Fozblog

Look Who's Hanging Around the Zoo

Take a look at the cute new additions hanging around the zoo. Two joeys enjoy the comfort of their mothers' pouches, where they will stay for four to six months.

As you can see, fur colors of kangroos are not the same though they are both female; this is due to genetics and the fur color both of their parents. Although the name of the species is red kangaroo, generally females are more of a bluish gray and males are redder.

During the winter months at Dickerson Park Zoo, the kangaroo mob comes and goes from its heated housing area rather than being rounded up by the zookeepers and confined to their barn. This allows for less panic and stress on the animals amid the extreme temperatures.

Where is it in the zoo? Part 2

This fawn is located in front of the white-tailed deer exhibit in the Missouri Habitats region of Dickerson Park Zoo.

Thank you to all of the readers that responded to the post asking where the fawn is located-- you were all correct!

Where is it in the zoo?

This small statue is sometimes overlooked at Dickerson Park Zoo. Have you seen it? Where is it in the zoo?

Keeper Notes: Look up – There’s a bear in the air!

Most people who visit the zoo walk up to an exhibit and and expect to see the animal on the ground. Next time you walk up to the black bear exhibit, take a moment and look up. We have a young bear who spends most of his time in the trees during the spring and summer. Don’t worry, though - He is not stuck!

Black bears climb trees regularly to feed, escape enemies or sometimes even to hibernate. This is an ability their mothers use in the wild for protection from predators. Bears have great physical strength, and their claws are shorter and more curved to allow them to easily climb trees. This also seems to make them less aggressive because they can escape high in the trees to safety.

Currently, our little bear is sleeping in the log in the yard during this time of extreme cold.  Black bears do not truly hibernate. They will sleep during the cold times but will come out of their dens on warmer winter days.

So next time you take a walk on the wild side, look up for a change and see what else you can see.

Written by Bethany Gates, Zookeeper

Keeper Notes: Preparing for winter giraffe babies

Frequent visitors to Dickerson Park Zoo probably know that we have giraffe babies about every other year. Some lucky guests have probably even witnessed a birth, but have you ever wondered what we have to do when the babies are born in the winter? Two of our females are going to have babies this winter, and our staff is getting ready!

Our giraffes stay in the barn when it is below 32 degrees outside at night. We don’t want babies to be welcomed into the world on hard concrete, so we haul in about one cubic yard of dirt into a stall (one wheelbarrow load at a time!). The dirt is spread evenly throughout the stall.

The expectant mother stays in that stall each night until the baby is born. Depending on what the weather is like during the day, the mother and calf might have to stay inside for a few days. If it is warm enough, we will let them go outside. It usually takes the calf a little while to figure out how to get outside. Mom makes frequent trips back in the building to check on her calf and to try to get it to follow her.

Winter babies are definitely more work for the zookeepers, but it is always exciting to walk in the building first thing in the morning and see a new face staring at you!

Written by Andrea Kendrick, Zookeeper

Good-bye, Nisha. We love you.

It is with heavy hearts this morning that we write. Our elephant calf Nisha died from the elephant herpesvirus in the early hours of Dec. 1. Her zookeepers and the adult female elephants were with her in the elephant barn throughout the night.

While there were a few positive signs yesterday, Nisha's condition deteriorated rapidly throughout Friday evening.

Our elephant keepers and everyone here at Dickerson Park Zoo are deeply saddened by the loss of Nisha. She was a darling of our community, and many throughout the Ozarks participated in naming her after her birth in 2006 and enjoyed watching her grow up these last 16 months. We know you - our visiting public - will miss her as much as we will.

If you would like to send a message of support to Nisha's keepers, click on the comments link below or send an e-mail.

Endangered Species Feature: Cotton-top Tamarin

Cotton-top tamarins are small primates about the size of a squirrel. They weigh less than one pound and get their name from the white crest and mane on their head.

Cotton-top tamarins live in treetops in troops of 10-12 individuals. They are excellent jumpers and use their claws for climbing. Cotton-top tamarins feed primarily on fruits, insects and small vertebrates.

Monogamous pairs use a "helper" system for raising offspring, where males and siblings also carry the infants. Four out of every five births are twins. They are known to live more than 13 years in captivity.

Dickerson Park Zoo is home to three cotton-top tamarins. Josh and Nina were introduced for breeding in late 2006. Their first infant was born August 3. Zookeepers have not yet been able to examine the infant or determine its gender.

Found solely in northwestern Columbia, the cotton-top tamarin is extremely endangered. To date, more cotton-top tamarins live in captivity than in the wild. More than three-quarters of their habitat has been destroyed due to deforestation for settlement, farming and hydroelectric projects. The illegal pet trade and medical research have also contributed to deteriorating populations.

Extinction of the cotton-top tamarin would have serious implications on the delicate ecosystem of northwest Columbia. They are an important source for dispersing seeds throughout the forest.

Friends of the Zoo Celebrate Nisha's Birthday

Twelve hundred Friends of the Zoo members came out July 19 for a special members-only "surprise" birthday party for Nisha, our elephant calf. Watch the YouTube video below and follow this link to Flickr.com to see our party pics.

Thank you to all our friends who made this a great event! And, a special thank you to the children who thought enough of Nisha to bring birthday cards and presents.

Nisha Turns 1 - And, elephants in the wild need your help!

Nisha turns one on July 18. My how she's grown. She was 238 pounds at birth and now weighs more than 880 pounds!

Celebrate Nisha's birthday and help elephants in the wild. We've put together a special ADOPT package for Nisha's birthday. For $75, you receive a 12-inch TY plush elephant, a 5x7 color photograph of Nisha, an elephant fact sheet and a personalized ADOPT certificate. Dickerson Park Zoo will contribute $25 of your ADOPT fee to help elephants in the wild in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is home to more than 3,000 wild Asian elephants, which is significant for this fairly small island. Many conservation projects provided by National Zoo are underway to preserve the mystifying Asian elephants and protect populations from further harm. Projects include GPS satellite mapping to track elephant herds and studies to understand how traditional agricultural dynamics influence elephant movements and habitat. Dickerson Park Zoo has been contributing to these efforts since 2005, and will continue to help raise awareness of Asian elephant conservation.

This Week at Dickerson Park Zoo - July 16, 2007

Show Notes:
:09 Introduction
:21 Animal Feature
2:05 What you can do to help elephants
2:19 Elephant ADOPT for Nisha's birthday
2:50 Elephantastic Week

Right click here to download this podcast (4180.9K)