Gorilla Baby Name Announcement This Weekend!

The Buffalo Zoo will announce the winning name for the new baby gorilla during an “APE-ril” event this Saturday.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 2 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Zoo’s gorilla exhibit.

Spend the afternoon learning all about the gorillas! The APE-ril event will feature keeper talks, feedings, a birthday celebration for Sydney, and the announcement of the winning name for her new baby boy!

Earlier this year, the Zoo announced that a new baby had been born to gorilla parents 28-year-old Koga, and Sydney, who is turning 19 this month. A few weeks ago, the Zoo revealed that the baby is a boy and asked the community to vote between three possible names for the little guy. The winning name will be revealed during Saturday’s event. Sydney was born at The Buffalo Zoo in 1997, and is also the mother of five-year-old Amari.

A full schedule of APE-ril event activities follows:

• 11 a.m. – Crafts and Q&A session at the gorilla exhibit
• 12 p.m. – Announcement of the winning name for the baby gorilla
• 12:20 p.m. – Birthday treats for Sydney
• 1 p.m. – Crafts and keeper talk in the gorilla exhibit
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Crafts and Q&A session at the gorilla exhibit

Any visitor who brings an unwanted cell phone to the Zoo will receive $1 off admission. Recycling cell phones helps gorillas in the Congo by decreasing the demand for coltan mining.

For more information about Saturday’s event, call (716) 995-6133.

Buffalo Zoo Gift Shop Partners with Women & Children’s Hospital

The Buffalo Zoo’s gift shop, Zootique, has partnered with Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (WCHOB) to bring cheer to its patients.

Beginning Saturday, March 19, Zoo visitors will have an opportunity to purchase special plush animal toys from Zootique at a discounted rate, which will then be donated to WCHOB. The plush “animal ambassadors” will be delivered to the hospital throughout the year in an effort to put smiles on the faces of young patients.

Anyone who participates will be invited to draw a picture for the Oishei Children’s Hospital Community Art Mosaic. The mosaic will be comprised of thousands of smiling self-portraits drawn by patients and members of the Western New York Community. The completed mosaic will form the centerpiece of the lobby area at the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, slated to open in the fall of 2017 on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

“The Buffalo Zoo’s partnership will help to build the foundation and support for our vision of bringing Buffalo’s culturals to the children and families in the new Oishei Children’s Hospital," said Allegra Jaros, MBA, President, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. “The arts and culturals are integral tools for healing and respite, and it is our hope that they become a key element in the design and atmosphere of the new Oishei Children’s Hospital."

For further information about the program, please call the Zootique at (716) 837-3900 x110 or visit www.buffalozoo.org.

Choose a Name for the Baby Gorilla!

The Buffalo Zoo is inviting the community to help choose a name for the new baby gorilla.

The baby was born on Sunday, January 10 at 11:04 p.m. to mother, 18-year-old Sydney, and father, 28-year-old Koga. Sydney has displayed strong maternal instincts and is taking great care of the troop’s latest addition.

Last week, the Zoo’s gorilla keepers were able to determine that the baby is a boy. They have narrowed a long list of possible names down to their top three choices, and are now asking the Western New York community to assist with the final decision!

The Zoo will announce the winning name during their “APEril” Zooper Saturday event on April 2, 2016.

You can visit the newest baby along with the rest of the gorilla troop every day in the Zoo’s gorilla house.

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Two Down for International Polar Bear Day!

by giraffe keeper, Vicki Hodge

Hi all! February 27 is International Polar Bear Day. A few years ago, the Buffalo Zoo launched an initiative for local schools to help celebrate the day, and do some conservation for polar bears at the same time. We called it Bundle up for Polar Bears! The challenge was to raise awareness about climate change which affects polar bears, by reducing carbon emissions through the simple act of lowering the thermostat a few degrees. If every school in Western New York participated, the combined amount would be significant. Polar Bears International liked our idea so much that they adopted it and changed the name to the Thermostat Challenge which they now do on the every International Polar Bear Day!

We want to do our part to help the cause, so here is what were asking everyone to do. Along with our schools and the Zoo, you can turn the heat down 1 or 2 degrees at home or in your work place this Saturday, February 27. For example, we will turn the heat down from 65°F to 63°F in the giraffe house and other places throughout the Zoo.

All you need to do to take part is set your thermostat down and put on an extra sweater or sweat shirt for the day. You probably won't even notice the difference in temperature. It's easy! Then you can say you helped save the polar bears and their sea ice! If that is not incentive enough, on average if you turn back your heat 2 degrees for 8 hours, you can save 1% on your fuel usage and that means more $$$$ in your pocket!

Help Us Say Goodbye to the Gray Wolves

The Buffalo Zoo’s gray wolves will leave this week.

The Zoo’s pair of wolves, who reside in the Arctic Edge exhibit, presented by Tops Friendly Markets, will leave for their new home on Wednesday.

After careful consideration, Zoo officials have decided to relocate siblings Timber and Willow. The young pair, who will be two in April, arrived to the Buffalo Zoo in September 2015 from the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park in Watertown, N.Y. Their arrival was part of the Buffalo Zoo’s opening of its newest signature exhibit, Arctic Edge, where the two wolves were to have found their permanent home.

Keeper staff has kept a close eye on the pair since their arrival, and observed that the wolves were not settling into their new habitat as expected. Continued observations over the six-month period led to the decision to seek an alternate arrangement. They will be transported to another accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that offers a different enclosure configuration, and may appeal better to the wolves’ juvenile energy and shy behavioral characteristics.

“We will always keep the best interests of the animals in mind,” said Buffalo Zoo President & CEO, Donna Fernandes, Ph.D. “We love the wolves, and like the public, we have enjoyed having them here, but we recognized the difficulties they were having and feel we have made the best choice for their overall comfort and well-being.”

In the spring, modifications will be made to the former wolf enclosure in Arctic Edge to welcome arctic fox. Smaller, more curious and social, it is anticipated that the arctic fox will be a fitting addition to the exhibit. Arctic fox are native to the regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Acquisition details are still being finalized and will be shared with the public when more information becomes available.

Family Valentine's Day Zooper Saturday!

The Buffalo Zoo will hold a Family Valentine’s Day event this weekend, as part of the Zooper Saturday series.

Spend some quality time together and show some love to the animals during the Zoo’s Family Valentine’s Day event! The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 6.

Guests can take advantage of the Zoo’s “Polar Bear Days” promotion, presented by First Niagara Bank, and visit the Zoo for a reduced admission rate of just $5 per person.

The Valentine’s Day Zooper Saturday event will feature animal demonstrations, keeper talks, and enrichment activities for the animals. You can even make a Valentine card for a family member, friend, or your favorite Zoo animal! A full schedule of activities follows:

• 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Make a Valentine's card in the EcoStation
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Face painting in the EcoStation
• 11 a.m. – Primate activity at M&T Bank Rainforest Falls exhibit
• 11:30 a.m. – Anteater activity at M&T Bank Rainforest Falls exhibit 
• 12 p.m. – River otter enrichment at Otter Creek, presented by 2FindYourHome
• 12:30 p.m. – Tiger activity at tiger exhibit
• 1:30 p.m. – Gorilla activity in the gorilla house
• 2 p.m. – Sea Lion activity at Sea Lion Cove, presented by NOCO
• 3 p.m. – Keeper talk in the reptile house, sponsored by GEICO

Zooper Saturdays are held on the first Saturday of every month at the Buffalo Zoo. Zooper Saturday activities are free with regular admission and feature a different animal group or theme each month. Free parking continues through February 29.

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

Buffalo Zoo Will Offer Admission Discount During February

The Buffalo Zoo has partnered with First Niagara Bank to offer a reduced admission rate during the month of February.

From February 1 through 29, admission to the Zoo will cost only $5 per person (admission for members is always free). The Zoo is calling the promotion “Polar Bear Days” in recognition of International Polar Bear Day, which is celebrated on February 27.

The Buffalo Zoo will celebrate International Polar Bear Day on February 27 by issuing a “thermostat challenge.” In order to raise awareness about climate change, the Zoo will encourage the community to reduce carbon emissions by turning their thermostats down a few degrees. This is the kind of small change that can have a big impact on climate change, and help to save polar bears in the wild.

“First Niagara is proud to partner with the Buffalo Zoo and support their efforts to enhance conservation, education and environmental initiatives in our community,” said Scott Fisher, First Niagara Managing Director of Retail Channels. “We encourage the public to visit the Zoo in the month of February and see all that the Zoo has to offer.”

The Polar Bear Days admission discount will encourage the community to enjoy the Zoo’s new exhibit, Arctic Edge, presented by Tops Friendly Markets, in colder weather; and to observe the animals, including the popular polar bears, in the snow.

For more information about Zoo’s Polar Bear Days promotion, visit the Zoo’s Facebook page.

The promotion is made possible through generous support from First Niagara Bank.