Major Upgrade - Log Cabin Replaced A Triple Wide Trailer

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens announces their receipt of a gift from IKEA to furnish the new Education Station Log Cabin.   Donors and guests can get a glimpse of the new Education Station on Wednesday July 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. during a Dedication Ceremony with Leadership Seminole.

“IKEA Orlando and the Central Florida Zoo share a common priority for working with children and the environment,” says Gabriella Eitingon, Public Relations Manager for IKEA.  “We know that our donation will help the Zoo expand its great work educating local children and families about our natural world,  We are proud to support this important community based educational resource,” Eitingon went on to say.

The concept for the Education Station was brought to the Zoo by Class 14 of Leadership Seminole.  The log cabin replaces a triple wide trailer that the education staff at the Zoo has been using for approximately 15 years.  The trailer was in a critical state of disrepair and Leadership Seminole worked with Casual Country Log Homes and McKee Construction, as well as donors throughout the Seminole County area to build a place that would enhance the Zoo’s education programs. 

Does He Remind You Of Anyone?

Construction is under way on the new Predators of the Serengeti exhibit in the Oregon Zoo's Africa complex, but there's also activity in the zoo's Africa Savanna and Rainforest exhibits. Six new animals have arrived recently.

Averill, a 6-year-old male Allen's swamp monkey has been introduced to the two other swamp monkeys and four colobus monkeys in his Rainforest exhibit.
He's from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.

A DeBrazza's monkey, a gerenuk and three Speke's gazelles have new homes in the Savanna exhibit.

Bindi is Now 10, Robert 4, soon to be 5

SNOW hits Australia Zoo for COOLEST birthday party ever!

Crikey! Wildlife Warrior princess Bindi Irwin reached double digits today, and Australia Zoo transformed into a Winter Wonderland for a very COOL party. 

STACKS of fun and games were planned as it SNOWED at Australia Zoo especially for Bindi’s birthday, with the huge snow field in the middle of Australia Zoo providing hours of snow-man-making and tobogganing fun! How COOL is that?
 

What Is Your Favorite Flavor?

The annual Penguin Palooza, presented by Empower Federal Credit Union will be held at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Sunday, July 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission includes ice cream tastings from a variety of vendors including Byrne Dair, Carvel Ice Cream and Friendly’s, as well as a penguin-themed scavenger hunt, performances by local entertainment groups, kid friendly food, games and entry to the zoo.

 The entertainment and activities scheduled to take place throughout the evening includes performances by a number of local youth groups including the Harrington School of Irish Step Dance, Childbloom Guitar Ensemble and Trans Kazoo Orchestra. 

John Cleese Takes A Trip Down Memory Lane

Television and film star John Cleese returned to familiar territory today when he took a trip down memory lane at Bristol Zoo Gardens.
 
The Fawlty Towers star regularly visited the Zoo as a boy while he was a pupil at Clifton College next door.
 
He returned to the Zoo today ahead of his appearance on stage for three evening performances at The Clifton Pavilion Theatre with broadcaster Chris Serle, in aid of Bristol Zoo Gardens’ conservation projects.

Whilst at the Zoo, the actor, who was born in Weston-super-Mare but who now lives in Los Angeles, met Bristol Zoo Gardens’ red ruffed lemur, Colin. Colin will be appearing on stage alongside Chris Serle and the Monty Python star as lemurs are John’s favourite animals.

Guitars Are Playing As Well

Banjos and Beach Music at NC Aquarium Family Night on July 24

Cool off with North Carolina culture in a “Banjos to Beach Music” Family Night this Thursday, July 24, at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The Aquarium will celebrate the state’s cultural and natural resources with Appalachian bluegrass music, shag dancing demonstrations and lessons, decoy carving and pottery throwing presentations. Additionally, get the buzz on why honeybees are the state bug - with a live beehive display, games and crafts. Live animal programs and a “Live Dive” show will be offered, as well.

Family Night begins at 5 p.m. and goes on until 9 p.m., but ticket sales end at 8 p.m. Daytime visitors may return for Family Night activities the same evening at no charge by presenting their receipts. Family Nights are offered each Thursday night in July. Call 252-247-4003 or visit www.ncaquariums.com for more information. Photo courtesy North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Frosty Fun for All at Nashville Zoo’s “Ice Day”

Cool off and beat the summer heat at Nashville Zoo’s seventh annual Ice Day celebration on Saturday, July 26. Dive into an ice cream eating contest, slip and slide down an inflatable, and see many of the Zoo’s animals enjoying their own icy treats, like frozen grapes, turkey broth pops and chilled mealworms.

From 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., the Zoo’s Festival Field will be a flurry of frosty fun. Blue Bell Ice Cream will offer free samples as well as ice cream eating contests for all ages. Kids can splash down the inflatable water slide, participate in some soaking fun games, make their own ice treats and have their faces painted by a cool artist. The Publix Rain Room and the Cool Zone Snow Tent offer guests even more heat relief.

To see some of the Zoo’s animals devour their own brand of popsicle, pick up a keeper talk schedule at the front gate. Guests can win cool prizes, like an ice cream maker, by answering keeper talk questions correctly. Several animal ice sculptures created by Specialty Ice Carvings will also be at some of the exhibits, like African wild dog, Eurasian lynx and African crested porcupine. 

Shiny Feathers and Cool “Hair-dos”

The Starlings and Mynas (Sturnidae) is a very interesting and modern Family of Passerines with a series of adaptations that have enabled some of the species to be among the most successful bird species in the world. Rare in Passerines, most Starlings walk instead of hopping and as a rather unique feature that they share only with Corvids and some Icterids is the fact that they often use their bill to pry open any crevices by inserting their closed bill and then open the mandibles. Many Starling species are adapted to the open landscape particularly grasslands where the use this method to search in the ground for insects and earth-worms.

The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and the Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) are particularly well known for their ability to settle in the vicinity of man and their Live-stock. They benefit from the human activities and therefore have been able to spread their distribution and prosper as a species. As invasive species particularly the Common myna and the European starling are causing devastation to native bird species which have problems with the competition for food and nesting sites. The Common myna are very frequently seen around livestock in pursuit of insects and will happily nest around human settlements. 

Maybe Your Prince Is A Canadian Frog

In this Year of the Frog, the Montréal Biodôme is adding new activities to inform visitors about frogs in Quebec and Madagascar and make them aware of the issues involved.

From 30 to 50% of all amphibians on the planet are in danger, to varying degrees. At least 120 species have already totally disappeared. This is why the Montréal Biodôme has joined the movement of zoos and aquariums from around the world to inform and alert the public about the situation facing amphibians.

Learn about frogs and amphibians in Quebec this summer.

A Shark Costume That Won't Fetch Much Halloween Candy

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is looking for teenagers to join its Youth Work Experience Program. Young people have an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of marine science and share their knowledge as Aquarium interpreters. Youth volunteers spend 24 hours in training learning about marine science, marine animals, and conservation.  Successful completion of training can earn young people 3 transferable college credits from the Oregon Coast Community College and high school credit in some high schools as well. 

“Our Work Experience participants are a valuable component of our Volunteer Team here at the Aquarium,” said Chris Stanbery, Aquarium Youth Programs Coordinator. “These exciting programs offer young people the chance to gain experience in many different areas of aquarium operation including interpreting to the public, working with the animals, behind the scenes and improving communication and public speaking skills. All of our programs offer the opportunity to work, learn, and be part of a great team,” said Stanbery.

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