New at the Zoo

New at the Zoo Reid Park goes virtual to educate ‘visitors’

BY EMMA RICHBURG

The Reid Park Zoo is fi nding a way to celebrate through the COVID-19 restrictions.

At 3:30 a.m. April 7, Semba the African elephant gave birth to a 295-pound female calf after a 22-month pregnancy at the zoo.

“Before she gave birth and now, we have maintained 24 staffi ng for the mother and the calf,” says Alexis Roth, Reid Zoo’s chief veterinarian. “So, we are monitoring not only everything the mother does but everything the calf does, and that is a big deal to us because that allows us to pick up on things such as milestones that are good, but also things that may concern us.”

Roth added that the birth was smooth and perfect.

“Professionally, I can say that was one of the most humbling and exciting experiences in my career,” Roth says.

The zoo may be closed to visitors, but guests can still sit in awe over its animals.

“I’m so proud of what our communications and education team has put together. We rolled out a virtual zoo within a day or two of closing, and we are doing posts on our social media platforms as well,” says Nancy Cluge, the zoo’s president and CEO.

The virtual zoo can be accessed through the Reid Park Zoo website, and the staff posts new content on a blog

via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“These posts vary from our cockatoos traveling through the zoo and looking at the meerkats and showing what that’s like, to great learning pieces about things like bear hibernation and zoo education,” Cluge says.

The Reid Park Zoo website also has print-off worksheets with word searches, animal facts and puzzles for kids.

Before the pandemic hit, the zoo had 300 volunteer educators who worked on the zoo grounds, teaching guests about the animals, showing them artifacts and giving them information.

These volunteers have continued to meet with one another through Zoom so they can stay engaged and continue to learn.

“That’s been another way of engaging our volunteers, which is something we wanted to do as well; because when we reopen, they are going to be a big part of that reopening, and we want to keep them engaged,” Cluge says.

The Reid Park Zoo is working hard to keep its animals safe and healthy while also keeping its audience engaged and happy, and it seems to be getting a positive reaction.

“The outpouring of support from our community has been truly heartwarming to us and has meant so much to our staff as they work so hard to provide the

At 3:30 a.m. April 7, Semba the African elephant gave birth to a 295-pound female calf after a 22-month pregnancy at the zoo. (Submitted photos)

highest level of care to the zoo’s animals,” Cluge says.

It’s been a hefty task because, despite the pandemic, the animals still need 24- hour care.

“We are maintaining staffi ng levels in terms of keeper staff . Some of the things we are doing to keep not only our staff ers safe, but our animals as well, is appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment),” Roth says.

“All of the protective equipment goes through sterilization protocols as well.”

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