It’s been a worrying few days for koala researchers: first we find out that koala numbers in southern Queensland in Australia are crashing faster than anyone could have predicted, and then our conference gets washed out by major floods in northern New South Wales (NSW).
(more…)

With all the excitement of the opening of Elephant Odyssey at the San Diego Zoo this past weekend, it may seem that nothing’s happening here in Panda Canyon…and thankfully, that’s pretty close to accurate. The “Sister Act” of Su Lin and Zhen Zhen continues in the viewing area, with most of the heavy construction at Elephant Odyssey completed and the noise diminishing more and more each day. The buses have once more begun to run up toward and past Polar Rim, leaving the Canyon once again quiet and tranquil.
(more…)

After an amazingly busy seven days last week talking to radio stations and television news crews and answering countless questions about Elephant Odyssey at the San Diego Zoo, IT IS OPEN!

Friday morning we hosted an official “unveiling” for our distinguished guests and donors. With everyone looking on, the curtain was pulled to reveal the unmatched view across Mammoth Plaza and on into the rest of Elephant Odyssey. Shortly after the curtain was opened, Ranchipur and the rest of the elephants made their way across the open exhibit to see what all the fanfare was about.
(more…)

There are more than tortoises at the San Diego Zoo’s Desert Tortoise Conservation Center in Las Vegas!

While Research Associate Daniel Essary was working on site over the weekend, he found a baby ground squirrel that was too weak and dehydrated to run away from him. So he did what any other bunny hugger, or in this case squirrel hugger, would have done. He brought it to Research Associate Rachel Foster, who has nursed hundreds of squirrels, opossums, bunnies, and other furry little critters back to health over the past 20 years.
(more…)

Long ago my dad would take me early in the morning to the donut shop to get the freshest donuts. I remember how beautiful the donuts were when right out of the fryer the baker rolled them in granulated sugar and they just sparkled in the lights of the donut shop! Last Tuesday, May 12, we put over 100 bags of playground sand on the beach for the San Diego Zoo’s polar bears. And by Tuesday afternoon I had three beautiful “sugar donuts” sleeping on exhibit!
(more…)

If you thought I was going to talk about the song from the Rolling Stones, you might be disappointed. I’m actually writing about a species that most people have either not heard of or know little about: the Somali wild ass. They are related to horses but really are wild asses.
(more…)

It has been three straight days with temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius)! Let me tell you, that’s hot, really hot, so hot my thermometer doesn’t go any higher. Our field station has no air conditioner and the fans work infrequently as we only have electricity a few hours a day, and sometimes we go several days with none. A regular supply of electricity is a mere fantasy, like a child’s wish of candy raining from the sky.
(more…)

It has been a while since many of you have last heard about the San Diego Zoo’s young fossa, named Isa (see previous post, Fossa Fun). During the last few months, Isa has passed many milestones in his development. As you may remember, he was raised in the Children’s Zoo (CZ) nursery with his brother who, unfortunately, died a short time later of a heart condition. Concerned for Isa’s well-being, we doted over him and tried to fill his every need. Of course, we were concerned that Isa would also be afflicted with some sort of health problem that would cut his life short. Time proved that he would grow into a handsome young fossa and dazzle all who know him. Currently he is strong, healthy, and happy, and living in the CZ, excelling at his job of being an animal ambassador.
(more…)

If you’ve read my previous posts (see Andean Bear Country), and writings by other people studying Andean bears, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed that we almost never see the bears themselves. However, the Spectacled Bear Conservation Society (SBC) and its director, Robyn Appleton, didn’t read the rulebook. They’ve discovered a study site in the dry forest where the bears are much more visible than at any other site described to date. In fact, Robyn and her field team have identified over 30 individual bears by their facial markings!
(more…)

We are very pleased to report that two tortoises that have spent more than their fair share of time in the San Diego Zoo’s Desert Tortoise Conservation Center (DTCC) infirmary are now doing well and are ready to go outside into natural enclosures!
(more…)