Jaguar: Meet Nindiri
Posted at 3:18 pm November 24, 2008 by Karen Barnes
Meet Nindiri. Seventy-seven pounds of energy with golden eyes. She has spots on her toes; something I find especially endearing for some reason. Did I mention she’s a jaguar?
In July 2008, Nindiri came to the San Diego Zoo from the Brevard Zoo in Florida, where she was named in a contest. “Nindiri” is a peak off a larger volcano named Masaya, which is her mother’s name. The volcano is described as semi-active; Nindiri is anything but that!
Nindiri is small compared to our black jaguar, Orson. She weighs about half of what he does. At her quarantine exam, the vets said it looked like her bones were fully grown, so we don’t know if she’ll grow larger. She is a young cat, having been born in June of 2007.
Nindiri settled in quickly, following her arrival. For me, one of the fun parts of being a keeper is getting to know each animal’s personality and abilities. Nindiri’s spunk and intelligence and people-oriented style were soon apparent. She seems to love her training sessions because of the attention she receives as well as the food rewards. She’s smart and will keep us busy setting new behaviors to teach her: some for fun, such as “roll over,” a behavior she does spontaneously but will be put on cue; others have direct management applications, such as “open mouth” or “side up” to accept a vaccination without restraint.
Enrichment provides another opportunity to give this active and intelligent cat variety in her day. Nindiri enjoys destroying cardboard boxes. She bites and chews pieces off the box, dropping the pieces once she has pulled them off. Another favorite activity is to drag a large bowl around. The bowl is made of a heavy plastic material; it is often placed in the pond in the main jaguar exhibit. Seeing her remove and drag the bowl away is an impressive display of the jaguar’s strength and agility. She is very food motivated, and a meatball hunt is another favorite.
Nindiri is destined to move to the jaguar exhibit when Elephant Odyssey is finished in 2009. For now, she has joined the other cats on the Cat Walk near Sun Bear Forest. While she spends most of her time in a separate area behind the main jaguar exhibit, she does rotate onto exhibit in the mornings. Stop by and see this charismatic cat.
Karen Barnes is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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November 24th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Is she and Orson the two jaguars at the San Diego Zoo currently?
Also what will the new Jaguar exhibit be like? Will it be similar to the current one or will it be larger?
Moderator’s note: Yes, Nindiri and Orson are the Zoo’s two jaguars. The new jaguar exhibit in Elephant Odyssey will be much larger, as will the off-exhibit bedroom areas.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
is there the possibility of “romance” in the future for orsen and nindiri. she is sure a beauty!
November 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
What a beautiful animal, those eye are so hypnotic. I got to see a black jaguar in So. Carolina at T.I.G.E.R.S. his name is shade and he is magnificent. they are smart and agile and just amazing and maybe in time we will have some beautiful babies.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I adore the large cats, and glad to hear a neat story about such a magnificent animal.
November 29th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
oh wow Nindiri is cute Jaguars are one of the most magnificent of the big cats I just adore them =^..^=
December 1st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Nice story! Hope you had a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
What a beautiful little Jaguar! Will she and Orsen be in the new Jaguar exhibit together at the same time or will they be in separate spaces? I look forward to seeing the new area!
Karen responds: Orson will remain in his current exhibit; that’s his home. A male jaguar will be acquired from another zoo. The new male and Nindiri will be exhibited in the Elephant Odyssey jaguar exhibit. They will live apart, except during breeding.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Having watched Nindiri after she was born here (at Brevard Zoo) daily until she left for California, I am thrilled to be able to follow her current activities. We now have two new babies to watch for a while and they are ‘almost’ as wonderful as she was while she was still a kitten here.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I watched Nindiri grow at the Brevard Zoo and i am glad to hear she is happy at her new home. I am now enjoying watching our two new Jaguar babies, but Nindiri being the first, she was extra special!
December 26th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Thank you for the article,Karen!
February 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
What will inhabit the jaguar’s old exhibit in cat canyon once they are moved?
Moderator’s Note: Only Nindiri will be moving into Elephant Odyssey–Orson, the black jaguar will remain in the Cat Canyon enclosure.
May 14th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
She’s beautiful. The jaguars at Brevard Zoo have two new cubs from last year that I enjoy seeing now that Nindiri is at your zoo. I want to work with big cats when I’m older. (I’m 10)
May 14th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I was told recently that Orson is going to be moved to Elephant Oddesy. Will Orson be in his current exhibit on Cat Canyon until opening day or moved sooner? I just wanted to know when to visit him on Cat Canyon before he is moved.
Sincerely,
Ann Marie
Karen responds: Plans often change quickly and unpredictably as the time approaches for a new exhibit to open. As things stand now, Orson will not be moved until after the exhibit opens next weekend. But, as mentioned above, plans do change! If one wants to visit Orson on the Cat Walk, better to do so soon!