“Sometimes we work with international zoos to keep genetics as varied as possible,” she said.
The Species Survival Plan keeps track of which animals have bred with one another.
Hatwood said it is important to keep track of breeding because the association does not want parents and babies to breed; variations in genes give the species a better chance of surviving.
Hardwick said the Phoenix Zoo received a male orangutan from the Cleveland Zoo when Phoenix added a new orangutan exhibit in 2011.
“The Cleveland Zoo received breeding recommendations for orangutans, so they sent us one of theirs as a playmate,” she said.
The male and female orangutan’s are 7-years-old and will be ready to breed when they are 14.
Bickert, known as the “travel agent for the animals,” said travel arrangements vary from animal to animal because the zoo wants to make them as comfortable as possible during such a stressful situation.
Whether ground or air delivery depends on the
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Talk of Arizona
17
January 2014