Two New Animals Call Lake Superior Zoo Home

The Eurasian Eagle Owl and Chinese Goral claimed their spot at the zoo.

DULUTH, Minn.- Two new residents are calling Duluth their home at the Lake Superior Zoo.

The Eurasian eagle owl and the Chinese goral are here with hopes of breeding in the near future.

The owl is one of the largest of its species with a wingspan of up to 6 ft. In recent years owls have been more at risk of being poached in Europe and Asia due to the popularity they gained as pets because of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise.

The zoo hopes to make protecting their species a part of the owl’s message.

“We like different. Everybody can see a tiger. You know what an elephant looks like, but very few people have ever heard of a Eurasian eagle owl,” zookeeper Jackie Fallon said.

The goral, which is a type of goat, is named Bree.

She is a temporary loan here to breed with the zoo’s male goral Mac as a part of the Species Survivial Program.

“We don’t take animals from the wile anymore unless it’s absolutely necessary so they like to keep good, healthy genes in the captive population,” zookeeper Jessica Phoenix said.

Both animals are custom to extreme cold, so the Northland should be no problem for them outside this time of year according to staff.