Zoo Life - Patricio

Each week I volunteer half a day at the Prospect Park Zoo.  Anyone familiar with my background won't be surprised by this.  Spending time regularly at the zoo provides a unique opportunity to become familiar with the animals in ways that occasional visitors can't.  The amount of time alone makes it more likely to witness telling incidents, and some animals will become familiar with you and interact in ways they won't with strangers.

I suspect that any volunteer at the PPZ has stories related to Patricio, the Cape Barren Goose.  Patricio resides in the Australian walkabout, which means he's free to roam about with zoo visitors along with the wallabies and kangaroo.  Well, usually anyway.  Unlike his would-be mate Ethel who keeps herself hidden most of the time, Patricio spends his day right on the walking trail, usually at the side of the zoo employee or volunteer charged with minding the area.  Just about the only time we see Ethel is when she comes out to give Patricio a piece of her mind when he's acting up and honking.  Ethel is the only one Patricio defers to, and he'll skitter away nervously when she comes running at him.

Patricio

Some days when I'm with him, Patricio will stay right by my side, reaching out to nip at my coat or shoelaces occasionally when I'm not looking.  When he's in a mood, he may decide he'd rather run around with a group of schoolchildren.  Ever see a child panick in fear that they're being chased by a wild goose?  Nothing excites Patricio more- to him it's just a part of the game, while children squeal in terror that they're about to be mauled.  The walkabout has a double-door system to enter, and signs warn visitors to keep only one door open at a time.  This did not stop Patricio from wandering out behind a group of school children one day, following them down the path towards the porcupines before anyone took notice and alerted staff.

Patricio Sneaks Up on Me

Such incidents prompted the animal keepers to relegate Patricio to a fenced in area at the back of the walkabout for a few weeks this fall.  To Patricio, this was jail.  He did not get along with his fellow residents, a noisy flock of guinea fowl and I often saw him charging angrily at them or a squirrel who had wandered in for some free zoo food.  Other times I'd see him practicing his escape.  He'd stretch his wings out to his sides, look in front of himself determinedly and waddle forward as quickly as he could, certain that this would be the time he'd break into flight (I believe his wings are clipped).  It's a bittersweet episode to witness.

I was happy when Patricio was released back into the walkabout proper.  The wallabies are adorable and interesting to watch, but spend most of their time hidden as does the kangaroo, who in her old age is more interested in finding a quiet place to nap.  Patricio is a handful, but in the end he's harmless and he keeps things interesting.