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Another Zooper Saturday!

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Zooper Saturday event this Saturday, December 1 featuring the snow leopards and reindeer. Come visit some animals at the Zoo who are happy to welcome winter to Buffalo! Our two snow leopards, Annapurna and Dwaine will enjoy animal enrichments while visitors enjoy keeper talks and training sessions from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The reindeer have a few weeks until Santa needs them, so come visit them from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for enrichments and docent talks in front of the reindeer exhibit. A complete schedule of activities follows.

•  11 a.m. snow leopard enrichment
•  12 p.m. snow leopard training demonstration
•  1 p.m. snow leopard enrichment
•  1:15 p.m. reindeer docent talk
•  1:45 p.m. reindeer enrichment
•  2:15 p.m. reindeer docent talk

Zooper Saturday events are free with regular Zoo admission, and are sponsored by Wells
Fargo Advisors, LLC.

For more information about the Zooper Saturday event, call (716) 995-6133 or visit
www.buffalozoo.org

Sea Lion "Kiss"-mas Cards at the Buffalo Zoo

The Zoo will offer a unique holiday gift option this season: kisses from Pocus, one of our California Sea Lions! The kiss encounter sessions will occur at 12:00 p.m. each day. Only 20 kisses can take place each day, so reservations are strongly encouraged. Kiss encounters are $20. Participants will receive a 4 x 6 photo and a memory that will last a lifetime. The encounters are limited to individual shots (no groups) and ages 6 and older. Participants who don't want a kiss but would still love to get up-close-and-personal with a sea lion may be photographed as a sea lion "trainer" instead. Please call the Zoo at (716) 837-3900 to make reservations for your sea lion kiss.

Thank You Troop 58!

We at the Buffalo Zoo would like to extend a special "THANK YOU" to Joe Scamacca and the members and families of Eagle Scout Troop #58 for constructing new benches for the lions and tigers. Before the decks were built this summer, the big cats would lounge below the windows, making it difficult for Zoo visitors to catch a glimpse of them. Now, visitors can get up-close-and-personal with the cats,  who seem to really enjoy their new benches. Joe and his troop worked hard on this and past projects for the Zoo. The staff, animals, and patrons of the Buffalo Zoo appreciate all that they have done for us.

Joe Scamacca of Eagle Scout Troop #58 trying out the new bench.

The Lions at the Buffalo Zoo love their new benches!

Some members of Troop 58 and their families.

Thank you to Mary Scamacca for providing these photographs.

Polar Bites 2013 Tickets are now on Sale!

My Trip to the Polar Bear Capitol of the World – Part 2

by Caitlyn Bruce, Keeper at the Buffalo Zoo

(Read Part 1 Here)

Even though I work with polar bears every day at the Buffalo Zoo, there was a huge difference for me between that and seeing wild bears in their natural environment.  The thing that had the greatest impact on me though, was seeing the Aurora Borealis the first night we were in Churchill.  We were in the middle of a class discussion around 8:30pm when we were interrupted with “the northern lights are outside!” 

We were lucky enough to be staying at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, a LEED gold certified building constructed to house researchers conducting studies in the Churchill area.  One of the many benefits of staying there was the second story outdoor observation deck.  Being in the heart of polar bear country, you certainly don’t want to go outside on the ground at night, but having a second story deck made viewing the Aurora outside possible. I will never forget standing outside in the freezing cold, gazing straight up and watching the sky swirl and shimmer, changing colors from green to red and back again. It is truly something you have to see first hand to appreciate. 

Leadership Camp was a once in a life time experience that taught me so much.  The knowledge and skills I gained will definitely help me in my new role as a “community change agent” as we ALL work towards a future that includes the existence of polar bears.  After all, I want to live in a world where it will be possible for my future children and grandchildren to have the same experience I had, seeing the magnificent wild polar bear roaming the arctic tundra.  

Tickets Now Available For Breakfast With Santa and the Animals at the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo invites you and your family to celebrate the holidays with Santa and the Zoo animals!

The Zoo will host its annual Breakfast with Santa events on December 8, 9, 15, and 16. There will be two seatings each day at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Prepaid, nonrefundable tickets are required due to limited seating. Ticket prices for non-members are $14 for adults and $12 for children. Members will receive a $3 discount. Children under the age of 24 months will be admitted for free.

Tickets include a buffet breakfast provided by CJ’s Catering, family-friendly activities,and a visit with Santa!

For more information, or to reserve tickets, please call (716) 995-6133 or visit www.buffalozoo.org.

Holiday Gift Guide: Buffalo Zoo

My Trip to the Polar Bear Capitol of the World – Part 1

by Caitlyn Bruce (Keeper at the Buffalo Zoo)

From October 6^th to October 13^th of this year, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the western Hudson Bay area to Churchill, Manitoba with the Polar Bears International  Leadership Camp. Seeing polar bears in the wild was especially intriguing for me as a polar bear keeper at the Buffalo Zoo, but nothing could have prepared me for the experience I was going to have in the sub-arctic. There were 24 participants from a variety of backgrounds including other zoo keepers from across North America, high school teachers, communicators and education department staff from other zoos, and even an agent from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

The main function of Leadership Camp was to educate us about global climate change and, more importantly, what we can personally do and how we can educate others on how to reduce their energy consumption.  From when we woke up at 7am until we went to bed at 10pm, we were participating in classes, group discussions, Skype sessions with world renowned climate change scientists, and a variety of other activities. We learned how to be more proficient in communicating how climate change is affecting polar bear populations, and will ultimately lead to their extinction if nothing changes. What we learned and the skills we developed were an important part of camp, but the real excitement was in what we saw while we were there. Everything from the tundra landscape, to the structure of the town of Churchill, to the tundra flora and fauna was fascinating. We spend two days out on tundra in a Tundra Buggy©, which is like a very large, all-terrain school bus with giant wheels. This allowed us a safe vantage point for viewing, while still keeping us incredibly close and engaged with our surroundings.  While we were there, we saw a variety of arctic wildlife including tundra swan, an arctic fox, beluga whales, ptarmigan, and arctic hares, but obviously the most thrilling were the polar bears. We saw a total of five bears (although we believe one was the same bear, seen two different days). 

Polar bear sighting in Churchill, Manitoba

Great Pumpkins

Some of us aren't quite finished with our Halloween treats yet

Polar Bites 2013 Tickets are now on sale!

For years now, the annual Polar Bites event puts some much needed fun in February. Taking place upstairs at the newly renovated Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on February 21, 2013, this annual benefit for the Zoo showcases some of the best restaurants, breweries, wineries and other specialty services in the Western New York Region. 1500 friends of the Zoo come together to help the Zoo and sample some of the best the area has to offer.

If you want to help both your appetite and the Buffalo Zoo, Polar Bites is the event for you! Come enjoy our basket auction, a silent auction and a visit from some of our animal ambassadors. The event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $35  pre-sale CLICK HERE and $45 at the door. A limited amount of VIP tickets are available at a cost of $60 CLICK HERE. To get your tickets by phone call (716) 995-6133.You must be 21 years or older to attend.

New Arrivals at the Buffalo Zoo.

The Buffalo Zoo is pleased to welcome new animals to their collection. 

Among the new arrivals are a rhinoceros, a giraffe, and seven leaf frogs.

A male giraffe named Moke arrived in Buffalo in September from the Dickerson Park Zoo in
Springfield, MO. The year-old Rothschild giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschild) was
brought to Buffalo to breed with the Zoo’s two female reticulated giraffes.

George, a male Asian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is another new Buffalo
resident. Owned by the National Zoo in Washington D.C, he came to Buffalo via the Bronx
Zoo as part of a cooperative breeding program. The three-thousand-pound rhino will not
reach sexual maturity for at least another two years, when he will be introduced to the
Zoo’s female rhino, Tashi. He is expected to reach between five and six-thousand pounds.
The Zoo recently completed updates to the existing rhino barn and yard to accommodate
the rhino bull.

Zookeepers are also excited to add seven Solomon Islands leaf frogs (Ceratobatrachus
guentheri) to the Zoo’s collection. What makes these frogs special is that they hatch as
froglets, skipping the tadpole stage entirely. The leaf frogs will be on exhibit in the Zoo’s
reptile house after their quarantine period. The frogs came to Buffalo from the Dallas Zoo.

Visit the Buffalo Zoo and meet the new residents! The Zoo recommends calling before you
visit to find out when the animals will be on exhibit. For information about the Zoo’s hours
of operation, please call (716) 837-3900, or visit buffalozoo.org.

Zooper Saturday, Tomorrow!

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Zooper Saturday event featuring gorillas and reptiles on Saturday, November 3.

Learn all there is to know about reptiles from our keeper talks, snake feedings, and enrichment activities in our reptile house from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Then, head over to meet our western lowland gorillas, and learn what makes each one of them unique! Activities will take place from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. including keeper talks and animal enrichment. Zooper Saturday events are free with regular Zoo admission. A full schedule
of activities follows:

11 a.m. Puerto Rican crested toad keeper talk
11:30 a.m. poison dart frog feeding and keeper talk
12 p.m. hellbender keeper talk
12:30 p.m. uromastyx keeper talk
1 p.m. indigo snake feeding and keeper talk
1 p.m. gorilla feeding
2 p.m. gorilla keeper talk and enrichment
3 p.m. gorilla feeding



Zooper Saturday programs are sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC.

2013 Buffalo Zoo Calendar Now Available!

The Women’s Board of the Buffalo Zoo is pleased to present the 2013 Buffalo Zoo Calendar!

Showcasing some of the Zoo’s animal residents, this beautiful calendar features photos
obtained from the Zoo’s annual photo contest. The calendar also highlights Zoo events, as
well as fun facts about the animal pictured each month.

Calendars are available for $10 each and may be purchased at the Zootique gift shop or by
calling (716) 995-6131 to place an order. For all mail orders, please add $2.50 for postage
and handling.

Enjoy the Buffalo Zoo all year through—get your calendar today!

The Buffalo Zoo would like to thank our generous calendar sponsors:

• The Baby Room
• Bob & John's
• The Colvin Market Express
• Ettore Winter Photographers
• Fleet Feet
• Johnny's Meats
• Markheim Pets
• Michael Donnelly Interior Design
• Talking Leaves
• Tree House - Elmwood
• The Wellington Pub, Inc.

Buffalo Zoo Says Bon Voyage to Polar Bear Nanuq

The Buffalo Zoo will host a going away party for polar bear Nanuq this weekend.

The event will take place on Saturday October 13 and Sunday October 14 during regular Zoo hours. Activities will include keeper talks, polar bear feedings, polar bear slushies, and a bear-sized “bon voyage” card for children to sign. The first 100 children through the gates each day will receive special polar bear finger puppets. The Bon Voyage activities are free with regular Zoo admission. Anyone who brings in a Goya Foods item to donate to the Food bank of WNY will receive $1 off admission.

The bears are leaving so that the Zoo can prepare for demolition and construction of its new Arctic Edge exhibit.

Though construction for Arctic Edge is not slated to begin until the spring, Nanuq, the Zoo’s male polar bear, is leaving the Zoo now so that he may be acclimated to his new Zoo habitat in time for the next breeding season. Departure plans for Anana, the Zoo’s female polar bear, are not yet finalized.

                                                                                

Construction for the new Arctic Edge exhibit is expected to begin in spring 2013. The exhibit, which will also house bald eagle, arctic wolf, and Canadian lynx, is projected to open in 2015.

For more information about Bon Voyage Polar Bears event, call (716) 995-6133 or visit www.buffalozoo.org

The Buffalo Zoo thanks Goya Foods for sponsoring the current bear exhibit.

Buffalo Zoo Hosts A Sea Lion Celebration

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Zooper Saturday event this weekend, featuring the residents of NOCO Sea Lion Cove.


The Zoo’s two California sea lions, Dallas and Pocus will be featured during the October
Zooper Saturday event on October 6. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and
will feature training demonstrations and other fun activities. The event is free with regular
Zoo admission. All activities in Sea Lion Cove are presented by Noco Energy and the Zoo's
Zooper Saturday programs are sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC.

The schedule of activities during the event follows.

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Face painters, raffles, and NOCO giveaways
11 a.m. Sea lion keeper talk and feeding
12 p.m. Sea lion show
1 p.m. Sea lion enrichment
2. p.m. Sea lion keeper talk and feeding
2:30 p.m. Raffle winners announced (need not be present to win)
3 p.m. Sea lion enrichment

Sea lion shows will take place at noon every Saturday and Sunday in October, as well as
Monday, October 8 for Columbus Day. The shows will be presented at the amphitheatre in
NOCO Sea Lion Cove. Shows are free with regular Zoo admission.

Navy Day at the Zoo, September 16

The Buffalo Zoo will host Navy Day on Sunday, September 16 as part of Navy Week in Buffalo.

The event runs from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is free with regular Zoo admission. The
Zoo will offer a special “High Five for the Military” discount during the event. Members of
the United States military and up to four additional guests will be admitted to the Zoo for a
total of $5.00. A valid military ID must be presented at the admission gates to receive the
discount.

The Navy Day event will feature activities and demonstrations including a Navy Simulator,
the Navy Band, Navy SEALS parachuting into the Zoo, and a special sea lion show. Some of
these activities are weather permitting.

Members of the Navy’s elite parachuting team, the “Leap Frogs” will be parachuting from
airplanes onto the Zoo’s gazebo lawn at 10:00 a.m. Admission gates will open at 9:45 a.m.
to allow visitors time to enter the Zoo before the paratroopers arrive.

Navy week in Buffalo will run from September 10 until September 17. For more information
about Navy Week, please visit http://www.navyweek.org/Buffalo2012/index.html.

For more information about Navy Day at the Buffalo Zoo, please call (716) 995-6133 or visit
buffalozoo.org.

Hispanic Heritage Day at the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo will host Hispanic Heritage day on Saturday, September 15.
The fun-filled event celebrating Hispanic Heritage month runs from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00
p.m. It will feature special musical performances, vendor tables, and demonstrations. The
event is free with regular zoo admission. Visitors can bring a donation for the WNY Food
Bank to receive $1 off admission.

Hispanic Heritage Day at the Buffalo Zoo is presented by the Hispanic Heritage Council of
WNY Inc. and Goya Foods.

For more information, please call (716) 995-6133 or visit buffalozoo.org.

Behind the Scenes!

This latest "Wild Workshop" at the Buffalo Zoo is an exciting experience that gives you and your family a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go behind closed doors at the Zoo. Meet zookeepers as we visit three exhibit areas to learn the daily routine or preparing animal diets, observing behavior, training and more. Don't forget to bring your camera! The fee for Zoo members is $30.00 for this special session, $35.00 for non-Zoo members.

Important Notes:
Due to the unpredictability of animals, tour experiences may vary.
Please be aware that we will be visiting confined zookeeper work areas with close proximity to wild animals. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. All participants must abide by staff instructions at all times. If you require reasonable accommodation as a result of a disability or other reasons, please call 995-6128 for assistance.

Grandparents Day at the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo will host its annual Grandparents Day event, presented by Fisher-Price on Sunday, September 9.

Grandparents can bring their favorite little ones along to the Zoo from 10:00 a.m until 4:00
p.m. Each grandparent will receive free admission to the Zoo with one paid child’s
admission. Grandparents will also receive $5 off a grandparents membership purchased that
day.

There will be a variety of activities taking place throughout the day at the Delta Sonic
Heritage Farm exhibit.

11:30 a.m – 3:00 p.m. Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society craft and
information booth

11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Crafts with the Buffalo Zoo docents

11:30 a.m. – Sheep agility keeper talk

1:00 p.m. – Pig demonstration keeper talk

2:00 p.m. – Mule demonstration keeper talk

For more information about the event, please call (716) 837-3900 or visit buffalozoo.org.

Become a Zoo Docent

The Buffalo Zoo is looking for a few good men and women....to become Docents! A Docent is a volunteer teacher and tour guide who enjoys spreading the Buffalo Zoo's message of conservation and education throughout Western New York. Docent responsibilities include acting as Zoo tour guides, interacting with Zoo visitors, conducting live animal presentations, and participating in educational outreach throughout the community. 

     

Becoming a Buffalo Zoo docent is a serious commitment and a rewarding journey.  Established in 1974, the Docent Organization’s goals are to help the Buffalo Zoo Education Department “educate, unite, and involve people in the conservation and preservation of the natural world.”  With over 100 active members, the Zoo’s extremely dedicated volunteer organization plays an essential role in Buffalo Zoo programming both on and off Zoo grounds.  To become a Docent, you must be at least 25 years of age and interested in both animals and the environment.  Training for the 2013 class will take place on Saturdays, from January through April 2013.  Classes will run 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Two orientation sessions will be held to share what being a Zoo Docent is all about.  These information sessions will be held at the Buffalo Zoo (in the Education Department) in  October 20, 2012 and November 10th, 2012  from 10:00a.m.-12:00. These sessions will be your chance to learn more about the Zoo and the Docent Organization, and to get a glimpse of what the docent experience entails.  If you are interested in becoming a docent, you must attend one of the orientation sessions.  To sign up for an orientation session, call Maureen Pantera, the Zoo’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 995-6132.  

Sea Lion Shows to Resume at the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo will resume its Sea Lion shows this weekend.

The Sea Lion shows will take place at noon every Saturday and Sunday in September and October, as well as Monday, October 8 for Columbus Day. The shows will be presented at the amphitheatre in NOCO Sea Lion Cove. Shows are free with regular Zoo admission.

The shows feature the Zoo’s two California Sea Lions, Dallas and Pocus.

Dallas and Pocus will also be featured during the October Zooper Saturday event on October 6. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and will feature training demonstrations and other fun activities. All activities in Sea Lion Cove are presented by Noco Energy and the Zoo's Zooper Saturday programs are sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC.

For more information about the Sea Lion shows, call (716) 837-3900 or visit www.buffalozoo.org

Buffalo Zoo Receives Award for Interactive Educational Programming

The Buffalo Zoo received a 2011-2012 CILC Pinnacle Award Honorable Mention from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) for its distance learning programs.

The award is presented annually to organizations delivering outstanding interactive
videoconferencing programs for grades K-12. Recipients are chosen based on teacher
evaluations submitted through the CILC Web site.

The Buffalo Zoo’s distance learning programs, sponsored by Time Warner Cable, provide students in Western New York and across the country with an opportunity to explore science by seeing live interactive footage of exhibits, animals, and staff at the Zoo without leaving their classrooms. For more
information about these programs, call (716) 837-3900 ext 143 or visit
http://buffalozoo.org/distance_learning.html.

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) is a not-for-profit organization
specializing in the access to applications and the utilization of video conferencing for live
interactive content and professional development, as well as Web-based collaborative
learning environments for K-20 education. For more information about the CILC, visit
http://www.cilc.org/.

Itty Bitty Animal Yoga at the Buffalo Zoo

Let's move with the animals! During this eight-week session, we will be joined by special guest, Bekah Starr, a yoga instructor with Sproutin' Yoga, to let your children's imaginations and bodies run wild! Through interactive games, animal encounters, animated postures and basic yoga principles, we will enjoy a unique opportunity to foster creativity, focus and movement while learning more about animals at the Buffalo Zoo.

Dates: September 20, 27, October 4, 11, 18, 25, November 1, 8

Times: 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. for children ages 6-12 months
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for children ages 13-23 months

Price: $80.00 per adult/child pair. Discounts will be given for a second child in the same age group.

click here to download the ITTY BITTY ANIMAL YOGA REGISTRATION FORM
Pre-paid registration is required, and all participants are required to pay the workshop fee. For more information call us at (716) 995-6128

Zooper Saturday at the Buffalo Zoo, September 1

Zooper Saturday 
Presented by Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Join us for activities, including animal enrichment and keeper talks, featuring a variety of your favorite animals. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and is free with Zoo admission.

11:00 - avian tour in Rainforest Falls

11:30 - otter keeper talk in Otter Creek

12:30 - hellbender talk in the hellbender lab inside the Reptile House 

1:30 - sea lion show in Noco Sea Lion Cove 

2:30 - avian tour in Rainforest Falls

Please call (716) 995-6133 or visit www.buffalozoo.org for more information.

Zoo School

A Wild Workshop at the Buffalo Zoo
Date: September 8, 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

As students head back to school to learn new skills, our animals at the zoo continue their year-long training!  Have you ever wondered how a zookeeper trains a sea lion to flap its flippers or a parrot to mimic a sound? In this workshop we will discover how zookeepers use training to display animals’ natural behaviors, showcasing how they act in the wild.   We will observe animal behavior and practice training techniques that help zookeepers to manage the Zoo’s diverse animal collection!  

click here to download the WILD WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM
Pre-paid registration is required, and all participants are required to pay the workshop fee. For more information call us at (716) 995-6128.

Buffalo Zoo’s Wild About Wellness Health Fair Saturday, August 18, 2012

Learn how you can lead a healthier lifestyle by attending the Buffalo Zoo’s Wild About Wellness Health Fair, presented by United Healthcare, WIVB-TV, 97 Rock and Classic Hits 104.1.

Join other health-conscious Zoo visitors on Saturday, August 18, 2012 as you enjoy exploring the Zoo and meeting with area health and wellness experts who focus on physical training, alternative medicine, healthy eating and more! For the kids, activities and crafts will be available.

The event is free with Zoo admission and runs from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. For more information, please call (716) 995-6133.         

The participating vendors include:

American Red Cross                                                     New York Life

Baby Bongos                                                                Parent Network of WNY

Body-Mind Essentials                                                    Prevention Focus, Inc.

Brightside Counseling Services                                       Rolly Pollies

Buffalo & Erie County Public Library                             Stroller Strides

Buffalo Postal Community Fed. Credit Union                  Tutor Doctor

Chiro One Wellness                                                       United Healthcare

Crisis Services                                                              Univera Community Health

Erie County Department of Senior Services                    University Pediatric Dentistry

Fidelis Care                                                                   Upstate NY Transplant Services

Hazman                                                                        WCHOB-Diabetes

Kaleida Health                                                              Victoria Station/Create Health

Mercy Flight                                                                 Western New York Chiropractic

Moving Miracles                                                           Winning Smiles Pediatric Dentistry