Thanksgiving and Turkeys. It is hardly possible to think about one without thinking about the other. Since we are nearing Thanksgiving, I’d like to introduce you to the resident turkeys in the
J.P. McGovern Children’s Zoo – but first, a little bit about turkeys in general.
Beautiful Turkey feathers
There are only two species of turkeys in the world and both are found in the Americas. The Ocellated Turkey is primarily found on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico as well as the northern parts of Belize and Guatemala. The Ocellated Turkey’s cousin, the Wild Turkey, is found in North America and Mexico. It is heavier than the Ocellated but they share almost all the same characteristics. Both species are omnivores feeding primarily on berries, seeds, grasses, and insects. They will occasionally eat snakes, snails, and lizards. Both species were domesticated by Native Americans for food, but it was the Wild Turkey of North America that became the originator of all our modern breeds of domestic turkey.
Jim the Wild Turkey hen
In the Children’s Zoo, we have a true Wild Turkey as well as two domestic turkeys. Our Wild Turkey is a hen and her name is Jim. Yes, it’s a boy’s name - it’s hard to know what sex they are when they are poults (babies)! Jim lives with the chickens in the goat yard.
Our two domestic turkeys are both males which are called toms. They are Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys and their names are Benjamin and Franklin. Benjamin Franklin wanted the Wild Turkey to be the national bird, so we named our toms in his honor. Ben and Franklin live on exhibit with the deer.
Ben and Franklin
FUN FACT:
Believe it or not, when Europeans first settled in the Americas and started taking turkeys back to Europe, the turkey was so rare and tasted so good, that only royalty was allowed to eat them!
We hope you will come visit our turkeys!
Give the Gift of Grub this Thanksgiving to help provide tasty meals for our resident turkeys and the rest of the Zoo’s 6,000 animals. From now until December 31, your gift could go twice as far thanks to a generous matching gift challenge by TXU Energy. All gifts, up to $25,000 total, will be matched dollar for dollar in an effort to help the Zoo provide for its growing animal family.
Thank you in advance for your support and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
