The NEW Zoo in Suamico has experienced its own share of success and sadness when it comes to caring for animals. Often the job of caring for captive and endangered animals is not easy.

Carmen Murach knows every single animal within the NEW Zoo. But as much as this facility works to keep each animal born here healthy, sometimes it's simply out of their control.

"Not every baby born can survive," said curator of animals, Carmen Murach. "Sometimes there are anomalies that make it incompatible for life."

In Aug. 2010, a baby giraffe died 36 hours after birth. Earlier this year a Japanese snow monkey was still born.

"Our vet got in there right away, did all we could, but it doesn't always work out," said Murach. "The people who work with animals are very sad with loss. It's definitely very hard to deal with."

One of the zoo's current success stories  is this red panda named Kalden. Born in captivity three months ago, this endangered species is  half way past  the most critical point of its life.

"We are watching him carefully right now - weighing him - making sure he's growing as he should be." 

But while the NEW Zoo's curator of animals is hopeful the red panda  will continue to thrive, the reality is  49-percent of these animals don't survive their first year of life.

"There is great joy when things work out well But just like any other part of life, sometimes there is great sadness too."

Murach says the best caregiver of any animal born in captivity is the mother animal.  The zoo doesn't get involved unless it's clear something is very wrong.