Our Animals

fox3 Animal residents at Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary do not tell the typical zoo story. All animals at this sanctuary have been rescued from other locations and have a lesson to teach. They include a black bear who came to the sanctuary as a cub when his mother was mistakenly shot by a hunter; a mountain lion who was kept as a pet; and a gray fox who was rescued from a pool.

Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary also has a prestigious role as participant in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Species Survival Plan for the critically endangered Mexican Gray Wolf. After a 20-year absence in the wild, this animal is being reintroduced to its former range following a successful captive breeding program. The sanctuary is a housing facility for wolves not yet ready for release.

Our Birds

Blue and Gold Macaw

(Ara ararauna)

max

Max arrived in 2012 from a private donor.

Macaws are from South America and are adaptable to different habitats like forests, tall palms, and swamps.
They feed on seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries. Macaws are known to nibble on riverbank clay, believed to contain a substance that counteracts toxins.
Few groups of birds are as well known as the parrot family and their popularity as pets is well documented in history. Blue and golds are said to be somewhat more intelligent and alert than other species. They are among the larger parrots, with the male reaching about 34 inches and the female slightly smaller. Plumage is similar in both sexes. They are capable of exerting about 40 pounds of pressure with their beak.
Blue and Golds are primarily monogamous, remaining bonded for life. They are often seen flying in large flocks, but the bonded pairs will fly close together with their wings nearly touching. Members of this species can live 80 to 100 years.
A major factor in population depletion of these birds is human development and agriculture. In the Amazon millions of acres of habitat have disappeared.
Also adding to their population depletion in the wild is the international trade in parrots. Due to the stress of capture, shipment, and appalling conditions, it is estimated that 99 out of 100 wild caught birds may die within a year of being purchased from dealer. Several laws have been passed that ban imports and the numbers coming into the US have dropped dramatically since the late 1970s. However, illegal smuggling into the US and other countries is still a problem.

Emu

(Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Ollie and Fran arrived in 1997.

Emus are found across Australia, but most commonly in the sclerophyll forest and savanna woodland. They typically eat fruits, flowers, insects, seeds, and green vegetation. They will ingest large stones into their gizzards to aid in the grinding process. They do need water frequently.
These large birds weight from 60 to 120 pounds. Emus belong to a family of flightless bird’s known as Ratites. This family includes the well-known ostrich of Africa, rheas of South America, cassowaries of North Australia, tinamou of Central and South America, and Kiwis of New Zealand. Ratites have only rudimentary wings and cannot fly. They have three toes that are more adapted for running than most birds. They can reach speeds of up to 30 mph in short bursts and can make a stride of nine feet.
Emus live from five to 10 years in the wild, but longer in captivity.
Emus, in general, are stable in population. However, small local populations face threats from habitat loss, feral dogs, and other problems.

Great Horned Owl

(Bubo virginianus)

wilson1 owl2 wilson color

Mr. Wilson was injured as a nestling and became imprinted during rehabilitation. He was unable to be released back to the wild. Sydney and Victoria arrived in 2009.

Owls are nocturnal (active at night), and use their exceptional eyesight and hearing to hunt rodents. They are very important in helping to control rodent populations. Even though she can't see you, she can hear you, and her head will follow you when you walk by.
In the wild, great horned owls feed on a variety of small mammals.
Great horned owls are found throughout much of North and South America . They have noiseless flight and powerful talons to sneak up on and capture their prey.

Raven

(Corvus corax)

Tots

Ravens are found almost worldwide, and are the largest and most intelligent of the songbirds in North America. He can talk, and if you say "Hi Ed" to him, he will sometimes say it back to you!
Ravens are omnivorous (they eat meat and plant life). In the wild they are scavengers and will eat just about anything. We feed him meat, rodents, eggs, and some fruits and vegetables.
They are diurnal (active during the day), and very playful. Ravens can live to be 25 to 30 years old.
"Ed" is alone but not lonely. Many other birds and ravens come to visit him. But, because this is a rescue zoo, we could take another raven if one needed a home.
Because ravens don't have sweat glands, they cool off by keeping their beaks open.

Turkey Vulture

(Cathartes aura)

Fester, Vader and Edwina

Turkey vultures are found from southern Canada to the tip of South America. They can have a wingspan of up to 6 feet. They are very graceful flyers. Riding thermals and updrafts, they rarely flap their wings.
Turkey vultures eat carrion. There are no feathers on their heads so that they won’t get dirty when they eat. We should be thankful that they perform the unenviable task of cleaning old, dead carcasses. But, recent studies indicate that as much as 50% of their diet is vegetation.
They are very clean and spend 2 to 3 hours a day preening. Their digestive system kills all viruses and bacteria in the food they eat, and their droppings are free of disease.
Turkey vultures roost in large groups.
A roost is a group of vultures living together and sleeping at night in a tall tree. Many generations of the same group will return to the same tree or trees for decades.
A mated pair will go off by themselves to lay 2 eggs and raise their young. They don’t build nests, but lay their eggs on the ground of a rock ledge, cave, hollow tree or abandoned barn.
Turkey vultures are not endangered. But another member of the vulture family—the massive California condor—is critically endangered.

Harris Hawk

hawk Mapiya and Kohana both arrived in August 2009 after suffering wing and foot injuries in the wild.

Their diet includes: rodents, rabbits, other birds and lizards.
Harris Hawks live in semi-arid areas from the southwest of North America all the way to the tip of South America.
Harris Hawks tend to hunt in groups.

Peregrine Falcon

falcon Journey arrived in August 2009 after being injured in the wild.

Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals in the world, reaching speeds of 225 miles an hour while in a dive.
Peregrine falcons eat other birds that are caught in flight.
They are one of the world’s most common birds of prey and live on every continent except Antarctica.

American Kestrel

CIMG3832 Grasshopper and Ramboo.

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America.
They are located throughout North America.
Kestrels eat insects, small mammals, lizards and birds.

Poultry

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Buffy, Moana, Rapunzel, Aurora, Elana, Belle and Mulan

All were donated by private owners.
The chickens are free range around the zoo.
Chickens eat seeds, produce and insects.

Peafowl

peacock1 peacock2 peacock3 peacock4

Sunset, Larry and Curly. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary has always had peafowl. The five peacocks currently living at the Zoo were all hatched here.

Peacocks eat seeds, vegetables, fruit and insects.
Peacocks, when the combined length of its train and its large wingspan are considered, are one of the largest flying birds.

Green-Cheeked Conure

Pyrrhura molinae

cimg2806compressed conurescompressed

Conures are native to the forests of South America where they live at treetop level in flocks of 10 to 20 birds
Conures are endangered in their native habitats
They eat seeds, fruit and vegetable matter
Conures have been known to use tools to reach itchy spots

During the cold months, the conures are sometimes off-exhibit, due to the cold.

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Golden Eagles are North America’s largest bird of prey with their wingspan reaching up to seven and a half feet. They are athletic hunters, reaching speeds in their dives of up to 150 mph. Their excellent eyesight enables them to see prey from very far distances. They eat a wide variety of prey items, but have been known to attack animals as large as deer. A Golden Eagle can carry up to 8 pounds.

Golden Eagles are solitary birds and maintain large territories up to 55 square miles, although this species does mate for life. Some Golden Eagles are migratory.

The Golden Eagle is protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act.

Tekka was born in approximately 2004 and incurred a wing injury that has since healed, but prevents flight motion. Tekka arrived at HPZS in 2013.

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

American Bald Eagles are the national bird of the United States of America and the only eagle unique to North America. Bald Eagles are often called fish or sea eagles, due to their diet being composed mostly fish and their preference of habitats near water.

Female Bald Eagles are slightly larger than the males. These eagles have been known to live up to 30 years, but the median life expectancy is around fifteen. Eagles are carnivores, hunting a variety of prey. They use their large talons to grab their prey and can lift up to four pounds.

In Arizona, Bald Eagles were listed as an endangered species in 1978 after only 11 breeding pairs were identified in the state. Since then, conservation efforts and wildlife studies have contributed to an increase in the population and Bald Eagles in Arizona were removed from the endangered species list in 2011.

The Bald Eagle is protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act.

Montana was born in Montana in approximately 2002. She was rescued and rehabilitated in Arizona. She arrived at HPZS in 2013.

Muscovy Duck

Cairini moschata

Marmaduck arrived at the Sanctuary in 2014, Carrie in 2016 and duckling Vanya in 2019.

Muscovy ducks are native to Mexico and Central and South America. They are perching ducks and like to spend most of their time in trees. They are a protected species.

Domestic Turkey

Pilgrim and Quaker arrived in 2014 from a private owner.

QuakerPilgrimTurkeys

Meleagris gallopavo
Wild Turkeys are native to large parts of the United States. The turkey is only one of two domesticated birds native to the Americas.

Pilgrim and Quaker are Royal Palm Turkeys, a breed not normally used for meat production but as ornamental birds.