The Daily Dispatch

Some new animals are in route to Chahinkapa Zoo at Wahpeton. The zoo is acquiring two reindeer, two fossa and five new lemurs. Kathy Diekman, zoo director, said with the fossa and lemurs zoo staff will do a Madagascar and predator-prey theme.

“Lemurs are exclusive to Madagascar, that is the only place they are,” Diekman said. “They are their own science project.” There are more than 60 species of lemurs. Because they are limited to Madagascar, lemurs interbreed and create new species.

The zoo will have three different types of lemurs living in one habitat. Two crowned lemurs are coming to Chahinkapa from the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tangayika Wildlife Park in Kansas is sending two ring-tailed lemurs. The zoo already has one black and white ruffed lemur and will obtain one from another facility.

The fossa are coming from the San Diego Zoo. Fossa are the main predator of lemurs and gained popularity due to the movie Madagascar. They are pegged as elusive, Diekman said. The predator-prey program will be ongoing. Zoo officials will teach programs and workshops on the web of life. “We won't feed the lemurs to the fossa,” Diekman said. However, the zoo will research the fossa. Children will have the chance to learn more about the elusive creatures they saw in Madagascar, including their sharp teeth and claws. Every Friday this summer the zoo will host “Fossa Friday” including fossa information, activities and shows, Diekman said. “We are an educational facility.”

“We want to explain to them how (predator-prey) works in the ecosystem,” Diekman said. There will be numerous programs throughout the season including keeper talks, shows and workshops. “The possibilities are endless,” Diekman said.

The first Madagascar weekend is May 27.

The reindeer are coming to Wahpeton from in-state. They will be used in a Christmas theme later in the year and will be replacing the white tail deer.

Not only is the zoo receiving new animals, it has a new addition to the gibbon family. Jonesy, his mate Holly and their offspring Binti, Valentino and Moora welcome a new baby this winter but the baby has not been named. A naming contest will take place this summer. In total, the zoo now has six gibbons.

Also, by April 29 Diekman hopes to have all aquariums set up and the animals in them. The aquariums will be set up in the Rodger Ehnstrom Nature Center and will feature salt water fish. The center is already decorated. The walls are painted in a water theme and there are both replicas and stuffed fish hanging from the ceiling.

This summer children can look forward to a naming contest for the grizzly bear cubs at the zoo. The orphaned cubs came from Montana last year after their mother was hit by a train.

The zoo will open this season on April 29. The membership and admission prices are the same. A family membership is $50, a single membership is $25; daily admission for adults is $6, seniors, $5.50, ages 5-12, $2.50 and three and under are free.

This is only a portion of the story. Subscribe to the Daily News to get all the news and sports.

Printer Friendly