Care & Wellness:
Zookeepers work hard to train behaviors that enable animals to help with their own care. Examples include voluntarily stepping onto scales for weight, crate training, and shifting onto and off habitat. The pelicans can also demonstrate their diving skills when we throw fish into their pool, allowing them to forage like they would in the wild.
Behavior:
- Brown pelicans roost on land at night but float on top of the water during the day.
- During breeding season, the pouch of the male turns bright red to attract potential mates.
- A special gland helps get rid of excess salt, allowing them to drink salt water.
- They can dive from heights of nearly 60 feet (a 6-story building!) into the water to catch fish.
Endangered Status
- Least Concern (LC)
