Stay Calm & Secure the Snake

During a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sonora Desert exhibit at the NC Zoo today with other Zoo staff, learned that if a "venomous-trained" keeper is ever bitten, then it is that keeper's responsibility to secure the snake BEFORE pushing the red button that brings other keepers rushing to her or his aid!

Of course, the keepers are also advised to remain calm, as then the venom will stay more localized.

Little Kidnappers

Don't really know if it was a kid...or if it was a billy or a nanny...but I do know that it was a goat that was "napped", late Saturday night by "two pajama-clad stepsisters", aged 6 and 7, from a Minnesota zoo.

See what they told the Mankato, MN police officer who stopped them on their almost-midnight, pajama stroll, with goat.

Brew at the Zoo &...

...wine too!

Louisville Zoo goes the L.A. Zoo one better.

Olympia's New at NC Zoo

Olympia-3(LR), a photo by russ williams iii on Flickr.

"ASHEBORO, NC--Olympia, a 16-year-old gorilla newly arrived at the North Carolina Zoo, examines her surroundings on her first day on exhibit. She arrived from Zoo Atlanta and is undergoing routine introductions with the zoo's three other gorillas." (Tom Gillespie, NC Zoo cutline and photo)

Rescued Detroit Lions with a View

Actually the Detroit Zoo lions have much improved views after being rescued from a crack house, junk yard, etc.

Hurricane Discount

From east of I-95? "Buy one, get one free" @ NC Zoo. (Details)

New Peek-a-Booer

Mertens-Water-Monitor-Hatchling, a photo by russ williams iii on Flickr.

Merten's water monitor hatches at Bronx Zoo. Photo by Julie Larsen-Maher, World Conservation Society.

R.I.P. Hondo

Counting the days until Spring, a photo by lake life1 on Flickr.

NC Zoo chimpanzee Hondo died Thursday afternoon .

Last saw the 36 year-old August 5. He gave me some head-bobbing threats, probably because he recalls my visiting through the years with veterinarians and general curators who might have been involved in some of Hondo's less pleasant life events. He once threw a rock through the "chicken wire" front of the old chimp exhibit here, aiming at then General Curator Ron Morris, to my right.

I might not have been his favorite person by association, but I will miss Hondo much.

Giraffe Calf Calvin

Born July 9, Riverbanks Zoo (with photo). Another giraffe calf (Lennerd) was born there July 27.

Paying Attention

"...many wild animals are paying close attention to nature while humans are doing whatever it is that humans do."

National Zoo animals may have been paying good attention to nature when they showed signs of alarm prior to the recent earthquake.

"In the most famous case of modern times, snakes and frogs emerged from their holes in 1975 in the dead of winter several weeks before a magnitude-7.3 earthquake in Haicheng, China (the odd animal behavior helped persuade officials to evacuate the city just before the tremor)."

"...the simplest explanation for what happened at the zoo on Tuesday involves what scientists call the P wave.

An earthquake generates two types of seismic waves. The first is the relatively weak, fast-moving P wave, or primary wave. Then comes the more powerful S wave, or secondary wave, which lumbers along at a leisurely pace and heaves the ground up and down."

Dr. Mike Aids Hippo Again

As he has for two decades, NC Zoo chief veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis recently traveled to Puerto Rico to help his old friend Tomy the hippo.

The most popular exhibit at the Parque de las Sciencias museum in Bayamon, Tomy has a malocclusion which causes his lower teeth to overgrow and interfere with his eating and quality of life.

Dr. Mike has periodically provided the proper level of anesthesia to partially anesthetize Tomy, so he will literally sit still while his teeth are cut with a reciprocating saw with metal blade.

BBC: "Brits Bring Bridges to Borneo"

Chester Zoo will work with Borneo and the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project to construct "orangutan bridges".

"...studies have shown the local orangutan populations have been fragmented and isolated from each other by vast tracts of palm oil plantations, roads, villages, and rivers."

"Unlike many other primate species, orangutans cannot swim, so rivers become impassable barriers."

Terry and Nori

Terry and Nori, a photo by The Zoo Dude on Flickr.

The Zoo Dude's 7/15, NC Zoo photo. Nori is the one year-old rider.

'Nother Dinosaur Bowl

HogleZoo_bowl_1, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

Hogle Zoo ad.

The Dinosaurs Are Here

HogleZoo_bowl_2, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

at Utah's Hogle Zoo.

Cute Little Devils!

Photo series of Tasmanian devil joeys born at Australia Zoo.

Flood's Impact on Wildlife

Ann and I were in South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska very recently.

The Missouri River flood waters of May and June remain in many areas. The impact on the economy and farming, especially, has been major.

But the impact of the slowly rising waters on the larger animals has been minimal. Saw none of this.

Big trees and much vegetation, however, are suffering. The longer the waters remain, the more trees that will succumb.

Watched during one of the many dramatic releases of water at Gavins Point Dam from huge, flooded Lake Yankton, Yankton, N.D. Many come out to drink in the angry energy of water looking for release.

1 Smart Young Elephant!

(giant) atlas moth

(giant) atlas moth, a photo by belgianchocolate on Flickr.

Another awesome photo by belgianchocolate. (Click on the photo to see it as he cropped it; don't know why Blogger does that!)

Siameng Sound

Go to the link for ucumari's Miami MetroZoo siameng photos, but make sure you link on to the video, especially for the sound of siameng calls.

"I'm going where?"

"I'm going where?" HWW!, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

"Willy is about to embark on an extended vacation. While his exhibit is being remodeled he will spend some time in Milwaukee.
Obviously I will miss him VERY much and will have to take a road trip." NC Zoo photo, title and text by ucumari.

Giant Elands (Taurotragus derbianus)

Giant Elands (Taurotragus derbianus), a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

Nice fit. Miami MetroZoo photo by ucumari.

26th Anniversary

I started with the NC Zoo Society August 12, 1985.

10th Anniversary

"In August, 2001, the North Carolina Zoo expanded its role in protecting native wildlife by opening the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center—a small veterinary hospital that would deliver free veterinary and rehabilitative care to sick or orphaned native animals." [Toy Jarrett, Volunteer Views]

Scientific American Mention

Scientific American recognizes the NC Zoo as a lead partner in developing a conservation plan for the world's rarest chimpanzee subspecies.

This plan will "also safeguard other primate species that live in the same habitat, including the critically endangered Cross River gorilla" studied by NC Zoo Curator of Conservation and Research, Richard A. Bergl, Ph.D.

[Hat tip: Guy Lichty]

Brew@Zoo (also)

Brew@ZooII, a photo by russ williams iii on Flickr.

Aug. 12. First annual. (Stone I.P.A.?)

Brew@Zoo

Brew@Zoo, a photo by russ williams iii on Flickr.

LA Zoo plans beverage event.

How'd I Miss This?!

Three maned wolf pups were born at the Natural Science Center and Animal Discovery of Greensboro Feb. 6.

Here is a blog that has followed the parents since December 3 and the pups since "day one".

Check out the March 15 video. Cute!

Happy...Happy Birthday, Nori!

The NC Zoo female chimpanzee turned one August 2.

"I Spue CO2"

Drove behind a Chevy Silverado on Zoo Parkway this morning. The license bragged "ISPUECO2".

The driver was on his cell phone for the whole ride and his poor dog was taking its chances in the open bed of the pick-up. (I watched in horror, a year or two ago in Greensboro, as a German shepherd was thrown out onto the pavement as it had been riding in the bed of a pick-up making a routine left turn; I thought at first it had died, as it lay stunned in the intersection.)

Zoo Makeover

The Oregon Zoo (Portland) is starting a $125 million construction project.

"The modernization projects are being paid for through a voter-approved bond that passed with 70 percent of the vote during the middle of the 2008 economic downturn."

Cameroon-Chad Accord

Cameroon and Chad have joined to fight poachers, who kill hundreds of African elephants annually, in a park they share (called Bouba Ndjidda in Cameroon and Sena Oura in Chad).

NC Zoo/Elephants of Cameroon efforts have aided elephants and people in and near the park.

'Nother Box Turtle

On the second mile of the 5-mile, Zoo Parkway leg of my morning commute when the car in front of me (turns out that was NC Zoo Curator of Birds Debbie Zombeck) stopped. When she pulled ahead I saw a box turtle completing a stroll across the Parkway.

Watch Out for Wildlife (W.O.W.)!

W.O.W. '11

Watch Out for Wildlife: box turtles were on the move this morning. Spotted two on the trails of Southwest Park, Greensboro.

Humane Society CEO...

...to speak at Detroit Zoo.

"Wayne Pacelle wrote “The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them”"

"Pacelle also is participating in the Detroit Zoological Society’s Center for Zoo Animal Welfare international symposium Saturday and Sunday. More than 100 animal welfare professionals are expected to attend “From Good Care to Great Welfare — Advancing Zoo Animal Welfare Science and Policy.”"

Zoo Forecast: Snow Sat.

"Zoo Cool" at the NC Zoo on Saturday will feature snow machines at the North America bridge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Learn how these animals beat the heat and see them get cold treats:

Polar bears, 11 a.m.
Peregrine falcon, 11:30 a.m.
Cougars, Sea birds and Gorillas, 1:30 p.m.
Chimpanzees and Baboons, 2 p.m.

Baby Elelphant Video

The Indianapolis Zoo's new baby African elephant was on exhibit for just two hours today - her debut.

Great Concepts: Treetop Trail

Philadelphia Zoo animals will time-share treetop exhibits.

“We think the opportunity to travel long distances and move high in the trees will be incredibly rewarding for arboreal animals like monkeys and lemurs".

“The environment changes day-to-day for each primate group, as the different species time-share different parts of the system. The animals using the system will be exposed to a wide variety of new and changing visual stimuli, including local wildlife like bugs and birds, other zoo animals, and the activities of our staff and guests".

"Monkeys and lemurs exit their indoor exhibits at the back of the Rare Animal Conservation Center and travel, crossing over the visitor path on each side of the plaza."

And, perhaps best of all, "the total cost for the project was $1.5 million, which included design, construction, modifications to accommodate the trail system and other costs."

Zoo architect Jon Coe also worked on Project: North America at the NC Zoo.

"Escaped" Peacock Walks Back...

...into Central Park Zoo.

Speaking of Pea Fowl

Brookfield Zoo peahens have hatched and are now raising Zoo Guineafowl chicks.

"Their roles have been simple: help the chicks avoid common zoo quandaries such as pedestrians, Motor Safari trams and predators like the occasional overhead hawk. This is important, as both species have free range of the zoo grounds 24/7."

"Guineafowl chicks naturally scatter and hide when frightened or threatened, while peachicks run toward their mother."

Peacock "Escapes"...

...NYC's Central Park Zoo.

As with the recent Bronx Zoo escapes of a peahen and the more famous cobra, there are Twitter accounts. Both for the Central Park peacock have very many Tweets.

Zoo officials hope he flies back home from his window ledge soon.

Pocket Zoo HD (TM)

For iPad.

You might think that as a zoo guy I might hate the idea of this iPad app. But I think it will just help folks want to come here to see the real deal.

Grizzly Bear Cam

Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle) offers grizzly bear brothers 24/7.

Keema and Denali "actively “fish” for the trout, occasionally teaming up to corral and capture the trout."

Keepers "lace the exhibit with novel scents such as elk dung and spices to stimulate their olfactory sense," the Zoo reports. (They are even "stimulated" with Seattle coffee grounds, I've read!)

Thanks Wellington Zoo...

...for investing tens of thousands of dollars in getting Happy Feet, the emperor penguin, ready and returned (from New Zealand to Antarctica).