Fozblog

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Big Babies!

If you answered "C," 14-15 months, to this week’s Tuesday Trivia you are correct!

If you were surprised at how long the gestation period for giraffes is, you may be even more surprised to hear how large newborn giraffe calves are. After a 14- to 15-month pregnancy, giraffes give birth to one, 6-foot-tall and approximately 120-pound calf. That is one big baby!

Giraffe babies can walk within an hour of birth. As they continue to grow, calves live in herds with their mothers, other female giraffes and their young. Once fully grown, giraffes are generally between 18 feet and 19 feet tall. In zoos, giraffes can live up to 20 years.

Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!

Tuesday Trivia - Big Babies!

There is a new face at Dickerson Park Zoo’s giraffe yard! Kamili, a 12-year-old giraffe gave birth to Stretch, Jr., on July 12. The public had the opportunity to help name the calf through the zoo's Facebook page.

The Dickerson Park Zoo family has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this new baby for quite some time. Can you guess how long?

How long is a Barigo Giraffe’s typical gestation period?

A) 9-10 months
B) 11-12 months
C) 14-15 months
D) 16-18 months

E-mail your answer by Thursday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Thursday for the correct answer and for more information about giraffes.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Monkey Business

False. Capuchin monkeys actually have the largest brains of all New World monkeys. In fact, Capuchin monkeys are so intelligent that they are sometimes trained as companion animals for people with disabilities.

An example of the intelligence of these amazing monkeys in the wild is their ability to problem solve. Scientists have observed capuchins utilizing a particular species of millipede to help repell mosquitos. In practice, one monkey will rub the millipede all over its fur and then pass it to another monkey to do the same. Analysis of the millipede secretions show they are loaded with benzoquinones which are potent mosquito repellants.

Congratulations to Jamie Waite from Lebanon whose name was drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!

Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!

Tuesday Trivia - Monkey Business

Have you ever seen the movie, Night at the Museum? If so, you’re probably familiar with “Dexter,” a wily capuchin monkey who gives Ben Stiller’s character a tough time. Here at Dickerson Park Zoo we have a few capuchin monkeys of our own that you can see face-to-face. How much do you know about these sometimes mischievous monkeys?

True or False: Capuchin monkeys have the 3^rd largest brains of all New World monkeys.

E-mail your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about capuchin monkeys.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Feathery Father Figures

If you answered "E" to this week's Tuesday Trivia you were correct. Within the animal kingdom, male rheas stand out as exceptional fathers because after mating with up to 12 females they scrape out a nest in which all the females lay eggs (up to 60 total!). Then, the males take responsibility for incubating the eggs and protecting the chicks once they hatch. Rheas are undeniably quite dedicated fathers.

While Rheas are native to the grassy plains of South America, you don't have to fly south of the equator to get a glipse of these praise-worthy birds. On your next trip to Dickerson Park Zoo, simply stop by the rhea exhibit in the South American region to see one of these fathers face-to-face.

In the picture, our male stands behind the female. His feathers are a little fluffier, his colors are a little bolder, and he's bigger.

Congratulations to Crystal Trahan from Buffalo whose name was drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!

Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes! The Tuesday Trivia results were delayed this week because of all the excitement of the giraffe calf that was born here Tuesday afternoon. We were busy taking pictures! Hope you understand!

Crystal Trahan

Tuesday Trivia - Feathery Father Figures

While Father's Day passed many weeks ago, sometimes it’s just necessary to recognize quality father figures. That is why we here at Dickerson Park Zoo tip our hats to male rheas. Do you know what makes male rheas such great fathers?

Which of the following behaviors do male Rheas exhibit?

a) They construct nests in which their mates lay eggs.
b) They take responsibility for incubating the eggs.
c) They protect and care for their chicks after they hatch.
d) A and C only.
e) All of the above.

E-mail your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about rheas.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Bears, Oh My!

If you answered E to this week's Tuesdays Trivia, you are correct! North American black bears’ furs vary in color from glossy black to dark blue-gray to brown and cinnamon. In fact, bears Yona (pronounced OH-na) and Gus, who call Dickerson Park Zoo home, are different colors. Yona has glossy black fur, while Gus has brown-ish/cinnamon fur.

Interestingly, your chances of sighting a black bear in the wild are increasing. While North American black bears are native to Missouri, their population is on the rise thanks to some successful conservation efforts in Arkansas during the 1950s and 1960s. During that time Arkansas wildlife officials brought 254 Minnesota and Manitoba black bears to join the 30 to 40 bears estimated to be in Arkansas. As a result of breeding cycles, the Arkansas black bear population has grown and some bears have migrated north to Missouri.

As Missouri welcomes its newest furry residents, it becomes beneficial for people to further educate themselves about black bears so that both can coexist happily. Learn more about Missouri’s increasing black bear population on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website, and become "Bear Aware" with this information.

Congratulations to J.D. Harmon from Ozark whose name was drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!

Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!

Tuesday Trivia - Bears, Oh My!

On your latest walk through the Missouri Habitats section of Dickerson Park Zoo, you likely saw our two North American black bears, Yona and Gus. It may surprise some visitors to the zoo to hear that the name “black bear” is somewhat misleading since not all black bears have black fur.

 What colors, other than black, can black bears’ fur be?

a) Cinnamon
b) Brown
c) Dark blue-gray
d) Both A and C
e) All of the above

E-mail your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about lemurs.