New Madagascar exhibit to open at Charles Paddock Zoo
Found only in the southern part of Madagascar in the dry forest and bush, the ring-tailed lemur is a large, vocal primate with brownish-gray fur and a distinctive tail with alternating black and white rings.
–The City of Atascadero and the Charles Paddock Zoo are announcing the grand opening of a new exhibit featuring rare and threatened animals of the island of Madagascar. The exhibit, which is just the first phase of what will become the larger Madagascar Complex, will be made available to the public with a ribbon cutting event to be held at the zoo on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m.
The Master Plan of the Charles Paddock Zoo is designed around the concept of what are known as biodiversity hotspots, which are defined as the earth’s “biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial eco-regions.” A biodiversity hotspot is home to plants and animals which are irreplaceable and are threatened. Around the world, 35 areas qualify as hotspots. The zoo has chosen to focus on five of these biodiversity hotspots. Each biodiversity hotspot exhibit within the zoo will feature various endangered species of animals that are native to that area, with the Madagascar Complex being the first to be constructed.
The island of Madagascar is home to many species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, most of those species are under incredible threat to their continued existence. Over the years the Charles Paddock Zoo has been striving to increase the work being done to save at least some of these animals from the threat of extinction.
The first animals to be displayed to the public in this new area at the zoo will include the Radiated Tortoises, Spider Tortoises, Big Headed Turtles, Black Parrots, Tomato Frogs, Pardalis Chameleons, Phelsuma Geckos, and Collared Iguanas, most of which are brand new to the Charles Paddock Zoo. The zoo is extremely proud to be home to six rare Radiated Tortoises, four adults and two young tortoises which were born at the zoo. These tortoises are considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful tortoises and are endangered, mainly due to poaching and destruction of their habitat.
Crested Couas, a bird species from Madagascar that is new to the zoo, will be joining this group in a few months. Familiar animals already on display at the zoo which will be moved into the new exhibit as soon as possible will include the very popular lemurs and the fossa, which are also native to Madagascar.
The City of Atascadero is grateful to the Atascadero Wine Festival Committee, which, through their fundraising efforts, is helping to make the new exhibit possible through their generous donation of $20,000 to the Charles Paddock Zoo.
Over 200 animals call the Charles Paddock Zoo home, including red pandas, monkeys, meerkats, parrots, a Malayan Tiger, a variety of reptiles and more! For more information about the Zoo, please visit us at www.charlespaddockzoo.org or call (805) 461-5080.
