by Paul Swen
The sun is barely adding a glow to the eastern sky as their heavy boots crunch through the grass outside the fencing. The group unlocks the perimeter and makes its way to the cinderblock building that serves as headquarters. Ricki goes to the refrigerator and gathers the nutrition, several pounds of fresh meat, and begins to separate and weigh each portion. After checking the monitor to see what the cameras are picking up, Jesse and Kara pull on the steel cables that raise the doors to the separate dens. The big cats, each over six feet long, silently slip into the dens, eager for their breakfasts. With the doors lowered and double-checked, their meaty breakfasts are served. Then, keepers step into the outdoor habitats and begin to diligently clean the cheetahs’ yards.
Allie holds a young bird to her chest as Nichole carefully delivers medication through a tiny syringe. A metal band is gently wrapped around the prairie chicken’s left leg, and an ultra-lightweight radio collar is fitted around the neck. Ryan enters the number of the band, along with the exact weight, and the bird is gently placed in her transport carrier. After many weeks of providing for the young birds’ every need, it’s finally time for these hatchlings to move from the breeding center to an outside refuge. The zoo team works non-stop for hours until every chick is meticulously registered and ready to move to their new home, where they can help save their species.
Katelyn releases the padlock, and Dallas assists in swinging open the heavy steel screen that rests on top of the custom-built habitat. They peer over the sandy soil, looking for telltale signs. They’ve been monitoring the lizards since the spring sun has consistently removed the last remnants of winter and thoroughly heated the grounds. The pair of lizards disappeared from sight the previous day, and that gives the team hope that all their preparations have paid off. With the utmost care, they oh-so-gently dig through the sand until they spot a speck of white. Yes, the horned lizards laid a new clutch! Then, each tiny, soft-shelled egg is tenderly removed and placed in a prepared bed. When all the eggs are accounted for, the clutch is moved to an incubator with ideal humidity and temperature. For sixty days, the team will check on the eggs daily, hoping and waiting for the little reptiles to break through the shells and begin their important journey. And then, the real work starts for the zoo team.
Every day, all around Caldwell Zoo, serious work is being done. This is critical, life-saving work. It takes expert care, around the clock, along with substantial resources. Habitats are built to reflect natural homes in the wild. Ingredients for perfectly balanced diets are shipped in from around the world. Genetic records are precisely updated. The keepers are constantly monitoring the animals under their care to give them what they need to thrive. Most of the work is done out of sight with no applause, recognition or fanfare. It’s often dirty and exhausting. It’s not fun to collect termite larvae for horned lizards or gather skat from African cheetahs. Why do they do it?
“Every single animal is precious,” answers Dr. Ann Buchanan, one of the veterinarians at the Zoo. “It’s our collective responsibility to do our best for them. There are many species facing extinction because of man-made problems. So, at the Zoo, we do everything we can to provide the best care to the animals that live here and to help breed species for their long-term survival.”
This idea is echoed throughout the zoo and the staff. Much of the work at the zoo is not glamorous or even noticed by the vast majority of guests. The park is open three hundred sixty-two days a year, and the animals need care every day. Much of the work is outdoors and must be done whether it’s one hundred degrees or in rain or sleet, or snow. Despite the tough work, if there’s an animal in need, the crew will show up early, stay late, or even come in on their days off. You may wonder why they give so much.
“We are here for the animals,” reflects Ricki, Mammals 1 Keeper. “We spend so much time with them, we really get to know them. We know their personalities, their likes and what they don’t like. We know their histories and their families. By being with them so much, we genuinely build bonds. And they are the best teachers. When people get to see and learn about these animals, they learn that many are endangered. So, then we can all help save them.”
Caldwell Zoo is home to more than thirty species that are facing extinction in their homelands. From the demure Texas horned lizard to the giant reticulated giraffe, all sorts of creatures, great and small, are cherished and respected. The Zoo staff is dedicated to the preservation of all wildlife, no matter where they come from.
For instance, Xena June is a gorgeous, reticulated giraffe who was born here because the population in East Africa has plummeted in recent years. And the Zoo team is just as proud of the recent hatching of a Waldrapp ibis, which is critically endangered. These “bald” birds may not be on everyone’s most handsome list, but they are appreciated and recognized as a vital part of a balanced ecosystem. It can be surprising just how many species Caldwell Zoo helps.
The population of African lions has plummeted in the wild. Cubs have been born here that help to enhance a healthy genetic diversity. The beautiful Chilean flamingos that dazzle guests at the Zoo’s entrance are declining in their native lands, while Caldwell Zoo has had tremendous success in breeding and growing a healthy family group. On the other side of the planet, the adorable African penguin colonies are facing serious challenges. Here, in their special, climate-controlled habitat, chicks safely hatch and share their charm and allure with every visitor.
Every animal has a story. Every species is important. The animal family at Caldwell Zoo is a brilliant cast of characters who represent the magnificence of nature. It’s rather impossible not to be dazzled by the diversity and adaptations of all the different animals. By taking care of these precious animals and inviting guests to learn about them, the Zoo is able to share their stories and take action to save them for generations to come.
Visiting a zoo should be fun. It’s a treat to get out of the house or office and see magnificent animals with friends and family. Just remember, when you’re seeing elephants splashing in their pool or an ocelot gazing down from its perch or a pair of tamarins leaping from limb to limb, these are all species that need help. And whenever you visit the Zoo, you are helping to save animals in the wild.