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Dozens of animals to leave Calgary Zoo, due to extensive flood damage

CALGARY- The Calgary Zoo says that their South America building was so badly damaged during the Calgary floods, that they don’t plan to reopen it.

As a result, the zoo will have to relocate numerous animals.

“We have to quickly find new homes for the 34 individual animals representing 11 species that were housed in the building,” explains president and CEO Dr. Clement Lanthier. “We know people will be sad that these animals are leaving us, but we need to think of their welfare and we simply can’t provide for their long-term needs in the foreseeable future.”

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The animals could start being moved in the next two weeks. Affected animals include:

  • Two hyacinth macaws
  • Seven yellow-headed Amazon parrots
  • Two preshensile-tailed porcupines
  • Two two-toed sloths
  • Two giant anteaters
  • Two Andean condors
  • Five Goeldi’s monkeys
  • Three Cotton-topped tamarins
  • Two white-handed gibbons
  • Four black-handed spider monkeys
  • Three Debrazza monkeys

The zoo was already looking for new homes for a number of animals before the floods, meaning 45 animals representing 15 species will be moved.

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The Calgary Zoo is facing a $50 million cleanup from the floods, and has already had to lay off hundreds of workers.

The facility will begin reopening in stages, beginning July 31.

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