Take Some Baby Photos For Your Zoo Album

Female Offspring is Seventh Endangered Orangutan Born at the Zoo

A newborn orangutan was welcomed into the world late afternoon (approximately 4:30 p.m.) Sunday, August 3, at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.  Although this is the fourth baby for experienced mom “Dee Dee,” it is her first to be born on exhibit.

“As a fourth-time mom, Dee Dee was clearly at ease with this birth, delivering quickly in her own way and time, which for her was outdoors,” said Angela Belcher, assistant curator of primates.  “Josie,” another adult female orangutan, helped to clean the baby up after the birth. 

You Can Not Win, If You Do Not Enter

Zoo’s Annual Photo Contest Begins

If you take super snapshots, you’ll want to enter them in the annual Kansas City Zoo Zooper Snapshots photo contest.

You may submit photos beginning August 1. T here are two age categories, adult and youth 3 through 11.  Each age group contains three content categories: animals, nature and black-and-white photography.

The rules are simple: The photographs must have been taken between September 1, 2007 and the last day for submission, September 30, 2008. No retouching or digital manipulation is allowed, although you may crop photos for size and content.

Totals Include Purchases Made by Zoos and Aquariums

71 Million Pet Owners And 382 Million Pets Equal A $43 Billion Industry That Shows No Signs Of Slowing

Devoted pet owners are investing thousands of dollars on animal acupuncture, kitty chiropractics, doggie dentistry, and other alternative therapies in an effort to improve the lives of their feathered and furry friends, and vets are cashing in, according to an industry report released today by IBISWorld, inc. IBISWorld, Inc (www.ibisworld.com) is recognized as one of the nation’s most respected independent publishers of business intelligence research, including more than 700 industry reports on virtually every segment of the U.S. economy.

The Big Business of Pampering Pets “Around 63 percent of all U.S. households (71.1 million) are proud pet owners, and more than half of half of these households have more than one animal,” said Mr. Van Horn, a Senior Analyst with IBISWorld.  “It all adds up to big money when your consider 382.2 million pets,” said Mr. Van Horn, who estimates Americans will spend an incredible $43.4 billion on their furry companions, feathered friends, reptiles, and a varied assortment of other types of pets this year.  According to one of IBISWorld’s latest industry reports, the $43-plus billion Americans spend on their pets has become big business.  Here is what consumers are buying for their furry companions:
 

Chuck Gets Dual Citizenship

Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s elephant gives birth in Canada.  African Lion Safari announces the birth of the first third-generation Asian Elephant calf in North America.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is pleased to announce that Mali, one of the zoo’s two female Asian Elephants on loan to the African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario, gave birth to a healthy male calf on July 15.  The calf was named “Chuck” by the staff at the African Lion Safari after the director of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Chuck was born to 11-year-old Mali after a 614 day gestation period.  The newborn is the first calf for Mali and the fourth calf for father, Rex.  The birth is very significant as it is the first third-generation Asian elephant calf to be born in North America.   
 

Mom, What Kind Of Fish Is That?

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is offering snorkelers and certified divers an opportunity to spend a weekend swimming with the fish and learning about marine life.

The Aquarium is partnering with Diving Unlimited International (DUI), a scuba diving equipment manufacturer, to host the annual Diver Rally and Demo Days Friday, August 22 through Sunday, August 24.

Participants may try out dive gear while swimming or snorkeling up close to fishes and invertebrates or learning underwater digital photography. “You don’t have to be a dive expert to enjoy this weekend’s activities,” according to Vallorie Hodges, Aquarium Dive Safety Officer. “This is a great family event, as well - Friday is Family Day with a special course for everyone age 10 and older.”
 

His Name Is Mkuu

Meet the newest member of the Blank Park Zoo- a reticulated giraffe, born early Saturday morning at 3:22am on the south side of Des Moines..

Animal keepers at the zoo say the male baby giraffe calf began standing and walking within twenty minutes, is nursing, and appears to have bonded with its mother, Samburu.

Zoo workers have been keeping their distance- mother giraffes have highly protective instincts.  But after two days, it was time for a well-baby exam. 

Zookeepers say the baby’s height was 6’2” and weight was 172 lbs and report that mother and baby are doing just fine.

Photo Credit: Ryan Bickel, Blank Park Zoo

These Folks Drank Your Beer Last Year

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is hosting Brew at the Zoo…and wine, too! on Saturday, August 9, 2008 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.  The event has been moved to August and several new additions will enhance the guest experience.

“We’re really excited about this year’s event,” says Janet Agostini, Executive Director of the Friends of the Zoo.  “Brew at the Zoo has so many great new things to offer at an all-inclusive, affordable price.”

This year the Rosamond Gifford Zoo has added several new features to the event.  In addition to 56 brands of beer from 20 breweries, guests will enjoy a variety of New York State wines paired with a selection of gourmet cheeses in the wine garden.  Also new this year is Zydeco Vacation, a Cajun and Creole style band known for its high-energy entertainment. In addition, guests will still be able to participate in a silent auction and enjoy a gourmet menu, catered by P&C Food and Pharmacy.

Anybody See My Feathers?

Nashville Zoo welcomes their first rhinoceros hornbill chick. Avian Curator Joe deGraauw and his team are hand-rearing the chick that was born May 30.

Nashville Zoo’s rhino hornbill chick is the first in the nation to be artificially incubated and hand-reared. Just 12 days after the mother laid the egg, deGraauw and Nashville Zoo’s avian keepers took over incubation to ensure the egg’s survival.

deGraauw and his team are keeping the chick healthy with regular feedings four times a day, which include bits of fruit and crickets. “The term ‘eats like a bird’ doesn’t really apply here,” said deGraauw. “This chick eats 50 percent of its body weight a day.”

As the captive population of rhino hornbills ages, less chicks are born, and as a result, the captive population becomes less diverse. Nashville Zoo’s chick is a genetically valuable contribution to the population and the Species Survival Plan (SSP). When mature, depending on recommendations from the SSP coordinator, the chick will either join Nashville Zoo’s rhino hornbill on exhibit along Bamboo Trail or find a more suitable mate at another zoo.

They're Out!

Hello World! A rockhopper penguin chick at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago peaks out of its rocky crevice nesting den for the first time ever on Aug. 1. The chick hatched in early July and its sex is yet unknown.  

Rockhopper penguins are one of the more northerly penguin species found on islands near South America, the southern Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand.

As their name implies, rockhopper penguins live and nest on rocky shorelines, and hop from rock to rock.

Photo taken August 1 by Greg Neise, Lincoln Park Zoo.

A Shark Costume That Won't Fetch Much Halloween Candy

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is looking for teenagers to join its Youth Work Experience Program. Young people have an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of marine science and share their knowledge as Aquarium interpreters. Youth volunteers spend 24 hours in training learning about marine science, marine animals, and conservation.  Successful completion of training can earn young people 3 transferable college credits from the Oregon Coast Community College and high school credit in some high schools as well. 

“Our Work Experience participants are a valuable component of our Volunteer Team here at the Aquarium,” said Chris Stanbery, Aquarium Youth Programs Coordinator. “These exciting programs offer young people the chance to gain experience in many different areas of aquarium operation including interpreting to the public, working with the animals, behind the scenes and improving communication and public speaking skills. All of our programs offer the opportunity to work, learn, and be part of a great team,” said Stanbery.

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Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums Blog
by Marilee Menard, Executive Director, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums in Alexandria, VA.

Christina's Wildlife Photography Blog
by Christina Bush, V.P., Sr. Financial Consultant, Wells Fargo Investments PR Director, Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary

Eco-Touring in Australian Rainforest
by Prue Hewett, Owner, Co-Director, Cooper Creek Wilderness

Eco-Touring in Ecuador
by Renato Gregorini, Co-owner, Reserva Ecologica Pachijal

Eco-Touring in Mexico
by Kenneth Johnson, General Director, EcoColors

Eco-Traveler - Carol's Journeys and Observations
by Carol Patterson, Principal, Kalahari Managment, Eco-Tourism/Communication Consulting

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by Lee Little, Founder and CEO, BarZ Adventures

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by Allison Blankenship, Owner and Head Wildlife Educator, Zooniversity, LLC

Launching Zoo and Aquarium Visitor
by Rudy Socha, CEO, Zoo and Aquarium Visitor

Responsible Travel - EcoTraveling
by Brian T. Mullis. President, Sustainable Travel International
 
Wildlife Rehabilitation in the Midwest
by Jane Schnelker, Founder, Wildlife Haven
 
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by Brittany Davis, Clinic Supervisor and Alicia Eastham, Clinic Supervisor, Second Chance Wildlife Center

Wild Wonders of Europe is a unique media initiative. Featuring 50 of Europe's best nature photographers.  
by Staffan Widstrand, Magaging Director

Zoos, Aquariums and Wildlife
by Alice L. Lockhardt, Freelance Zoo & Aquarium Writer

Become a Featured Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Blogger

Everyone who registers for a user name and password can set up their own blog on our site. On our home page we want to feature bloggers who will provide our visitors with informative and entertaining reading.

Zoo and Aquarium Visitor's goal is to help zoos and aquariums build positive relationships with the public, and increase the number and frequency of people's visits. Once there, the zoos and aquariums teach visitors about the species in their exhibits, and why the species are important to us as humans.

The contest ended July 31, 2008.
Winners have been notified by email.
As soon as we receive postal addresses and mail the prizes, the winners will be announced.

Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Magazine
premieres October, 2008

Every year over half the residents of the United States visit a zoo, an aquarium or an animal attraction. These visits come in many forms; field trips for children, a day's visit during vacation, or a one day local trip.

Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Magazine will maintain a position as the leading authority for consumer information regarding the zoo, aquarium and wildlife attraction marketplace. Each month we will take our readers on tours of at least 3 facilities in the United States and one internationally. Our readers will learn what makes each place unique, and what to expect when they arrive for their own visit. For the readers who will never visit the facilities profiled, we will provide them with a sense of familiarity and a taste of what the attraction is really like.

Become a wildlife paparazzi

and earn paparazzi fees.

Zoo and Aquarium Visitor Magazine is a reader inclusive publication and encourages its readers to participate in each issue. We want input, questions, ideas and reader photos in every issue.

We encourage you to send us your best photos for inclusion in our magazine. If you send a cover quality photo as selected by our executives, it will earn you $1,000.00.  Each good quality standard photo included in an issue will earn you $50.00. Zoo, aquarium, and wildlife attraction employees are allowed to participate and receive no preference when it comes to judging. Children are also allowed and encouraged to participate.

Click here, for more details on submitting photos.