Iowa’s Blank Park Zoo Introduced its Newest Exhibit - 150 African Cichlids.

By Ryan Bickel

Des Moines, IA - With colors as intense as a fourth of July fireworks display, Iowa’s Blank Park Zoo introduced its newest exhibit - an aquarium with approximately 150 African cichlids. (Pronounced sik-lid)

The Zoo’s cichlids are a small fish that hail from Lake Malawi, which is the third largest freshwater lake in Africa and the ninth largest lake in the world.

“The Lake Malawi African Cichlid display represents a type of fish with incredible diversity … there are over 1500 species of cichlids and 500 are native to Lake Malawi,” said Chad Comer, Animal Curator. “These small fish have a variety of colors that range from yellow, orange, blue, white, striped and more.”

George Shipped From Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Kinshasa From Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

By Keisha N. Hines-Davis

Atlanta, GA - George and Kinshasa, two Angolan colobus monkeys, will begin cruising the treetops of their new home in Zoo Atlanta’s Ford African Rain Forest during Independence Day weekend. The recent arrivals, George from Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Kinshasa from Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, will be part of an exciting mixed-species habitat introducing Zoo guests to the diverselifestyles and behaviors of African primates. 

Angolan colobus monkeys are visually stunning animals, easily recognized bytheir black faces framed by long locks of snow-white hair. Native to forests throughout much of central Africa, the species is not currently listed as endangered.

George and Kinshasa are the newest of many incentives to visit Zoo Atlanta July 4th weekend. Other great incentives includes an offer to “Beat the Heat” a discount that allows visitors who arrive before 11 a.m. to enjoy $5 off general admission per guest. The promotion is valid on Saturdays and Sundays through July 26.

Scrumptious Grilled Food, Booyah by “The Booyah King”, Beer and Wine

By Maria Fisher

Green Bay, WI - New Found Flavor & Jerry Voelker & the Jolly Gents will perform at NEW Zoo.

Aside from incredible tunes, kids will have a ball in our special event area filled with children’s inflatables brought to you by Fun Pros! Also, we will have a Picture Booth onsite – get your free, instant photo strips of your family during the event brought to you by Picture-Booth!

Scrumptious grilled food, booyah by “The Booyah King”, beer and wine will be available under a huge tent outdoors.

Feed Yourself Then Feed an Animal

By David Barnhardt

Akron, OH - The Akron Zoo will host its second annual Pancakes with the Penguins breakfast event Saturday, July 11, 2009. The event includes breakfast, a tour and the opportunity to feed some of the zoo’s animals. The event runs 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. and includes the price of admission to the zoo following the event. 

Breakfast will be provided by Country Diner and will include pancakes, sausage, bacon, fruit and more. After breakfast visitors will enjoy a tour of the zoo to watch the zookeepers feed the animals their breakfast and visitors on the tour will get to feed the zoo’s Humboldt penguins. At the conclusion of the event attendees are free to enjoy the rest of the zoo at 10 a.m. when it opens to the public.

The Art of Science, Illustrations of the Natural World: 1750-1900

By C.P. "Buster" Nunemaker, III 

Manteo, NC - Beautiful birds, amusing animals, fanciful fishes and natural curiosities await you in “The Art of Science, Illustrations of the Natural World: 1750-1900” at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. This unique collection of antique etchings and lithographs, provided by Seaside Art Gallery, will be on display at the Aquarium July through September 2009. Featured are works by America’s foremost bird illustrator John James Audubon whose work is still a standard against which bird artists are measured. These are hand colored stone lithographs, based on his seminal work Birds of America. The show includes naturalist art by other American and European artists. The art is available for purchase directly through Seaside Art Gallery, 252-441-5418. 

The period 1750–1900 was marked by great leaps in knowledge and stunning technological advances. It encompassed the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and the climax of European imperialism. It was the age of Franklin and Priestley, Jenner and Pasteur, Linnaeus and Darwin, Watt and Edison, Tesla and the Curies.

A Little Wine, A Little Cheese, A Small Cost, and a Lot of Animals

By Margie Wilhelmi 

Wheaton, IL - Experience Cosley Zoo in a whole new way … come out for the Cosley Zoo Uncorked, a wild wine tasting event on Thursday, July 23rd at 5:30 pm. Guests will be invited to take a stroll through the zoo, after hours and taste some fine white, red, and dessert wines provided by Tasting Devine. The evening will include delicious hors d’oeuvres provided by Arrowhead Restaurant & Bar, strolling entertainment, a raffle, giveaways and lots more.
 

Blockbuster Dinosaur Exhibit, a Baby elephant, Camps, Concerts and Family-friendly Events

By Bill LaMarche

Portland, OR - A blockbuster dinosaur exhibit, a baby elephant, camps, concerts and family-friendly events helped boost the Oregon Zoo's attendance to 1,621,521 for the fiscal year ending June 30 -- the highest figure in the zoo's 122-year history. 

"The strong attendance is a testament to our community's support of the zoo," said Metro Council President David Bragdon. "The zoo not only provides a rich family experience, but also supports conservation education and our vision to create a better future for wildlife."

It’s a Fourth of July Picnic for Woodland Park Zoo’s Animals

By Rebecca Whitham 

Seattle, WA - It’s a Fourth of July picnic for Woodland Park Zoo’s animals. In celebration of Red, White & Zoo presented by Franz Family Bakeries, orangutans, grizzlies, hippos, pigs and more will nosh on star-shaped popsicles, watermelons, corn on the cob and other picnic fare. Hear zookeepers talk about how treats and a variety of activities are part of the zoo’s ongoing enrichment program to help enhance the lives of the zoo’s animals, promote natural animal behavior, keep animals mentally stimulated and provide added enjoyment for visitors.

Guanacos Are the Wild Cousins of Llamas and Alpacas

By Lorrell Walter

Syracus, NY - The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will officially open its new guanaco exhibit at 10:00 a.m. on July 2. The herd, which consists of eight males, came to Syracuse from the Bronx Zoo. Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are considered to be wild animals, unlike llamas and alpacas, their domesticated relatives. They are also in the same family as camels and vicuñas.

Guanacos are slightly smaller than llamas, but are otherwise very similar. As one of the largest wild mammals in South America, Guanacos can weigh up to 300 pounds and are about 3.5 to 4 feet tall. They are slender, long-necked animals with pale brown backs, white undersides, a gray face and large, brown eyes. 

The guanaco is wild and endangered in much of its range, although attempts are now being made to protect them. Guanacos are native to the arid, mountainous regions of South America. As both a grazer and a browser, guanacos are quite adaptable; some guanacos live in one of the driest deserts in the world (the Atacama in Chile) while others live in the wet archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, where rain falls year round.

Cincinnati Zoo’s Four Malayan Tiger Cubs, Born March 21, Are Now in Tiger Canyon

By Tiffany Barnes

Cincinnati, OH - The Cincinnati Zoo’s four Malayan tiger cubs, born March 21, are now ON DISPLAY in the Zoo’s Tiger Canyon. All four cubs, born to mom “Hutan” and dad “Jalil” have been spending time bonding with mom behind-the-scenes over the last 13-weeks and are ready to meet the public!

All four cubs still need a name! The public can enter the Zoo’s “Name the Tigers” contest and submit a name today by logging on to the Zoo’s website at www.cincinnatizoo.org. Contest ends July 17 and the winning name will be announced Friday, July 24. Winners will receive a Basic Level Family Membership to the Zoo.

This Rare Shark Will Remain at the Aquarium as Long as it is in Good Health

By Kasia Deuel 

Monterey, CA - A rarely seen prickly shark has just gone on exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The rarely seen deep-water shark was collected last night (Tuesday, June 9) in Monterey Bay – only the 2nd time that one of these animals has ever been seen alive outside the wild. The shark will remain at the aquarium as long as it is in good health. The only other prickly shark exhibited anywhere in the world was exhibited at the aquarium in July 1990 and returned to the wild seven days later.  

The prickly shark arrived a day after the aquarium put on permanent exhibit three cowcod – one of the largest of all rockfish species. They have never been exhibited anywhere in the world until now – and are protected in the wild because their numbers have been severely depleted by overfishing.

700 Terra Penguins Go On Exhibit At Living Coasts Aquarium

By Philip Knowling

Torquay, UK - A local conservation charity is paying tribute to artist Antony Gormley with a wildlife response to one of his most famous works. 

Gormley’s Field for the British Isles is on display at Torre Abbey from 27th June until 23rd August.

Now Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo, has produced Colony of Tor Bay – nearly 700 hand-painted plaster penguins, each 15 centimeters high. The installation is at the attraction’s front entrance on the quayside at Haldon Pier. Staff and volunteers have produced the miniature penguins over the last six months.

Rare Species at Dudley Zoological Gardens are Keeping Their Cool in the Heatwave

By Jill Hitchman

West Midlands, UK - Rare species at Dudley Zoological Gardens, in the West Midlands, UK are keeping their cool in the heatwave, despite soaring temperatures. 

Staff are following a daily routine of applying sun cream to the kune-kune pigs, hosing alpacas and tapirs with cold water, and providing a supply of iced fruit lollies for a family of Rothschilds giraffes plus 30 small primates in Lemur Wood.

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Name: Dr. Steve Coan 

Actual title: President and CEO

Name of your zoo or aquarium: Sea Research Foundation’s Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration

URL for your facility: www.mysticaquarium.org

Number of species at your facility: 340

Your favorite critter at the facility: Our three beluga whales

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 4,893

Number of visitors annually: 800,000

Number of employees: 220

Number of volunteers: 500

Annual budget: $22 million

Name: L. Patricia Simmons 

Actual title: President & CEO

Name of your zoo or aquarium: Akron Zoological Park

URL for your facility: www.akronzoo.org

Number of species at your facility: 180

Your favorite critter at the facility: Jaguar

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 2,522

Number of visitors annually: 2008 – 328,953

Number of employees: Peak season – 150-170.

Number of volunteers: 114

Annual budget: $9.8 million

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