Make It Three On Valentine?s Day. Orlando, FL

As the annual scramble for memorable and meaningful Valentine?s Day gifts gets hot and heavy, couples will fall in love with three new Valentine?s packages at the tropical hideaway of Discovery Cove®. From chocolate and roses, to champagne and private cabanas, the exclusive, reservations-only retreat has covered all the bases for an unforgettable Valentine?s Day for two. The centerpiece of the park, and the highlight of this experience, is the dolphin interaction. Here, guests learn about, play with and ride alongside a beautiful bottlenose dolphin.

MORE...

Monterey Bay Aquarium's Family-friendly "Splash Zone" Exhibit Opens March 17.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey, CA - Journey through an enchanting underwater forest, stroll beneath a sunlit kelp canopy, delight in the wonders of pot-bellied seahorses and pharaoh cuttlefish, pop up next to penguins and find out why Monterey Bay Aquarium is ranked the nation?s #1 family aquarium. On March 17, the colorful, hands-on Splash Zone galleries reopen. The new and larger edition of the award-winning exhibit ? like a children?s museum inside an aquarium ? explores three ocean habitats: the Enchanted Kelp Forest, the Coral Reef Kingdom, and the Rugged Rocky Shore.

MORE...

Public Shark Dives Available in UK Aquarium.

Lancaster, UK - A limited number of places are now available for people in Lancashire to come face to face with creatures of the deep, as the regional office of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign charity has arranged aquarium based Discover Scuba diving sessions.

The dives, without the use of a Shark cage, take place at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, and have been voted by Sky Travel as one of the top ten places in the world to dive with sharks.

MORE...

Tennessee Aquarium Goes to the Frogs (and Other Amphibians).

Chattanooga, TN - In Biblical times, there were enough of them around to make a memorable plague. Now researchers say that one-third to one-half of the 6,000 amphibian species on Earth - frogs and toads, salamanders and newts, and caecilians - are in danger of extinction. For this reason, conservationists worldwide have designated 2008 as "The Year of the Frog." And why the Tennessee Aquarium is doing everything it can to turn people into "frog fans" and help them develop a love affair with amphibians. Experts aren't sure why the amphibians are disappearing. They know the animals are victims of habitat loss, climate change, water quality issues, and over-collection for food and pets. They also are aware of a fungus that is deadly to hundreds of amphibian species.

MORE...

Shocking Aquarium Display in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA - Aquarium of the Bay today welcomed its newest addition, a Pacific Electric Ray, torpedo californica. The Pacific Electric Ray is the only one of its species at Aquarium of the Bay and joins the aquarium?s 20,000 aquatic animals. Pacific Electric Rays have two kidney-shaped electrical organs that lie within their wings. The ray wraps its wings around its prey and stuns it with an electrical charge that reaches up to 50 volts.

MORE...

Central Florida Zoo Teaches the Public How to Live With Venomous Snakes and Alligators.

Central Florida Zoo

Lake Monroe, FL - The Snake Awareness Class will help individuals properly identify venomous and non-venomous snakes. Separate fact from fiction, and learn what to do (and what not to do) during an encounter. The Alligator Awareness Class offers an informative and educational presentation on alligator safety and awareness for you and your family.

MORE...

15 Year Old Gives Birth to 75 Pound Daughter.

Royal Oak, MI - The approximately 75-pound foal is the daughter of 15-year-old Elvira and 6-year-old ZZ. The foal is off public view in an indoor enclosure at the zebra habitat most days due to cold weather, but can be seen outdoors near her mother on milder days. The community is invited to submit name suggestions for the zebra foal by visiting www.detroitzoo.org by February 8 and clicking on the banner at the bottom of the home page. Five of the name suggestions will be selected by Zoo staff and posted on the Zoo?s Web site for a public vote. The winning name will be announced in late February.

MORE...

Jacksonville Zoo Starts Phone Tours Thanks to AXA

Jacksonville Zoo

Jacksonville, FL - Visitors will be able to use their cell phones to key in codes displayed on signage at the various animal and plant exhibits in the Zoo to get answers to questions like ?why do siamangs sing"? The calls are free, thanks to the AXA Advisors sponsorship; however, the caller?s minutes will be used. Each call is around 60 seconds long.

MORE...

I'll Trade You 7 Crocodiles for 2 Elephants and a Giraffe.

Manila, PHILLIPPINES - An animal exchange with other zoos is being proposed by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim so the city can handle its growing crocodile population at the Manila Zoo and diversify its animal collection.

Lim said on Tuesday that he was willing to exchange 20 of the Manila Zoo?s more than 40 crocodiles for animals like elephants, zebras and giraffes.

MORE...

Eight Endangered Monkeys, and a Boa Constrictor Stolen from Castellar Zoo

Spain - Eight Cotton-head Tamarin monkeys, an endangered species, and a 2-metre boa constrictor were stolen from Castellar Zoo over the past weekend. According to Alberto Oliva, the zoo?s biologist and director, a well-prepared group of three or four people came over the fence on Friday night or early Saturday morning.

MORE...

One Billion Dollar Desert Zoo Complex Being Built

United Arab Emirates - The Al Ain Zoo in the UAE is being transformed into a $1billion leisure and wildlife destination, reported Khaleej Times. The Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort will be an integrated entertainment, hospitality, retail, and residential development. Residing at the foothills of Jebel Hafeet, the project will cover 900 hectares, of which more than a third will be dedicated to wildlife desert safaris. The first phase of the development is due for completion by the end of 2010.

MORE...

Endangered Birds Stolen from Nicaraguan Zoo.

Managua, NICARAGUA - Five armed men broke into a zoo in Managua, Nicaragua, Friday and stole 15 endangered birds and a raccoon. Police are investigating the robbery of the raccoon, five bi-colored toucans, nine parrots and a macaw kept in the zoo's rescue center. The toucans had been prepared for mating. The birds can gross up to $1,000 each in the underground market.

MORE...

Cyst Removed From Baby Gorilla By Medical Surgeons.

Seattle, WA - A surgical team of two neurosurgeons and a neonatologist from Seattle?s Children?s Hospital and Regional Medical Center of Seattle joined Woodland Park Zoo?s Animal Health staff yesterday to perform surgery on a two-and-a-half-month-old, female western lowland gorilla. The specialized medical team was mobilized to remove a growth overlying the spine of the 9-pound gorilla.

MORE...

Tiny New Arrival for Bristol Zoo Gardens

Clifton, Bristol, UK - He might look a little unusual, but this little creature is the latest success for the breeding programme at Bristol Zoo Gardens (UK). Called an aye aye, the little critter still fits in the palm of his keeper?s hand, but will eventually grow to be the largest nocturnal primate in the world as well as one of the strangest looking.

Aye ayes are quite slow developing babies and require an intensive feeding regime. Currently we feed him every two hours, round the clock, but we begin to reduce the night feeds as he grows. Once thought to be extinct in its native home of Madagascar, the aye aye is classified as endangered under the IUCN Red List. These highly distinctive creatures, once thought to be a rodent, are recognised by their slightly unkempt appearance - staring yellowish eyes, huge triangular ears, large, squirrel-like front teeth and a long slender middle finger which it uses to winkle out wood-boring larvae hidden in trees.

MORE...

Lonely Animals Seek Wintertime Companionship and Possible Long Term Relationship.

Syracuse, NY - The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open all round, and winter is a fantastic time to come see a whole new side of the animals. All of the outside exhibits at the zoo feature animals that were chosen for their ability to adapt to the region?s climate. In fact, many animals along the Wildlife Trail are very comfortable and more active when it?s cold. For those who prefer warmer temperatures, 40 percent of the exhibits are indoors, making the zoo a great destination even on the coldest and snowiest days. Bundle up and visit the zoo! The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

MORE...

Zoo Bear (Deceased) to be Honored for WWII Combat Service ? Was Enlisted and Served on Front Lines.

London, UK - Scottish campaigners are calling for a memorial to a bear which joined Polish troops on the front line during World War II and died in Edinburgh, media reported Saturday. Voytek, a 113-kilogram, 1.8-metre (249-pound, nearly six feet) brown bear, was adopted by the Poles after they found it in Iran in 1943. They gave the animal beer and cigarettes, trained it to carry mortar shells and even enlisted it as a soldier so that it could keep traveling with them.

MORE...

Brews Around the Zoo
April 12, 2008, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$25.00 members, $10.00 Designated Driver Ticket (21 and older please).

Lake Monroe, FL ? Ed. note: Plenty of wine tastings, but a zoo beer tour outside Busch gardens is noteworthy.

Stroll through the Zoo and sample a wide variety of unique beers from around the world. Enjoy regional cuisine, authentic international music, and encounter many animals from around the globe. Stops on this world tour include Asia, Australia, the Caribbean Islands and many more.

MORE...

Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Forms Online Travel Unit With Hotels.Com

Lorain, OH ? Zoo and Aquarium Visitor will now arrange any component of your travel requirements to any zoo, aquarium, or animal attraction worldwide. Utilizing Hotels.Com and Expedia's extensive database of travel connections, we are able to secure the lowest rates for airlines, cruises, hotels, car rentals, or complete vacation packages worldwide.

MORE...

Visitor Suggestions

Lorain, OH ? Some eNewsletter readers have sent me visitor suggestions. We have a very diverse base of readers that not only includes zoo visitors, but we also have zookeepers, trustees and zoo administrators from around the world. This provides an opportunity for the best suggestions to be read and discussed to see if it makes sense for each individual facility. All of the suggestions were quite good, but in my opinion here are two of the best that make sense and could spur some entrepreneur opportunities:

Suggestion #1
Standing mats in front of the exhibits. Many people are overweight, and the constant walking and standing on concrete during a zoo or aquarium visit quickly tires the legs of the average visitor. For many older patrons who have arthritis, even a two hour tour can make their hips, knees, and ankles sore. In one of Peter Dickenson's (author of Zoo News Digest) recent travel journals he mentions that even though he has lost weight, being on all of London's hard surfaces quickly tires his legs.

Pros of this suggestion
Most zoos and aquariums want to increase the frequency and length of visits. Increased visiting comfort may be much less expensive than adding new exhibits and features.

Cons of this suggestion
Purchase price and increased maintenance. The only thing cheaper to install and maintain than concrete is dirt.

Suggestion #2
Coin donation receptacles placed at each exhibit. Most visitors have a favorite specie at each zoo and aquarium. A contribution would be an opportunity for children and adults to provide a special treat for their favorite specie.

Pros of this suggestion
Psychologically guests would feel like they are helping their favorite animal and developing a bond with the exhibited species. If the coin receptacles are cleverly designed, and become popular, concession stands and gift stores could sell rolls of quarters. This could easily be tested at a low cost during the first year, and if successful expanded to include the entire facility.

Cons of this suggestion
Initial cost and increased maintenance. Smaller facilities with low visitor traffic would receive relatively low donations.

Suggestion #3
Good luck coin pond or fountain. Similar to suggestion #2 but would be more general in purpose of the proceeds.

Pros of this suggestion
Possibly a local landscaper would donate the necessary materials and labor in return for a small advertising sign announcing the donation. Different tiers of a small waterfall would present various targets.

Cons of the suggestion
Location would be important to prevent children from entering the pond to retrieve the coins. The pond/fountain would increase maintenance for the facility.

Do you have a suggestion? If so, send it to: rudy@zandavisitor.com.

Fun Stuff

Valentine's Day Poem and Invitation
By Patricia Janeway ? Detroit Zoo

Roses are red, violets are blue;
For Valentine?s Day, ?adopt? from the Zoo.
A ferocious lion or hairy gorilla,
A gift for your love that is sure to thrill ?er.

Adoption papers personalized for you,
A cuddly plush of the animal, too,
A photo, fact sheet, and chocolates in a box.
For just forty dollars, this gift really rocks!

?Adopting? an animal from the Detroit Zoo
Helps to support all the animals, too.
For veterinary care and habitat renovation,
Adopt-an-Animal makes a great Zoo donation.

To complete an adoption, hurry, don?t wait.
Visit Membership Services at the front gate
Monday through Friday from eight until four,
Or click on www.detroitzoo.org.

Wildlife Anniversary Celebrations

Printable pdf version of this chart is available at: AnimSymb.pdf

Make Your Own Aquarium Diorama

Materials Needed

• Shoe box
• Saran wrap
• Thread
• Colored markers
• Heavy paper
• Scissors
• Paste
• Aquarium brochures

Instructions:

• Draw various sized fish on heavy paper, color, and cut-out.
• Cut the aquarium brochures and decorate the outside of the show box. Color the inside blue. Place the box on its side.
• Draw reeds and grass, shells and stones in green and purple shades on heavy paper and paste them inside the shoe box.
• Put sand on the bottom of the box.
• Pierce holes on the upper surface of the box. to suspend the fish.
• Use different length threads to suspend the fish from top of the box, tying them through the holes.
• Place Saran Wrap over the front of the box to serve as the aquarium glass.
• Display your aquarium to your friends and family.
• Charge everyone a nickel to visit your aquarium.

Zoo Jokes

Q: How do you get a zebra into the fridge?

1. Open door.
2. Insert zebra.
3. Close door.

Q: How do you get a gorilla into the fridge?

1. Open door.
2. Remove zebra.
3. Insert gorilla.
4. Close door.

Q. What time is it when ten elephants are chasing you?

Magazine vs. eNews Content

• Upcoming exhibits
• Upcoming fund raisers
• New openings and major renovations
• Animal profile - one featured animal
• Feathered profile - favorite bird at a park
• Aquatic profile - dolphin, shark, whale profile
• Meet the keeper - profile of an animal caretaker
• Meet the director - profile of a zoo or aquarium director
• Veterinarian's column
• Favorite zoo and aquarium photos - sent in by readers
• Ask a zoo - answers to readers' questions
• Ask an aquarium - answers to readers' questions

Each U.S. zoo and aquarium has been assigned a subscription code. Use of the subscription code entitles all employees, season ticket holders, and donors to a free one year magazine subscription.

Please Recycle

Do not print, discard and throw our email in your trash bin. Instead, please forward this email to all of your friends so they may obtain their own subscription at: enewssubscription


Zoo and Aquarium Visitor magazine
P.O. Box 410
Lorain, Ohio 44052

To Unsubscribe send reply to: unsubscribe@ZandAVisitor.com