Jane Goodall, Pioneer Who Discovered Chimpanzees Use Tools, Dead At 91 During U.S. Tour

Jane Goodall, the trailblazing primatologist who taught the world about chimpanzees and their striking similarities to humans, has died at the age of 91.

Her death was announced by her foundation, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), on Wednesday. 

According to the organization, Goodall passed away earlier that morning "due to natural causes."

To read more on this story, click here: Jane Goodall, Pioneer Who Discovered Chimpanzees Use Tools, Dead At 91 During U.S. Tour

Caracals as Pets

When it comes to breeds, cat lovers have their pick of the litter with common types like the Persian and Maine Coon. What about more exotic cats? While lions, tigers, and leopards are generally confined to zoos and nature preserves, residents of certain states can keep smaller wildcats as pets.

In Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and South Dakota, it’s legal for licensed individuals to purchase and own caracals, a distinctive-looking wildcat.

To read more on this story, click here: Caracals as Pets

Information about COVID-19, Pets, and Other Animals

A number of animals worldwide have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, including pets like cats and dogs, farmed mink, and large cats, gorillas, and otters in zoos, sanctuaries, and aquariums. Reptiles and birds have not been affected by this virus. The risk of animals spreading the virus to people is low, but people with COVID-19 can spread the virus to animals during close contact. The information linked to below provides guidance for pet owners, public health professionals, animal health and wildlife officials, veterinarians, and others on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between people and animals.

To read more on this story, click here: Information about COVID-19, Pets, and Other Animals

Artist Turns Nuts, Bolts, and Scrap Metal Into Life-Size Animal Sculptures

While most of us dispose of old car parts and unused cutlery at the dump, Aloha, Oregon-based artist Brian Mock turns scrap metal into fantastic outdoor sculptures. He collects use and discarded materials—such as screws, nuts, and bolts—and assembles them into human and animal forms.

Mock has been exploring a number of artistic practices from an early age, but discovered his love of upcycling art in the 1990s. He taught himself how to weld, allowing him to visualize his artistic ideas as metal sculptures. Today, he’s creating an entire zoo of metallic animals—including dogs, cats, and larger-than-life lions—all from 100% reclaimed materials. Mock chooses each piece of scrap metal carefully to fit the forms of his subjects—dog tails are depicted as flexible metal chains, and floppy ears are crafted from large sheets of curved steel.

To read more on this story, click here: Artist Turns Nuts, Bolts, and Scrap Metal Into Life-Size Animal Sculptures

Two Gorillas Test Positive For Covid At Zoo In San Diego

Two captive gorillas at the San Diego Zoo have tested positive for Covid-19 after falling ill, and a third gorilla appears also to be symptomatic, California's governor said on Monday.

The cases are believed to be the first known cases among such primates in the world.

The park's executive director, Lisa Peterson, told the Associated Press on Monday that eight gorillas that live together at the park are believed to have the virus and several have been coughing.

To read more on this story, click here: Two Gorillas Test Positive For Covid At Zoo In San Diego 

New at the Zoo: Guinea Pigs

Why do guinea pigs belong in the Zoo?
Here in the United States, guinea pigs make wonderful family pets. Visitors may be surprised to learn that these adorable creatures also play an important role in many South American cultures! They are celebrated at festivals, given to couples as wedding gifts and raised as livestock. We hope that our guinea pigs here at the Zoo teach visitors something new about this species’ origins and open up discussions with our visitors about proper pet choice and care. Also, why wouldn’t they belong in a Zoo — they are just adorable and are amazing ambassadors! Although these animals are not found in the wild today, the montane guinea pig — a likely ancestor — still resides in the Andes in South America.

To read more on this story, click here: New at the Zoo: Guinea Pigs

Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan: The Only Giant Pandas in the World Not Owned by China

Mexico City, Mexico -  The Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City says that Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan are the only giant pandas in the world not owned by China.

They were born in captivity in Mexico and although they have Chinese names, "they belong to Mexico," said Rafael Tinajero, a manager at the zoo.

They are the main attractions at the Chapultepec zoo in Mexico City, and what makes them unique is that they are not owned by China.

Many young pandas born abroad in captivity are later repatriated to China, where the species originates.

But Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan, with their plump bodies and tender expressions, will be staying put.

They are the last in the line of a panda couple -- Ying Ying and Pe Pe -- loaned to Mexico by the Chinese government in 1975.

Since 1980, China has operated a different policy in which it only lends pandas for a short time and in return for a payment towards wild panda conservation efforts.

The panda is considered a vulnerable species.

As Ying Ying and Pe Pe arrived in Mexico before China changed its policy, Xin Xin and Shuan Shuan will stay in Mexico.

"With that, Mexico became the first country outside of China to have had a successful natural reproduction of pandas outside their natural habitat, in captivity conditions," said Tinajero.

He said eight more pandas were born in Mexico between 1980 and 1990 but only four of those survived.

Giant pandas typically live until about 20 in the wild and 30 in captivity.

They average around 100-115 kilograms (220-250 pounds) and adults stand between 1.2 to 1.9 meters (4-6 feet) tall. Males can weigh as much as 160 kilograms.

Orangutan Granted 'Personhood' Turns 34, Makes New Friend

WAUCHULA, Fla. (AP) — A orangutan named Sandra, who was granted legal personhood by a judge in Argentina and later found a new home in Florida, celebrated her 34th birthday on Valentine's Day with a special new primate friend.

Patti Ragan, director of the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, says Sandra “has adjusted beautifully to her life at the sanctuary” and has befriended Jethro, a 31-year-old male orangutan.

Prior to coming to Florida, Sandra had lived alone in a Buenos Aires zoo. Sandra was a bit shy when she arrived at the Florida center, which is home to 22 orangutans.

To read more on this story, click here: Orangutan Granted 'Personhood' Turns 34, Makes New Friend

Dying Zoo Keeper Receives Goodbye Kisses from Giraffes He Cared 25-Years For

Having spent his entire working life at the Rotterdam’s Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo, 54-year-old Mario just had one final request as he battled cancer. He wanted to see his friends one last time. With the help of the Ambulance Wish Foundation, Mario’s wish came true.

Mario had committed 25 years to care for these majestic creatures, and now entered the zoo for the last time. After entering the giraffe enclosure, it only took a few minutes for the giraffes to recognize the man who had faithfully tended to them for years. 

To read more on this story, click here: Dying Zoo Keeper Receives Goodbye Kisses from Giraffes He Cared 25-Years For

Irwin Family Opens Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital’s Doors To Treat Over 90,000 Animals During Bushfire Emergency

Australia has been facing an unprecedented national crisis with bushfires devastating rural communities across the country. 

And as residents of the threatened communities are forced to abandon their homes, many animals are too feeling the effects of the deadly fires, with more than 500 million animals estimated to have perished so far. As zoos and local charities scramble in an attempt to treat the effected wildlife, Bindi Irwin has revealed that the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, which is owned by her family, has opened its doors and has so far treated an estimated 90,000 animals.

Bindi Irwin, 21, announced that the hospital is treating effected animals through her official Instagram account.

To read more on this story, click here: Irwin Family Opens Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital’s Doors To Treat Over 90,000 Animals During Bushfire Emergency

Did You Know that Apes Get Mid-Life Crisis?

Across many cultures, people report a dip in happiness during their late-40s, a time when they generally feel less satisfied with their lives than they do in their younger and older years.

Apes, too, experience a kind of midlife crisis, found a new study. The surprising result suggests that the middle-aged blues may be a result of biology, not culture, and its evolutionary roots run deep.

"It was an astounding thing for us to find this pattern, to be honest," said Andrew Oswald, an economist and behavioral scientist at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. "It may be that the midlife crisis is driven by primate biology in a way we don 't understand, and if that 's the case, we all have to learn how to deal with it."

"I think it 's helpful for people to understand this dip," he added. "With luck, this could people them see that this is completely normal and that could help them get through it."

Studies in more than 50 countries over the past 20 years have revealed a near-universal pattern. Over the course of life, happiness tends to follow a U-shaped curve, with people ranking their sense of well-being higher in the first and last decades of life than in the middle.

The low point generally strikes between age 45 and 50 for both men and women, and the pattern crosses economic and demographic lines.

For each animal, zookeepers, researchers or caretakers answered four questions about the well-being of their primate friends, including whether the apes seemed to be in good or bad moods. The humans also ranked how happy they thought they 'd be if they were to become the animal for a week. They had spent time with the animals for at least two years and knew them well.

Apes live to be about 50 or 55 years old and, just like in people, results showed a drop in happiness that reached its lowest point about halfway through the animals ' lives, the researchers report today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The magnitude of the dip was on par with the dips in happiness that people experience in their middle age, Oswald said. He compared the difference between the apes ' highs and lows to the loss in well-being that people report with marital separation.

The new findings help rule out some theories for midlife slumps in humans, said Arthur Stone, a psychologist in the psychiatry department at Stony Brook University in New York. For example, a whole generation of people can end up feeling less happy at a certain time in their lives simply because of some external historical situation. But that is unlikely to happen in societies of apes.

Instead, it might be chemical or physical changes in our bodies that influence how our feelings morph throughout our lifetimes.

"What this really starts to point to is that maybe there are biological things that we just don 't know about," Stone said. "Maybe there are changes in the brain, changes in how neurotransmitters work or changes in how hormones work that relate to how people view their lives and how animals feel. People will be looking at this more seriously, I think."

Apes Giggle Like Humans

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

Indianapolis Zoo: Male Lion Killed By Mother Of It’s Cubs

A lion at the Indianapolis Zoo was killed this week by another lion that it had cubs with, Zoo officials announced.

The zoo says a 10-year-old male African lion, Nyack, died Monday morning, after it was hurt by a female lion named Zuri. Zuri was OK.

Animal care staff heard "an unusual amount" of roaring from the outdoor lion yard, the zoo said in a news release. They responded and saw Zuri being aggressive with Nyack in the presence of the lions' 3-year-old daughter, Sukari.

To read more on this story, click here: Indianapolis Zoo: Male Lion Killed By Mother Of It’s Cubs

Florida: Zoo Employee Killed While Attempting to Rape an Alligator

A zookeeper was killed this morning in the alligator enclosure of the Naples Zoo, while he was attempting to sexually assault a 12-foot long reptile.

According to Captain Henri White, spokesman of the Naples Police Department, 24-year old Jimmy Olsen was engaged in full sexual intercourse with one of the younger reptiles, when he was surprised by one of the larger animals which attacked from behind.

The young man was caught by the throat by the alligator who dragged him underwater and drowned him.

Jimmy Olsen’s death took place around 6:00 AM this morning, but his disappearance was noticed only an hour later by other employees.

They finally discovered his dismembered body floating in the pool of the alligator enclosure around 8:30.

“The images captured by the security cameras show that Mr. Olsen had clearly placed himself in a very vulnerable position,” Captain White told reporters.

“He had his pants around his knees and was lying down on top of one the animals, with his back to the others. The poor guy didn’t stand a chance! We can see him being dragged into the water, then he disappears from sight. He was probably dead within thirty seconds of the attack.”

To read more on this story, click here: Florida: Zoo Employee Killed While Attempting to Rape an Alligator

8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps

Zoos exist to display exotic animals for all the world to see. But what's going on at zoos away from the public's view?

Few destinations conjure up as idyllic an image as an afternoon at the zoo. Strolling about on a nice day with some lighthearted animal-themed ice cream treat and checking out monkeys, bears, and a few sleeping reptiles is as wholesome as apple pie on the Fourth of July.

But certainly, some secrets must be hidden in the shadows of those cages and fake rock formations. For those who have ever wondered about what’s really going on at your local zoo behind the locked gates and after closing time, allow us to drops some zoo truths on you.

To read more on this story, click here: 8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps

Abandoned by Their Parents, Baby Flamingo Take Their First Steps at the Prague Zoo

Baby flamingos who were abandoned by their parents have been learning to walk around the Prague zoo. This will help to socialized so they can easily reintegrate with the rest of the flock.

Smithsonian's National Zoo: We Are Building A Naked Mole-Rat Exhibit

If you've ever been to the Smithsonian's National Zoo's Small Mammal House, you’ve probably seen the naked mole-rats—those small, nearly hairless rodents running through a series of tubes and chambers. These funky Zoo favorites are ready for a home renovation. 

Because of your generosity, we're getting a new exhibit: a corner habitat with more realistic tunnels where guests can see the mole-rats up close and peek at a keeper area behind them, along with a webcam so online viewers can watch the naked mole-rats anytime, anywhere!

We would like to extend a special thank you to the following donors who made this exhibit possible.

To read more on this story, click here: Smithsonian's National Zoo: We Are Building A Naked Mole-Rat Exhibit

Blackpool Zoo Tries To Dissuade Man From Buying A Pet Giraffe

An exasperated customer service assistant from Blackpool Zoo found themselves having to dissuade man from purchasing a giraffe for Christmas.

Calling himself ‘Chudders’, the man emailed the zoo with the query: "Is it possible to buy and own a giraffe in Scotland? I’ve been after a giraffe for years now and I want to make it a reality now”.

His children, he said, had their heart set on a hamster – but that he would much prefer a giraffe.

He was sure to emphasise that he had “a decent sized back garden” and “an upstairs/downstairs house so it could be fed from the bedroom window without any hassle”.

To read more on this story, click here: Blackpool Zoo Tries To Dissuade Man From Buying A Pet Giraffe

Bei Bei The Giant Panda, At Smithsonian's National Zoo, Turned 3-Years-Old Today

Washington, DC - Bei Bei turned 3 years old today! In celebration of his big day, Bei Bei enjoyed an ice-cake, participated in an enrichment painting session and received a new panda-friendly toy.

His cake was specially made by the Zoo’s department of nutrition sciences and included all of his favorite foods. The tiers were made of diluted apple, cranberry and grape juice with leaf-eater biscuit puree. It was decorated and filled with apples, pears, bananas, shredded carrots and cooked sweet potatoes. The number 3 that topped the cake was made of diluted apple juice with a leaf-eater biscuit puree center.

Now weighing in at almost 215 pounds, Bei Bei has been taking full advantage of his summer—splashing around in his big green tub, and napping in trees and on his new hammock.

Tian Tian is the next giant panda to celebrate a birthday. He turns 21 on Monday, Aug. 27 and will also receive a special cake at 11 a.m.

Meet Tina, The Beluga Whale Who Has Fallen in Love With Her Zookeeper, And Behaves Like a Jealous Girlfriend

Beluga whales are usually very social and they always can be seen communicating and playing with each other in a playful way but this female beluga whale is not like other typical beluga whales.

Meet Tina, the female beluga whale who lives in a zoo in South Korea.

Everything about Tina seems typical except one thing; she has fallen in love with her zookeeper!

This is the lucky zookeeper whom Tina fell in love with.

She refuses to kiss anyone but the zookeeper.

Tina only wants to communicate and play with the zookeeper will shoot water at anyone who stands too close to him.

The beluga whale also only wants to play with the zookeeper and ignores the other staff even when they approach her in a nice and friendly way.

So, how did Tina learn to be jealous?

According to the zookeeper, Tina had a hard time adapting when she first came to the zoo.

While other zookeepers were treating her nicely, the male zookeeper paid her a lot of attention which might be the main reason why Tina feels safe when he is around.

However, there may be another reason why Tina behaves in that way. What do you think it could be?

Watch this hilarious video about Tina and her zookeeper to find out more

Click on video arrow twice.