Gateway to Asia officially opens at the Calgary Zoo
Many Calgarians were sad to see the pandas go back home to China, but their enclosure has been turned into ta new exhibit called Gateway to Asia.
Two new species will also join the Komodo dragons there: a Malayan tapir and two white-handed gibbons.
The building has been closed to the public since December 2020 and that meant the two Komodo dragons weren't seen by visitors until now.
The two male white-handed gibbons, named Majimel and Maximus, are brothers and join the Calgary Zoo from Safari Niagara in Stevensville, Ont. Majimel is seven years old and Maximus is four years old.
White-handed gibbons, also known as the lar gibbon, are native to the tropical rainforests of Southern and Southeast Asia. In the wild, they're found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. They can spend their entire lives in the forest canopy.
"They do feel safe here," said Jennifer Godwin, the animal care manager. "So they do come on the ground, they do walk bipedally when they are on the ground with their arms up for balance. It's super comical we love it and could watch it all day."
20-year-old Tanuck is a Malayan tapir, also called the Asian tapir. It's the largest of the five species of tapir and the only one native to Asia.
He was a resident here from 2002 to 2003 and now rejoins the Calgary Zoo from Parc Safari in Hemmingford, Que.
The zoo says wild populations of these species are decreasing significantly every year mainly due to habitat loss from deforestation for logging, road construction and agriculture.
"These two species are a really good way to connect visitors to nature," said Godwin. "Especially forest and forest habitat and how important they are to conserve."
The three are classified as endangered while Komodo dragons are classified as vulnerable. The three new males are part of an international breeding program.
"It helps create more genetic diversity in the population as a whole so we do get recommendations for breeding," said Godwin. "Tanuck has had some recommendations, so we're waiting to hear from the Species Survival Plan, so we might even get a female."
"Zoos are big contributors to conservation," said Alison Archambault, the zoo's director of brand and engagement. "Because everything we do begins and ends with wildlife conservation, inspiring people to care about wildlife and wild places is a very important part of that."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.