Featured above is ten pounds of hissing, spitting, and growling jaguar, born on the first of January, 2009. He is being given his "baby" exam and vaccinations on Valentine's day. As a kitten, the little boy was too naive to claw or bite, but for his next shots, the staff of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is certain that he will be more than a handful.
For good reason, the Zoo has been cagey about announcing the birth, due to the fact that the mother, "Zassi," was a first time mom. Since she had been reared by humans in Guyana, it was not clear that she would have the necessary maternal skills. Only two keepers have been allowed to work in the jaguar building, with no other staff permitted. The area had been roped off from any outside distraction of traffic.
Since the breeding of Zassi with Tuco, a young male from the Houston Zoo, it has been months of planning, anticipation, and waiting. At first, no one was sure that she was even pregnant because, until the very end, she had no weight gain. But in the meantime, a birthing den was placed in a jaguar birthing "suite," with a private outdoor exercise yard. A remote video camera was installed in the wooden box, to be able to monitor the process.
With no disruption in routine, and with the attention of the favorite keepers, Zassi has proven to be an excellent mother. She is almost too protective, preventing her curious cub from going outside. (That should change soon, as the exuberance of the kitten will outpace her concern).
Before the keeper and the vet caught the unnamed cub in thick protective gloves, the mother had been secured in another area, and she was distracted with food. The cub was weighed, checked for vitals, sexed, and given feline vaccinations. Within minutes, it was returned to the mother, and quickly calmed down.
As a zoologist, I have always admired the cats of the world. Seeing the blue eyes of this feisty, innocent baby is a special treat.
Photos by Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
For good reason, the Zoo has been cagey about announcing the birth, due to the fact that the mother, "Zassi," was a first time mom. Since she had been reared by humans in Guyana, it was not clear that she would have the necessary maternal skills. Only two keepers have been allowed to work in the jaguar building, with no other staff permitted. The area had been roped off from any outside distraction of traffic.
Since the breeding of Zassi with Tuco, a young male from the Houston Zoo, it has been months of planning, anticipation, and waiting. At first, no one was sure that she was even pregnant because, until the very end, she had no weight gain. But in the meantime, a birthing den was placed in a jaguar birthing "suite," with a private outdoor exercise yard. A remote video camera was installed in the wooden box, to be able to monitor the process.
With no disruption in routine, and with the attention of the favorite keepers, Zassi has proven to be an excellent mother. She is almost too protective, preventing her curious cub from going outside. (That should change soon, as the exuberance of the kitten will outpace her concern).
Before the keeper and the vet caught the unnamed cub in thick protective gloves, the mother had been secured in another area, and she was distracted with food. The cub was weighed, checked for vitals, sexed, and given feline vaccinations. Within minutes, it was returned to the mother, and quickly calmed down.
As a zoologist, I have always admired the cats of the world. Seeing the blue eyes of this feisty, innocent baby is a special treat.
Photos by Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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