Summary of Meet the Animals: Camilla the Crested Caracara:
This content introduces readers to Camilla, the crested caracara, a bird living at Brevard Zoo since 2005. Camilla has a wing injury that prevents her from being returned to her natural habitat. She lives in the Wild Florida loop and has a well-balanced diet. Camilla is an intelligent bird and enjoys enrichment activities set up by her keepers. She is also trained to climb a weight scale and move into her night house. The content emphasizes donations’ importance in supporting the zoo’s operations and animal wellness, education, and conservation programs.
Summary:
1. Introduction to the “Meet the Animals” section of the blog.
2. Background information on Camilla, the crested caracara.
3. Description of Camilla’s habitat and recent move.
4. Discussion of Camilla’s diet and intelligence.
5. Training and enrichment activities for Camilla.
Welcome to our “Meet the Animals” blog series, where we introduce you to some of the fascinating residents of our zoo. Today, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on Camilla, the crested caracara, a remarkable bird with a unique story and personality.
Camilla has been a part of our zoo family since 2005 when she was discovered with a significant wing injury. Unable to safely return to her natural habitat, she was brought to Florida Wildlife Hospital for treatment. NSheresides in our Wild Florida loop, across from the deer and turkeys.
Recently, Camilla has experienced arthritis, making it important for her habitat to be easily navigable. She now lives in a space that accommodates her needs while providing an indoor area to explore at night. Our zookeepers always prioritize the well-being and comfort of our animal residents.
Like all of our animals, Camilla receives a well-balanced diet carefully crafted by our veterinary team and designed by our commissary team. Her menu includes mice, rats, chicks, quail, rabbit, fish, eggs, and worms. Each meal is tailored to meet her nutritional requirements and ensure her health.
What sets Camilla apart is her remarkable intelligence. As a curious bird of prey, she constantly investigates the enrichments created by her keepers. However, she also quickly learns from her experiences, consistently challenging her caretakers to stay ahead of her clever antics.
Our bird care team has discovered that providing Camilla ample digging and tearing opportunities helps satisfy her instincts. Enrichments like paper and puzzle feeders have given her an enjoyable outlet for these behaviors. One enrichment that delighted Camilla and her keepers involved placing rabbit pelts in a cage-like metal feeder. When she successfully retrieved the pelt, she proudly paraded around her habitat, vocalizing and throwing her head back in triumph.
Training is essential to our animal care program, keeping our residents mentally and physically stimulated and allowing us to monitor their health. Camilla has been trained to step onto a weight scale and to shift in and out of her night house. Additionally, Keeper Meredith Moeggenberg is currently working on training Camilla to enter a secure carrier.
However, Camilla’s intelligence can occasionally lead to mischievous moments during training or wellness sessions. Occasionally, she “forgets” her training commands when a new keeper presents her with a container of bugs, taking advantage of the situation. This playful behavior reminds our keepers that simply being present with the animals is a form of training.
We are proud to provide Camilla and all our animals with a stimulating environment that nurtures their natural behaviors and promotes their overall well-being. Your support as a visitor and advocate of our zoo helps us continue our mission of animal wellness, education, and conservation.
At the Brevard Zoo, we are an independent, not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of individuals like you. Unlike many other zoos, we receive no recurring government funding for daily operations. Your continued support allows us to serve our community and carry out our essential programs. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our animal residents and contribute to the conservation of wildlife and their habitats.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this introduction to Camilla, the crested caracara. Stay tuned for more exciting profiles of our beloved animal residents in our “Meet the Animals” blog series.
