Off Exhibit: Success on Swan Lake

Episode #36

It’s a conservation success story that’s taking flight at the Zoo. Trumpeter swans are both big and beautiful waterfowl that up until recent years had been critically endangered in the United States. Thanks to efforts by government agencies, wildlife organizations and zoos their numbers continue to rebound. In 2014, the Maryland Zoo was recommended to be home for a male and female pair of Trumpeter swans who successfully bred and raised their first cygnets last year. Now, one year later their offspring is being released into the wilds of Iowa as part of a conservation effort in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. On this edition of Off Exhibit, Maryland Zoo Avian Collection & Conservation Manager Jen Kottyan shares the recent swan success and shares behind-the-scenes information about the next set of eggs that have been laid this season providing more hope for the future of this unique bird species.

More About Off Exhibit

Off Exhibit is a podcast featuring in-depth discussions with animal professionals and wildlife experts from behind-the-scenes at the Maryland Zoo. Subscribe via iTunes, Android, or RSS. New episodes uploaded on Wednesdays.