Zoo
PETTING ZOOS FUN, SAFETY FIRST IS THE RULE
by MONTANA NEWS
(Helena, Mont.) - Petting zoos are great opportunities for kids to see animals up close, but parents and children alike should take
precautions to keep the outing enjoyable, according to Dr. Jeanne Rankin, Montana's assistant state veterinarian.
"Hand washing is one of the most important practices in preventing the spread of disease for visitors to petting zoos," Dr. Rankin said.
Montana Department of Livestock will be staffing booths in the livestock pavilion and at the petting zoo during the Montana State Fair
in Great Falls, July 29 through Aug. 6. Department representatives will provide information on biosecurity measures, along with the
importance of good hygiene around animals.
http://www.montanasnews.com/articles.php?mode=view&id=2148
Zoos are tops for educating babies
It was rated first for a stimulating family outing by 73% of mums and dads.
ther top 'discovery' sites include the farm and beach (58%), park (57%) and the playground (56%).
s for in the home, the Baby Einstein Discovery Through Play Report found that 59% of parents reckon TV provokes their child's curiosity the most, closely followed by the phone.
t was rated first for a stimulating family outing by 73% of mums and dads.
ther top 'discovery' sites include the farm and beach (58%), park (57%) and the playground (56%).
s for in the home, the Baby Einstein Discovery Through Play Report found that 59% of parents reckon TV provokes their child's curiosity the most, closely followed by the phone.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5041505.html
Zoo Hopes Rival Will Inspire Elephant
The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 20, 2005; 10:36 PM
DALLAS -- Zoo officials have decided a little competition may inspire a male Asian elephant to get into the mating mood. Fort Worth Zoo's lone Asian bull elephant, Groucho, hasn't sired a calf for six years. So zoo officials hope that bringing in another male elephant will spark a flame between Groucho and the female pachyderms.
"A little competition has been proven to work in the rhino population as well," said Michael Fouraker, the zoo's executive director. "We just need Groucho to get up to speed."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/20/AR2005072002470.html
Zoos tap into animal instincts
Trainers getting creative to lure larger crowds
Conor Dougherty
Wall Street Journal
Jul. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
On a recent field trip to the Cincinnati Zoo, Ms. Stubblebine's junior-high class watched up-close as a male lion drew up silently to a motionless water buffalo, crouched and then pounced and tore into its belly.
It was a savage display of brute instinct but for one detail: The "prey" was made of papier-mache.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0723zoo-tactics23.html
Wild panda leads Chinese city on chase
06:43 PM CDT on Saturday, July 23, 2005
Associated Press
BEIJING – A wild panda that strayed into a southwestern Chinese city last weekend scaled a fence, hopped from roof to roof, swam in a river and napped in a tree before it was caught, a news agency reported.
The panda led residents of Dujiangyan in Sichuan province on a chase after wandering into the town and spending the day there, the Xinhua News Agency said.
Experts cited by Xinhua said the 4- to 5-year-old female weighed about 130 pounds and could have been looking for a mate or have been driven from home by her mother.
The saga began July 16 when three men drinking beer spotted a figure nimbly climbing over the fence of a housing estate.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/072405dnintppanda.265bf26.html
PETA Files Complaint Against Columbus Zoo
Columbus Blog
July 23, 2005
PETA Files Complaint Against Columbus Zoo
PETA has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the death of a giraffe at the Columbus Zoo. Zoo officials admit they administered the wrong drug during surgery and this caused the death of the animal.
You can read more about this story at ONN News
What kills your guide, though, is this quote from PETA:
"The fact of the matter is, when animals are held captive in zoos they're too often the victim of human mistake. And this recent incident with the giraffe is just one more example of that, and the giraffe paid for it with her life."
http://columbusoh.about.com/b/a/188039.htm
SAN FRANCISCO
Zoo union votes to authorize strike
Main differences in contract proposals are economic
Patricia Yollin, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, July 23, 2005
As these things go, it's been a week of mixed news at the San Francisco Zoo. A kookaburra chick opened its eyes for the first time on Tuesday. Two days later, employees voted decisively to authorize a strike.
"You can't take care of animals if you can't take care of yourself," said Ron Amiot, a keeper who has worked at the zoo for 32 years.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/23/BAGCTDSA2F1.DTL
Zoo beach closed
By Tom Farley
Zoo Beach is unsafe for swimming due to high bacterial counts in water samples taken by Health Department Staff on July 20. North Beach remains safe for
swimming.
The advisory will remain in effect until bacteria levels are within the accepted limits.
If you have any questions, call (262) 636-9203.
* RACINE Yacht flotilla
to visit harbor
A rendezvous of more than 150 Sea Ray yachts will cruise into Racine's harbor today for a weekend of boating. The event is hosted by Skipper Buds at Reefpoint Marina. They advise that more than 750 people will be in attendance.
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2005/07/23/local/iq_3612131.txt
Roger Williams Zoo still draws herds of visitors
By Dave Cranshaw, Staff Writer
Desiree and Tom Jarosz brought their children to Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence for the first time earlier this summer. The Springfield, Mass., residents thought it would be a good way for their kids to learn something during summer vacation.
http://www.pbn.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/115940
Conn. zoo owner accused of locking up visitors
July 22, 2005
Advertisement
LITCHFIELD, Conn. -- The owner of an exotic animal and petting zoo is facing charges for allegedly locking up some people.
James A. Mazzarelli, 61, of Goshen, the owner of Action Wildlife, was charged with an incident on July 9.
One of the six people locked in the park, Kathleen H. Dickey, of Torrington, called 911 to report her party was stuck, police said.
Dickey told police Mazzarelli intentionally locked the gates, keeping her from driving their vehicle out of the parking lot. Dickey, two other adults and three children were prohibited from leaving.
Mazzarelli said the group failed to pay the admission fee, police said. AP
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-zooo22.html
Taronga Zoo hits back at RSPCA criticism
Sydney's Taronga Zoo says RSPCA Australia is at odds with its New South Wales branch over its criticism of the zoo's plan to bring eight Asian elephants from Thailand.
RSPCA Australia is one of several animal rights groups who went to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on Thursday asking that the elephants remain in Thailand because of concerns about their welfare.
The Federal Government has agreed to allow the elephants to go to the Taronga and Melbourne zoos.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1420365.htm
Fleischmanns put $67.5M price tag on zoo land
By LAURA LAYDEN, lllayden@naplesnews.com
July 23, 2005
The asking price is secret no more.
The Fleischmann family on Friday made their asking price known for the land beneath and surrounding Caribbean Gardens, Naples' only zoo.
The price tag is $67.5 million — nearly $30 million more than voters agreed to pay for the land in an effort to save the landmark attraction.
http://www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_3947840,00.html
Rescued leopards handed over to Assam zoo
Special Correspondent
Special care for the stressed animals
PHOTO: Ritu Raj Konwar
SHIFTING TO SAFETY: Guwahati zoo employees shift two tranquilised leopards to a cage on Friday.
GUWAHATI: The Manas National Park on Friday handed over to the Assam State Zoo two rescued leopards and a clouded leopard cub.
The leopards were rescued from the Raimona area eight months ago. The clouded leopard, now two-months old, was just born when it was rescued from the Kukulung area near the tiger reserve.
http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/23/stories/2005072301701300.htm
A temple elephant, long in the tooth
K.S. Sudhi
The agony of over-grown tusks may soon end for this jumbo in Kerala
Photo: Vipin Chandran
IVORY BURDEN: Narayanan, the elephant with its overgrown tusks.
KOCHI: Narayanan has a problem. The 40-year-old elephant, owned by the Cochin Devaswom Board, has over-grown tusks. These impede its free movement and make it difficult for it to move its trunk. And, the growth is continuing, with the two tusks tending to converge. The Board wanted to trim them, but it needed mandatory clearance from the State Forest Department for such a procedure, and the Department was not easily convinced.
http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/23/stories/2005072301652200.htm
Taronga Zoo hits back at RSPCA criticism
Sydney's Taronga Zoo says RSPCA Australia is at odds with its New South Wales branch over its criticism of the zoo's plan to bring eight Asian elephants from Thailand.
RSPCA Australia is one of several animal rights groups who went to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on Thursday asking that the elephants remain in Thailand because of concerns about their welfare.
The Federal Government has agreed to allow the elephants to go to the Taronga and Melbourne zoos.
Taronga Zoo chief executive officer Guy Cooper says the position of RSPCA Australia contrasts with that of the New South Wales branch.
"I think you're aware that this does not have the support of the rank and file or even the board members of the RSPCA," he said.
"Certainly the New South Wale RSPCA is very much and firmly in support and always has been in support of having the...elephants here."
An RSPCA Australia spokeswoman says there is no split between the state and federal bodies on the issue.
She says RSPCA New South Wales takes a more moderate public position because it does not want to offend Taronga Zoo.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1420365.htm
Guide to area zoos
Friday, July 22, 2005
By RAYMOND A. EDEL
STAFF WRITER
A thick-billed parrot at the Queens Zoo. Thick-bills are the only living parrots whose range once included the United States
It's a jungle out there.
You're juggling work and family, paying bills and avoiding traffic jams - it can make you go wild.
Want a way to get out of the rat race and calm the savage beast prowling inside of you?
Try visiting one of the area's nine animal parks this summer, and get back to nature.
http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNjcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3Mjc4NTQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3
concluding...
