Fozblog

Tuesday Trivia - Don't Fry Day

This Friday, May 25, is Don't Fry Day at Dickerson Park Zoo. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention reminds you to Slip! Slop! Slap! or Wrap! the Friday before Memorial Day every year.

• Slip on a shirt.
• Slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the council recommends SPF 30).
• Slap on a wide-brimmed hat.
• Wrap on sunglasses.

Remember to follow safe sun practices whenever you and your family are outdoors.

Did you know that one particular resident at Dickerson Park Zoo has his own natural sunscreen? Henry, like all other hippopotamuses, secretes a thick red substance from his pores. Along with being a natural sunscreen, this mucous keeps a hippo's skin moist while on land which prevents dehydration. This mucous also acts as an antibiotic warding off infection on even large wounds on a hippopotamus's skin.

How long can a hippopotamus stay submerged in water?
A. 1-2 minutes
B. 5-6 minutes
C. 10-12 minutes
D. 15-17 minutes

Email your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for your chance to win a pair of one-day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check our FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about hippopotamuses.

Tuesday Trivia - A Holiday Weekend

This Saturday, May 12, marks the 20th celebration of International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD). This event was established by Environment for the Americas (EFTA) to inform and educate the public about the need for migratory bird conservation and is observed in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

This Sunday, May 13, is Mother's Day. Anna Jarvis was the first to rally support for such a holiday in 1908. President Woodrow Wilson established the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in 1914. This day is set aside to honor all mothers for their love and support. Dickerson Park Zoo will also celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday with free admission for mothers!

For this week's Tuesday Trivia, we have combined the best of both holidays! This week's topic is the European white stork.

European white storks are migratory birds that have long been identified with expectant mothers. This legend is thought to originate in northern Germany as storks arrive on their breeding grounds approximately nine months after midsummer. In many European countries, storks are encouraged to build their nests on homes in the hope of bringing fertility and prosperity to the home's inhabitants.

True or False: A European white stork will use the same nest throughout its lifetime to incubate its eggs.

Email your answer by Wednesday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win a pair of one-day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check our FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and for more information about the European white stork.

Tuesday Trivia - A Bear of a Question

This Saturday marks a much anticipated event here at Dickerson Park Zoo - Mercy Children's Hospital Teddy Bear Rally! So, we decided to celebrate this week with some bear-themed Tuesday Trivia.

The North American black bear is the smallest and most adaptable bear in North America. They can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, swamps and mountains across the United States, Canada and northern Mexico. Their coloring can also differ between various shades of black, blue-grey and brown. Along with being able to climb trees, black bears can run up to 30 mph and swim in search of food.

True of False: Black bears are true hibernators.

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one-day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check our FOZblog on Wednesay for the correct answer and to learn more about the North American black bear.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - An Earth Day Celebration

If you answered B. 1970 to this week's trivia question, you are correct! April 22 that year was a Wednesday and so chosen because it fell between spring break and finals for college students who were considered a vital population for the environmental movement.

More than 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day including thousands of colleges and universities. Many celebrations featured teach-ins with motivational speakers concerned about the health of the environment. This first Earth Day spurred the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Several pieces of legislature were also consequently passed including the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 among others.

In 1990, Earth Day went global with more than 200 million people in 141 countries participating. This worldwide conservation movement led to the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Earth Day Network, a leader in the environmental movement, estimates that more than one billion people from across the globe will participate in Earth Day this Sunday.

And, you can start the celebration a little early with Party for the Planet, Dickerson Park Zoo's Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 21. Visit the zoo's website for all the details. Dickerson Park Zoo is one of more tha 100 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums throughout North America celebration Earth Day through Party for the Planet 2012.

Congratulations to Kaitlyn Grose from Ozark, Mo., whose name was randomly drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week! 

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

Tuesday Trivia - An Earth Day Celebration

This upcoming Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day. This international observance was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson after realizing that the state of the environment was a non-issue in government. Today, Earth Day continues to encourage respect for life and promote conservation efforts for soil, water and air in communities at every level.

Internationally, this year's Earth Day theme is "Mobilize the Earth" sponsored by Earth Day Network, an organization that has its roots in the first Earth Day and is considered a leader in the environmental movement. "Mobilize the Earth" is part of Earth Day Network's "A Billion Acts of Green" campaign. This campaign asks people around the globe to register their Earth Day activities with the ultimate goal of reaching one billion acts before the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) in Rio de Janeiro this June.

Locally, Dickerson Park Zoo will once again host Party for the Planet for Earth Day. This sixth annual event will be celebrated by more than 100 zoos and aquariums across North America, making it the largest Earth Day celebration in North America!

What year marked the first Earth Day?
A. 2000
B. 1970
C. 1930
D. 1900

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one-day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check our FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and to learn more about Earth Day!

Tuesday Trivia - An EGGS-citing Question

In honor of Saturday's exciting Enrichment EGGstravaganza, this week's Tuesday Trivia will feature an egg-laying zoo animal - the American alligator.

The American alligator can look pretty scary with its rough, scaled body and sharp, toothy grin. But, how can you be sure you are looking at an alligator? Alligators and crocodiles can easily be mistaken due to their similar appearance. However, there are a few key characteristics to look for in determining between an alligator and a crocodile.

Which of the following is a difference between the American alligator and the crocodile?
A. An alligator has 2,000-3,000 teeth during its lifetime. A crocodile has between 3,000-4,000 teeth in its lifetime.
B. Alligators lay between three and five eggs per nesting while crocodiles lay between eight and 10.
C. Alligators are herbivores. Crocodiles are carnivores.
D. Alligators have wide, rounded snouts while crocodiles have longer, more pointed snouts.

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check our FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and to learn more about the American alligator.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Hungry Hippos

If you answered “E. A and C only” to this week’s Tuesday trivia question, you are correct! Hippopotamuses like Henry are herbivores and naturally feed on aquatic plants, grass and foliage. However, if you stop by Dickerson Park Zoo on Saturday Aug. 27, you may catch a glimpse of our lovable hippo enjoying a special treat.

This Saturday, Dickerson Park Zoo is celebrating Henry's 30th birthday during the annual Pancakes in the Park event. If you stop by Henry's exhibit at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or noon you'll get to see him munching on his special birthday treat -- a whole watermelon. Large fruits, like watermelon, are sometimes given to hippopotamuses on special occassions as a nice addition to their plant-based diet.

Of course, birthdays are more fun if you get to share the celebration with others. So, the zoo is offering free slices of chilled watermelon to the public as well. Be sure to stop by the zoo this Saturday and join in the fun.

Congratulations to Shawn Scott from Lenox, Mo., 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!

Go WILD with Holiday Shopping!

The annual sale at the Safari Trading Company gift shop kicked off on "Black Friday" and continues through Dec. 24.

The Safari Trading Company features a unique selection of plush animals, wildlife toys, figurines and zoo apparel for the animal lover on your list. And, your purchases support valuable zoo projects and conservation education programs.

The general public receives a 10 percent discount on gift shop merchandise. Current Friends of the Zoo members receive a 20 percent discount.

The Safari Trading Company gift shop is open during normal admission gates hours, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (Operations are weather permitting; the zoo is closed when the walks have ice or snow.)

And, remember, a Friends of Zoo membership or ADOPT An Animal package brings year-round enjoyment for recipient receives 12 months of joy.

Follow us on Facebook for 10 days of "zoo-nique" gift ideas - a sampling of what you'll find in the Safari Trading Company gift shop.

Zoo-nique Gift Guide - Idea #1 and #2

Looking for something out of the ordinary for this year's gift? How about a gift that gives all year long, like a Friends of the Zoo membership?

For one price ($65 for a family), the gift recipient will receive

• free admission for one year to Dickerson Park Zoo,
• free admission to Halloween SPOOKTACULAR,
• reciprocal admission to more than 100 zoos and aquariums across the country,
• discounts on merchandise purchased at the Safari Trading Company gift shop,
• discounts on children's education programs,
• our quarterly WildTimes magazine and
• invitations to exclusive members-only events.

(We define a "family" as one or two adults living at the same address and their dependent children age 18 and younger. We also have memberships for grandparents and their grandchildren OR a single adult plus a guest.)

Purchasing a gift membership is easy. Click here to go to the zoo's official Web site and purchase your gift membership online. Or, call our office, 417-833-1570, and purchase by phone. (You can also visit us in person! The administration office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.)

Or, maybe you're looking for something a little more traditional. Each day this week, we'll also showcase items in the Zoo-nique Gift Guide from the Safari Trading Company gift shop.

Check out these silk ties! Look closely - the red one is a snake pattern. We also have zebras on navy and tigers.

The Safari Trading Company is hosting the annual sale. Members of the general public receive a 10-percent discount on gift shop merchandise. Our FOZ members receive a 20-percent discount.

The Safari Trading Company gift shop is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless the zoo is closed for inclement weather (when the walks are covered with ice or snow).

Henry the Hippo celebrates his birthday

Visit our YouTube channel for the "live action" footage of the watermelon smash!

Zookeepers added a little extra fun to Henry the hippo's day this morning. Today is Henry's 27th birthday, and one of the zookeepers gave him a couple of watermelons. It certainly was a something to see!

Henry's been at Dickerson Park Zoo since March 1982 when he was a young calf. He was born at the San Francisco Zoo.

A hippopotamus' eyes, ears and nostrils are situated on the top of its head, allowing it to see, hear and breathe while still mostly submerged in water. A hippo can stay submerged for up to five minutes before surfacing to take a breath.

At one time, there was a myth that hippopotamuses sweat blood. The truth to that is, they secrete a red or pink oily substance from their pores to protect their skin from the sun and moisture loss.

Hippos are herbivores. Henry eats a half bale of hay, two scoops of grain and a variety of produce each day. In sub-Saharan Africa where you find hippos in the wild, they stay in water or mud wallows for the day and come out on the surrounding plains to graze on grass at night. This adaptation protects their skin from excessive moisture loss.

Hippopotamus is a Greek word for "river horse."