Calgary Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland
, Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
, just east of the city's downtown
and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighbourhoods. It is accessible via Calgary's C-Train
light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive
and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River pathway
. A large portion of the zoo is located on St. George's Island in the Bow River
.
The AZA
, WAZA
, and CAZA
accredited zoo was among the first in Canada
. As of 2006, it is home to over 1,000 animals, excluding individual fish and insects, and 290 different species.
The Calgary Zoo is the second largest zoo in Canada. The animal exhibits are organized by geographic region. The current exhibits include, Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, Australia, Botanical gardens, Eurasia, Prehistoric Park and South America. The zoo opens every day except for Christmas Day.
The recently completed Destination Africa expansion included two new new facilities: The TransAlta
Rain Forest and the African Savannah. The most recent expansion project known as Project Discovery opened in June 2007. It features double the indoor and triple the outdoor space of the old exhibit, a wide-open design, and vaulted ceilings. Other projects the Calgary Zoo is planning are: a new main entry (under construction), an overhauled conservatory, and a Arctic/Antarctic penguin addition.
In June 2009, the Zoo completed an extensive review of its long-term goals that resulted in the creation and adoption of a new vision and mission statement. Many of the Zoo’s stakeholders, including staff, management and Board members, participated in the process, which was designed to create a framework for future Zoo activities and initiatives that is consistent with the organization’s purpose and mandate. While the final report is a comprehensive document containing detailed observations and conclusions on many aspects of the Zoo and its operating environment, the broad direction the Zoo intends to pursue in the coming years is captured in its Mission and Vision statements.
OUR MISSION (What We Do):
Engage visitors in enjoyable and unique experiences,
connect our community with nature, and
inspire actions which support conservation.
OUR VISION (What We Strive To Become):
A world-class zoological society,
committed to excellence in animal stewardship
and conservation leadership.
On November 17, 2004 an Asian elephant
was born at the Zoo. She was rejected by her mother and died within 3 weeks of her birth of an overwhelming infection, despite the efforts of zoo keepers and veterinarians. She was given the name, Keemaya, after her death.
A giraffe named Richard was born in late November 2007 and has been doing well. Also on March 21, 2007 a new baby Siberian tiger was born. Its name is Vitali.
In August 2007, another Asian elephant, Malti, was born. Malti contracted elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus
, a serious and invariably fatal virus October 31, and died on November 1, 2008 despite treatment.
Between May 10 and May 15, 2008, forty cow-nosed rays died from low blood oxygen levels. Three survivors from the original group were quarantined in smaller pools where they, too, are exhibiting the black spots their fellow rays were afflicted with before dying. An error by the contractor in designing the system lead to the problem. The exhibit has since been modified to ensure optimal levels of dissolved gases. The stingray pool will be slowly restocked by the Calgary Zoo.
On May 15, 2008, a baby gorilla was born to Zuri. Zookeepers looked through more than 1,400 entries for the baby's name, and on July 2, she was given the name Yewande (Yu-wan-day), a Nigerian name that would be given to a girl after the death of an elder in the family. Her name was selected by Calgarian Justin Brower.
In January 2009, a two year old male Turkmenian Markhor became entangled in an exhibit play toy called the boomer ball and lost its footing on a suspended log. The animal died from this accident.
On February 13, 2009, a Colobus monkey gave birth; this offspring became the first to be born at the Calgary Zoo.
On Dec 12, 2009, The Globe and Mail ran an article on the Calgary Zoo due to "animals dying left and right" and indicated numerous critics are demanding a review of the zoo's conducts and operations. A knife was accidentally left in the western lowland gorilla enclosure. A Turkmenian markhor goat hanged itself on a toy. 41 cownose stingrays' deaths blamed on human error. Two baby elephants have died, and several gorillas too. A hippotamus succumbed to circulatory complications after being transferred from the Denver zoo. On December 11th, an 18-month old female capybara
died instantly after being crushed by a hydraulic door operated by a worker who wasn't following proper safely protocols. The zoo's director are calling all the incidences unrelated. An independent review was solicited by the Zoo in December 2009 following public pressure and was conducted by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums
.
On Sep 10, 2010, Calgary Zoo staff announced the overnight death of a second tiger cub born earlier in the week to Siberian tiger Katja. Zookeepers weren't aware that Katja was expecting, saying it's hard to detect pregnancy in tigers. Katja, the 10-year-old mother, didn't nurse her young. Zoo staff noticed her carrying the first kitten in her mouth, which is likely how it died. The zoo's veterinary team says the both Siberian tiger cubs suffered similar head trauma.
The zoo has a number of in-situ conservation projects it supports;
Under construction:
Opening in 2003, the Destination Africa project was among the zoo's most ambitious expansions in its history. The complex of four buildings includes the TransAlta Rainforest and the African Savannah. The TransAlta Rainforest occupies 2,900 square metres (31,000 square feet) and features a collection of African rainforest flora and fauna. The African Savannah building is home to hippos
, giraffes
, Red River Hog
s, and a baobab tree
. A 340,000-litre (80,000-gallon) indoor pool for hippos offers view of the creatures underwater. In the warmer months, the doors lift to connect the building with the rest of the Savannah exhibit, home to zebras
and ostriches
. Many other animals of the grasslands, including African lion
s, also reside in the Savannah exhibit.
Canadian Wilds:
The Canadian Wilds were built in the 1990s to house the majority of zoo's collection of North American birds and mammals. The area includes outdoor enclosures in three zones: the Aspen Woodlands, the Northern Forest, and the Rocky Mountains
. Animals in the enclosures include grizzly bears
, moose
, wood bison
, and wolves.
Australia (or Creatures of the Night):
The Australia complex is among the smaller areas of the zoo and includes a number of mammals, reptiles, and birds from Oceania
in both outdoor and indoor enclosures. Animals in this area include kangaroos
, wallabies
, and bearded dragons
. In 2009, koalas
were exhibited at the zoo, on loan from another zoo. The Australia/Creatures of the Night building closed in September 2011.
Botanical Gardens and Dorthy Harvie Conservatory:
The outdoor gardens are among the zoo's most popular attractions and include the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. The zoo's sheltered location supports many marginally hardy plant species. The conservatory comprises the indoor component of the zoo's gardens. It includes a number of "themed" areas such as the tropical garden, the rainforest, the arid garden, and the butterfly garden. A number of animals including birds and invertebrates are housed in the conservatory. The 30 year old facility is currently in the process of being upgraded and will soon feature increased emphasis on teaching visitors the importance of plants and improving energy efficiency. On September 2, 2008 the Enmax Conservatory was closed to the public to allow for a much needed renovation. Enmax Corporation partnered with the Calgary Zoo to update the facility. The Calgary Zoo is aiming to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
) Gold in energy conservation and responsible building practices. If successful, the Enmax Conservatory will be the first facility of its kind to achieve this level of certification. The facility is planned to reopen in the fall of 2009.
Arctic Shores and Antarctic Landing:
A project planned at the current location of the north entry and will include the area of the Prehistoric Park. The project will hold King Penguin
s. The original plan was likely to involve both indoor and outdoor exhibits and a building the size of a football field. It will replace the zoo's former Arctic complex, which was demolished in 2000. Beluga whales and polar bears
had been a planned addition until the Calgary Zoo decided to remove those plans because of financial reasons in the fall of 2008.
Eurasia:
The western portion of St. George's Island is dedicated to Eurasia
n animals. Animals in this area include Amur (Siberian) tigers, snow leopards
, alpine ibex
, Japanese macaques
, red pandas
and Asian elephant
s housed in an enclosure named Elephant Crossing, which opened in June 2007.
Prehistoric Park:
The Calgary Zoo's Prehistoric Park features life-sized dinosaurs in their re-created geographical environment. This exhibit was renovated and reopened in 2010. Specimens depicted include: Albertosaurus
, Allosaurus
, Ankylosaurus
, Apatosaurus
, Baryonyx
, Centrosaurus
, Corythosaurus
, Deinonychus
, Dilophosaurus
, Edmontosaurus
, Elasmosaurus
, Euoplocephalus
, Iguanodon
, Metriacanthosaurus
, Nothosaurus
, Omeisaurus
, Pachyrhinosaurus
, Parasaurolophus
, Protoceratops
, Pteranodon
, Pterosaur
, Stegosaurus
, Struthiomimus
, Styracosaurus
, Tanystropheus
, Triceratops
, Tylosaurus
, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Yangchuanosaurus
.
South America:
The South America pavilion is home to spider monkeys
, pygmy marmosets
, giant anteaters
, Andean condors
, two-toed sloths
, cottontop tamarins
, gibbons
, and piranha
s.
Zoolights is a Christmas
lights festival held annually at the Calgary Zoo. In 2005-06, it was held between December 1 and January 7. It closes only on Christmas Day. The animal themed show consists of almost 3 million lights and is the largest seasonal light show in Western Canada.
Dinosaurs Alive
On February 5, 2010, Calgary Zoo’s Prehistoric Park hosted Dinosaurs Alive, a interactive and multi-sensory traveling exhibit, which was billed "more real and more scary".
Running through to October 31, 2010, the exhibit showcases 20 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs in addition to the existing 13 dinosaur models throughout Prehistoric Park. Unique to Calgary Zoo’s Dinosaurs Alive exhibit are three animatronic displays representing dinosaurs that lived right in Alberta: the Albertosaurus
, Pachyrhinosaurus
and Euoplocephalus
.
Bridgeland, Calgary
The neighbourhood of Bridgeland of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is located to the immediate northeast of downtown Calgary...
, Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, just east of the city's downtown
Downtown Calgary
Downtown Calgary is a region of central Calgary, Alberta. It is not a single neighbourhood per se, but is actually a larger community containing three neighbourhoods and a number of districts....
and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighbourhoods. It is accessible via Calgary's C-Train
C-Train
C-Train is the light rail transit system in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has been in operation since May 25, 1981. The system is operated by Calgary Transit, a department of the Calgary municipal government.-Operations:...
light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive
Memorial Drive (Calgary)
Memorial Drive is a major road in Calgary, Alberta. Besides having an important role in city infrastructure, the tree lined sides of Memorial Drive serve as a living testament to the many soldiers who died during World War I and give it a parkway look on the western section...
and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River pathway
Bow River pathway
The Bow River pathway is a pathway system developed along the banks of the Bow River in the city of Calgary. It contains a network of pedestrian and bicycle paths connecting parks on both sides of the river....
. A large portion of the zoo is located on St. George's Island in the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
.
The AZA
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
, WAZA
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the "umbrella" organisation for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental...
, and CAZA
Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums
-External links:*...
accredited zoo was among the first in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. As of 2006, it is home to over 1,000 animals, excluding individual fish and insects, and 290 different species.
The Calgary Zoo is the second largest zoo in Canada. The animal exhibits are organized by geographic region. The current exhibits include, Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, Australia, Botanical gardens, Eurasia, Prehistoric Park and South America. The zoo opens every day except for Christmas Day.
History
The Calgary Zoological Society was established in 1929.The recently completed Destination Africa expansion included two new new facilities: The TransAlta
TransAlta
TransAlta Corporation is a power generation and wholesale marketing company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.TransAlta maintains a low-to-moderate risk profile by operating a highly contracted portfolio of assets in Canada, the United States and Australia...
Rain Forest and the African Savannah. The most recent expansion project known as Project Discovery opened in June 2007. It features double the indoor and triple the outdoor space of the old exhibit, a wide-open design, and vaulted ceilings. Other projects the Calgary Zoo is planning are: a new main entry (under construction), an overhauled conservatory, and a Arctic/Antarctic penguin addition.
In June 2009, the Zoo completed an extensive review of its long-term goals that resulted in the creation and adoption of a new vision and mission statement. Many of the Zoo’s stakeholders, including staff, management and Board members, participated in the process, which was designed to create a framework for future Zoo activities and initiatives that is consistent with the organization’s purpose and mandate. While the final report is a comprehensive document containing detailed observations and conclusions on many aspects of the Zoo and its operating environment, the broad direction the Zoo intends to pursue in the coming years is captured in its Mission and Vision statements.
OUR MISSION (What We Do):
Engage visitors in enjoyable and unique experiences,
connect our community with nature, and
inspire actions which support conservation.
OUR VISION (What We Strive To Become):
A world-class zoological society,
committed to excellence in animal stewardship
and conservation leadership.
On November 17, 2004 an Asian elephant
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
was born at the Zoo. She was rejected by her mother and died within 3 weeks of her birth of an overwhelming infection, despite the efforts of zoo keepers and veterinarians. She was given the name, Keemaya, after her death.
A giraffe named Richard was born in late November 2007 and has been doing well. Also on March 21, 2007 a new baby Siberian tiger was born. Its name is Vitali.
In August 2007, another Asian elephant, Malti, was born. Malti contracted elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses are a type of herpesvirus, which can cause a highly fatal hemorrhagic disease when transmitted in captivity to young Asian elephants. In African elephants, related forms of these viruses, which have been identified in wild populations, are generally benign,...
, a serious and invariably fatal virus October 31, and died on November 1, 2008 despite treatment.
Between May 10 and May 15, 2008, forty cow-nosed rays died from low blood oxygen levels. Three survivors from the original group were quarantined in smaller pools where they, too, are exhibiting the black spots their fellow rays were afflicted with before dying. An error by the contractor in designing the system lead to the problem. The exhibit has since been modified to ensure optimal levels of dissolved gases. The stingray pool will be slowly restocked by the Calgary Zoo.
On May 15, 2008, a baby gorilla was born to Zuri. Zookeepers looked through more than 1,400 entries for the baby's name, and on July 2, she was given the name Yewande (Yu-wan-day), a Nigerian name that would be given to a girl after the death of an elder in the family. Her name was selected by Calgarian Justin Brower.
In January 2009, a two year old male Turkmenian Markhor became entangled in an exhibit play toy called the boomer ball and lost its footing on a suspended log. The animal died from this accident.
On February 13, 2009, a Colobus monkey gave birth; this offspring became the first to be born at the Calgary Zoo.
On Dec 12, 2009, The Globe and Mail ran an article on the Calgary Zoo due to "animals dying left and right" and indicated numerous critics are demanding a review of the zoo's conducts and operations. A knife was accidentally left in the western lowland gorilla enclosure. A Turkmenian markhor goat hanged itself on a toy. 41 cownose stingrays' deaths blamed on human error. Two baby elephants have died, and several gorillas too. A hippotamus succumbed to circulatory complications after being transferred from the Denver zoo. On December 11th, an 18-month old female capybara
Capybara
The capybara , also known as capivara in Portuguese, and capibara, chigüire in Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador ronsoco in Peru, chigüiro, and carpincho in Spanish, is the largest living rodent in the world. Its closest relatives are agouti, chinchillas, coyphillas, and guinea pigs...
died instantly after being crushed by a hydraulic door operated by a worker who wasn't following proper safely protocols. The zoo's director are calling all the incidences unrelated. An independent review was solicited by the Zoo in December 2009 following public pressure and was conducted by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums
-External links:*...
.
On Sep 10, 2010, Calgary Zoo staff announced the overnight death of a second tiger cub born earlier in the week to Siberian tiger Katja. Zookeepers weren't aware that Katja was expecting, saying it's hard to detect pregnancy in tigers. Katja, the 10-year-old mother, didn't nurse her young. Zoo staff noticed her carrying the first kitten in her mouth, which is likely how it died. The zoo's veterinary team says the both Siberian tiger cubs suffered similar head trauma.
Projects
ConservationThe zoo has a number of in-situ conservation projects it supports;
- Ghana Hippo Sanctuary.
- Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery.
- Swift Fox Recovery.
Under construction:
- A new main entry (under construction).
- ENMAX Conservatory.
- Arctic/Antarctic penguin addition.
Destinations
Destination Africa:Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
, giraffes
Giraffe
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...
, Red River Hog
Red River Hog
The red river hog , also known as the bush pig , is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests...
s, and a baobab tree
Adansonia
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
. A 340,000-litre (80,000-gallon) indoor pool for hippos offers view of the creatures underwater. In the warmer months, the doors lift to connect the building with the rest of the Savannah exhibit, home to zebras
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
and ostriches
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
. Many other animals of the grasslands, including African lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, also reside in the Savannah exhibit.
Canadian Wilds:
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. Animals in the enclosures include grizzly bears
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
, moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, wood bison
Wood Bison
The Wood Bison, Bison bison athabascae, also called Mountain Bison, Wood Buffalo or Mountain Buffalo, is a distinct northern subspecies or ecotype of the American Bison...
, and wolves.
Australia (or Creatures of the Night):
The Australia complex is among the smaller areas of the zoo and includes a number of mammals, reptiles, and birds from Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
in both outdoor and indoor enclosures. Animals in this area include kangaroos
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
, wallabies
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
, and bearded dragons
Central Bearded Dragon
Pogona vitticeps, the Central Bearded Dragon, is a species of agamid lizard occurring in a wide range of arid to semi-arid regions of Australia...
. In 2009, koalas
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
were exhibited at the zoo, on loan from another zoo. The Australia/Creatures of the Night building closed in September 2011.
Botanical Gardens and Dorthy Harvie Conservatory:
The outdoor gardens are among the zoo's most popular attractions and include the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. The zoo's sheltered location supports many marginally hardy plant species. The conservatory comprises the indoor component of the zoo's gardens. It includes a number of "themed" areas such as the tropical garden, the rainforest, the arid garden, and the butterfly garden. A number of animals including birds and invertebrates are housed in the conservatory. The 30 year old facility is currently in the process of being upgraded and will soon feature increased emphasis on teaching visitors the importance of plants and improving energy efficiency. On September 2, 2008 the Enmax Conservatory was closed to the public to allow for a much needed renovation. Enmax Corporation partnered with the Calgary Zoo to update the facility. The Calgary Zoo is aiming to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
) Gold in energy conservation and responsible building practices. If successful, the Enmax Conservatory will be the first facility of its kind to achieve this level of certification. The facility is planned to reopen in the fall of 2009.
Arctic Shores and Antarctic Landing:
A project planned at the current location of the north entry and will include the area of the Prehistoric Park. The project will hold King Penguin
King Penguin
The King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin at about , second only to the Emperor Penguin. There are two subspecies—A. p. patagonicus and A. p...
s. The original plan was likely to involve both indoor and outdoor exhibits and a building the size of a football field. It will replace the zoo's former Arctic complex, which was demolished in 2000. Beluga whales and polar bears
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
had been a planned addition until the Calgary Zoo decided to remove those plans because of financial reasons in the fall of 2008.
Eurasia:
The western portion of St. George's Island is dedicated to Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
n animals. Animals in this area include Amur (Siberian) tigers, snow leopards
Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is a moderately large cat native to the mountain ranges of South Asia and Central Asia...
, alpine ibex
Alpine Ibex
The Alpine ibex, , is a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of the European Alps. In its habitat region, the species is known as bouquetin , steinbock , and stambecco ....
, Japanese macaques
Japanese Macaque
The Japanese macaque , historically known as saru , but now known as Nihonzaru to distinguish it from other primates, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan....
, red pandas
Red Panda
The red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...
and Asian elephant
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
s housed in an enclosure named Elephant Crossing, which opened in June 2007.
Prehistoric Park:
Albertosaurus
Albertosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, more than 70 million years ago. The type species, A. sarcophagus, was apparently restricted in range to the modern-day Canadian province of Alberta, after which...
, Allosaurus
Allosaurus
Allosaurus is a genus of large theropod dinosaur that lived 155 to 150 million years ago during the late Jurassic period . The name Allosaurus means "different lizard". It is derived from the Greek /allos and /sauros...
, Ankylosaurus
Ankylosaurus
Ankylosaurus is a genus of ankylosaurid dinosaur, containing one species, A. magniventris...
, Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus , also known by the popular but scientifically deprecated synonym Brontosaurus, is a genus of sauropod dinosaur that lived from about 154 to 150 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period . It was one of the largest land animals that ever existed, with an average length of and a...
, Baryonyx
Baryonyx
Baryonyx is a genus of carnivorous saurischian dinosaur first discovered in clay pits just south of Dorking, England, and later reported from fossils found in northern Spain and Portugal. It is known to contain only one species, Baryonyx walkeri...
, Centrosaurus
Centrosaurus
Centrosaurus is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous of Canada. Their remains have been found in the Dinosaur Park Formation and uppermost Oldman Formation, dating from 76.5 to 75.5 million years ago....
, Corythosaurus
Corythosaurus
Corythosaurus is a genus of duck-billed dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Period, about 77-76.5 million years ago. It lived in what is now North America...
, Deinonychus
Deinonychus
Deinonychus was a genus of carnivorous dromaeosaurid dinosaur. There is one described species, Deinonychus antirrhopus. This 3.4 meter long dinosaur lived during the early Cretaceous Period, about 115–108 million years ago . Fossils have been recovered from the U.S...
, Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus
Dilophosaurus was a theropod dinosaur from the Sinemurian stage of the Early Jurassic Period, about 193 million years ago. The first specimens were described in 1954, but it was not until over a decade later that the genus received its current name...
, Edmontosaurus
Edmontosaurus
Edmontosaurus is a genus of crestless hadrosaurid dinosaur. It contains two species: Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annectens. Fossils of E. regalis have been found in rocks of western North America that date from the late Campanian stage of the Cretaceous Period 73 million years ago,...
, Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus
Elasmosaurus + σαυρος sauros 'lizard') is a genus of plesiosaur with an extremely long neck that lived in the Late Cretaceous period , 80.5 million years ago.-Description:...
, Euoplocephalus
Euoplocephalus
Euoplocephalus was one of the largest genera of ankylosaurian dinosaurs, at about the size of a small elephant. It is also the ankylosaurian with the best fossil record, so its extensive spiked armor, low-slung body and great club-like tail are well documented.-Description:Among the...
, Iguanodon
Iguanodon
Iguanodon is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived roughly halfway between the first of the swift bipedal hypsilophodontids and the ornithopods' culmination in the duck-billed dinosaurs...
, Metriacanthosaurus
Metriacanthosaurus
Metriacanthosaurus is a genus of sinraptorid dinosaur from the upper Oxford Clay of England, dating to the mid-Jurassic Period, about 160 million years ago ....
, Nothosaurus
Nothosaurus
Nothosaurus is an extinct genus of sauropterygian reptile from the Triassic period, approximately 240-210 million years ago, with fossils being distributed from North Africa and Europe to China...
, Omeisaurus
Omeisaurus
Omeisaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Period of what is now China. Its name comes from Mount Emei, where it was discovered in the lower Shaximiao Formation of Sichuan Province.Like other sauropods, Omeisaurus was herbivorous and large...
, Pachyrhinosaurus
Pachyrhinosaurus
Pachyrhinosaurus is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period of North America. The first examples were discovered by Charles M. Sternberg in Alberta, Canada, in 1946, and named in 1950. Over a dozen partial skulls and a large assortment of other fossils from various species...
, Parasaurolophus
Parasaurolophus
Parasaurolophus is a genus of ornithopod dinosaur that lived in what is now North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, about 76.5–73 million years ago. It was an herbivore that walked both as a biped and a quadruped. Three species are recognized: P. walkeri , P. tubicen, and the...
, Protoceratops
Protoceratops
Protoceratops is a genus of sheep-sized herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur, from the Upper Cretaceous Period of what is now Mongolia. It was a member of the Protoceratopsidae, a group of early horned dinosaurs...
, Pteranodon
Pteranodon
Pteranodon , from the Late Cretaceous geological period of North America in present day Kansas, Alabama, Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota, was one of the largest pterosaur genera and had a maximum wingspan of over...
, Pterosaur
Pterosaur
Pterosaurs were flying reptiles of the clade or order Pterosauria. They existed from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous Period . Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight...
, Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus is a genus of armored stegosaurid dinosaur. They lived during the Late Jurassic period , some 155 to 150 million years ago in what is now western North America. In 2006, a specimen of Stegosaurus was announced from Portugal, showing that they were present in Europe as well...
, Struthiomimus
Struthiomimus
Struthiomimus is a genus of ornithomimid dinosaur from the late Cretaceous of Alberta, Canada. It was a long-legged, ostrich-like dinosaur.The bipedal Struthiomimus stood about long and tall at the hips and weighed around...
, Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus was a genus of herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous Period , about 76.5 to 75.0 million years ago...
, Tanystropheus
Tanystropheus
Tanystropheus , was a 6 metre long reptile that dated from the Middle Triassic period. It is recognisable by its extremely elongated neck, which measured 3 metres long - longer than its body and tail combined. Despite this length, it had only ten neck vertebrae, each quite long...
, Triceratops
Triceratops
Triceratops is a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur which lived during the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 68 to 65 million years ago in what is now North America. It was one of the last dinosaur genera to appear before the great Cretaceous–Paleogene...
, Tylosaurus
Tylosaurus
Tylosaurus was a mosasaur, a large, predatory marine lizard closely related to modern monitor lizards and to snakes.-Paleobiology:...
, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Yangchuanosaurus
Yangchuanosaurus
Yangchuanosaurus was a theropod dinosaur that lived in China during the late Oxfordian stage of the Late Jurassic, and was similar in size and appearance to its North American contemporary, Allosaurus...
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South America:
The South America pavilion is home to spider monkeys
Spider monkey
Spider monkeys of the genus Ateles are New World monkeys in the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil...
, pygmy marmosets
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset or dwarf monkey is a New World monkey native to the rainforest canopies of western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia. It is one of the smallest primates, and the smallest true monkey, with its body length ranging from...
, giant anteaters
Giant Anteater
The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is the only species in the genus Myrmecophaga. It is found in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina...
, Andean condors
Andean Condor
The Andean Condor is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur...
, two-toed sloths
Two-toed sloth
Choloepus is a genus of mammals of Central and South America, within the family Megalonychidae consisting of two-toed sloths. There are only two species of Choloepus : Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth and Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth...
, cottontop tamarins
Cottontop Tamarin
The cotton-top tamarin , also known as the Pinché tamarin, is a small New World monkey weighing less than 1 lb...
, gibbons
Gibbon
Gibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae . The family is divided into four genera based on their diploid chromosome number: Hylobates , Hoolock , Nomascus , and Symphalangus . The extinct Bunopithecus sericus is a gibbon or gibbon-like ape which, until recently, was thought to be closely related...
, and piranha
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
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Events
ZoolightsZoolights is a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
lights festival held annually at the Calgary Zoo. In 2005-06, it was held between December 1 and January 7. It closes only on Christmas Day. The animal themed show consists of almost 3 million lights and is the largest seasonal light show in Western Canada.
Dinosaurs Alive
On February 5, 2010, Calgary Zoo’s Prehistoric Park hosted Dinosaurs Alive, a interactive and multi-sensory traveling exhibit, which was billed "more real and more scary".
Running through to October 31, 2010, the exhibit showcases 20 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs in addition to the existing 13 dinosaur models throughout Prehistoric Park. Unique to Calgary Zoo’s Dinosaurs Alive exhibit are three animatronic displays representing dinosaurs that lived right in Alberta: the Albertosaurus
Albertosaurus
Albertosaurus is a genus of tyrannosaurid theropod dinosaur that lived in western North America during the Late Cretaceous Period, more than 70 million years ago. The type species, A. sarcophagus, was apparently restricted in range to the modern-day Canadian province of Alberta, after which...
, Pachyrhinosaurus
Pachyrhinosaurus
Pachyrhinosaurus is a genus of ceratopsid dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period of North America. The first examples were discovered by Charles M. Sternberg in Alberta, Canada, in 1946, and named in 1950. Over a dozen partial skulls and a large assortment of other fossils from various species...
and Euoplocephalus
Euoplocephalus
Euoplocephalus was one of the largest genera of ankylosaurian dinosaurs, at about the size of a small elephant. It is also the ankylosaurian with the best fossil record, so its extensive spiked armor, low-slung body and great club-like tail are well documented.-Description:Among the...
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