• African Journey
• his path to Zoo Director
• future projects at the zoo
• the prospect of Tasmanian devils coming back to Fort Wayne
• and more!

Download audio file (jimandersonepisode10.mp3)

Inside the entrance building, two separate rooms showcase native reptiles and amphibians and other small creatures.  Several terrariums are dedicated to the Wyoming Toad, a species Zoo Montana is helping to re-introduce into the wild in an attempt to boost numbers.  Other animals include green tree python, chinchilla, and an owl.

Homestead House is Zoo Montana’s take on a Children’s Zoo, and replicates a turn of the century western farmhouse.  Inside are huge rabbits, sheep, pigs, and horses.  Peacocks, which have the freedom of the entire zoo tend to hang out over here as well.  Surrounding the House are cut out boards (great picture opportunity), old farm equipment, and a pond inhabited by native wildlife.

Two injured eagles perch by the Children's Playground

The zoo houses hardy animals, able to withstand the cold Montana winters.  This helps the zoo stay open all year round.  Amur tigers, red pandas, and sika deer make up the Asian corner at the back of the trail.  Wolves, porcupines, otters, waterfowl, and bighorn sheep are found in the middle of the zoo after crossing Canyon Creek.   Almost all of the exhibits have multiple viewing stations making it easier to spot animals.  Zoo Montana is also one of only a handful of American zoos to house wolverines, which based on their size most people would have no idea the punch they pack.

Next door to the wolverines is the main attraction at the zoo – Bruno the grizzly bear.  Bruno lives in the zoo’s best exhibit, the aptly named Bear Meadows.  At 2 acres, Meadows, which opened in 2008 is much larger than most bear exhibits around the country.  And it’s full of stuff for both bear and man to enjoy.  Inside the exhibit, Bruno can meander through tall grass, relax in a deep pool, climb on trees, play with balls, and one his favorite activities is helping to squeegee the windows.

Bruno likes to help clean the windows

Much like the rest of the zoo grounds, the visitor path is surrounded by wildflowers, and in this case colorful poppies.  If Bruno happens to be away from the windows, visitors can walk up to an elevated overlook just in front of a big shady tree.

Wildflowers are all over the zoo.

Zoo Montana isn’t going to take you a whole day to stroll through.  But it’s a beautiful setting, great for photography (both the animals and surroundings), has some interesting animals, and is unique when compared to Midwestern zoos of similar size.  It’s definitely worth a stop if you need a break driving through the enormous state which is Montana or if you fly into Billings and have a couple of hours.  If you can’t make the trip (it took me a while), keep up to date with Zoo Montana’s news on their blog.

Dr. Anne Baker, executive director of the Ohio institution answered a few questions about Neighborhood and everything else going on at Toledo this year.  As always, I ask about her favorite animal currently at the zoo and on the wish list and Dr. Baker had an interesting take on the question.  Don’t miss her intriguing answer.

Download audio file (annebakerepisode7.mp3)

Male bustard strutting his stuff

Is there a more recognizable individual rhino in America? Hard to miss that horn.

Kids can strap these on and make animal tracks in the sand

Underwater viewing allows for great views of these skilled swimmers

Kids can put on costumes and pretend to be bees in Nature's Neighborhood

In between the events were plenty of visitors enjoying the beautiful day the best way possible – touring the excellent zoo!  Battle Creek, Michigan is hardly on the short list of places expected to see a well executed re-creation of an African savanna, but the fictional Zuri National Park serves as the medium to transport guests from an American forest to an open East African plain.  On top of the 18 acre main antelope filled expanse, winding paths stroll past monkeys, birds, wild dogs, and African farm.  Got lots of great pictures, especially of the giraffe-human interaction, so here’s a few.

P.S.  Forgot two blog links last time.  Even though they are in my blogroll, I think they deserve a noteworthy mention.  First, Paul Becker is working on a project examining the sociology of zoos.  As he and his wife Cathy visit zoos, they write about each experience with insightful and honest observations.  Read them here – Animal Ruminations.
Second, who doesn’t love baby animals?  I mean seriously, is it even possible to say “ugly” and “baby animal” in the same sentence?  For all the cute and cuddly faces Zoo Borns is the place to be.

Wild Africa's Monkey Valley is home to colobus and black mangabeys

Cooled rocks, plenty of shade, and several misters keep the cold weather cats cool in the summer

Many zoos now offer giraffe feedings, but only a couple are in the same league as Binder Park's

An impressive set of horns awaits at the African farm

Download audio file (yvonnestrodeepisode6.mp3)

Mixing species can bring more active animals

Young playful lions

Mom, wife, aunt. These three lucky ladies joined me in Peoria

Smallest foxes have biggest ears

• Artificial insemination with African elephants
• Opening of cheetah exhibit next year
• Conservation programs in which Indianapolis participates
• the Indianapolis Prize….and more!

One more thing – maybe it’s because I live 15 minutes from the zoo, but Mike and I went a little longer than normal (55 minutes) with the interview.   That should make up for going 2 weeks without posting an interview.

Download audio file (mikecrowtherepisode5.mp3)

One of two grizzly cubs orphaned in Alaska now living at Indy

These noisy birds were moved to make room for cheetahs.

Summer time brings three daily opportunities to feed sweet potatoes to giraffes

Lemurs are a conservation focus at Indy

The book signing on May 31st was the most successful to date, and I had the pleasure of meeting some great KC Zoo supporters and volunteers.  Wildlife photography is a hobby of mine, so it was a treat when several members of the KC Zoo Photo Club stopped by.  The large open exhibits in Africa present numerous opportunities for great photos.  I posted a few of my own below, but their website has many many more.

Download audio file (randywisthoffepisode4.mp3)

Unique viewing of otters and gibbons. Visitors can see otters swim underneath the path and gibbons can swing overhead.

Saki monkeys are in the new Tropics building

Kansas City has 6 elephant cows roaming a long expansive exhibit

Hammerkops are one of many bird species in a walk through African aviary

Warthogs have a dry riverbed exhibit in front of a trio of cheetah sisters

Memorial Day Weekend is widely considered to be the beginning of “zoo season” and Sedgwick started it off with a bang.  Slawson Family Tiger Trek, opened May 22nd, brought tigers back to the zoo after a 10 plus year gap.  Red pandas and rare Eld’s deer are tiger neighbors.  Trek is another great addition to Sedgwick, a truly amazing zoo in an unlikely place.

Mark and I discuss:

• the unique features of Tiger Trek
• how the economic downturn has affected the zoo
• the importance of community support and how it has led to Sedgwick’s success
• Mark’s involvement in AZA
• future projects at Sedgwick…..and more!

Download audio file (markreedepisode3.mp3)

From an elevated boardwalk, visitors can see the larger of the 2 tiger habitats and one for deer

Tigers may be the main attraction, but this red panda has been a huge hit in Wichita

Sedgwick has a long boat ride passing North American and African animals, including this pelican island.

Inside the Jungle, a colony of fruit bats dangles above visitors.

An otter mom was busy teaching her four pups how to swim.

If you want to keep up with events and news, check out the blog – DPZ Blog.

If you Facebook, Twitter, or frequent You Tube, Dickerson Park has an outlet for all three.

Visitors can get close to a pair of cougars in the Missouri Habitats

Musky maned wolves can be smelled from a mile away!

The Diversity of Life building holds the zoo's colorful reptile and amphibian collection

DPZ has a large (and growing) herd of rarely seen Baringo giraffes.

Even better was the opportunity to see both of the zoo’s elephant calves – Maliha and Jade. Both contracted the deadly EEHV virus, a mysterious disease of which the origins are unknown and survival rates are dismal. Amazingly, despite past minimal success in zoos, through intense care and antibiotics, both elephants recovered.

Jade has an especially difficult early life, as first time mom Rani refused nursing. Jade is now growing up with grandma Ellie and her daughter Maliha. When the zoo opened, the elephant area of River’s Edge was off limits, so Jade could be re-introduced to the herd. Keepers had set aside 2 hours for them to once again settle together. It took less than 45 minutes for caretakers to allow visitors to view the re-united pair.

No new exhibits opening this year, but a seasonal stingray touch pool is set near the zoo’s center.  These touch areas have been a temporary treat at many zoos around the country, but not all offer feeding.  Stingrays of Caribbean Cove at St. Louis presents that opportunity and no matter how many times I do it, having a stingray gently suck a shrimp from between my fingers is always exhilarating.  Don’t pass it up if you get the chance!

A few photos from the safari:

River's Edge starts off with an energetic quartet of rarely seen bush dogs

Maliha, Jade, and Ellie in the herd yard

The smallest species of bear, the sun bear

The famous 1904 Flight Cage has been renovated into a lush Cypress swamp

Underwater viewing at Hippo Harbor presents intense photographic opportunities

A huge Reticulated python resides in the Reptile House

We caught feeding time for the penguins!

Monsanto Insectarium has one of the best collections of insects and arachnids around.