PALM DESERT, CA — Love is definitely in the air across the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens as the resident animals were given a taste of Valentine’s Day treats this week.
From the porcupines to the warthogs, animals got to taste heart-shaped watermelon for a treat. Still, others were offered roses for a true sensory delight for several species at the zoo, according to the zoo’s Curator of Animal Engagement, Tim Van Loan.
“Even though a storm is on the way, the weather has been perfect in Palm Desert,” Van Loan told Patch. “We’ve been working with the mountain lions, who have been enjoying some playful activity for the Valentine’s holiday.”
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The Living Desert Zoo and Garden’s ultimate goal is conservation in the wild, and the best way to further that is by showing the public healthy, happy, and thriving animals in the zoo’s care, he said.
Spreading a little love for the many animals at the zoo with special treats in advance of Valentine’s Day is one way to do that. Recently the pair of mountain lions in the zoo’s care, Rose and Sage, were given roses for their scent and distinct soft-petal ffeel, according to Van Loan.
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“They’ve been involved in playful activity as the mountain lions manipulate, play with, and tear apart the roses,” he said. “It’s a new experience and texture for them.”
Speaking of strange new textures… the zoo’s Naked Mole Rats also got to experience the novelty of the beautiful blossoms.
The strange creatures that live in the Rhino Savanna habitat are perhaps the most fascinating species that make their home there, according to zoo visitors.
When you go to the zoo, be sure and visit the giraffe habitat, he suggests.
“There, you’ll see the herd of about ten giraffes, males and females, including our matriarch, who is in her 20s, and the baby, who is just two,” he said. “The habitat is special, as it is a giant savannah that also houses ostrich and kudu, who live in groups in the environment that is a close replication of their natural habitat.”
At the zoo, the spiny porcupine got a taste of a watermelon treat in a recent trek around the property.
The North American porcupine, Mr. Prickles got a sample of sweet watermelon in a heart-shaped form, they said. According to the zoo, he has two front teeth that grow continuously to keep up with the wear of constant gnawing.
Equally, the warthogs have also been munching on watermelon treats.
The zoo’s unique location and temperatures are similar to the natural habitat of the animals in their care, according to Van Loan.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens was selected for a rare program with a pair of black rhinoceros, which were recently introduced in the savannah enclosure. In December, Jaali and Nia met face-to-face, and things went pretty well, according to zookeepers.
Read: See Endangered Black Rhino ‘Meet Cute’ At Palm Desert Living Desert
Meanwhile, though Van Loan kept mum about any new spring baby news, all eyes are watching to see if a baby will make three for a pair of genetically paired black rhinoceros at the Palm Desert Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.
The Living Desert Zoo is located in Southern California at 47900 Portola Ave in Palm Desert. Learn more about how to get tickets, donate to the conservation cause, or make the most out of your next visit on their website: livingdesert.org.
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