What a Zoo!
October 29, 2005 - Ghosts and Goblins, Games and Activities
It's that time of year again, where ghosts and goblins can be seen haunting the animals at the Toledo zoo.
The pumpkin path takes place today and tomorrow at the Toledo zoo and due to popular demand, this year the zoo is making some sweet changes.
Candy is just part of the fun, especially when you can see what everyone else is wearing. If the costumes don't grab your attention maybe some of the other activities will.
The Toledo Zoo has twenty candy stations all along the pumpkin path, along with games and activities, and live performances.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=3584872
Zoo won't build savanna; elephants' future uncertain
By Julie Stoiber
Inquirer Staff Writer
With fund-raising stalled and other projects taking priority, the Philadelphia Zoo yesterday said it would not build a savanna to replace the small yard and barn in which its elephants live, throwing into uncertainty the future of Petal, Bette, Kallie and the ailing Dulary.
The decision to defer construction of the savanna, and to focus on building a new children's zoo and revamping the bird house, was made by the zoo's board of directors, chairman Peter G. Gould said in an interview.
Zoo staffers in the coming months will figure out what to do with the elephants on an animal-by-animal basis. It was not clear whether they would relocate some or all of the elephants to another facility.
"We did not resolve that question today," Gould said.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/13026099.htm
The loneliest animal in the zoo
By Zafrir Rinat
Elephants are sociable creatures who live in herds. At the Safari in Ramat Gan there is a veteran herd of elephants, but in recent months, a female elephant called La Petite has been living alongside them in an isolated cage. She was rejected by her friends and distanced from the herd. Animal rights activists claim that a new home could have been found for the elephant, but the administration of the Safari did not take advantage of this possibility, and continues to keep her in isolation, which is harmful to her welfare.
La Petite, a 19-year-old Asiatic elephant, joined the herd in the Safari after a hard life in the circus and in zoos in Europe, during which she apparently suffered from abuse. This led to an incident during which she killed one of her keepers. The Safari in Ramat Gan agreed to take her in, because in this zoo there is no direct contact between the elephants and the keepers.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/639415.html
I am concerned what this trend is in the survival of giraffes. There has been several deaths across the country.
Giraffe at Riverbanks Zoo dies following foot surgery
(Columbia) October 27, 2005 - A giraffe at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia has died following surgery for a foot problem. The 15-year-old giraffe, named Becky, had been at Riverbanks since 1991.
Zoo volunteer Jim Wilhide, "Becky always came over to greet me and have some food..."
Jim Wilhide must say goodbye to Becky, an animal he's helped care for for two years, "I was very sad. It hurt a great deal because I was with her in the morning when they started the procedure."
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4041551&nav=0RaP
Baby's zoo debutClumsy but cute toddler wows a crowd at his 1st public appearance
By Theodore Kim
theodore.kim@indystar.com
His trunk movements are as graceful as an out-of-control garden hose. And the walking thing? It needs a little work.But the new baby elephant at the Indianapolis Zoo drew plenty of oh-he's-so-cute gasps during his first public appearance Friday.
He'll grow into those ears: The elephant calf will be on display again from 1 to 2 p.m. today and Sunday.
ADRIANE JAECKLE / The Star
The yet-to-be-named African bull elephant, delivered Oct. 18 by his mother, Kubwa, also will be on display from 1 to 2 p.m. today and Sunday.Hordes of children and parents with strollers and digital cameras began lining the exhibit an hour or so before the baby arrived.With Kubwa and a small army of zoo keepers by his side, the teeny 210-pound pachyderm plunged headlong into his mother's alfalfa pile, beat his curtain-thin ears and took refuge between his mother's legs.He also showcased his newfound walking skills, which evoked images of a newscaster trying to stand straight in hurricane-strength winds. The crowd witnessed at least three full-on banana peel moments."To see something that size try to keep its balance, it's amazing to watch," said David Watt, Fishers, who came with his wife, Shelly, and their 5-year-old son, Andrew.Tricia Everett, 34, Noblesville, came with her three children: 9-year-old Morgan, 7-year-old Connor and 5-year-old Will."Boring," Will declared."He stays in one spot," Connor said."But, really, he's active," Morgan said.Ah, kids.
Call Star reporter Theodore Kim at (317) 444-6247.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051029/NEWS01/510290522/
Tourist 'has not caught bird flu from Thai zoo
Posted on Friday, October 28 @ W. Europe Daylight Time by webmaster
A man who fell ill on the French island of Reunion after visiting a bird zoo in Thailand is not after all suffering from bird flu, the French health ministry said today. NI_MPU('middle');Tests on samples taken from the 43-year-old Frenchman, who being kept in quarantine in hospital, had shown that he "is not a carrier of the H5N1 virus, but rather a flu virus of another sort," the ministry said. It added that it was awaiting the results of tests on two other patients on the Indian Ocean island whose similar symptoms provoked fears yesterday that they might have contracted bird flu. The three had all recently returned from a vacation in Thailand, where they had visited a zoo housing birds.
http://www.lasalute.net/article33809-tourist-has-not-caught.html
Vets guard against flu at the Aviary
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Like people, the nearly 800 birds that inhabit National Aviary in the North Side have personalities.
Some -- such as the green-winged macaws -- are colorful and flashy. Others, such as the Guam rails, are very shy. And a few are friendly: the Victoria crowned pigeons will tag along as tourists walk through the sprawling rain forest exhibit.
And, also like people, they can get sick.
While health officials worldwide are taking steps against the spread of an avian influenza virus killing people in Southeast Asia, on the North Side veterinarians and aviculturists -- including those at the nation's premier bird park -- are taking precautions to keep their birds safe.
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/health/s_389124.html
Ha Noi Zoo intensifies the protection of rare wild bird species as flu looms
10/30/2005 -- 19:58(GMT+7)
Ha Noi (VNA) - The Ha Noi Zoo has taken a number of measures to protect its rare wild large bird species from the risk of be infected with the lethal H5N1 virus that causes bird flu, said Dang Gia Tung, deputy director of the zoo.
The zoo has spent more than 10 million VND in buying equipment and chemicals for disinfecting the area.
Bird rearing areas are cleaned with disinfectants three times a week while areas for large animals, twice a week. The staff of the zoo also follow strict regulations on disinfections.
The staff has been instructed to conduct necessary tests upon detecting any bird having symptoms of being infected with H5N1 virus.
Besides, the zoo has always given its birds with vitamin and mineral supplements and safe and quality food.
http://www.vnagency.com.vn/NewsA.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=32&NEWS_ID=172622
Valley attractions range from fun parks to zoos
Tribune
October 30, 2005
Fast-growing and flourishing, the East Valley embraces a collection of vibrant communities, each offering a broad array of attractions and activities. Here, high-tech production facilities coexist with Old West legends and seemingly endless outdoor recreation opportunities.
Some options:
Castles ’N’ Coasters, 9445 N. Metro Parkway East, Phoenix, (602) 997-7575. Outdoor center with miniature golf and roller coasters, bumper cars and arcade. Opens at 10 a.m. daily, closing hours vary. Prices vary.
D & D Tuff Trax, 9333 E. Apache Trail No. 102, Mesa, (480) 986-2225. Model and slot car racing facility for all ages.
Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, (480) 941-1217. Desert landscaping includes walking tours, bird walks and interactive exhibits. Collection of desert plants from around the world. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily except Christmas and July 4. $4-$9.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=51580
Zoo neighbors blame city for parking problems
As Albuquerque kids make their way to the Rio Grande Zoo for the annual Zoo Boo, hundreds of cars line residential streets near the zoo.
Last Update: 10/30/2005 2:35:11 PM
By: Todd Dukart
The annual Zoo Boo brought thousands of little ghosts and goblins to the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque. But what neighbors are more worried about are the goblin-mobiles that ended up blocking many driveways.
Cars lined the streets near the zoo, slowing down traffic and blocking many zoo neighbors in.
“An emergency could happen, and we can’t get out of our neighborhoods,” said Robert Vigil, who lives near the zoo.
But he’s not mad at the visitors. Instead, he placed the blame soundly on the city of Albuquerque.
“We’ve got a great zoo. We’ve been great neighbors to them,” Vigil said. “I think it’s time they be good neighbors to us.”
Last year, voters approved a $5 million plan to build a new parking structure at the zoo, but the mayor pulled the plug on the construction, saying it would cost more than twice as much to build a structure for 400 cars.
City officials say they need to come up with the $7 million difference before breaking ground. The next opportunity to get a bond issue on the ballot isn’t until next year.
http://www.kobtv.com/index.cfm?viewer=storyviewer&id=22498&cat=NMTOPSTORIES
Animals Stolen from Wilmington Zoo
Oct 30, 2005, 09:43 PM EST
OCTOBER 30, 2005 -- A Wilmington zoo is broken into, an animal is killed, and other animals are stolen.
Officials say someone beat a priarie dog to death and threw it into the lion's pin at Tregembo Animal Park on Carolina Beach Road.
Authorities say the intruders broke the glass to the snake pins and stole five snakes.
No one has been arrested for the crimes.
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=4048991&nav=2gQc
Zoo hit harder than last year; repair cost could exceed $1 million
By Ivette M. Yee
Staff Writer
Posted October 30 2005
West Palm Beach · A group of guinea hens roamed the parking lot of the Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park. Hurricane Wilma created new escape routes.
Strong hurricane winds once again battered the zoo, which last year suffered more than a $1 million in damage.
This time around, animal losses were minimal -- a couple of ducks were killed -- but there was more structural damage, zoo officials said. They expect damage to equal or exceed last year's.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-pzoo30oct30,0,3430009.story?coll=sfla-news-palm
Visitors to the Kolkata Zoo thrilled to see two new guests
Kolkata : The zoo authorities in Kolkata and hundreds of its visitors were delighted as they watched two special guests at the zoo. Two hippopotamus from Mumbai have joined the family of the animals kept in Alipore Zoological Gardens in Kolkata after a Mumbai Court expressed concern over the inadequate space accorded to them.
At a portly three quintals each, these two hippos were brought from Mumbai in a delicate package but it was not easy to unwrap them. “Actually the Mumbai zoo have a lot of Hippopotamus but they don't have big spaces to accommodate so many. So they have sent one pair here to the Kolkata zoo as per the instruction of the Central Zoo Authority,” says S.K.Chowdhury, Director, Alipore Zoological Gardens.
http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=44299
Montgomery Zoo animals churning out ZooDoo
By Deitrich Curry
Montgomery Advertiser
Zack Enos, one of the keepers at the Montgomery Zoo, uses food Friday to tempt the 26-year-old Indian rhinoceros named Sport. Once Sport is "done" with his food, it will join the massive amounts of animal waste being used in a new project called ZooDoo.
Apparently, anything is recyclable. The Montgomery Zoo has received a $10,000 grant from the governor to recycle animal manure.
The program, called ZooDoo, converts animal waste to soil-enriching fertilizer. The grant was paid to the city to compost animal manure for soil that will be beneficial to farmers.
"I think it is a great idea," said Jennifer Murphy, a zookeeper. "Why waste it?"
Murphy is one of the zookeepers who scoop the animal waste from the barns twice a day to keep them clean. She scooped it from three African elephants Friday morning and said she always knew that the animals' waste would be resourceful.
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051029/NEWS01/510290332/1007
concluding ...
