![]() I got the impression that a zoo needs to track a lot of data in addition to health records when it comes to sharing. Sharing animals with other zoo’s is easier if you are dealing with an accredited organization. The accreditation is a big deal, only ten percent of zoos have attained the strict criteria. It’s owned by the city of Brownsville, and it is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. On average 430,000 people visit the 31-acre zoo annually. FYI – The animal’s grocery bill alone is close to a hundred thousand dollars a month. Sams, had been President and Board Chairman of the J.C. Back in the day Gladys was doing alright, her father, Earl C. The history of Gladys Porter and her love for preserving endangered animals made for a great backdrop of why the zoo was established. Andean bear Ben playing with enrichment barrel.The zoo staff was genuinely grateful for our interest in their facility. Andean bear Ben holding and licking food off a Boomer Ball. # Andean bear Ben sitting on top of his favorite barrel. ![]() ![]() The Saint Louis Zoo and the other AZA-accredited institutions collectively dedicate millions of dollars annually to support scientific research, conservation and education programs. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Saint Louis Zoo is part of an elite group of institutions that meet the highest standards in animal care as well as provide fun, safe and educational family experiences. One of the few free zoos in the nation, the Saint Louis Zoo is the most-visited attraction in the region. Home to over 16,000 animals, representing nearly 500 species, the Saint Louis Zoo is recognized worldwide for its innovative approaches to animal care and management, wildlife conservation, research, and education. Zoos are working hard to help save this incredible species. This threat will only worsen in coming years as urban populations rapidly expand throughout the Andes-Amazon region. Estimates suggest fewer than 18,000 bears now survive in the wild. Deforestation has caused a dramatic decline in the population of this species in recent years. This means that Andean bears face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Staff members are providing Ben with excellent care and fun enrichment opportunities while also using positive reinforcement training to help him become comfortable with his travel crate so that he has a smooth journey to his new home in Texas.Ĭurrently, Andean bears are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as Vulnerable. “I am so grateful for the excellent care provided to Ben by our Animal Care team here and everyone’s willingness to seek opportunities for Ben to thrive.”īen currently is residing in a non-public area of the Saint Louis Zoo that has both indoor and outdoor options, including a pool. “While we love Ben, and wish he could stay with us, our goal is to do what is best for him,” said Regina Mossotti, Vice President of Animal Care, Saint Louis Zoo. ![]() Their Andean bear habitat that includes a moat rather than steel mesh outdoor habitat, which the group believes would be a more ideal environment for Ben. The Gladys Porter Zoo is an AZA-accredited zoo with a long history of working with Andean bears. Together, the group agrees that it is in Ben’s best interest to transfer him to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. Ben was born at and is on loan from the WCS’s Queens Zoo.Įven though the Andean bear habitat at the Saint Louis Zoo met all standards for this species set forth by the AZA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prior to the habitat’s opening in 2014, and has housed several bears successfully during that time, the SSP, the TAG, the WCS’s Queens Zoo, and the Saint Louis Zoo team focused on Ben’s specific and unique personality to help determine the best home for the young bear. The AZA Bear TAG consists of bear expert advisors who help to identify, manage and support AZA’s cooperative animal care programs to support zoos that work with bears. The Saint Louis Zoo is partners with the AZA Andean Bear SSP, which is a conservation breeding program that manages a genetically healthy population of this endangered species in North American zoos. Louis, Mo (March 21, 2023) Saint Louis Zoo staff experts have consulted with members of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Andean Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP), the AZA Bear Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Queens Zoo in New York to determine next steps with Andean bear Ben.
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