each other, standing close to one another and lying down together.
The “howdy” period is not necessary for all animals because some animals are naturally solitary species, she said.
“Tigers live alone in the wild and they typically live alone in the zoo so they won’t go through a ‘howdy’ period because they will be moving to their exhibit alone,” she said.
The Phoenix Zoo is in a constant cycle of shipping and receiving animals.
Hatwood said the animals at the zoo are categorized as breeding groups, bachelor groups, solitary animals, animals for education and retired animals.
The breeding and bachelor groups have transfers of animals on a regular basis because of the Species Survival Plan Program, she said.
The breeding groups are animals that are intended to have babies, and the bachelor groups are groups of male animals that are usually studs waiting to be bred with animals at other zoos. Solitary animals live alone in their exhibits and animals for education leave the zoo regularly to visit schools or
Continued pm next page
Talk of Arizona
22
January 2014