BLOOMINGTON — While the two giant anteaters in Miller Park Zoo roam around their South American habitat, another is being supported by the zoo through a conservation program in Brazil.
Giant anteaters Arnaud, left, and Chili walk around Friday at Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington. The anteaters are part of the new South American habitat.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
One of Miller Park Zoo’s conservation initiatives this year is to work with the Institute for Wildlife Conservation — a nonprofit organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation in Brazil — on its Anteaters and Highways project.
“It is an animal conservation and resource organization in South America that coincided really well with our South American habitat and our two giant anteaters,” said Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Pratte.
The conservation institute — otherwise known as Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres in Portuguese, or abbreviated as ICAS — is mainly focused on supporting local species like the giant anteater and the giant armadillo in the native Brazilian Cerrado, which is a tropical savanna in eastern Brazil.
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According to ICAS, the giant anteater is listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and its native biome in Brazil has been converted to pasture or agricultural land.
The long snout of giant anteater Arnaud is seen Friday at Miller Park Zoo. Arnaud is part of the new South American habitat.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
In addition to the damage of its habitat, the remaining habitats for these wild giant anteaters are becoming fragmented and divided by the expansion of the road network in Brazil, which has led to a high number of unnatural deaths of these animals and others caused by vehicular collisions with wildlife.
In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazil, the Federal Highway Police reported 614 collisions with animals that were fatal or caused injuries between 2007 and 2019, according to ICAS.
Veterinarians Grazielle Soresini and Debora Yogui equip Jane the giant wild anteater with a new GPS collar in Brazil.
ALESSANDRA BERTASSONI, THE INSTITUTE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF WILD ANIMALS
Pratte said through the Anteaters and Highways project, individuals working with ICAS attach radio collars and GPS telemetry equipment to giant anteaters out in the wild to monitor them and see where these animals roam, while checking their proximity to highways or other areas where they might come into contact with humans.
Jane the giant wild anteater when she was 5 months old sleeping with her mother in Brazil.
ALESSANDRA BERTASSONI, THE INSTITUTE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF WILD ANIMALS
In addition to Miller Park Zoo’s captive giant anteaters Chili and Arnaud, the zoo will be sponsoring a 1-year-old wild juvenile giant anteater named Jane in Brazil. The young anteater will be equipped with all the necessary recording equipment to gather data, Pratte said.
“Now we’re going to be able to learn, along with that research team, what Jane is doing, how she’s using the habitat, what threat she might come into and how the team and research and conservation can help her in situ or in the wild,” Pratte said. “We’re really excited about this.”
Jane the giant wild anteater is shown when she was 2 months old riding on her mother’s back in Brazil. Jane is being supported by Miller Park Zoo through the Institute for Wildlife Conservation, and the Anteaters and Highways project.
ALESSANDRA BERTASSONI, THE INSTITUTE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF WILD ANIMALS
Alessandra Bertassoni
Pratte said the zoo will be working on this conservation program in addition to other efforts, including the Lemur Conservation Network and the Snow Leopard Trust, that provide support and care to these animals. These programs are typically supported by accredited organizations within Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which has been the primary accrediting body for zoos and aquariums for over 40 years.
Director Jay Pratte talks about the 1-year-old wild giant anteater named Jane on Friday at Miller Park Zoo. Jane lives in Brazil and will be supported by the zoo through the Institute for Wildlife Conservation.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
These efforts are also supported by the zoo to remind and encourage visitors and others to educate themselves on conservation practices and to be good stewards to the environment and the animals that inhabitat them.
“While we have animals under human care that are unlikely to be able to be released, being able to support these programs where there are researchers and people that are trying to either create safe spaces for the animals, save local populations and provide better protection,” Pratte said. “I mean, that’s not been just stewards for the animals under our care, that’s leading by example and being stewards for the whole planet, which we’re responsible for.”
Arnaud, a male giant anteater, shows off his claws on Friday at Miller Park Zoo.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
With the recent relocation of the ring-tailed lemur dubbed “King Julian” to Kansas, Pratte said this program and others continue the conversation surrounding animals and the roles of people to provide safe and nurturing environments.
Whether it’s creating an enriched and fulfilling habitat for Chili and Arnaud at the zoo or providing a safe environment for Jane down in Brazil, Pratte said it is important to support organizations and facilities that take the time to not only help these animals, but continue to educate the public.
Bruce Lawson, left, holds up his granddaughter, Audra Ellis, on Friday at Miller Park Zoo. Audra’s mother, Julie Ellis, is on the right. The family is from Heyworth.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
“We’re trying to teach good stewardship to staff, visitors and anybody that might visit the zoo,” Pratte said. “All the choices that they make can make a difference, like where they donate and whether they support accredited reputable facilities.”
Pratte said updates on Jane the giant anteater will be shared in the zoo’s newsletter and on its social media pages.
To learn more about ICAS and the institute’s conservation efforts, visit icasconservation.org.br.
Giant anteater Arnaud can be seen in Miller Park Zoo’s new South American habitat.
CLAY JACKSON, THE PANTAGRAPH
Jay Pratte, director, speaks on Friday about the AZA accreditation for Miller Park Zoo.
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Sage, a snow leopard, watches the crowds on March 16 at Miller Park Zoo.
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Rojo, the 17-year-old Sumatran tiger, came to Miller Park Zoo in 2015.
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One of the river otters, Rhett Butler, at Miller Park Zoo on March 16.
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Greater flamingos enjoy the sunshine at Miller Park Zoo on March 16.
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Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Pratte speaks about upcoming improvements to the zoo’s carousel, which will be removed in May and reinstalled aft…
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Greater flamingos hang out Saturday, March 16, at Miller Park Zoo.
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A sign outside the enclosure inhabited by Sally, an American alligator at Miller Park Zoo, notes that she has the option to be outside for the…
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Rojo, the 17-year-old Sumatran tiger at Miller Park Zoo, is seen in his enclosure.
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Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Pratte, right, speaks on March 15 about the upgrades to facilities and practices the Bloomington zoo is implement…
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Miller Park Zoo director Jay Pratte speaks Friday about ongoing upgrades to practices and facilities to keep up with current zoological standa…
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Rojo, the Sumatran tiger at Miller Park Zoo, is seen in his enclosure on March 16. The 17-year-old animal can choose whether to enjoy the outd…
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Miller Park Zoo Director Jay Pratte speaks about fencing that had to be cleared of foliage and repaired to meet accreditation standards set by…
Contact Mateusz Janik at (309) 820-3234. Follow Mateusz on Twitter:@mjanik99
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Publish date : 2024-06-02 10:00:00
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