Many of us have conflicting emotions about zoos. On the one hand, it's good to be able to see and study wildlife from all over the world up relatively close and kind of personal in a safe environment. On the other hand, being animals lovers, it may gnaw at us that that animals in zoos are kept in captivity in a state that could be seen an imprisonment. Well here's a fun solution: The Lego Wildlife Expedition exhibit at the Bronx Zoo.
The exhibit features elaborate, lifelike Lego sculptures of a variety of zoo animals, including tigers, flamingos, gorillas, penguins, giraffes, and toads. It might not be the real deal, but the Lego art is just as impressive. And there are plenty activities to go along with the sculptures, like the Build Zone which gives patrons the chance to, of course, build their own Lego wildlife creations. And who doesn't love building things with Legos? Nobody, that's who doesn't.
The Lego Wildlife Expedition is going on now at the Bronx Zoo, and ends on September 30.
You might remember last May when we told you about those three new lion cubs debuting at the Bronx Zoo. Well, it's been a year, and the three little cub are now slightly less little! We've got this up-to-date photo of the three "teens," who are now about 150 pounds each, according to the zoo.
When we wrote about them last year, the zoo was looking for name suggestions for the cubs, and many of you left your own in our comments section. One of those, "Nala," ended up being chosen! That's her on the far left. Next to her is her brother, Shani. Check out the beginnings of his mane. That's sister Adamma to his left. And last but not least, papa M'wasi rounds out the cast.
We can't wait to see their progress again a year from now!
If you're in their neck of the woods, go see them for yourself. The Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adult admission is $16, children (3–12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14.
The Bronx Zoo seems to be having some difficulty holding onto its animals these days.
Last month that cobra famously went missing for six days before it was found on zoo grounds. And yesterday, a female peafowl (aka a peahen, as opposed to the male peacock) disappeared for several hours. While the peahen was missing for much less time than the cobra, it did outpace the snake in the sense that it was actually able to escape the confines of the zoo. The bird was found in the garage of a local business, according to WPIX-11 in New York. No word yet on whether, like her slithery counterpart, she'll be given a new name based on the jailbreak.
So which Bronx Zoo resident do you think will be the next to escape? Let us know in the comments. The first reader to guess correctly will win nothing.
The cold weather sure makes us reluctant to leave the house, but the Bronx Zoo's Magellanic penguins, Danny and Hugo, saw New York City's recent snowfall as the perfect excuse to burn off some energy!
Magellanic penguins are native to Southern Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands, where mated, monogamous couples live within large groups. However, commercial fishing and habitat pollution has put these creatures in danger.
The Wildlife Conservation Society is working hard to protect breeding sites and manage penguin populations in Coastal Patagonia. If you're looking for a way to help out the penguins, consider signing up for the third annual Run for the Wild 5k run/walk (waddlers are welcome!), taking place Apr. 30 at the zoo.
Malayan tiger cubs. Julie Larsen Maher, Wildlife Conservation Society
What's cuter than a tiger cub? Half a dozen tiger cubs!
Six tiger cubs made their public debut at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo in New York this week, according to to the WCS. The cubs come from two litters and two different subspecies of tiger. Three are Amur tigers and three are Malayan tigers.
Their arrival has zoo staff cheering. This is the first litter of Amur tigers born at the Bronx Zoo in more than 13 years. And it's the first time that Malayan tigers have ever been exhibited in the Bronx. The cubs can be seen at the zoo's Tiger Mountain exhibit, in adjacent exhibits that separate the subspecies.
"The birth of these tiger cubs is true cause for celebration," said Jim Breheny, WCS's Senior Vice President of Living Institutions and Director of the zoo. "The opportunity to be present and watch as these majestic creatures mature from playful cubs to awe-inspiring adults is an experience every New Yorker will enjoy. That both the Amur and Malayan tigers are part of the Tiger Mountain experience will make it easy for our guests to learn about both subspecies of tigers and how important it is to protect them in the wild."
According to the World Wildlife Fund, Amur tigers are native to eastern Russia, China, and North Korea, while Malayan tigers roam Thailand and Malaysia. All subspecies of tiger are critically endangered, with fewer than 3,500 tigers remain in the wild, according to the WCS news release.
The names of four of the cubs are Julian, Josie, Pepino, Claiborne but there are two who haven't been named just yet. What would you call the last two cubs? Let us know in the comments!
Wanna have the cheetahs come alive next time you head to the zoo? Be sure to wear a big-cat-approved fragrance.
In 2003, general curator of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, Pat Thomas, made a fascinating discovery: Big cats of all stripes go wild for designer fragrances. Oddly enough, however, these cats won't get frisky for just any perfume or cologne. They have highly discriminating tastes when it comes to fragrance. You might even call it a feline "obsession."
The Wall Street Journal reports that in a scientific test of 24 designer fragrances, Thomas found that his subjects (two of the zoo's cheetahs) spent an average of two seconds interacting with objects spritzed with Estee Lauder's Beautiful. At the other end of the spectrum, the very same cheetahs spent an average of 11.1 minutes checking out objects covered in Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men cologne. That's longer than it takes these cats to enjoy a tasty meal!
The allure of Calvin Klein's Obsession is not limited to just cheetahs (or cougars for that matter. Zing!). All big cats seem to be responsive to the scent. In fact, Thomas' discovery has led to an indispensable new tool for all big cat biologists in the field: a bottle of Obsession for Men in the safari jacket.
The "nose" behind Obsession for Men, Ann Gottlieb, tells the Wall Street Journal that she believes the attraction of the fragrance comes from, "a combination of this lickable vanilla heart married to this fresh green top note -- it creates tension." Gottlieb goes on to explain that fragrance contains synthetic "animal" smells which, spark "curiosity with humans and, apparently, animals."
Three little lion cubs are making a big impact in New York. The ferocious furballs were born in January, but are just now on display at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, reports the New York Daily News. They're just missing one thing: Names.
Our pals over at the New York Daily News are letting readers in on the action. From now until May 8, you can submit names for the cuddly cubs. A final list of names for the two females and one male will be announced on May 16, so you'll be able to cast your vote whether your submission is selected or not.
The cubs were born to their mom, Sukari, and dad, M'wasi, and already have an older sister named Moxie. If you're in the area, you can stop by the zoo to check out the cubs in the flesh fur between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The hours will extend as the cubs get used to their new outdoor home.
Be sure to check out the New York Daily News for more information on the cubs, the zoo, and the contest.
Rounding up our favorite animal stories, photos, and videos on the Web each week!
Tiny Toads on The Move
African spray toads dodge extinction and find a new home in the Bronx Zoo. Apparently they'd always wanted to visit the Big Apple. [via NYTimes.com]
Nurse Bunny
A paralyzed rabbit works as a therapy pet at a hospital in Israel. Other, lazier, therapy animals are secretly annoyed with the overachieving bunny. [via People Pets]
Blinded Turtle
After having his eyes gouged out in Greece, this turtle finds a new life in the UK. [via Guardian.co.uk]
Turtles Take A Wrong Turn
An Aussie and her neighbors save hundreds of baby turtles who wandered into the street. In other news, loggerhead turtles name her their queen. [via ABC.net.au]
Chillax, Bro
"Man, am I tired. I've had a rough day of eating fruit and checking my skin for parasites. Now I just wanna kick back." [via Telegraph.co.uk]
If animals could speak, certainly they would ask to participate in Halloween. "We're already dressed up," they would say. "As animals."
Many zoos around the country have answered this hypothetical request by offering Halloween-themed exhibits and activities during the season. A partial list includes:
Of course, if your local zoo isn't on the list, just check out its Web site and see if it is participating in the festivities.
New York's Bronx Zoo has for the past decade participated in the hair-raising holiday with their Boo at the Zoo spooktacular. During the month of October, the zoo's staff scatters square bales of hay, corn husks, and pumpkins around the grounds, and garnishes all of it with fake spiders, plastic skulls, cobwebs, and other Halloweeny items.
This year, the zoo offers several activities for those who have the courage to go on a haunted hay ride, explore a scary safari, or see some animals having fun with pumpkins. So last weekend, I headed to the Bronx Zoo to face my fears and perhaps get my face painted.
New York City welcomed some adorable new zoo residents this week. Three baby dwarf mongooses were born at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo, and they're a triplet of cuteness.
According to the WCS, dwarf mongooses (not mongeese) are found in sub-Saharan Africa, and they are the smallest carnivores on their native continent. They are social animals who live in small groups led by one dominant male and one dominant female. But in the comfort of the Bronx zoo, they are playing hide-and-seek in a hollowed-out log and spending some quality time with Mom.
You can visit these newborns at the Bronx Zoo's Carter Giraffe Building, and other dwarf mongooses on exhibit at the zoo's Mouse House. In the meantime, fill your cuteness quotient with the video below.
Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
