Zoo and Aquarium News

Oregon Zoo Received Two High-Profile Honors in Just Around 10 Hours

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:18:04 -0400

Oregon Zoo's Veterinary Medical Center Took First Place By Hova Najarian Portland, OR - It was a big day for local animal lovers yesterday, as the Oregon Zoo received two high-profile honors in just around 10 hours. In the morning, the zoo won the prestigious Portland Award at Travel Portland's 33rd annual tourism and hospitality industry awards, held at the Oregon Convention Center.

Should Wal-Mart Clean Up Their Mess?

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:16:03 -0400

Should Wal-Mart Clean Up Their Mess? By Rudy Socha Charleston, SC - Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world who sells the products that become litter along our waterways and on our beaches. Wal-Mart stores themselves also directly contribute to the litter problem. Because of the number of customers and employees outside their stores everyday, Wal-Mart's direct litter contribution can only be estimated to be in millions of pieces. On a Wal-Mart lot you will find sewers that empty directly into rivers and creeks without grating to trap the waste and prevent it from entering the water stream. Off the Wal-Mart property, you will find single use plastic bags hanging in trees and shrubs and every type of ground litter imaginable. Since 90% of all Americans live within 15 miles of a Wal-Mart store, almost every American is negatively impacted by Wal-Mart generated litter.

Oregon Coast Aquarium's Guests Can Swim WIth the Sharks

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:15:55 -0400

Divers Will Get a Chance to Explore in the Halibut Flats Exhibit By Cindy Hanson Newport, OR - The Oregon Coast Aquarium is offering a unique opportunity for divers to participate in a new pilot guest dive program this summer. The first dive is scheduled Sunday, May 27, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. The program includes a chance to dive with Aquarium sharks and other fishes under the supervision of Aquarium dive guides. There will be more dives scheduled during the summer with dates and details available on the Aquarium website. The Guest Dive Experience includes: § A dive in 26 foot deep Halibut Flats Exhibit surrounded by rockfish, halibut, skates and sturgeon § A dive to the observation ledge of the Open Sea exhibit with dozens of sharks, including Broadnose Sevengill sharks, that are up to 10 feet in length

Popular Jellyfish Exhibit to Stay at Shedd Aquarium

Tue, 08 May 2012 05:43:49 -0400

Shedd Aquarium Guests "Dive" Into the Deep and Complicated World of Jellies By Sheena Quinn Chicago, IL - Shedd Aquarium announced today that its popular special exhibit, Jellies, sponsored by Walgreens, has been extended through 2013. Since launching the exhibit last spring, Shedd has welcomed over 1.1 million guests to the mysterious world of these rarely seen creatures that survive-and thrive-without bones, blood, or brains. From the beautiful, translucent moon jellies to fascinating sea nettles, Jellies showcases over 10 species throughout this temporary special exhibit. Guests "dive" into the deep and complicated world of jellies, learning how their simple bodies have allowed them to survive for millions of years. Among the educational experiences, guests will learn how a jelly can devour enough food to double its weight each day, and how sea nettles hunt by trailing their long tentacles and frilly feeding arms covered with stinging cells that paralyze prey upon contact.

A National Foodie Event at Smithsonians National Zoo

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:52:15 -0400

Tickets are Now on Sale for ZooFari-D.C.'s Foodie Event of the Year By Devin Murphy Washington, DC - The Smithsonian's National Zoo feeds 400 species regularly, but on May 17 Friends of the National Zoo will host the human species at ZooFari, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Guests are invited on a culinary safari to sample gourmet fare from more than 100 of the D.C. area's finest restaurants. The list of restaurants includes Citronelle, Marcel's, Equinox, 1789 Restaurant and Graffiato. Fifteen vintners will be on hand to cleanse diners' palates with glasses of wine between bites. One highlight of the evening will be a zoo-themed cake decorating contest hosted by Top Chef finalists Mike Isabella and Spike Mendelsohn, and Equinox and Watershed owner, Todd Gray. Teams of pastry students from the Art Institute of Washington will compete for top honors from the judges. The winning team will be revealed on the Great Meadow at 9:15 p.m.

Wal-Mart and Wounded Nature - Working Veterans

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:34:30 -0400

Wal-Mart and Wounded Nature - Working Veterans The following was just posted on Wounded Nature - Working Veterans' Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WoundedNature Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the U.S. Many of the items they sell will leave their stores and eventually end up as shoreline litter. We asked Wal-Mart to join our team by sponsoring one of our clean-up boats and funding it through register donations. Last Friday I was able to connect with Andrea Thomas, Sr VP Sustainability, and Bill Simon, President and CEO for Wal-Mart USA. They informed me that they only do 2 national register collections a year and Andrea would not support us for becoming a 3rd national register donation. However, she gave me an alternate route to get the boat financed through WM register donations. Local stores are permitted to stage their own register donations. What we will have to do is contact each WM store in the 14 states our boats will serve and ask for the manager's name and email address. We will contact each manager and explain what we are doing and ask them to put us on their register collection calendar.

'Star-Fish Weekend' on May 5th -7th at Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium

Tue, 01 May 2012 05:27:23 -0400

Every Tank Which Features One of the Fishy Characters has a Sign Next to It By Drew Cunliffe Tynemouth, UK - Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium is putting the spotlight on the real life heroes and heroines of the marine world as part of their 'Star-Fish Weekend' on May 5th -7th. Visitors will be able to come face to face with living characters from films like 'Finding Nemo', 'Shark Tale' and 'Little Mermaid' and learn all about the true stories behind their fictional namesakes. Special talks and a trail around the aquarium will help identify the real stars of the show.

World's Smallest Antelope Species Gives Birth at Virginia Zoo

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:33:13 -0400

A Male Blue Duiker was Born Saturday, April 21, to Mom Peanut at Virginia Zoo By Winfield Danielson Norfolk, VA - A new member of the world's smallest antelope species is now receiving visitors at the Virginia Zoo's Exhibit Building. The male blue duiker, named Todd, currently weighs just over 1 pound and was born Saturday, April 21, to mom Peanut and father Cinco. Visitors should keep a sharp lookout, though, because the baby duiker is just a little larger than a guinea pig and likes to hide among the habitat's bamboo. "This is Peanut's first baby, and she seems to be doing a great job," noted zookeeper Aubry Hall.

Asiatic Wild Ass Added to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Exhibit

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:41:55 -0400

Two Female Persian Onagers Exhibited at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo By Joe Yachanin Cleveland, OH - Two female Persian onagers arrived at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Tuesday. This endangered subspecies of Asiatic wild ass has never been exhibited at the Zoo before. Zoo guests will be able to see them as they acclimate to their new home in Northern Trek. The Zoo received the mother-daughter onagers from The Wilds, a private, nonprofit conservation center in southern Ohio. Onagers resemble domestic donkeys, but are heavier and larger, with full-grown males capable of reaching up to 6 feet long and weighing up to 600 pounds.

Wells Fargo Donates $15,000 to Florida Aquarium

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:36:07 -0400

The Florida Aquarium's Science Education At Sea (SEAS) Receives Grant By Katherine Chakour Tampa, FL - The Florida Aquarium announced today that Wells Fargo has made a donation of $15,000 for the sponsorship of The Florida Aquarium's Science Education At Sea (SEAS) week-long summer institute. SEAS is available to 15 teachers from around the state of Florida each year who seek to deepen their science knowledge and master methodologies for teaching marine biology and related environmental issues. "A primary component of The Florida Aquarium's mission has always been to educate audiences of all ages," said Debbi Stone, Vice President of Education at The Florida Aquarium. "It is through the education of our teachers that we are able to have the greatest impact within our community, and we are grateful for our longstanding partnership with Wells Fargo and their support of our SEAS program."