Abilene Zoo trades lesser flamingos, opens Caribbean Cove and reports long-serving colobus monkey’s death

Jesse Patebaume, director of the Abilene Zoo, told the Parks Board the zoo transferred its lesser flamingos to other AZA institutions under a species-survival plan and replaced them with brown pelicans rescued by the Texas State Aquarium.

"We fortunately had to say goodbye to our lesser flamingos. We're an AZA accredited institution... it was recommended for them to go to Fort Worth and Waco Zoo," Patebaume said, adding the pelicans are indigenous to the Texas coastline and are now on display near the zoo entrance.

Patebaume also reported the death of Carla, a colobus monkey the zoo said was about to turn 30 and is believed to have been the oldest colobus monkey in captivity in the United States. "She had a ripe age, had a great, memory with the troop," Patebaume said. He said staff are awaiting pathology but that the death is likely from natural causes.

The zoo announced recent births including a blue duiker and a secretary-bird hatchling. Patebaume said renovations to the Caribbean Cove exhibit, which provides year-round viewing of sloths, toucans and other tropical species, will open to the public this Friday. The zoo also plans a family event with a "Baby Shark" show and meet-and-greets on Saturday; the event is free to members and is otherwise included with regular admission.

Patebaume said the zoo partnered with the Flying Bison baseball team for a promotional day in which mascots and players attended and signed baseballs.

No board action was required for the zoo updates; Patebaume presented the report as information.