All Stories

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11/22/22

Why Do Animals Go Through Quarantine?

A part of the Zoo that very few guests get to see is inside the animal hospital. One would correctly assume that a few of the hospitalized animals are sick or injured, but the majority of animals who pass through the hospital are there for another important reason – quarantine. Animals that are in quarantine are in a new, unfamiliar space, and they may need peace and quiet during their stay. Every new animal that comes to the Zoo has the potential to bring new diseases and parasit... Read More
at 11/22/22
AIYI Conservation

10/28/22

Helping Reconstruct Lemur Habitats in the Wild

Just off the main path at the Zoo, guests may find themselves in our one-of-a-kind wellness inspired African Forest which contains the Madagascar exhibit. When first stumbling upon this off-the-beaten-path exhibit, guests are sure to notice the unique diversity of our five species of lemurs. From our blue-eye black lemurs, mongoose lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs and our Coquerel’s sifaka lemurs. Guests are sure to be drawn to these prosimians by thei... Read More
at 10/28/22
Conservation

10/21/22

A Crane of Many Names: The Stanley Crane

The Stanley crane, also known as the blue crane or paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The blue crane name comes from the pale blue coloring of their feathers on their head and body with their wing feathers tapering off into a darker color. These long wing feathers drag to the ground appearing to be tail feathers when in fact, their tail feathers are very short. They are one of two species of crane that do not have red on their heads, making them unique in the crane world. B... Read More
at 10/21/22
AIYI

10/21/22

Conserving the Critically Endangered Eastern Bongo

When taking a stroll around the Africa Loop, guests may see an orange-colored animal tucked under the bamboo, palm trees or along the boardwalk. These elusive creatures are the Eastern Bongo, also known as the Mountain Bongo, a species of forest antelope. The Eastern Bongo is a beautiful chestnut brown color with 12 to 14 white stripes going horizontally down their back. Eastern bongos only live in densely forested mountainsides of Kenya. There are approximately five fragmented popu... Read More
at 10/21/22
AIYI Conservation

10/21/22

Local Eaglet Rescued and Rehabbed is Now at the Zoo

The story of Alita the bald eagle was documented by the EagleWatch Coordinator for Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties and the EagleWatch Coordinator for Hillsborough County. The Beginning Alita’s story began in a tall pine tree nest in the Arlington area of Jacksonville, Florida. Due to a construction disturbance in the area, Audubon EagleWatch volunteers have a US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) permit to monitor this pair. The eagle nesting season begins October 1 and runs... Read More
at 10/21/22
Featured

10/18/22

A United Front Against Okapi Trafficking

The dust diffused in the afternoon sun as Congolese authorities lugged several containers of illegal cargo into the light. Each box contained the velvety brown, uniquely striped skins and body parts from okapi poached in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This seizure, which also resulted in an arrest, is indicative of an unsettling increase in illegal wildlife trafficking between eastern DRC and Uganda. Conserv Congo, a local NGO partnering with authorities, seeks to smother this emergi... Read More
at 10/18/22
Conservation

9/20/22

Why Are Gorillas Endangered?

Gorillas are one of five species of apes (bonobos, chimpanzees, humans, gorillas, and orangutans). Apes can be distinguished from monkeys and other primates by the absence of a tail after birth. In the world, there are two species of gorillas, the Western gorilla and Eastern (also known as Grauer’s) gorilla, both living in the equatorial regions of Africa. Gorillas are the largest of the ape species, with thick bodies,  wide chests and very strong shoulders. Their families are... Read More
at 9/20/22
Conservation