Zoos
Johor Zoo greets birth of three lion cubs
BY OLIVIA LEE
JOHOR BARU: The Johor Zoo welcomed three new members to its growing family when an African lioness gave birth to three cubs on Tuesday morning.
Zoo manager Zakaria Razali said the cubs were healthy and made up African lions Tumba and Minah's third batch of cubs.
Tumba and Minah have been “residents” of the zoo since 2003.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/10/27/nation/12442632&sec=nation
Wellington Zoo Prepares for Huge Kids Party
Thursday, 27 October 2005, 11:51 am
Press Release: Wellington Zoo
Media Photo Opportunity
27 October 2005
Wellington Zoo Prepares for Huge Kids Party
Hundreds of children will be celebrating their youth at Wellington Zoo this Sunday 30 October as part of a national Children’s Day celebration, announced Wellington Zoo Events Co-ordinator, Marina Greco today.
Held annually, Children’s Day celebrations practise five key messages of giving time, praise and encouragement, listening and talking, love and affection and new experiences.
“Children’s Day is the biggest day of the year for Wellington Zoo and we’re going all out to give kids a fun time, lots of action and, at the same time, telling our conservation stories,” says Marina.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0510/S00185.htm
Ash Borer Invades Toledo Zoo
October 26, 2005 - Trees that provide important shade for animals are being cut down, because of the beetle infestation.
The emerald ash borer beetle has killed millions of trees in Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Now it's moved in on some of Toledo's most prized habitat. The Zoo's director of horticulture, Nancy Bucher, says the exotic beetles are causing a particularly challenging problem for them, because so many of the animals depend on the shade of the ash trees.
Using pesticides isn't an option, because the chemicals could harm the animals. The Zoo's already cut down two trees infested by the beetles, and the insects have been found on two others. If all 16 ash trees are affected, it could cost the Zoo up to $100,000 to cut them down and replace them with new shade trees.
"It may be next year when we start planting some replacements that we think are the most important. Then just seeing how the trees do for the next couple years," said Bucher.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=3574309
French trio tested for bird flu after Thai zoo trip
Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:38 PM ET
By Brian Rhoads
BEIJING (Reuters) - China said a fresh outbreak of bird flu was free of any human infections, but three people on a French island off Africa were being tested on Wednesday in what were thought to be the first suspected human cases outside Asia.
"These three people who all traveled to Thailand have visited a bird zoo where they had come into contact with birds," French Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said of the tourists who were now back home on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion.
"Initial tests have been done there and these came out positive," he said, but fuller results would only be ready on Thursday. "For the moment, these are only suspected bird flu cases. Nothing is confirmed."
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-10-26T213844Z_01_YUE450860_RTRUKOC_0_US-BIRDFLU-WRAP.xml&archived=False
Zoo turns bird park
Sulaiman Jaafar
KUALA KRAI, KELANTAN, Tues.
Residents here are disappointed with the State Government’s decision to shut down the town’s main landmark, the Kuala Krai Zoo, last June.
Since then, the zoo has undergone renovation and will open as a bird park in time for Hari Raya.
Guchil State Assemblyman Dr Shamsul Ikhwan Ashaari Azmi said the people were unhappy with the move as the zoo had been part of their lives since 1961.
It was then located behind the district court before moving to the present 6.8-hectare site, near the district hospital, in 1985.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/20051026081319/Article/indexb_html
Tiger cubs frolick for public at zoo
By FREDRICKA PAUL
The State News
The Potter Park Zoo, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, has three new Siberian tiger cubs. The cubs have been on view for the public for only a week. "They are playful for short periods of time, but they sleep a lot," said Jan Brigham, a zookeeper at Potter Park. The cubs were hand raised and bottle fed, but "we didn't want to make pets out of them," said Brigham.
JEANA-DEE ALLEN · The State News
The Potter Park Zoo, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. in Lansing, has three new Siberian tiger cubs. The cubs have been on view for the public for only a week. "They are playful for short periods of time, but they sleep a lot," said Jan Brigham, a zookeeper at Potter Park. The cubs were hand raised and bottle fed, but "we didn't want to make pets out of them," said Brigham.
Three of Potter Park Zoo's newest arrivals can finally come out to play.
The Amur, or Siberian tiger cubs were allowed outside on Oct. 20 for the first time since they were born.
The cubs, Zakhar and his two sisters Mifhka and Kumara, were born in March and have had some health difficulties in their young lives.
Zoo Director Gerald Brady said that the cubs' mother, Kendra, was sick and the cubs had to be taken away from her.
"We had to hand raise them. They had an exotic feline virus and they were very, very sick also," Brady said.
http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=32636
Severe damage could close Naples Zoo for two months
By Laura Layden (Contact)
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
The Naples Zoo will never be the same.
The landmark zoo and its historic gardens took a hit from Hurricane Charley last year. But that was nothing compared to Hurricane Wilma.
The damage from Wilma is so severe that the zoo could be closed for two months, while zoo staff clean up the mess and make it safe again for visitors.
"If we're open by Christmas I'll be happy," said David Tetzlaff, zoo director, during a media tour Tuesday.
He looked weary after days of little rest.
Wilma packed a powerful punch. It uprooted trees, split branches, knocked down fences and ruined exhibits at the zoo.
http://stormedition.naplesnews.com/news/2005/oct/26/severe_damage_could_close_naples_zoo_two_months/
Zoo Boo 2005
It's that time of year again!
Zoo Boo!
The Rio Grande Zoo celebrates it's annual Zoo Boo from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.
Admission is free for up to four children in costume accompanied by one paying adult.
This event is sponsored by the City of Albuquerque, KASA-Fox-2, Univision Radio and the Range-FM.
Zoo Boo offers a safe alternative to traditional door-to-door Halloween activities.
Zoo Boo sponsor booths will be located throughout the zoo along the main walkways and trick-or-treat maps will be distributed to guide you through the zoo for trick-or-treating.
Besides treats, there will also be a Haunted House from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., a costume contest, costume parades, dancers, children's activities, games and an all-new Scary-oke! contest and much, much more!
KASA.com will be there taking Zoo Boo photos you will be able to view on the KASA.com website shortly after the event!
http://www.kasa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4026117&nav=29KH
A grand day for Zoo as US beckons
Ros Snowdon
Deputy City Editor
ZOO DIGITAL, the company that makes interactive DVDs for programmes such as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and blockbuster films such as Madagascar, has signed a deal to make an interactive DVD game to link up with the new Wallace & Gromit blockbuster The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Zoo said the agreement was highly significant for the company as it marks the first time that a Zoo product has been published in the US.
Ian Stewart, Zoo's chief executive, said: "The Wallace & Gromit game is a landmark product for Zoo. Not only is it the world's first and most complex non-quiz interactive DVD game, but also because it marks the first time that Zoo has broken into the US market."
He added that following the release of the game the group hopes to agree further licensing deals in the North American market.
Yesterday's news follows an announcement earlier this month that Zoo has signed a deal with Walt Disney Pictures.
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1299&ArticleID=1231369
Japanese zoo proves to be a great crowd-pleaser
By KYOKO HASEGAWA
ASAHIYAMA, Japan - Surrounded by a crowd of admirers, 24-year-old Jack has no idea how close his home came to being shut down a decade ago as he dangles from a rope, scratching his shaggy red fur.
The orangutan plays happily at a zoo in northern Japan that was saved from the brink of closure and redesigned as a playground for animals that is now the country’s top wildlife attraction.
Dozens of visitors crowd around the cage of Jack, his 13-year-old mate Rian and their infant Momo as they clamber up a 17-meter (56-feet) pole designed to recreate the feel of a tree in the wild.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=20039
Monster zoo would give us (en)closure
HELEN MARTIN
THE young Iraqi man being interviewed on Channel 4 News was absolutely clear about what he thought should happen to Saddam Hussein.
Hanging, shooting, beheading or any other gruesome death the state might entertain simply wasn't good enough.
That would be too easy on Saddam. The people of Iraq, especially those who lost loved ones under his cruel regime, wanted more. Saddam had to suffer for a long time and endure, not the physical torture he so often imposed on others, but ritual humiliation - which would arguably be harder to bear for the arrogant dictator who still believes himself president.
The young man's suggestion was that Saddam be placed in a zoo.
http://news.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=2137012005
Tk 140m project for Dhaka Zoo uplift
10/25/2005
Authorities of the Dhaka Zoo have taken up a Tk 140 million (14 crore) project for its further development and to make it more attractive, reports BDNEWS.
Zoo sources said allocation of fund for the purpose has already been sought from the concerned ministry.
It is expected that if the project is implemented the earnings of the Zoo will be doubled.
Dhaka Zoo Curator Mofizur Rahman told the news agency that a meeting with the finance ministry had been held to discuss the allocation.
He expressed the hope that the livestock ministry would allocate the money very soon.
The project will include procurement of attractive animals, construction of walkway, setting up a zoo institute, introduction of zoo education, setting up restaurants and a theme park.
http://financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=10/25/2005§ion_id=3&newsid=4890&spcl=no
Zoo fans get educated on wolves
FELICIA HUNTER, Correspondent
BRIDGEPORT — In horror films, the image of a howling wolf can signal doom. But families visiting Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Saturday discovered they had little to fear from the large canine.
"They've had a bad rap for a lot of years," said Tracy Benham, a volunteer coordinator at the zoo. "They do not attack people. They're very shy."
Benham, along with zoo docents Kristen Johnson and James Punteney, were conducting the first day of the zoo's Wolf Awareness Weekend. For three hours, visitors learned about the zoo's six wolves through discussions and observation, crafts, an ongoing video and rubber models and plaster casts of wolf skulls and paws.
Held annually, the event is being sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife, an animal conservation organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
http://connpost.com/news/ci_3144080
At the zoo, new baby makes 7
The new baby elephant born Tuesday at the Indianapolis Zoo brings the herd size to seven.
Kubwa, 29, is the baby's mother. The other elephant cows are Ivory, about 23 years old, who is pregnant and due in September; Tombi, about 28; and Sophi, the grande dame at 38.
Ajani, now 5, was born to Ivory and is a bull. In March, Indianapolis welcomed Maclean, a 20-year-old bull on loan from a central Florida zoo for about five years. He is Ajani's father, but the conception was achieved through artificial insemination.
Here are more details about the new baby and Kubwa:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051023/NEWS01/510230464
Delhi Zoo becomes a smoke-free zone
Bindu Shajan Perappadan
FOR THEIR SAKE: A smoke-free zone is expected to give zoo inmates a more natural environment. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan
NEW DELHI: The Capital's National Zoological Park or Delhi Zoo as it is popularly known has declared itself a smoke-free zone.
Though the move comes much after sanctuaries and other reserved areas in the country have done so, it is expected to give animals housed in the Zoo a more natural environment and allow visitors to enjoy a pollution-free green patch.
http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/24/stories/2005102412250100.htm
Mysore zoo inundated; wall collapses
DH News Service Mysore:
A wall collapsed and rain water gushed into the zoo, flooding several animal enclosures. But no damage has been caused to any animal in the zoo.
The century-old Chamarajendra Zoological Garden witnessed a flash flood, following overflowing of water from the nearby Karanje lake due to heavy rains that lashed Mysore on Saturday evening.
Rain water gushed into the zoo and inundated several of the animal enclosures.
Such was the impact of the overflowing water that a compound facing the lake on the Chamundi Hills side collapsed, creating panic among zoo authorities.
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct242005/index20201420051023.asp
Mysore zoo flooded, animals safe
Abinanth Kumar
[ Monday, October 24, 2005 12:47:28 am
TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
MYSORE: Animals at the century-old Mysore zoo escaped death by the skin of their teeth when a neighbouring lake breached and its water flooded the zoo area on Saturday night. There was no sabbatical on Sunday at Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens.
Thanks to the overflowing Karanji Lake, water gushed into Anjaneya Temple located between the lake and zoo. Eight-foot-wide walls which are a bulwark for the Indian bison enclosure came crashing down. Before the zoo staff could gather its wits, the zoo was flooded.
In no time, water from the bison enclosure cracked the compound abutting the elephant enclosure, reducing the "walkthrough" reptiles' area into a pond.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1272436.cms
Even small zoos getting a neck up with interactivity
10/25/2005
Families are lining up on weekends to feed a long-necked furry friend at Chausuyama Zoo in Nagano city.
And when a mom holds her tot up to feed the giraffe, dad dutifully snaps away with his cellphone camera.
It's a new scene at the zoo, which like others have been hurting for visitors and trying just about anything-from more interaction with the animals to later hours-to bring the crowds back to the cash-strapped enterprises.
Since March, the Chausuyama Zoo has been focusing on experience-oriented events for visitors, such as pony rides and photo sessions with owls.
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200510250112.html
Get A Scare At The Pittsburgh Zoo Boo
Oct 22, 2005 9:54 pm US/Eastern
Pittsburgh (KDKA) If you want a taste of Halloween early, it might not be a bad idea to head to the Pittsburgh Zoo this weekend.
The annual Zoo Boo is going on this weekend, Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 28-30 from 6pm to 9pm.
This year, the event will feature strolling entertainment and a new lay-out.
Families can safely trick-or-treat at candy stations along the Ghost Path, and even get a spooky hairdo at the PPG Aquaraium’s Monster Splash.
Admission is $6 per person; $3 for zoo members.
http://kdka.com/local/local_story_295154032.html
Zoo puts all its animals within reach
By JAMES HART
The Kansas City Star
If you’ve ever wanted to touch a zebra, this could be your big chance.
The Hedrick Educational Petting Zoo of Nickerson, Kan., has set up shop at the American Royal, and it’s unlike just about any petting zoo around. Forget the bunny rabbits. The cast list includes kangaroos, an emu, a camel and a few animals you might not have heard of — like the nilgai, a kind of antelope from India.
And a zebra. All of them waiting to be touched, and perhaps fed. (Petting zoos, of course, are just about the only entertainment venue that encourages the audience to touch the performers.)
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/12967454.htm
Zoo accepting plant donations
As the forecast noses toward a freeze, you may have plants that you'd like to see in a good home rather than blackened to mush. If so, give the Sedgwick County Zoo a call. It's accepting plants to keep in greenhouses for the winter for use around the zoo next year.
The zoo propagates some plants, and large ficus and hibiscus trees can be used in the winter holding barn for perching birds. Both big and small plants are accepted, and all donations are tax-deductible.
If you have a question about whether the zoo would want your plants, or if you would like to arrange for the zoo horticulture staff to pick up your donation, call Pete Logsdon at 266-8313 and leave a message with your name and number, and the type of plant donation.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/eagle/living/home/gardening/12965430.htm
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