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Zoo Boise’s amorous animals know about love
BY TIM WOODWARD
Everything we need to know about love and courtship we can learn from the animals at the zoo.
Well, maybe not everything. But the parallels may surprise you. We spent some time at Zoo Boise and found that humans definitely aren’t unique when it comes to the opposite sex:
BACKING INTO EVERY RELATIONSHIP
Frack is a male lemur, frustrated in love. His approach is to rub the scent glands on his arms together, then rub the scent on his tail and approach the females – tail first.
“He gets all excited, runs over to the females and they slap him away,” Zookeeper Andrea Zollweg said.
Human males are sure to recognize this classic form of rejection.
Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman - Say hello to Frack, a male lemur at Zoo Boise that found his mate(s) through a computer dating service called Species Survival Program.
Possible solution: Try better aftershave.
A NEW DAD IS A TOTAL COUCH PANDA
Tiki and Grace are red Pandas from China. They have a six-month-old baby, and the demands of parenthood have taken a toll on Tiki’s love life.
“They only mate a couple of times during the mating season,” zoo worker Melissa Eschenbrenner said. “Mostly, he follows her around and she swats at him, just like people.”
Tiki spends most of his time hanging out on the Panda equivalent of a couch, waiting for someone to bring him some food. He’d be a natural for a Super Bowl party.
ZEBRA LESSON: FOOLS RUSH IN
No one knows the pitfalls of courtship better than Wyatt and Hope – Zoo Boise’s zebras.
Hope is a newcomer but has already taken a shine to the veteran Wyatt.
“She gets agitated if she can’t see him,” Eschenbrenner said. “He’s more interested in food.”
Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman - Zoo Boise’s Elvis the spider monkey is notorious for his vocal outbursts.
A fence separates them.
“It’s quite a process of introducing them. They can see and smell each other, but we’re waiting to make sure they get along before putting them together. They could end up fighting and ruin everything.”
Humans could learn from that. If someone made sure we got along before putting us together, there would be more happy marriages.
MONOGAMY: IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS
Some of the birds at the zoo mate for life. It’s common for the males to be brightly colored, the females rather plain.
Moral for guys: Spring for expensive threads, and don’t be afraid of commitment.
DON’T BE AN ELVIS
One of Zoo Boise’s most fearsome inhabitants is a spider monkey named Elvis. Elvis seethes with jealous rage if anyone so much as glances at a member of his “harem” (which includes his human keeper). He screeches, shakes the bars on his cage and, if released, would inflict serious injuries.
Don’t be an Elvis, guys. It could get you a restraining order or worse. Be thoughtful, especially on romantic occasions like Valentine’s Day. Jealousy will get you nowhere, but you’ll never go wrong with hearts and flowers.
Similar Posts:
- Exposed: The strange sex life of spiders
- Orangutan Females Steal Food to Test Potential Mates
- Female orangutans stay in charge of reproduction even though males control mating
- Barry White songs used to encourage shark to mate in aquarium
- Birds Do It. Bees Do It. Dragons Don’t Need To.
