Two new arrivals settle in at Cherry Brook Zoo
Published Thursday July 9th, 2009
Wildlife Siberian tiger and spider monkey join the lineup at Millidgeville facility
SAINT JOHN - After four weeks of living on the east coast, Coco is starting to feel at home.
The Siberian tiger lay stretched out on a platform, playfully rolling her head backwards, gazing at onlookers upside down.
The majestic animal, nearly two years old, is one of the newest additions at the Cherry Brook Zoo.
"It's a good sign," said Lynda Collrin, director of zoo development, as Coco lazed on the platform, tapping her striped tail. From the den, another tiger, 20-year-old Pam, sat watching from the doorway.
"It shows there's no stress going on - and that's a big concern when you have a 20-year-old," Collrin said.
Coco arrived from the Toronto Zoo after Pam's son, Baikal, moved to Winnipeg as part of an international breeding program.
Ensuring Coco got along with Pam was one of the zoo's biggest worries.
"If they get into a fight, we can't go in and haul them apart," Collrin said. "Our concern was Pam - we didn't want to see her hurt."
Zookeepers separated the animals for two weeks before allowing them to share the outdoor space.
Pam left her spot from the barn doorway, and walked the perimeter of the cage, letting out a few low growls.
Coco perked up and tapped her tail.
"She knows who's boss," Collrin said.
Around the same time Coco arrived, so did Lucas, an eight-year-old black-handed spider monkey from Toronto.
"He's really a character," said Collrin as the monkey swung from the branch to cage wire with his long tail.
There's only one problem for Lucas, who also arrived as part of the Species Survival Program.
"He wants a girlfriend," she said. "You want one, don't you Lucas?"
Collrin says the breeding program is actively searching for his mate.
The monkey watched intently as Collrin chatted outside his cage, wrapping his tail around his neck like a scarf. His eyes followed groups of children in the zoo's day camp as they strolled by.
"Sometimes I wonder who's watching who," she laughed.
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