Who Knew at the Buffalo Zoo? Ocelot Edition

In the latest edition of "Who Knew at the Buffalo Zoo?", meet the Ocelots. This feline family just welcomed a new member. The Buffalo Zoo's latest addition, an ocelot kitten, is now on exhibit in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls. The kitten was born to first time parents Pedro and Ayla on December 10, 2013. Keepers in the exhibit named the spunky little girl "Arieta." They report that she is a fast learner and very active in the exhibit. Arieta and her mother Ayla are on exhibit daily from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in M&T Bank Rainforest Falls. Come on down to the Zoo and meet the family.



They are an ocelot of fun.

Kids help the Zoo and "Our Bears Belong in Buffalo"

The fundraising for our planned Arctic Edge exhibit isn't done, but we are making progress and getting some terrific help from Western New York. The exhibit is slated to be the permanent home for Luna as well as future polar bears, arctic fox, canadian lynx and bald eagle. 

Kindergarten students, as well as first, second, and third graders along with children in the "Life Skills" from Big Tree Elementary raised $1000.00 for the campaign. They presented the money and two birdhouses decorated for Luna and Kali to Zoo Marketing Manager, Michael Powers, on a recent visit to the Zoo.

Students over at the Frederick Law Olmsted School, (School 64) had a variety of fundraisers and faculty came by the Zoo to present a $1500.00 donation to the campaign.

You don't need an entire class to help build a home for Luna. Jacob Frederiksen, a fourth grader at St. Francis of Assisi school in Tonawanda, ran a "Lemonade for Luna" stand on his own and was able to bring $40.00 to contribute to the campaign. 

If you want to help out in getting a permanent home built for Luna with a fundraiser of your own, just let us know. If you would like to donate to the campaign, text "Zoobear" to 56512 or visit the Zoo online at http://www.buffalozoo.org/bear_campaign.html.

Buffalo Zoo Snooze News

Have you ever wondered what happens to the animals when everyone has gone for the day and the park has closed? Discover the Buffalo Zoo as the sun goes down through a very special program called the Buffalo Zoo Snooze. Zoo Snoozes are held on Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m. the following morning.

The Buffalo Zoo has added two new themes to their overnight snooze programs. Attendants now have a choice between two new snooze themes in addition to the current “Ecostation Adventure” and “Rainforest Immersion” programs. 
 

The new “You Run the Zoo” snooze is a career-based program that shows what goes into running a zoo. Learn about how your hobbies and talents can be applied to a variety of zoo-related jobs, from designing a new enclosure for one of our education animals, to drawing up educational signs and advertising your new enclosure to the “public”. 

The “Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Animal” theme focuses on endangered species and the many threats to current populations of wild animals. The group will split into two teams, both of which are given an animal mystery to solve. Follow the clues and track your animal to learn about what it eats, where it lives and discover why it is endangered. 

The brand new “You Run the Zoo” and “Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Animal” snooze themes are now open for booking! Call 995-6128 for scheduling. For a complete listing of Zoo Snooze offerings at the Buffalo Zoo, visit us online.

Tickets Available for Polar Bites 2013

Tickets are now available for Polar Bites 2013, a fundraising event benefiting the Buffalo Zoo.

The wintertime favorite event, presented by the Pro Zoo Board, will take place on Thursday, February 21, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Polar Bites will feature food and beverages from some of Western New York’s finest  establishments, as well as a basket auction, silent auction, and visits with some of the Zoo’s
animals.

The tickets cost $35 in advance and $45 at the door. A limited number of VIP tickets are also
available for $60. VIP ticket holders will receive early admission and gift bags. To purchase
tickets, please call (716) 995-6131 or order online at buffalozoo.org.

Vendors at the 2013 Polar Bites Event will include:







Polar Bites 2013 is sponsored by Phillips Lytle, LLC, Creditors Interchange, 2Find Your Home,
and M&T Bank, with promotional support from Fox 29, MyTV, 97 Rock, Classic Hits 104.1,
Buffalo Spree Magazine, Yelp.com, and Buffalo.com.

Zooper Saturday Featuring M&T Bank Rainforest Falls & Reptile House This Weekend

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Zooper Saturday event this weekend, featuring the reptile house and M&T Bank Rainforest Falls.

Come in out of the cold, and warm up with your favorite animal friends in the reptile house and M&T Bank Rainforest Falls exhibit! Learn all there is to know about these exotic species from our keeper talks, feedings, enrichment activities and much more! This event is free with Zoo admission and will run from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on January 5. A full schedule of activities follows:

• 11 a.m – 3 p.m. Face painting
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. M&T Bank Rainforest Falls keeper talks & animal enrichments
• 1 p.m. Hellbender keeper talk in reptile house
• 1:30 p.m. Uromastyx encounter in reptile house
• 2 p.m. Carpet python encounter in reptile house
• 2:30 p.m. Puerto Rican crested toad encounter in reptile house
• 3 p.m. Indigo snake feeding in reptile house

The Buffalo Zoo’s reptile house is sponsored by Goya Foods.

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

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.

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.  

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