Maryland Zoo prepares to vaccinate animals against COVID-19

As COVID-19 cases surge nationwide, veterinarians are racing to vaccinate vulnerable animals in zoos around the country.

BALTIMORE — As the nation continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, veterinarians are looking to protect a vulnerable group that’s often overlooked: zoo animals. But just like their human counterparts, it's taking some effort to get the animals comfortable with the medicine. 

Trainers at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore are performing regular exercises with certain animals to prepare them for their future shots.

To read more on this story, click here: Maryland Zoo prepares to vaccinate animals against COVID-19

FOLLOW US!

Injured Turtle Gets Lego Wheelchair at Maryland Zoo

An injured turtle is riding in style thanks to zoo keepers at The Maryland Zoo. 

The wild eastern box turtle has been outfitted with a wheelchair made of Lego bricks. 

A zoo employee found the injured turtle in Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, in July. 

"He had multiple fractures on his plastron, the bottom part of his shell," said Dr. Ellen Bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation, and research at the zoo.

The turtle underwent surgery to fix its fractured shell. The zoo's veterinary team used metal bone plates, sewing clasps and surgical wire to hold pieces of the turtle's fractured shell together. 

The shell had to stay off the ground in order to heal, posing a challenge to staffers who had a hard time helping the turtle get around in the meantime.

That's when someone came up with the idea of the Lego wheelchair.

To read more on this story, click here: Injured Turtle Gets Lego Wheelchair at Maryland Zoo

FOLLOW US!

The Maryland Zoo Will Have “Lures” Activated Within the Park to Attract Customers With ‎Pokémon GO Perks

Baltimore, Maryland - The Maryland Zoo is trying to “catch ’em all.” Not Pokémon, but ‎Pokémon GO players.

Between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, the zoo will have “lures” activated within the park to attract the digital monsters, and the real-life people who are hunting them.

‎Pokémon GO is a new augmented reality phone app that uses GPS to guide users to real-world landmarks for the purpose of collecting the digital cartoon creatures. It’s been downloaded by millions of people, causing Nintendo’s stock to soar.

At “Pokéstops,” players can collect gear to help them catch new monsters and heal injured ones, and they can fight their Pokémon at “gyms” to advance in the game.

The zoo says there are 26 Pokéstops and two gyms within its gates, and is encouraging ‎Pokémon chasers who visit to share the fun by tagging Pokémon screenshots on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #marylandzoo or @marylandzoo.

Adult admission to the zoo is $18.



FOLLOW US!

Maryland Zoo Welcomes Baby Colobus Monkey - New Arrival Brings Colobus Count to Four at Baltimore Zoo

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has announced the birth of a black-and-white colobus monkey.

Mike McClure, the zoo's general curator, made a statement announcing the birth to parents Keri, age 14, and Bisi, age 19.

“We have been hoping that this pair would breed successfully, however they are secretive breeders and we were not certain she was pregnant,” said McClure. “We were very happy to see this new offspring arrive this morning.”

Found in the forests of equatorial Africa, colobus monkeys are distinguished by their black bodies and long white tails. The species is officially considered to be "in decline" due to the loss of their forest habitat, as well as the fact that they are hunted for meat and fur.

The new arrival brings the count of colobus monkeys at the Maryland Zoo to four, with the infant joining Keri, Bisi, and another adult female.

FOLLOW US!