Brothers Headed for Denver

Hey there.
Originally uploaded by Nikographer.

Nikographer took this today of the three Sumatran tiger brothers headed for Denver from the National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

It`s summer in Stuttgart Zoo Wilhelma

It`s summer in Stuttgart Zoo Wilhelma
Originally uploaded by pete`s wonderful world.

This was uploaded by pete's wonderful world yesterday. Appears it was taken earlier.

Texture Too

elephant
Originally uploaded by leefly.

Elephant texture uploaded yesterday.

leefly's tag indicates that this was a Zoo Atlanta photo, so this must be one of the "ladies" headed for the North Carolina Zoo in 2007.

Mandarin Duck

Mandarin
Originally uploaded by Ironic Tonic.

Wonderful Ironic Tonic photo of a Mandarin duck uploaded mid-month.

While threatened by habitat loss, you have not eaten one of these ducks. They taste pretty bad, which has worked in their favor. More info on this handsome duck.

Su Lin: Day 2 on View

This link offers some images of Su Lin's second day on exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. The baby giant panda is a big hit with visitors there, as Tai Shan is at the National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

Tiger Brothers Headed for Denver

The three Sumatran tigers that have been playing and growing at the National Zoo, and featured in some photo postings on this blog, are heading for Landry's Downtown Aquarium, Denver. (Link)

The 200-pound, 19-month old males are being sent on their way by their mother, who is now pushing them away, and by a breeding program for the rare breed.

Elk Silhouette

Elk Silhouette
Originally uploaded by mkl.

This unique photo of the NC Zoo bull elk was uploaded by mkl in October.

Another Baby Giant Meets Public

Su Lin, the San Diego Zoo baby giant panda is now on exhibit from 9 a.m. to Noon daily.

Washington, D.C. has been excited about its young giant panda, Tai Shan, with tickets to briefly see the National Zoo's youngster going to a lucky few thousand by raffle.

lepelaar

lepelaar
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate.

Nice cropping of this sepia taken at the zoo in Antwerp by belgianchocolate.

Here is a link to more info on the "lepelaar"; it helps if you speak belgianchocolate's language but the call of the "lepelaar" needs no translation.

I checked the Latin, and the "lepelaar" is not a "roseate spoonbill".

Breakfast is waiting for you!

Breakfast is waiting for you!
Originally uploaded by True_Bavarian.

Title, photo and patience by True Bavarian.

Two More Alive

Two more prairie dogs were dug out of their Virginia Zoo habitat alive and well Tuesday. (Link)

First the Zoo had thought that up to 13 prairie dogs had perished when heavy rains caused tunnels the animals had built within their habitat to collapse. Some advised that the prairie dogs were probably fine underground and should be left alone to dig their way out when they were ready. Others wanted the Zoo to quickly try a "rescue and recovery".

Saturday, the former theory was bolstered when the Zoo dug out five healthy prairie dogs. There have been other recent postings here of prairie dog photos.

Update (12/30/05): They kept digging. Found four long-deceased prairie dogs, which appear to have died prior to the tunnels' collapse. (Link)

Another Interesting E-Mail

Yesterday it was the e-mail that asked NC Zoo staffers to avoid vehicular traffic near the nesting wattled cranes for the cranes' peace of mind. (Don't Agitate the Crane.)

Today it is a request to us all for our clean and empty baby food jars. Again, the purpose is the peace of mind of some of the NC Zoo animals - those at the Cypress Swamp exhibit complex (as well, perhaps, as the Australian Walkabout) in this case.

The baby food jars will be used to hold spices and herbs, explains "Australia keeper" Anna Kopaniasz. You see the smells offer "behavioral enrichment" to the animals in Anna's charge.

The NC Zoo strives to enrich the lives of its animals in as many ways as it reasonably can. While more to taste, see and explore may quickly come to mind as we think about how to enrich the experience of animals (and ourselves), smells are a big source as well, especially to all those animals which have much better developed senses of smell than ours.

Introducing a new smell each day to a smell-sensitive animal might work like adding a new picture each day to your refrigerator, locker or office.

A Black Kite (Milvus migrans) makes a Kill

A Black Kite (Milvus migrans) makes a Kill
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

"A Black Kite in Goa, lifts a fish from the water with ease.
More info on this bird: (Link)"
Jayanth Sharma

We Stand Together

We Stand Together
Originally uploaded by | HD |.

"A group of Pelicans swimming on a sunny afternoon in Klamath Falls.

Klamath Falls is a small town in the Southern Oregon Area, about 80 Miles east of the Rogue Valley. Located at about 4000ft above sea level, Klamath Falls is considered to be a "High Desert"." HD

Panda in a Bucket

Panda in a Bucket
Originally uploaded by Happy Monkey.

Tai Shan, the National Zoo's very popular young giant panda, took a nap in a bucket yesterday.

Washington, D.C.

Wolves in winter

Wolves in winter
Originally uploaded by JeanKern.

Uploaded today by JeanKern from Gaiapark, Kerkrade Zoo, Netherlands.

Very much NOT the Disney, drooling, nasty, huff-and-puff-and-blow-your-house-down creature.

Don't Agitate the Crane

Working at a zoo has inherent problems not found in many other work places.

Today, at the North Carolina Zoo, Curator of Birds Ken Reininger sent out a zoo-wide e-mail seeking help with one of those problems.

There is a pair of African wattled cranes that lives in an off-exhibit breeding compound. The female laid the first egg of the season yesterday.

The presence of an egg makes the male "particularly agitated", Ken reports.

Their compound is off to a far corner of the Zoo's 1450 acres, but it gets regular, vehicular traffic nearby, going to the veterinary hospital, quarantine facility, wildlife rehabilitation center, etc.

The cranes "get up off the egg nearly every time a vehicle passes by".

So we are all asked to take another route and/or to combine trips and find other solutions to reduce traffic by the agitated pair.

We understand and will cooperate.

The Inquisitive Deer

The Inquisitive Deer
Originally uploaded by | HD |.

"Curiosity is the fuel of exploration.
Do you have enough in you?

*taken at the Rogue River, Oregon," says HD.

Big Christmas Surprise

It was Christmas morning and the Zoo at Gulf Breeze, Florida, was not expecting anything. So, what a surprise it was to find a 50-pound Nile hippo with its 3500-pound mother in the exhibit that morning. (Link)

The zoo folk thought Mom might have been pregnant when she arrived from Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida early in the year, but eight months later it was "determined" that she must not be.

It is not always a disappointment to be proven wrong.

The youngster has a sibling back at Busch Gardens.

Feather Light

Feather Light
Originally uploaded by | HD |.

"Feather: "One of the light, flat growths forming the plumage of birds, consisting of numerous slender, closely arranged parallel barbs forming a vane on either side of a horny, tapering, partly hollow shaft." - Dictionary.com"

Title, photo and Dictionary.com quote all by the incomparable HD.

Fur on a Stick

Koala
Originally uploaded by The Cats Jungle.

Koalas sleep up to 19 hours a day...so zoo folk sometimes refer to them as "fur on a stick".

The Cats Jungle took five koala pix at the San Francisco Zoo. All of sleep
"activity". Still interesting.

Had quite a treat (mentioned here at the time) at Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, South Carolina, this year. One of their koalas was quite active as I visited.

The other? Fur on a stick.

Prairie Dog

Prairie Dog
Originally uploaded by The Cats Jungle.

There have been a number of recent postings here about prairie dogs.

Here is a handy, Monday uploading of a prairie dog close-up from the San Francisco Zoo, by The Cats Jungle.

And here's another, from Rotterdam.

Mexican Wolves at Cincinnati Too

The nearly extinct Mexican gray wolf now has a population of over 50 in the wild and the Species Survival Plan of American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) institutions is managing many more in 14 Mexican facilities and 33 in the United States, including a few listed in a recent posting here, as well as at Cincinnati Zoo's new Wolf Woods.

The new exhibit area also features thick-billed parrots, river otters, gray fox, striped skunk and wild turkey.

Shy

Shy
Originally uploaded by boughtbooks.

"Random favorites found online", says boughtbooks.

Got The Blues: Nature Edition

Got The Blues: Nature Edition
Originally uploaded by | HD |.

HD again (see below). Both are best viewed LARGE.

"My first Dragonfly capture. It was serious fun chasing this blue beauty across the field...," HD writes.

The Living Rainbow

The Living Rainbow
Originally uploaded by | HD |.

HD took it and titled it.

Lemur Triplets

Black and white ruffed lemur triplets were born at the Tulsa Zoo in late June.

Critically endangered, this birth to a wild born father and a mother who is the offspring of wild born, black and white ruffed lemurs is significant to the future of the species.

The mother moves her tiny (100 grams) young in her mouth. (Most primates move their young on their backs, but the lemurs are prosimians, a lower form of primate found on the large island of Madagascar.)

Mom is about 12 pounds.

37th Cheetah Litter

Wildlife Safari, Winston, Oregon, celebrated its 37th litter of cheetahs since 1973. (Link)

The mother, Missy, gave birth to five healthy young cheetahs.

The father, Bryden, fell ill to renal failure, a cause of death in many older cheetahs, which only live about 10 years, on average.

Bryden brought new genetics into the US population because he and Missy came to Wildlife Safari in 2004 from a private facility in Oklahoma, and he had been wild caught in Africa.

This is the first litter for the mother, who is reported to be handling those "responsibilities" quite well.

Pygmy Rabbit Births

Northwest Trek (an AZA zoological institution) recently celebrated the birth of four endangered Washington pygmy rabbits.

Seven older Washington pygmy rabbits came to Northwest Trek from Washington State University (WSU).

The zoo and WSU are working with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and Portland's Oregon Zoo to help recovery of the population through breeding and release. (Link)

The sensitive Washington pygmy rabbits are easily stressed, so they are kept off public display. Their off-exhibit, Northwest Trek habitat is filled with sagebrush and soil similar to their native habitat. They burrow deep into the soil (the burrowing is quite unique to them) and are seldom seen.

moray

moray
Originally uploaded by True_Bavarian.

Some moray eels are rather intimidating looking. This one appears to be quite pleasant. (The markings seem to create a "smile".)

Don't move — The rusty one

Don't move — The rusty one
Originally uploaded by chrisjt.

Also uploaded today from Luisenpark visit by chrisjt.

Don't move — The green one

Don't move — The green one
Originally uploaded by chrisjt.

Luisenpark. Uploaded today by chrisjt.

Mexican Wolf SSP Successes

While this report points to some of the challenges of successfully introducing the endangered Mexican gray wolf to the wild, there has been good, fairly recent success in breeding through American Zoo and Aquarium (AZA) Species Survival Plans (SSPs).

"Of five recommended captive Mexican wolf pairings in the Mexican wolf Species Survival Program, all produced litters. The litters are large; with 12 (nine surviving) and eight at the Wild Canid Center in Eureka, Missouri; 10 at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio; six at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and eight at the Stone Memorial Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts. In addition, three Mexican wolves were artificially inseminated (AI) and all three resulted in pregnancy. One pregnant AI female died during parturition. The other two AI females produced litters of three and six (five surviving). This represents a total of 53 pups born in captivity in 2005, of which 49 are currently surviving. The addition of these pups brings the captive population to over 300 wolves. These pups are part of the captive breeding program, and are not intended for release to the wild," The Wolf Portal offers.

Bongo Born

There is a new Eastern bongo at the Virginia Zoo. (Link)

The big antelope is especially known for those big ears (and good hearing).

Prairie Pals

animals
Originally uploaded by daaynos.

This prairie dog and its pals were photographed by daaynos at Blijdorp zoo, Rotterdam.

Many zoo prairie dog exhibits now allow children, and agile photographers, to tunnel beneath and up next to the animals, protected by Plexiglas "bubbles".

Prairie Dog Pups Pop Up at Prospect Park

Twelve baby prairie dogs made a fairly recent appearance at Prospect Park Zoo. (Link)

The zoo is one of the Wildlife Conservation Society grouping of New York zoos, including the more famous Bronx.

The pups, as baby prairie dogs are called (even 'though they are not dogs but relatives of the squirrel), joined 21 adult black-tailed prairie dogs in their "Discovery Trail" habitat when the youngsters were estimated to be about 7-weeks old.

Prairie dogs do "bark" when threatened.

Merry News

Had read yesterday about the developing story of prairie dogs thought lost at the Virginia Zoo. The tunnels they had built in their exhibit had collapsed following heavy rains and they had not been seen for weeks.

Decided not to post the sad story on Christmas Eve.

A prairie dog expert, however, was leaving room for hope yesterday, going so far as to predict that some, or all, of the animals would be found to be alive and sort of hibernating.

Five have been found, as predicted, and there is now good hope for the others.

Precious and Rare

Donna, the African elephant which recently gave birth at Disney's Animal Kingdom, has come a long way these last few years. (Link)

The Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, helped save her some years back from a sad and scary end. She had been found packed into a truck with other frightened animals.

She was moved from Rio Grande Zoo to the stronger elephant breeding program at Animal Kingdom.

The result is her new youngster, whose name means "precious and rare" in Swahili.

The father, Pittsburgh Zoo's Jackson, may be the only naturally-breeding bull, African elephant in the USA. (Link)

Textured

crocos
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate.

Keizerstamarin

Keizerstamarin
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate.

"What a wonderful mustache", writes DubbyUB to begianchocolate.

Argusfazant

Argusfazant
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate.

Antwerp Zoo by belgianchocolate.

Lion-tailed Macaque(Macaca silenus) ENDANGERED

Lion-tailed Macaque(Macaca silenus) ENDANGERED
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

Title and photo by Jayanth Sharma, who offers: "about 400 more are left in the wild in Western India".

Considered the most endangered monkey; hunted for flesh and fur.

Good Example

Blech!
Originally uploaded by ManHole.ca.

I had been looking, a while back, for a good photo showing the very long tongue of the giraffe.

Came across this without trying today. Much better than what my search found at the time.

Why Manage Breeding?

Tucker, an endangered siamang, was born this summer at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. This was important because his bloodline (through Penny, 26, and Gus, 27, is not well represented in the siamang Species Survival Program (SSP) of the AZA (association of American Zoos and Aquariums).

The SSP programs aim to maintain genetic diversity within populations of endangered species. Geneticists target mean kinship, average relatedness. Lowered relatedness equals reduced chances of inbreeding and genetic disorders.

Tucker should grow to be a strong 30-pounder, with jet-black fur. One day he and his mate should have a youngster. Tucker and mate will sing loud, whooping duets to meet the break of day and reinforce family bonds.

Beating the Odds?

Wild animals, like humans, can be born with genetic problems, birth "defects", etc. Nature is not kind in those cases.

Odin, an African leopard, born to the Wildlife
World Zoo, Phoenix, AZ, was luckier. His heart defect, pulmonic stenosis, limited blood flow to his lungs.

There is a procedure (valvuloplasty) which has been successful in domestic dogs. It has only been tried rarely on domestic cats, let alone leopards.

Speaking of luck, the procedure is only 85-90 percent successful in dogs. Dennis Caywood, DVM, of Grover Heights, Minn., assisted by Steve Gibson, DVM, Phoenix, conducted the two-hour surgery on Odin.

His prognosis is now good, as reported in AZA's monthly publication, "Communique", September, 2005.

Two to three times more blood now flows to his lungs. "The impact on Odin's behavior was almost immediate," Communique reports.

Baby Rhino Photo Gallery

Here is a photo gallery of the female Eastern black rhinoceros born in July at the Great Plains Zoo. (Link)

Between 1970 and 1992 the population of this endangered species decreased by 96%.

There are less than 3500 in the wild and only 69 in the Species Survival Program of American Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Family to Be Aided

The family of Munarik Yadav, fatally gored as he recently cleaned a rhino exhibit in an India's Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, will be aided by local authorities. (Link)

Baby Boom at Cincinnati Zoo

Over 100 giant jumping stick nymphs hatched at the Cincinnati Zoo in May and June. (Scroll down past the leaf insect and giant beetle to find the giant jumping stick in the link.)

Adult females sometimes reach seven inches (males usually less than four).

The hatchlings represent the fifth captive generation - reared from a single female collected in the Peruvian Amazon.

New at Denver Zoo

Check out all the new babies at the Denver Zoo. (Link)

Includes snow leopards, okapi calf and female lowland gorilla.

True Blue

Lizard
Originally uploaded by True_Bavarian.

Uploaded today by True Bavarian.

His "first animal picture with the Maxxum 7D/50mm and 250D Canon macro lens" for you
"flickr fans".

Only Breeding Bull?

This says that Jackson, the Pittsburgh Zoo male African elephant, and father of the new Disney's Animal Kingdom, elephant calf born Monday, may be the only naturally breeding African bull in the USA.

Suricata Suricatta

Suricata Suricatta
Originally uploaded by Photochiel.

"How is this animal called in English?", asks Photochiel.

My answer: "Meerkat in English. Chubby, plump and fat are also English words for THIS meerkat!"

Artis Zoo, Amsterdam.

On Top of the World

On top of the World
Originally uploaded by Photochiel.

Also from Photochiel and Artis Zoo, Amsterdam.

Dedication!

Lydia, the frigate bird, flew almost 2,500 miles on a 26-day, non-stop search for food for her baby.

How do we know? A GPS (global positioning) device allowed scientists to track her round trip, originating from Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Tai Shan Out

The National Zoo's baby panda, Tai Shan, went outside for the first time yesterday. (Link)

He explores, wins tugging contests with Mom, peeks at sleeping Dad, tries a short climb. ("First, he played on the scale. He weighed 25 pounds.")

Fatal Rhino Attack

The Times of India reports on the fatal goring of a zoo employee. (Link - Caution: I encountered many "pop-ups".)

" Yadav's colleagues said he used to clean the enclosure every day but was reluctant to do so on Thursday.

A fellow worker said, 'Yadav had sensed that the animal was agitated and that's why he did not want to take any chance. But the zoo authorities forced him to enter the enclosure and clean it.'"

Running Out of Hope

Toga, the stolen baby penguin, probably can not have survived. (Link)

Ugly

Ugly
Originally uploaded by True_Bavarian.

True Bavarian quotes Bon Jovi's "Ugly":

"If you're ugly, I'm ugly too..."

The Lion sleeps tonight

The Lion sleeps tonight
Originally uploaded by Photochiel.

Artis Zoo, Amsterdam.

Uploaded today by Photochiel.

Chinese Buying Illegal Ivory

This Reuters Foundation story claims that China is the big market driving African elephant poaching for illegal ivory.

China's government is aware and trying to stop the illegal trade but high demand from a new middle class makes that difficult.

"'The price of ivory jumped from $5.50 per kilo in 1969 to $7.50 in 1970 ... to $120 in 1987; and to $300 in 1989,' writes Martin Meredith in his book "Africa's Elephant: A Biography"."

Hope for Elephants

Tamani, which means "hope" in Swahili, is the name chosen for the 250-pound baby African elephant at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. (Link)

There were over 600 names suggested by school children. Tamani was the favorite from the start, getting a third of the votes cast for the top five options.


"On the school's original entry form, the class wrote, 'Since the elephant is an African elephant, we decided to choose a Swahili word. Tamani means hope in Swahili.

We chose hope because elephants are an endangered species and successfully breeding elephants in captivity gives the species hope for survival.'"

Detailed River Tern

Detailed River Tern
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

Shot at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.

Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

Love those herons!

Mr. Sharma can take them!

He offers more info here: (Link)

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

Jayanth's herons are great.

Uploaded Sunday.

The Naked Ape

Relative
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

Jayanth Sharma does not explain why this "Relative" is "Hairless!"

Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)

Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) - Adult male
Originally uploaded by Jayanth Sharma.

Adult male in Mysore taken by Jayanth Sharma.

Sao Paulo Zoo Bird

Animal Planet... #6
Originally uploaded by thatianek.

The tag on this late August, flickr upload by thatianek would indicate that you can find this bird at the Sao Paulo Zoo.

Looks like you might also find that this bird is now in possession of thatianek's camera!

More Panda Tix Available

New year...new chance to win the pandAmonium lottery at the National Zoo! (Link)

Menopause Found in Gorillas

Researchers at Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, IL, have reported finding hormonal evidence of menopause in female gorillas. (Link)

"The findings may help zoos improve how they care for aging female gorillas..." Sixteen other North American zoos were also included in the study.

Starlet O'Hara & Company

Speaking of Zambesi and Zoo Atlanta's other female elephants (see post below), here are some facts about the three African elephants due to arrive at the NC Zoo in 2007: (Link)

The ladies wash down 500 pounds of hay each day with 120 gallons of water. Zambesi weighs 7,000 pounds, on her way to 10,000.

And they can walk twice as fast as we can run.

And Starlet is an artist (painter) too.

Governor and Vet Sonny

Zoo Atlanta had a visit Monday by Georgia Governor, and licensed veterinarian, Sonny Perdue. (Link)

While learning about Zoo Atlanta conservation efforts (with pandas in China and attempting to reverse amphibian declines in South and Central America), the Governor assisted in a physical exam of Zambesi, a 23-year old African elephant.

Zambesi is one of three African elephant females of breeding age which Zoo Atlanta has chosen to send to the NC Zoo which is scheduled to be ready to receive them, with new, larger facilities, in 2007.

Toad at home

Toad at home
Originally uploaded by True_Bavarian.

Thank you once again True Bavarian.

Uploaded yesterday and titled by True B.

A Girl!

Here is a brand new press release on the birth of a new African elephant at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Link)

After a pregnancy that lasted 21 months, labor was just 16 minutes.

This young female is Animal Kingdom's third African elephant birth, another success within the African elephant Species Survival Plan of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

Another Approach to "Kong"

This zoo primate expert takes a very different view (to the one I posted about recently) of the new "King Kong" movie. She's not goin'! (Link)

Debbie Wiese of the Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, NM, says gorillas are "gentle giants".

Baby Jackass Penguin Stolen

A baby jackass penguin has been taken from a UK zoo and there is great concern for the youngster, which perhaps can not survive without aid from its parents, the BBC reports. (Link)

Baby Baboons

NC Zoo
Originally uploaded by mooseherder.

The baby baboons keep coming at the NC Zoo.

Mooseherder captured this "seriously hyper" little Hamadryas baboon at the NC Zoo in October.

"The Midden", publication of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, reported that another was expected early this month, bringing the Asheboro facility's collection to about two dozen...the largest by far in North America.

With the spacious, one-time outdoor gorilla habitat adjacent to the NC Zoo African pavilion and a sizable indoor exhibit and holding areas within the Pavilion available to them, there is ample space for the big Hamadryas baboon contingent.

Vampire Bat Born

A vampire bat has been born at the Sonora Desert Pavilion at the NC Zoo.

Yes, they do "drink" blood. (Link)

New Wolf

A new male red wolf has arrived at the off-exhibit breeding compound at the NC Zoo, which also has exhibit red wolves in its North Woods/Prairie section.

Five wolves from the off exhibit holding compound are being moved to other facilities.

In from the Cold

The wompoo pigeons have been brought into the NC Zoo's avian propagation facility for the coldest days of the winter.

They will return to the Progress Energy Australian Walkabout exhibit complex next season.

Bateleur

Bateleur
Originally uploaded by True_Bavarian.

The African bateleur eagle captured in all its raptorial splendor by True Bavarian and uploaded last week.

Her Name is Charles

Another Elephant of Cameroon is collared by the team of NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis. This female African elephant, with calf, is named Charles and will be tracked as Clarles II for these reasons: (Link)

Dr. Mike is back in the US of A, but Charles II was just collared a few days ago, as others have now been trained in the anesthesia and collaring technique devised by the NC Zoo vet.

On the move!

On the move!
Originally uploaded by Nikographer_Jon.

Nikographer Jon will miss the three Sumatran tiger brothers when they leave the National Zoo soon.

He has taken some wonderful photos of these active youngsters.

Vegan Vulture

Vegan Vulture
Originally uploaded by Dave Hogg.

"What do you mean this isn't a dead animal?"

Title, quote and photo all "uploaded" today by Dave Hogg.

Fun!

up close

up close
Originally uploaded by amaw.

Reddish egret uploaded yesterday.

View large!

Fun Interview

Zoo Atlanta primatologist seriously addresses the real gorilla behaviors exhibited by the actor who helped create the unreal, 25-foot "King Kong" of the current, hit movie. (Link)

Believed a First

Zoo Atlanta veterinarians have artificially inseminated (AI) a large, eastern indigo snake. This is thought to be the first time a snake has undergone AI. (Link)

It's All Relative

The Asian elephant is a closer relation to the extinct wooly mammoth than the African elephant according to a recent study reported in "Nature". (Link)

Mammoth DNA research indicates the finding, but the level of difference in relationship to the mammoth by the African and Asian elephants is seen to be slight.

Who Did What?

Greenmon reports seeing "tens of thousands" of dead fish on the Deep River on his canoe float yesterday with John F. in Randolph County (NC, USA).

Who did what...or what happened "naturally"?

Old Man on the Trail

Russ Williams
Originally uploaded by russlings.

Ann took this of me this summer on a western North Carolina trail.

We did a much shorter hike today. Back to Greensboro's rather new West House trail on Lake Townsend.

One after another, three white tails ran in front of us in the same manner - two short hops and a long, graceful leap into the woods from a fence that separates the old West House from the big, new homes on the Lake.

Sandy and Samboja

Sandy and Samboja (9-6-2005)
Originally uploaded by JeanKern.

Jean Kern writes of Sandy, seen here with young Samboja at Apenheul Primate Park in September, "since the 6th of December Sandy is also taking care of the new born baby girl Dayang, from Fien, who doesn't know how to handle a baby."

That is wonderful for Dayang. It happens in zoos that occasionally a zoo-raised primate will not have learned how to raise its own young. (Sometimes human volunteers need to be recruited for the difficult job of giving constant attention to a powerful, wild baby.)

What Are You Doing Up?

Icon Buddy
Originally uploaded by Al Andersen.

It can be tough to get a good photo of the nocturnal coati mundi. Al Anderson seems to have had no problems, however, at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Mother and son playing

Mother and son playing
Originally uploaded by JeanKern.

Great photo of orangutan play from Apenheul Primate Park, Netherlands, uploaded by JeanKern, yesterday.

Heard This?

You've probably heard about the zoo in Japan that has its king penguins on an exercise program in the winter to keep their weight down. (Link)

Still Playing

Brothers... 2 Sumatran Tigers @ DC Zoo
Originally uploaded by Nikographer_Jon.

Nikographer Jon has caught many good shots of the National Zoo's (Washington, D.C.) three Sumatran tiger youngsters at play. Here's another of two brothers.

Maybe it's Maybelline

Maybe it's Maybelline
Originally uploaded by Marty9146.

Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL, by Marty9146.

Marty got close or has quite the lens.