Local Business Spotlight - Ecofauna Zoo and Education

What is Ecofauna Zoo and Education?

We are all about the animals, our environment and how our daily lives affect every aspect of the ecosystems around us. We strive to educate everyone we meet on the importance of eco-friendly and sustainable practices in our lives, as well as to respect and protect the wildlife around the world. Our animal shows help bring some fun and education that help us understand why our local ecosystems are so important.

We offer a variety of educational animal shows for all audiences and occasions:

• Birthday Parties

• Senior Residences

• Daycares

• School Shows

• Fairs

• Festivals

• Corporate Events

• Family get togethers

You can find more information and book an Ecofauna Educational Event by clicking on the image.

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Ecofauna Zoo’s furry, feathery, scaly family and what an amazing day it was!

Meet the Crew!

Buffy the macaw

Buffy is a hybrid macaw. That means she is not a naturally occurring species, and in fact is similar to designer dogs like doodles. She is a mix between a Buffon Macaw and a Green Wing. Her mix is called a Buff Wing Macaw. She is around 10 years old. She was adopted by a loving family who wanted what was best for her, but as you can see from her plucking, she developed some hormonal behaviours over the years once she reached sexual maturity. The owners loved her very much, but knew they were unable to provide the proper environment for her to keep her happy. She has since found a permanent home with our flock, where she is the boss of the house, and often is heard calling the dogs by name to tell them to be quiet and no barking. Her favourite treats are walnuts in shells, which she easily cracks and enjoys.

Zorro the cockatoo

Zorro is a Moluccan Cockatoo. He is over 22 years old. He was with his first family for 15 years, and came up from the USA. He was rehomed once he got to Canada, and his new owner decided he was too much cockatoo after only 3 weeks. He found his home with us immediately after they made the decision to rehome him, and Zorro has been a huge part of our family ever since. He is an ambassador for his species, and has actually been involved in hundreds of hands on animal education events. Zorro has been on live TV, been in the newspaper, radio and even in a live action play. He is a very special bird who adores showing off and cuddling everyone he meets. His best friend is our 4 year old. The two of them have been inseparable since we brought our baby home from the hospital.

Zazu the Hornbill

Zazu is a Von Der Decken Hornbill, and is actually the same type of bird depicted in the movie, The Lion King. He is roughly 6-7 years old. These unique birds are known for their distinctive beaks which have a “horn” shape, and are omnivores. He came to our family after a friend of ours made the difficult decision to rehome a few of her pets after she found out she was pregnant with twins. He has come a long way from being a shy, nervous bird to an outgoing, loving, and social butterfly. He’s also come a long way with his recall and harness training which are very important for any bird or pet to be comfortable with. He enjoys the odd beak scratch when he’s feeling particularly affectionate.

Flash the bearded dragon

Flash the Bearded Dragon is around 10 years old. He came to us through the Pet Expo in Ottawa. We were approached by a young family whose kids had lost interest in their family’s lizard. They asked us if we would be willing to offer him a forever home. We agreed, and he has been with us ever since. He is a welcomed addition, and has been a fan favourite for years with his very laid-back attitude.

Bowser the tegu

Bowser is a black and white Argentine Tegu. He is around 14 years old. He came to us through an old friend who no longer had the means to care for him properly. She had him since he had hatched, so it was not an easy decision to make. He is a cuddle bug, and enjoys lazing about the house, or snuggling under some blankets to watch Netflix with us.

Emilia the tarantula

Our Mexican Red Knees tarantula’s name is Emilia. She is the newest addition to our little zoo. I was contacted believe it or not, by a dog rescue who was asked if they knew anyone who may be interested in taking on 4 tarantulas. Their adult son was going to an assisted living situation, and could not take his beloved spiders. We gladly took them on, and have been trying to dispel the general fear that spiders and tarantulas are evil and scary creatures. They are actually quite beautiful, and an important part of a healthy ecosystem.

Meow Meow the Bengal

Meow Meow is a Bengal Wildcat hybrid, a house cat with attitude! He was an owner-surrender as he did not do well in his previous home. He has since begun to thrive with us, and he loves attention.

franklyn the tortoise

Franklyn came to us from a local Turtle and Tortoise Rescue. He was found wandering downtown Toronto, with a belly full of rocks that he ate out of hunger. He is much healthier and happier now, and enjoys meeting kids at all the shows.

FAQ

How far in advance do I have to book a show?

The sooner the better. We book shows all year round. In order to have the best chance of getting the date and time you want, book as soon as possible.

Can I request a particular animal for my event?

Yes you can! We will do our best to make sure your favourite animal ambassador will attend your event, although we can’t guarantee it. The health of our animals is our top priority. If a particular animal isn’t feeling up to doing shows on any given day, they will stay home and another one will come in its place.

Can I come visit your zoo.

Currently our zoo is a closed facility, but we are working on opening a sanctuary where the public can visit.

Is doing shows hard on your animals?

Some animals aren’t built for doing shows. The ones that do attend are the ones that enjoy interaction with the public. For every animal that enjoys doing shows there may be two or three at our facility that just want to be left alone to do their own thing and we respect their boundaries. For the ones that do enjoy coming to the shows, we consider it enrichment and mental stimulation.

Can you do shows outdoors?

While we can sometimes accommodate outdoor shows, we always require that an indoor space be available so that we can do the show inside.

Where do your animals come from?

Most of the animals that are in our shows come from rescue situations and surrenders from people that are no longer able to keep their pets.

Ecofauna Zoo Contact Information:

Website: http://ecofaunazoo.com/about/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecofaunazoo/?ref=page_internal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecofaunazoo/

In loving memory of Tommy the African Grey 1999-2021