World Zoo Today

Topeka Zoo To Mark Orangutan Week

Sara — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:04:41 +0000

The Topeka Zoo invites people to learn about orangutans during International Orangutan Awareness Week, November 8-15th.

Topeka (WIBW) – They’re the red-headed, swinging sweethearts of the Topeka Zoo, and, next week, the world is asked to learn about them and the rest of their species.

The Topeka Zoo invites people to learn about orangutans during International Orangutan Awareness Week, November 8-15th.

The zoo will have a special display in the Asian section of the Discovering Apes Building from 10 am to 4 pm each day. Participants will learn about the dwindling wild orangutan population, and what they can do to make a difference.

The Topeka Zoos Bornean orangutan family includes: Rayma, who celebrated her fourth birthday on April 5th, along with her mother, Rudy 23, Daisy Mae, 43, Lena 27 and father Mawas 20.

The week long display will focus on the decreasing wild orangutan population caused by poaching, illegal pet trade in orangutans, habitat destruction by loggers destroying their natural habitat in the rain forest islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Research indicates that orangutans may become extinct in the wild by 2025 unless dramatic steps are not taken to reduce the illegal taking of orangutans for the pet trade, poaching and habitat destruction on both islands.

Source: http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/69434802.html

Metrozoo’s Baby Giraffe Gets Clean Bill of Health

Sara — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:09:42 +0000

MIAMI (CBS4) ― A neonatal exam is a must for all newborns and it is no exception for baby giraffes. Just three day after coming into the world, the newest addition to Miami Metrozoo received hers.

The hardest part was separating her from her mother and taking her to the exam all on her own. “It’s always a little stressful; mom feels nervous because they are separated from the herd so they could bond and be with the animal,” said Metrozoo spokesman Ron Magill.

The baby giraffe was born at 9:34 Tuesday morning. “Kita” is a reticulated giraffe; the girl is her 12th baby. This is the 42nd baby giraffe in Metrozoo’s history.

The neonatal exam is part of an extensive preventative medicine program managed by Metrozoo’s veterinary sciences department. It’s designed to make sure the newborn is healthy. Blood was taken; the general exam was performed and she was weighed. After the exam, the baby will be able to go on exhibit with the rest of the herd.

Kita the giraffe gave birth to her 12th baby Thursday morning. It's the 42nd giraffe calf born at the zoo.

“She got a good kick start in life. Kita is a great mom and she should be introduced to the heard by this weekend for the public to see,” Magill said.

Baby giraffes often weigh more than 150 pounds at birth and stand nearly 6 feet tall. Mothers give birth standing up, meaning baby giraffes often tumble 7 feet to the ground.Giraffe males can be 18 feet tall, while females can reach 15 feet. Giraffe weigh in at up to 4000 pounds for males and 2600 pounds for females.

Kita gave birth to her 12th baby Thursday morning.

The new long legged beauty received a clean bill of health – but does not yet have a name! A contest is being; People can submit their ideas for the baby’s name by e-mailing info@zsf.org by Nov. 20. The winning name, picked by the giraffe keeper staff, will be announced on Nov. 30.

Kita gave birth to her 12th baby Thursday morning.

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SHOP.COM

Christmas is coming soon, how do you plan to decorate for it? We call decorate for the holidays to some degree, but did you ever think about the bathroom?

Just changing out a shower curtain can change the whole look for a bathroom. In the summer time I tend to have a shower curtain with frogs or some other animal which makes you think water.

In the winter time though in the days before holidays I tend to change the shower curtain to reflect the coming holiday. In January I select a shower curtain which reminds me of the cold outside but also reflects animals. I usually use one with Polar Bears or Penguins.

It can be hard to locate shower curtains with the design you want. It is possible though.

Disclosure: The post was made possible by one of our sponsors.

Zoo finds its footing under society control

Sara — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:35:41 +0000

BY TOM WALSH – FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

For a telling Detroit example of how a public-private partnership can save and improve a regional asset that government can no longer afford, look no further than where the wild things are.

The Detroit Zoo.

It was little more than a year ago that voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties approved a property tax levy of 0.1 mill, or about $10 a year on a house worth $200,000, to pay for operations of the Detroit Zoo, which had previously been mainly the responsibility of the cash-strapped City of Detroit.

So how’s the zoo doing now?

Attendance is running 150,000 visitors, or nearly 15%, ahead of 2008 and on track to reach 1.25 million by year-end. Purchases of membership packages are up, from 52,000 to 56,000.

And these gains come amid the worst U.S. economic slump in 70 years, in the state with the worst jobless rate in the nation.

“So far, so good,” Ron Kagan, the zoo’s executive director, said in an interview.

Kagan’s being modest.
Impressive performance

Detroit Zoo Executive Director Ron Kagan gives a rye crisp to Jabari, a giraffe who turns 2 later this month, at a platform in the zoo in Royal Oak. (PATRICIA BECK/DFP)

The Detroit Zoo’s record of growing attendance while controlling costs and boosting visitor satisfaction — all during a horrible economic time — is remarkable.

This didn’t happen easily. When the city struck a deal in 2006 to turn operation of the zoo over to the Detroit Zoological Society, it came after the usual squeals of protest from some in Detroit who didn’t want to surrender control of a so-called city-owned jewel.

But once the final piece of the package was complete — the Aug. 5, 2008, vote to approve the millage — the zoo was finally on solid footing.

The city still owns the assets, but the nonprofit Zoological Society runs operations, and much of the budget comes from the regional tax.

“Before that, we spent a lot of time trying to stabilize our operating funding and our governance issues. Now we have the ability to focus on the future,” Kagan said. He and his staff are now working to complete a 10-year master plan by January.

On the cost side, the biggest savings was switching employee retirement plans from defined-benefit pensions to contributory 401(k) plans, as many private companies have done. Kagan said benefit costs are now about 29% of salaries, down from 70% when the workers were City of Detroit employees.

In surveys of zoo visitors conducted this year, 94% rated the Detroit Zoo “better than expected” (55%) or “same as expected” (39%), impressive numbers considering that the zoo hadn’t added a major new animal exhibit since 2001. It did open the 26-seat Wild Adventure 3D/4D Theater in mid-October.

Despite all the progress, the zoo still faces the same economic headwinds as every other business and organization.

“We’re taking a triple hit from the economy. We thought the millage would generate about $15 million a year,” Kagan said, but this year it will be only $12.5 million — about half the zoo’s annual budget — and may drop as low as $10 million later because of slumping home values.

Private fund-raising and sponsorships are also pinched. The zoo recently hired Peg Tallet to a new post, chief external relations officer, in part to boost outside fund-raising.

“We’re not whining,” Kagan said. “We realize any kind of future capital expenditures for new projects will depend on what we can do in fund-raising. We don’t have a choice; we have to do better at that.”

A refreshing note, to hear that he’s not expecting a government bailout.

Your morning adorable: San Diego Zoo’s giant panda cub is growing up (and will soon have a name)

Sara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:55:38 +0000

The San Diego Zoo reports that its male giant panda cub, born in early August, is "definitely hitting all the panda milestones," making gains in weight (more than a pound in just the last week, for a current total of 11.7 pounds) and length (24.8 inches from head to tail).

The zoo held a contest last month to allow the panda-loving public to offer their name suggestions for the cub, who, in accordance with Chinese tradition, won't be officially named until he's 100 days old. After the submission period was over, keepers, veterinarians, scientists and other zoo staff chose five favorites from the entries. Next, the Chinese
Wildlife Conservation Assn. had to approve the five proposed names, and with that done, the zoo allowed visitors to its website and Facebook fan page to vote for their favorite name.

Voting is now over — the zoo says it received nearly 18,000 votes — but the suspense continues, because the winning name won't be announced until a Nov. 17 naming ceremony. The five name finalists are Xiǎo Lóng ("Little Dragon"), Xióng Wěi ("Extraordinary Bear"), Fú Shèng ("Blissful San Diego"), Yǒng Xiǎng ("Eternally Blessed") and Yún Zǐ ("Son of Cloud").

– Lindsay Barnett

Photo: The as-yet-unnamed cub at his 13-week veterinary exam. Credit: Ken Bohn / AFP/Getty Images

Rare deer breed at Kanpur zoo

Sara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:16:01 +0000

Abhinav Malhotra – The Times of India

KANPUR: Here is a piece of good news for all nature and wildlife lovers. Three Thamin deer (critically endangered specie of deer) have recently
given birth to healthy fawns (one each) at the Kanpur zoological park.

Thamins, which are also known as ‘Brow Antlered Deer’ or ‘Dancing Deer’ or ‘Sangai Deer’ or ‘ Manipuri Deer’, come under the schedule one of the highly endangered species of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and have a maximum life span of only 10 years. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has, therefore, placed Thamins in the highly endangered specie and thus this animal has been accorded the highest protection to save it from extinction. The Thamin deer are medium in size and very much look-alike of ‘Barahsingha’ in appearance.

Extremely excited with the birth of Thamin calf, director, Kanpur zoo, while talking to TOI said: “It is indeed a matter of happiness that Thamins, which come under the schedule-I of the Wildlife Act and once at the verge of extinction in India, is doing pretty well here at the Kanpur zoo. Three female Thamins have given birth to healthy fawns. The visitors too have a reason to smile as they will also get ample opportunity to see this rare specie deer, seen very rarely at other zoos of the country.”

“Last year, female Thamins gave birth to four fawns. This year too, the fawn will gradually grow healthy like those of last year’s. We are taking special care by doubling the protein diet at the same time providing calcium and multivitamin to the lactating female Thamin,” informed a jubilant Rao.

Another senior zoo official, while speaking on the reasons why Thamins were on the verge of extinction, informed: “One of the main reasons for the diminishing population of the Manipur Brow Antlered deer is too much hunting. The destruction of their habitat has further worsened the situation.”

The Dancing Deer which are herbivorous and survives on a variety of water plants, grasses, herbaceous plants and shoots, prefers to stay in open Indian parkland areas or light woodland near rivers or wet marshy land. One can hardly find them in thick forests or woodland. They are endemic to Loktak pond and are found in Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur.

They have always been a cause of worry for the wildlife lovers due to their depleting numbers. Once estimated to be around 100 in 1955, Thamins are just 363 (according to the Central Zoo Authority’s inventory report published for the year 2008-09) in numbers at present. Out of which, presently there are around 180 Thamins in Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. To save the population from any eventuality ex-situ conservation of this animal is being done in various zoological parks of India and Kanpur zoological park is one of them where, after providing conducive environment, the Thamins are doing absolutely well and the breeding is successfully going on.

Zoo Atlanta Gorilla Volunteers For Blood Pressure Exam

Sara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:07:58 +0000

Marc Pickard – 11alive.com

Willie B, the iconic Zoo Atlanta gorilla, is still remembered nine years after he died from heart disease.
His death not only saddened animal lovers everywhere but it also prompted ground-breaking research.
That research could solve the mystery of heart disease in gorillas.

Ozzie, one of Zoo Atlanta’s male gorillas, and his keeper Jodi Carrigan have been working together for seven years.
But this is the most important work of their lives.

“We chose Ozzie” explained Zoo Atlanta primate keeper Jodi Carrigan, “because he’s forty eight years old. He’s the second oldest male in captivity right now.”

Gorillas in captivity don’t live much longer than Ozzie has.
And when they die, most of them die from heart disease.

“Heart disease is very serious in the captive population” said director of veterinary services at Zoo Atlanta Dr. Hayley Murphy. “About forty two percent of the animals are affected, and those animals go on to die from the disease itself.”

The problem of heart disease in captive gorillas has haunted researchers for years.

“We don’t really know what causes cardiac disease” Dr. Murphy said. “Our theory is it’s blood pressure. But we can’t prove that until we get awake blood pressures.”

The traditional way to get a gorilla’s blood pressure is to anesthetize it. But anesthesia puts stress on a gorilla’s body and skews the results.
The Zoo Atlanta staff wondered if it could get a gorilla to submit to a blood pressure exam….voluntarily.

“How I was going to train a three hundred and fifty pound gorilla” zoo keeper Jodi Carrigan said, “to stick his arm into a voluntary blood pressure reading and let it tighten up around there and get a reading.”

While Jodi Carrigan was trying to train Ozzie Zoo Atlanta turned to a design team from Georgia Tech to invent a gorilla blood pressure sleeve.

“We had to design something that would not scare the gorillas” said Georgia Tech biomedical engineer David Sotto. “Nothing…no bright colors. Nothing that would touch them in strange ways along the arm.”

It took Jodi Carrigan five months to convince Ozzie to do it.

“We had to build that trust” Jodi Carrigan said. “And he had to trust me completely in order for a foreign object to just enclose around his arm like that.”

Now Ozzie puts his arm in the specially designed sleeve and keeps it there, while veterinarian Michelle Moses feeds him pudding.

“So he knows” described Jodi Carrigan, “…okay…I’m holding still. This is what they want from me. And I’m getting rewarded for it.”

Zoo Atlanta is the first and only zoo in the world to do awake gorilla blood pressures.

“It’s been an incredible process” said Dr. Murphy. “And something that I think will drastically alter the way we approach gorilla health in captivity.”

Zoo Atlanta believes that the information collected from this research will not only benefit gorillas in captivity but might also have a connection to –human–heart health.

To be honest Ozzie’s not doing this for science.
He’s doing it for the pudding.

North Carolina Aquarium Shines with Solar Power

Sara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:04:27 +0000

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. — The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is on the beam when it comes to energy conservation. A new solar panel system near the Aquarium entrance silently harnesses the power of the sun.

The residential-scale solar panels meet a small percentage of the facility’s power needs with an environmentally friendly energy source. The panels, placed at the front of the building so visitors can see them at close range, are also an educational exhibit.

“The system is a visible and functional representation of the Aquarium’s commitment to conservation and education,” said Pat McNeese, the Aquarium’s Conservation and Research Coordinator.

The Aquarium is one of the first public facilities in Carteret County to use the “green” energy source, also known as a solar photovoltaic system, according to Lisa Galizia of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC). The electric cooperative donated the panels to the Aquarium after the passage of the state’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard last year.

“The standard requires electric utilities to meet a percentage of their energy needs through renewable energy and energy efficiency resources,” Galizia said. “As we work to meet the state standard, we also want to educate our members about these renewable options.”

Links from the Aquarium’s website and the CCEC website show the amount of solar energy being collected each day. The monitor also provides cumulative totals, and a scorecard of reduced emissions.

CCEC provides power to its members in Carteret, Craven, Jones and Onslow counties, including the Aquarium.

The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is $8 for ages 18-61; $7 for ages 62 and up; $6 for ages 6-17; no charge for children 5 and under and North Carolina Aquarium Society members. The Aquarium is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Atlantic Beach, NC 28512. See www.ncaquariums.com or call 252-247-4003 for Family Night dates, program details or more information.

Orphaned baby sloths get an assist from Costa Rica sanctuary

Sara — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:05:53 +0000

– Lindsay Barnett – LA Times

Talk about specialized — the Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica rescues and rehabilitates sloths, sloths and only sloths. Back in 1992 neighbors of the sanctuary’s bird-enthusiast founders brought an orphaned baby three-toed sloth to their doorstep. With little information available about caring for sloths, the fine folks of Aviarios made things up as they went along, successfully hand-raising the baby they named Buttercup.

After that, the sloths just kept on coming. So far, Aviarios has hand-raised more than 100 baby sloths and helped many more adult sloths recover from illness and injury at its wonderfully named Slothpital facility. (Since sloths are slow-moving — so slow-moving that algae even grows on their fur — it’s not uncommon for them to be injured by cars.) Sloth orphans like the astoundingly cute creatures above get great care at the Slothpital and, thanks to Aviarios, they have great lives to look forward to.

Aviarios offers tours to the public — and sloth fans can even “adopt” an animal, with their financial contributions funding further care and conservation efforts for Costa Rica’s sloths.

Video: BernieKnightRider via YouTube

Southwick Zoo tiger has ovaries removed

Sara — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:24:08 +0000

By Associated Press

NORTH GRAFTON — Massachusetts veterinarians have used laproscopic surgery to remove ovaries of an endangered Bengal tiger, marking one of the first instances an animal has been spayed using the minimally invasive procedure in New England.

Spokesman Tom Keppeler said on Wednesday that the 180-pound tiger named “Kya” is recovering well after surgery at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s Foster Hospital for Small Animals.

The 2-year-old tiger was spayed during a 90-minute procedure because its owner, Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon, does not plan to breed it.

The Cummings School recently began performing the minimally invasive procedure in an effort to reduce pain, damage to neighboring tissues and reduce complications. Vets remove only the animal’s ovaries, not the uterus as it happens in open surgery.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Akron Zoo To Add More Attractions

Sara — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:21:57 +0000

AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Zoo plans to add almost 50 percent more space for attractions, including a new carousel and an exhibit spotlighting climbing animals.

Spokesman David Barnhardt said the zoo will use 16 acres of land that it has been leasing from the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority since 2000. The zoo has informed its neighbors that it will fence off the property and expand on it.

Barnhardt said the $500,000 carousel will come first in the new part of the zoo. It will feature 33 wooden, hand-carved animals and a chariot, and is scheduled to open in August.

Officials said an exhibit of monkeys and other climbers called Animals in the Treetops is likely to follow in 2012 or 2013.

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