San Diego Zoo Public Relations

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San Diego Zoo Plants Thousands of Grass Seedlings to Aid Endangered Species

Posted at 8:42 pm January 18, 2012 by PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 18, 2012
CONTACT: SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
PUBLIC RELATIONS
619-685-3291
WEBSITE: www.sandiegozooglobal.org
 
  
 
PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
San Diego Zoo Plants Thousands of Grass Seedlings to Aid Endangered Species

     Sara Motheral, research technician for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, inspected one of 1,000 grass seedlings that were planted as part of a habitat restoration project for the endangered Stephens’ kangaroo rat at the Southwestern Riverside County Multispecies Reserve on Tuesday. In the background, freshly planted grass can be seen wrapped in a blue, plastic protector tube. In total, 10,000 seedlings will be planted over the next two weeks. In 2010, 150 kangaroo rats were relocated to the site as part of a San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy program aimed at saving a species endemic to San Diego and Riverside counties. The translocation has been successful, already doubling the population of this 4-inch-long rodent.

*Please note: Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2012, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Global.

 
 
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PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded at no charge for one-time use for coverage/promotion of the grass seedling dated Jan. 17, 2012, and exclusively in conjunction thereof. No copying, distribution or archiving permitted. No sublicensing, sale or resale permitted. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to San Diego Zoo Global. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing San Diego Zoo Global are subject to paid licensing.

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Bugs and Blooms to Highlight San Diego Zoo’s Garden Festival!

Posted at 12:51 am January 14, 2012 by PR

For Immediate Release                            

Jan. 13, 2012

Contact:        San Diego Zoo Global

                        Public Relations

619-685-3291

Website:       www.sandiegozoo.org

 

 

Press Release

Bugs and Blooms to Highlight

San Diego Zoo’s Garden Festival!

Mother’s Day weekend at Zoo will be filled with plant magic for Mom, interesting insects for kids, and fun for the whole family.

 

 

WHAT:           The San Diego Zoo’s Discovery Days: Garden Festival will celebrate the Zoo’s fabulous foliage and incredible insects with displays, tours and tastings over Mother’s Day weekend.  Come to check out the newly renovated carnivorous plant bog or see a millipede on the main stage during this festival. Try a taste of one of our edible plants or perhaps a bug snack as you walk around the 100-acre Zoo. Kids will be delighted by Dr. Zoolittle’s Gross Bugs show and moms will be enchanted by the orchid house. Booths will feature information about making home gardens more beautiful and bountiful as well as starting a community garden in your neighborhood.  Guests will enjoy self-guided walking tours, a scavenger hunt and kids activities. They can chat with a Zoo horticulturalist or insect keeper and may meet a researcher from the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research who is working to save plant species around the world and in our own backyards. Guests also can book private tours that will take them behind the scenes to see how the horticulturalists grow the Zoo’s collection of more than 700,000 plants as well as get up close and personal with the creepy crawlies that feed on them.

WHEN:          May 10 – 13, 2012 (Thursday – Sunday).

WHERE:       The San Diego Zoo, located just north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park.

COST:           Free with Zoo membership or admission, except private tours, which start at $39 per person.

MORE INFO: www.sandiegozoo.org.

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A Barrel of Fun Arrives at San Diego Zoo

Posted at 12:45 am January 12, 2012 by PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 12, 2012
CONTACT: SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
PUBLIC RELATIONS
619-685-3291
WEBSITE: www.sandiegozoo.org 
DOWNLOAD VIDEO/PHOTO: https://sandiegozoo.box.com/s/nqreui73hnv265ctclq0
 
 
PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
A Barrel of Fun Arrives at San Diego Zoo with Addition of Capuchin Monkeys

     A tufted capuchin monkey grooms another in their new exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. Six males and nine females – ranging in age from 1 to 35 years – have added some excitement to the Zoo’s Lost Forest with their high-energy antics. They can be seen moving from one climbing structure to another using their prehensile tails. The capuchin group, also called a barrel of monkeys, was part of a behavioral study at the Atlanta-based Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, where primatologists observed their behavior to learn more about their complex social interactions including altruism and facial recognition before coming to San Diego. Capuchin monkeys can recognize and remember those they’ve encountered in the past.

Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2012, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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PERMITTED USE: Images are provided to the media solely for reproduction, public display, and distribution in a professional journalistic context in connection with newspaper, magazine, broadcast media (radio, television) or Internet media (ad enabled blog, webcasts, webinars, podcasts). Images may not be made available for public or commercial download, licensing or sale.
REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the San Diego Zoo. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo are subject to paid licensing.

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Move Over Reindeer, Flying Foxes Land at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Posted at 4:12 pm December 22, 2011 by PR

PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
Move Over Reindeer, Flying Foxes Land at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

     Just in time for the holiday season, a cloud of 13 Rodrigues flying foxes descends on the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The newly matched breeding cloud made up of five males, including the one pictured here, and eight females are exploring the new 500-square-foot bat house built especially for these bats in the Park’s Nairobi Village. Although the Rodrigues flying fox gets its name from its fox like features – pointy ears, long snout and big eyes – it is not a fox. It is a 12-inch tall bat that lives in large “clouds” or colonies. As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to conservation the Park will contribute $2,000 yearly to the Species Survival Program for ongoing bat conservation on the Island of Rodrigues.

Photo taken on Dec. 22, 2011, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

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PERMITTED USE: Images are provided to the media solely for reproduction, public display, and distribution in a professional journalistic context in connection with newspaper, magazine, broadcast media (radio, television) or Internet media (ad enabled blog, webcasts, webinars, podcasts). Images may not be made available for public or commercial download, licensing or sale.
REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption which makes reference to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are subject to paid licensing.

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Snow Big Deal: Panda Cub Experiences First Snow at San Diego Zoo

Posted at 7:42 pm December 9, 2011 by PR
For Immediate Release
Dec. 8, 2011
Contact:San Diego Zoo Public Relations
619-685-3291
Website:www.sandiegozoo.org
Download Photo at: https://sandiegozoo.box.com/s/rguarypgo4z6mn5hco1h
 
PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
     Yun Zi, the youngest panda at the San Diego Zoo, sniffs at the snow that filled his exhibit Thursday morning. This is the first time the two-year-old panda has ever seen snow. He came out of his bedroom, tested the snow to see if he could walk on it, and then made his way from one corner of the exhibit to the other.
 
     Horticulture staff from the Zoo constructed a 5-foot holiday tree from two types of bamboo - oldhamii and vivax – that was shaped to resemble a pine tree. They used a large block of ice for the tree stand but it was no match for Yun Zi. He approached the tree and swiftly knocked it over and nibbled the slices of fruit and vegetables that were hung as ornaments.
 
     Yun Zi then climbed up the icy tree stumps in his exhibit and napped above the winter wonderland below him. His mother, Bai Yun, stuck to her usual habits and sat in the middle of her exhibit munching on her morning bamboo, seeming oblivious to the snow around her.
 
Photo taken Dec 8, 2011, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.
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Baby It’s Cold Outside: San Diego Zoo Kids Website Features Cold-Climate Animals

Posted at 12:09 am December 7, 2011 by PR
For Immediate Release
Dec. 6, 2011
Contact: San Diego Zoo Public Relations
619-685-3291
Website:    www.sandiegozoo.org
 
 
 
PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
Baby It’s Cold Outside: San Diego Zoo Kids Website Features
Cold-Climate Animals
     San Diego’s cold temperatures don’t phase Beauregard, a 13-year-old snow leopard, at the San Diego Zoo. This big cat arrived in mid-November as part of a breeding recommendation. Animal care staff are slowly introducing this male to the Zoo’s eight-year-old female snow leopard, Anna, and expect that the two animals will become a breeding pair.
 
     Snow leopards live at high elevations in the mountains of central Asia and have special adaptations to live in the extreme cold. They have a relatively small head with a short, broad nose that has a large nasal cavity that passes cold air through and warms it. Their huge paws have fur on the bottom that protects and cushions their feet for walking, climbing, and jumping. The furry paws also give the cat great traction on snow. Snow leopards have smoky gray and blurred black markings, which provide the cat with ideal camouflage for the mountains.
 
     To learn more about the snow leopard and other animals that are adapted to live in the extreme cold, visit the San Diego Zoo Kids website. Children and their parents can watch an interactive video, scroll through more photos and learn more about this large cat at www.sandiegozoo.org/kids. Each month the site adds new features and videos, including profiles of jobs at the Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, animal-themed arts and crafts projects kids can make at home and information about how to protect and save threatened and endangered species such as the giant panda and African elephant.
 
     The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections.  The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park (historically referred to as the Wild Animal Park), which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.  The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego. 

Photo taken on Dec. 6, 2011, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.

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PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded at no charge for one-time use for coverage/promotion of the Snow Leopard release dated Dec 6, 2011 and exclusively in conjunction thereof. No copying, distribution or archiving permitted. No sublicensing, sale or resale permitted. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption which makes reference to the San Diego Zoo. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo are subject to paid licensing.

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Golden Eagle Soars to Freedom at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Posted at 12:56 am December 3, 2011 by PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 2, 2011

CONTACT:   SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

PUBLIC RELATIONS

                        619-685-3291

WEBSITE: www.sdzsafaripark.org

 

PHOTO NEWS RELEASE

Golden Eagle Soars to Freedom at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

 A 2-year-old juvenile golden eagle opened his 6.5-foot wings as favorable winds lifted him to freedom at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Friday. Tore Smidth, an intern at The Fund for Animals, Don Sterner, San Diego Zoo Safari Park animal care manager, and Kim D’Amico, The Fund for Animals animal care specialist, look on as the male eagle took his first flight since being rehabilitated at the Ramona wildlife center operated by The Humane Society of the United States in partnership with The Fund for Animals. In October, the wild eagle was found injured while in the Safari Park’s nature reserve. The 900-acre reserve is set aside for local native wildlife and plants.

 Photo taken on Dec. 2, 2011, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

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PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded at no charge for one-time use for coverage/promotion of the golden eagle release dated Dec. 2, 2011 and exclusively in conjunction thereof. No copying, distribution or archiving permitted. No sublicensing, sale or resale permitted. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image uses must bear the copyright notice and be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption which makes reference to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Any uses in which the image appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are subject to paid licensing.

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Supersize Baby Makes Debut at San Diego Zoo

Posted at 11:54 pm November 29, 2011 by PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 29, 2011
CONTACT: SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
PUBLIC RELATIONS
619-685-3291
WEBSITE: www.sandiegozoo.org
DOWN LOAD PHOTO: https://sandiegozoo.box.com/s/ybcfjrb7he6uceud5jh0
 
 
PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
Supersize Baby Makes Debut at San Diego Zoo
     A single capybara baby made its public debut at the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday. At 1 day old, this little baby weighs 3 to 5 pounds and has teeth that let it nibble on grasses. Capy what? The word capybara means “master of the grass” and its scientific name, Hydrochoerus, means “water hog” because of its love for water. The capybara, however, is not a pig at all but the world’s largest rodent species, as an adult male can weigh up to 141 pounds and a female up to 146 pounds. The sex of the pup is unknown. This is the second capybara born in the past week. Capybara females in a group are known to help care for and even nurse each other’s young. The Zoo’s Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey habitat is now home to nine capybaras.
Photo taken Nov. 29, 2011, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.

 

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Thanksgiving Pie Not Necessary, Pumpkins Will Do at San Diego Zoo

Posted at 9:44 pm November 25, 2011 by PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 25, 2011
CONTACT: SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
PUBLIC RELATIONS
619-685-3291
WEBSITE: www.sandiegozoo.org
 
 
PHOTO NEWS RELEASE
Thanksgiving Pie Not Necessary, Pumpkins Will Do at San Diego Zoo
     Who needs pumpkin pie when you can have fresh pumpkins? A Galapagos tortoise at the San Diego Zoo couldn’t resist the temptation of the seasonal fruit eating every last piece of the pumpkin, seeds and all. Keepers say the 17 tortoises, weighing 400 to 600 pounds, love pumpkins and are very attracted to their bright orange skin. Some of the tortoises arrived at the Zoo in 1928 as adults and are estimated to be up to 130 years old. The Zoo’s breeding program has produced more than 90 tortoise hatchlings, and the Zoo now has one of the largest colonies of Galápagos tortoises in the world, outside of the Ecuadorian Islands.

Photo taken Nov. 25, 2011, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.

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San Diego Zoo Safari Park Celebrates Gorilla Birthday, Gives Thanks for Wish List Donors

Posted at 7:02 pm November 25, 2011 by PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 23, 2011
CONTACT:SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK
PUBLIC RELATIONS
619-685-3291
WEBSITE:   www.sdzsafaripark.org

PHOTO NEWS RELEASE

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Celebrates Gorilla Birthday,
Gives Thanks for Wish List Donors

     Vila, a gorilla at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, opens one of her birthday gifts this morning during her 54th birthday party. Vila, who is believed to be the third oldest gorilla in the world, lives with six other western lowland gorillas at the Safari Park. Vila was hand raised at the San Diego Zoo’s nursery and brought to the Park in 1975. She is the matriarch of five generations and has served as a surrogate mother of several hand-raised gorillas during her life.
 
     To mark this birthday, keepers and volunteers worked to create numerous enrichment items for the gorillas including paper mache balloons, wrapped gifts of food, boxes painted to look like African animals and lots of leafy greens into puzzle toys hung around the exhibit.
 
     The celebration was attended by more than 30 contributors to the online wish for San Diego Zoo Global. The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park rely on the generosity of its donors for animal items, including enrichment toys that are incorporated into exhibits. Many of these donations are made through the online wish list at www.sandiegozoo.org/wishlist. The list is updated monthly and allows donors to select from a range of items in multiple price levels that go directly toward the health and well-being of the animals at the Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo.
 
     The 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park (historically referred to as Wild Animal Park) is operated by the not-for-profit San Diego Zoo and includes a 900-acre native species reserve. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections.  The Zoo also manages the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.  The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego. 
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 Photo taken Nov. 23, 2011 by Ken Bohn, photographer, San Diego Zoo Safari Park

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