Category: Zoos
Detroit zoo board will determine directors fate over resume flap
From mlive.com:
TweetROYAL OAK, Mich. AP — The longtime director of the Detroit Zoo could lose his $175,000-a-year job after acknowledging that he never received a doctorate in zoology, officials say.
“I feel terrible. Its difficult to face now,” Ron Kagan said. “Im sorry and I know its damaged the zoo.”
The issue came up last Thursday when the Detroit Zoo Societys board of directors received an anonymous fax stating that Kagan had misrepresented his academic qualifications on his resume, zoo spokeswoman Patricia Mills said.
Elephants unpack trunks in new enclosure
From ireland.com:
TweetElephants today made their first public appearance at Dublin Zoo for almost two years in their new specially designed rainforest enclosure.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern unveiled the Kaziranga Forest Trail habitat, which includes water pools and dense vegetation.
It will be home to the zoo’s two new adult Asian elephants, Bernhardine and Yasmin, who have been in quarantine since arriving from Germany earlier this year.
A two-month-old baby born at the Zoo in May has yet to be named.
Elephants are among the most popular animals at the Phoenix Park attraction and are certain to boost visitor numbers in coming weeks.
Mr Ahern said: “zoos like Dublin Zoo are taking a leading role in animal conservation and ensuring, insofar as possible, that our generation and the generations to come can continue to share our planet with a vast array of creatures.
“And in the fight to preserve bio-diversity, there will be a need for commitment, ongoing research, persistence and co-operation between the worldwide network of zoos,” he said.
The Taoiseach said the arrival of the new elephant calf and her integration into the herd provides a great opportunity for the zoo staff to gain new insights into the lives and behaviours of these beautiful yet endangered animals.
“With the opening of the Kaziranga Forest Trail, we take another vital step forward in supporting elephants in the wild,” he said.
First Artificial Life Zoo Scares Every Other Life-form Around
From gizmodo.com:
TweetIf you are going to Portugal on vacation you may want to avoid the Robotarium X, a large glass structure with 45 robots living inside. They belong to 14 different species, from the Acrorhinomorpho to the Zoid.
Seems a liitle creepy. Site includes all of the robotic “species” plus a YouTube – Dr. Disney
Zoo liable for injury by gorilla
From expatica.com:
TweetROTTERDAM –Blijdorp Zoo is liable for the damage caused when the gorilla Bokito escaped his habitat on 18 May and attacked a woman. The zoos insurance company has determined this, a spokesperson for the zoo said on Tuesday.
Immediately after escaping his habitat Bokito dragged a 57-year-old woman along and caused her serious injury.
The victim, Zoetermeer resident Yvonne de Horde, filed suit against the zoo. The zoos acknowledgement of liability means that the woman will be eligible to receive compensation for damages.
The woman had several broken bones, a shattered hand and more than 100 bites all over her body. She has also suffered emotionally.
Another woman whose hip was broken as a result of Bokitos escape can also expect compensation. It was announced earlier that the zoo would compensate others whose wallets and bags were lost in the chaos that ensued.
photo nationalgeographic.com
Beluga flown across U.S. to Tacoma Zoo
From nwsource.com:
TweetTACOMA — A thousand-pound, 6-year-old beluga whale arrived at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium early Sunday after a flight on a chartered military transport plane from his previous home at Chicagos John G. Shedd Aquarium.
Qannik, Inuit for snowflake, traveled tucked inside an enormous, foam-padded plastic glass tank in the DC-8 plane for a cross-country flight that cost $84,000, according to officials at the Tacoma aquarium.
All told, Point Defiance officials say they paid nearly $120,000 to bring their baby beluga to his new home.




