A familiar face to millions of visitors during his 16 years at Como Zoo, Skeeter the reticulated giraffe helped connect Como’s public to one of the most extraordinary species on earth. Standing at more than 16 feet tall, the 17-year-old male was the literal high point of many Como visits over the years, as guests captured images of their kids feeding Skeeter crispy romaine lettuce at the Giraffe Feeding Station every summer, proposed marriage while he watched, and marveled at the experience of being in close contact with the tallest land mammal on the planet. 

“Skeeter was an absolute legend,” says Como Friends President Katie Hill. “You couldn’t ask for an animal ambassador more capable of reflecting the strength, intelligence, sensitivity, and majesty of this amazing species. Visitors knew him by name, of course, but Como Zoo’s keepers viewed him as a member of the family. Our whole campus community is deeply saddened by his loss.”

Skeeter suffered from arthritis in his joints, a condition that had severely limited his mobility, while making it difficult for him to lie down and rest comfortably. While keepers had been monitoring his condition for months, Skeeter’s diminishing quality of life led his caregiving team to choose euthanasia as the most compassionate choice for the gentle and gregarious animal that Como Zoo Senior Keeper Jill Erzar called “everyone’s giraffe.” 

“It’s hard to put into words what Skeeter has meant to our community,” she says. “He was our tallest animal, our largest by weight, and I would argue our most charismatic. He inspired countless children with his soulful eyes and the excited way he took snacks.” 

Known behind the scenes for being both engaging and stubborn, Erzar remembers him “as a great teacher. He was forgiving when a new keeper mixed up a cue or asked him something he didn’t know. He also made sure we knew when he was annoyed, with a toss of his head or a step backward. And he had a mischievous side. He broke every pulley in the building at least twice.” 

A Long, Long Legacy 

Just a year old when he arrived from the Jacksonville Zoo to Como in 2010, he was quickly rechristened at an all-staff luncheon with a full name long enough to match his size: Sgt. “Skeeter” Spaulding C.P.A. While the young male giraffe showed little aptitude for bookkeeping, he was a natural at breeding, siring eight calves, including six with Como’s late giraffe matriarch Daisy, with whom he had a special bond. 

Skeeter’s health care made headlines in 2021, when the giraffe underwent a rare and high-risk surgical intervention to help repair a fractured front hoof. The procedure required the support of nearly three dozen veterinarians, anesthetists, farriers, zookeepers, wildlife experts, and other support staff, many of whom flew in from partner zoos across the country to provide assistance. Immobilizing a 2,000 pound giraffe is a unique challenge, in part, because the giraffe’s respiratory system wasn’t designed for lying down. When Skeeter was successfully anesthetized, the assembled teams flew into action, threading a nearly eight-foot tube down his esophagus to keep him ventilated during surgery.

“That effort reflected the extraordinary commitment so many people have made to his care throughout his life,” says Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Director Erica Prosser. “Skeeter has been part of our Como story, and we are grateful for the care and love that shaped his life here.” 

A New Understanding of a Complex Social Animal 

While Skeeter’s health history tells an important story about the level of care that goes into the lives of every animal at Como Zoo, his tenure as an animal ambassador also coincided with an explosion in new research and understanding about what makes giraffes so special. While their iconic size and shape is ingrained in children’s picture books and wildlife documentaries, giraffes were generally overlooked by scientists until the early 2000s. 

But with advances in genetic testing, digital photography, and long-range field data, researchers began to see many of their assumptions about giraffes were all wrong. For instance, in 2016, new research found that giraffes were actually four distinct species—northern, reticulated, Masai, and southern—not the single species Carl Linnaeus originally classified in the 1700s. By 2021, a landmark review found that giraffes that were once considered “socially aloof” actually live in complex, matrilineal societies, with deep social bonds, and collaborative care of their young, similar to elephants and orcas.

“Everyone knows that giraffes are tall and beautiful, but there’s so much more to them,” says Erzar, who has contributed to this growing body of research through repeated trips to Africa, including an upcoming visit this fall. As part of Conservation Champions, the Como Friends program that allows Como’s professional staff to take part in conservation partnerships around the world, Erzar has made two trips to South Africa and Tanzania, supporting local conservation groups in promoting the environmental value of giraffes while protecting them from poachers. As part of the program, fellow hoofstock keeper Adam Nigon, now with the Minnesota Zoo, has also been to Namibia, assisting researchers in collecting giraffe herd survey data. 

“These trips have helped us to tell the story of giraffes so much better, because I can say, for instance, the behavior visitors are seeing here at Como Zoo is the same behavior I’ve witnessed in the wild,” she says. “To see them moving in a herd or a family structure is really amazing, and it’s only increased my love for the animals I get to work with at Como.”

“I’m grateful to have cared for Skeeter for the past decade,” she says. “He taught me so much about giraffes, and I feel honored that he trusted us with his care. I’ll miss my big guy more than I can say. His gentleness with children and the connections he helped people make will stay with us, along with the inspiration to do more for his species.”

Como Zoo’s African Hoofstock Building has become a nyala nursery this fall with the birth of two new calves, a male named Hubert born on October 3 to mother Stevie, and an as yet unnamed female born to first-time mom Meadow on October 23. “Nyala calves are absolutely adorable, with their big ears and beautiful striped coats,” says Como Zoo Senior Keeper Jill Erzar. “Having two arrive so close together makes this an especially exciting time.” While visitors can now catch a glimpse of Stevie and Hubert in their indoor habitat, Meadow and her first-born are enjoying a little more bonding time behind the scenes. 

Naming Como Zoo’s new arrivals is a coveted opportunity for both zookeepers and zoo-goers alike. For the new male, keepers looked for inspiration in their own family trees, selecting three names chosen to honor their grandfathers—Hubert, LeRoy, and Gary. Guests at Como Friends’ Como After Hours event on October 22 voted on their favorite, selecting Hubert, a name that means “bright heart.” Meadow’s new calf’s name will be chosen at a volunteer recognition event on November 5, a fun perk for the more than 600 community volunteers who give their time and talents to Como every year. 

Seven-year-old Ollie, who moved to Como Zoo in 2025, is the father of both new calves. Their births are the result of specific breeding recommendations made by the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan, a cooperative program aimed at maintaining healthy, genetically diverse animal populations.

With conservation weekend like “Gorillas on the Line,” empathy is reshaping conservation education at Como Zoo

With 98 percent of the same DNA, gorillas and humans have a lot in common—including our vulnerability to certain viruses. In Africa, gorillas are among the high-risk populations now facing an active Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where conservation groups are battling to keep the deadly virus out of such critical gorilla preserves as Virunga National Park, home to 11 distinct gorilla families.  

The fight to keep our families safe and healthy is something we can all relate to. It’s a feeling that Leah Peterson Sisler, Como’s CARES program coordinator, hopes will spark even greater empathy among visitors at Gorillas on the Line, a special conservation weekend slated for September 26 and 27, in honor of World Gorilla Day, and the arrival of Como Zoo’s two new gorillas, Nora and Kamba.  

“Trying to imagine, or to make your best assumption, about what another rational animal is going through is one of the first steps to understanding how connected we all are,” she says. “The more we respect the life around us, the more we realize that our actions have impact, and those impacts can be positive or negative depending on what we choose.”  

That philosophy is at the heart of Como’s new CARES initiative (short for connection, access, reach, engagement, and storytelling), an empathy-focused approach to public programs inspired by the growing body of research showing that commitment to global conservation often starts with caring for the animals we know. Some of that data has come from Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s founding partnership with Advancing Conservation Through Empathy (ACE) for Wildlife, a learning network of AZA-accredited zoos, aquariums, and other institutions exploring effective practices for increasing the care and connections between zoo visitors and zoo animals.  

“The old theory was that simply sharing knowledge would be enough to inspire action, but what we’re coming to realize is that fostering meaningful emotional connections is just as  important. Having empathy for an animal builds the desire to act on their behalf,” says Como’s education and conservation curator, Bekah Hanes. “Empathy is a skill you can develop and build on, and it’s becoming an important tool to help people across the finish line,” from thinking about conservation to actually acting out those values, long after a zoo visit is over.

The shift is well underway in Como’s approach to conservation weekends, where Peterson Sisler has designed upcoming events to include everything from public “lunch and learn” sessions with Como Zoo’s expert keepers, to hands-on activities for young families, to on-site activation with external partners that are advancing the conservation mission in the wider community. 

For instance, at Gorillas on the Line, Como will be kicking off a year-long initiative to collect cell phones, smartwatches, and other small electronic devices for recycling with Ecocell. The nonprofit raises awareness about how the mining of coltan ore in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is disrupting gorilla habitats and threatening endangered populations. Coltan, a mineral used in most cell phones and small electronics, can be reclaimed through e-waste recycling, which lowers the demand for newly mined ore and prevents toxic waste from entering landfills. Ecocell, which has recycled over 155,000 phones to date, also donates the funds from cell phone recycling directly to gorilla conservation efforts. The goal of the conservation weekend, Peterson Sisler says, is to give visitors of all ages, learning styles, and levels of conservation awareness a variety of touch points “to connect local, personal actions to the more global picture of conservation.”

Far more than a curriculum refresh, Peterson Sisler says focusing on empathy is part of a fundamental shift in thinking about the role that zoos can play in promoting conservation behaviors, and protecting the environment. “I honestly think it’s revolutionary,” she says, adding that Como’s free admission, family-friendly programs, and high engagement with field trip groups make it a great place to activate the approach. “Como is uniquely positioned to be a thought leader in how to communicate about empathy and how to do empathy framing in its messaging and in its mission because it is a community zoo. At Como, the opportunity to be up close to individual animals, to hear their stories, know their names and life history, and learn about the natural history of species and the existential challenges to their wellbeing and survival…these are the things we do best.” 

Event Schedule

Mark your calendars for another conservation weekend coming soon, the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) bison conservation event happening December 5 and 6.

The recent story in The Chronicle about Nicky and Cerberus finding a new home at Wolf Haven is a wonderful example of the thoughtful planning and collaboration that goes into caring for animals in accredited zoos.

Moving animals is a normal and important part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), the cooperative program managed by accredited zoos and aquariums to ensure healthy, genetically diverse populations of animals in human care. Animals are regularly moved between accredited institutions for breeding recommendations, social compatibility, retirement, or to better meet their individual welfare needs.

In this case, as Como Zoo prepared to retire its wolf exhibit, staff worked well in advance to find the best possible home for Nicky and Cerberus. Their move to Wolf Haven allows them to remain together while providing companionship for resident wolves that had recently lost their partners.

“We were especially impressed by the level of care Wolf Haven put into preparing for Nicky and Cerberus’ arrival,” said Como Zoo Campus Director Erica Prosser. “Before Cerberus even arrived, Wolf Haven hired a nutritionist to review his medical and dietary history to ensure he would receive the best possible care from day one.

“Wolf Haven is widely recognized for its excellence. It is accredited by both the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association and was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Wildlife Sanctuary Award, selected from more than 200 facilities. The organization is also a SAFE partner for both Mexican wolves and red wolves and has successfully helped return wolves to the wild through conservation and recovery efforts.

“Although we will miss seeing Nicky and Cerberus every day, we are grateful they have found such an exceptional new home. I also want to thank Senior Keeper Jill Erzar for orchestrating this move, along with our Animal Care and Veterinary teams and everyone else who helped make this transition possible. Their careful planning, collaboration, and dedication ensured the wolves had a safe and successful move to their new home.”

Relocating animals is also a normal part of preparing for future zoo improvements. Sometimes animals move to other accredited facilities before construction begins on exciting new habitats. These projects allow zoos like Como to modernize exhibits, enhance animal welfare, create opportunities for new species conservation programs, and provide an even better guest experience.

While we will all miss Cerberus and Nicky and their unique personalities, we couldn’t be happier that they have found such a wonderful new home at Wolf Haven, where they can continue to thrive together. At the same time, we’re excited for what lies ahead at Como Zoo. Their move marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we prepare for a future habitat that will welcome new species and continue advancing our mission of exceptional animal care, conservation, and inspiring connections with wildlife.

As Como Zoo begins finding new homes for the beloved animals currently living in our Large Cats habitat, these transitions will happen thoughtfully and over time. We know the Como Zoo staff, volunteers, and guests have formed special connections with these incredible animals, and we’ll share updates along the way so everyone has the opportunity to celebrate them and say goodbye before they begin their next adventures and milestones. Every move will be guided by the same careful planning, collaboration, and commitment to animal welfare that made Nicky and Cerberus’ journey such a success. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating each animal during their remaining time at Como Zoo and in wishing them the very best as they begin their next chapter.

Your support for Como Friends is helping Conservation Champions like EJ Smith rebuild endangered coral reefs in the Caribbean

As a kid, EJ Smith spent hours watching French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau take TV viewers under the sea, unveiling the extraordinary ecosystems that thrive under the surface of our oceans. Now as a life support specialist at Como Zoo, Smith says he’s living out a few of those childhood fantasies, caring for Como’s large collection of aquatic animals, while diving into conservation projects around the world. 

In fact, Smith is just back from a two-week conservation trip to Aruba, where Como Zoo is establishing a new Conservation Champions partnership with the ScubbleBubbles Foundation, an Aruba-based environmental nonprofit aimed at getting local youth interested in ocean conservation. Founded by Nichole Danser, a local teacher and passionate diver, ScubbleBubbles is looking at ways that Aruba communities can stem the loss of coral reefs by creating coral nurseries in new locations. Together, Smith and Danser plotted out a brand-new stretch of artificial reef the two organizations plan to start, just off the coast of Aruba’s De Palm Island. 

In a process similar to dividing and repotting plants, conservation groups like ScubbleBubbles are identifying coral types that are healthy and resistant to stress, and collecting small chunks to establish new colonies. “Corals grow at an incredibly slow pace, but these micro fragments are found to grow faster in small colonies, speeding up that process of coral growth,” says Smith, who learned about the process while supporting a similar coral recolonization project in the Caribbean last year. On this most recent trip, Smith spent his time mapping the reef site and working in ScubbleBubbles’ coral nurseries, where divers tend to dozens of coral “trees” representing nine different coral genotypes. 

Smith and Danser also came up with a name for the newest colony, Friends Reef. “We really wanted to make a statement about the roots of this partnership, so this is a way of highlighting the support we’ve got from Como Friends to make conservation work like this possible, the friendly partnership we have now with ScubbleBubbles, and then all of the little friends that live out on these reefs,” he says. “The name works on a lot of levels.”

Worldwide, coral reefs are facing mounting pressure from pollution, severe weather, overfishing, and weak enforcement of marine protections. While Aruba has been more insulated from hurricanes than many of its Caribbean neighbors, Smith says the ripple effects of collapsing coral reefs are real. Not only are healthy reefs critical to supporting fish populations, they’re just as important in supporting local economies, cultural traditions, and tourism. 

This fall, Como Life Support Operator Brittany Pedersen will continue work laying the foundation for Friends Reef, installing sturdy frames coated in epoxy and sand that give coral something to grab hold of and grow on. Future trips will focus on transplanting nursery-grown coral onto the new reef and assisting with research into accelerating coral growth, including studies on electrical stimulation underway at ScubbleBubbles’ new education space, the Coral Academy. If the project shows success, the goal is to share the learning with other coastal communities. “The idea is if your reefs are in trouble, we’ve got a footprint here that you can follow,” she says. 

Given the long life-cycle of coral, Smith says the partnership is not a quick fix. “When we’re talking about corals, we’re talking about colonies of animals that are very slow growing. These reefs aren’t created overnight, it takes millennia. This work is going to be generational.”  

And while Como is more than 2,000 miles away from the Caribbean, Smith believes this project is an important way to support Como Zoo’s conservation mission here at home: “This world’s much smaller than we think it is.”

A Kaleidoscope of Connections: Conservation for Monarch Butterflies

Sunday, April 26 | 12:00 PM | Visitor Center Auditorium

Presented by Katie-Lyn Puffer, Monarch Joint Venture

Como Friends members are invited to take a deeper dive into the fascinating world of monarch butterflies at a special conservation weekend sponsored by Xcel Energy at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Learn about their life cycle, population challenges, and how you can help support pollinators at home.

Join Katie-Lyn Puffer on Sunday, April 26, for a presentation, Q&A session, and trivia! The education manager for Monarch Joint Venture, Katie will be presenting her extensive knowledge about monarch butterfly biology and ecology, and how monarch conservation efforts through organizations such as Monarch Joint Venture also benefit people, other wildlife, and the environment.

Monarchs have captured the hearts of many. Discover ways to help this beloved insect in your own backyard. During this presentation, you’ll learn about the monarch life cycle, their population decline, and ways to help, including gardening—what to think about when planting for pollinators and the plants to include.

Note: Please bring your own lunch to enjoy during the Lunch & Learn. This presentation is designed for an adult audience.

Katie-Lyn Puffer oversees and coordinates MJV’s education and outreach programs, which include professional development programs for teachers and educators, local programming, and public courses both virtual and in-person. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Environmental Sciences Policy and Management. Before MJV, Katie-Lyn worked as an informal educator at museums, zoos, nature centers, and park systems where she led and coordinated summer camps, field trips, and outdoor education programs for all ages. In her free time, she can be found hiking, camping, reading, knitting, and spending time with her son.

An Ocean of Change: How Climate Change and Commercial Fishing Impact African Penguins

Saturday, February 21 | Noon

Como Friends members are invited to “Waddle Into Action” at a special conservation weekend sponsored by Xcel Energy at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory!

Join Aquatics Zookeeper Kelley Dinsmore for an in-depth discussion on the dramatic decline of African penguins in the wild over the past 50 years. Learn how programs like AZA SAFE and SANCCOB are working to stabilize and reverse this trend, and hear firsthand about penguin conservation efforts in South Africa.

Bring your lunch, settle in, and get an inside look at caring for African penguins, both in the wild and right here at Como.

*The content and format of the Community Lunch & Learn is specifically geared toward an adult audience. 

Seats for the Lunch & Learn are very limited, with only 60 places reserved for members. Advance RSVP required. 

Sign up below—if the form does not appear, please call Como Friends at 651-487-8229 to join the waitlist.

After a major meet-cute in Polar Bear Odyssey this fall, young polar bears Astra and Kulu have been giving serious rom-com vibes—diving, chasing, frolicking, and cozying up to each other on the regular. While zookeepers are seeing plenty of green flags in the lead-up to the polar bear breeding season that starts this month, this match is just one of many playing out behind the scenes at Como Zoo, through its active role in a variety of Species Survival Plan (SSP) projects in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). By coordinating the individual animals matched up through SSP breeding recommendations, Como Zoo works in partnership with other AZA institutions to maintain a genetically diverse and demographically stable captive population of threatened or endangered animals. While bearing young is an important part of a healthy life cycle for zoo animals and wild ones, these pairings also provide captive animals with companionship that can enrich their lives.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we talked with Senior Keeper Jill Erzar about what makes a great partnership, whatever your species:

Taking it slow: Ollie and Stevie, and Meadow,
Sago and Ziggy

Unlike the polar bears and other animals that come from harsh climates that dictate their optimal mating moments, Erzar says, “nyalas tend to breed like rabbits.” Even so, Ollie, a new male bachelor recently arrived from the BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo, may need a little time to warm up to his new breeding partners, Stevie and Meadow. Stevie is the mother of Meadow, born in 2024. “He’s never been with another female besides his own mother,” Erzar explains. “Ollie is very alert, and Stevie seems very interested, so we’ll have to see what happens with each of the females.” 

Speaking of slow, Como Zoo’s sloth pair, Sago and Ziggy, have successfully mated once, and zookeepers continue to remain optimistic that they will again, following last year’s on-exhibit birth of an infant that sadly did not survive. While Como Zoo always hopes for new babies, zookeepers are encouraged by previous successes and moments that support the long-term future of each species, and take great care to ensure every animal has the space, privacy, and calm they need during these important mating stages. “We weren’t surprised that she gave birth—we were expecting that,” Erzar says. “But sloths are more reclusive and will typically give birth overnight.” 

Keeping it playful: Maji and Mumford

Introduced as a breeding pair in 2019, Como Zoo’s male and female lions are happily bonded, though they’ve had no offspring. While Mumford is in hospice care for an inoperable nasal tumor, he and Maji continue to wrestle, play, and cuddle up together. The only real bone of contention between them, says Erzar, is Mumford’s “comfort log,” a bit of deadfall that the lion refuses to share with Maji or his keepers. “We call it his comfort log because we first started noticing that he’d carry it around if there was a storm coming, or if he was a little nervous about something,” she says. “Over time it’s been whittled down, so for a while it looked like a dumbbell, and now it’s broken into two pieces that he protects. It’s kind of adorable.”

Attention to good grooming:
Ombe and Wicket

While breeding behavior has yet to be observed between ring-tailed lemurs Ombe and Wicket, “they do sleep together and groom each other,” Erzar says. “They’re definitely companionable.”

Making beautiful music together: Houdini and Mutambi

As light on their feet as Fred and Ginger, grey crowned cranes Houdini and Mutambi have been delighting Como visitors with their ritualistic courtship dances, bowing and leaping into the air as a sign of their mutual interest in each other. “They also do a kind of call and response vocalizing, parroting back and forth, with a kind of trumpeting sound,” says Erzar. While the pair has yet to produce a viable chick, early fertility challenges are typical of new pairings of cranes, which often mate for life in the wild. “We’re pretty confident they’re going to figure it out,” she says.

Sharing the child care: Reggie and Ilsa 

Emperor tamarins Reggie and Ilsa have also mated successfully, resulting in the arrival of baby Bleu last March. Male tamarins are known for being highly engaged fathers, often assisting with birth, taking and washing the infant immediately after birth, and frequently carrying the infant to let the mothers recover and nurse. Communal rearing behavior like this even extends to future siblings like Bleu, who can be expected to do plenty of babysitting.

You can’t hurry love: Mr. Pancake, Peanut Butter, and Banana 

Like all of Como Zoo’s breeding companions, this trio of pancake tortoises, now living behind the scenes, are under no pressure to reproduce. While they’re part of a Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation (and have names that would make a great breakfast), keepers don’t do anything special to encourage mating behavior between animals, allowing nature to take its course. “We’re very hands-off with them,” says Erzar. “If they want to lay eggs, they can lay eggs. Whatever happens with the pancake tortoises is great.”

Show you care this Valentine’s season with a very special delivery for the animal lovers in your life! Get your animal sponsorship sweetheart deal on this adorable trio of sloth, flamingo, or polar bear mini-plush—plus a Valentine’s card and gluten-free candy—for only $25. A great gift for nature lovers of all ages, sweeten the deal with two for just $45, or three for $65.

To get your last-minute Valentine’s minis, please visit the Como Friends Gift Shop at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory!

Behind the scenes at Como Zoo’s Animal Support Building, a cavy, a chicken, and a rabbit have created an unusual inter-species bond

One of the loudest, liveliest buildings on the campus of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is one that visitors will never see. Located along the private service drive to Como’s back door is where you’ll find the Animal Support Building (ASB), home to nearly 200 individual animals representing more than 40 species. 

“It’s actually the most diverse collection of animals we have in one place,” keeper Brooke Johnson says about the ASB’s colorful array of residents, from the squawking pink flamingos waiting out winter in the central heating, to the tiny Panamanian golden frogs tucked away in a biosecure room. While the birds, reptiles, invertebrates, and mammals that make their home here come from all around the world, the common denominator that unites them is advanced age. “Some of them are animal ambassadors that retired from our education programs,” she says. “Although they are not all older, it’s a bit like a 55-plus community.” 

Of course, the demands of high-density, apartment-style living can make for some roommate arrangements you’d never see in nature. For instance, the Chilean flamingos that fly far below the equator share their space with several red-breasted geese that breed in the Siberian tundra. Hissing cockroaches from Madagascar live next to tarantulas from Brazil. But the strangest bedfellows in the building would have to be this threesome: Jasper, a rabbit, Bowie, a chicken, and “Cavy Crockett,” a Patagonian cavy, a hare-sized rodent from the guinea pig family. 

“A few years ago, we noticed that when they were allowed to roam, they tended to gravitate to the same spots and hang out together, and we found that when we moved them all in together, it just worked out,” says keeper Allison Pizel, adding that the communal living arrangement may be familiar to each of them. “Cavies live together in big groups in the wild, and domestic chickens tend to live in groups, and rabbits live in colonies, but here, they’re each the only one of their kind,” she says. 

The oldest of the trio is Cavy, age 13, who is now deaf, blind, and prone to stepping on Jasper the rabbit as he explores his environment. Their keepers report that while there is occasional squabbling, Bowie, the alpha chicken, keeps the peace and sets the boundaries. On occasion, the three animals can even be found curled up together in the morning. “It’s not the recommended arrangement, but it seems to work for all of them,” says Pizel. “And with animals this old, we want to keep things stable for all of them.”

In fact, geriatric care is a big part of the day in the ASB, which also includes many animals like Sassy the chinchilla, who were retired from the zoo’s ambassador animal program when it came to an end during the pandemic. Instead, Como made the pivot to virtual programs that allowed classrooms to see and learn from animal ambassadors online, while allowing resident animals to make their own choices about whether or not to visit other parts of the zoo. Como Zoo recently completed a formal assessment to determine which animals would participate in the animal ambassador program, based on their ability to travel safely and comfortably to other areas of Como. The program includes species-appropriate stations and enrichment designed to ensure animals remain comfortable in environments outside their normal habitat.

For instance, when Dilla the six-banded armadillo is looking for some excitement, she’s trained to step on a green mat in her habitat that indicates she’s up for being handled. Check out this video on Facebook of her holiday visit to the Sunken Garden, helping horticulturists dig up the soil before the Holiday Flower Show. When she chooses to sit on her red mat, her keepers know she would prefer to stay home and chill. The communication between Dilla and her favorite keeper runs even deeper: Johnson is such a fan of the armadillo that she helped get Dilla moved to Como Zoo from another AZA institution. The pair have known each other for more than 13 years.  

“We form real bonds with these animals because we’re with them more than our pets at home,” she explains, adding that keepers are always looking for ways to delight the animals in their care. To that end, Johnson and Pizel recently applied to Como’s animal enrichment committee for funding—supported by your contributions to Como Friends—to bring an oversized cat exercise wheel into Dilla’s habitat. “You wouldn’t believe how fast she can run, and then she goes back to sleeping for 18 hours a day,” says Johnson. “The hard part is that many of these animals are very old and they won’t be with us forever. But while they are, we want to make things as good as we can for them.”