Giraffe Born at the Buffalo Zoo

The Buffalo Zoo is celebrating the birth of a male giraffe.

                                                                                                                   

The yet-unnamed baby was born on Friday, October 24 to mother, 5-year-old A.J, and father, 3-year-old Moke. Both are first time parents.

The giraffe house will be closed temporarily, as A.J. takes some time to bond with her baby, and the herd adjusts to his presence. Zoo visitors will be able to enter the vestibule of the giraffe house and view the animals through the windows.

The gestation period of giraffes is around 15 months. Calves usually remain with their mothers until they are around 22 months old.  

Giraffes are native to the plains of Africa. The number of giraffes in the wild has dropped from 140,000 in 1999 to fewer than 80,000 today. The decreasing population is attributed to poaching, disease, and loss of natural habitat.

photo credit: Zoo registrar, Kelly Brown

Time for Another Electronics Recycling Collection at the Zoo!

The Buffalo Zoo’s Earth Smart Squad will partner with Sunnking Inc. to host another electronics recycling collection event!

We held an event in April and it was very successful! We wanted to give Western New Yorkers another opportunity to get rid of some of some clutter while they're getting ready for the holiday season. 

                                                                        

The collection will take place on Saturday, November 15 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Zoo’s main parking lot off of Parkside Ave.

The Earth Smart Squad wants you to keep the planet in mind while you start preparing for the holidays. Electronic waste shouldn’t be thrown out with household trash. Some items may contain materials that are harmful to the environment, and most items can actually be recycled. Electronics recycling facilities are able to dispose of electronic waste in an environmentally responsible way.

Items that will NOT be accepted include batteries, and large appliances.

Click here for a list of acceptable items.

Anyone who brings their unwanted electronics to the Zoo on November 15 will receive a coupon for $1 off Zoo admission on that day.

The Buffalo Zoo’s Earth Smart Squad’s mission is to be leaders in sustainability by inspiring our organization to reduce its carbon footprint, while empowering the community to engage in green practices.

Get Ready for Spooktacular Days!

Tickets are now available for Spooktacular Days at the Buffalo Zoo, a new Halloween event debuting this year.

Spooktacular Days will replace Howl-o-ween Hayrides at the Zoo.

Spooktacular Days at the Buffalo Zoo will take place on October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, & 26. Activities will run from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Fridays, and 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, giving families the option to participate during either daytime or evening hours.

For the cost of regular Zoo admission, plus an additional $5, guests can partake in activities including indoor treat stations, Halloween-themed games, and free train and carousel rides. The experience will conclude with the fall favorites of donuts and apple cider.

Click here to purchase tickets, or call (800) 838-3006.

The event is designed to be fun and friendly rather than frightful. Spooktacular Days offer an early, safe, and fun Halloween experience for children of all ages!

The Spooktacular Days at the Zoo are sponsored by Tops Friendly Markets and 97 Rock.

Zooper Saturday with Dallas the Sea Lion!

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Zooper Saturday event featuring Dallas, the California sea lion.

Dallas the sea lion

Zoo visitors can learn all about sea lions and get to know Dallas and his keepers during a day of keeper talks and enrichment activities on Saturday, October 4th. A full schedule of activities follows.

• 11 a.m – 2 p.m. – Face painting in NOCO Sea Lion Cove (rain location in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls)
• 11 a.m. – Sea Lion demonstration in NOCO Sea Lion Cove
• 11:30 a.m. – Keeper talk in NOCO Sea Lion Cove
• 12 p.m. –  Sea Lion enrichment in NOCO Sea Lion Cove
• 1:30 p.m. – Photo encounters in NOCO Seal Lion Cove (pre-registration required)
• 2 p.m. – Keeper talk in NOCO Sea Lion Cove
• 2:30 p.m. – Sea Lion demonstration in NOCO Sea Lion Cove
• 3 p.m. – Ice treat sea lion enrichment in NOCO Sea Lion Cove

Registration is required for the photo encounters. For a $25 fee, participants will be able to get up-close and personal with Dallas the sea lion, and receive a 4x6 photograph to take home. Anyone who wants to participate can register at the Zoo’s admission gates when they arrive. There are a limited number of reservations available.

Zooper Saturdays take place on the first Saturday of every month. Activities are free with regular Zoo admission.

For more information about the Zooper Saturday event, call (716) 995-6133.

The Buffalo Zoo thanks NOCO for their sponsorship of the Sea Lion Cove exhibit.