This last exercise earns her the rest of her breakfast , which she gobbles up in an impressive thirty seconds . While Fugate cleans up the food prep area and checks to make sure all doors and locks are secure , I learn Mishy might not be the only one with a bun in the oven .
“ We have had a lot of breeding lately ,” Fugate confirms . “ I don ’ t want to say the animals don ’ t enjoy people being here , but I think when keepers shift them back into their holdings at night , it ’ s disruptive . When there weren ’ t any visitors , we could give them their exhibit and the holding space all day long . They could decide where they went 24 / 7 , and as far as increasing their comfort level for breeding , that helps a lot . I ’ m just speculating , but it ’ s certainly possible .”
Goodman , the executive director , echoes that . The flamingos laid eggs for the first time in more than twenty years this year and the tamandua looks ready to pop . There are definitely some first-timein-a-long-time or first-time-ever-type births , he agrees .
Though Mishontoo ’ s likely pregnancy isn ’ t quarantine related , Fugate thinks she is another example of a zoo resident who missed the people .
“ Once a little kid came by the outside exhibit and said , ‘ Mama ! They have water puppies !’ I thought that pretty much sums it up ,” he says with a laugh . “ But she loves kids just as much as they love her . They run back and forth in front of the glass and she swims or runs with them . I think she missed that .”
Fugate coaxes Mishontoo through her personal mini door to the outdoor enclosure . When she sees us , she swims right up to the glass , clearly expectant . Fugate throws a grape into the water and she dives for it , then balances it on her nose for a few seconds before letting it fall and starting the game again . Water puppy , indeed .
ALL THE KEEPERS tend to have a favorite animal , whether they admit it or not . We ’ re about to meet Fugate ’ s , the binturong .
Inside the dimly lit indoor enclosure , two beady , bleary eyes poke out from a mass of fur . For those who may not know , binturong are relatively small bear-like critters hailing from southeast Asia . They ’ re equipped with a good set of teeth , a good
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RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JANUARY 2021 139