Thursday, October 7, 2021
By Lee Ann Rottman, Naples Zoo's Director of Animal Programs
I recently got the opportunity to travel to West Africa to assist the Tacagama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone. The sanctuary is home to 105 chimpanzees that were confiscated from poachers or people who held them illegally as pets. Most come in as tiny babies and have suffered the trauma of losing their mothers and their chimpanzee families. They take time to rehabilitate, but getting them back with other...
Read More
Posted by
Courtney Jolly
at
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Friday, June 18, 2021
By Tim Tetzlaff, Director of Conservation
Big Cypress National Preserve began a scout snake tracking program in 2017. After veterinarians surgically implant transmitters, biologists track them to gain useful information to reduce the population of these invasive species over time. More immediately, however, these few “double agent” snakes connect with many more pythons, who are removed to reduce the overall impact on native wildlife.
One of these scout snakes...
Read More
at Friday, June 18, 2021
Friday, April 9, 2021
By Maggie Woosley, Director of Education
Today is the start of the 50th anniversary celebration of Week of the Young Child, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). While it’s Naples Zoo’s mission to inspire all ages to respect, value, and help conserve wildlife and our natural world, we’re particularly passionate about educating young children and inspiring them to be environmental stewards.
We want to...
Read More
at Friday, April 9, 2021
Friday, September 4, 2020
By Kirsti Mahon, Naples Zoo Show Keeper
Though my animal training career began almost 10 years ago working with dolphins, my heart landed working with land mammals and birds. Never did I imagine that one of my favorites would be vultures. Our resident black vulture, Omen, has not only taught me so much in regard to training, but he has also inspired me to be an advocate for vultures all over the world.
Unfortunately, due to negative media and a deep misunderstanding, vultures get a...
Read More
at Friday, September 4, 2020
Monday, June 22, 2020
By Danielle L. Green, Director of Gardens & Grounds
Zoo horticulture is a unique blend of specialties that work with plants but often include skills in arboriculture. A “zoo arborist” shares many skills and tree care goals with municipal arborist but perform under a unique set of circumstances not often encountered in a municipal setting.
The life of a tree in the zoo environment can be tough. Thankfully, many tools and techniques exist that can improve...
Read More
at Monday, June 22, 2020
Friday, June 12, 2020
By Tim Tetzlaff, Director of Conservation
I wanted to share some thoughts on giraffe as World Giraffe Day is coming up (June 21). Giraffes are already top of mind for me as we’re currently creating a new elevated giraffe viewing area here at the zoo. It got me reflecting on these giants and for some reason firsts stick in my mind and so I’m sharing the photos that go with them. Oddly enough, my first giraffe memories are life-size fiberglass giraffes in the Cedar Point theme park...
Read More
at Friday, June 12, 2020
Thursday, February 27, 2020
By Kelsey Burr, Naples Zoo Digital Marketing Manager
A new resident recently moved into Naples Zoo. Guests can now see Eko (pronounced Echo), a Malayan tiger who came to us from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.
Malayan tigers are critically endangered, with less than 200 mature individuals in the wild according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The tigers are native to the forests and mangrove swamps in Malaysia and face threats such as habitat loss, poaching for their...
Read More
at Thursday, February 27, 2020
Monday, February 24, 2020
By Vittoria Vaturi, Naples Zoo Reptile Keeper
Growing up, my love for nature and wildlife started with amphibians. I have early memories of being in my backyard watching frogs jumping into a pond and living their natural lives. It was at that moment I knew I wanted a career with wildlife. I made that dream a reality when I became a reptile keeper here at Naples Zoo. My dreams came true again this year when I traveled to El Valle, Panama to help with Project Golden Frog.
...
Read More
at Monday, February 24, 2020
Monday, February 3, 2020
By Kelsey Burr, Digital Marketing Manager
If you’ve visited Naples Zoo lately, you may have noticed two new adorable faces in the bongo and gazelle yards. A male Eastern bongo calf was born December 30, 2019 to parents Amara and Sebastian, and a male slender-horned gazelle was born January 22, 2020 to parents Clyde and Clover.
The gazelle calf is named Colby-Jack, a special name for a few reasons. First, since his parents are named Clyde and Clover, his keepers wanted a...
Read More
at Monday, February 3, 2020
Friday, November 15, 2019
by Kelsey Burr, Naples Zoo Digital Marketing Manager
When guests visit Naples Zoo, they often beeline to ride the Primate Expedition Cruise, feed the giraffes, or visit our lion pride that includes three adorable lion cubs; but there are some animals that may get missed along the way, those who aren’t as easy to spot or as well-known. We’ve narrowed down five to highlight:
1. Red-rumped agoutis
Sharing the habitat with our giant anteater are two adorable...
Read More
at Friday, November 15, 2019