Zoo Videos

Springhaas

As you will see in this video, a keeper's job covers a wide range of tasks, from maintenance, to chef, to mother!  Little Riachu was unexpectedly born on exhibit, not allowing her mother the privacy to bond to her.  Therefore, Keeper Wendy Buczynski took on the task of mothering her, pausing in whatever she was doing every three hours so she could feed this newborn Springhaas.  And, yes, that meant Wendy took her home with her nightly and got up every three hours all night long as well! 

When Raichu is not being fed by Wendy, she is in isolation with her mother receiving Springhaas lessons.  Her father, Cujo, is holding down the fort in their exhibit home, seeing visitors and waiting for his family to return.

A springhaas has feet like a kangaroo and the face of a rabbit but is actually a rodent, with squirrels, gophers and beavers being among the closest relatives.  Springhaas live in East and South Africa, and are rather common in the wild. Still, most people in this country have never heard of a springhaas!

Watch as Wendy takes Raichu out of her own maternity ward in the back of the Primate Center kitchen, carefully weighs her and then bottle feeds her.  Despite some impressive looking claws, Raichu really is a cutey!

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