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What's New at the Jackson Zoo

ED-ZOO-CATION!!

Critters & Crawlers

Toddler Program Presented every 2nd Saturday

Next event: Saturday,February 11th 10-11am

Topic: Animal Markings - Scales, Spots & Stripes!

This popular toddler program is designed especially for toddlers 2-3 years old and helps them learn using the wonders of animals. Touching, feeling andup close encounters make learning funfor this age group and their parents.

To register or learn more please visit:

http://www.jacksonzoo.org/education/familyPrograms.html

 

ZooMobile Popular with Schools & Libraries

Manyteachers are choosing to have the excitement of live animals and a zoo educator come to their classrooms to enhance lesson plans and make learning more fun and memorable.

To learn more or schedule a visit to your school or public event please click here:

http://www.jacksonzoo.org/education/zoomobile.html

Zoo Offering Special Teacher Training Opportunity and Curriculum Classroom Programs

The Zoo now features multi-disciplinary curriculumwhich help

'Bring Your Classroom to Life'.

Specially tailored to the Mississippi Academic Framework andaligned with the Core Standards, lesson plans for K-5th grades have been developed and are ready for implementation into the classroom. Created to make a trip to the zoonot only fun but educational!

Learn more about teacher training and our Curricula here:

http://www.jacksonzoo.org/education/fieldTrips.html

Exciting Tiger News!

Our 3 Male Sumatran Tiger siblings are of breeding age and are being paired with Females. The first left Jackson for Dallas this morning. The next will be going to San Francisco soon and then the last one will have a female brought to live with him here at our zoo- Tiger cubs this Spring??? We certainly hope so!!

 

The Jackson Zoo's 15 new flamingos receive routine exams this morning at the Animal Hospital

15 beautiful new FLAMINGOS have been added to our flock! We now have a total of 20. Although it looks like their 'knees' bend backwards, what you see is actually their ankles!! They are so tall that their knees are up under their feathers!

 

 

 

Jackson Zoo, along with Rehab Partners,Releases Rehabilitated Red-tailed Hawk into the Wild

MSU Veterinary Technician student, Chelsea Egbert, and Zoo Vet Tech, Donna Todd, transport a red-tailed hawk from the zoo's raptor rehab program to a secluded place for release back into the wild. The zoo networks with several local permitted rehabbers, vets and wildlife officials in an effort to assist injured and orphaned native birds of prey.

The photos show the Red-tailed Hawksurveying its new territory as it isready to venture back into its natural habitat.

Zoo vet tech, Donna Todd feels great pride as finally, after weeks of care, the adult red-tailed hawk is ready to return to the wild. "How wonderful to see a once flightless bird soar to the tallest tree!" she says.

The zoo has operated its Raptor Rehab program for 30 years from the Zoo hospital. Always with the goal of returning the animal to its natural habitat.

 

Jackson Zoo Announces Beaver Births

The Jackson Zoo hand raised a male beaver, who is now 7 years old, and a female, who is now 8 years old, who have been living in our Mississippi aquatic pavilion. Both animals had come to the zoo from arehab center.

These two have now given birth to two kits of their own!!One born on Friday afternoon, July 1 and the other born on Saturday, July2nd. Animal care staff do not know the sex of the young at this time.

Their mom is taking good care of them in the den (and is sometimes visible to visitors to the building). Pictures of the young are difficult as they are still in the den- only viewable through thick glass. We will release them as they become available.

 

Zoo assisting in rehabilitation of injured Bald Eagle

The Jackson Zoo is assisting the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service in the rehabilitation of a Bald Eagle which was shot between March 15th and April 7th of this year. Currently, the bird is being cared for by the zoo's veterinary and animal careteam in partnership with Mississippi State University andMississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. It may not be able to fly again.

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-breaking-news/2011/06/28/shot-bald-eagle-recovering-with-help-from-msu-and-jackson-zoo-vets.aspx

 

 

Jackson Zoo Celebrates-Birth of A Male Malayan Tapir

One of SE Asia's most endangered species (June 2011)

The staff of the Jackson Zoo are proud to announce the birth of a male Malayan Tapiron last Thursday, May 26th. The Tapir is a large, hoofed, hog-like mammal of tropical America and Malayan peninsula.

 

 

 

 

Rare White-naped Crane Hatches (June 2011)

Zoo thrilled to add rare bird to population

The staff of the Jackson Zoo aredelighted to announce that its pair of White-naped Cranes have successfully hatched an offspring on Thursday, June 9th. With only about 5,000 individuals remaining in the wild, this addition is significant.

 

 

 

Hippos and Rhinos meet their mates! (May 2011)

A male white rhino was transferred from White Oak Plantation in Florida and joined our female recently in their new lush habitat. It took them a while to get used to each other but have now adjusted nicely.

 

 

 

 

Zoo Celebrates Giraffe Birth It's A Girl!! (May 2011)

Keepers were excited to find this little surprise when they arrived at work on Monday, May 2nd! A little female giraffe born to 'Diamond' (mom) and 'Casper' (dad) overnight. This is their second calf together and the zoo has held a 'name the baby giraffe contest' to choose the perfect name and chose 'Jasmine' today. She weighed just over 120 pounds and stood 5'8" at birth. Arrangements are being made to send 'Ruby', last year's female offspring, to Busch Gardens!

 

 

Tess, one of our three cougars...

stops to watch a keeper walk by as she enjoys the cooler temps in her beautiful Mississippi enclosure.

 

Andy Allen of Phoenix Technical Services, Inc of Pearl

Andy delivered a donated autoclave to the Jackson Zoo’s Animal Hospital. This unit will replace our 35 yr old unit and will be used to properly sterilize our surgical instruments. Our staff wishes to express our gratitude to this wonderful company and we sincerely appreciate their efforts to assist us in our efforts to always provide the best of care to the animals!

Missy Dubuisson – with the Wildlife Care and Rescue Center, Inc / Gulf Coast

Missy is one of several rehab volunteers to pick up items donated to the zoo for placement with Mississippi wildlife rescue groups. The items were originally donated by concerned citizens of South Carolina who wanted to assist with the Gulf Oil Spill by donating a U-Haul truck full of needed items such as: blankets/crates/towels/extension cords/heating pads/scrub brushes and DAWN soap. The zoo has been passing these donated items to local rehab volunteers over the last month to support their continued efforts in assisting all injured and orphaned wildlife in Mississippi.

Zoo vet, Dr. Michael Holifield, checks his final repair of the broken right tibia on our male Long billed Corella.