Endangered Species at the Utica Zoo 

“You’ve probably heard the term “endangered species,” but what is exactly is an endangered species, and who determines which species are endangered? Under the Endangered Species Act, endangered species are those that are currently at risk for becoming extinct within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges, while threatened species are defined as those at risk for becoming endangered. However, the terms endangered and threatened vary internationally.”

“Endangered species are not determined solely by the number of remaining individuals, but rather by the number and type of threats a species is facing, opportunities for mating, and more. For many endangered species, if drastic conservation action is not taken to prevent the destruction of ecosystems and natural habitats, the species will not survive.” This quote is from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website and you can learn more about what zoos like ours are doing to help protect and preserve endangered species by following this link:https://www.aza.org/from-the-desk-of-dan-ashe/posts/what-is-an-endangered-species

Zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) participate in Species Survival Plan Programs that involve captive breeding, reintroduction programs, public education, and field conservation to ensure survival for many of the planet's threatened and endangered species.

The Utica Zoo is home to many animals who are endangered in the wild, including our Red Pandas who were featured in our last KaZoo video!Here are a couple fun facts about some of the animals you had a chance to see in our latest video!

Hyacinth Macaw ● Our Hyacinth Macaw is named Joe and he

is 26 years old! ● Hyacinths are the largest of the parrot

species, with wingspans of over 4 feet! ● They are native to the rainforests of Brazil

and Bolivia ● The largest threats to these endangered

macaws are loss of habitat and the pet trade.

Visit us at Http://www.Uticazoo.org/kazoo . Mission: Utica Zoo creates unique experiences and promotes public appreciation of wildlife through

education, conservation and recreation.

Visayan Warty Pig

● We have three Warty Pigs named Axl, Ozzy, and Ace! They are all 11 years old.

● They are named for the three pairs of fleshy warts that appear on their face, which are thought to protect their face when fighting

● They can raise the hairs on their backs to make them appear larger

● Visayan Warty Pigs are only found in the Philippines and are extinct from 98% of their original habitat. They are listed as critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

Golden Lion Tamarins

● Our pair of tamarins are named Kane and Arie. They both came from different facilities to meet at the Utica Zoo in hopes that they will be a successful breeding pair!

● They are native to the humid forests of southeastern Brazil

● Like many other tamarin species, these tamarins are a social species that live in groups of two to eight individuals.

● In the 1970s, there were thought to be as few as 200 golden lion tamarins left in the wild. With the help of many conservation programs, in 2003 they were upgraded from critically endangered to endangered.

● Their biggest threats are habitat loss and fragmentation and the pet trade. Habitat fragmentation is when a large habitat is divided into smaller, isolated patches of habitat.

White Handed Gibbons ● Our gibbons are named Yoda and

Snowflake and they are both over 30 years old! ● They are native to the tropical rainforests 

of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in southern and southeast Asia. 

● You can often hear our gibbons ‘singing’. These songs can mean many things from a wake up call in the morning to a bonded pair singing a duet together.

● White Handed Gibbons are endangered mostly due to deforestation and loss of their habitat.

Ring Tailed Lemur

● We have three male lemurs, Hawthorne, Cedar, and Hermes!

● They are native to southwestern Madagascar ● You may see our lemurs in the summer doing a yoga

like pose, where they sit with their bellies out towards the sun, and their arms and legs outstretched. This helps them to warm up before they go out to forage

● The biggest threat to lemurs is habitat loss, which has also resulted in their population to be fragmented.

What can you do to help?

● Properly recycle your chemicals and other trash, so that it doesn’t end up in our oceans.

● Leave wildlife wild - we shouldn’t take any animal from its natural habitat, unless it needs our help.

● Don’t move an animal from its natural habitat, into a new habitat – it could become invasive.

● Don’t support things like the ‘pet trade’ and certain practices that cause harm to endangered species (rhino horn collection, ivory trade, traditional medicines that involve the killing of an animal such as the Siberian tiger).

● BE AWARE! – by simply being aware that a species is endangered or could become endangered by our actions, it could also educate others around you on the importance of preserving species.