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Phoenix Zoo With the Public's Assistance Names its Babies
The two male zebras were born within one week of each other on June 16 and June 23, 2008. The father to both boys has never successfully bred before coming to the Phoenix Zoo. The public was asked to cast their vote for one of four names that were chosen by the zookeeper staff that care for the zebras. Bakari, which means ‘promising, hopeful and noble’ and Nabongo which means the ‘name of a king passed down from father to son’ were the clear winners in both lists of selections. “We love these choices and the names are very befitting of both of these beautiful and special animals,” said Phoenix Zoo CEO Bert Castro. “We look forward to watching them grow with the rest of our Zoo guests.” The babies spent a few weeks off exhibit with their two moms before making their debut to ensure they were strong and healthy. Both are doing very well and weighed just over 100 pounds at birth. The mother of the first foal born is “Afiya” and she has been at the Zoo since 1997. She has had a total of four babies at the Phoenix Zoo. The mother of the second foal is “Masika” and she has been the mom of three babies since she arrived at the Zoo in 1998. Dad, “Punda,” just arrived at the Zoo last March and has never sired a foal in his sixteen years before coming to Phoenix. Keepers don’t know for certain why he was not able to breed before now, but are most pleased that Phoenix Zoo seems to have suited him! The Grevy’s zebra is an endangered species, and are bred based on recommendations from a Species Survival Plan for captive animal populations. Breeding recommendations are made by a committee of specialists to produce genetically diverse populations of endangered species. The Grevy’s zebra is the largest of the zebra species and it is native to southern Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya in Africa. The species is critically endangered due to hunting for their beautiful pelts and competition with domestic livestock. Each zebra does have its own unique set of stripes—like fingerprints. In groups, the black and white stripes can confuse predators as the animals blend together. Eventually, the baby zebras will grow into adults that weigh around 800 pounds. They can live up to 20 years in the wild and longer in captivity. It’s estimated that only 2,000 wild Grevy’s zebra remain in Africa. |
The public voted over the past month and the results are now in: the names for the Phoenix Zoo’s two new Grevy’s zebra foals are “Nabongo” and “Bakari.” Nearly 4,000 people cast their votes since the zebras made their public debut earlier this month.
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Irresponsible Board of Management
Maybe , just maybe The Toronto Zoo Board Is In The Middle Of A Financial Crisis And There Is No Place To Go But To City Council like a wayward son go to Mom and Dad for more money...
Although it was made clear by Shelley Carroll (the City's Budget Chief) that the Toronto Zoo has to behave more financially responsible, perhaps the problem is that there is no place else to go. The $250 Million fund-raising plans are a pipe dream (especially after firing the Zoo Foundation), it is not possible to raise admission prices any longer (or face a significant drop in attendance) and the "junkets" (especially to China for the Giant Pandas) by members of the Zoo Board can not be cut significantly for any reason. In other words, there is no place to go but City Council. What a crock! The Toronto Zoo Board needs a reality check, as it has become clear that they do not understand the problems they are facing. Perhaps the thousands of free Zoo passes given to Councillors on the Zoo Board could be cut to zero, perhaps the Zoo Foundation could be re-instated, and perhaps a citizen's advisory committee could be formed to provide much-needed guidance to the existing members of the Board.
This is Proof positive
that citizens should have more direct say in the budget process. Line item veto by a citizen's budget committee might get the desired cuts we must attain. The citizens of Toronto should stand with one voice that we just won't allow a property tax increase this year.
By Latinoboy in TORONTO
Ethyl Mercaptan
I would be quite interested in any reference you might have to the presence of ethyl mercaptan in carrion. Most literature indicates that dimethyl sulfide and methyl mercaptan are the sulfur containing entities involved. I had also thought that vultures, like many carrion eating and inhabiting species (flies, etc) were attracted to the rather bad smell of the nitrogenous materials (cadaverine, putresceine, etc) produced during decomposition.
Ant farms
Very nice ant exhibit! I wrote a small ant farm post with a reference to your article.
Train Business Directory Available for Visitors
A "Train Business Directory" shows over 850 locations near all of the Portland MAX light rail at PortlandLightRail.net.
Happy Birthday, Boomer!
You are a great ambassador for your cousins in the wild, Boomer!
Orangutans are critically endangered because of rapid deforestation and the expansion of palm oil plantations.
If nothing is done to protect orangutans, they could be extinct in just a few years!
Your fans can visit the Orangutan Outreach website to make a difference!
Orangutan Outreach
http://redapes.org
Reach out and save the orangutans!
Facebook Cause: http://causes.com/redapes
Venemous snakes?
What is it with people that want to exterminate venemous snakes? If they weren't an integral part of the food chain and ecosystem, they wouldn't be here! Evolution and natural selection has chosen them as survivors! The fact that they are "harmful" to humans is only a result of humans encroaching on their territories and habitats. Be mindful of your surroundings and situation and you can safely live with the so called "harmful" species that we share this planet with!
Local wildlife day
Good luck with the event. We have some fabulous wildlife in Devon that's really worth celebrating. We recently had a botanical survey of our small Devon nature reserve, which recorded more than 180 species in about 3.5 acres. And even more amazing was the depth of local knowledge the visiting naturalists had to share - on everything from obscure moths to lichens.
Local wildlife day
Good luck with the event. We have some fabulous wildlife in Devon that's really worth celebrating. We recently had a botanical survey of our small Devon nature reserve, which recorded more than 180 species in about 3.5 acres. And even more amazing was the depth of local knowledge the visiting naturalists had to share - on everything from obscure moths to lichens.
Sadly, a lack of common sense is the trend
What is sad to me is the lack of common sense regarding venomous snakes that seems to becoming more commonplace.
It has become trendy for government agencies to defend venomous snakes, saying they kill rodents, etc., but non-venomous snakes also kill rodents. I have not heard one logical argument as to what a venomous snake contributes to an ecosystem that a non-venomous snake doesn't.
Any non-biased biologist can affirm species extinction has always happened naturally. It's common sense to kill a venomous snake, rather than let it continue breeding and increase the potential for harm.
The unfortunate consequence of naturalists defending venomous snakes is they make them appear so necessary and harmless that both people and agencies--hospitals, for example--do not expect or prepare for snake encounters.
It's doubtful that many hospitals near the snakes stock the expensive antivenin. Governments should help fund snakebite treatment rather than fund snake protection.
Skype Usage
Very cool and novel way to use Skype. Glad to see that people are thinking outside the box with its collaborative application. If it's not too late, you may want to submit this to Skype as a good use of their software for the Skype in business contest they're running.
Shawn
OnState Communications
Word Oceans Day - June 8
And don't forget to "Wear Blue and Tell Two"
Another great way to celebrate World Oceans Day is to wear blue in honor of the ocean and tell people two things they likely don't know about the ocean and two ways they can take action. For more Information check out this website:
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