Latest news with #animalconservation
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The murky history behind the eerie abandoned zoological park inside Disney World
Walt Disney World is known for its magic, meticulous upkeep, and the illusion that nothing is ever truly out of place. But hidden in plain sight, just across the water from Magic Kingdom, is a part of Disney that seems to be forgotten. Discovery Island, once a bustling zoological park, now sits abandoned and off-limits, its decaying remains slowly being overtaken by nature. With a murky history, eerie silence, and strict no-trespassing rules, the 11.5-acre island has become a rare glimpse into the side of Disney most guests never see. Originally opened in 1974 as Treasure Island, the location was designed as a tranquil wildlife sanctuary, home to exotic birds, tortoises, lemurs, and more. The theme was based off the 1950 pirate film of the same name, with a fake wrecked ship placed in the center of the island. In 1977, it was renamed Discovery Island to better reflect its focus on conservation and animal observation. Guests could stroll along winding paths, explore themed habitats like Flamingo Lagoon and Tortoise Beach, and learn about rare and endangered species in a serene, natural setting. However, in 1989, reports of horrifying animal 'abuse' began to circulate. Investigators said workers at Discovery Island allegedly fired a rifle at hawks, beat vultures to death with a stick, and destroyed the nests and eggs of egrets and ibises, per UPI. The park was charged with 16 counts of animal cruelty, but the charges were later dropped, according to The Ledger. As Disney continued to expand and create more enticing rides, the ticket numbers dwindled for the wildlife island. Then, in April 1998, Animal Kingdom Park was opened and people were stirred towards the new attractions, causing Discovery Island to be left behind. The island was closed in 1999 and all of the animals were moved to either Animal Kingdom or other zoos across the United States, per The Travel. For the last 26 years, Discovery Island has been completely abandoned and tightly secured. Disney has made it clear: no guests are allowed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Justin Does Disney (@justindoesdisney) Signs around the surrounding waters warn boaters and would-be explorers to stay away. Anyone who dares to step foot on the island can face serious consequences including being arrested for trespassing and banned from all Disney properties for life. In 2020, a man named Richard McGuire was arrested after illegally camping on the island for several days during the pandemic. He later told police he thought it was a 'tropical paradise' and didn't realize he was trespassing, per TIME.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
How the Toronto Zoo is working to save 9 Canadian species from extinction
The Toronto Zoo is increasing its efforts to save some animal species from possible extinction. CBC's Clara Pasieka breaks down the details of the zoo's latest initiative.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wiltshire in pics: Shindigs and a princess visit
Summer events are well and truly under way in Wiltshire now - with a return of a much-loved festival. TV presenter Steve Backshall is also staying in the county all week to delight children with his animal knowledge at Longleats. Other highlights include actress Joanna Lumley supporting a local animal centre, and another local charity enjoyed a royal visit. Wildlife wanderings: Wiltshire's wildlife has been making more of an appearance recently - one Weather Watcher, Jo C, captured this swan family in Devizes. Festival time: Shindig has launched at Charlton Park in Wiltshire - the former home of Womad - after spending 10 years in Ilminster, Somerset. The 2025 line up is a "global celebration of rhythm and culture where afrobeat meets electronic, reggae meets soul, funk meets industrial rap", organisers said. The event started on Thursday and runs until Sunday. Animal antics: Longleat has TV presenter Steve Backshall in to do daily talks at the safari park over half term week. He will not be on his own though - a range of animals and birds will be introduced to the audience and nobody knows how they will behave. Last year, the shows raised £25,000 for conservation charity Tusk. Royal approval: Wiltshire-based charity Horatio's Garden has released pictures of their patron Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie visiting their garden at Salisbury District Hospital. She spoke to patients, staff and volunteers and planted a grapevine for the charity, which creates the gardens at the UK's spinal injury centres to help people recover. Horsing around: Wiltshire Police has been represented at the Royal Windsor Horse Show for the first time. The force revealed pictures of its competitors: Laura Hughes from the Local Policing Tasking Team, Hollie Clark, Financial Investigator and Rachael Fairbain from Complex Fraud all took part in the Services Team Jumping competition. Daredevils: The White Horse Soapbox Race in Westbury got some big crowds. It includes a STEM fair and a lot of different teams competing to make the fastest vehicle. A team from the South Western Ambulance Service got involved too, making their own contraption. Prestige: Devizes Bowls Club has hosted a prestigious inter-county competition, part of the early stages of the Balcomb Trophy. It's the first time the club has hosted a competition this big. Immerse yourself: a shipping container is arriving in the middle of Salisbury this weekend, in Guildhall Square. It's for an immersive theatre experience run by producers Darkfield. It's part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival and those who go in for the experience, called FLIGHT, will find themselves in what looks exactly like the inside of a plane and two realities. Celebrity moment: The Cat Watch Rescue Centre based in Salisbury, which takes in strays and abandoned animals, revealed they had received a donation from Dame Joanna Lumley, who sent a handwritten note. Bumper crop: the strawberries are already doing well this year, so the pick your own farms are opening up, including this one at Lotmead in Swindon. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Wiltshire in Pictures: Stunning Salisbury blooms Wiltshire in Pictures: VE Day and bank holiday sun
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
London Zoo becomes summer home for pair of giant rodents
London Zoo will be the temporary home for a pair of giant rodents while their permanent home is prepared for Gizmo and Kiwi will spend summer in the city until their move to Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire, which is London Zoo's sister can meet the duo as part of the Feeding Time at the Zoo event over half Jessica Lawrance said: "Gizmo and Kiwi are a really charismatic pair, and we're really enjoying getting to know them and their preferences and quirks." Healthy appetites Capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are found throughout northern and central South America and are closely related to guinea are known for their healthy appetites - they eat plants and grasses - however they have a habit of eating their own poo as the grasses they eat can be hard to break down. Strong swimmers Gizmo and Kiwi will live next to Amara - a pygmy hippo transferred from Edinburgh as part of the zoo's conservation breeding programme for endangered species. Jessica expects the rodents will spend a lot of time splashing around outside."We can't wait to see the joy on people's faces when they meet Gizmo and Kiwi," she added.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Philadelphia Zoo welcomes 3 baby Galapagos tortoises to join the "Golden Girls"
The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed three new additions to its animal family this week after a group of male Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises hatched. The boys join the Golden Girls — four female tortoises hatched earlier this year who were named Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia after a community vote. The first of the boys began to hatch on April 14. Philadelphia Zoo All seven babies are the offspring of female Mommy and male Abrazzo, the zoo's two oldest residents. Mommy is also considered the oldest first-time mom of her species. She's been at the zoo for more than nine decades. The sex of these tortoises is determined by the temperature during incubation, which the zoo can influence. Temperatures below 82.4 degrees produce males, and conditions above 85.1 degrees produce females. The eggs hatch after four to eight months. Mommy laid the eggs that have hatched so far in November 2024, and staff at the zoo chose to incubate some at a temperature that would produce males and some at a temperature that would produce females. All of the babies are staying in the Reptile and Amphibian House for now. Philadelphia Zoo Nine more eggs that Mommy laid in January are still developing and could hatch soon, according to the zoo. "Mommy arrived at the Zoo in 1932, meaning anyone that has visited the Zoo for the last 92 years has likely seen her," President and CEO Jo-Elle Mogerman said in a statement in April. "Philadelphia Zoo's vision is that those hatchlings will be a part of a thriving population of Galapagos tortoises on our healthy planet 100 years from now." Philadelphia Zoo Western Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoises are critically endangered, and these babies are part of a program by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that is working to keep species like this alive. "This success has been a years-long process from bringing Abrazzo to the Zoo in 2020, to fundraising for nesting materials in 2021 and introducing Mommy and Abrazzo in 2022," Vice President of Animal Well-Being Rachel Metz said in a statement. "Our sincerest gratitude for this success goes to the passionate and diligent work by experts in the AZA community and the entire Philadelphia Zoo team, including the countless keepers that kept Mommy healthy and thriving over the last 93 years." The zoo is selling merch to celebrate the tortoises and raise money for its animal care fund.
