BUSY AT THE ZOO
Posted on: June 3, 2008
By: Lynda
Sorry I haven't been writing lately, with the kidnapping of April the Callimico and her safe return things have gotten away from me. I thought it was time I gave a quick update on what has been happening at the zoo. I promise I will write more often and keep you informed of what we are up to.
Well things are really getting busy around here. School tours are booking in, lots of visitors coming to the zoo, and we are working on a secret project that we hope to announce soon. Hiring students for the summer and trying to get ready for our summer season is keeping us busy as well. April and her family seem to have settled in and are beginning to act normally again, that is such a relief.
We are looking for new primates but that is proving to be a challenge , we have sent a wants and surplus list out to other accredited Canadian zoos. If that doesn't work we will have to widen the search outside of Canada. That will mean a ton of paper work to get animals imported here. One of our female tigers has a really bad ingrown nail that we will have to take care of. We will need to tranquilize her to work on it. This is always a major concern both for our staff and for the animal. This lion is close to twenty years old making it even more difficult. Will keep you updated on what is happening at the zoo
Labels: students, Monkeys, Zoos, Lions, animals
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Municipal Election
Posted on: April 17, 2008
By: Lynda
Please take the time to read this and the information on the meetings. I am trying to line up people who will commit to being at each of the meetings so please let me know if you can do that. I am also hoping that many of you will contact each candidate and ask about funding for the zoo. If enough people ask about the Cherry Brook Zoo maybe the new Mayor and Council will realize how important it is to all citizens and that would help us with budget in the fall. I am writing to all of you to ask for your help on behalf of the animals of the Cherry Brook Zoo. I am sure you are aware that there is a municipal election coming in the near future and with your help we should be able to contact every candidate regardless of what ward they represent. As supporters of the zoo, past, present and future I am asking you to go to a meeting - the schedule is below - and ask each candidate if elected will they be willing to return funding to the Cherry Brook Zoo. We need to know where each and every one stands in regard to the zoo. Just saying they support it is not enough, we need the city's financial support as well. You do not have to live in Saint John, or in any particular ward to call, got to the meeting or contact those people who will be our future Mayor and Council. The zoo is for all communities and if you can make it know that the zoo is not only wanted, but needed it may make all the difference to our future. If you can attend one of the meetings please let me know - if you can call the list of each and every candidate - also below and ask them how they will support the zoo if elected - please let me know. If you can write to the Telegraph Journal to http://www.blogger.com/ and ask these questions please let me know. We now have a chance to make our voices heard, but only if we are willing to take action. Before the election we need to ask these questions and know how each candidate would financially support the zoo ... we asked for 1/14 of 1% of the city budget to ensure the Cherry Brook Zoo not only remains as a part of our communities but can enhance and grow. So much could be accomplished with operational funding from our city so please take the time to let them know our Zoo is important. Please pass this message on to everyone you know and ask them to become a voice for the zoo. Thank you so much for any support you can give and for taking the time to support us in this extremely important time. Feel free to contact me with any questions or information you may need. Sorry about the crooked scan but wanted to get this to everyone I could as soon as possible. If you cannot read the scans below please let me know and I will send the into to you. On behalf of the animals Lynda M. Collrin, Director Zoo Development/ Primatologist ,Cherry Brook Zoo Inc. 901 Foster Thurston Drive Saint John, NB, E2K 5H9Phone (506) 634-1440 Fax (506) 634-0717 http://www.cherrybrookzoo.com/2008 Election Debates Ward 3 - Central - Wednesday April 23, Saint John Boys and Girls Club (Paul Harris St.) 7-9 PM Ward 2 North - Sunday April 27, North End Community Centre (Victoria St - 2-4 PM Ward 1 - West - Tuesday April 29, Branch 69 Legion (Wilson Street) 7-9 PM Ward 4 - East - Wednesday April 29 Latimore Lake Community Centre ( Latimore Lake Rd) 7-9 PM Mayor's Debate - May 2, St. Malachy's 7-9 PM Candidates running: Mayor Ivan Court - 693-2008 or http://www.ivancourtformayor.ca/John Ferguson - 652-5646 or http://www.fergusonformayor.ca/Michelle Hooton - 633-7592 or http://www.michellehooton.ca/Norm McFarlane - 652-6676 or http://www.normmcfarlane.ca/Mike Richardson - 333-5406 or Facebook key words "Michael New Blood Richardson) At Large Stephen Chase - 652-2966 or http://www.stephenchase.ca/Susan Huestis-Toner - 651-4494 Danny Jardine - 333-3711 or http://www.dannyjardine.com/Mark LeBlanc - 640-2791 Rick Mantle - no contact info Anne-Marie Mullin - 634-8272 Chris Titus - 672-6261 or http://www.saintjohn.ca/ the click councillors Albert Vincent - no contact info Ward 1 ? Owen Boyle - no contact info Bill Farren - 674-8102 or www.billfarren.caVic Fitzgerald -0 634-8608 Peter McGuire - http://www.saintjohn.ca/ then click councillors Kathy E. Rogers -no contact info Ward 2 - this is where the Cherry Brook Zoo is located Patricia (Patty) Higgins - no contact info Debbie McCormack - 634-7362 Gary Sullivan - 6321285 or http://www.garysullivan.ca/Carl White - 650-3320 or http://www.saintjohn.ca/ then click councillor Ward 3 Craig Allen -no contact info Chris Belyea - 650-6451 Jay-Young Chang - 650-2351 Shelia Crouteau - no contact info Carl Killen - 693-4229 ir http://www.carlkillen.com/Tony Mowery - no contact info Kurt Peacock - 333-1489 Christine Saumure - 652-8853 Donnie Snook - 693-8956 or http://www.donniesnook.com/Carl Trickey - 639-2350 Ward 4 Bruce Court - no contact info Teresa Debly - no contact into Kevin Goggan - 646-0896 Carole Keddy - no contact info Ralph Landers - 652-9512 Joe Mott - 696-9512 James (Jamie) Whelly - 696-7499
Labels: Election, Volunteers, ideas, Zoos, Accreditation, animals
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE ZOO?
Posted on: December 2, 2007
By: Lynda
Well to say it has been busy is an understatement. Since getting back from Vancouver we have held our Halloween Haunted Zoo which was a smashing success. Then it was on to getting our budget proposal to the City of Saint John, it is the first time we have sent in a request for funding since our budget was cut in 2002 so it was like doing it for the first time all over again. The bad news is I haven't heard back from them at all but I am always optimistic. So keep your fingers crossed, or better yet send an email and help us support the Zoo.
Then it was getting prepared for winter and of course making sure Gwen the DeBrazza monkey was doing just fine. I guess it is a bit of a trial separation for Outlaw and Gwen and we will be getting them back together pretty soon. Now we are working on transporting out one of our surplus Callimico marmosets, the tiny black monkey, that is part of our species survival plan. What a time to get this animal transported from Saint John to Quebec. We have had tests done and then more tests but we think we are close. Of course we had to get our permit to transport from the government as well so it looks like all may be ready to go. The next problem is waiting to see how the weather is going to be as we have to have the crate in Moncton at 4:30 AM sometime next week. Just waiting to see how the weather goes and if this coast to coast storm really hits us on Monday. Wish us luck as there is a deadline when they stop transport of animals in early December. The picture shows veterinarina Dr. Tompkins, assistant Charity and staff doing a health exam on the female Callimico and drawing blood to be sent for testing.
Labels: Animal Transport, Zoos, Storms, Medical Tests Animal, animals
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The Storm That Didn't Come
Posted on: November 5, 2007
By: Lynda
Well I guess everyone was on high alert for the storm predicted last Saturday. I know that we tied down anything we could, removed anything we thought might blow away and then did a lock down of all the animals at the Zoo. We had a Birthday Party scheduled for Saturday afternoon and they were uncertain about being able to hold it. For many moments in time our whole concentration and efforts were put into making our animals safe and preparing for the worst. For those of us living in Saint John, New Brunswick I can only say we seem to be in one of the best areas around. We caught just the tail end of this storm that has done so much damage and destruction. Here we once again did not experience the torrential downpours and damaging winds that many other areas encountered. Yes it rained and yes it was windy but it was just a storm, no more and no less. The Birthday Party came anyway despite the fact that we had ordered no birthday cake, no food and had no tour guide for their party. They were just happy to be able to have the party at the zoo. Thanks to Marthe and Warren we managed to make this party a great one as they treated the guests with a visit from Penny the Llama and the Birthday Girl received a special ride in the cart with our Miniature Horses. All in all a good outcome for everyone concerned.
On a different note our DeBrazza Monkey's had a quarrel and Gwennie ended up with quite a cut on her hand. What is unusual is that it is normally Gwennie the young female that is being the bully to Outlaw our male. I guess Outlaw decided he had better stick up for himself and as he normally doesn't I guess Gwen got hurt in the process. She did get to visit the veterinarian Dr. Adams who put a number of stitches in her hand and she is on medication to make sure of no infection. Gwen is back home at the zoo resting quite comfortably in her recovery area and Outlaw is sitting in his enclosure most likely wondering what went wrong. We do hope these two will kiss and make up as we would very much like to see some babies in the future. I wonder if flowers would help? I will keep you updated on " The Young and The Nestless " as we follow their courtship. Wish us luck, I think we may need it. As you can see from the photo above poor Outlaw doesn't know quite what to do
Labels: Monkeys, Zoos, Storms, Love, animals
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Scary Brook Zoo
Posted on: October 29, 2007
By: Lynda
Well we did it, another Halloween at the Cherry Brook Zoo. I know for most of you Halloween hasn't arrived yet, but here at the zoo it arrives early every year the weekend before Halloween night. As you may have read our Friday night tours were a great success, but on Saturday as show time arrived so did the rain. I thought that this would be a quiet night but to my great surprise many people showed up for the Haunted Zoo Tours. It just goes to show you how wonderful people are and despite the rain and wind they all had a great time. One more night, Sunday, and we would have made it through another Halloween. At 5:30 PM people were lining up at the door and at the Main Entrance were just myself and Len wondering where all the volunteers were and honestly beginning to get a little nervous. But as usual our volunteers came through. But what a night. The people just kept streaming in, some coming in groups of fifty at a time. With a limited number of volunteers that night and only three tour guides we wondered how we would accommodate the growing numbers of people. We ran out of supplies for my Witches Brew and suckers for the kids, but managed to get them in time for the tour coming out and the people were still lining up. We had tours leaving every fifteen minutes there were so many people. It was crazy just trying to keep up, but keep up we did. The last tour at 8:00 PM was so large we had to split it into three groups. What a night and by far the busiest we have ever had.
Thanks to the people who came out for our Halloween event over the weekend our volunteers raised over $6,000.00 for the Zoo. But to be truthful it was our volunteers and staff that came out every night that made this event a success. They were here from beginning to end and each has a story to tell about their part and there was a lot of laughter and enthusiasm from all of them. They stayed through the rain and wind and cold and made this event not only a success in raising funds for the zoo but in showing how much they truly care. For me personally their generousity and spirit only reinforces how much this zoo means to them. Thank You seems inadequate but these two words are said with my heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone of them. I don't have a full number of how many people were here for us but as soon as I do I will pass it on. I hope that you understand how important you are to the Cherry Brook Zoo and to us, for without you we could never have done it. I also want to thank you for the laughter and support, it is not only that you were here but you were here in the true spirit of volunteering and sharing your stories and laughter truly means a lot to me. You made this more than just a special event and fund raiser, you made it fun. In fact I am already thinking of new ideas for next year!
Labels: Volunteers, Zoos, Halloween, special events, animals
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Our Halloween Special Event
Posted on: October 27, 2007
By: Lynda
Well I began Friday morning watching the sun come up with Gary Mittleholtz ,from CBC Radio's Information Morning, at the Zoo. He came out to chat about Accreditation and our Callimico Goldie's and of course our Haunted Zoo taking place this weekend. We also had a visit from CBC Television to take a few shots of our preparations. It seems that CBC does read this blog, which makes me wonder how many people do. I have received a few emails that people are enjoying our new web site and the blog. Please feel free to make a comment anytime. I also hope you understand that this is a new site for us and we are on a learning curve so please bear with us.
Friday night the Cherry Brook Zoo was filled with people taking our Haunted Zoo Tours and as a fund raiser by our volunteers it was heartening to see the line ups at the door. For me it was also wonderful to see so many volunteers taking part and making this event work. I will let you know how the rest of the weekend goes and how much funds we raise doing this weekend event. I will also try and figure out how many volunteers it took so you will have an idea of how much work goes into an event such as this. Just in case you missed it on our web pages we are still running our Haunted Tours tonight (Saturday) and again tomorrow night (Sunday). Tours begin at 6:00 PM and last tour is 8:00 PM and they run on the half hour. It seems to me that everyone here truly enjoyed themselves last night and hopefully we did scare some of you. Okay from the sounds of the screams in the zoo I think we did make an impression. Our zoo has become filled with things that go bump in the dark and creatures wander the pathways and you never know what may pop out. I hope those of you who haven't made it out yet will come join us over this weekend.
As for me I have been busy gathering my potions for our Witches Brew at the end of the tours. Just a dash of this and that to warm you up before you go on your way.
I would like to say how grateful I am to so many people putting so much effort into this event, we couldn't do it without you.
Labels: Zoos, Halloween, special events, animals
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Back Home at the Zoo
Posted on: October 24, 2007
By: Lynda
Well we are back in the Cherry Brook Zoo and it sure feels good to be home. The plane ride home was something else and we landed at the Saint John airport amid a raging rain storm with high winds and fog. I didn't even see the runway coming just seemed to drop right out of the sky with our midnight landing. My admiration to the pilot who landed us safely back home. After a week in Vancouver, BC the day we left the sun finally came out at the airport as we were ready to leave. Had been hearing from everyone how nice the weather back home was but it seems we brought the Vancouver weather with us. Finally arriving back at the zoo at 1:00 AM we were given a wonderful greeting by our dogs who seemed happy to have us back. I have to say I missed the sounds of the zoo at night and despite the weather the sounds of the lions roaring and the tigers answering were much more normal to us than the sound of traffic in downtown Vancouver. The pile or work waiting for me does not discourage me at all, it's back to living in the zoo for me. We are getting ready for our Halloween Haunted Zoo this weekend so be sure you check out the rest of the website for info. As for me I am still stuck between BC and NB time zones so think I will call it a night. Just happy to be back in Saint John, New Brunswick a place where it's home and though it is nice to travel and see other places Saint John and the Cherry Brook Zoo are the place s where I belong.
Labels: Zoos, Dogs, Lions, Home, and Me, Tigers, Travel
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Cherry Brook Zoo Receives Accreditation Certification
Posted on: October 22, 2007
By: Lynda
Well this is our last day in Vancouver, BC and tomorrow morning we head for home in Saint John, NB. I guess the highlight of our trip to our National Conference was receiving our framed Accreditation Certification at the Awards Banquet in front of our fellow peers from across Canada. The newly revised accreditation process is a rigorous one encompassing Canadian, US and European standards all in one. Being one of the first few zoos in Canada to receive Accreditation under these new standards displays the hard work and constant efforts of Staff, Volunteers and Board Members to the Cherry Brook Zoo. Being a small facility leads some people to think we cannot work in the global environment along side the big facilities but we are here to prove you wrong. Accreditation shows we can and do meet the standards that are required; that we work in global conservation with may international breeding programs; we educate our young people and make a difference in what is happening in our world. The next time you visit us at the Cherry Brook Zoo know that you are in a facility with high standards and that work tirelessly to protect and preserve those species that struggle for survival.
Thank you to the Staff, our Volunteers and our Board of Trustees for this Award is yours to be proud of.
Labels: Conservation, Zoos, Accreditation, animals
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Canadian Zoo and Aquarium National Conference
Posted on: October 21, 2007
By: Lynda
Well it's been very busy here in Vancouver, BC. for us. We have been in session and workshops and most importantly renewing our contacts with zoos from across Canada. We are excited that our work with the Callimico Goeldi (tiny monkeys from South America) is finally showing success. We began working to bring in a group to Canada for the first time seven years ago, it took five years for this to finally happen. The total group consisted of 17 primates of which the Cherry Brook Zoo took five, two breeding and three holding. We had originally opted for the two breeding pair but due to lack of space we took the holding group to ensure that this Canadian Species Survival Program would not fall through at the last minute. We met with the Callimico Management Group while in Vancouver and have made some ground breaking advances. Our two breeders have produced two offspring in October 2006 and July 2007 and all is going as it should. After the meeting with our Goeldi Management Group we are finally able to move out the holding group to three other zoos across Canada. We will be setting up breeding pairs in the Granby Zoo, Quebec, in the Valley Zoo in Edmonton, Alberta and at the Calgary Zoo in Alberta. This is a great advancement for this small group of 17 founders and allows us to establish a viable breeding population within Canada and future breeders will be produced for this highly endangered primate. It is through such cooperative species breeding programs that we at the Cherry Brook Zoo can be a part of a global species survival program, not only as a partner but as one of the founder zoos that worked for five years to establish bringing these animals into Canadian zoos for the first time. We are extremely proud of our part in the international program and the fact that it is a successful program. The future survival of these tiny primates rests on the zoos that work on the front lines and may very well be their last line of defense against extinction.
Being a part of our national association gives us the opportunity to meet and take part in this type of important conservation work that is the true mandate of our Zoos. To be a major player in the international arena shows that smaller zoos can and do work as a catalyst in species survival.
Without the support of people and corporations we would not be able to do such important work.
Labels: Conservation, Monkeys, Zoos, National Conference, animals
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Zoo's From Across Canada Meet
Posted on: October 18, 2007
By: Lynda
Well we are here in Vancouver, BC on the West Coast. Yes, it is beautiful here but so different from the East Coast. Never mind the rain, and I do mean rain, it is surprisingly cold. In fact I wish I had brought my winter coat and a pair of gloves. I would like to see a survey done of people that live in Vancouver to see if they ever leave home without an umbrella. When I look down from the balcony of the hotel it is a sea of umbrellas. I have to say I miss the Bay of Fundy and the beautiful fall colours that are blazing right now. It makes me appreciate where I live even more.
Well I guess I should explain what we are doing here on the West Coast. We are attending the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums national conference. We have attended a few sessions and workshops and have a few new ideas to take home with us just from the first day. We have met with our counterparts from zoos all across Canada and it gives us a chance to talk about what is happening and how they see things in their perspective. We always find that we get the most out of these conferences just from gathering and talking. We had sent some material on what the Cherry Brook Zoo did for our first annual National CAZA week last July. The committee was pretty impressed with our presentation and the idea of a barbecue seems to be a big hit and will be shown to all the delegates at our National AGM later this week. I guess that proves that you don't have to be big to have great ideas.
Well time to get back to sessions, but I will be keeping in touch and let you know more about our visit and the conference. Before I go I would like to thank everyone back home for making it possible for us to be here without worrying.
Labels: ideas, Zoos, National Conference, CAZA, animals
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We're in Vancouver
Posted on: October 17, 2007
By: Lynda
Well hi from beautiful downtown Vancouver. We are out of the Cherry Brook Zoo and into a hotel. To be honest it is a little different waking up in a hotel room with all the traffic sounds compared to waking up in the zoo with what we consider normal animal sounds. Sure miss those sounds I can tell you. The time change is also difficult to adjust to as well, four hours earlier on the East Coast which means we see the sun long before they do out here. But I don't think we will be seeing the sun while we are here as so far the weather is calling for rain every day up until Sunday and then we'll see. I did hear it is sunny at the Cherry Brook Zoo though and that makes me miss it even more. Looking down from the balcony at the hotel it seems every person in Vancouver carries an umbrella.
Rain or no rain we are heading out to find the conference hotel to register for the National Canadian Zoos and Aquariums Conference so time to put on the trench coat and head out.
Will write more later tonight now that I have the inter net working on my laptop.
I do have to add that I miss my dogs terribly, two Boxers Boo my senior girl is at home at the zoo but Bane my one year old today is at Muldoon's Kennels run by one of our zoo keepers until we come back. I hope he is doing okay.
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We Are Heading for the National Conference!
Posted on: October 14, 2007
By: Lynda
Yes, I'm leaving town in just two day. We are headed to Vancouver, BC for the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums National Conference. We seldom leave the zoo so this takes a lot of planning and many arrangements. First we have to have someone stay here 24/7 to take our place (that would be my daughter and her husband with my son on call just in case). Then we have to make sure the dogs are taken care of, with two Boxers that can be a problem. Okay the problem is the 65 pound puppy named Bane who has no manners and will be going to stay with one of our zoo keepers at her kennel's Muldoon's Kennels, had to mention the name for her. The older Boxer will be remaining at home at the Zoo. Okay, that's taken care of, I hope. Now just have to make sure the zoo staff are all on call and that other staff are lined up. One can only hope. To be truthful we have great staff and they always come through for us so not much to worry about there. But worry I do, that's just the way it is, I guess because we are so used to being here all the time it makes it difficult to just go.
Attending these conferences are important and we cannot miss being there. This is the time each year that decisions are made and national board members are elected so if you want to be a part of the big picture you have to make the effort to be invoved. After all it is this organization that is responsible for our Accreditation inspections and this year we can relax as we were Accredited once again in 2007 for a five year term. Not as easy as it might sound and something that we are greatly proud of. But I will explain that sometime later.
I will be bring my laptop so that I can keep in touch and send you some info on this years conference, so stay tuned for some updates from Vancouver, BC.
Labels: Zoos, National Conference, Accreditation, CAZA, Travel, animals
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Last Week Of Zoo Camp and Summer Students
Posted on: August 27, 2007
By: Lynda
This is the last week for our Junior Zoo Keeper Day Camp. I know that next Monday will be a quiet one here in the zoo. Believe it or not I will miss the sounds of all the kids when they arrive on Monday morning so excited and enthusiastic. This does not mean we will not be busy, now is the time of year we begin preparing for our fall activities. We will be holding a Volunteer Recruitment in September ( near the end but give us a call at the zoo or email after the long weekend and we will have a date set). Of course recruitment means training sessions so they will also have to be set up. We will also begin our plans for our Halloween Haunted Zoo that is held every hear the weekend before Halloween and we will be adding some new twists for you this year so keep and eye on the web site for upcoming news in October.
Sadly to say this will also be the last week of our summer students, and we will miss then greatly. For my husband Len and I it may be a selfish reason as it means we are back to our curfew of 4:00 PM. Yes you read that right, we have to be in the zoo by 4:00 PM everyday now until the students arrive next summer. During the summer months we are allowed out together until 8:00 PM and can even go out to supper. I know that right now some of you are thinking are we crazy? Maybe we are, but this is the life we chose and this is the commitment we have made. Most of the time it is pretty nice and we have shared quiet walks through the zoo together after everyone is gone, and it is here that we find our passion and belief in this Zoo has not changed since we moved in so many years ago. Maybe my next blog will be the beginning, for to understand where the zoo is now we sometimes have to look to the past. Thanks for joining me. Hope you have a great week. For now it is time for me to get back to work :-)
Labels: camp kids, students, Zoos, seasons, summer, animals
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Near Summers End
Posted on: August 22, 2007
By: Lynda
As much as I hate to see it summer is soon coming to an end.
I can feel the crispness in the air and the animal sounds seem
to echo in the dusk. Last night I watched a flock of eight loons
pass over my deck getting ready for their journey. There are
certain things that indicate seasons to me and the loons are
one of them. In the spring I see the buds coming out on the
trees and soon I find it difficult to spot the zebra in their
field below me and then I see the loons coming back and
I know that spring is truly here. Today I noticed that the
zebra are pretty visible and now the loons winging their
way past my deck in the zoo tells me it is time to look
to the fall season. Not an end but a beginning of another
beautiful season at the zoo when the trees erupt in colour
and the animals become more active.
Labels: Zoos, seasons, summer, animals
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Big Cats and Meteors
Posted on: August 13, 2007
By: Lynda
I thought the first thing I would share would be something that seems simple but when I think about it is actually pretty amazing. I was waiting for the meteor shower to begin on Saturday night, clear sky, not too much ambient light and a great view from my deck in the Zoo. I was patient waiting for any sign in the clear night sky and sure enough I saw two meteors shoot across the sky in mere seconds. It was then the African Lions began roaring and the Siberian Tigers called back and the unique sound of the Snow Leopard came through the night and amidst this call of the wild in my back yard four more meteors shot across the sky. This is when it came to me how special things I take for granted are, standing in the dark among the tree tops watching meteors streak across the sky with the sound of animals roaring, each with their own special sound I can pick each one out. What was simple suddenly seemed so much more.
Labels: Meteors, Zoos, Lions, and Me, Tigers, Snow Leopards
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