![]() She's just so patient and it's amazing to watch." She always has him on her she carries him on her back, she wears him as a fuzzy bracelet we call it where he'll cling to her arm, and so he's just always with. “She lets him take calculated risks, but she's always right there. ![]() "I've watched Freddy put him in tummy-time,” said Less. Less said gorillas are fantastic mothers, and as a mom herself, she sees a lot of similarities. "Given her (Freddy’s) age and how long it had been since she had had a baby, we just didn't think it was possible. Less said they know of something similar happening with zoo gorillas only once before, but it was with a mother who had just had a baby. "Him suckling from her had stimulated her to lactate," said Less. "We were actually the first zoo to ever have a baby fostered on day one."Įven more incredible, about 3 months ago, Freddy - who is 47, has had a hysterectomy, and seven children of her own the last of whom was 20 years ago, started producing milk for Kayembe. "Freddy has him on her at all times," said Elena Less, associate animal curator.įreddy is the surrogate mom to Kayembe, six months old, who is the first gorilla baby born at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Speaking of experience, meet Fredricka, a.k.a. "He's quite an independent little guy! So, we're seeing a difference in her experience level and I think you see that with humans too as they have more children." "She's letting Zaki be more independent than she did Merah, and he's taking full advantage of that," said Schoffner. "Their total concentration is on that kid. "They're raising their babies by themselves and because of that the babies stay with them longer," he said. "I think they're the stellar moms of the great ape world," said Tad Schoffner, animal curator. He's not nursing anymore or very rarely."Īnother adorable little cling-on at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is Zaki, 1, and his mom Kera. He'll start eating eucalyptus on his own more. "So, you'll actually see him start to crawl off on his own and explore the habitat. "And at this stage, at about one year old, the joey will start to become a little more independent," said DeGroot. She says the koala baby then nurses in mom's pouch and grows for about 7 months before emerging and clinging on tightly to mom. "The koala mom is probably the most patient," said Jen DeGroot, associate animal curator.Īfter about a month of gestation, DeGroot says the Koala mom's jelly-bean-sized baby is born and quickly crawls up into her pouch, which unlike other marsupials opens from the bottom.ĭeGroot says it's an older adaptation from when Koalas were more ground-dwelling as opposed to now living up in trees today. Like Mackenzie and her Koen, who just turned one in April. They are the cutest and cuddliest pairs at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo adored by visitors and each other. So, in honor of Mother's Day, we're taking a walk on the wild side and learning about some of the amazing moms at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It is a good experience but only if it is short time employment.CLEVELAND - We know motherhood can be wild at times. There are some really great people there, until you reach the hierarchy of management and higher, and that is when you see why seasonals and full timers alike are running around like chickens with there heads cut off and very moody. It is a business, and like every business it is about $$. Also understand that the prime principle is not securing the future for wildlife. Infact you will find there is a lack of communication, respect and dignity, and to mention even many of the guests feel the zoo as a whole has lost focus for their consideration. But the seasonals on the other hand are forced to engrain these values at orientation. Ask any of the fulltimers to name just three of them and they will laugh and say your so silly. They have what are called core values, a list which the company prides it's self on. Where as full timers are unionized and are giving premium pay with plenty of benefits and retirement plans. Now remind you that seasonals are giving no benefits and only make minimum wage. ![]() It is organized in such a way where seasonals fill in the major gaps of the work force. We actually should be referred to as expendables. This is the gist of what it is like working for the Metropark Zoo, at least from a seasonal's perspective. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |