Butterfly Jungle is in full swing at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. You have until April 7 to bask in the fluttery glory, but in the meantime, check out these gifs of butterflies in the exhibit and let us know which one is your favorite. You can tell us in the comments below or tweet it to us at www.twitter.com/sdzsafaripark. Enjoy!
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Johari the cheetah stopped by during the reception.
Last Saturday’s Brewmaster Dinner at the Safari Park featuring Ballast Point Brewing Co. held no surprises. Guests came expecting to make some animal friends, enjoy four courses of delectable food paired with equally delectable brew, and have an amazing time—and that’s exactly what happened.
The reception appropriately began with BBQ shrimp and grits crisps, jalapeño shrimp and tasters of Habanero Sculpin IPA. If you’re not familiar with Sculpin IPA, then you’ve clearly been living under a rock. It won gold in the 2010 World Beer Cup and has since been a craft beer staple. Take one of the best IPAs in the world, add a hint of habanero spice and pair it with spicy Creole appetizers, and you have instant melt-in-your-mouth awesomeness. After rubbing elbows with Johari the cheetah (of Cheetah Run fame) and Julio the female Eurasian eagle owl with a male’s name (long story), it was time to get the show on the road.
The first course was a sunburst salad with mesclun mix, port-soaked cranberries, sliced almonds, crumbled stilton, and cinnamon-raspberry Tabasco vinaigrette paired with Wahoo Wheat Beer. Head Brewer Colby Chandler from Ballast Point introduced this pairing as a no-brainer way to kick off the dinner (in more or less words), and he was right. The subtle tang of the beer played nicely with the fresh and fruity salad, allowing the dish to take center stage but not falling completely into the background.
Out came the second course, a Louisiana gumbo with shrimp, Andouille sausage, crab, okra, and all the trimmings, paired with a decidedly hoppy, big-boy beer—Big Eye IPA. The rich, bold gumbo needed a beer that could match it, and Big Eye IPA was up to the challenge. The copious amounts of the American Columbus and Centennial hops in the beer punched through the gumbo’s wall of flavor, enhancing the spice in all the right ways.
Brewmaster Colby and the culinary minds at the Safari Park put on their thinking caps for the next pairing, combining an incredibly unique beer, Smoke Screen Smoked Lager, with bacon-wrapped stuffed Berkshire loin with apple trinity pepper chutney, haricots vert and three potato boulanger. Whereas the previous course punched you in the face with flavor, this course took a more nuanced approach, massaging your palate with depth and complexity. I’m not even sure I have the lexicon to describe everything that was going on with this course, but trust me, I enjoyed every second of it.
Smoke Screen Smoked Lager paired with bacon-wrapped stuffed Berkshire loin with apple trinity pepper chutney, haricots vert and three potato boulanger
By this time I was about to explode, so I tragically couldn’t fit more than a few bites of the brioche bread pudding with whipped cream, Ballast Point Three Sheets Rum, and caramel butter raisin sauce paired with my favorite beer on the face of the planet, Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial porter. This pairing was as decadent as it sounds, rounding out a finely executed dinner.
Brioche bread pudding with whipped cream, Ballast Point Three Sheets Rum, and caramel butter raisin sauce paired with Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial porter
Cheers to Colby Chandler and Ballast Point Brewing for proving just how beautiful and complex beer can be, and cheers to the Safari Park staff for pulling off yet another flawless event. I’m already excited for the next one.
Ballast Point Brewmaster Colby Chandler (front), schmoozing with guests.
Matt Steele is the social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global.
Welcome, little girl!
The average gestation period for African elephants is 649 days or 22 months. A newborn calf averages 200 to 268 pounds. Our newest calf weighs 205 pounds. She is mother Swazi’s second offspring. Her first born, 2 1/2-year-old Macembe, was present at the time of his sister’s birth. Later that morning, “Mac” was separated from Swazi and his newborn sister to give mother and daughter a chance to bond and nurse. Mac stood close watch in an adjacent yard with two other young elephants to keep him company. All of the youngsters were very curious about the new addition. They gently reached their trunks out to touch and smell the calf.
Swazi and her calf will continue to bond in a separate yard from the rest of the herd while the newborn gets steady on her feet and learns to follow her mother closely. Mom is positioning herself as a good mom would to allow calf to nurse, and the youngster is now nursing!
The Safari Park is now home to 13 elephants: 4 adults and 9 youngsters. The adults were rescued in 2003 from the Kingdom of Swaziland, where they faced being culled. A lack of space and long periods of drought created unsuitable habitat for a large elephant population in the small southern African country. Swaziland’s Big Game Parks officials felt they had two options: kill this group of elephants or export them to a zoo willing to care for the pachyderms.
At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, elephant studies are underway on nutrition, daily walking distance, growth and development and bioacoustic communication. In Africa, a San Diego Zoo Global scientist is studying human-elephant conflicts as well as habitat range and use. In 2004, the nonprofit organization committed to contributing $30,000 yearly to Swaziland’s Big Game Parks though 2014 to fund programs like anti-poaching patrols, improved infrastructure and the purchase of additional acreage for the Big Game Parks. In addition, San Diego Zoo Global supports other elephant conservation through donations to the International Elephant Foundation, an organization that funds elephant conservation projects around the world.
The family can be seen daily at the Safari Park’s elephant habitat or via Elephant Cam or Safari Park iPhone app.
The Safari Park’s African elephant herd continues to thrive, and we are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of Swazi’s second calf, which is due late July or early August. Look for physical changes in our matriarch as she prepares to welcome her baby. Will son Macembe (Mac) be a good big brother? Time will tell, of course, but so far Mac is one super cool, laid-back kid. Like his mom, Mac has long legs and is a quick-learning and confident two year old.
You’d think that Umngani, mother of three, would have her trunk full taking care of her brood. Yet she has been spending her time lately enticing Msholo, our lone bull, to come hither! He, of course, is happy to play along, and there may be breeding between the two soon. Luckily for Umngani and her raging hormones, daughter Khosi, who is almost six years old, is more than willing to babysit younger brothers Ingadze and Neepo, freeing her mom to flirt with the handsome Msholo. Ingadze is now three years old and has been the kindest big brother to little brother Inhlonipho. Keepers describe Neepo as a wild, high-energy boy who will have his first birthday in September. Neepo loves to sound his little trumpet and chase the keepers along the exhibit’s fenceline. He has recently taken up a new talent: hopping!
Msholo has integrated very well with the herd. He is gentle with the little ones and attentive to the ladies. Even Ndula will occasionally interact with him, and she never interacted with Mabu (except during estrus and would then make him work!) Perhaps it’s because her oldest son, Vus’musi, has become best buddies with Msholo. The two play wrestle often, especially in the pool. Although he is much larger than Musi, now 8 years old, Msholo gets on the younger elephant’s level to help make the wrestling matches more even. What a guy! Ndula’s other son, Luti, is 2½ years old and has replaced his big brother as a momma’s boy. Keepers say Luti is shy and cautious about learning new things, although when he gets real excited, he hops on his rear legs, too!
Debbie Andreen is an associate editor for San Diego Zoo Global. Read her previous post, Elephants Emanti and Kami.
The new treetop aerial adventure, Jungle Ropes Safari, opens at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on July 20, and we’re inviting a few adventurous families to join us for the media preview event on Thursday, July 19, at 9 a.m. to try out the experience the day before it opens.* Sound like fun? Here’s what you have to do to score the experience of a lifetime for you and your kids:
1. Follow the Safari Park on Twitter
2. Tweet these exact words: “My family wants a free ride on #JungleRopesSafari at the @sdzsafaripark on July 19!”
3. Sit back and see if you won.
The first few people who tweet the above will get a direct message from us with an invite to the event. If you’re not one of the first, you’ll be put on the waiting list. We can’t wait to introduce a few lucky families to the awesomeness that is Jungle Ropes Safari. Now hurry and get tweeting!
*Due to the strenuous nature of this adventure, children must be at least 7 years old to participate. Safety restrictions require that only guests who are between 50 and 275 lbs., fit in the provided harness, and have a reach of 55 inches (measured from the sole of the foot to the up-stretched tips of the fingers) can take the Safari. Secure, close toed shoes are required footwear.
Matt Steele is the social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global. Read his previous post, Ropes What!? Jungle Ropes Safari Opens 7/20 at Safari Park.
Guests on a Rolling Safari get a unique view of the Park's lions!
One of the great benefits of working for San Diego Zoo Global is that it gives employees the opportunity to explore other positions in the organization. For some of us, we can go on loan to other departments to help out during busy times. Although I am a panda narrator at the Zoo, for about three years now during Spring Break weeks I have had the great opportunity to work at the Safari Park and help give Africa Tram Safari and Rolling Safari tours. The best part of this process is learning about the different conservation programs that we are doing on grounds at the Park and letting our guests know that by coming to the Park they have helped us in all of our endeavors.
On the Africa Tram Safari, some of the first animals our guests see are the South African cheetahs. The Park has 1,800 acres, so we have space for a cheetah breeding facility where we have welcomed over 130 cheetah births. Many of our cheetahs born here become ambassadors for their species and go to other zoos to help bring awareness to their plight in the wild.
Southern white rhinos can roam far and wide at the Safari Park.
One of the most famous animals at the Park is the southern white rhino. In the early 1900s, the rhinos were hunted for their horns to the point where there were less than 500. For years, the practice in zoos was to put a male and a female rhino together and wait for them to breed. We now know that southern white rhinos are social animals, and the females like to be in a herd to help protect their babies. They won’t even come into heat unless they have that social group! Right now we have a male at the Park chasing the girls around, trying to court. The funniest thing about these animals is that if a male wants to court a female, he has to get the approval of the rest of the herd!
On the Rolling Safari Tours, our guests get to ride on a Segway X2 while getting to see the Asian animals that are not out for general viewing, such as the greater one-horned rhino, Przewalski’s horse (an extremely rare wild horse), Indian gaur (one of the few wild cattle left), and the Arabian oryx (an animal that was extinct in the wild but was brought back due, in part, to the Safari Park’s breeding efforts).
Taking a Safari Park tour is a great way to really see how involved San Diego Zoo Global is with conservation. Every tour lets you get extra information about what we do, our mission, and how you have helped and can continue to help as you leave the Park. I think the most exciting thing for some is seeing the new babies born. Since the Park opened in 1972, over 20,000 animals have been born here, and we help the scientific community by sharing our knowledge of animal behavior, successful techniques to secure breeding, and successful animal management.
If you have the time, please come check out the Zoo’s sister facility, the Safari Park. Watch these animals interact with each other in the large, open exhibits, and see animal behavior like you’ve never seen before.
Anastasia Horning is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo. Read her previous post, Our Growing Takin Calves.
Umoya with her son, Emanti, last year.
Today the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and its African elephant herd are mourning the death of the spirited Umoya. As the mother of two calves, Phakamile and Emanti, she will be missed not only by these two but by the entire herd and the keepers who have worked so closely with her since she arrived at the Park in 2003.
Moya, as we called her, was 21 years old. She was born in Kruger National Park and was one of the original seven African elephants rescued from Swaziland from being culled because of an elephant overpopulation. She could often be seen walking backward in the exhibit, making her quick to identify among the females. Moya enjoyed training sessions with the keepers and was a very quick learner. Most importantly, she was a good mother.
Phakamile, or Kami for short, was born in 2007. Moya immediately cared for her first calf, keeping her close and making sure she grew healthy and strong. In 2010, Moya gave birth to Emanti, a male who is now 18 months old and just at the weaning stage. He will surely miss the caring reach of his mother’s trunk and her protective instincts, but he will have his big sister by his side. Kami has always been a good sister and even a good cousin, reaching out to all the younger calves.
Because the elephants live a natural herd structure, we believe their social interactions will keep Emanti and Kami safe and cared for. Their “aunties”—the other adult females—have always been known to care for each other’s calves, even encircling the calves when they think there is a problem. Some calves have even been seen nursing from their lactating aunts. Emanti should no longer need his mother’s milk. He has been eating solids for quite some time, and if this morning was any indication, he should progress well among the social unit that is the Park’s African elephant herd.
As they do in the wild, the herd was offered an opportunity to mourn Moya. The elephants came to see Moya after she died—some touched her with their trunks and others simply stood by her. By her side were Kami and Emanti, but once the others began to walk away, the two youngsters followed their aunts to an adjoining yard.
Animal care staff discovered Umoya lying down with injuries when they arrived at the Safari Park early Thursday morning. The injuries indicated there might have been an aggressive interaction with another elephant. We thank you in advance for all your well wishes and know that you, too, will feel this loss.
Yadira Galindo is a senior public relations specialist for San Diego Zoo Global. Read her previous post, Valentine’s Day, Mammoth Style.
The Safari Park's most recent eastern black rhino calf, Eric. There are only about 700 eastern black rhinos left in the wild.
In response to a recent article published by msnbc.com declaring the extinction of the western black rhino, Safari Park Curator of Mammals Randy Rieches had this to say:
“This is such incredibly horrible news. Within the last couple months we have seen the last Javan rhino in Vietnam poached, the western black rhino declared extinct, and numerous rhinos of all taxa in Africa and Asia poached for their horns, which are now being sold on the black market for up to $100,000 a kilo.
We thought that last year was such a horrendous year for rhinos being poached in Africa and Asia that it couldn’t get any worse. Unfortunately, we now see that the numbers continue to escalate higher in 2011.
There is no end in site to the carnage wreaked upon this magnificent family. As a conservationist, the term ‘never give up, never surrender’ has never carried more meaning.”
I second Randy’s sentiments, and if you’re reading this blog post you probably do, too. We can’t let human greed win this time. Help us spread the word about the dire plight of rhinos. Like, tweet, share, and re-share this blog post with your friends. Only through increased awareness can we inspire compassion and drive action to save rhinos. Unless we want to lose this incredible animal forever, we have to follow Randy’s advice: “never give up, never surrender.”
Matt Steele is the social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global. Read his previous post, Get Invited to Festival of Flight Tweet-up.
There will be no shortage of things to see and do during Summer Safari African Extravaganza, July 2 to August 21 at the Safari Park. From high-flying African acrobats to ridiculously fast cheetahs, there will be plenty of ways to experience the wonders of Africa’s rich culture and animals. But for those of you who want a more in-depth, interactive, and FUN way to experience the sights and sounds of Summer Safari, there’s no better way than with our Summer SCVNGR Safari.
Summer SCVNGR Safari is a game you can play on your mobile phone that leads you through some of the more notable Summer Safari festivities to complete challenges and become a certified “Safari Master.” Players will compete against each other for the grand prize of a Flightline Safari for four, and the best part is that you don’t even need a fancy smart phone to play. You can text the word “summersafari” to 728647 to join in the fun. For those of you who DO have fancy smart phones, all you have to do is download the SCVNGR app, search for the Summer Safari trek, and off you go!
We’d love to hear your feedback about the trek, so feel free to chat with us on facebook or twitter and share your experience with us. Good luck, and game on!
Matt Steele is the social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global. Read his previous post, Albert’s First Tequila Dinner Featuring Casa Noble.
It’s no secret that the Safari Park’s annual Butterfly Jungle event is a big draw, and the Hidden Jungle exhibit can get a little, um, “cozy,” during peak hours. Most people agree that the bright, fluttery payoff is definitely worth dealing with the crowds, but if you’d rather avoid them entirely for a special VIP preview of Butterfly Jungle the evening before it opens, and be treated to a delicious four-course meal immediately following your exclusive peek, then you can’t miss our Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner. I had the honor of attending this year’s Dinner, and I have to say it’s probably the best way to experience Butterfly Jungle.
Our night began when we were ushered straight into the front door of the Hidden Jungle exhibit after a quick Sharpshooter photo (which you have the option of purchasing after the Dinner). This was my first year ever attending Butterfly Jungle, and as soon as we entered the exhibit, it was immediately apparent why people go so nuts over it. It was like walking into a dream—an alternate reality where bright, airy spirits fill the air in the shape of butterflies. Okay, that description was pretty melodramatic, but trust me, it’s an incredible experience. I think I’m even going to use the word enchanting, if that’s okay with you.
Because the Jungle was only open to Dinner guests, there was plenty of room to move around and position myself for prime picture-taking or tree-impersonation in hopes of coaxing a few butterflies to land on me. We also had the option to take a break from the Jungle to enjoy nearby hors d’oeuvres and libations, but as you can imagine, it was hard to tear ourselves away from the exhibit. After an hour of alone time with the butterflies, we were led to the Hunte Nairobi Pavilion for a brief yet enlightening presentation by the Park’s insect keeper, Sarah Jenkins, on butterflies and their fascinating biological nuances. Then it was time to feed our hungry stomachs!
The dinner began with a subtle, buttery farfalle soup with butterfly pasta, a broth of wild mushroom and petite spring vegetables with an herbed Parmesan crisp. It was appropriately mushroom-forward with a nice foundation of earthy, herbal notes to balance it out and ease our taste buds into the courses to follow.
Fresh-cut chicken breast marinated in lavender-infused honey, pan roasted and served over jasmine rice and grilled asparagus with garlic lavender jus
The second course came in the form of a bright, floral berry salad with baby spinach leaves, fresh blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries in a champagne vinaigrette. It was finished off with candied pecans, to harmonize with the sweet notes, and a fried goat cheese medallion to provide a nice, savory contrast to the fresh, crisp greens and berries.
Next came the entree, which was decidedly the star of the show—fresh-cut chicken breast marinated in lavender-infused honey, pan roasted and served over jasmine rice and grilled asparagus with garlic lavender jus. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. There was nothing unexpected or exotic about this dish, but everything about it was well executed. The chicken and asparagus were cooked to perfection, and the rice was the welcome neutral third party to balance the highs and lows. The dessert, a vanilla sponge cake with a layer of raspberries topped with mascarpone cream and crushed pistachios, was the perfect fluffy exclamation point to the experience.
Vanilla sponge cake with a layer of raspberries topped with mascarpone cream and crushed pistachios
Many thanks to the excellent Safari Park keepers and culinary staff for an unforgettable night of ethereal insects and delightful food and company. If you like incredible dream-like encounters and decadent meals, keep your eyes peeled for next year’s Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner. If you don’t, check your pulse. You might be dead 
Check out the rest of Matt’s pics from the night.
Matt Steele is the social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global. Read his previous post, Roar & Snore Safari at the Safari Park.
Note: Butterfly Jungle runs through May 8, 2011, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Planning a Perfect Desert (Tortoise) Getaway
A Mister for Every Panda
“Fiddler on the Roof” Meets Conservation Biology
Perfect Parrotbill Puppets
Catering to Animals in the “Back 40”
Bowling for Rhinos
Building Conservation Foundation by Training Teachers in Peru
Planning a Perfect Desert (Tortoise) Getaway
A Mister for Every Panda
“Fiddler on the Roof” Meets Conservation Biology
Perfect Parrotbill Puppets
Catering to Animals in the “Back 40”
Bowling for Rhinos
Building Conservation Foundation by Training Teachers in Peru