All articles tagged with #animal conservation
Thousands of fans gathered at a Thai zoo to celebrate the first birthday of Moo Deng, a popular baby pygmy hippo, with events, online auctions, and social media buzz, highlighting her role in raising awareness for endangered species conservation.
Wildlife photographers captured the first-ever photos of male humpback whales engaging in sexual activity off the coast of Maui, Hawaii. The encounter revealed that one of the whales was in poor health, with injuries and signs of emaciation. The behavior, previously undocumented in humpback whales, sheds light on their mating habits and raises questions about the well-being and consent of the animals involved. The images provide valuable insights for marine biologists and conservationists studying these majestic creatures.
Robert Irwin, son of Terri and Steve Irwin, announced the passing of their beloved chicken, Nacho, on TikTok, expressing sadness at the loss but also introducing two new chickens, Waffles and Mochi. The news garnered mixed reactions from TikTok users, with many expressing condolences for Nacho and welcoming the new additions to the Irwin family.
A baby gorilla named Jameela was born via rare emergency C-section at Fort Worth Zoo in Texas after her mother, Sekani, showed signs of pre-eclampsia. Human doctors and zookeepers worked together to save the lives of both mother and baby, with the baby gorilla requiring immediate intervention and round-the-clock care. Despite Sekani's struggles to bond with her newborn, zoo experts are hopeful that another female gorilla, Gracie, may become a surrogate mother. The birth has delighted animal lovers and highlighted the similarities between gorilla and human pregnancies and births.
Benito, a four-year-old giraffe, has been relocated from a city park in Ciudad Juarez to a conservation park in central Mexico after pressure from animal advocates. Now, he faces the challenge of fitting in with a herd of seven giraffes in his new home. Benito had been living in extreme weather conditions and solitude, but at the Africam Safari park, he will have a larger space and a more suitable environment. The move was achieved following a campaign by animal rights activists, and there are ongoing efforts to find a new home for an elderly elephant in similar conditions.
Benito, a giraffe, arrived at Africam Safari Park in central Mexico after a 40-hour road trip, leaving behind the city-run Central Park zoo in Ciudad Juarez due to concerns about his living conditions. The 4-year-old giraffe will join a herd of seven others in a 7.5-acre enclosure, where he will have more space and a habitat closer to his natural environment. The park's director expressed optimism about Benito's integration into the herd and his potential to contribute to giraffe conservation efforts.
Benito, a four-year-old giraffe, has been relocated to the Africam Safari park in central Mexico after spending a year alone in a small enclosure in Ciudad Juarez. The park is working to integrate him into a herd of seven giraffes and provide him with a more suitable environment, including a larger space and a diet closer to what giraffes eat in the wild. The move was prompted by concerns from animal advocates about Benito's living conditions in Ciudad Juarez. The park hopes that Benito will adapt well and eventually contribute to the conservation of his species.
Gatorland in Florida has announced the birth of an extremely rare leucistic white alligator, making it one of only eight in the world. This is the first-ever alligator of its kind to be born in human care, solidifying Gatorland's position as the owner of the largest collection of rare leucistic alligators globally. Leucistic alligators have white coloration with patches of normal coloration and blue eyes, and they require protection from direct sunlight due to their lack of pigmentation. The baby alligators will be displayed to the public in early 2024, and Gatorland is seeking help from social media users to name them.
The final moments of an adult orca, known as Hunchy, have been captured in what is believed to be the first footage of its kind. Whale-watchers observed two younger orcas holding Hunchy at the surface to help him breathe, indicating that he was in trouble. The footage shows Hunchy floating motionless before sinking, while the younger orcas attempted to "activate" him. This could be the first time the death of an adult orca has been filmed in the North Atlantic, shedding light on how orcas behave when a member of their group is dying.
The Cincinnati Zoo is mourning the loss of a three-year-old bonobo named Amali, who passed away due to an RSV infection outbreak within the bonobo troop. Bonobos are highly susceptible to RSV and its accompanying secondary infections. The zoo is treating other bonobos with symptoms while allowing the troop to grieve and say their final goodbyes. Amali's keepers remember her as a small but mighty bonobo with a huge personality, and they encourage others to celebrate her life and support bonobo conservation efforts.
FedEx has been entrusted with the task of transporting three giant pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji, from the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., back to China. The bears are being flown on a dedicated FedEx Panda Express plane, accompanied by National Zoo staff and a FedEx loadmaster to ensure their safety and comfort. The pandas have custom-built transport enclosures and are the sole cargo on the flight, with over 250 pounds of food, including bamboo and other treats, provided for their journey. This marks the end of the Smithsonian National Zoo's panda conservation program, which spanned over five decades, as they continue their efforts to protect the future of giant pandas and their habitat.
Yampil, an Asiatic black bear from Ukraine, is being relocated to a UK zoo after his home zoo was destroyed by Russian shelling. Yampil miraculously survived the attack that killed nearly 200 other animals. The Five Sisters Zoo is building him a new enclosure and zookeepers have found him to be happy and healthy. The population of Asiatic black bears is declining due to hunting and deforestation, making Yampil's rehoming crucial for his future.
Scientists are working on a first-of-its-kind bat vaccine to combat white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus that has been decimating hibernating bats across North America. The vaccine, administered orally, aims to protect bats from the disease that causes dehydration and starvation. Vaccinating wild animals poses unique challenges, but researchers are exploring innovative methods such as using bats' grooming behavior to administer the vaccine. Other strategies being considered include ultraviolet light, chemicals to inhibit fungal growth, and creating "bug buffets" to fatten up bats before hibernation. The goal is to preserve bat populations, which play a crucial role in pest control and ecosystem balance.
A stray canine found in Brazil has been identified as a hybrid between a South American pampas fox and a domestic dog, making it the first of its kind. The animal's appearance and behavior puzzled scientists, as it had characteristics of both species. Genetic evidence confirmed the hybrid status, with the animal possessing 76 chromosomes and visual similarities to both dogs and pampas foxes. The discovery suggests that despite diverging millions of years ago, these species can still produce viable hybrids. Unfortunately, the dog-fox hybrid passed away under unknown circumstances after recovering from its injuries.
An alligator with the top half of its jaw missing, believed to have been injured by a boat propeller, has been taken to Gatorland, an alligator park in Orlando, Florida, for care and rehabilitation. The park's veterinarian is conducting a full examination, and the staff is focused on helping the alligator eat in a stress-free environment. The severe injury would have made survival in the wild impossible for the alligator, which was rescued after being spotted in Sanford with its upper jaw cut off. Gatorland is also seeking help from the public in naming the alligator.