A new rhino is calling Blank Park Zoo home
The zoo announced Wednesday that four-year-old male 'AJ' had joined the fold. The eastern black rhino comes from the Cincinnati Zoo. His more formal name. Ajani Joe, means 'he who wins the struggle' in Swahili.
AJ was brought to the zoo as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, and officials said he will play a vital role in maintaining a genetically diverse breeding population.
Woodworking meets Broadway in small town Iowa
'The arrival of Ajani Joe is the next major step at Blank Park Zoo in our efforts to help increase the population of this critically endangered species,' Blank Park Zoo President and CEO Anne Shimerdla said. 'Eastern black rhinos were nearly wiped out by poaching, with their population dropping by over 90% between 1970 and the early 1990s. Thanks to conservation efforts, population numbers have been on the rise.'
Rhinos first came to Blank Park Zoo in 2012. Since then, two rhino calves have been born at the zoo.
Victim injured in Des Moines apartment fire has died
A new rhino is calling Blank Park Zoo home
DMPD seek help to find suspect in violent assault with a shoe
'ICE Out' protest brings in hundreds in Des Moines
Iowa DNR reporting fish kill at Des Moines lake
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
DNR seeks public input on prioritizing future Belle Isle improvements
Belle Isle park managers are seeking community input on what improvement projects to prioritize next at the city's island park on the Detroit River. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Belle Isle Conservancy are asking for input on 11 potential investments designed to significantly enhance enjoyment of Belle Isle Park. Visitors, community members, stakeholders and others interested in this beloved park are encouraged to learn more and rank 11 potential large-scale projects. Links to both the project page and online public survey are available at and the survey is open through Labor Day weekend. This public feedback is a key component of the development of a new Belle Isle strategic development plan, which builds upon the 2018 Belle Isle Park Strategic Management Plan, DNR officials said. Potential projects for consideration include: Beach. Extend the beach and renovate the bath house. Boathouse. Restore and reactivate the Belle Isle Boathouse for public use. Park cafe. Create a park cafe at the Belle Isle White House. Canals and trails. Improve access to canals and create trails. Carillon Peace Tower. Renovate the Nancy Brown Carillon Peace Tower. Kids Row. Create a bigger, better Kids Row Playground. Music band shell. Restore and activate the Remick Music Band Shell. Piers and docks. Rebuild piers and docks for fishing and potential ferry service. Sawmill. Create an interpretive center at the historic sawmill. Stable yard. Clean up and activate former stable yard. Community and volunteer space. Create community and volunteer space at the historic police headquarters. This summerlong community outreach effort also includes an on-the-ground team of staff and volunteers who will gather feedback at the park and at various community events throughout Detroit. More: Belle Isle's transformation under state control: What's changed, what's still coming More: Decades of Michigan lake data, hidden in filing cabinets, digitized with volunteer help The strategic development plan team created this list of projects by evaluating park buildings and spaces, reviewing public comments during the recent multimodal study and consulting with staff. Since these are significant undertakings, moving forward on any of them likely would require a strategic funding approach, including philanthropic partnerships. Critical ongoing efforts, such as opening restrooms, slowing vehicle traffic, keeping the bridge open and improving trash pickup, are not listed as potential projects because work is already underway to address them. "This fall, the project team will draft a set of recommendations to improve park resources for the next 10 years based on their research and public input," said Amanda Treadwell, urban area field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. The final recommendations will be shared with the community in early 2026. "We're looking forward to hearing from people all across the city of Detroit and beyond about how we can make this treasured destination better for everyone," said Tom Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. For more information, contact Amanda Treadwell at TreadwellA@ or 313-269-7430. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DNR seeks public input on prioritizing Belle Isle improvements Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
02-08-2025
- Business Insider
My mother-in-law is a 'SuperAger' and has the memory of someone much younger. She says 3 things have kept her sharp at 104.
In June, my 104-year-old mother-in-law got a new battery for her cardiac pacemaker. A battery's typical life is 10 years, so you get an idea of her resilience. Mollie Ford is a " SuperAger," meaning she has impressive memory function and word recall. Mollie was born in England on March 8, 1921, and was adopted at five months. As an only child, her parents took her to Nairobi, Africa, and she learned to speak Swahili. At 7, she returned to England and was enrolled in boarding school, where she actively played music and sports. Sometime, during the next four years, she met her older cousin, Frank, whom she eventually married. The couple moved to Haifa and baptised their firstborn child in Israel. In 1953, the family sailed across the ocean to make a home in Canada. Decades later, she became my mother-in-law, and I've had the opportunity to get to know her over the years. Recently, she shared her tips for living long and staying sharp with me. Everything in moderation Mollie told me she loves chocolate, but she has the willpower to restrict herself to only one square each evening with her cup of tea. It's impressive. The same is true of her one glass of wine (pinot grigio) with dinner. She eats slowly and consumes fish, colorful vegetables, assorted nuts, and fruit for snacks. Mollie eats slowly and in moderation. In her 80s, Mollie joined a gym to exercise a bit beside much younger people and took up clog dancing. She even tried the rowing machine, but decided it wasn't for her. Every morning, she tended her garden, fed a special mix to the birds, and offered apples to the deer who visited her. Though she can't be physical anymore, Mollie still loves being out in nature. We try to slow down to feel it with her. Brain function: use it or lose it An avid reader, Mollie sped her way through books at twice my speed. Her love of historical fiction, a good story, and characters she understood made her hungry for more. Neighbors, friends, and family shared favorite books. Mollie always read, despite whatever was happening around her. I've tried and failed to have such deep concentration. Sudoku and crosswords were her daily mental challenges. Mollie had an impressive vocabulary and credited crosswords. She worked on them so often that she began understanding the creators' patterns. Her speedy completion was impressive. Mollie also played piano on special occasions at her church for decades and was an active member of the handbell choir. These days, whenever she hears a moving piece of classical music, her eyes close and her hands conduct. Connections matters Mollie was a born leader who always organized church bazaars, family trips, and celebrations. I never knew her to procrastinate, and she was an impressive planner. Thanks to Nana, our families went on two cruises that created forever memories. When I asked Mollie the reason for her longevity, she answered without a beat: family. She's proud of all of us and still stays up-to-date with our accomplishments. Today, Mollie lives in a senior care facility because she's had a couple of falls and some memory loss. She shares a room with three other women, a testimony to her generous spirit. She still lives on the west coast of Canada, where the ocean's breeze and fresh air support her mind and body. Her legacy continues to enrich our lives.
UPI
30-07-2025
- UPI
Look: Three capybara pups born at New Orleans zoo
July 30 (UPI) -- A Louisiana zoo offered a first glimpse at its newest -- and youngest -- residents: a trio of newborn capybara pups. The Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans announced the three pups were born July 20 to parents Turkey and Sequoia. "Oh capy day! We're very capy to share some exciting news," the zoo quipped on social media. Turkey and Sequoia are part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for capybaras, which are the world's largest rodents and native to South America. Officials wrote the parents are "both are doing great caring for their new arrivals." "Don't let those little legs fool you, capybara pups are born ready to explore," the post said. "They start roaming almost immediately and can even begin nibbling on vegetation as early as four days old." The zoo said the family is currently being kept in a behind-the-scenes are while they bond, but can sometimes be spotted from the Swamp Train ride.
