Zoo Legend Finds New Home
Posted at 8:40 am February 3, 2010 by Jacob Shanks
For more than a decade, one of the most memorable and recognizable faces on our Big Cat Trail has been an amazing black jaguar named Orson. Practically a San Diego Zoo mascot, Orson is known and loved by not only our Zoo community but also by anyone who has had the privilege to gaze upon this majestic animal. Many of our Zoo members include a visit with Orson in his Big Cat Trail exhibit as part of their regular route through the Zoo. Well, for many of our members, their routes are about to change!
This past week, Orson’s world just grew a whole lot bigger with a move up to the brand-new jaguar exhibit in Elephant Odyssey. His new home includes ample climbing structures, a large pool stocked with live fish for the taking, a cave featuring a toasty “hot rock,” and a larger exhibit footprint than his previous space. The always level-headed Orson took the move in stride, and after a little apprehension he began exploring his new surroundings. His inquisitive nature had him learning about the properties of glass in the viewing windows, something that he had not experienced in his previous exhibit, and wading into the large pool on his very first day. The bus road behind the exhibit also became an early source of entertainment as Orson began stalking the vehicles that passed by his new home.
The previous jaguar housed in this exhibit, a two-year-old female named Nindiri, had also left a lot of female Jaguar smells to investigate (read Jaguar: Meet Nindiri). The work of covering up those smells with his own scent began almost immediately. The move provides a high degree of enrichment as it is likely that Orson, an older cat with a touch of arthritis, will enjoy the more direct sun of Elephant Odyssey’s jaguar exhibit, particularly during the cooler winter months.
This first move is actually a part of a bigger plan to provide a little more excitement in the lives of both of our jaguars. Both the Elephant Odyssey exhibit and their Big Cat Trail home serve as nice accommodations, offering up something different at each part of the Zoo. Therefore, in the name of providing the best for both of our jaguars, the ultimate goal will be to put in place a kind of regular rotation that will allow both cats to enjoy both exhibits, thereby expanding the territories for both of them. The frequency of moves and seasonality of the changes will be dictated by our cats, but the hope is that both cats get the most out of their exhibits by experiencing them intermittently, much like wild jaguars can experience portions of their range at different times throughout the year.
For now, though, I would like to invite all of you devoted Orson fans to come up to Elephant Odyssey to visit an old friend and get your “Orson fix.” Watch him enjoy his change of scenery and possibly get a new perspective on a San Diego Zoo staple. And as we move forward, keep an eye out for some upcoming moves between our jaguar exhibits as we strive to provide the most fulfilling and enriching life for both of our beautiful jaguar ambassadors.
Jacob Shanks is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. Read his previous post, The Pride of Elephant Odyssey.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 9:13 am
Thanks for the update, Jacob. It sounds like Orson loves his new “digs.” It also sounds like he can have the exhibit all to himself and doesn’t have to share it anymore. As I recall from the blogs about the Jaguars last year, they each got to spend part of the day in the exhibit they both inhabited. One was out in the AM and the other in the PM. Having a home range all to themselves is optimum for both I am certain. Great job SDZ! Elephant Odyssey has made new homes possible for many animals besides the elephants, such as the Lions.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:18 am
Oh I’m so glad the cats get to move around. Yes, Orson is long, tall, and handsome.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:24 am
Thank you for the update. When we visited the zoo last week, my husband was disappointed that he could not find Orson. He is very relieved to learn of the rotation plan. Excellent enrichment for both Orson and Nindiri.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:09 am
This is wonderful news! I first “met” Orson only last year and was completely mesmerized by this magnificent animal. I did think, though, that his enclosure was too small, even with the abundant enrichment provided to him in it. I was at the zoo last week and saw that Orson had been moved and wondered why. I’m so glad it’s a semi-permanent move, as it will be much easier for me to see Orson every time I’m at the zoo. I always take the moving walk up to the Elephant Odyssey and then to the Skyfari.
When I saw Orson last Tuesday he was pacing rapidly in front of the glass. I thought at the time that he may have been confused by the glass and that was the reason for his activity. Perhaps by now he’s settled down and his fans can see him in more natural behavior. (I love it that he has a toasty warm rock, and that he’s stalking the busses!) How has he reacted to the lions, whom he must be able to scent?
As I’m new to Orson fanship, I wonder if he’s ever been a daddy. Are there plans for Orson and Nindiri to mate, or have I missed some drama along those lines?
I hope you’ll continue blogging about Orson and the other big cats. Perhaps someday they’ll have their own live cams and dedicated blogs. The jaguars, lions, leopards and tigers are some of the zoo’s major attractions. I, for one, want to follow them on a regular basis. Thanks so much for this post!
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:39 am
Last friday I got to check out orson in his new digs. he is an amazing kitty. I also got a fantastic gander at the chinese leapard (?) as he/she was at the front of his enclosure making all kinds of kitty vocalizations. the kitty became especially interested in a visitors companion dog…the dog however, not so much. the kitty also seemed to take a keen interest in a small child in a stroller. i had a fantasitic time at the zoo. we were there from 9:30 am to closing and we still didn’t see everything. taking advantage of the tour buses is a great way to make a game plan.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:43 am
This means that we can finally get some decent shots of Orson!
We’ll be spending more time with the big cats up there.
He is super handsome!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:21 am
Yea for Orson! This will be a wonderful home for him! I haven’t been to see his new digs yet, but the photographer in me hopes it will provide an easier environment for picture taking. His previous home offered challenges that way. He is so gorgeous and I have always wanted to capture him, especially his beautiful eyes with my camera.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:52 pm
What is going to happen to the “second story” jaguar exhibit, facing the bus lane, in EO?
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I already considered myself the luckiest person on the planet , and you have just confirmed it.
I am one of the regulars who lives down at the panda exhibit but make the time to see Orson with each visit I make to the zoo. He totally captivates me, it is pure joy to visit with him. I am looking forward to photographing him in the new exhibit because i have spent hours trying to get past the fence of his old exhibit.
Can’t wait to get there this week end.
Oh and thanks to SDZ for doing this for him, he so deserves the the extra room and excitement.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Looking forward to seeing Orson in his new home. That toasty heated rock sounds good on a chilly February night. He is very handsome & his fans will enjoy photographing him in his new environment.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Orson is a very handsome fellow. We got some great photos of him in the old exhibit in January. Only saw Nindiri from a distance on the bus. Tried to get a good shot of her too, but the bus moved to quickly past her.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Thank You Jacob for sharing. I look forward to visiting the majestic & handsome Orson, soon in his new home !
February 4th, 2010 at 10:29 am
I also love visiting Orson, he is so gorgeous and majestic. I am looking forward to seeing his new home.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Interesting!
February 5th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
But Nindiri is pacing rather neurotically in the old exhibit today!
February 5th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I asked my wife to marry me infront of Orson. He is our favorite animal at the zoo. When we heard about the enclosure up in the Elephant area, my wife was bummed it wasn’t for Orson. With this news it really brightened both our day. Looking forward to saying hello to an old friend in his new “shared” digs.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
I got some lovely photos last weekend of Orson playing in the water with a plastic jug. He looked so happy in his new space!
February 6th, 2010 at 12:08 am
YOU SCARED ME I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO ANOTHER ZOO…….WOW NOW HE WILL BE EVEN EASIER TO FIND.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:21 am
Good news for Orson. He deserves a change of scenery after all this time. Not real happy to see Nindiri go down the hill. I have been enjoying views of her in the new exhibit since mid summer and am disappointed that I won’t get to see her in the new exhibit. Look forward to seeing how they react to being switched back and forth, is that the plan as I understand it? Thanks for your post Jacob and good work with M’bari and Etosha too. Love the big cats!!!
February 6th, 2010 at 9:24 am
oh good for orson!! the last time i saw orson was at about 11:30pm during a ROAR & SNORE sleep over. we were on a walk about and didn’t see much in any of the cages. we all stopped to look at a GIGANTIC SPIDER sinning his web and heard something. as we looked up there was ORSON. just peering down at us from his enclosure. it was so spooky and wonderful! i’ll drop by and see you big guy on my way to see YUN ZI for the first time!
Moderator’s note: To avoid confusion, please know that only sleepovers at our Wild Animal Park use the Roar & Snore name. Sleepovers at the Zoo are simply called sleepovers. I just don’t want someone booking a Roar & Snore to think they will see Orson
February 6th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Wonderful news for our amazing and incredibly beautiful and beloved Orson. Can’t wait to see him swimming in the pool and catching fish. Kudos to you all.
Blessed Be with Love, Judy J
February 10th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I look forward to searching out Orson when we come to the zoo in March. My list of “must see” animals is growing by leaps and bounds. I’ll need a week – actually have 4 days so that’s not so bad! He sounds like a beautiful, much loved cat.