Category: Zoos
Bindi Irwin launches Planet Rescue games
From news.com.au:
TweetPINT-sized TV presenter Bindi Irwin has released a series of planet-saving games to continue the work of her late father, Steve.
Busy Bindi, 9, winner of Emmy and Logie awards, is a computer games entrepreneur, too.
She and little brother Bob launched the games as the Irwins celebrated Steve Irwin Day at Australia Zoo in memory of the self-styled crocodile hunter.
The Planet Rescue games designed for Nintendo Wii and DS, include titles Animal Emergency, Wildlife Vet, Ocean Patrol and Endangered Island.Some of the proceeds of the sale will go to the zoo’s Wildlife Warriors program.
Crocodile Hunter’s dad Bob Irwin snubbed at Australia Zoo
From news.com.au:
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The Crocodile Hunter’s father, Bob Irwin, was all but ignored during Steve Irwin Day celebrations at Australia Zoo yesterday in Queensland.
Bob IrwinSnubbed … Bob Irwin has been all but ignored during celebrations at Australia Zoo in honour of his late wife.
Mr Irwin, who severed his ties with the zoo in March, recently talked down rumours of a rift between him and his son’s widow, Terri, but was not seated with her and his grandchildren at the opening of an animal hospital dedicated to his late wife, Lyn Irwin.
In fact, Bob wasn’t mentioned at all.
Speeches made at the official launch of the Australian Wildlife Hospital failed to include the dedicated wildlife conservationist, who sat on his own in the third row.
Nor did Mr Irwin get a personal tour of the new $5 million facility – a project his son was heavily involved in shortly before his tragic death on September 4, 2006.
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Snowball dies at 37
From wtte28.com:
TweetThe second-oldest polar bear in captivity in North America died unexpectedly at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
Snowball the bear was 37 years old and was regarded as the queen of her three-bear community.
The bear died after breakfast, having shown no signs of illness. The zoo conducted an autopsy but doesn’t suspect foul play or injury.
Polar bears typically live 15 to 18 years in the wild and into their 30s in zoos.
The oldest polar bear in captivity was in failing health at the age of 41 at her zoo home in Winnipeg, Canada.
Snowball was captured in the Canadian province of Manitoba, Canada, as a baby and brought to the Cleveland zoo in 1971.
Rare snow leopard gives birth to twins at Quebec zoo
From canada.com:
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Two baby snow leopards, an endangered species, were born in a zoo southeast of Montreal, the zoo announced Wednesday.
A female leopard called Snowflake gave birth Friday, said Catherine Page of Granby Zoo, stressing the event was rare.
“In the last 12 months two were born in North America, three in Europe and three in Japan,” said Page. “It doesnt happen frequently.”
Snowflake gave birth to two cubs on Friday. The public may get a say in naming the cubs, a zoo official said.The birth came as a surprise to zoo officials who said Snowflakes recent attempts to mate had failed. The public may get a say in naming the cubs, Page said.
Snow leopards live in the hard-to-access mountains and high plateaus of Central Asia, according to the zoo. The highest concentrations can be found in China, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.
Dental patient bites staff member
From denverpost.com:
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A staffer at the Denver Zoo was bitten this morning by a hippopotamus as the animal was taking part in training exercise.
The staffer, a 16-year veteran of the zoo, was not seriously injured, and zoo officials described the incident as “accidental” and not an attack.
“It’s just one of those things; it happened,” said Ana Bowie, a spokeswoman for the zoo.
The 5-year-old male hippo, Mahali, has been undergoing training with staff since June on keeping his mouth open for dental exams and teeth cleanings, Bowie said.
Mahali apparently got tired of the routine this morning and closed his mouth when the staffer still had her hand in it.
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