Latest news with #AZA-accredited
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11-month-old red panda joins Beardsley Zoo
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is welcoming a new animal. Help name the Beardsley Zoo's giant anteater baby Ponya, an 11-month-old red panda, will be joining the Natt Family Red Panda Habitat. Ponya is coming from the Detroit Zoo. The zoo says that Ponya is known for her playful antics and inquisitive nature. Her move is a part of a collaborative effort among AZA-accredited institutions to ensure the long-term survival of red pandas through carefully managed breeding programs. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the zoo to welcome Ponya to Connecticut. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Her legacy will live on': Phoenix Zoo announces death of 59-year-old Asian elephant Indu
The Arizona Center for Nature Conservation and the Phoenix Zoo announced the passing of 59-year-old female Asian elephant Indu. The Phoenix Zoo said Indu had undergone treatment for osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that weakens cartilage over time, and that she was struggling with age-related illnesses. The zoo said Indu's care team had been managing her conditions with daily medication, various treatments and therapies. It had become difficult for Indu to manage her discomfort, and the Phoenix Zoo said they saw a decline in her mobility. Veterinarians and zookeeping staff recognized the decline in her health and decided to euthanize Indu on May 8. Zoo representatives said she passed away surrounded by those who loved her the most — her dedicated care team. "Indu was truly a remarkable elephant who touched the hearts of everyone who had the privilege to know her. Her gentle spirit, intelligence and resilience inspired not only our staff but also the millions of guests who visited her over the years," said President and CEO of the Phoenix Zoo Bert Castro. "Her legacy will live on through the stories we share, the connections she helped people form with wildlife and our continued commitment to the highest standards of animal care. She will be profoundly missed." The Phoenix Zoo said Indu was considered elderly, surpassing the average life expectancy of 48 for elephants in facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 'The elephant Indu lived and thrived under the compassionate care of dedicated and expert professional staff at the Phoenix Zoo. Her 59 years of life is a testament to the focus on animal care and wellbeing that is a hallmark of the Phoenix Zoo and all AZA-accredited members,' said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the association. Indu arrived at the Phoenix Zoo in 1998 and quickly became an ambassador for Asian elephants, a species classified as endangered. 'Indu has captivated the hearts of guests and staff alike with her gentle nature and immense presence,' said Heather Wright, elephant collection manager at the zoo. 'Indu has made and continues to leave an indelible impression on all who have the privilege to care for her and the guests who have had the joy of seeing her. We thank you for your support and condolences during this difficult time.' The Phoenix Zoo said Indu's story brought awareness to the challenges faced by elephants in the wild and inspired countless guests to advocate for conservation efforts. "Her imposing stature was matched only by her gentle demeanor, and she brought smiles to the faces of countless guests, from wide-eyed children seeing an elephant for the first time to lifelong Zoo supporters who came back time and again to visit her," the statement from the Phoenix Zoo said. The zoo said they take solace in the profound impact she had on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. The Phoenix Zoo honored Indu's memory with a webpage featuring photos, videos and memories shared by staff and zookeepers who deeply loved Indu. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Zoo reveals the death of beloved 59-year-old elephant Indu
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Our little prince': RIP Strike, the oldest cheetah at the Oregon Zoo
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Strike, the Oregon Zoo's beloved elderly cheetah, died at 15 years old on Wednesday. Zookeepers say his health had been in rapid decline due to his 'advanced age,' so he was humanely euthanized. At the time of his death, he was the second oldest cheetah in an AZA-accredited zoo. Shooting near SW Portland preschool involved security guard, police say According to the zoo, most cheetahs live to be roughly 12 years old — though female cheetahs tend to live longer and male cheetahs tend to die around 8 years old. This made Strike a 'geriatric' member of his species, his caretaker said. 'Strike lived a long life, and he'll be very missed,' Zookeeper Anne Lauerman said. 'He shared a close bond with his care staff, and we gave him a lot of special attention as an older cheetah.' Lauerman said Strike 'loved being brushed, and he was known to purr very loudly to greet his care staff in the mornings.' DUI suspect stabbed to death following altercation with deputy near Ridgefield 'He had a ring of spots around his forehead,' Lauerman said, 'so we liked to call him our little prince.' Strike came to the Oregon Zoo in 2011 with his brother Ranger, who died in 2022. They were both born in Texas in 2010. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Very sad time': Oregon Zoo mourns death of Tilly, the river otter mom and '30 Rock' guest star
PORTLAND, Ore. () — The Oregon Zoo is mourning the death of Tilly, the river otter who started out as a rescued orphan pup and went on to become a mother herself and had brushes with fame along the way. 'This is a very sad time, especially for Tilly's care staff,' said Jen Osburn Eliot with the Oregon Zoo, in a statement. 'Some of our keepers were here the day she first arrived in 2009 as a tiny pup. She overcame adversity just to survive, and she helped other otters do the same.' Parents to PPS: 'You're in pickle' over budget cuts Tilly was found wounded by an animal attack and malnourished near Johnson Creek. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife facilitated her transfer to the Oregon Zoo, where she would later raise pups of her own and adopt other orphans. One of Tilly's earliest tastes of fame came in 2012 when her photo was used in an . In the world of the NBC sitcom, the otter was famous for her resemblance to Tracy Morgan's character, Tracy Jordan. Tilly proved to be such an extraordinary mother that her parenting skills alone also commanded the world's attention. Back in 2013, with her first pup, Molalla, or Mo for short. Mo's rough-and-tumble antics gained over a million views on the zoo's YouTube channel. That same year, the zoo gave Tilly the 'Mom of the Year' award. Tilly's other pups included Ziggy, Tucker and Nellie. She was also an adoptive mom for other orphans, including Little Pudding, . 'Young river otters are extremely dependent on their mothers, and Tilly not only raised her own offspring but three other young pups who had lost their moms and needed a second chance,' Osburn Eliot said. Portland expects 'couple thousand' May Day protesters Tilly was 'humanely euthanized' on Wednesday due to declining health and advanced age, the Oregon Zoo said. At 16, she was considered geriatric, with the average age for her species being 12.9 years for river otters that live in AZA-accredited zoos. Despite once being threatened due to fur trapping, river otters can today be found abundantly in healthy river systems in the Pacific Northwest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
L.A. Zoo to Relocate Elephants to Tulsa Despite Pushback from Animal Rights Activists
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Zoo formally announced that they are relocating their two remaining Asian elephants to Oklahoma, where they will join the Elephant Experience and Preserve at Tulsa Zoo. L.A. Zoo's decision to relocate male elephant, Billy (40), and female elephant, Tina (59), was reportedly made in collaboration with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and its Elephant Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). Throughout the years, L.A. Zoo has been subject to criticism by animal rights activists, including the Los Angeles based groups, Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and Los Angeles for Animals. Some City Council members have also spoken out against the zoo's elephant exhibit. Billy and Tina are among several elephants who have been a part of the L.A. Zoo. Since its opening in 1966, 16 elephants have died under their care. Most recently female elephant, Shaunzi (53), was euthanized by the zoo in for Billy and Tina, including both Los Angeles based animal rights groups, believe that the elephants and other animals held in captivity should be released to sanctuaries designed specifically to care for animals. Los Angeles for Animals, though advocates for all animals, are specifically focused on their campaign to get Billy the elephant out of the zoo and into a sanctuary. On Monday, the group expressed via an Instagram post that they will be holding a protest at the L.A. Zoo on Sunday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. "The LA Zoo has made an atrocious decision to send Billy and Tina to a different jail. We will not stop advocating for them! Please join us, they need your voices more than ever," they posted. Mayor Karen Bass recently announced the proposed city budget for the upcoming fiscal year, revealing 1,647 layoffs and significant cuts to the city's animal services, but L.A. Zoo stated that this wasn't a deciding factor in their decision. Billy and Tina's new home at The Tulsa Zoo has an extensive elephant program where five Asian elephants currently live. The newly constructed facility covers 17 acres, including a 36,650-square-foot elephant barn and a 10-plus-acre elephant preserve. The Oxley Family Elephant Experience and Elephant Preserve, which officially completed reservations earlier this month, is one of the largest AZA-accredited centers for Asian elephants in North official date for Billy and Tina's move has not been announced.
