Last year, the Emperor Valley Zoo (EVZ) welcomed a number of new offspring. But it also mourned the deaths of a pair of zoo favorites.

On November 10, 1997, two female ocelots were born at the zoo. One of the twins remains with her mother while the zookeepers have been preparing the other one for the day when she will be added to the petting zoo.

The as-yet-unnamed ocelot will be the first raised by the zookeepers.

The Emperor Valley's petting zoo at present com-rises rabbits, guinea pigs and snakes and the young ocelot will become part of a hands-on educational experience for visitors when she is added to the list.

Another zoo inmate, which has recently increased the population up at the EVZ, is the anaconda. It gave birth to 38 offspring but not all will stay on in the confines of the zoo. Some of the young crawlers, now being raised out of the public eye, will eventually be put on display while the others are to be released in the wilds.

The other newcomers are a brown spider monkey, two blue and gold macaws, three agoutis and a lappe.

The zoo also lost its ostrich in 1996. The giant bird got its neck caught in some branches and was strangled to death. The ostrich will not be replaced, but there are plans to import a ria, a bird that looks like an ostrich but is much smaller.

A zoo favourite, the 15-year-old "Lion King" Brutus, died four months ago of a suspected kidney infection. The veterinary reports on the lion were inconclusive. But Brutus' 14-month-old son, named Simba (of course!), is in superb condition. He is growing bigger and stronger every day on his diet of horsemeat, beef and, when available, goats.

Brutus's death caused the zookeepers to try new methods to combat the boredom that the lions and other animals face while in captivity. They call it 'enrichment' and the idea is to encourage the natural instincts of the animals. JE was present last Tuesday when the keepers tested the results of the programme for the first time.

The keepers soaked cinnamon sticks in water, broke them into small pieces and then stuck them into a pumpkin. No sooner did they give the pumpkin to the lions than they pounced on it. The zookeepers said they had never seen the lions display so much energy and vigour.

Because of the need to preserve endangered plants and animals the EVZ has joined Amoco Trinidad Oil Company in a non-profit nature reserve project. The wildlife reserve is located at Galeota Point and will provide a home for captive-bred species of birds, reptiles and small mammals.

There will be walking trails designed to make it easy for all JE-ers and other member of the public to get close to the animals and stay in touch with nature.
 
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