Otter Pups Now on Exhibit!

The North American River Otter pups that the Buffalo Zoo announced last month are now on exhibit in the Zoo’s Otter Creek exhibit.

Photo Credit: Kelly Brown / Buffalo Zoo

North American River Otters have to be taught how to swim by their mothers. Zoo officials wanted to make sure the pups were safe around the water in Otter Creek before leaving them on exhibit for long periods of time. The pups have learned enough to be safe on exhibit. Visitors can now watch them as they continue to learn to swim!

Photo Credit: Melissa King / Buffalo Zoo

The pups will be out in the exhibit with their mothers from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. daily.

The Otter Creek exhibit is sponsored by Buffalo Exterminating.

LineUp Annoucement for BuffaLoveFest 2014

The Buffalo Zoo has announced the lineup for their second annual BuffaLoveFest, an event featuring all things “Buffalo.”

The inaugural BuffaLoveFest in 2013 was such a success that Zoo officials have decided to make the event bigger and better in 2014.

“We had a lot more people attend last year than we expected” said Katie Jordan, the Zoo’s Senior Events Coordinator. “To accommodate a larger crowd, this year’s event will have  more than double the amount of food trucks we had last year.”

Other additions include an exclusive beer from Flying Bison, a slow-motion photo booth, Buffalo celebrity photo-op and autograph table, and more!

One thing that won’t change at this year’s BuffaLoveFest will be a performance by the BuffaLoveBirds All Star Band, featuring Lance Diamond. Other performers include local favorites The Steam Donkeys, Whiskey Reverb, and DJ sets by SpookyBusiness and Camaican Sensation.

In addition to Buffalonians’ favorite bands and food trucks, the event will include a Buffalo trivia tournament, and a variety of Buffalo-centric vendors including local artisans, t-shirt printers, jewelers, and more!

BuffaLoveFest will take place on Friday, May 30, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Buffalo Zoo. The event is limited to ages 21 and up. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $30 at the door, and include 2 drink tickets. Click here to order tickets to BuffaLoveFest 2014.

BuffaLoveFest is presented by Mutual of Omaha and 2 Find Your Home.

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.

Meet our Adorable New North American River Otter Pups!

The Buffalo Zoo welcomes two litters of North American river otter pups.

The two separate litters were born in early March at the Buffalo Zoo to nine-year-old sisters Daisy and Ellie. The father of both litters is a seven-year-old North American river otter named Rascal, who arrived at the Buffalo Zoo in 2012 from the Trevor Zoo in Millbrook, NY. These are the first North American river otter births at the Buffalo Zoo, and all three of the otters are first-time parents.

Both Daisy and Ellie are proving to be attentive mothers and have kept their litters in their dens. The pups are still too small to be on exhibit for the public, but Zoo officials expect them to be out in a few weeks. In the mean time, the Zoo will share updated photos and video footage of the pups on their Facebook page and displayed near the Otter Creek exhibit.

The Otter Creek exhibit is sponsored by Buffalo Exterminating.

Bring Your Unwanted Electronics to the Zoo on April 5

The Buffalo Zoo’s Earth Smart Squad is partnering with Sunnking Inc. to host an electronics recycling collection event.

                                                                        

The collection will take place on Saturday, April 5 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’re doing your spring cleaning. 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 to see a full list of acceptable items. 

Anyone who brings their unwanted electronics to the Zoo on April 5 will receive a coupon for $1 off Zoo admission.

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.

Want to know what happens to your old electronics when they're disposed of properly? Here's a video about how SunnKing recycles electronics!

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The Buffalo Zoo Wants You to Power Down for Polar Bears

The Buffalo Zoo is launching a new initiative called “Power Down for Polar Bears” to reduce the community’s carbon footprint.

The initiative was developed to encourage the Western New York community to participate in the global “Earth Hour” movement. Earth Hour will take place on March 29 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Zoo’s “PowerDown for Polar Bears” event will run for a full week from March 23 – March 29 to encourage maximum participation.

Participation is easy! Schools and classrooms, local businesses, and individuals or families can get involved. During “Power Down for Polar Bears” week, participants should shut off any non-essential lights, appliances, or electronics for at least one hour. Consuming less energy is one easy way to reduce carbon emissions, and slow the melting of sea ice. Polar bears in the wild depend on sea ice to survive.

Anyone who participates will be entered in a drawing to win a Zoo experience when they register their actions on the Zoo’s website. The categories and prizes are as follows:

• Classroom/School – win a polar bear education program at your school
• Business – win a Zoomobile visit for an upcoming staff event
• Family/Individual – win a one year Buffalo Zoo Supporting Level membership

Click here to register your participation and be entered to win!

Check out the video about the Earth Hour movement, below.

Celebrate International Polar Bear Day!

International Polar Bear Day is celebrated on February 27 every year. It serves as a day for everyone to take a little time to think about how our actions affect polar bears in the wild. As an arctic ambassador center the Buffalo Zoo wants to encourage people within our community to take action to reduce their carbon emissions today. The easiest thing you can do is turn your thermostat down just a degree or two!

Image courtesy of PolarBearsInternational.com. © Daniel J. Cox/Natural Exposures

Zoo employees have committed to doing five things at work today. These are simple actions that you can take at home too! Today, every Zoo employee will:

1. Turn off lights when they aren't needed
2. Recycle at least one item
3. Use reusable mugs and water bottles instead of purchasing to-go cups or bottled beverages
4. Not idle vehicles
5. Power down computers at the end of the day

These may sound like small meaningless actions, but we know that they add up to big change. We encourage all employees do them not just today, but every day! The Buffalo Zoo hopes that you'll make small changes too, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. When we all make small changes, we can have a big impact on climate change, and help to protect the arctic ice that polar bears need to survive!

For more information about International Polar Bear Day, and how you can get involved, check out Polar Bears International.