The Excelsior Zoo

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We are excited to introduce Tatu, a Brazilian three banded armadillo [ Tolypeutes tricinctus ] that joined our collectio...
06/13/2021

We are excited to introduce Tatu, a Brazilian three banded armadillo [ Tolypeutes tricinctus ] that joined our collection this weekend. Tatu is the Portuguese word for Armadillo, which is the official language of Brazil 🇧🇷

The Brazilian three banded armadillo is one of just two armadillo species that can curl themselves into a nearly impenetrable ball. The other capable species being their close cousin, the southern three banded armadillo. This defense mechanism protects the armadillo(s) from the majority of predators in South America. The jaguar is one of the only animals capable of penetrating the armadillos bony armored plates, scientifically known as osteoderms

The Brazilian three banded armadillo is unfortunately threatened in the wild, and has faced a population decline that exceeds 30% in the last decade. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently regards the wild population as vulnerable, and declining. The species biggest threats to this unique mammal are habitat loss, and illegal poaching.

To the best of our knowledge The Excelsior Zoo is one just a small number of stateside private collections housing Brazilian three banded armadillos. The majority of three banded armadillos in private collections are the southern species.
We look forward to one day contributing to the captive conservation of the Brazilian three banded armadillo! 😄

When you are asked to think of a reptile with no limbs, the first thing that comes to mind is more often than not going ...
04/17/2021

When you are asked to think of a reptile with no limbs, the first thing that comes to mind is more often than not going to be a snake 🐍 But did you know that snakes are not the only kind of reptile sporting the Legless look?

We’re celebrating here at The Excelsior Zoo with one of our honorary serpents,
Oculus the European glass lizard. This species is also commonly referred to as the European or Russian Legless lizard, and in other regions the Sheltopusik; a Slavic name coming from the Russian word for “yellow belly.” It is the largest of all Legless lizards, and can attain an adult length of approximately four feet long

The European glass lizard is without a doubt a unique species of reptile, and believe it or not is scientifically classified as a lizard, and not a snake. You might be asking yourself.. what makes a Legless lizard like Oculus any different from a snake? The answer.. a few things❗️

If we were to take a look at the class Reptilia from an evolutionary standpoint, we would see that all reptiles originated from swamp dwelling amphibians, that grew legs and emerged onto land. This phenomenon occurred during the Carboniferous period over 299 million years ago. It wasn’t until what is estimated to be roughly 100 million years later that the first snakes branched off from other reptiles, and began to lose their legs. The first Legless lizards however did not make their appearance until several millions of years later.

As for physical differences, legless lizards possess the ability blink thanks to a set of movable eyelids. Snakes on the other hand do not have eyelids, but rather have evolved to protect their eyes with see-through membranes called brilles, or ocular scales. These membranes are responsible for the clouded, almost opaque blue coloration a snake’s eyes take on prior to Ecdysis, otherwise commonly known as shedding. In addition to eyelids, legless lizards also have small ear holes that are located on either side of their head, whereas snakes lack any external ears. Then lastly snakes have relatively short tails. whereas the majority of a Legless lizard’s body is consisted solely of their tail. Their actual body is typically only a third of their overall length.

Introducing Waverly, one of our Derby’s wooly opossums, [ Caluromys derbianus ], which are also referred to as the Centr...
04/15/2021

Introducing Waverly, one of our Derby’s wooly opossums, [ Caluromys derbianus ], which are also referred to as the Central American wooly opossum. This species is the largest of the wooly opossums in the genus Caluromys

This species of opossum inhabits tropical forests in Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to western Ecuador and Colombia. like most opossums, the Derby’s wooly opossum is nocturnal, meaning that it is most active at night ( the latter being diurnal - most active during the day ). They feed primarily on fruit, nectar, and small invertebrates. There is little known about their longevity, but as with most opossums, they are believed to be short lived. The longest recorded lifespan in managed care was five years

Introducing Minerva, one of our Mexican red knee tarantulas [ Brachypelma hamorii ] 🧡🖤The Mexican red knee tarantula can...
04/14/2021

Introducing Minerva, one of our Mexican red
knee tarantulas [ Brachypelma hamorii ] 🧡🖤

The Mexican red knee tarantula can be found in tropical deciduous forests, deserts, and scrublands, within the country of Mexico. This species often inhabits burrows that are abandoned by other animals, from which they can ambush their prey. They feed on small invertebrates.

This gorgeous arachnid is unfortunately threatened in the wild, due to illegal collection for the pet trade and systematic eradication by the local people. In recent years, the practice of keeping tarantulas as pets has increased in popularity. If you choose you purchase a pet tarantula, be sure to do your research first, and shop responsibly. To limit your risk of acquiring a smuggled animal, go through a reputable breeder or dealer, with captive bred animals.

⚠️ NOTE ⚠️ All tarantulas are venomous, and therefore should be handled with caution. Depending on your geographic location, and whether or not you are allergic, the venom of native tarantulas can vary significantly, as can your bodies reaction to a bite. If you come across a wild tarantula, keep your distance and consider taking a picture; then leave it to continue on it’s way. In regards to Minerva, the Mexican red knee tarantula is generally a docile species, and when handled responsibly by our keepers, does not pose a significant risk to humans.

Introducing Dharma, our beautiful screaming hairy armadillo [ Chaetophractus vellerosus ] female. The screaming hairy ar...
04/14/2021

Introducing Dharma, our beautiful screaming hairy armadillo [ Chaetophractus vellerosus ] female.

The screaming hairy armadillo gets it’s name from its ability to emit a high pitched scream when threatened.

Introducing our newest babies, spring is here! 🌷We recently had two litters of Common Kusimanse [ Crossarchus obscurus ]...
04/13/2021

Introducing our newest babies, spring is here! 🌷

We recently had two litters of Common Kusimanse [ Crossarchus obscurus ] born in our care. Pictured are the three kits born in litter #1 from Kwasi and Ngozi, one of our young adult pairs. They turned 8 days old today.

This small mammal is actually a species of mongoose, and a very close relative to the meerkat. The common Kusimanse is a species not often seen in managed care. We are one of just a few private collections in the United States that are currently housing them. There is no AZA accredited institutions working with this species at this time. The only facility with kusimanse on exhibit in the United States is Rainforest Adventures in Tennessee.

Kwasi and Ngozi were preoccupied with breakfast, thus giving us a chance to examine these little ones. I scented my hands with some of their bedding prior to handling, as this is our first time handling the babies. While we don’t foresee it being an issue with mom and dad, we want to be as careful as possible to provide a low stress environment for all our animals, and their offspring ☺️

The Excelsior Zoo is a private wildlife center dedicated to the preservation of threatened species & education of wildli...
04/11/2021

The Excelsior Zoo is a private wildlife center dedicated to the preservation of threatened species & education of wildlife conservation. The zoo is currently home to over two dozen species, of which a number are seldom seen in managed care, or are facing extinction in the wild 🌿

We operate on private property in New York State, and maintain a satellite location in Iowa, in partnership with Re*****on Ranch. We are not open to the general public at either location, as we are taking this time to focus on establishing our captive breeding program, and doing virtual outreach. Once we have completed the process of relocating and consolidating our collection onto one property (in the future), we have plans to begin offering immersive tours, and unforgettable animal encounters.

This one of a kind animal experience will usher you around the world, and introduce you to the natural wonders we share it with, while giving you an inside
look at the importance of captive breeding programs.

The journey begins now, come along for the ride! 😄

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Syracuse, NY

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