These are a Few of My Favorite Things

by Val, the Reticulated giraffe

I was asked to talk a little about myself. While I enjoy my browse and the yummy fruit bottles (however, I would like to request more bananas), my favorite enrichment involves pumpkins. Yes, pumpkins. Not pie and not muffins. Just plain old whole raw pumpkins.

Every so often the keepers place a pumpkin in my exhibit. I take my time and stroll over, you see, I don’t want anyone to think I care that much. I carefully place my foot on the top and test the vegetable for freshness. I casually glance away and begin my amazing yet graceful footwork with the “ball”. I can keep control and pass the ball between my lovely four legs without a single glance down. Watch out David Beckham! Now, being a giraffe in fine standing in the community, I don’t like to do this activity TOO often, I find the jealousy from the other giraffes is overwhelming.

Think about what shots I could hit off the new barn, “goaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllll!

Spot that Amphibian

By SacZoo Web blogger

Next time you are out at the Zoo, keep your eyes peeled and try to spot the new frogs in the Reptile House. Panamanian golden frogs, Yellow-banded dart frogs, Whites tree frogs, and two Caecilians have all joined our population of amphibians. The Panamanian golden frog is an endangered toad managed by a Species Survival Plan program in AZAS accredited Zoos and the El Valle Conservation Center in Panama. These conservation efforts to breed the toads are their only chance for survival.

Panamanian golden toad

Sacramento Zoo on Twitter!

By Zoo Blog Keeper

Are any of you on Twitter? The Sacramento Zoo just joined Twitter and now you can follow us while you are on the go!

Twitter is a great site where you post what you are doing. Then people can follow you and you can follow them. The best part is that you can get your updates on your phone, pda or other portal device.

Follow the Zoo on Twitter, and get insider updates and stories via our tweets. Find us by our profile name SacramentoZoo (no spaces!).

Lions: Goodbye Luxor, Welcome Kamau

By Zoo Blog Keeper

As recommended by the Lion Species Survival Plan®, our male lion, Luxor, is moving to the Peoria Zoo in Illinois. We will miss Luxor, but the breeding recommendation by the SSP was to bring Kamau, from the San Diego Wild Animal Park, to breed with our current female lion.

Kamau’s genes are highly desirable, as his parents’ genetics are underrepresented in the community. A fundamental conservation issue is the preservation of genetic diversity in the captive population, and new bloodlines brought into the breeding arena are essential. We are excited to welcome 2-year-old Kamau to our Zoo family and hope he will bring new additions to our family.

Luxor will be leaving the November 15, so come say goodbye! Kamau should be out on exhibit in the next month, after going through introductions to the female lion, Cleo.

Here is Luxor with sister Cleo at the Sacramento Zoo.

Baby Bibs and Being Green

By Ann Geiger, Education Director

So what does a baby bib have to do with the zoo? As we all try to look for new ways to be green, don't forget the tried and true old ideas.

When I was growing up my Aunt would occasionally send me a box of hand me downs from my cousin. I loved getting the box of clothes because I knew my cousin had helped pick out the stuff she thought I might enjoy and in my mind she was "way cool!"

Working here at the zoo we have an extended family of friends that network together to help each other and pass things along. Take for instance the bib in the picture, it started out at one of our docents homes for her daughter, then it went to our Education Manager Amanda's daughter and then to my granddaughter and now it is with our keeper Lacey who is expecting next month.

Networking with the people close to us, saved money, time, gas and we all get to see the extended life of the things we are exchanging.

Boo at the Zoo Slideshow

By Zoo Blog Keeper

Boo at the Zoo 2008 was awesome! With rain coming down before and after the event, we had the perfect window of dry skies to have almost 3,000 folks come out to have a spook-tacular good time!

There were a lot of little zoo animals, superheros and princesses running around, playing games, dancing on the stage, and trick-or-treating. The magic show was full at every performance, kids were gleefully grossed out by the touchy-feely mystery boxes and the alien encounter area was a little scary, but kids wanted to go back again and again!

Thanks to everyone who volunteered and all the families that came! It was a successful fundraiser for the Zoo and just a whole lot of fun.

Education Bulletin: New Aviaries

By the Education Department

Providing a home for native wildlife here at the Zoo shines a spotlight on the rich biodiversity that exists all around us. The Mediterranean region of California is designated by Conservation International as a Biodiversity Hotspot (www.biodiversityhotspots.org). A biodiversity hotspot is an area with a large number of species that are only found locally and has lost over 70% of its original habitat. The California Floristic Province is home to the giant sequoia, the planet's largest living organism and holds a number of threatened endemic species.

Two new aviaries are opening soon in The Zoo’s Backyard with native species, Burrowing owls and Yellow-billed magpies. Burrowing owls are funny little creatures with long legs and big eyes that prefer to stand around on the ground and hunt at dawn and dusk. The burrowing owl population is considered at risk in California because of habitat degradation and destruction.

Yellow-billed magpies are a new species to the Zoo. You may be familiar with these charismatic, colorful, and noisy birds, but you may not know that they are only found in California. In fact, birders from around the world travel to California specifically to add these striking birds to their “life list.” Unfortunately, their isolation in California means they are vulnerable because, as our population grows and habitat becomes scarce, yellow-billed magpies will have no where else to go.

It is our hope that being surrounded by the animals at our Zoo will inspire you to conserve and “live green” in your daily life. The next time you are here, pay special attention to the California natives who call the Zoo home because these are the animals that will experience the greatest direct impact from your daily choices.