"Zoo Food"

At the Riverbanks Zoo's Kenya Cafe you can choose from "artisan sandwiches, fresh made to order salads, po' boys, veggie burgers and weekly specials." [WLTX.com]

"Our goal is to get rid of the thought of zoo food..."

Prius + Gravity = 60.7 mpg

250 miles at 60.7 m.p.g. #Prius Began above #Boone, NC #Gravity
— russwilliamsiii (@russwilliamsiii) May 22, 2013

Dragon Naps

Afternoon naps are always a good energy booster-especially for our Komodo Dragon, Jude. fb.me/1TRPbNOEK
— Virginia Aquarium (@VAAquarium) May 21, 2013

Hey, Jude!

Delayed Implantation?

Zoo staff are "puzzled" by the birth of an anteater at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center, Greenwich, Conn.

It seems that the mother had no access to a male anteater "in the months before the six-month gestation period for baby Arthur would have begun."

"Marcella Leone, founder and director of the conservation center, suspects this might be a rare case of delayed implantation, when fertilized eggs remain dormant in the uterus for a period of time."

Could this be parthenogenesis or, more specifically, in this case, facultative parthenogenesis?

Fresh!

The Greensboro Science Center is opening The Fresh Market Cafe at Greensboro's Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited museum.

The Cafe will be run by The Fresh Market, the specialty grocery that started in Greensboro, NC and now has locations in 25 states.

100% of profits will go to the Science Center.

"Complex Logistics"

"We are planning to artificially inseminate elephant Batir next week. A lot of complex logistics are involved in this." [David M. Jones, NC Zoo Senior Staff Meeting Notes]

One would think! 

Conspiracy Theory

""I just don't see where there is enough violations for this to happen, I guess I would call it a conspiracy," said Betty White. "The Department of Wildlife, USDA, and the Humane Society have joined together to put me out of business."" [San Francisco Chronicle]

The U. S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] has revoked the Collins [Miss.] Zoo's exhibitor license and "the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks seized tigers, cougars, leopards, a monkey, and some wolves...".

"Over the years the USDA has cited zoo owners Gus and Betty White for a wide range of violations to include failing to safely handle animals, failure to provide adequate veterinarian care and cages holding dangerous animals lacking."

A conspiracy? There are many hundreds, probably thousands, of zoos in North America. A couple hundred of those earn accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The USDA  holds all US zoos to its standards. Being "cited...for a wide range of violations..." and having its license revoked by the USDA, having its animals seized by its state fish and wildlife entity and coming afoul of the Humane Society does point toward something not being right...but not, to this observer, to a conspiracy.

Wild!

NC Zoo Troll

#Troll under the #BillyGoatsGruff bridge under #NorthAmerica bridge @nczoo. #BobCoffee 1975. #PublicArt twitter.com/russwilliamsii…
— russwilliamsiii (@russwilliamsiii) May 15, 2013

Deja vu all over again

Deja vu all over again, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

Title and Aquila/NC Zoo photos by ucumari. [Click on the photo and scroll down to see more in this fun series.]

Bronze Chimp @ Play

BronzeChimpbaby, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

NC Zoo photo by Mary K. Vidaurri.

Unofficially on Exhibit

#Aquila is officially on exhibit @nczoo May 15. Unofficially, we all saw this @ 3 p.m. today. twitter.com/russwilliamsii…
— russwilliamsiii (@russwilliamsiii) May 14, 2013

Underlooking @ Aquila

#Aquila @nczoo underlook 5-14-13. twitter.com/russwilliamsii…
— russwilliamsiii (@russwilliamsiii) May 14, 2013

Mule Deep Underpass

MT @bjkingape: Yes 2 #Wildlife corridors! Crossing on Utah hwy 2 save wildlife, make driving safer sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56… #MuleDeerUnderpass
— russwilliamsiii (@russwilliamsiii) May 14, 2013

Kenya's got one for African elephants at a cost of $250,000.

Elephant Kills Poacher?

Elephant kills the poacher who was trying to kill him/her, via @wwf africam.com/wildlife/eleph…, #elephant #conservation
— Barbara J King (@bjkingape) May 14, 2013

"Gorgeously Ugly"?!?

London Zoo is looking for a "gorgeously ugly", female, Mangarahara cichlid (fish).

The Zoo has two of only three it knows of in captivity. (The rare fish may be extinct in the wild.) All three, however, are males. A German Zoo had a female, but its male ate her. "Nice going, fish." [msn.now]

Koala-Back Rider!

So cute! RT @riverbankszoo: Look who's new at the Zoo! See Riverbanks' newest #koala joey on exhibit now. twitter.com/RiverbanksZoo/…
— AZA (@zoos_aquariums) May 9, 2013

"Some Mothers..."

Some snakes eat their own young. Happy Mother's Day!
— Bronx Zoo's Cobra (@BronxZoosCobra) May 12, 2013

Mother's Day...

GorillaMoms_webpage, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

...@ the NC Zoo. [NC Zoo photo]

Mother & Child

Mom's Day photo: Mandara, fantastic gorilla mom @nationalzoo I've known for years, rests w/ her youngest daughter: ow.ly/i/25sJp
— Barbara J King (@bjkingape) May 12, 2013