by Admin | Aug 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
We would like to introduce you to the newest member of the CWP Family!
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“Shelby and Summer”
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“Shelby”
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Baby Sloth
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“Shelby and Family”
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“Shelby”
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“Shelby”
On May 19th, 2023, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve welcomed our first baby sloth. Mom, “Summer,” and baby, “Shelby,” can be viewed in their natural enclosure. Come enjoy watching them hang from the trees or resting inside the glass night building. “Shelby” won’t stay small for long so be sure to stop on by soon!
by Whitney Hahn | Jan 3, 2022 | Uncategorized
On December 13, 2021, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve said goodbye to the female jaguar that had been part of their animal family for almost three decades.
Beloved “Evita” had been receiving veterinarian prescribed comfort care medications for over a year for age-related ailments common to senior felines. After a sharp decline in her quality of life, the Preserve’s Animal Welfare Team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the exotic cat.
At 27 years old, “Evita” was the oldest known jaguar in the United States, living almost twice as long as jaguars typically do in the wild. She arrived at Catoctin Wildlife Preserve as a juvenile, still filling out and finding her way.
Conceived and born at another veterinary managed private zoological facility, she tapped souls with a gaze that could look right through you, as it did for tens of thousands of visitors. She became a supermodel for endangered species just by being herself – absolutely wild and thriving in the zoological setting providing proper care for her physical and mental well-being.
Unlike many other big cats, jaguars are generally solitary. So it wasn’t until Evita was sexually mature that she was carefully introduced to potential mates. Jaguars are listed as “near threatened” on the IUCN Red List, meaning the population is in serious decline. Coordinated breeding agreements bolster the world’s jaguar population and help keep bloodlines strong.
The Preserve was pleased when she finally accepted her second suitor, a black jaguar named “Diego,” and had two cubs. When they matured, the cubs became part of coordinated breeding programs and were rehoused at other zoos. This continued the pursuit of genetic diversity, undoubtedly contributing to the zoological Jaguar population here in the US and positively influencing the future of Jaguars in the wild.
Evita was equal parts stealthy hunter and regal Amazon queen, making her a favorite with guests. She was fond of sneaking up on children who were peering through the enclosure glass, startling them with a pounce and paw on the reinforced pane.
“I feel honored to have known her,” said General Curator Laurie Hahn. ” Even more to have been her caretaker and her friend. We were friends, I have no doubt. I just can’t believe I’m not going to see her tomorrow. I can’t imagine a day that I won’t think about her.”
by Admin | Sep 27, 2021 | Uncategorized
She’s longer than an average SUV but won’t be able to travel to her new home without some help.
“Sasha,” a female Reticulated Python, was recently donated to Catoctin Wildlife Preserve by her owner. Now that her medical quarantine and observation period is almost over, keepers are planning to carry from quarantine to her new exhibit on October 2, 2021.
The python was raised by a private owner in Pennsylvania since she was hatched in 2010. A pending move to Texas prompted him to look for a new home for this giant reptile. After a visit and discussion, the owner was convinced the preserve would be a wonderful forever home and staff agreed to accept the constrictor into the collection.
Now over 17 feet long and an estimated weight of 120 pounds, Sasha is surprisingly docile for her species. “Reticulated pythons are typically short-tempered and tricky to work with,” said Chuck Forro, Managing Herpetology Specialist at the Preserve, noting that Sasha’s relaxed nature provides a unique opportunity for this event.
Instead of simply delivering the snake in a crate, staff will hand carry her over a quarter mile through the park. This will allow guests to see her up close, take pictures, and perhaps even assist with the carry. The “Herp Walk” is scheduled to begin at 1:30, just after Alligator Feeding at the nearby ‘Gator Bayou exhibit.
“Sasha will determine exactly what we do that day, but we hope to weigh her, measure length and girth, and get some help with walking her safely to her new home,” Forro added.
John Kinnard, Mayor of Thurmont, has accepted an invitation to attend the event. When asked which part of the python he’d like to hoist, he coyly replied, “I’ll take some pictures.”
Reticulated pythons are native to South and Southeast Asia. They are the longest snakes in the world, with the Guinness Book of World Records listing the longest snake ever captured to be 32 feet long.
During quarantine, staff look for external parasites, screen for internal parasites, watch for congestion or mucus that might indicate a respiratory infection, and assess attitude and disposition. Overly aggressive snakes can be a danger to staff and other exhibit-mates.
Sasha will join a trio of similarly-sized reticulated pythons already residing in the Giant Reptiles Building. All are color morphs, meaning they look different than what a reticulated python normally looks like, but they are not a different species of snake. “Bertha” is a Tiger female, “Beulah” is a Golden Child female and “Evan” is a Lavender Sunfire male.
The Preserve is not actively preventing mating from occurring. However, Forro says, “Breeding them is not a priority.”
by Admin | Feb 3, 2021 | Uncategorized
The Wolf Woods is biggest of the all new habitats on the list of improvements and renovations for this year. Because it is an ambitious undertaking, the plan is in three phases.
The first phase is the habitat for the wolves. It consists of fencing for the enclosure with safety structures to prevent both digging under or climbing over. This habitat for the wolves will have a shallow pond, artificial overlooks and several trees. We will be adding additional foliage including pine and birch trees as well as assorted native shrubs. The last element of the exhibit is the night shelter. This is a necessity in case of high winds, ice storms, for corralling the pack for health checks and nighttime safety.
Phase two, which is unfunded at this time, includes two visitor viewing pads. One overlooks a wet moated structure with views unobstructed by fencing. The other is a boardwalk structure elevated above the height of the fence offering another unobstructed view.
Phase three, also unfunded at this time, is an educational museum like log cabin, climate controlled, with large glass panes along one wall forming a panoramic view of the wolf habitat.
by Admin | Feb 3, 2021 | Uncategorized
Come check out the Parakeet Landing exhibit. For $5 each, you may enter the aviary and are given a seed snack to offer the birds. Get up close and personal with beautiful parakeets! This exhibit is open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, will close for the season on September 5, 2023.
by Admin | Jan 25, 2021 | Uncategorized
The Catoctin Wildlife Preserve is excited to announce the successful rearing of another vulnerable species, Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the Fossa. These very rare animals gained their notoriety in the Dreamworks film Madagascar.
The young pups were born to CWP’s fossa pair on June 17th, 2014. The pups were pulled for rearing by Laurie Hahn, the zoo’s certified veterinarian technician after the first-time mother lost interest in their care. At four days of age their eyes were still closed and they weighed just 80 grams. The infants required feedings every two hours around the clock for the first two weeks. Only a few zoos in this country have successfully bred and raised fossa pups.
The pups now weigh over 500 grams and are starting to eat solids in addition to their special liquid formula. The preserve is planning to build an exhibit in the Madagascar section for their parents and welcome sponsors for the materials and labor.
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