By Aimee Turcotte
​ At Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, we have a variety of species of monkeys, including Black and Gold Howler Monkeys, Black-Handed Spider Monkeys, Golden Lion Tamarins, and Pale-Faced Saki Monkeys.

               We currently have three Black and Gold Howler Monkeys, Cain Jr., Catalina, and Estrella. Cain Jr., our male, is currently 33 years old, with a birthday of 07/09/1992. He is the oldest living Black and Gold Howler Monkey under human care in North America, and the oldest living member of his species living in an AZA facility worldwide. The lifespan for Black and Gold Howler Monkeys is 15 years in the wild and 20 years under human care, so Cain Jr. has exceeded the average life expectancy! In 2015, Cain Jr. arrived at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo from the Riverbank Zoo in South Carolina. Estrella and Catalina are sisters! Catalina is 8 years old, born on 10/13/2017, and Estrella is 10 years old, born on 09/30/2015. Both of these Black and Gold Howler Monkeys came to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo from the San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium in 2021. They are a near-threatened species in central South America.

By Aimee Turcotte
Four baby Giant Anteaters have been born at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. All these babies are from Pana, a female, and E.O., a male. Pana and E.O. are both 16 years old and originally came from the Palm Beach Zoo. These Giant Anteaters arrived at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo in late May 2015. E.O. is named after E.O. Wilson, a famous entomologist who studied ant microevolution (3).
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Pana and E.O.’s first baby, Mochilla, is a 9-year-old male who was born on February 12th, 2016, and currently resides at the Alexandria Zoo as a part of a breeding program (1, 3). Mochilla is the first Giant Anteater to be born at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo.

The second baby, Tupi, is a 7-year-old male who was born in 2018. The name "Tupi" refers to an anteater when translated into the Tupi and Brazilian Portuguese languages (2). Tupi did spend some time living with the Spider Monkeys at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo before being transferred to the Nashville Zoo.

The third baby, Chili, is a 4-year-old female who was born on June 15th, 2021. Her name refers to the small pepper that is a key ingredient in Mexican and South American cooking. Chili was transferred to the Miller Park Zoo, where she was paired with Arnaud, a male Giant Anteater from the Nashville Zoo (4). Chili and Arnaud had a male baby Giant Anteater, named Mr. Snoot, on June 16th, 2025 (5). The Miller Park Zoo states that Chili has a brave personality, showing an interest in exploring new things (4).
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The fourth baby, Kayapó, is a 1-year-old female and was born on August 27th, 2024. She is still living at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Kayapó was named after the Indigenous people of Brazil.

Recent highlights regarding the expanded wild Red Wolf population include:

· Red Wolves 2503F (female, wild-born) and 2191M (male, SAFE program) are part of the Milltail group at Alligator River NWR. They had 8 pups (4 males, 4 females) in April 2025.
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· Red Wolves 2359F and 2443M (SAFE program) were paired in an acclimation pen in February 2024 at the NWR, but they did not end up breeding that year. They were released into the wild and successfully bred in early 2025, giving birth to 3 pups (2 females, 1 male) in April 2025.

· Red Wolves 2409F and 2371M were born at the Endangered Wolf Center in May 2023. Wolf 2409F was released with her parents in spring 2023, received medical care due to an injured leg in October 2024, and was later paired with 2371M. They had 3 pups in April 2025 and were released with their pups into the wild in May.

· Wolf 2412F, born in 2022 to the Milltail group at NWR, mated with 2500M (born 2023, Milltail group) due to a lack of unrelated males. They had 6 pups (3 males, 3 females) in April 2025. Two female and two male pups born from 2412F and 2500M were cross-fostered to the North Carolina Zoo, and one male pup from the zoo was introduced into the wild litter to boost genetic diversity.

Why are the births of these Red Wolf pups important? Red Wolves are currently critically endangered in the wild (5). Unfortunately, the wild population of these wolves has significantly decreased due to threats such as hunting and competition against Coyotes for resources (6). Although Red Wolves do compete against Coyotes, occasionally, these species will mate, resulting in the birth of Coyote–American Red Wolf hybrids that reduce the genetic diversity of Red Wolves.

At Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, we have been proud to play a direct role in the reintroduction of Red Wolves in North Carolina. Since 1987, we have raised 8 Red Wolf pups at the Zoo under the SAFE American Red Wolf program to be released as part of the experimental resettlement initiative (7). By contributing these wolves, the Zoo supported the efforts to increase the Red Wolf population in the wild.
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Currently, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo has two Red Wolves, Ranger (male) and Taylor (female). Although Taylor is an older female, Ranger and Taylor have the potential to breed. If these wolves decide to breed, the Zoo will be directly contributing to the conservation of Red Wolves by increasing the ex-situ (under human care) population of Red Wolves.

​(1) https://www.selc.org/news/hope-for-red-wolves/
(2) https://ncwf.org/blog/red-wolf-updates/
(3) https://reflectionriding.org/nature-center-news-updates/red-wolf-update-2025
(4) https://www.fws.gov/project/red-wolf-recovery-program
(5) https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/american-red-wolf.html
(6) https://ncwf.org/blog/red-wolf-science/
​(7) https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/press/connecticuts-beardsley-zoo-announces-arrival-of-new-red-wolf-named-for-the-flower-moon

At Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, we have two Red Pandas, Ponya and Pilatus (Pilot). Ponya is a female born on June 17th, 2024, and Pilot is a male born on June 11th, 2024. Ponya came to the Beardsley Zoo on May 6th, 2025, from the Detroit Zoological Society in Michigan. Pilot arrived at the Beardsley Zoo on June 28th, 2025, from the Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee. Ponya and Pilot live together with the expectation that they will breed, supporting their Species Survival Plan (SSP). The Red Panda SSP aims to protect Red Panda populations through coordinated breeding efforts. Ponya and Pilot were first introduced to each other at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo at the end of July 2025.

Our Animal Care Specialists implement comprehensive measures to look after the well-being of our Red Pandas.
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Our Red Pandas are fed daily with food such as leaf-eater biscuits, bamboo, cranberries, grapes, apples, and pears. The amount of food left over after each meal is recorded to check that our Red Pandas are eating a healthy and balanced diet. Ponya and Pilot are also weighed monthly, ensuring they are not losing or gaining too much weight, which could be a sign of underlying health issues.

Additionally, our Red Pandas participate in injection training using operant conditioning. Each training session is evaluated on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the animal showing no interest in the training, while 5 reflects a ‘perfect’ training session. When a Red Panda performs a desired behavior, the animal is positively reinforced with an award. In most cases, the reward will be a treat. Ponya’s favorite reward is grapes. Pilot’s preferred snacks during training are grapes or craisins. Other types of training include crate and target training. Typically, each behavior has a verbal and visual cue, as well as a device that may be used during the training. For instance, during Pilot’s injection training, the device may be the syringe, and the visual cue may be seeing the syringe.

Ponya and Pilot are also given daily enrichment, reinforcing their natural behaviors while diminishing the likelihood of stereotypic behaviors. Enrichment has included cardboard boxes, toys, large stacks of bamboo, scents, and more!
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Animal well-being is our number one priority here at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Ponya and Pilot are well taken care of, that is for sure. We are very lucky to have Ponya and Pilot as a part of our Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo family!

“This is about symptom and stress reduction,” Dancho said. “We can’t eliminate the disease, but we can give the tree more tools to fight back.”

The tree injections are just one example of the Zoo’s broader commitment to its plant collections. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a Level 1 Arboretum—a distinction awarded by ArbNet for collections that meet defined standards for tree diversity, documentation, and care. This year, the Zoo is working toward Level 2 Arboretum status, which requires an even greater diversity of species, formalized tree care policies, and educational outreach. “An arboretum isn’t just about planting trees,” Dancho emphasized. “It’s about protecting and maintaining them for generations to come.”

In addition to injections, Bartlett also provides other tree care for the Zoo, such as pruning trees and conducting regular inspections. As part of the zoo’s supported professional development Dancho plans  to continue his learnings by taking the Tree Risk Assessment course to further enhance the Zoo’s on-site expertise.
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By tackling threats like Beech Leaf Disease head-on and striving to reach Level 2 Arboretum accreditation, the Zoo ensures its grounds remain a thriving, shaded, and beautiful home — not just for its animals, but for the people who visit and the plants that complete the landscape.

Although bears are known for hibernating in dens, Andean Bears have year-round access to food, making it unnecessary for them to hibernate. Andean Bears create maternal dens, which are specifically for raising one to three cubs until they are a little over one year old. The Zoo’s Andean Bear inside habitat has maternity and cubbing den areas.
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Currently, CBZ has three bears: Cayambe, Nicole, and Nuna. Cayambe is the oldest, 23 years old. She arrived at the Zoo in 2022 from the Cleveland Metro Park Zoo in Ohio. Nuna, our 4-year-old bear, has been living at the Zoo since 2023. She is the daughter of Nicole, our 13-year-old bear, who arrived at CBZ about one month ago. Nuna and Nicole are from the Queens Zoo in New York.

https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/andean-bear.html
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/andean-bear
​https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/andean-spectacled-bear

Dr. Stanford coordinates multiple conservation and education programs related to LEWS, efforts that have shaped the lives of people and animals alike. I had the chance to see her in action, and to learn more about these remarkable animals. The LEWS, found only on the islands in the western basis of Lake Erie, was nearly decimated by human action, specifically the purposeful killing of them due to human fear and persecution. Only through protective measures have we seen a rebound, though threats still exist, including Snake Fungal Disease (SFD). So what work is being done, and how can you help?

Every year a research team completes a population census, scanning PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags, tagging new individuals, swabbing for SFD, measuring snout vent length, and more. PIT Tags are a valuable tool injected into the individual, that can be scanned to gain records or individual identifications from a species. Requiring no external power source, they are a great tool for long-term monitoring. This team, composed of current researchers, and volunteers from years past, showcases the legacy of learning by Dr. Stanford, and those who led this effort before her. On paper this looks extremely neat and tidy, but field work is dirty, fast paced, highly variable and of course, fun.
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LEWS, when scooped up for research purposes, tend to bite, and when grabbing a whole group at a time, it means the potential for multiple bites. While their bite itself does not hurt greatly, they do have an anticoagulant in their saliva, meaning bites look a lot worse than they feel. A bunch of tiny pin pricks in your hands or arms, and you look like you’ve walked through a wall of thorns. When the bite does not deter them, they then musk. This defense mechanism releases a foul-smelling substance used to deter predators, and that of a LEWS can clear a room. As most of their diet includes fish, including the invasive Round Goby which they help to control, the odor is imbedded with the scent of fish gone bad, among other things. None of this though is a hinderance for the trained researcher, especially Dr. Stanford. Snakes can be found basking in the summer sun, or under snake mats, specifically designed ground covering to provide them a place to rest. By overturning these mats, we could then see and catch the snakes for processing. Some mats had no snakes, some had multiple individuals all scattering in different directions. Researchers would dive chest deep into the water, crawl under bushes and logs, and return soaking wet, coated in mud and debris, but with a smile on their face, and a snake in hand, a chance for new data, and to understand how the population is doing, and where SFD may be spreading.

So, on World Snake Day, take the time to remember the importance of snakes, and to protect them. Often vilified in media and stories, these animals provide valuable ecosystem services, controlling rodent populations, or in the case of the LEWS, acting as a barrier to invasive species. Take the time to observe their movements and behaviors. Provide them the space to live, by leaving brush piles, rocks, and logs for them to hibernate in. Avoid the use of harsh chemicals on laws and gardens. The most important lesson is one I learned on the islands, and from Dr. Stanford, and that is to “Respect the Snake”.

Written By: Aimee Turcotte and Des Flemmings
​It may be Pollinator Week, but here at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, we like to celebrate pollinators every day! Pollinators are critical contributors to the health of many ecosystems. Transferring pollen from one plant to another, pollinators help plants grow and reproduce. At the Zoo, staff support pollinators by planting native plants which pollinators rely on for food sources, shelter, and reproduction.
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In 2023, the Zoo received a two-year $50,000 grant from M&T Bank, allowing the Education Department to work with the City of Bridgeport to establish five pollinator gardens throughout Bridgeport. Two of the gardens have been planted right in front of the Zoo, adjacent to Beardsley Park. The three other garden locations are Fairchild Wheeler Interdistrict Magnet School, Sacred Heart University’s Discovery Science Center and Planetarium, and Wakeman’s Boys and Girls Club.

In 2024, the Education Department won the Significant Achievement in Conservation Education award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for their Cool Blue Bridgeport program. The Cool Blue Bridgeport program includes educating Bridgeport residents about climate change and supports the initiative to plant the five gardens throughout Bridgeport.
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In these gardens, staff and volunteers have planted perennials and annuals to support plant biodiversity and ecosystem health. The native perennials, such as Common Milkweed, Black-eyed Susan, Beardtongue, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, Garden Phlox, Cardinal Flower, Mountain Mint, and Northern Blazing Star, are adapted to Bridgeport’s local growing conditions, allowing them to withstand colder spring temperatures. Milkweed serves as the host plant for Monarch butterflies, which lay their eggs on Milkweed leaves. Additionally, Monarch butterfly caterpillars rely on Milkweed leaves as their main source of food. Annuals, such as Marigolds and Begonias, are planted in self-watering planters in each of the gardens. These annuals are a main source of food for pollinators due to their bright coloration that attracts pollinators to the flowers’ nectar and pollen.

When planting, staff needed to ensure that all these plants would have the right amount of sunlight and moisture to grow. Too much or too little sunlight or moisture can negatively affect plant growth. For instance, oversaturation can prevent the plants from getting enough oxygen, resulting in root rot. Soil being too dry and plants being exposed to too much sun can make the plant's leaves dry and wilt. Zoo staff endeavored to meet the standards of Monarch Watch and the National Wildlife Federation to achieve certified status for each of the gardens.

For example, Monarch Watch garden certifications require gardens to have at least 10 Milkweed plants. These efforts have resulted in pollinators being observed in these gardens, including honeybees, Monarch butterflies, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, and a multitude of species of birds.

The range of the Amur Leopard extended from northeastern China to the Korean Peninsula until forest fires, indiscriminate logging, and the clearance of vegetation for farmland destroyed its habitat (8.). Habitat loss resulted in a decline of prey populations (such as wild boar and Sika Deer), leaving Amur Leopards with less access to food. To survive, some Amur Leopards abandoned the mountainous forests that were once their home, forcing them into human-populated areas. Unfortunately, this movement into human-inhabited areas made leopards vulnerable to illegal hunting. For instance, poachers would hunt Amur Leopards for their beautiful fur, which was illegally sold on the black market (3.; 8.). Additionally, poachers have killed leopards to use their bones as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine (9.). In 2020, 24 firms in China were exposed for using leopard bones in medicines (6.). Deer farmers have also killed Amur Leopards that were spotted climbing fences of deer farms to prey on Sika Deer (2.). Due to habitat loss and illegal hunting, it is estimated that only 80 to 100 Amur Leopards remain in the wild (4.).

Climate change has been proven to have a significant impact on Amur Leopards. As global carbon dioxide emissions rise, global temperatures increase, accompanied by a rise in extreme weather events (10.; 11.). The Amur Leopard relies on rainfall to support vegetation growth in its habitat. During humid seasons, a lack of rainfall has caused wildfires that
destroy parts of the leopard’s habitat. Interestingly, climate change has also made Amur Leopards more susceptible to diseases. Deforestation has led to various species coming into frequent contact with each other, resulting in cross-species disease transmission (11.).

One of the newest threats to Amur Leopards is Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), a highly infectious disease most common in dogs (5.). This disease primarily affects the respiratory and intestinal systems, but there have been cases where neurological issues, such as seizures, have occurred. For example, a two-year-old wild Amur Leopard tested positive for CDV after being found on the side of a road exhibiting neurological issues. The leopard likely encountered a domestic dog or a wild carnivore, such as a fox, that had the virus. Vaccinations for CDV in Amur Leopards have not yet been implemented due to insufficient research on the ecology of CDV (5.).
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Fortunately, conservationists are taking action to protect critically endangered Amur Leopards. In 2012, the Russian government established the Land of the Leopard National Park, a protected area of about 650,000 acres (12.). This park encompasses approximately 60% of the Amur Leopard’s remaining habitat, containing safe areas for breeding (12.). Furthermore, governments and organizations have been implementing stronger environmental policies against poaching. Conservation organizations, such as Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, have been raising awareness about Amur Leopards by educating individuals about the threats they face and the importance of protecting these magnificent animals. Amur Leopards are safeguarded through their own Species Survival Plan (SSP), which includes a Breeding and Transfer Plan at AZA-accredited (Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited) zoos to manage the Amur Leopard population (1.).


APA Citations
1. Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (n.d.). Species Survival Plan Programs. https://www.aza.org/species-survival-plan-programs?locale=en
2. Boreal Forest. (2022, November 8). Amur Leopard – Panthera Pardus Orientalis. https://www.borealforest.org/amur-leopard/
3. Brooks, J. (2023, September 14). Saving the Amur Leopard: A Global Conservation Effort. Wild Explained. https://wildexplained.com/animal-encyclopedia/saving-the-amur-leopard-a-global-conservation-effort/
4. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. (n.d.). Amur Leopard. Amur Leopard - Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/amur-leopard.html
5. Cordova, M. G. (2018, January 17). Critically endangered Amur leopard faces new threat. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/about-us/news/20180117/critically-endangered-amur-leopard-faces-new-threat
6. Environmental Investigation Agency. (2020, April 3). 24 firms in China exposed for using bones of endangered leopards in traditional medicines. https://eia-international.org/press-releases/24-firms-in-china-exposed-for-using-bones-of-endangered-leopards-in-traditional-medicines/
7. Enviroliteracy Team. (2025, March 11). What would happen to the ecosystem if Amur leopards went extinct? Environmental Literacy Council. https://enviroliteracy.org/what-would-happen-to-the-ecosystem-if-amur-leopards-went-extinct/
8. Enviroliteracy Team. (2025, March 5). What are 5 reasons the Amur leopard is endangered? Environmental Literacy Council. https://enviroliteracy.org/what-are-5-reasons-the-amur-leopard-is-endangered/
9. Enviroliteracy Team. (2025, March 23). What is the rarest type of leopard? Environmental Literacy Council. https://enviroliteracy.org/animals/what-is-the-rarest-type-of-leopard/
10. Jinyuan Zeng et al. (2022). Effects of Climate Change on the Habitat of the Leopard (Panthera pardus) in the Liupanshan National Nature Reserve of China. Animals, 12(14), 1866. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141866
11. Xiaogang Li et al. (2023). Climate change puts Amur leopards at risk. Science, 382(6674), 1007. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adl6721
12. World Wildlife Foundation. (n.d.). Amur Leopard. https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/amur-leopard

​Written By: Aimee Turcotte
When you think of Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga Tridactyla), what do you see? These animals were called Ant Bears because of their size and insectivorous (feeding on insects) diet (2.). We certainly do not see Giant Anteaters in Connecticut, so you would only know what Giant Anteaters look like by seeing them in zoos, out in the wild in South America, or by researching them.

If you have not seen a Giant Anteater before, I can testify that these animals are very intriguing. These animals have elongated snouts and tongues up to a third of their body length that allows them to eat termites living on the forest floor (2.). Giant Anteaters can occasionally dine on ripe fruit as well, such as oranges. These animals are opportunistic eaters, so they will eat whatever is readily available if insects are scarce (3.).

​Giant Anteaters have a bushy tail, which keeps them warm but also hides pups resting on their backs. The gray and brown fur of Giant Anteaters helps them blend in (camouflage) with the leaves and trees of woodland areas to protect them against predators such as Pumas. Giant Anteater pups have black stripes that run along their bodies and are in a pattern specifically like their mother’s stripes, so it is difficult for predators to see the pups when they are holding onto 
their mother’s back. 

Giant Anteaters also have sharp, front claws that aid them when defending themselves against attackers and when digging into ant mounds. In fact, Giant Anteaters can kill Jaguars because of the large size of their claws. However, it is rare for Jaguars to hunt Giant Anteaters. Jaguars are opportunistic hunters, so they will only hunt Giant Anteaters if they have an advantage against them. Other animals that Jaguars may prefer eating are Capybaras and Caimans.

Lastly, Giant Anteater’s claws are so long that these animals must walk around on their knuckles! Most anteaters are arboreal, but the Giant Anteaters are the exception to this rule due to their larger body size not making it feasible for them to live in trees (2.). These animals are solitary, which means they live alone except for during the breeding season. When Giant Anteaters mate, they do not have permanent nesting spots, as they may wander around the forest floor during mating season (1.). The female only has one pup per year. The pup is weaned for the first few months after birth. A pup may stay with the mother for up to two years before the pup leaves its mother and becomes independent.
 
​On the IUCN Red List, Giant Anteaters are classified as a vulnerable species globally and as the most threatened mammal in Central America (4.). Giant Anteaters face many threats such as habitat destruction, fires in grasslands, vehicle strikes, hunting, and attacks by feral dogs. It is essential to conserve Giant Anteaters because they help control insect populations, and they use their claws to dig for water when there is none on the surface. The water that the Giant Anteaters reach underground is then available for other species (4.). Giant Anteaters have been at the zoo for over 50 years. Gregg Dancho, the former Director of CBZ, mentioned that the old Giant Anteater habitat is where the Grey Fox is 
currently living. The Giant Anteaters we have at the zoo now, housed near the Chacoan Peccaries, are named EO (male) and Pana (female). EO and Pana were both born in 2009 and arrived at the zoo in 2015. They are the parents of a baby Giant Anteater who was born at CBZ in 2024.

Work Cited
1. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. (2016, April 25). Giant 
Anteater. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. 
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giantanteater#:~:text=Giant%20anteaters%20are%20typically%20solitary,likely%20wander%20throughout%20their%20ranges
2. Smithsonian. (2019). Smithsonian Zoology: Inside the Secret World of Animals. New York: DK Publishing.
3. Giant Anteater. Giant Anteater | Kiezebrink Focus on Food. (n.d.). https://www.kiezebrink.eu/en/zoo-database/name46#:~:text=Natural%20diet%20Giant%20anteater&text=Giant%20anteaters%20are%20insectivo
res%20that,bodied%20grubs%2C%20eggs%20and%20fruits.
4. Global Conservation. (2024, January 15). Giant Anteater. Giant Anteater - Global 
Conservation. https://globalconservation.org/endangered-species/giant-anteater