New to the Zoo in 2009

SQUIRREL MONKEYS
Three male squirrel monkeys arrived at the Zoo on October 22, 2009. The squirrel monkey is found in forests of Central and South America. These arboreal, agile primates move almost silently through the upper canopy by leaping from tree to tree. Squirrel monkeys live in bands of 12 to 100 individuals, and use musky scents to mark their territory or leave a trail for other troop members to follow. Squirrel monkeys eat insects, eggs, fruit, nuts, and occasionally young birds.

AQUATIC LIFE
Several new aquatic species can be viewed in the Alexandria Zoo's Animal House (Education Building B). Clownfish - Of the 28 known species of clown anemonefish (clownfish), most can be found in the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the western Pacific. One of the most recognizable of all reef-dwellers, clownfish are named for the multicolored sea anemone in which they make their homes. Clownfish are immune to the anemone's sting. Sea Anemone - A predatory animal, the anemone uses its tentacles to sting its prey. This invertebrate has no skeleton at all, and lives attached to firm objects in the seas (usually the sea floor, rock, or coral). Yellow Tang - This species is native to Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific. This fish is a herbivore, grazing on alga and other plant life. Cleaning Shrimp - The cleaning shrimp is found on coral reefs and in rocky areas in the tropical Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea. These brightly colored animals groom living fish by feeding on their dead scales and parasites found on the skin.

DWARF CROCODILE - "AGNES"
The Alexandria Zoo now has a companion for the male dwarf crocodile. The female, named "Agnes", arrived from the Pittsburgh Zoo on October 7. She will be on exhibit in the African Experience.

One of the three crocodilian species in Africa, the dwarf crocodile lives in swamps and slow moving streams of the tropical rainforests. Dwarf crocodiles are heavily armored from head to tail with bony, plated scales, and can reach up to six feet in length. This nocturnal, aquatic predator mainly feasts on a diet of crabs, frogs, and fish. African dwarf crocodiles are considered vulnerable.

ALLIGATOR GAR
In September, the Zoo received over a dozen alligator gar, which can be found in the Natural Pond in Louisiana Habitat. Of the seven known gar species, the alligator is the largest, reaching up to ten feet long and tipping the scales at up to 300 pounds. The new alligator gar at the Alexandria Zoo currently average about 2 feet in length. These menacing-looking carnivores have an enormous amount of teeth and have an alligator-like snout, giving the species its name. Alligator gar inhabit lakes, rivers, and bayous in North and Central America. Overfishing has led to the passage of laws protecting them in parts of their range.

Smaller alligator gar, including a leucistic gar can be found in the Dogtrot House in Louisiana Habitat. Unlike albinism, which is the total absence of melanin pigment, leucism is where the pigmentation cells in an animal failed to develop properly. An easy way to tell the difference is to look at the animal's eyes. If the eyes are red, then they are missing the melanin pigment and the animal is albino.

WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE
The Alexandria Zoo is the only AZA facility in North America to exhibit white-tailed sea eagles. In June 2009, a female white-tailed sea eagle arrived at the Zoo as a companion for "Gustav". He has been at the Zoo since March 2008.

White-tailed sea eagles are native to Europe, southwestern Greenland, the Middle East, Russia, and the coastlands of China. They frequent areas near both fresh and saltwater, where they hunt their prey of mainly fish and waterfowl. Sea eagles roost on high cliffs or in mature, tall trees that can withstand the weight of its large nest. Like many birds of prey, this species has suffered from habitat loss and persecution, and has become extinct in parts of its range. However, through a reintroduction program in Europe and laws protecting the species, populations have increased. The white-tailed sea eagle is now listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

KINKAJOU - "LOTTIE"
A new animal at the Zoo, "Lottie", arrived at the Alexandria Zoo when she was only about a week old. Lottie is a kinkajou, also known as a honey bear, and was born April 2, 2009 at the Monroe Zoo. Kinkajous range from southern Mexico to Central and South America. These mammals are almost entirely arboreal, which means tree dwelling, and rarely come down from the branches high in the forest canopy.

The kinkajou belongs to same family as raccoons, and they have a long, prehensile tail that aids them in balance and to hold on to branches. Although kinkajous are considered carnivores, their diet primarily consists of fruits. These nocturnal mammals have a long, narrow tongue that can reach up to five inches long. This adaptation helps them to pull out the soft meat of fruit, to lick nectar, and also eat insects and honey.

Lottie is being hand-raised by Zoo staff, and lives off-exhibit at the Zoo. Lottie is an animal ambassador for the Alexandria Zoo, and participates in education programs and animal encounters.

BLUE DUIKERS - "COOKIE", "COLE" & "SELAH"
In March, a new subspecies of duiker was added to the Alexandria Zoo's animal collection. In addition to red-flanked and yellow-backed duikers, the Zoo now has three blue duiker siblings named Cookie, Cole, & Selah. The blue duiker can be found in Africa in areas with dense vegetation or rainforests. The blue duiker is the smallest species of duiker, reaching only 13 to 16 inches in height. Mainly getting its food by browsing, the blue duikers eat seeds, fruits, and vegetation. Unique to all other antelopes, the blue duiker includes meat such as rats, birds and carrion in its diet.

MALAYAN TIGER - "JAMMU"
Alexandria Zoo is one of only 20 facilities worldwide to house Malayan Tigers. Less than 50 of these tigers are in captivity. In February 2009, a male Malayan tiger named "Jammu" arrived from the Houston Zoo as a companion for the Alexandria Zoo's female Malayan tiger, "Ipoh".

The Alexandria Zoo participates in the Species Survival Plan for the Malayan Tiger. The SSP is responsible for identifying population management goals and recommendations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population.

Until 2004, the Malayan tiger was not considered a subspecies in its own right, and had been included in the Indochinese subspecies. Studies found genetic distinctions between two populations of the Indochinese tiger subspecies. The southern population on the Malay Peninsula is now designated as the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) while the northern subspecies, found across much of mainland Southeast Asia, retains the original designation of Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti).

The addition of Malayan tiger has brought the number of tiger subspecies to nine. Three subspecies of tiger, the Caspian, Bali and Javan, are extinct, while the remaining six (Bengal, Indochinese, Malayan, Siberian, Sumatran, and South China) are endangered.