EATONVILLE, Wash.— Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is now house to a few Alaskan moose calves after they have been orphaned within the wild earlier this summer time. Keepers have named the virtually 3-month-old calves Atlas, Luna, and Callisto (Cuh-list-o) after the moons of a number of planets.
The 2 females and one male will quickly be part of Aspen, the wildlife park’s 6-year-old resident feminine moose, within the 435-acre Free-Roaming Space alongside Roosevelt elk, American bison, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and black-tailed deer.
“We’re excited to welcome one other era of moose to Northwest Trek and supply a second likelihood and nice house for these orphaned moose,” mentioned zoological curator Marc Heinzman. “As soon as these calves develop into maturity, they are going to be an exciting sight for our friends.”
Luna, an orphaned feminine calf, was rescued after wandering alone across the small city of Ninilchik, Alaska for a number of days in late Might. After intently monitoring the calf and never seeing her mom, biologists from the Alaska Division of Fish & Recreation (ADFG) transported her to the Alaska Zoo for momentary care. Luna’s keepers describe her as “elusive and impartial.”
ADFG biologists rescued Atlas, an orphaned male calf, in late Might in Anchorage and Callisto, an orphaned feminine calf, in early June on the Kenai Peninsula. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Middle offered a short lived house for each calves over the summer time till they might safely transfer to their everlasting house at Northwest Trek. Keepers describe Atlas as “assured and relaxed” and name Callisto a “sassy calf with an enormous character.”
“We’re grateful to Alaska Zoo and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Middle employees for his or her extraordinary care of those calves over many months,” mentioned Heinzman.
In line with ADFG, every time biologists obtain a report of an orphaned calf, they offer the cow (mom) and calf at the least a day to attempt to discover one another on their very own. Thankfully, more often than not, the cow has simply wandered off for a short time and left the calf in a spot she thought was protected. If biologists can’t discover the cow, they’ll transport the orphaned calf to an animal care facility.
All three calves arrived at Northwest Trek in mid-August and are adjusting effectively in an off-exhibit space. The wildlife park’s animal care and veterinary groups are intently monitoring the calves and feeding them thrice each day.
“All three orphaned calves are wholesome,” mentioned head veterinarian Dr. Allison Case. “I am wanting ahead to serving to them transition to their new house and watching them proceed to develop and thrive.”
Atlas, the male calf, weighs 165 kilos, with feminine calves Luna and Callisto weighing 159 kilos and 141 kilos. All three calves are about 4 toes tall. Moose are the tallest wild animals in North America, with adults rising to 1,200 kilos, 10.5 toes lengthy and seven.5 toes excessive.
The three calves will quickly meet their new buddy Aspen in an off-exhibit space. When the 4 moose are snug, they’ll enter the wildlife park’s Free-Roaming Space collectively the place friends could possibly spot them on a Wild Drive or Keeper Journey Tour. Trace: moose love nestling in bracken (a tall fern), so preserve a watch out for lengthy ears and a protracted nostril coming out from behind the foliage.
Moose play an important function in serving to individuals study extra about Northwest ecosystems.
“We’re excited to supply alternatives for our friends to see moose demonstrating pure behaviors throughout all levels of life,” mentioned Heinzman. “We hope this expertise will encourage a deeper appreciation and caring for wild moose and the locations they name house.”
