Meet Otto the Lady Ross’s Turaco

He hatched on April 11, 2002 and has been at the Phoenix Zoo since May of 2004. Since coming to the Zoo, he has been housed with other females but never successfully reproduced. But, in late 2021, 22-year-old Leela joined us from the Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo and the two hit it off immediately!

 

Last year, they produced two male chicks, and earlier this month they had another chick hatch. The pair are currently rearing the new chick with the “help” of their two, six-month old male chicks on the Africa Trail next to southern white rhinos Howie and LouLou.

 

The Species Survival Plan (SSP) Coordinator reports that the oldest known-age male to reproduce was 21.06 years, so if Otto reproduces again, he will become the oldest known-age male Lady Ross’s turaco to produce a chick! Leela is the second oldest known-age female to produce a chick. Otto is the tenth oldest male in the population and Leela is the sixth oldest female.