Latest news with #MarylandZoo
CBS News
7 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Maryland Zoo breaks ground on new red panda habitat
The Maryland Zoo broke ground Thursday on a project that will bring new animals to the oldest part of the property. The first of several new habitats will house red pandas. The project is expected to be completed in 2026, according to zookeepers. "Maryland Zoo celebrates its 150th anniversary next year, and you don't get to be as venerable as we are without constant reinvention," said Maryland Zoo President and CEO Kirby Fowler. "When complete in 2026, the red panda habitat will bring dynamic, charismatic animals right to the front of our zoo." Red panda habitat at Maryland Zoo The new red panda habitat will be located between the round cafe and the round stand in the Main Valley section of the zoo. The Maryland Zoo will break ground Thursday on a project that will bring new animals to the oldest part of the property. The Maryland Zoo The area recently housed a snowy owl, but it was designed to support breeding red pandas. According to zookeepers, red pandas are technically not part of either the panda or bear family, but they are fun and engaging animals. The new habitat will highlight conservation efforts to connect the forested highlands between Nepal and India through reforestation. Maryland Zoo renovations The Main Valley section of the zoo is the oldest on the property. It's where the zoo initially housed exotic animals when it first opened in 1876. Since then, the zoo has expanded and renovated other parts of the property. In 2022, zoo leaders established a 10-year plan to renovate Main Valley. The plan includes new state-of-the-art habitats to house red pandas and gibbons. The habitats will prioritize the welfare of the animals. The zoo has also renovated its historic Crane Barn and brought birds back to the front of the zoo. "This is the first of many zoo improvements that started with our new parking lot last year and will continue with a gibbon habitat, a flyway for our eagle and snowy owl, and upgrades to our rental facilities and guest amenities," Fowler said. Maryland Zoo welcomes new life The Maryland Zoo welcomed new life recently, with the births of a baby blue duiker, a baby lemur and the surprising addition of a female giraffe calf. The baby blue duiker, a type of small antelope, was born in April to mother Flower and father Kuruka. A one-and-a-half-pound baby blue duiker was born at the Maryland Zoo, staff announced in April 2025. The Maryland Zoo The animals stay relatively small, at about seven to 20 pounds, and they live up to 10 years. The baby lemur born in late April was the first birth of the endangered species since they returned to the zoo in 2023. On April 24, zookeepers announced the arrival of a baby lemur to the zoo, saying it was the first birth since the endangered species returned in 2023. The Maryland Zoo The arrival of a baby giraffe in March left zookeepers surprised. She arrived shortly after the zoo welcomed a 4-year-old female giraffe, who they didn't know was pregnant at the time.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Viral video shows large snake on Maryland beach
A Maryland woman's video of a large snake slithering on the beach in Ocean City is giving a lot of people the creeps. The video, which went viral with more than 4,000 shares on Facebook, shows what appears to be an eastern hognose snake gliding across the sand and in the ocean. "All the years I've been going to Ocean City, I would have never thought that there were snakes in the water, said Roxanne Flanagan, who took the video. "But now I'm worried about snakes." Flanagan and her co-workers from Brooklyn Park Dental visited Ocean City with their children for Springfest when their children spotted the snake and screamed. "At first, I thought they saw a shark," said Tiffany Redman, a dental hygienist at Brooklyn Park Dental. "But I was never expecting them to see a snake." "I told my kids to back up so they wouldn't get bit," Flanagan added. Flanagan's husband, Dr. Frederick Flanagan, who was back at the office, was shocked when he learned of the discovery. "I was like, 'Oh my goodness, are you serious?' She showed me pictures and videos. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and of course, I hear my kids in the background freaking out." How did the snake end up on the beach? According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, based on the photos shared, the snake appears to be an eastern hognose snake, which is a native species that likes habitats with sandy soil, so it would not be unusual for it to be found on the beach. The species does not present any danger to the public. "It was slithering all around the sand, chasing people," Roxanne Flanagan said. According to the Maryland Zoo, eastern hognose snakes may lift their heads like cobras and lunge at attackers when threatened, but their venom is harmless to humans. There are no snakes in the Atlantic, so the snake was probably looking for mussels or snails to eat. "It was the highlight of the kids' weekend for sure," Redman said. "My daughter, Divinity, I hope it doesn't scare her to go back to Ocean City because I would like for them to enjoy the sand and building sandcastles, so hopefully we don't see any more snakes on the beach," Roxanne Flanagan said.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Maryland Zoo welcomes new Blue Duiker Calf
BALTIMORE, MD. (WHTM) — The Maryland Zoo just announced the birth of a male Blue Duiker. According to the Maryland Zoo, the male Blue Duiker was born on Wednesday, April 2 to Flower (female) and Kuruka (male). Currently, Zookeepers who are taking care of the calf are still deciding on its name. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'The duiker calf is healthy and gaining weight as he bonds with his mother in the barn,' Erin Cantwell Grimm, Mammal Curator at the Maryland Zoo said. 'We've had good success breeding blue duikers and we're happy this little one is doing well. He'll be visible to the public once he gets just a little bigger.' Maryland Zoo says this birth was a result of a breeding recommendation from the Blue Duiker Species Survival Plan (SSP) which was coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The SSP provided breeding recommendations to maximize genetic diversity, with the goal of ensuring the health of the animal, as well as the long-term survival of the species population to help save them from extinction. Blue Duikers, which are a species of antelope, are very small animals. For reference, an adult is about the same size as a housecat. The new calf weighs about 718 grams, which is about one and a half pounds. As adults, the Blue Duikers can weigh 7 to 20 pounds. Currently, the species is not classified as threatened or endangered; however, their population is affected by over-hunting and loss of habitat. For more information about the Maryland Zoo and its Duikers, you can click here. abc27 news will keep you updated as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Maryland Zoo welcomes newly born lemur
(WHTM)– The Maryland Zoo welcomed the newest member of its primate family with the Zoo's first birth of its endangered lemur species. The Maryland Zoo announced the birth of a Coquerel's sifaka, marking the first birth of the endangered lemur species at the zoo since they returned to its collection in 2023. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The new baby was born to the first-time father, Terence, and 14-year-old mother, Arcadia. The Zoo said the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Sifaka Species Survival Plan recommended that Terence and the more experienced Arcadia breed to help the population grow and maintain genetic diversity. The zoo shared multiple photos of the newborn, which can be found below and on the zoo website. The new baby is expected to be named in the next few days and can be viewed in the Zoo's Chimpanzee Forest. The Zoo says Sifaka, pronounced 'shi-FOCK,' can only be found in the wild on the island of Madagascar. These unique species are easily identifiable through their brown and white coloration and the way they move. The zoo said that Sifakas can leap 20 feet in a single bound, which helps them spend most of their lives in the treetops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Trending in Texoma — Volcanic eruption to manners with machines
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Whether it's happening on the other side of the country, somewhere else in Texas, or right in our communities, Digital Producer Mariana Vela takes a look at the stories currently generating the most interest on social media. Social Rundown: New Jersey wildfire, New Zealand animal extinctions, Maryland Zoo grizzly bears 'Magic Number' A survey polled more than 4,600 adults, which showed the numbers that would allow Americans to retire comfortably. $1.26 million is the number. But the magic number is $200,000 down from last year. Poas Volcano After two eruptions this week, the Poas Volcano in Costa Rica has covered the island in ash. This volcano is a popular tourist attraction, and scientists warn that when a volcano goes silent, an eruption could soon follow. Chatbots and niceness. Being nice to chatbots could be costing OpenAI big amounts. According to one study, an AI response consumes as much energy as keeping fourteen LED bulbs lit for an hour. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
