Odin. Norse god or raven at the Phoenix Zoo? Why not both! Odin, a common raven who resides with the Zoo’s Animal Ambassador Resources team, is strong smart and resilient.
Odin arrived at the Zoo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which had determined she had developed a dependency on humans and could not return to the wild. As a young chick, or possibly even as an egg, Odin was taken from her nest. She spent her early life imprinting on humans rather than other ravens.
Imprinting is a rapid learning and bonding process where animals learn how to behave and take care of themselves. In many animals, this process is irreversible. When wildlife imprint on humans, they cannot safely survive in the wild. This is why it is so important to leave wildlife wild.
Odin was confiscated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2012 and is estimated to have hatched the same year. She had been kept as a pet during her early months and learned more about how people behave than how ravens behave and care for themselves. Because she was so comfortable with people, she was placed with the Animal Ambassador Resources (AAR) department at the Phoenix Zoo.
As a member of the AAR team, Odin teaches countless Zoo guests about her species, how to care for animals and how to appreciate animals from afar. Because ravens are an extremely smart species of bird it is important to keep her brain active. She does this by training with staff to learn behaviors that aid in Zoo guest interactions. She will also retrieve rings and blocks that help her learn colors.
In cases like Odin’s, facilities like the Phoenix Zoo can provide lifelong care while also helping the community learn about wildlife, conservation and the importance of protecting animals in their natural habitats.
Through partnerships with organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, the Zoo is able to help animals like Odin. Once the Doornbos Animal Rescue and Care Center (Doornbos ARCC) is complete, the Zoo will be able to expand this work by providing more space for animals in need, along with more time for rehabilitation, recuperation and finding the best permanent homes.
Learn more about the Doornbos ARCC or make a donation here, and check back on the blog for more rescue stories.
