Emu chicks make their debut at Santa Barbara Zoo
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A pair of emu chicks made their debut at the Santa Barbara Zoo. The baby brother emus are the first animals to arrive at the zoo that will call the Australian Walkabout exhibit home.
The emu chicks are locals, coming just about an hour away from OstrichLand USA in Buellton.
“We are so lucky to be able to partner with such a great local facility like OstrichLand,” said Rachel Ritchason, Santa Barbara Zoo’s Director of Animal Collections. “Not only does this mean the transport is a short, local drive, which minimizes the stress on the chicks, but their values are very much aligned with the Zoo’s, which makes them the perfect partner for us. They provide valuable expertise and support in caring for the birds, while strengthening and supporting local partnerships.”
The 15,000 square-foot Australian Walkabout exhibit is currently under construction. It is set to open to the public in October. Once completed, the exhibit will feature a number of animals native to Australia, including kangaroos, wallabies and native birds.
The emu chicks will take up temporary residence in the zoo's barnyard exhibit while they wait for their permanent home to be completed.
One of the chicks is named Gus and has been sponsored by a family who is said to be longtime supporters of the zoo. Naming opportunities are available for the other chick, as well as some of the other animals in the Australian Walkabout exhibit. For information about naming these animals, click here.
Once full grown, the emus will stand about six-feet tall. They are the tallest birds in Australia and second-tallest bird behind the ostrich. The flightless birds live off a diet of plants and insects and they can run more 30 miles per day. Their distinct "drumming" noise is well-known to visitors of Ostrichland USA.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m. For more information about reservations, pricing and paring info, visit www.sbzoo.org.
