Latest news with #AssociationofZoosandAquariums
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
24,485 creatures known for ‘jewel-like' eyes flown to Puerto Rico. Here's why
A team in Florida individually counted over 24,000 tiny aquatic animals once believed to be extinct before packing them in boxes and sending them on their way to their native Puerto Rico. The tadpoles of the Puerto Rican crested toad — also called the sapo concho — are expected to bolster the critically endangered population of the only toad native to the Caribbean island. The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens announced in a July 9 Facebook post the release of 24,485 crested toad tadpoles, bringing the total introduced into the wild by the zoo to 51,117. 'Each year, our herpetology team simulates seasonal cues like temperature drops and rainfall to help encourage natural breeding behaviors in our crested toads,' the zoo said in the post. 'Once tadpoles hatch, they're carefully transported to Puerto Rico, where U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Puerto Rican officials reintroduce them into protected wetlands.' The toads average 2.5 to 4.5 inches and are known for a 'bony crest' on the top of their heads, as well as their 'jewel-like eyes,' owing to their gold-colored irises, according to the FWS. The team hand counted each tadpole then placed them in specialized coolers, each containing about 1,500 tadpoles. A consortium of zoos with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has been working to hatch the crested toad tadpoles in captivity and release them in the wild, where they face threats such as 'habitat loss, sea level rise, invasive species and disease,' the Jacksonville Zoo says. The situation became so dire, the species was believed to be extinct by the 1960s, according to the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy. Efforts to raise awareness about the species include a short film from Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, in which an animated version of the tiny toad helps highlight some of the issues Puerto Rico faces. 'Bad Bunny has provided us a way to show people what a Sapo concho looks like so we can effectively teach others about the toad's rarity, threats to its survival and enable Puerto Ricans to become involved in its conservation,' said Diane Barber, Fort Worth Zoo's senior curator of ectotherms, per a news release earlier this year. The sapo concho program is the longest ongoing reintroduction amphibian effort in the history of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Jacksonville Zoo says.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Peoria Zoo has a new zebra. It wants you to help name it
The Peoria Zoo has welcomed a new member: a young Grevy's zebra. Described as "striking and spirited," with big ears and personality, the unnamed 5-year-old zebra came to Peoria March 3 from White Oak Conservation Center in Florida, where he was born July 3, 2020. His arrival is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, a program managing healthy breeding and transfers along accredited zoos like Peoria's. Visitors can now see the zebra in the zoo's Africa! habitat, where he shares a mixed-species habitat with an 18-year-old female zebra named Phoebe and rhinoceroses. More: Year of transition: Here's a look at recent changes and the future of the Peoria Zoo The zoo is asking the public to help celebrate his arrival by voting for six potential names for the zebra. Each vote costs $1 and proceeds benefit Grevy's Zebra Trust, an organization dedicated to protecting and conserving endangered Grevy's zebras in their habitats. Name options include: Roman Stripes Masikio (Swahili for "ears") Radar Jimmy Neuman 'This is a fun way for our community to engage with wildlife conservation in a meaningful way,' said Peoria Zoo director Max Lakes in a release. 'Every vote supports a mission that extends far beyond Peoria — helping to protect a species that is truly at risk.' Voting is open through July 10 online and at the zoo, and supporters are encouraged to vote as many times as they want. More: 'Playful spirit': 1-year-old giraffe joins Peoria Zoo from Memphis This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Zoo opens voting for name of new zebra
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Weedy seadragons in the running for nature's best dads
Four weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) males are carrying eggs for the first time in a public aquarium. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio announced the achievement just in time for Father's Day–and some have already hatched. Weedy seadragons are bony seahorse relatives native to Australia's coasts with small heads, long tails, and leaf-like limbs. They can reach 18 inches long, and blend in marvelously with seaweed, which has made it difficult for researchers to study them in the wild. Their unique reproductive process is also infamously difficult to nurture in captive breeding programs, so the sea creatures have remained enigmatic. Like their other seahorse cousins, weedy seadragon males carry fertilized eggs instead of the females. 'In the world of aquatic animal care, this is a remarkably rare and meaningful milestone,' Megan Brown, director of Population Management Strategy for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said in a Columbus Zoo and Aquarium statement. 'Weedy seadragons are among the most challenging marine species to breed, and observing multiple males brooding eggs within the same timeframe offers exciting new insight into their complex reproductive biology—something few facilities have accomplished.' Part of the complexity comes from the weedy seadragons' intricate mating ritual. It essentially involves a snout-to-snout dance in which a male and female mirror each other's movements as they travel up and down a water column. The female transfers her eggs onto the male's tail, where he fertilizes and carries them until they hatch six to eight weeks later. As of Monday June 9, 20 eggs have hatched at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The organization's animal care team is keeping a close eye on the inch-long hatchlings. A baby seahorse at this stage is called a fry and this crew is reportedly scarfing down around 9,000 baby mysis shrimp and 18,000 copepods (planktonic crustaceans) per week with a 'voracious appetite.' The team will actively raise them for at least a year. [ Related: 8 animal fathers that take care of their eggs. ] In 2024, the aquarium also had reason to celebrate when a single weedy seadragon hatched over 20 babies, the first ever weedy seadragons to hatch in their tanks. According to the organization, only a few North American institutions have achieved this. Weedy seadragons are not the only species with highly engaged fathers. Male seahorses, emperor penguins, silverback gorillas, and arctic wolves are just some of the dads that deserve an extra special Father's Day celebration.
Toronto Sun
11-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
Man kicked out of Quebec zoo after entering alligator enclosure
A man was caught on camera inside an enclosure to photograph alligators at a Quebec Zoo over the weekend. Photo by @_mbee.__ / @torrzy / Instagram A young man was kicked out of a Quebec zoo over the weekend after he entered the alligator enclosure and put his life at risk to photograph the animals. Video shared to social media on Sunday showed the Granby Zoo visitor, wearing blue Bermuda shorts and a white shirt, standing on top of a fence taking pictures in close proximity to one reptile as a second alligator emerged from a pond and moved toward the man. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The zoo said the unidentified individual, who apparently accessed the area from the rear of the enclosure, broke the rules and was escorted off the property without incident. Jeffrey Decelles, Granby Zoo director of operations, said members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums inspected the enclosures the previous week and found no major problems. 'Regarding the enclosures, we comply with all the standards,' Decelles told TVA Nouvelles. Fences must measure at least 42 inches (1.06 metres) in height and an additional 4-foot (1.22 metres) restraint is required to prevent any falls into the enclosure. 'We can say that our facilities are secure,' Decelles added. Due to the incident, the Granby Zoo said it has increased security by placing more staff near the animal enclosures. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a non-profit organization, says it monitors water quality and checks the condition of barriers in and around habitats for the safety of animals. 'Unfortunately, a guest is more likely to breach a barrier than an animal is to escape,' the association said. 'Zoo and aquarium visitors play an important role in keeping animals safe by not climbing barriers or throwing food and other objects into habitats.' Read More NHL Celebrity Editorial Cartoons Toronto Maple Leafs Music
Axios
10-06-2025
- General
- Axios
Columbus Zoo is on baby elephant watch
Talk about big news: For the first time in the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's history, two Asian elephants are pregnant at the same time — and one is due any day now. Why it matters: The species is endangered, and its population in accredited zoos is currently unsustainable due to dwindling numbers and a lack of genetic diversity, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The calves' father — Sabu, from the Cincinnati Zoo, who lived here temporarily — has no living offspring, so the births will bolster the gene pool. The big picture: The news comes as some zoos are moving away from keeping elephants amid increasing care standards, which require lots of space and expense. Others, like Columbus, are investing more by expanding habitats, encouraging breeding, and working with global partners to conserve wild elephants. Advocates say keeping elephants is important for research and education. A 2023 AZA strategic plan calls for increased collaboration among zoos, including transferring animals for breeding. Threat level:"If we don't do something as a group, we're not going to have elephants in 100 years," says Adam Felts, senior zoo curator and head of the AZA's Species Survival Plan. At last count, there were 157 Asian elephants in 27 AZA institutions. Zoom in: Felts took Axios behind the scenes to meet 38-year-old matriarch Phoebe, who is expecting her sixth calf. She's "all business," with a big appetite. The 7,400-pound pachyderm calmly used her trunk to funnel biscuits into her mouth while a veterinarian scanned her with an ultrasound probe. Her calf is likely the size of a Great Dane. It's impossible to see the entire thing in one image, but vets can view ribs, a skull or a beating heart. All appear healthy. Another elephant, 16-year-old Sunny, is due with her first calf between now and August, while Phoebe is due in the fall. Keepers hope the experienced mom will show Sunny the ropes. They're encouraged by her bond with Phoebe's 3-year-old calf, Frankie, who still lives at the zoo. The arrangement should mimic wild herd behaviors, in which females raise the young together and males are mostly solitary. The intrigue: The new calves will make history in another way, as Columbus' first to be vaccinated for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). The devastating virus is the leading cause of death among AZA elephants, and calves are especially at risk. A vaccine became available last year. What's next: Elephants are pregnant up to 22 months, so expect lots of fanfare when the 200-plus-pound bundles of joy finally arrive. 1 fun prenatal ritual: elephant yoga Impress your friends with this fun fact: the Columbus Zoo's herd is trained in "elephant yoga." How it works: The elephants follow a target and maneuver into various poses, such as stretching their feet and trunks, kneeling, and lying on the ground. Between the lines: Keepers say practicing the moves keeps them limber and engaged. It also helps them learn to get into positions for routine health monitoring, such as blood draws, exams and ultrasounds. 😅 Alissa's thought bubble: I definitely couldn't move as gracefully during my pregnancy as 7,400-pound Phoebe does. Impressive.
