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Zoo Blog Welcome to the Minnesota Zoo’s blog! From animal updates to photos to video, go behind-the-scenes with Zoo volunteers and staff to find out the latest news.
Minnesota Zoo at the Minnesota State Fair! Are you going to the State Fair this year? We are! Our American Cream draft horses “Prince” and “Duke” will be walking in the parade. You can also find them on exhibit in the horse barn at the fair! The name “American Cream” comes from the horse’s American origins and its creamy coat color. American Creams vary from pure white to a rich gold. They have white markings and white or flaxen manes and tails. These horses also have fringe-like leg hair, called feather. Along with their distinctive coat color, American Creams are distinguished by their pink skin color. This skin color turns to gray around the muzzle and eyes. But it remains pink under the coat, giving American Creams a rich glow. Male American Creams can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, standing 5 ft. 6 inches, or up to 17 hands at the withers. Females are smaller, weighing about 1,600 pounds and standing 5 ft., or 16 hands, tall. 
Nearly all American Cream horses are thought to be descended from one mare. This horse, named Old Granny, was bred in the early 1900s in Story County, Iowa. Did you know? The American Cream is the only breed of draft horse developed in the United States. Strong and powerfully built, American Creams were ideal for pulling plows and harvesting machines. They fit in well to traditional farming before the advent of large, motorized equipment. American Creams today live mainly in the farm belt states of the American Midwest. While some are working farm horses, like the Zoo’s American Creams, others are used in law enforcement for mounted police patrols. You might see some officers riding horses similar to Prince and Duke through the streets of the fair!
A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper: Heather is a keeper for Marine Mammals at the Zoo. She grew up in Edina, MN and graduated from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN with a degree in Biology. After she graduated she worked as an intern in Honduras. She was hired by the Zoo as a worker for Zoo Camp but her dream was to become a keeper. After getting her masters in biology from Western Illinois University and completing her thesis study in Honduras, she was hired as a temporary keeper for marine mammals. A year later she was hired full time! Heather’s favorite part of being a keeper for the dolphins is getting in the water. She loves being one-on-one with the dolphins and says it is a humbling experience being in the water next to such a large animal. The biggest challenge is when one of the animals is sick, it’s hard when an animal is acting strange and you cannot figure out what is wrong. 
On a typical morning Heather spends a couple hours prepping food for the sea otters and dolphins and feeding them. The animals eat 5-6 times a day. She says that 80% of the job is cleaning. “We smell really bad and we clean a lot,” she says. As a keeper for the marine mammals she is always on the move. She says that being a keeper is a team job! It is all about communication and being able to get along with everyone. Since the new calf was born Heather loves to watch “Allie” teaching the calf how to nurse and swim. She says that Allie is such an impressive mom and after months of keeping a close watch on Allie, it is very rewarding to watch the calf grow up. Heather’s advice to those who want to pursue a career like hers is to go for a degree like Biology or Psychology. Try to get as much experience as you can, an internship is key, and the earlier you start the better. It takes a while but if it’s something you want, be persistent!
Talking about the Greenhouse with Kim Thomas: We house numerous species of plants in the Zoo’s greenhouse. Plants you find in our exhibits are plants that would be found in the animals’ natural environment. The Tropics Trail is blooming with different tropical herbaceous species found on various islands. Our horticulturists and keepers from the greenhouse work hard to make sure plants are healthy and happy. Tropics Trail is watered once a week by hand and it takes two people five hours each to water all of the plants. That’s a lot of watering! Typically the trail is split in to different areas so the plant keepers are able to really get to know the plants in their area. The Lemur exhibit allowed the Zoo to introduce the first Madagascan plants on the trail. Kim Thomas, Horticulture Supervisor, says they hold themselves to a high standard of plant location. So that means when you’re walking through a trail, the plants are there for a specific reason! Not only are the plants there for exhibits and decoration but they also feed our animals at the Zoo! Keepers cut off branches from the plants and trees to feed to the leaf eaters such as the moose, caribou, longhorn, animals on the Northern Trail and the famous colobus monkeys. “If I’m going to feed them to the animals, they have to look delicious to me,” Kim says. Her favorite part of her job is the browse collection for the animals. “I feel like I’m the grocery man for the animals,” she said. The grape vine is a favorite among the colobus monkeys and the radiated tortoises. Kim says if you can make a tortoise happy, it’s a pretty great but simple thing. If you visit Russia’s Grizzly Coast all of the plants on the trail were actually planted from the greenhouse because it can be a difficult process to get plants from other countries. The Zoo is required to complete documentation for non-native plants to come in to the U.S. Did you know that the greenhouse is actually a plant rescue station? Many times people try to bring plants to the U.S. internationally and they are not able to do so because they do not have proper documentation. Our greenhouse is able to take these often sick and dying plants and care for them. According to Kim, working at the greenhouse and getting plants is all about connections and the horticulture community is very sharing. The greenhouse received plants this year from Bachman’s that were used at the opening of the Twins Target Field. We also received plants from the annual Macy’s Flower Show. One year the flower show had an “Africa” theme and the Zoo was able to take a majority of the plants from the event and use them throughout the Zoo. The internet has also made it easier for the greenhouse to research, locate and get plants. If you have a passion for horticulture don’t let the thought of being an expert intimidate you. Kim says that as a horticulture specialist you are always learning something new about plants everyday.
Special Delivery! It's a Girl! The wait is over! After about two hours of labor and twelve months of pregnancy, “Allie,” one of three Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at the Minnesota Zoo, gave birth to a healthy female calf on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 10:51 p.m.
The newborn calf, weighing approximately 30 pounds and measuring 2-3 feet long, is the second born to Allie, 23. This is father “Semo’s” fourth calf. “Allie has great maternal skills,” said Marine Mammal Supervisor Diane Fusco. “As mother and calf bonding is critical, Allie followed her calf right up to the water’s surface and the calf has been swimming along side her since. Allie and the calf are taking synchronized breaths and the calf is being maneuvered by Allie so it is not wandering away from her. We'll continue 24-hour observations for the next several weeks to monitor the calf's progress.” Male dolphins play no role in the rearing of their calves, and because the father could become aggressive toward the mother and/or calf or possibly interfere with the mother/calf bonding process, Semo will be introduced to the calf once the calf is strong and well-bonded with Allie. Semo, 45, is believed to be one of the oldest reproducing male dolphins in human care. Marine mammal staff noticed that Allie was close to delivering the afternoon of Friday, July 16 after she refused food. When the calf was born the following evening, it immediately swam to the surface of the pool to take her first breath. “The birth was normal, and Allie and the calf appear healthy at this time,” said Minnesota Zoo Senior Veterinarian Jim Rasmussen. “We are encouraged by the calf’s appearance and we are cautiously optimistic about its progress as these first few weeks are precarious for the calf.” The calf is darker in color than Allie and has small whiskers on its rostrum (nose) that will soon disappear.
Trainers suspected Allie was pregnant last year when they observed breeding behaviors and noticed her elevated progesterone levels during a series of routine medical examinations. An ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy. To prepare for a healthy calf, marine mammal staff continually monitored Allie’s health by collecting blood and conducting ultrasound examinations. They monitored her appetite and behavior, while conditioning her to spend time in the maternity pool which was used for the birth. In addition to Semo and Allie, the Minnesota Zoo houses Allie’s mom “April,” 42. If all goes well, the calf is expected to go on exhibit in the fall.
Where do baby cuttlefish come from? Octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus are in the class called cephalopods. They are part of the mollusk, snail family. There are around 800 extant, living, species in all the world’s oceans. The Minnesota Zoo has exhibited the Mud flat octopus, Octopus bimaculoides, and the Common cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. The Mud flat octopus lives in the Pacific Ocean from southern California to Baja California and Gulf of California. They can be housed in an aquarium at 60 to 70 F. The Common cuttlefish lives in the Mediterranean, North and Baltic Seas, and possibly as far south as South Africa. We keep them at 60 to 65 F. Cuttlefish have an internalized shell called a cuttlebone. This is used to aid floatation. History is very murky as to how the cuttlefish actually got its name. The common name probably came from the confusion over common names of several different languages. If a collection of cuttlefish has two adults that will tolerate each other in the same tank, there may be a chance at cuttlefish eggs! As with all reproduction it takes two, male and female of course, no problem you would think. No problem at all, except that it is very difficult to tell males from females. Cuttlefish don’t seem to have a problem telling each other apart, no surprise there, but humans struggle. In their natural habitat they have room to stay away from each other, in an aquarium that option is limited. This is a problem because adult males don’t like each other, so the larger males will usually kill smaller males. You need to have two adults who get along and are willing to take a chance in the mating game. Ideally you start with a large group of juveniles of the same size. Feed well, they tend to eat each other if hungry, and hope you can tell which pairs are opposite sex.
Most cephalopods like to be left alone. Feeding on a regular schedule, good water quality, correct lighting, and correct water temperature may lead to an exchange of genetic material.
Cuttlefish mate head to head, connecting their twenty arms (ten each). The male uses its special arm, called a hectocotylus, to transfer a sperm packet to the female’s pallial cavity. The female uses the sperm in the packet to fertilize the eggs. The eggs have squid ink incorporated into the shell case. These black eggs are laid one at a time. This dark shell case makes it very difficult to candle. Unlike octopus the cuttlefish female doesn’t guard the eggs and stop eating. She can continue to eat for several months before she dies. After approximately 50 days, depending on water temperature, the eggs hopefully will hatch. If you are lucky enough to have cuttlefish eggs hatch you must have appropriate live food for them to eat. Cuttlefish babies are miniature adults and are very hungry. They need to have food in front of them almost all day or they will cannibalize their tank mates. They may eat each other even with adequate food available so it usually works the best to have them separated from birth. They are on their own from day one so this is nature’s way of raising cuttlefish. Live fast and die young, the motto of many species of cephalopods. Life is tough especially for cephalopods. The Minnesota Zoo hopes to hatch cuttlefish eggs to keep our exhibit stocked. Hopefully we can obtain, hatch and raise some in the future to keep this very interesting invertebrate at the Zoo.
A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper: Ben Sutton is a keeper on the Minnesota Zoo’s Northern Trail. He has been working at the Zoo for 5 years. Ben grew up on a farm in Seneca, Wisconsin and has always had a love for animals. He was a biology major at a community college in Colorado and knew he wanted to pursue a career with animals. Ben saw an ad for a zookeeper at the Minnesota Zoo and was first hired as a temporary keeper for three months during the summer. After that, the Zoo decided to hire Ben as an intermittent keeper. Part of Ben’s duties as zookeeper is enrichment with his favorite animal in Russia’s Grizzly Coast, the grizzly bear. The keepers place a barrier up around the glass and open the glass so that it is just a gate between them and the bears. Ben then waits for one of the three bears to sit down and wait to be trained for the day. Ben holds his finger up to the opening and waits for “Kenai,” one of the male bears, to lick his finger. Ben blows his whistle to signal that Kenai has demonstrated the correct behavior. Training is an important part of the bears’ day because it allows for keepers to make sure they are healthy. When Kenai licks Ben’s finger they are able to see that his mouth is healthy. Ben then gives a signal for Kenai to stand on two legs. This allows Ben to check for matted fur. Ben’s favorite part of being a keeper is working with animals that most people don’t normally get to see like tigers and leopards. Ben says you learn something new everyday about how the animals think and act, which is really rewarding! There is an opportunity to bond with the animals as a keeper. Ben says they have to be careful so that the bears don’t associate a certain behavior with only one trainer. He isn’t sure what but there is definitely “something” there between the keepers and the animals. For those who have a dream to be a keeper like Ben someday, he suggests to get all the experience you can! Volunteer at zoos or wildlife rehabilitation centers. It is all about being persistent. You also need to be flexible because everything has to be done in a certain way to make sure the keepers, as well as the animals, are safe!
My time as a ZooTeen Volunteer: What can I do in order to spend as much time as possible at my favorite place, the Zoo? I have learned so much just by helping out with the zoo camps for children and teens in the summertime. I've discovered all different sorts of facts about animals and their conservation from the wonderful teaching of the educational staff at the Zoo and from the dedicated, knowledgeable, and fun-loving zookeepers. I have also enjoyed the company of the Zoo Camp kids, who are so enthusiastic and excited to learn about animals and why they need our help. In fact, I loved my volunteer work at the Zoo so much, that I decided to take it to the next step. I found out through fellow Zoo volunteers and staff, that the MNZoo takes field studies all over the world. And so, my avid passion for traveling began. That summer I took a marine biology field study to the I had gone from seeing a volunteer in the Zoo one day and wanting to become like them, to being an actual ZooTeen. I went from never having traveled out of the United States, to traveling to multiple countries. It is all due to the inspiration the educational staff and the Zoo incite. I have learned more about the environment these past few years from the staff, Zoo, and campers, than I have in all my life. They have given me the strength to continue to strive to be the best volunteer I can be. They have inspired me to want to work in conservation, to continue volunteering, to travel, and to hopefully one day have a job at the Zoo! I could not continue to work towards my life goal of having a career in the natural sciences if the MNZoo had not provided me with these opportunities. Continue all your wonderful work, Minnesota Zoo, staff, and animals!
Where are the Giant Squids?
Great classic story but what does that have to do with giant cephalopods? In 1954 Walt Disney produced a classic film entitled “20000 Thousand Leagues Under The Sea.” At the end of the movie the Nautilus encounters a giant squid. This movie probably did more to give people some idea of what a cephalopod looks like more than any other form of information. My first idea what a “giant squid” looked like was from that movie. Arrr! The real life “giant squid,” Architeuthis dux, no one has ever seen alive in its natural habitat. They can get up to 60 ft. (20 m) long and are by far the worlds largest invertebrate. They also have the largest eyes of any animal in the world. Fortunately for the world’s ocean going vessels, they don’t attack ships. People have been looking for them for many years, in very deep water, and have not had much success. 
You may not be able to see the ocean’s giant cephalopod but you can see a close relative at the Minnesota Zoo in Discovery Bay. We are trying to keep a representative of this impressive sea creature here but there’s one slight problem. They don’t live very long. The average species of cephalopod in captivity lives for 12 months or less. This is the normal life span of many of the species in this class. There has been some success with captive reproduction with a very few species but we have a lot to learn about these fascinating creatures. So if you don’t see any in the Discovery Bay exhibit on one visit, please be patient, we are in-between cephalopod live and death, literally. Cephalopods are the class of invertebrates that include octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses. It means “head foot” which is related to mollusks such a clams. Mollusks are not a very mobile group of animals unlike the cephalopods. They are found in all the worlds’ oceans and are all salt water animals. They were once the dominate species in the oceans but today there are only about 800 living species. Compare this to approximately 30,000 species of bony fishes. Cephalopods can be taught to do some behaviors and some have very impressive abilities to change body colors and camouflage with many types of environments. Exhibiting cephalopods successfully has only been possible for about the last 20 to 25 years. Species availability, life history, diet, and reproduction are just a few of the details that have been learned to keep these fascinating species alive. We as aquarists have a lot more to learn about these aquatic invertebrates that have among their numbers one of the largest and most mysterious creatures in the world.
Hi! I am Jack. I have been involved in programs at the Minnesota Zoo for quite a while now. I have been coming to the Minnesota Zoo since I was a little guy. The Zoo is an amazing place to go and hang out or learn more about wildlife through their environmental programs. Not only has the Zoo been my home away from home but also a motivation for me to achieve my goals. The Minnesota Zoo has always been a wonderful place to go. A favorite memory I have is going to the bird show. I was selected as a volunteer and a bird took money out of my hand. I felt connected to nature. Moments like this are what motivates you to care. The Zoo is a wonderful place to “get connected” or to just have a fun time viewing wildlife. It really can “change how you see the world.” 
The Zoo’s education programs have given me a glimpse into the possibilities for my future. This motivates me to do my best so that when I grow up I can succeed at whatever I do, whether it is at the Minnesota Zoo or wherever. The Zoo reminds me to shoot for the stars and never give up. When you are in educational programs at the Minnesota Zoo you feel like you are truly making an impact. Last Fall I was in the Wild Life Conservation Club at the Zoo and visited the Wild River State Park. We collected native prairie seeds for a prairie restoration project. Just a few weeks ago, we went back and planted those seeds at the same park. If it weren’t for my visits to the Zoo and past education programs that connect me to nature, I would not have been interested in doing this project to restore the prairie. It is truly an amazing experience to visit the Zoo and be a part of the education programs. I hope that you can experience the things that I have at the Minnesota Zoo that will motivate you to do something to help our environment. The Minnesota Zoo really does change the way you see the world.
Zoo Conservation Around the World: Melanie’s Trip to Belize Extreme heat, tons of bugs and water soaked shoes is what describes my five day trip to Belize - funded by the Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Fund at the Minnesota Zoo. I went to the Rio Bravo Conservation Management Area in Belize to participate in the conservation efforts of the yellow-headed Amazon parrot recovery project. I had the opportunity to go out with the park rangers on ATVs in the unique habitat of the pine savannah where the yellow-headed Amazon parrots nest and feed. We saw young chicks in a nest and adult pairs flying overhead, feeding on seeds in the trees. The next day we met the park rangers again and got the news that the nest we had observed with chicks had been visited by poachers. The poachers had taken the chicks during the night. This is a common issue for the survival of this species of parrot. The chicks are sold to the pet trade because of their beautiful feathers and great sound mimicking abilities. It was a sad site to see the tree cut down that held the nest.  Read more.
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The money raised by the Minnesota Zoo funds a partial salary to increase the number of rangers during the parrots breeding season. The funds also cover the printing cost of educational posters handed out to surrounding communities. This trip was a reminder to me of how important it is to support the conservation efforts in these countries that are home to so many amazing species of animals.
Have you met our river otter pups? Nena, our female North American River Otter, gave birth on March 2, 2010 to four healthy pups. All of the keepers were hoping that Nena was pregnant but it wasn’t known for certain until she disappeared in her nestbox. Proud dad, Jaws, gave her some privacy and soon we heard tiny chirping sounds coming from within the nestbox. She was given some fish and meat to eat, but she took her food straight back to the nestbox and her pups! Zoo keepers peeked in when Nena was at a training session (similar to dolphins, the otters learn behaviors like standing or presenting a paw. This helps reduce stress if an otter ever needs to visit the vet). The pups (2 males and 2 females) were lying in a bed of straw, looking healthy and very well fed. North American river otter pups are born dark brown with their eyes closed, about the size of a plump bratwurst. Read more.
When the pups were 11 days old, Nena allowed the keepers to take another look at her pups. They had almost doubled in size! No wonder Nena has been eating so much! Nena ventured out of the nestbox a little more on March 14. She was looking for a little companionship from Jaws, her mate, but she needed to stay with her pups. River otters usually mate again soon after they give birth. 
On March 19th, Nena wanted to participate in training. When it was over she headed for the nestbox and reappeared with a pup! She proceeded to move to of her pups to another nestbox. What a great feeling for a keeper to know that she trusts us that much. At about one month, the pups opened their eyes were about 1/3 the size of an adult. They look just like a miniature adult otter including teeth which they aren’t afraid to show. They have great natural instincts to tell them to be cautious of new things when mom is away. On May 21st Nena gave the pups their first big open water swimming lessons in the exhibit pool. The pups played follow-the-leader swimming, chasing, and wrestling on the surface of the pool as well as diving way down to check out the rocks on the bottom. One of them even swam with a leaf on its nose for a while. Nena took turns swimming with her pups and laying on the pool’s edge observing their antics. It has been such a great experience to watch Nena and Jaws be successful parents and to watch their pups -grow up strong and healthy. Nena is clearly a very proud mom.
Meet the New Faces: Faces of the African Forest
Black and White Colobus Monkeys Did you know the male head of a colobus group announces its presence and location each morning with a series of loud, long roars. Read more.
West African Dwarf Crocodile Did you know a special valve in a crocodile’s throat keeps it from swallowing water when it swims with its mouth open.  De Brazza’s Monkeys Did you know De Brazza’s monkeys weigh 9-17 pounds and are 16-25 inches in length – with a 3.5 - 5 foot tail!  Hyrax Did you know their feet have moist, sticky surfaces that work like a suction cup, helping the animals cling to surfaces as they climb. Fruit Bats Did you know fruit bats are sometimes called “flying foxes” because of their long snouts. 
Red River Hog Did you know they have exceptional hearing and eyesight help red river hogs locate worms and other meals.
The gibbon infant is growing and developing well. She is almost 5 months old now and up to 1.1 kg (approximately 2.2 pounds)! She is strong and energetic and is climbing and playing most of the day. She is also practicing gibbon vocalizations which she is learning from listening to her mother throughout the day. She is eating solid foods and with no surprise, banana appears to be her favorite. She now prefers solid food to milk and has started the process of weaning from the bottle. Read more.
She is developing very well and the zookeeper staff have done an excellent job with her care. To help keep her mentally stimulated and to help her be able to adjust for her future move, she has been getting short field trips around the tropics building and other areas around the zoo. On nice days, she has also been able to go outside and play in the grass under the close supervision of the keepers. Some pictures of her most recent field trip are included.
Birthdays are even more “Wild” at the Minnesota Zoo
Recently, the Zoo took a look at their birthday party program and decided to make it even more special and “wild” for that big day in your child’s life. If you’ve visited in the last couple of years, you may remember birthday parties taking place in the Snow Monkey alcoves every Saturday and Sunday. That was fun then but with the addition of the Russia’s Grizzly Coast and the new Education Event Center we have a new place to celebrate! The 950 square foot Education Event Center is used to host birthday parties for children ages 4 to 12. Choose from three different themes for your child’s next birthday—Jungle Jamboree, Sea Celebration and F.O.R.E.S.T. Frenzy. Whatever the theme, each party offers fun along with learning about the animals that inhabit our earth! Read more.
Our staff presents the kids with an educational activity and animal artifact such as a skull or pelt to teach them more about the animals. Play games such as picture bingo or pictionary based on the theme you choose. Make a craft to take home and finish off the event with a yummy unique animal shaped cupcake “cake.” Coming in May through September, we will also be offering our new birthday program out at the Wells Fargo Family Farm! Located in the lower level of the farmhouse, this theme offers something for all those farm lovers out there. Top off the party with a pink pig cake and see if they make little “oinkers” out of themselves. Our parties are proving so popular, that we will be offering weekday parties during the summer. Check our website (http://www.mnzoo.org/planEvent/planEvent_birthdayParties.asp) for more upcoming details on this new option.
Brookfield Zoo has a New Addition to Their Dolphin Pool!
On Wednesday, April 14, Spree, a female Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, from the Minnesota Zoo arrived safely in Chicago. Spree had been spending time with her new Brookfield Zoo dolphin friends when they relocated to the Minnesota Zoo temporarily while the Brookfield Zoo’s pools were being renovated. To help Spree with the delicate transportation, I traveled to the Brookfield Zoo to help her get acquainted with her new environment. Spree has been spending time adjusting to her new home and is getting to know her new caretakers better. Spree is a fun, energetic, and smart dolphin that enjoys playing. One of Spree’s "favorite" toys for many years has been an aqua disc. Her aqua disc traveled along with her to her new home. She has been swimming around with her aqua disc either balancing it on her head or on the tip of her snout. Everyday she is showing us more of her personality which shows me and the other trainers that she is getting more comfortable with her new environment. Spree is acting socially with the other dolphins and continues to eat well. Visitors can look forward to seeing her on exhibit at Brookfield Zoo.
Notes from your Minnesota Zoo Naturalist
“Your job is so cool!” I hear this weekly whether I am at the Zoo working as a naturalist or out and about in the community. “How do I get a job like yours?” I always tell people you have to follow your passion and find a way to get paid to do it. When I was five years old my mom took me to the Minnesota Zoo to see the animals. We were walking the Tropics Trail and I saw a zoo keeper cleaning a cage with a hose and wearing rubber boots. I decided right there I wanted to work in a zoo when I was older. Flash forward 10 years and I was volunteering as a zoo teen in the summers. After my four year college degree was completed, I got a job at the Minnesota Zoo and I have never left. I knew it when I was five and it is still true today, I LOVE MY JOB!!!! Read more.
Maybe someone in your family or someone close to you also has that same passion to work with people and animals. If you need more guidance on how to make it happen come to our “Career Day” event on Saturday May 1st or November 13th to meet with other Zoo professionals and find out their career paths. Maybe you want to inspire that passion by bringing a child to the Zoo. Come take an interactive class for adults and children like “Toddler Time” or “Family Zoo Adventures.” We look forward to meeting you and sharing how COOL our jobs really are!
Zoomobile: Bringing the Zoo to You
Seeing the little girl who used to be afraid of snakes come up and touch a Bull Snake for the first time and smile. Waving “hello” at the children of all ages as we are traveling on the roads all over this great state of Minnesota. These are just two examples of the joys of my job. My name is Donnie Crook, I’m an Interpretive Naturalist for the Minnesota Zoo’s Zoomobile program. The children I see on an almost daily basis know me as other titles, such as “Zooguy”, or “The Guy who brought that huge cool snake to my school” (I got this once at a local mall one night and correctly, I had earlier brought an 8 ½ foot boa constrictor to this little gentleman’s school). Read more.
Zoomobile is a little known area of the Zoo because we do not have a trail named after us like “The Tropics Trail” or a highly visible presence on Zoo grounds such as the “The KAYTEE World of Birds Show.” We travel from Warroad in the north to Austin in the south, Stillwater on the east to Marshall on the west educating people on different animals, habitats, and ecosystems. We visit schools, libraries, senior homes, festivals and even television stations spreading the message of the Minnesota Zoo. The Zoomobile collection is very diverse and includes but is not limited to:
We are able to provide a valuable service by bringing the Minnesota Zoo to the people of metro and outstate Minnesota, and the surrounding states that may not be able to come to our facility due to age (both the young and young at heart), distance or other circumstances. Some of greatest joys I get from working as a naturalist, or teacher, with the Minnesota Zoo’s Zoomobile program are the statements mentioned at the beginning and I will leave you with one more. Here is an explanation from a kindergartner on the naming of certain animals: (On the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches) “I know why they are called “Kissing Cockroaches. Because the boy cockroaches like to kiss the girl cockroaches. But I don’t want to.” Learn more about the Minnesota Zoo’s Zoomobile program. Have you seen the Red-vented bulbuls? When you’re walking through the Tropics Trail and enter into the “bird zone,” take a look around for the Red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer). The Red-vented bulbul is a member of the Passerine (songbird) family. It is a resident of Southern Asia from India to southwestern China. They are widely distributed and considered to be one of the world’s most invasive species when introduced to favorable habitats outside its range. You can identify it by the plumage which is primarily shades of gray and black with the classic red vent feathers for which the bird is named. Read more and watch our video.
This species was common in North American zoos in the 70’s and bred readily. The pairs are territorial and chase off their offspring when they mature. This made finding space for a large number of birds very difficult. Over a period of time many zoos quit breeding the birds and they disappeared from zoo populations. The Minnesota Zoo had Red-vented bulbuls in the aviaries when we first opened. The species reproduced readily, but we were unable to find unrelated birds and eventually the species disappeared from our aviaries.
Several birds recently became available and the Minnesota Zoo was able to get two pairs of birds in early 2009. One of the pairs is in the Main Aviary and the second pair is in our Bird Breeding facility. Both pairs have successfully reproduced and we presently have five offspring that will be sent to other zoos. The population is being carefully monitored so we will not lose this species in captivity again. This video is from the pair nesting along our visitor walkway in the Main Aviary.
A New Family for Spree
Last summer, three dolphins from the Brookfield Zoo, “Tapeko,” “Noelani,” and “Allison,” arrived at the Minnesota Zoo to take up temporary residence while their home in Chicago underwent major renovations. Along with their trainers, the dolphins quickly settled in, and since that time, have been quite busy. They’ve enjoyed their enrichment sessions, celebrated a few birthdays, and met a new friend – our youngest dolphin, “Spree.” Spree was born at the Minnesota Zoo in August, 2002, to “Rio” who passed away in 2006. Dolphins are very social animals, and part of their social development involves learning how to behave with other dolphins. Much of this learning is done by watching other dolphins, especially mom. In Rio’s absence, Spree lacked the maternal influence necessary to teach her “dolphin social etiquette;” in fact, her role models at that time were two adult males who treated her more as an adult dolphin than a four-year-old. Certain behaviors were exhibited toward Spree, who did not have the social skills to respond appropriately. In some instances, this led to aggression. Read more.
Two female dolphins, “April” and “Allie,” were brought to the Minnesota Zoo in 2008 for many reasons – the main goal was for them to take Spree “under their wing” (or in this case, pectoral fin) and become female role models to her. Although dolphins are very social animals, relationships between individual animals may not always be friendly. This can lead to varying degrees of aggression, and unfortunately, this became the case between the dolphins. 
The Minnesota Zoo is committed to providing the very best care for each of our animals, meeting both their biological and social needs. We knew we had to provide Spree with a better social setting, and knowing the Brookfield animals would be spending time in Minnesota, we discussed the feasibility of introducing Spree to their group. This was an opportunity to integrate Spree into a new, solid group where she could experience positive interactions with different animals and learn from them. Working cooperatively with the Brookfield Zoo staff, we designed a multi-step plan that would progress Spree, Tapeko, Noelani and Allison toward one main goal: living together. The cornerstone of the plan was to treat all four dolphins as a group, whether it was for feeding, training, or play sessions. It was also important that trainers from each zoo learn about and interact with each other’s animals, as this would help us determine which dolphin may be more apt to associate with Spree. 
Our plan began when Spree was moved to a pool adjacent to the Brookfield animals. A gate separated the two pools, with each dolphin being able to see and hear one another. We asked the dolphins to eat by the gate and do behaviors they all shared in common, like tail waves and vocalizations. Once everyone felt comfortable, we opened the gate between the two pools: although there was some mild chasing and tail slapping, most of the time the dolphins simply observed each other. Since that day, much progress has been made. The dolphins are participating together in training sessions and working as a team. We have observed Tapeko, the matriarch, positively associating with Spree as she does with the other dolphins. Noelani, Allison, and Spree – who are all younger dolphins – are enjoying a typical juvenile relationship with each other. Although the dolphins have access to two pools, they stay together in one pool most of the time. We view this as a big step: Spree is choosing to remain with the other three dolphins on her own accord, which is great news for her social well being. Staff from both zoos is thrilled to see that Spree is successfully socializing with the Brookfield Zoo’s dolphins, and because of that, Spree will return to Brookfield when the dolphins “move home” this spring. It will be difficult to see Spree go, but it is the right thing to do for her. She’ll be a wonderful addition to Brookfield, and their guests will be able to see some of her favorite behaviors as we have for the past several years. We will miss her deeply, but look forward to hearing about her new adventures in the coming years. -Diane Fusco, marine mammal supervisor
Notes from your Minnesota Zoo Naturalist
Is it going to bite me? Can I touch it? Does it have a name? These are just a few of the questions asked during our educational programs we offer here at the Minnesota Zoo. Making those up close and personal encounters with our animals possible is what makes my job as a Naturalist at the Zoo, so interesting. Read more and see photos.
All of the Naturalists in the education department have been busy making these connections happen throughout the month of March. Our “Zoo Crew Junior” participants experienced a behind-the-scene tours of the marine mammal kitchen during our Dolphin Day, “Career Day” participants met with zoo keepers, veterinarians, and aquarists to learn about what it takes to work at a zoo, and “Dolphin Encounter” participants fed fish to our female dolphin April and experienced how our male dolphin Semo’s skin feels. Kids love reptiles! If you like reptiles you may enjoy our “Reptile Care 101” class. Let us share with you the best practices for care and handling of a reptile in your home or classroom. “Bear Encounters” are starting up again this spring too! Come out to meet Haines, Kenai and Sadie in this unique behind-the-scenes experience. We are looking forward to the month of April with the warmer weather and a chance to meet some of you Enjoy the photos of some of our amazing reptiles and the kids that are experiencing their scaly skin and warm bodies. Click on an image to enlarge 
Happy St. Patrick's Day - It's a Boy! Newborn Camel Calf on Exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day (and the upcoming Farm Babies event), a male Bactrian camel calf is now on exhibit on the Northern Trail at the Minnesota Zoo! Born March 4 weighing a whopping 128 pounds, the calf – who hasn’t been named yet – has been kept off-exhibit with his mother to ensure that he was healthy and gaining weight. Camels usually gain approximately two pounds per day, and will reach adult size (1600–1800 pounds and eight feet tall) in 3-4 years. Gestation periods for Bactrian camels are just over one year. This is the fourth calf for mom “Sybil” and the sixteenth for dad “Turk.” The calf will nurse for a full year, will be independent at age four, and fully mature at age five.
Zoo Day at the Capitol
The Zoo went to the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 9 for a free day of fun at "Minnesota Zoo Day!" We were joined by many in thanking legislators for their support! The Rotunda was "crawling" with critters from the Zoo! Take a look!
When the lights go out, and everything is dark, most people don’t worry about animal activity in their houses/buildings. But if you do want to see if you have unexpected “visitors,” nighttime is best for checking on things that go bump in the night. “Pest” 1. An annoying person or thing; nuisance. 2. An injurious plant or animal especially one harmful to humans. 3. A pestilence. Read more.
We have monitored and controlled the unwanted pest population in the Tropics building since the Zoo opened in 1978. What pests, you may wonder? Cockroaches and mice. They were never on the planned exhibit list for the Tropics, but they can manage their way into any building. In large numbers, these creatures can create health and other issues for the animals. I remember my early days as a zoo keeper, some exhibits seemed to be moving when you were cleaning! The roaches were in such large numbers that you had to be careful not to take any home with you because they would run up your pants leg looking for a place to hide. If you had a problem with bugs back then you either got over it quickly or left the Zoo. Fortunately those days are long gone! If pests are problems, how do you know if a problem exists? You have to look for “pests” when they are visible…night patrols are ideal for “pest” viewing. The Zoo’s Biological Programs department takes turns every month to host “Bug Patrols” with a pest control company after the Zoo closes and the lights go out. At 9:10 p.m. on a February night, it was my turn to walk the darkness of the Tropics building, searching for unwanted pests (not the sort of thing a person unfamiliar with the building would want to do). On this particular night we had an unplanned advantage, the Zoo was switching out some of the electrical supply to the Tropics building so it was darker than usual. Taking care not to disturb the resident bird population and any other animals still on exhibit, we entered the building. Three professional pest controllers and I, armed with flashlights, patrolled looking for any unwanted visitors. The Zoo’s Tropics building is ideal for supporting all kinds of life forms that weren’t planned for in the original design concepts. We are constantly bringing in large numbers of plants that have been living outdoors. Those plants can carry a variety of unwanted passengers looking for shelter. After about an hour the patrol was over and a tally was taken. Did we find pests? Yes, we did. High numbers of pests? Not really. The large numbers of yesteryear are gone (good thing)! The pest management staff is very good at what they do and have been keeping numbers in check for many years. Many people have job tasks that are out of the ordinary. Even though it requires late hours, that may have planned for leisure activities, it’s a task that needs to be done. It helps keep the animal collection and environment in good condition. Besides, how many people do you know that can say they go on Bug patrols in the Tropics building? Helping to keep the “pests” in low numbers,
Many of you have heard “Minnesotans for a Great Zoo” but might not know what it is all about or how it is linked to the Heart of the Zoo project. The Zoo offers something special for everyone. More than 1.3 million people visit the Zoo every year. Nearly 50,000 residents—many in Greater Minnesota—are visited by the Zoomobile and other education outreach programs. And almost 1,000 people volunteer their time at the Zoo. Read more.
We think it’s important to make our Minnesota Zoo a great Zoo, ensuring that it continues to be one of the state’s best gathering places, most important educational institutions and a global leader in conservation efforts. But, we can’t do it alone. We need your help. By joining Minnesotans for a Great Zoo, you’ll be a part of something great! You’ll receive periodic updates along with easy tools to show your support to the state. With the support from Minnesotans for a Great Zoo, the Zoo will be able to move forward with its Heart of the Zoo project, which includes adding an African Penguins exhibit and much more! For more information or to show your support of the Zoo’s efforts, please visit www.ourmnzoo.org and sign up. Dolphin Pregnancy Update: Allie is Getting Bigger!
Our mother-to-be dolphin, Allie is doing well. After her ultrasounds in January and last Friday, Feb. 5, we have been able to detect a fetal heartbeat. The chest and head measurements have increased over the past few months. Based on those measurements we can tell the fetus is continuing to grow. We can also estimate that the delivery date will be sometime mid-summer 2010. Read more and see ultrasound photo.
Dolphins typically eat about 4 to 6% of their body weight daily. Allie's appetite has been good during her pregnancy. She eats about 26 pounds of fish right now! We of course anticipate increasing her amounts in the next month, as the fetus continues to grow. If you look at her closely, you’ll notice that she is becoming larger as her girth continues to expand. To keep Allie and her calf safe, we have retired some of her more energetic behaviors, such as spins and tail walks. It is becoming obvious that these activities are a little more difficult for her to display while carrying her calf.
Friends of the Minnesota Zoo Event was a Success!
About once a month, the Minnesota Zoo Foundation hosts an event for Friends of the Minnesota Zoo. Sometimes they’re behind-the-scenes tours, access to Farm Babies or a new exhibit without the huge crowds of a regular Zoo day, and sometimes it’s more of a lecture. On Friday, January 22 we tried a new event with a group of 120 Friends – “Soar with the Bird Show.” Read more.
The Bird Show staff always does an amazing job, and it’s obvious that they had a great time. One at a time, they brought Alex the African Grey Parrot, Gandalf the hyacinth macaw, and Elvis the blue-throated macaw on stage. Instead of their regular routine, they gave us “the inside scoop” on the cues used for both birds and people; that Alex doesn’t like working with men; and that Dave has traveled to Bolivia to work on a blue-throated macaw conservation project. They answered questions from the crowd, realized we could have filled the entire two hours with just a question and answer session! Our adult Friends asked about things like breeding programs and conservation projects, while the kids asked things like how old are the birds. One serious boy asked, “If the bird’s feathers all fall out, do they get cold?” A girl takes the opportunity to share, “I really like birds!” After a short break to stretch our legs and grab another snack, the Bird Show folks bring out the “big guns” – birds that aren’t ready for the regular Bird Show yet. The snowy owl, Oz (as in “The Blizzard of Oz!” Dave enthusiastically explained), has been with the Zoo for about a year and a half, but every bird goes at his own pace and he’s not yet ready for the Show. But Oz performed beautifully, flying between the two perches several times. High-fives were exchanged – it may not seem like much, but this was a huge step in Oz’s training. Lastly, Tempest the bald eagle was brought out and everyone had the chance to take their picture with her. Tempest occasionally told everyone that it is HER theater with her scream, but she’s posed nicely for pictures. For more information on becoming a Friend of the Zoo, go to http://www.mnzoo.org/donate/donorCircle_friends.asp.
Have you Seen Our Cuttlefish in Discovery Bay?
We received four European (also know as “Common”) cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis from the National Resource Center for Cephalopods in October. Read more.
If you watch them closely, you may see them start changing colors! Cuttlefish can adjust their color and texture to mimic their surroundings and act as camouflage, attract a mate or send messages to others. The Minnesota Zoo has exhibited Cephalopods (meaning octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses) for several years. Octopus and cuttlefish are the easiest to acquire and maintain in captivity. Europeans even keep cuttlefish as personal pets! The cuttlefish are enjoying their new home and can be seen towards the bottom of the tank near Shark Reef in Discovery Bay (they spend a lot of time on the floor, swimming mostly when they are hungry or meet another cuttlefish). It's the Grizzly Bears' Birthday at the Minnesota Zoo!!
Come and join the fun this weekend at the Minnesota Zoo as we celebrate the Zoo's brown bears Sadie, Kenai and Haines Fourth birthday. In the wild, Grizzly bears are born in very secretive earth dens in January, so it's impossible to know their exact birthdays. The bears came to the Minnesota Zoo as orphans, and though they were raised as "siblings," they came from three very different parts of Alaska. Read more.
We don't want any of the bears to feel slighted by sharing their birthday with the others, so we will celebrate one bear's birthday on each day of this holiday weekend. Haines' is on Saturday, Kenai on Sunday and Sadie on Monday. The party will start each morning at the bear exhibit of Russia's Grizzly Coast at 9:45 a.m. You will want to make sure you get there on time! What 4 year old wants to wait for their party to start? The cakes wont last long. What's in a Bear's Birthday Cake? Yum Yum....bet you wish you could have a piece!
Our gibbon infant was born December 27, 2009 and it’s a girl! Today she is a week old and is doing well. She weighed 515 grams at birth and is now up to 540 grams (2.2 pounds = 1000 grams). She has not gained as much weight as we would like to see, but she has a good appetite and is otherwise doing well. The animal care staff is providing around-the-clock care for her during her first few weeks. She is currently eating every 2-3 hours, although feedings overnight are a bit more spaced out. Read more.
The baby's mother, Tia, continues to show little interest in her. Animal care staff is putting Tia and the baby together twice a day for 30 minutes in hopes that the mother will start to show some interest. They cannot be left together during the day because the baby needs an external heat source to maintain her body temperature (which mom would usually provide through body warmth), however, the baby is housed directly next to her parents so they can see each other all day long. Zoo staff hopes that as the infant becomes more mobile, her and Tia will begin to interact.
What is under the animals' trees this year?
Each year after the holidays, the Zoo receives left over trees for animal enrichment from Pahl's Market in Apple Valley. Throughout the winter you can expect to see the trees in many of the exhibits. Read more.
Unfortunately the Zoo cannot accept used trees (due to ornament hooks and tinsel concerns). But you can enrich the birds and squirrels in your own backyard by redecorating your tree with strings of popcorn or pine cones rolled in peanut butter and seeds. The animals will appreciate the sanctuary from the cold winter weather and enjoy the treats! What requests do tigers, monkeys and bears put in their letters to Santa? The animals, of course, have been good all year! Their gifts come from helpers like you, staff, and volunteers. Their list is a tongue-twister but the shopping is easy on Amazon.com. You'll find things like silicone baking molds to make frozen fish and fruitcicles for the bears. There are also balls with fun names like "Run-About Balls" for chinchillas and "Safari Balls" for tigers. The KAYTEE Bird Show stars asked for new "Comfy Perches" and toys. The primates hope to find "Kongs," "Nobbly Wobblys" and "Tornadoes" in their stockings. And on almost every list are essential oils and extracts like banana (a favorite of the tapir). The animals usually play with their "toys" in their off-exhibit spaces. But as a thank you to our members and all of those who purchased gifts for the animals, the keepers will be putting some of the toys on exhibit Monday, February 1, 2010. It’s not too late to grant a wish. Use this link to see what's on the animals’ enrichment wish list and who knows you just might see it in action in February.
Gibbons are off exhibit in preparation for the new arrival Read more.
They have adjusted to the new holding area and are doing well. It took them about three days before they started singing, which signifies they are feeling comfortable in their new home (or to them - territory). This is good news for the gibbons, but not such good news for the keeper staff trying to work right next door! In the wild a gibbon's call can be heard over two miles away, so imagine being in a small office trying to talk on the phone with a gibbon singing 15 feet away! The keeper staff is continuing to work on preparations for the birth both in helping them be successful parents and in the event the offspring has to be hand-raised. The Tropics staff hopes you have a wonderful holiday and please stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the due date. Please stay tuned for further updates as we get closer to the due date!
Gibbons are off exhibit in preparation for the new arrival Read more.
Some of you may remember our male gibbon, “Henry,” born in 2004. Henry was the first offspring of our adult pair, but unfortunately they did not provide adequate care for him. We made several attempts to reintroduce him back to the adult pair, but were unsuccessful. The keepers and veterinary staff hand-raised him until he was able to be sent to another zoo to be paired up with a surrogate mother, “Muffy,” who could teach him how to behave and interact as a gibbon. We were able to confirm the current pregnancy through hormone analysis in September. Since that time, the animal care staff has been working very hard preparing for the birth. Our gibbon keepers have been doing maternal training with both Tia and Bailey to help prepare them for the offspring. They have also been getting materials and supplies ready in the event that they need to assist with the rearing of this offspring as well. We are very hopeful that Tia and Bailey will be successful raising the offspring on their own this time, but the animal care staff is preparing for all scenarios. It is our hope that the gibbons will be back on exhibit with their offspring by late January or early February, but it is possible they will be off exhibit for much longer. Please stay tuned for further updates as we get closer to the due date!
The Hornbill exhibit will be closed as of Monday, December 7 to December 14, 2009. We are excited to be introducing our female Rhino Hornbill to our male in early January 2010. Before we introduce the two, the horticulture staff will be working on some repair work to the exhibit, including repairs in the netting. We will also check to make sure the nest box is ready. We are hoping the birds will be a successful pair and choose to nest together. If they do, we could have eggs as early as February, 2010 (which is the normal hornbill nesting time). When the exhibit is fully ready, we will introduce the female to the exhibit first because she has never been in this specific exhibit. After a couple of weeks, we’ll bring the male to the exhibit with her and hope for a successful match. M We started working on an import of Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) in the summer of 2007. These conversations started for two reasons: Read more.
Our youngest adult female is 18 years old, so it was decided to import some additional females as well as males. We worked with the Japan Zoo Association (JAZA) to acquire zoo (captive) raised macaques, that would be new genetic founders (new lineage) to the AZA population. So why did it take over two years? The main answer is permits and government processes. As Japanese Macaques are a U.S. listed Threatened Species and a CITES appendix II species, permits were needed by both Japan and the U.S. for approval of the permit. And, as they are primates, they are also required to go through a CDC quarantine upon their arrival in the states. After two very long years of effort, on November 4, 2009, a Minnesota Zoo staff person flew to Japan to assist with the transport and they were put on a plane to Chicago. The monkeys had a very long day of being on a 16 hour plane ride from Tokyo to Chicago and then a 5 hour drive to CDC quarantine. The macaques will be in CDC quarantine for 30 days and then will be transferred to the Minnesota Zoo for an additional quarantine period before being introduced to our troop of 16 animals. The zoo quarantines all animals entering our collection to screen for diseases such as Tuberculosis and other potentially harmful diseases. The macaques are doing well in CDC quarantine with just a few minor issues and they will be transferred to the Minnesota Zoo in early December.
Minnesota Zoo is Expecting a Dolphin Calf! November 13, 2009 “Allie” is due in summer 2010. The Minnesota Zoo’s Atlantic bottlenose dolphin “Allie” is expecting a calf in the summer of 2010. The pregnancy was confirmed during an ultrasound this morning, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. Read more.
Allie, 22, arrived at the Minnesota Zoo in January 2008 and is on loan from the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Father-to-be “Semo” has been at the Zoo since 1991, and at age 45, is thought to be one of the oldest male dolphins in human care. “We just completed the ultrasound and are excited that the calf is growing and has a strong heartbeat,” said Marine Mammal Supervisor 
Allie’s last calf was born deceased in March 2009 from complications during labor. Dolphin calves face a perilous first year: only 70% survive their first 30 days. As they do with all pregnancies, the Zoo’s marine mammal staff and veterinarians will carefully monitor the health of Allie and her unborn calf during the pregnancy. Besides Allie & Semo, the Minnesota Zoo is home to dolphins “April,” 42 and “Spree,” 7. The Zoo is also temporarily housing three dolphins from the Brookfield Zoo while their oceanarium is being renovated. The most familiar of the 37 species of dolphins, adult Atlantic bottlenose dolphins range in length from 8 to 12 feet and weigh between 400 and 600 pounds. Their prominent rostrums or beaks account for the name “bottlenose.” They inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide and may also enter harbor bays, lagoons, estuaries and river mouths. |
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Florida Keys along with 11 other teens and a MNZoo naturalist. We visited a turtle hospital, kayaked through mangroves, swam with dolphins, and learned about everything marine. I was hooked. Since then, I've taken 2 more MNZoo field studies; a biodiversity field study to the cloud forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica and a conservation field study to Akumal, Mexico to tag and monitor endangered sea turtles. I learned so much about the environment from the naturalists who led these studies and continue to learn.
In 1869 Jules Verne had a story published entitled “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Seas.” A league is 3 nautical miles, which refers to the distance that the Nautilus traveled on its journey’s around the world. This distance is over 2.5 times the circumference of the earth. During this journey the Nautilus was sinking warships because Captain Nemo wanted to stop war. The Nautilus looked like a fish so the warships that were sunk reported a giant fish had sunk them. A warship from the United States was sent out to find this giant fish able to sink ships. 
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The new exhibit is located along the Tropics Trail. It is full of lush green plants and colorful animals.
Baby Gibbon Update 
As attempts to introduce her back to her mother were not successful, we are in the early stages of getting her ready to transfer to another zoo where she can be raised with a female surrogate white-cheeked gibbon and learn the behaviors critical for her to be able to interact and live with other gibbons. 
If you’re looking for a little more to eat, our catering department will be happy to provide additional food such as pizza, hot dogs or sandwiches. Finally, our staff will assist with the gift opening by writing down the gifts received, making it easy for mom/ dad to take pictures or just sit back and relax. At the end of the party, we send each child off with a goodie bag and suggestions on what exhibits to make sure you don’t miss!
What Happens When the Lights Go Out?
What is Minnesotans for a Great Zoo?
Gibbon pregnancy update: It’s a Girl! 
Gibbon Pregnancy Update: Moving Day!
We’re Expecting!
"New Couple Rumor: Rhino Hornbills Receive Exhibit Improvements for Possible Nesting"
onkeys on a Plane!
