The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Key Messages and Themes
1. Wilderness: To succeed in conserving wilderness, people must be convinced that the existence of
wilderness benefits us all on many levels – biological, cultural, economic and spiritual – and that a
world without wilderness is neither acceptable nor sustainable. In the African Journey exhibit, we
can deliver intimate moments with magnificent animals amidst naturalistic settings that at least
evoke the different biomes of Africa. Our main objective is to showcase the animals against a
backdrop of distinct biomes.
2. Safari: Look, listen and discover - teach guests to look and observe.
a. Draw the guest(s) in by modeling how to observe.
b. Ask the guest questions that encourage her look in order to see the answers. Examples:
What is the animal doing? Why is the animal doing that? An animal sleeping is not just an
animal sleeping. An animal sleeping is conserving energy (why?) or staying cool (how?) or
waiting until dusk to get up and forage (why?) or playing possum (really?). Who knows?
LOOK and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
3. Mixed-species exhibits: Guests have the experience of seeing animals as they would live in the
wild, including interspecies interactions that exist at every level of the food chain. The pitfall of
seeing animals in a zoo is that you tend to see them in isolation, which removes the notion of
every species contributing to and depending upon a finely-tuned ecosystem within a particular
habitat.
4. Watering hole: Water is the key to survival. The watering hole of the African plains attracts many
different animals from many miles, but it can be a dangerous gathering place. The constant supply
of prey provides predators like leopards and lions with a concentrated resource.
5. Adaptations: A complex of structural, behavioral and/or physiological features of an animal which
help it survive in its natural wild environment. Encourage guests to identify characteristics of Zoo
animals that might help them survive in their unique wild habitats. Examples: sitatunga have
camouflage coloration and splayed hooves, adaptations for life in marshlands; porcupines have
spiny quills, an adaptation for defense against predators; ostriches have long, powerful legs built
for speed and defense against predators.
(more)
Multiple authors;
April 2010
1
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Key Messages and Themes (contd.)
6. Status: The conservation status of species in the Zoo’s collection is determined by the IUCN
(World Conservation Union) Red List of Threatened Species. This list provides taxonomic,
conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been globally evaluated using
the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of
extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that
are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered
and Vulnerable). The IUCN Red List also includes information on taxa that are categorized as
Extinct or Extinct in the Wild; on taxa that cannot be evaluated because of insufficient
information (i.e. are Data Deficient); and on taxa that are either close to meeting the threatened
thresholds or that would be threatened were it not for an ongoing taxon-specific conservation
program (i.e. are Near Threatened). Taxa that have been evaluated to have a low risk of
extinction are classified as Least Concern.
You can find Maryland Zoo species status listings on signage throughout the Zoo, as well as within
these Zone Interpretation documents. See the IUCN Red List website for more information:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
7. Training: Training is an important component of animal care for nearly every species at the
Zoo. More than anything else, it provides a means for keepers and animals to communicate
effectively, so that many husbandry and management activities can be done in a relaxed and
efficient way. Training also challenges animals mentally, which is good enrichment. According to
Mike McClure, General Curator, our philosophy and objective at The Maryland Zoo is that “every
animal that can be trained is trained for husbandry.”
The formal training program used at the Zoo is based on operant conditioning that rewards an
animal for demonstrating desired natural behaviors on cue. At the outset of training, if an animal
performs a desired behavior on cue, it is rewarded with a food treat or verbal praise or something
else pleasant. A bridging stimulus, such as a click from a hand-held clicker, is given just after the
behavior is performed in order to associate the behavior with the reward. In time, and depending
on the animal being trained and the behavior being requested, the bridging stimulus may become
positive reinforcement enough for the animal and the reward (food treat) can be omitted.
Training tends to be oriented toward specific husbandry goals. For example, target training (to
shift animals), scale training (to collect weights regularly), blood draws (for medical exams), body
presentations (for regular examinations).
(more)
Multiple authors;
April 2010
2
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Key Messages and Themes (contd.)
8. Enrichment Overview:
In the wild, animals keep busy mentally and physically searching for food and avoiding predators. In a
zoo, animals don’t have to do either. Being challenged both physically and mentally, though, is
absolutely essential to the wellbeing of any animal. That is why enrichment is a crucial part of animal
care at The Maryland Zoo.
Enrichment refers to anything -- an object or an experience – that elicits natural behaviors and
stimulates interaction with the environment. New objects to investigate, an unexpected change to the
environment, scent stimulation, hidden food, and behavioral training are all forms of animal
enrichment at the Zoo. A toy that simply acts to distract an animal is not true enrichment. So, for
example, there is a tremendous difference between a big red rubber ball (which would qualify simply
as a toy) and a big red rubber ball covered with the urine of a female in estrus (which would qualify as
enrichment). Mike McClure, the Zoo’s General Curator, also stresses that enrichment should provide
choices. When given choices, animals are more challenged, more in control, and more content.
Long-term, Mike and Julie Grove, who oversees the Zoo’s Training and Enrichment Programs, plan to
shift animal enrichment at the Zoo toward more naturalistic forms. This means that guests will see
fewer “toys” and other non-naturalistic objects (all of which Mike refers to as “exhibit furniture”) in
exhibits. It also means that guests may not be as aware when animals are interacting with enrichment,
because the forms of enrichment will be more subtle and naturalistic (such as scent stimulation).
Interpreters can help guests to understand and appreciate enrichment by pointing out and describing
natural behaviors that the animals may be demonstrating, and suggesting how these behaviors can be
solicited through enrichment. For the time being, though, guests are still likely to see boomer balls and
cardboard boxes and other non-naturalistic items in exhibits because the shift in focus will be gradual.
Julie encourages keepers to think of enrichment as one of their most important responsibilities, and an
essential part of their day, not just a “fun extra.” To provide proper enrichment, she explains, keepers
have to know the natural history of the animals in their care. They need to know what natural
behaviors could be elicited, and then get creative about how to elicit them. So, for example, you would
not put meat in a bag for an animal that does not rip into its food. You would design the enrichment
around how that animal feeds. The Animal Department has a process for approving all enrichment
items and an evaluation process to determine the value of each item. Keepers also have frequency
goals to follow depending on the species. Primates may require 3 to 5 enrichment items a day (food
and non-food), but the tortoises may only need 3 per week. Object enrichment is effective, if done
properly. Objects need to be rotated often, and novel objects introduced regularly. Enrichment can
also mean changing a perch, adding a random feeding to an animal’s day, covering a log in a new scent,
or having a training session.
(more)
Multiple authors;
April 2010
3
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Reasons for providing animals with enrichment:
 Mental and physical stimulation for the animal
 Behavioral occupation
 Prevent/combat undesirable behaviors
 Educational value for Zoo guests
 It is required by the USDA and the AZA!
Methods of enrichment:
 “Bait” exhibit – enrichment items are strategically placed in the exhibit during the morning
routine before animals are given access to the enclosure. This method allows items to be
more accurately placed and encourages investigative behaviors. Like any enrichment idea it
can become old and routine, but does reward animals shifting between holding areas.
 Training session – causes animals to think and move in ways that they may not otherwise.
 Spontaneous rewards – Timing is essential when providing animals with enrichment items
during the day. Items should not be offered unless the behavior occurring is worthy of
reinforcement.
 Keeper/guest interaction – personal contact and possible feeding allows animals to interact
with people they know well or that they have never met before. Some species desire this
more than others and comfort level and safety must be analyzed.
Multiple authors;
April 2010
4
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Species within Zone 1
Demoiselle Crane
Natural History
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Characteristics
o The smallest crane
o Recognized for their long necks and legs, streamlined bodies, and long rounded wings
o Have a completely feathered head with a white line that extends from the corner of their red
eye, to the back of their head. During display, they can elongate these feathers on the sides
of their head.
o Male and female are monomorphic (identical in their external features), but the males are
usually larger.
o Have extravagant mating behaviors, including duets and vocalizations. Vocalizations have a
critical role in the interaction, development and maintenance of pair bonds. Cranes perform a
courtship dance prior to mating, which strengthens the bonds between mating pairs and
synchronizes sexual response. Courtship dance consists of long, intricate sequences of bows,
leaps, runs, short flights, and the picking up and throwing of random objects into the air.
Status: Least concern
Habitat: Grasslands near streams and other wetlands, agricultural fields
Diet: Omnivore: grass seed, other plants, some insects, worms, lizards and other small vertebrates
Active: Diurnal
Life Span: Captive: 25-30 yrs; have been recorded as living up to 67 yrs. Wild: unknown
Reproduction/Offspring: 2 eggs per clutch
Height: 35-38 in (80-96 cm)
Weight: 4-6 lb (2-3 kg)
Social Structure:
o Form flocks for migration and socialization
o Social communication through dancing and vocalizations
o Monogamous – form bond with one individual and pair for life
Adaptations
o Short toes, which enable them to run easily in the grassland habitat
o Short bills, which enable them to forge for food more efficiently in upland areas
Individual History
 Male, hatched 1992
 Female, hatched ~1981
Multiple authors;
April 2010
5
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Lappet-Faced Vulture
Natural History
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Characteristics
o Head and neck are naked and pink with large, fleshy, ear-like folds on the sides of the face
and a neck ruff of short brown feathers
o Body is dark brown; upper breast has short brown feathers surrounded by white down
o Tail and wing feathers are dark brown to black
o Bill is greenish-brown with a yellowish tip
o Extremely large body and wingspan; dominates over other vultures when feeding.
Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Savanna, thornbush, desert, arid plains
Diet: Carnivore: carrion, bird eggs, some live mammals
Active: Diurnal
Life Span: Captive: unknown; Wild: unknown
Reproduction/Offspring: 1-2 eggs per clutch
Wingspan: Male: 28-31.5 in (71.5-79.5 cm); Female: 29.6-32.5 in (75.5-82.5 cm)
Weight: 12-20.7 lb (5.4-9.4 kg)
Social Structure: Normally solitary, at most in small groups
Adaptations
o Large and powerful beak for cutting into carrion
o Bare head and neck adapted for feeding on carrion (no feathers means less clean-up)
o Vultures will defecate on their legs because the urates present help burn off any bacteria that
may be on their legs from scavenging dead animal matter. This process keeps them clean.
Defecation also helps keep them cool.
Conservation Issues: Classified as Vulnerable since only a small, declining population remains, owing
primarily to poisoning and persecution, and habitat loss.
Individual History
 Male, hatched ~1983
 Female, hatched ~1976
Multiple authors;
April 2010
6
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
West African Black Crowned Crane
Natural History
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Characteristics
o Body is mostly black, with distinctive white upper and under wing coverts
o Head is topped with a crown of stiff golden feathers
o Cheek patches are red and white
Status: Near threatened
Habitat: Open areas. Savanna, grassland, wetlands, agricultural land
Diet: Omnivore: tips of grasses, seeds, insects, and other invertebrates, and small vertebrates.
Active: Diurnal
Life Span: Over 30 years
Reproduction/Offspring: 2-3 eggs per clutch
Height: 37-40 in (95-101 cm)
Weight: 6.6 -8.4 lbs (2.9 kg-3.8 kg)
Social Structure: Pair bond. Vocalizations and dancing help strengthen pair bonding (associated with
courtship)
Adaptations: All crowned cranes have the ability to perch because their long hind toe allows for
grasping
Individual History
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Male, hatched 2003
Female, hatched 2003
Male, hatched 2008
Female, hatched 1991
Multiple authors;
April 2010
7
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
White Stork
Natural History
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Characteristics
o Tall, long-necked, wading birds
o Covered in white feathers, except for the black primary feathers on their wings. Contour feathers
of the lower neck and chest are elongated to form a fluffy ruff that can be erected during
courtship displays.
o They have long, sharp bills, and slender legs that are bright orange
o Males are larger, on average, than females but both sexes are identical in plumage
o White storks often build their large stick nests on rooftops, chimneys, and electrical towers, which
can be both dangerous and an annoyance. In some areas the presence of stork nests is seen as a
sign of good luck and nests are tolerated.
Status: Least concern
Habitat: Open country; wet pastures, moist meadows, shallow lakes, marshes. Open grasslands, fields.
Diet: Carnivore: small animals: insects (esp. locust and grasshoppers), small mammals, earthworms, frogs.
Active: Diurnal
Life Span: Captive 30 yrs; Wild 20 yrs
Reproduction/Offspring: 3-5 eggs
Height: 39.37-49.21 in (100-125 cm)
Weight: 5.07-9.7 lb (2.3-4.4 kg)
Social Structure:
o Generally occur in loose groups
o Non-breeding individuals may occur in groups of up to 40 or 50 during breeding season
o Form large groups of hundreds or thousands during migration and in their winter range
o Remain in life-long monogamous mating pairs from the age of three or four
o Nest in loose, informal colonies and breed in small groups, consisting of only a few pairs
Adaptations:
o Their large size and carnivorous habits means that they must fly to foraging areas and that they
need to take advantage of soaring and gliding whenever possible. They can sometimes be seen
riding thermals and take advantage of patterns of rising air along migration routes
o Foraging storks visually search for food while walking with their bill pointed toward the gound.
When they detect prey, white storks jab their bill forward to grab their prey.
o Will place their nests in high places, protecting their young and eggs from most terrestrial
predators. They also vigorously defend the young.
Individual History
 Male, hatched 1988
 Female, hatched 1993
Multiple authors;
April 2010
8
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Abysinnian Ground Hornbill
Natural History
Abysinnian Ground Hornbill
Bucorvus abyssinicus
Range: central Africa, north of the equator and south of the Sahara Desert, from forest edge to steppe.
Status: Least Concern
Habitat: African savannah, from forest edge to steppe
Diet: (omnivore) reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, birds, and insects; carrion; some fruits and seeds
Active: diurnal
Lifespan: unknown in the wild; 50+ in captivity
Offspring: 1-2 eggs/clutch
Height: up to 3 feet
Weight: 8-10 lbs.
“How I live there”
Abyssinian ground hornbills are imposing birds that are active during the day, foraging and hunting. They inhabit
open, dry savannah with little or no grass cover where they usually roam in pairs, or in groups of three or four
when young birds are present. They are mostly carnivorous and stride across the savannah using their big bills to
subdue prey such as snakes and small mammals. They also pick off smaller prey and eat some fruits and seeds.
Abyssinian ground hornbills rarely fly, preferring to walk or run when threatened (although they can and will fly if
forced.)
These birds might also be seen taking dust or rain baths.
“What eats me”
Mature Abyssinian ground hornbills are rarely bothered by predators. Chicks and juveniles are more vulnerable,
and juveniles take several years to mature fully. When threatened, Abyssinian ground hornbills will raise their
heads and expose their throats in a threat posture.
Raising Young
Abyssinian ground hornbills pair up and breed after preparing their nest site together. Females nest in excavated
cavities in earthen banks. They lay clutches of 1-2 eggs and incubate them for 37-41 days. Unlike other hornbill
species, female ground hornbills do not seal themselves inside their nests during nesting season. Other female
hornbills do, using a mixture of mud, food, and droppings.
After hatching, chicks remain in the nest for about 10 days and then start coming out more and more frequently.
Usually only one chick survives to fledging. If two chicks hatch, they compete for food from the parents, and the
chick that hatched out first usually has a strong advantage. The surviving chick will fledge after 3 months, but will
continue to receive food from its parents for up to 9 months. It takes three to four years for juvenile birds to get
Multiple authors;
April 2010
9
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
full adult coloration.
Enrichment
Zoo staff plants vegetation in their exhibit specifically for them to destroy. Keepers also give them rotten wood to
pound on. Provide enrichment for themselves by catching reptiles (ex: black rat snakes) that travel into their
exhibit. Keepers would not normally provide them with reptiles to eat and do give them regular check ups to
make sure disease is not passed from reptiles to hornbills (no medical problems thus far). It is a natural behavior
for hornbills to carry reptiles around before consuming them.
Conservation
Conservation status: “least concern” In some parts of their range, people regard them and other hornbills as
sacred and allow them to live unmolested even in areas of dense human settlement. Throughout their range,
however, they are pressured by increasing habitat loss.
Individual History
 Male, hatched 2007
 Female, hatched 2007
Multiple authors;
April 2010
10
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Sitatunga
Natural History
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Characteristics
o Spiral-horned antelope. Only males (bulls) have horns, not antlers. What is the difference? Horns do
not branch and are not shed each year as antlers are. Horns are permanent and are actually part of
the skeleton. They are made of hollow bone covered with an outer layer of keratin. Neither sheath
nor core is ever shed, and in many species, the horns never stop growing. Horns are often used by
males in fights and displays during the breeding season.
o Have shaggy, slightly oily coats that can be yellowish to dark gray on bulls and lighter and redder in
color on cows. They have vertical white stripes as well as some spots on their bodies, white patches
on the throat, and white cheek spots.
o Very comfortable in water and will often swim to different food sources
o Sexually dimorphic: males are considerably larger than females; only males have horns
 Status: Endangered
 Habitat: Semi-aquatic swamps, marshes, flood plains
 Diet: Herbivore: Reeds, sedges, grasses, leaves, fallen fruit
 Active: Crepuscular
 Life Span: Captive: 17-20 yrs; Wild: 10-15 yrs
 Reproduction/Offspring: Single young per birth
 Length: Male: 60-67 in (152-170 cm); Female: 53-61 in (135-155 cm)
 Weight: Male: 154-275 lb (70-125 kg); Female: 110-126 lb (50-57 kg)
 Social Structure: Semi-social, non-territorial and sedentary. Females tend to form herds and males associate
together or with females until subadult. As adults, males avoid one another.
 Adaptations
o Camouflage coloration enables them to hide in tall grasses of marshland
o Long, broad, splayed hooves and flexible joints for walking in marshes (hooves don’t sink into soft
ground)
 Conservation Issues: Threatened by habitat loss/degradation and hunting.
Individual History
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Joanie: female, born 1999
Pandora: female, born 2000
Akili: female, born 2003
Lela: female, born 2009
Jahari: male, born 2004
Pithos: male, born 2009
Multiple authors;
April 2010
11
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Leopard Tortoise
Natural History
Leopard Tortoise
Geochelone pardalis
The leopard tortoise is Africa’s most widely distributed tortoise.
Range: sub-Saharan Africa, from Sudan south to the Cape Province of South Africa
Status: stable
Habitat: grasslands and thorny scrub of the African savannah
Diet: (herbivore) grasses and succulents
Active: crepuscular
Lifespan: 80-100 years
Offspring: 5-30 eggs/clutch, 5-7 clutches per nesting season
Length: 16-18 in (40-50 cm)
Weight: avg. 40 pounds (18 kg)
“Where I live”
Leopard tortoises are native to the dry savannahs of central and southern Africa. They belong to the family of
“land tortoises” known as Testudinae. Africa supports more species of land tortoise than anywhere else.
“How I live there”
Leopard tortoises are well adapted to the semi-arid conditions of the savannah, and do not tolerate damp or
cold well. They plan their day around the fluctuating temperatures of their arid environment. As with all arid
regions, the African savannah experiences extreme temperature fluctuations over a 24-hour period. It gets
very hot during the day when the sun is burning brightest, but cools off considerably when the sun goes
down. Leopard tortoises are most active early in the morning and just before the sun goes down, when the
temperature is moderate. They seek shelter during the hottest part of the day and they go to sleep early to
avoid the cold.
When awake, leopard tortoises spend most of their time grazing on mixed grasses. Like other turtles and
tortoises, they have no ears but can sense vibrations that help them navigate their environment. They have a
keen sense of smell that probably helps them locate food. They have no teeth (no turtle or tortoise does), but
they bite and rip at food with their hard, sharp, beak-like mouths. Leopard tortoises also eat the fruit and
pads of prickly pear cactus and other succulents that provide them with water. They store water in large anal
sacs that take up most of the space in their abdominal cavities. This is another important physical adaptation
to an arid environment.
Raising Young
Multiple authors;
April 2010
12
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Turtles and tortoises don’t exactly “raise young.” They aren’t big on parental involvement. Males exit the
scene after mating. Females excavate nests, lay their eggs, cover them up, and leave. Mating season itself is
an active time, though, with male and female leopard tortoises becoming rather aggressive. Males and
females will butt and ram other tortoises with which they are competing for mates.
Leopard tortoises nest between May and October. Females dig a nest about 10-30 cm deep and lay from 5-30
eggs at a time. They may lay as many as 5-7 clutches per nesting season. Among land tortoises, leopard
tortoises have the longest egg incubation period: 460 days, or more than a year. Each hatchling has a small
egg tooth that it uses to break out of its shell. Leopard tortoise hatchlings are brightly patterned at birth, and
entirely on their own. They immediately start to feed on a variety of plants, but seem to prefer succulents,
possibly because of the higher water content.
Conservation
Leopard tortoises are the most widespread tortoise in sub-Saharan Africa. They are not considered
threatened, but they are under increasing pressure from habitat loss. Historically, they also have been heavily
exploited by the pet trade. They are hunted and consumed locally for food. Leopard tortoises are
increasingly being bred in captivity, but many are still taken from the wild to be sold as pets. Any potential
owner of a pet leopard tortoise needs to remember and consider carefully that these tortoises, like many
species of tortoise, can live a very long time. Their lifespan in the wild is not well known, but their average
lifespan is likely between 80 and 100 years.
Individual History
 2 Males 22 pounds and ~ 29 years old; 11 pounds and 13 years old
 1 Female 24 pounds and more than 29 years old
Multiple authors;
April 2010
13
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
African Spur-thighed Tortoise
Natural History
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Characteristics:
o Largest of the African mainland tortoises
o Very aggressive toward each other
o Spurs on rear legs are not known to serve any particular purpose
o The carapace is the dorsal, convex part of the shell structure of a turtle or tortoise (i.e., the
top part of the shell), consisting primarily of the animal's broad ribcage. The spine and ribs are
fused to bony plates beneath the skin which interlock to form a hard shell. Exterior to the skin
the shell is covered by scutes, or horny plates which protect the shell. The plastron makes up
the lower half of a turtle or tortoise's shell.
o It is hard to tell males from females. Males have slightly longer, thicker tails and a more
concave plastron, but otherwise appear similar to females.
Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Desert fringes, dry savannas, deciduous bushland
Diet: Herbivore: grasses, weeds, cactus
Active: Crepuscular
Life Span: Captive: 60-80 yrs; Wild: 50yrs
Reproduction/Offspring: 15-30 per clutch
Length: 24-30 in (61-76 cm)
Weight: up to 240 lb (105kg)
Social Structure
Adaptations
o Broad, oval, flattened dome carapace (top shell) for protection from predators (draws into
shell and pulls front legs across head for protection)
o Pillar-like legs with heavily scaled, clawed feet that are well adapted for walking on land,
climbing and digging.
o Well adapted to dig burrows. Will retreat to burrows when it gets too hot to avoid
dehydration. Will also salivate and smear the saliva on their forearms to help with cooling.
Training:
o All are target trained
o Will walk onto scale
Conservation Issues: Species is declining due to habitat loss and degradation
Individual History
 Buttercup: female, birth date unknown
 Sweet Pea: female, born 1950 +/- 10 years
Multiple authors;
April 2010
14
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Plains Zebra
Natural History
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Characteristics
o Distinguished from mountain zebras by the possession of "shadow stripes" on the back and
hindquarters, and the absence of a dewlap
o Striping patterns are very variable. In some areas of Africa (especially near the equator) the
stripes are bold and cover the whole body. In other regions stripes are lighter or absent on
the belly and lower legs. No two zebras have identical striping patterns.
o The function of the zebra's trademark stripes is still a matter of controversy. It is possible that
under certain light conditions they provide camouflage. It is also possible that the patterns
make it difficult for a predator to single out an individual against the backdrop of a whole
herd. Neither of these explanations has been shown to be true, however, and the zebra's
stripes remain a mystery.
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Status: Lower Risk
Habitat: Grasslands
Diet: Herbivore: grasses
Active: Diurnal
Life Span: Captive: 35-40 yrs; Wild: 15-20 yrs
Reproduction/Offspring: Single young per birth
Height: Up to 59 in ( 1.5m) at shoulder
Weight: 500-820 lbs
Social Structure: Social
o Live in permanent small family groups made up of a stallion and one to several mares and
their foals. Dominance hierarchy among the females in the group. Bachelor stallions may live
singly or in non-familial groups.
o Group size varies with the quality of the local habitat. Many family groups can come together
to form a herd. Grouping of large numbers of animals is protective because it lowers the odds
that any particular individual will become the target of a predator.
Adaptations
o Fast runners to escape from predators
o Eyes set far back on opposite sides of the head, allowing for the widest possible field of view
of predators
Training: All zebra will target and approach the new training door in the barn. All will station on
exhibit when a sound cue is present. The future goals are:
o Have all zebra enter the ZRD and eventually work towards goals for husbandry training within
the device
(http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Equus_burchellii.html)
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Individual History
 Blue: female, born 1991
 Ayanna: female, born 1996
 Trixie: female, born 2000
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Multiple authors;
April 2010
15
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Ostrich
Natural History
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Characteristics:
o Sexually dimorphic: Males: black and white; Females: gray-brown
o Flightless
Status: Common
Habitat: Open woodlands, savanna, arid shrub land, desert, grasslands
Diet: Herbivore: green grass, browse on shrubs, succulents, seeds, few insects
Active: diurnal
Life Span: Captive: up to 40 yrs; Wild: 20-30 yrs
Reproduction/Offspring: clutch averages 13, multiple females lay in the same nest for incubation
Height: Male: 6.5-8 ft (2-2.5 m); Female: 5-6.5 ft ( 1.5-2 m)
Weight: Male: 242-330 lb (110-150 kg); Female: 198-242 lb(90-110 kg) NOTE: In the exhibit the two
average about 257 lb
Social Structure: Live in flocks of 5 to 50, and they are normally found in the company of grazing
animals like antelope and zebras.
Adaptations
o Extremely large eyes provide excellent eyesight
o Very sensitive ears
o Long, strong legs and feet for speed (can achieve speeds up to 40 mph). Powerful legs are
main defense against natural enemies - can deliver a powerful blow.
o Can survive without water for long periods of time
Individual History
 Lavern: female, born 1998
 Matilda: female, born 2005
Multiple authors;
April 2010
16
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Southern White Rhino
Natural History
Third largest land mammal in the world, dwarfed only by the Asian elephant and the African elephant.
There are two subspecies of white rhino. Southern white rhinos live almost exclusively in the country of
South Africa. Northern white rhinos were formerly found in several countries in east and central Africa but
are now critically endangered, with very few left in the wild. Both subspecies inhabit grassland and
savannah habitat.
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Characteristics
o Have two horns; the front horn is longer and can be up to 150 cm long
o Head is very long and there may be a large hump on the neck (hump contains a huge mass
of muscles to support the head).
o Ears are long, and seem to pivot freely.
o White rhinos lack canines and incisors and have a wide (20 cm) flexible front lip
 Status: Endangered
 Habitat: Dry savanna in west, east and south Africa
 Diet: Herbivore: grasses
 Active: Diurnal
 Life Span: Captive: 40 yrs; Wild: 35 yrs
 Reproduction/Offspring: Single young per birth
 Length: 118-150 in (300-380 cm)
 Weight: Male: up to 6000 lb (2,721 kg); Female: up to 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) NOTE: At the Zoo -female weighs ~4,300 lb and male weighs ~4,900
 Social Structure:
o Believed to have the most complex behavior of all the rhinoceroses
o Spend almost their entire lives within their home range. Groups of as many as 14 rhinos
have been observed but smaller ones are more common.
o Bulls are very territorial and usually solitary. They will mark their territories by spreading
dung, spraying urine, dragging their feet, and damaging plants with their horns.
o Several females and calves form an association
 Adaptations
o Wide front lip used to crop grasses during feeding
o Short legs, long head reaching almost to the ground, and wide mouth are used in
combination with a side to side head movement to eat massive quantities of grass
o Poor eyesight, good hearing
 Training:
o Both will target, back up, move up and open mouths.
o Male rhino will present hip to line up to the pens, will also put foot up on box to allow
keepers to do work to pads and nails.
o Female will allow for voluntary urine collections.
o Both will step onto a weigh board for monthly weights. Both are also trained for voluntary
blood draws.
 Conservation Issues: Species is illegally hunted (poached) for the international rhino horn trade.
Multiple authors;
April 2010
17
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Zone 1: Entrance of Africa to African Watering Hole
Rhino horn has two main uses: traditional use in Chinese medicine, and ornamental use (for
example, rhino horn is a highly prized material for making ornately carved handles for ceremonial
daggers (jambiyas) worn in some Middle East countries).
Individual History
 Daisy Mae: female, born ~1968
 Stubby (real name is Akin): male, born 1993
http://www.rhinos-irf.org/
Good resources include any TAG websites.
***Please remember to avoid discussing internal-only information and use only approved reliable content
sources. Be careful what you read on the internet!
Resources:
African Journey: An Interpretation Guide by S. Evans & K. Foat
Maryland Zoo Animal Inventories (Animal Department)
Animal Diversity Web: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html
Training information provided by Maryland Zoo Animal Department staff
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Multiple authors;
April 2010
18
Compiled from documents created by the Division of Interpretation, Education and Volunteer Programs