Latest news with #zookeepers
CBS News
29-05-2025
- 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.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Meet Noisy, an endangered rockhopper penguin chick
Meet Noisy. He's a two-week-old northern rockhopper penguin chick who is currently receiving around the clock care from keepers at Whipsnade care includes being hand fed a yummy "milkshake" made of blended fish and being kept warm in his own cosy nesting box. Noisy is part of the breeding program at the zoo that is helping to address declining numbers of rockhopper penguins. What is a rockhopper penguin? Rockhopper penguins are one of the world's smallest penguins and generally only reach around 50cm tall. However, for a small bird they have big well as loud cries, the penguins can be spotted by there distinctive yellow eyebrows and red eyes. As they live in rocky habitats, rockhoppers don't slide on their bellies to get around. Instead, they hop... It's in the name! However, the number of rockhopper penguins in the wild is declining. Whipsnade Zoo's section manager of birds, Tim Savage, said "wild populations have sadly declined by more than 57% in the last 27 years". This is why it is so important for the zoo to help breed and care for penguins like Noisy. Tim added: "We are one of only seven zoos in Europe to care for this rare subspecies, so we're monitoring our tiny hatchling around the clock to give it the best chance possible."
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
San Diego Zoo responds to outrage over clip of 'America's saddest polar bear'
San Diego Zoo has insisted that its sick-looking polar bear is fine and just dealing with the mating season after concerns were raised about the animal's health. A TikTok video with nearly 5million views showed Kalluk, a 22-year-old polar bear, looking sad and disheveled. The large animal was seen salivating and appeared to have trouble keeping his head up as he shut his eyes while lounging inside the enclosure. The caption of the video read: 'Came to the zoo and ended up leaving sad because of this guy.' Many comments questioned if the bear was 'dying' and encouraged others to call the zoo to complain about Kalluk's treatment. In response to the mounting concerns the zoo released a video saying the animal was showing normal behavior for mating season as he is more preoccupied with 'impressing the ladies' than eating or being super energized. The narrator said: 'You may see him paying more attention to Chinook than to his snacks, and that's completely normal. 'Food takes takes a backseat for now, but his care team is always there to ensure he stays healthy and strong.' They also responded to concerns that the bear was salivating too much, but zookeepers said 'that's just part of the effort he's putting in.' The video explained: 'Male polar bears naturally burn more energy and eat less during this time, so he might look a bit slimmer, but that's all part of the process.' In response to those who said polar bears should not be in warm climates as it is not their natural habitat, the zoo said the animals are living in chilled aquatic environments to keep them happy. Polar Bears International, a nonprofit group, said male bears will 'emaciate themselves' as part of a hormonal change. Geoff York, senior director of research and policy for Polar Bears International, said: 'It's definitely a kind of hormonal takeover in terms of prioritizing how they spend their time. "Should I eat, or should I find a mate?" It seems like in certain times of the spring, it's mate, mate, mate.' Males are guided by scents left behind from female bears' paw prints that indicate they are in estrus, a recurring period of sexual receptivity.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Outrage over clip of 'America's saddest polar bear' at San Diego Zoo... but bosses offer bizarre excuse
San Diego Zoo has insisted that its sick-looking polar bear is fine and just in the throes of mating season after concerns were raised about the animal's health. A TikTok video with nearly 5million views showed Kalluk, a 22-year-old polar bear, looking sad and disheveled. The large animal was seen salivating and appeared to have trouble keeping his head up as he shut his eyes while lounging inside the enclosure. 'Came to the zoo and ended up leaving sad because of this guy,' the video read. Many took to the comments to wonder if the bear was 'dying' and encouraged others to call the zoo to complain about Kalluk's treatment. However, the zoo released a response video, aiming to allay such fears. They argued that it was normal behavior for a polar bear during mating season as he is more preoccupied with 'impressing the ladies' than eating or being super energized. 'You may see him paying more attention to Chinook than to his snacks, and that's completely normal,' the narrator said. 'Food takes takes a backseat for now, but his care team is always there to ensure he stays healthy and strong.' They also responded to the concern the bear was salivating too much, but zookeepers said 'that's just part of the effort he's putting in.' 'Male polar bears naturally burn more energy and eat less during this time, so he might look a bit slimmer, but that's all part of the process,' the video explained. In response to those who said polar bears should not be in the warm climate because it is not their natural habitat, the zoo reassured fans that Kalluk and his two friends have chilled aquatic environments to keep them happy. Polar Bears International, a nonprofit group, said male bears will 'emaciate themselves' as part of a hormonal change. 'It's definitely a kind of hormonal takeover in terms of prioritizing how they spend their time. "Should I eat, or should I find a mate?" It seems like in certain times of the spring, it's mate, mate, mate,' Geoff York, senior director of research and policy for Polar Bears International, said. Males are guided by scents left behind from female bears' paw prints that indicate they are in estrus, a recurring period of sexual receptivity.
