 Scimitar Horned Oryx
5 Peafowls
3 Zebra

These animals all came to us from Cumberland, Maryland where there was a tragic fire at a privately owned zoo back in March. From an article in the Globe, "You can imagine the chaos," said Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Allen Gosnell.

The fire's cause still hasn’t been determined.

Zoo owner Robert Candy said 70 to 100 animals died and the fire heavily damaged the building. Another 50 to 60 animals, including lions and tigers, were kept outside and survived. Those that survived were temporarily housed in several different zoos and organizations such as ours. Last month, Candy contacted NAZRRA and stated that those we continued to house, could be released to the wild as soon as we feel they are fit.

As you can see our Bongo family is thriving in our facility! They have kept our staff busy the last two days, having 2 new babies within 12 hours of each other!

Our African Buffalo are also doing great since thier move, and had their own new arrival just yesterday.

Don't forget! Please feel free to contact us here at NAZRRA if you need help or if you would like to name or adopt any of our animals while they are here with us.

- Team NAZRRA

Nique · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2006, 04:22:17 AM »

Dateline: June 10, 2006

Wow, the last couple of days have been busy! We have had several new additions to NAZRRA - lots of baby pictures that we will get uploaded soon. In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures of our adults...

This is Felix, one of our camels that came here after the fire. When we got him, his tail was singed and he was having a bit of difficulty breathing because of the smoke he had inhaled; but our vets have been taking care of him and he is doing great now!

Next up is Jake, a 5 year old male moose. He and his mate, Loralei, both came to us after the fire as well. And as of yesterday are the proud parents of Wade and Billy (so named by the staff here at NAZRRA).

Until next time,
Team NAZRRA

Bielski · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2006, 09:01:53 AM »

Great idea, great zoo.

Keep up the good work team NAZRRA

Nique · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2006, 09:59:59 AM »

Team NAZRRA thanks you Bielski! Look for another update later today!

Thank you Kiwibuddy! Hope to see you back, maybe to adopt someone? ;-)

kiwibuddy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2006, 11:04:59 AM »

What a neat little idea!

I like the African buffalo picture!

Nique · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:15:51 AM »

Dateline: June 11, 2006

Sadly, we have more news today. Team NAZRRA got a call yesterday about a baby hippo up in Vancouver. From the news article:

June 1, 2006
Vancouver - A commercial zoo was charged on Wednesday with animal cruelty for keeping a baby hippopotamus alone for 19 months in a small, dark shed on a concrete floor.

"Even inmates in prison don't spend their lives alone," said Eileen Drever, the animal protection constable who investigated the zoo.

It is the first time a major Canadian zoo was charged, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which employs Drever.

Prosecutors laid two counts of causing an animal to be in distress, after the Greater Vancouver Zoo, a private amusement park in this west coast metropolis, failed to comply with Drever's orders to improve the animal's life.

The zoo operators could face a fine of up to $1 800 or six months in prison.

The hippo, named Hazina, was bought as a baby from another Canadian zoo in Granby, Quebec.

"She's a wonderful animal," said Drever, who noted the young hippo has bonded with her zoo keeper and is so friendly she likes to lick visitors.

Hazina is now two years old, weighs about 450kg, and has spent the past 19 months in a pen measuring about five metres by six metres, which includes a small wading pool.

"I was quite shocked to see the conditions she was living in," said Drever, who ordered the zoo in November to allow Hazina access to natural daylight.

The SPCA ordered the zoo to enlarge Hazina's shallow pool so she can relieve her weight in water to avoid stress on her joints, and to cover the concrete floor of her shed with rubber matting.

A zoo official told local reporters the charges are "garbage" and said there have been construction delays in building a new pen for the hippo. However, he also acknowledged that 19 months was too long for Hazina to spend in the small shed.

Four hippopotamuses have already died at the zoo. In the 1980s two broke through thin ice on a pond in winter and drowned. In the past six years, two others died while in their 20s. Hippos typically live to age 40, said Drever.

The zoo recently lost its accreditation with the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which monitors standards of animal care. - Sapa-AFP

Well, the up side to Hazinaâ€™s tragic story is that she is now on her way to NAZRRA. The zoo officials decided that they would better off finding Hazrina a new home and once they are able to regain their accreditation perhaps seeking a new hippo. As soon as she arrives, we will post some pictures for you to see.

In other news, our Bongo babies are doing beautifully â€“ here is a snapshot of Kipper that we got yesterday. Such a cute face!

Remember Felix? Our camel who came to us with some breathing difficulties? Well, he is doing so much better now and seriously strutting his stuff after the birth of his son, Hamilton, yesterday! Yes, the staff has named him Hamilton - Hammy for short - for obvious reasons!

Here is a picture of our baby Caribou, Morgan, having a mid-morning snack. She nurses constantly, but mom doesnâ€™t seem to mind one bit!

Until next time,
Team NAZRRA

jurassicmatt · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:29:02 AM »

wow that camel has red eyes!

DingoMutt · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:41:09 AM »

Did you add the red to the eye?

Nique · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2006, 09:57:38 AM »

yes, though by accident. Then I thought, "hmmm... now it looks like 'real camera red eye' and left it kind of as a joke...

Nique · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:09:39 AM »

Dateline: June 11, 2006

Just finished our renovation of our entrance today and will have a large ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow, Monday, June 12, 2006. Whew! Just in time for the summer season! We weren't sure we were going to make it for a while. Not that the old entrance was bad - but we feel this one has more 'pizazz.'

From the front:

From the first deck:
This will be the only deck with public access and will have a small food court and restrooms and such

At sunset:

And finally from overhead:

Superhamsterzoe20 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:18:48 AM »

hey you guys,, how do you create the animals for the uploads?

Superhamsterzoe20 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:19:19 AM »

ur zoo looks so cool

Superhamsterzoe20 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:20:17 AM »

I only have zoo tycoon 1, I wish I had zoo tycoon 2, it looks so cool, and so advanced, 1 is nothing compared to how 2 looks!

RedNotDead · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:24:02 AM »

please do not spam the forums and triple post.

Pavocristantus · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:38:03 AM »

them last images are really beatiful!

DingoMutt · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:46:12 AM »

Oh, okay, good joke.

ndmpatriot · « **Reply #16 on:** June 13, 2006, 10:46:31 AM »

Excellent start, the new enterance is beautiful. Poor Hazina, it's good she'll have a happy ending (in ZT2 and in life). Keep up the good work.

world · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2006, 03:51:36 PM »

that entrance is AMAZING!!!

kingkong10 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2006, 06:59:58 PM »

Great idea! It is amazing. Keep up the good work!:IloveZA:

Copito · « **Reply #19 on:** June 14, 2006, 03:58:59 AM »

Nice pictures, specially the pictures of the eleved path, nice job

Nique · « **Reply #20 on:** June 14, 2006, 12:22:43 PM »

Dateline: June 14, 2006

Wow, sorry it has taken so long to update you on Hazina, but we have all been working around the clock to get everything ready for her. We finally got everything ready and she arrived late yesterday afternoon!

At first she was feeling a little shy around everyone and she spent a while just getting used to her new surroundings.

But soon enough, she was exploring and she got to go for her first 'real' swim! No more small wading ponds for her. You can tell how happy she is by that great smile!

After she had several hours to relax, we introduced her to Harry. That's right, never will she be completely alone again! Everytime I look at this photo I expect to hear the music from the Lady and the Tramp and to see them splitting a plate of pasta.

Until next time,
Team NAZRRA

jurassicmatt · « **Reply #21 on:** June 14, 2006, 01:44:39 PM »

lol! just imagne hippos doing that!

kingkong10 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 14, 2006, 05:42:28 PM »

Great pics. Awesome topic!

Nique · « **Reply #23 on:** June 19, 2006, 01:21:16 PM »

I'm sorry... but I couldn't resist... I was following my Polar Bears around getting some pictures of the new cubs when Dad decided to 'sit back and relax.' The first thought that came to mind was that he looked like the Polar Bear from the commercials...

Bengal · « **Reply #24 on:** June 19, 2006, 01:38:22 PM »

:laughing: That's great Nique! Be sure and post that in the Funny Pictures thread!!!

News:

Author Topic: Waterhaven Zoo and Aquatic Center (Read 18908 times)