Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Drama never cools in Tropical House

Warm zoo fun in wintertime

By: Britt Harvey

Posted: 12/26/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Enlarge Image

JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA A flamingo basks in the year-round tropical environment

Enlarge Image

JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA A lemur enjoys some holiday raisins at Assiniboine Park Zoo on Christmas Eve. Socialization among the animals is key, due to the indoor environment.

It started with a battle of wills.

Attila the swan, a regal black-necked bird, stood apart from the crowd, a lone gunslinger amid a sea of pink and puffy-feathered flamingos. His pink beak was poised haughtily in the air as he stared down his opponent, zookeeper Valerie Norquay.

With one swift move, she grabbed the swan by his wings and removed him from his wading pool. Out of his element, and indignant at his new-found impotence, Attila could do nothing but pace menacingly, attempting to jump back into his domain.

"I'm watching you," Norquay laughed. "He tries to bite us sometimes. He beats us up. He doesn't do this when he's in the hallway, it's only when we are in his territory."

This scene of rebellion and triumph is just one of many that take place mid-winter inside Assiniboine Park Zoo's Tropical House. Attila is one of the zoo's more motley characters, which include a hodgepodge of personalities that makes TV's Melrose Place look tame.

Humid and consistently filled with a cacophony of bird calls, squeaks, squawks, snarls -- and the occasional unexpected dropping -- the Tropical House is brimming, literally, with life.

Baby lemur Carlita jumps up and down excitedly as we approach, her brown eyes inquisitive and searching -- she wants to play.

"We try to keep her busy so she doesn't get bored," Norquay explained. "We like to put on music in their rooms and are constantly changing up her environment."

Unlike Attila the swan, lemurs enjoy the company of humans.

Next door to Carlita is Chloe. This ring-tailed lemur rules her roost with an iron fist. Her previous career as a pro lemur actor prepared her for life at the zoo, but left her with unladylike habits.

"She was trained to jump on people's heads, so when we go into her room, she'll do that," Norquay said. "Also, if you don't feed her right away, she'll sometimes slap you across the face."

Susan, the black-and-white ruffled lemur, sits comfortably as Chloe bounces around the walls. Susan was feeling lonely, so she was brought in to live with the ring-tails. Socialization is paramount, said Norquay, especially in the colder winter months when exotic animals have to stay inside longer.

"Neighbours get cranky with each other, just like with humans. Animals will live together and then, all of sudden, they get squabbling," the zookeeper said. But the interactions between the animals is good for them, it's a little bit more like living in the wild."

An unholy racket of squawks and shrill sounds bursts out from the hallway. The flamingos are gearing up for mating season, and these bombastic noises are merely the dress rehearsal.

"The flamingos start courtship way too early, so they can't be outside," said zoo curator Dr. Bob Wrigley.

The mating dance is usually led by the dominant male, who stands at the front of the group directing traffic. The others take turns squawking, flinging their heads side-to-side, flapping their wings and bowing, followed by a quick march around in a circle. Since flamingos are a flocking bird, the more the merrier.

"Some zoos will put up mirrors so the flamingos think there are more birds than there actually are," Wrigley laughed.

britt.harvey@freepress.mb.ca

Creature feature

Enjoy the tropical animals and colder weather exhibits over the winter holidays. From Dec. 24 to May 21, the zoo is open Monday to Sunday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

WINTER RATES (Plus five per cent GST) 2010; Jan. 1 to Feb. 29 / Nov. 1 to Dec. 31:

Adult $4.05

Senior $3.81

Youth (13-17) $2.45

Child (two-12) $1.90

Children under two are free

Family day pass $12.95 (Includes up to 2 adults and their children, age 17 and under.)

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 26, 2009 A10

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.