Avian Photography Weekend, May 21-23, at The Wilds

By Jennifer Wilson

Cumberland, OH - The Wilds, one of the largest conservation centers in the world, is offering two unique photography events, Avian Photography Weekend and the Raptor Photo Shoot, which are perfect for birders and nature lovers alike.

The Avian Photography Weekend, held May 21-23, will take photographers 18 years of age and older on a safari in search of migrating birds. The Wilds offers ample visual moments amid spectacular scenery and has been designated as an “Important Bird Area” by the Audubon Society.

This weekend long event is $299 per person which includes lodging, meals and photo sessions facilitated by expert photographers Jerry Jividen and Barbara Jividen of Naturally Wild Photo Adventures. 

Around 500 Endangered Checkerspot Butterflies Remain at the Oregon Zoo

By Bill LaMarche

Portland, OR - For the fifth year in a row, the Oregon Zoo's butterfly conservation lab has successfully reared Taylor's checkerspot larvae, making significant progress in the effort to save this endangered Northwest butterfly.

This February, after spending seven months in diapause (hibernation), the zoo's 2,500 checkerspot larvae were moved into "wake-up chambers," where they spent the next month eating "voraciously," according to Melissa Arnold, zoo butterfly conservationist.

Egg Hunt on the Aquarium Grounds as Children Search for Plastic Eggs Filled with Treats

By C.P. “Buster” Nunemaker, III

Manteo, NC - Join the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island during our Sea Turtle Egg Hunt to learn about one of our local endangered species, the sea turtle.

Children will take part in a sea turtle program, come face to face with a loggerhead turtle, and make a craft to take home.

The program will conclude with an actual egg hunt on the Aquarium grounds as children search for plastic eggs filled with treats!

Grevy's Zebra is the Largest Species of Wild Equine in the World

By Rachel Nelson

Tampa, FL - Bearing soft brown and white stripes instead of the traditional Irish green, an endangered Grevy’s zebra foal was born on exhibit at approximately 1:45 p.m. today (St. Patrick’s Day) at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

Zoo animal care staff observed the entire labor and delivery, along with a small crowd of curious guests who lingered in an area near the exhibit for more than an hour to be on-hand for the rare opportunity to see a newborn zebra.

Marmosets Figure Out How to Retrieve its Favorite Treats From Plastic Eggs

By Sophie Bass

Bronx, NY - Just in time for spring, this pygmy marmoset at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo easily figures out how to retrieve one of its favorite treats- a tasty insect- from a plastic egg. Pygmy marmosets are found in South America and are one of the world’s smallest primates. The animal keepers at WCS’s Bronx Zoo daily provide enrichment to the animals to help keep them mentally and physically active and healthy. Visitors to the Monkey House can see enrichment activities throughout the spring.

Animal enrichment is just one of many attractions planned for spring. WCS’s Bronx Zoo will be kicking off the season with Animal Tales Extravaganza; every weekend in April, May, and June will be packed with family-oriented entertainment. And don’t miss the second annual Run for the Wild on Saturday, April 24th at WCS’s Bronx Zoo.

Workshop Examines Issues Affecting the Sustainability of Ontario's Turtle Populations

By Kathy Jury

Toronto, Canada - Ontario's turtle species are at risk. On Tuesday, March 23 and Wednesday, March 24, 2010 , a special group of Academics, NGOs, and government staff from across North America are meeting at the Toronto Zoo for a unique workshop focused on conserving Ontario’s turtle species through research and communication.

The two primary goals of the workshop are to examine the current issues affecting the sustainability of Ontario's turtle populations and to discuss how best to get the word out across Ontario about the plight of these reptiles.

Browse Among Aisles of Over 14,000 Herb Plants, Including Over a 100 Varieties of Plants

By Julie Bierach

St. Louis, MO - The 8th Annual Herb Days, presented by the St. Louis Herb Society and the Garden Gate Shop, return to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Apr. 29 through May 1. Choose from a wide selection of potted fresh herbs, including new and hard-to-find varieties. Browse among aisles of over 14,000 herb plants, including over a 100 varieties of plants including; 13 basils, eight mints, 13 lavenders, five rosemarys, 12 thymes, and 10 sages; both culinary and ornamental. Prices range from $2.75 to $4.50.

St. Louis Herb Society volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and give personalized advice and guidance on selecting, planting, growing and using herbs.

Nashville Zoo’s Animal Shows Will have Interpreters on Hand Throughout the Day

By Jim Bartoo

Nashville, TN - Nashville Zoo’s fifth annual Deaf Day at the Zoo is April 10. Presentations and programs designed specifically for the Deaf and Deaf/Blind community will be offered from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sign language specialists will partner with Zoo staff and docents to deliver educational presentations and answer guests’ questions about macaws, elephants, guenons, tigers and other Zoo animals. The Zoo’s animal shows will have interpreters on hand throughout the day, and sign language will also be offered at Lorikeet Landing, Critter Encounters, the Zoofari Market gift shop, the Zoofari Café and some tours of the Grassmere Historic Home.

Guests From the American Chestnut Foundation and Trees NC Will be at the Event

By Tom Gillespie

Asheboro, NC - In conjunction with its Arbor Day festivities, the North Carolina Zoo will plant American chestnut trees at the park Friday, March 19, at 11 a.m.

The American Chestnut Foundation donated the trees to Trees NC, whose representatives will help plant the trees at the zoo. Guests from the American Chestnut Foundation and Trees NC will be at the event to help celebrate the planting. Bryan Burhans, president and CEO of the American Chestnut Foundation, and a representative from Trees NC are scheduled to speak.

The American chestnut tree once thrived in the Eastern United States from Maine to northern Florida and was one of the largest trees in the east, with diameters of more than 60 inches and heights of more than 100 feet.

Annual Sunset Safari, One of Many SAFARI CLUB Benefits, is a Popular Event for Families

By Laura Stegman

Los Angeles, CA - The Sunset Safari, a wild night at the LA Zoo for SAFARI CLUB donors hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), is set for Saturday, April 17, 2010, 6 pm. Patrons of the SAFARI CLUB, which is GLAZA’s premier annual giving society, support the Zoo at the highest levels and have the opportunity to experience back-of-the-house events that demonstrate wildlife practices, the latest developments in zoo research and conservation efforts and offer up close experiences with wildlife. GLAZA is the non-profit organization that supports the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

The annual Sunset Safari, one of many SAFARI CLUB benefits, is a popular event for families, giving patrons an opportunity to enjoy an after-hours evening of dinner, music and animal viewings at the Zoo. The 2010 Sunset Safari features a variety of keeper talks or feedings with the Zoo's recently acquired Brazilian giant otters as well as the maned wolf, mountain tapirs, white-faced saki, golden lion tamarins, snow leopards, tigers, hippo, Indian rhino and black bears. There will also be strolling "animal walkabouts," which include chats with keepers and the chance to observe small animals up close.

Celebrating the Earth as Never Before in Planet Earth: Shallow Seas™ 4-D Experience.

By Fran Hackett

Brooklyn, NY - Learning about the amazing undersea world is fun for the whole family at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium in Coney Island. We are pleased to announce the March 20 season reopening of an exciting attraction that will add a whole new dimension to our guests’ Aquarium visit: Planet Earth: Shallow Seas™ 4-D Experience.

This epic 4-D adventure gives guests the opportunity to hear the power of the ocean's waves as they crash along the shoreline. “Adventurers” will feel the salty spray as they surf the coast with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in search of food while gliding alongside a cast of balletic sea lions diving through vast swirling bait balls of anchovy. Meanwhile, aquarium-goers can track a mother humpback whale and her calf as they navigate from their tropical nursery to the Arctic Circle. And, participants will be able to experience the greatest gathering of seabirds and whales ever captured in Digital HD.

Prizes Will be Awarded for the Best Photos in Each of the Five Different Categories

By Tom Robatin

Cleveland, OH - A keen eye and a steady lens could lead to great prizes for aspiring photographers. The annual Photo Safari at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo begins Thursday, April 1, runs through Monday, November 1, and is open to all amateur photographers.

Contestants can enter in two age groups: Adults (ages 12 and up) and Juniors (ages 2 to 11). Each person may enter up to three photos in the following categories:

· Bird

· Friends & Family

Hey Buddy, Can You Spare a 100 Meters of Rope?

By Philip Knowling

Paignton, UK - Animal keepers at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park are after good quality old rope.

The conservation charity uses rope in animal dens and outdoor enclosures.

Senior Head Mammal Keeper Julian Chapman explained: “We use rope to create environmental enrichment for the animals – things to play with, basically. We hang it up for primates to climb, but we also make it into balls, big knots called monkey fists, perches, ladders and use it to hang up other enrichment items.

Lynne Will Have Her Hair Shaved Very Short and Tiger Stripes Dyed Onto Her Head

By Paula Holden

Blackpool, UK - Blackpool Zoo regular, Lynne Gorrie, has fallen head over heals in love with Zambar the new Amur Tiger and is having her hair styled just like his to help save his relatives across the world.

The decision came after she attended a members’ only presentation at the zoo, hosted by conservation officer Lou Bell, who talked about the plight of the critically endangered predator.

On Saturday 24th April Lynne, who is 54 and lives in Blackpool, will go to Athena Hair on Waterloo Rd and have her hair shaved very short and tiger stripes dyed onto her head.

The Population of Apes is on the Brink of Extinction in the Gishwati Forest of Rwanda

By Al Setka

Gishwati Forest, Rwanda - For the second time in a year, a chimpanzee has been born to a small population of apes on the brink of extinction in a tiny pocket of Rwandan rain forest. During field studies last week, scientists with the Gishwati Area Conservation Program (GACP) observed that the chimpanzee Nyiramatwi had given birth. Both mother and baby appear to be in good health and behaving normally. This marks the second successful chimpanzee birth in a year and increases the population to 15 apes in the 3,018 acre (1,222 hectare) Gishwati National Conservation Park located in Rwanda’s Western Province.

“There is a reason we call Gishwati the Forest of Hope,” said Dr. Benjamin Beck, director of GACP. “It would’ve been easy to dismiss the significance of restoring this forest and saving this small population of chimpanzees, but fortunately a group of dedicated people and visionary leaders realized the potential of Gishwati and its critical importance to the Rwandan people.”

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Name: Elaine Hayes

Actual title: Director

Name of your aquarium: Living Coasts

Location: Torquay, Devon, UK

URL for your facility: www.livingcoasts.org.uk

Number of species at your facility: >50

Your favorite critter at the facility: Macaroni penguins

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 404 birds and mannals, plus another 100 fish species – archer fish, mudskippers, stingrays, seahorses, etc.

Number of visitors annually: 120,000

Number of employees: 40-60

Number of volunteers: 20

Annual budget: £1.5m

Name: Stewart Muir

Actual title: Director

Name of your zoo: Newquay Zoo

Location: Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK

URL for your facility: www.newquayzoo.org.uk

Number of species at your facility: 151

Your favorite critter at the facility: That’s a difficult question which I’m often asked. I am fortunate in that my position allows me to include many of my favourite animals in the collection. Individually, I suppose “Alvin” our Education Department’s skunk as he lived with me for some time when he was small.

Total number of animals or fish at your facility: 549

Number of visitors annually: 190,000

Number of employees: 50

Number of volunteers: 30

Annual budget: £2m

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