Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Beardsley Zoo News

Reopening

The zoo will reopen on Saturday, February 16th. There will be half-priced admission. The following three programs are scheduled for Saturday; "Cabin Fever: Meet Beeze the Bobcat", "Asian New Year Celebration", and "Wild At Heart 2013." More information here: Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Roars into Action Post Blizzard with Half-Price Admission | Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo
UPDATE: The zoo reopened today.
http://www.wtnh.com//dpp/news/fairfield_cty/zookeepers-keep-animals-safe-in-storm#.UR8C8KV8bDE
 
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This article reveals important info for new exhibits at Beardsley Zoo;
First, Beardsley Zoo got a big boost in the state budget-setting process by by legislator Toni Walker. However, there is still a while to go until the Legislature's June 6adjournment
The Amur Leopard exhibit will all-in-all cost around $150,000. I predicted that the female leopard coming would be from San Diego, as their female, Zeya, was going to be shipped to another zoo, but it turns out that a hand-raised female named Sophia from Saint Louis Zoo will be coming to Beardsley.
Also, this article states it, so I guess I can reveal what I have known for about a month now. Mexican Gray Wolves will replace Apache and Cheyenne, the Timber Wolves, who died last year. The zoo has been approved to breed them, and as many as 5 wolves can come to the zoo from California in spring.
Legislator lobbies for Beardsley Zoo - Connecticut Post
 
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Went to zoo today.
Desmond and the new female condor are getting along better.
The Mexican Gray Wolves should arrive in April, and go on exhibit in May.
A male Snowy Owl from somewhere in Europe is in a quarantine faculty in New York. Once his quarantine period is complete, he will come to Beardsley.
Both of the Dexter Cows are at the zoo still. However, one of them, Katie, is off-exhibit, possibly due to her old age. However if you look behind the sheep exhibit, you might see her.
A new sign for Pampas Plains is up on the Maned Wolf viewing hut.
A pair of Barn Owls are supposedly breeding.
It seems the zoo will not continue breeding Guinea Hogs.
I am unaware if any changes took place in Alligator Alley or South American Rainforest as I did not visit those areas today.
Photos coming soon.
 
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The zoo has put up more signs inside the Maned Wolf viewing hut about Pampas Plains, including a sketch of the overall site plan of the exhibit, how to donate and contribute, and more.
With almost all the snow melted, the zoo has finally been able to work some more on the leopard exhibit. A good part of the holding building has been constructed. I have also heard that while glass is not being planned to view the leopard through, the chain-link fence will be replaced by mesh.
I found out the reason Katie the Dexter Cow is off-exhibit is because the cow exhibit is rocky and hilly, so while Lucy (the other cow) is fine, Katie has arthritis and it isn't capable of navigating that exhibit anymore.
The Bug House and Reptiles of Connecticut building are still closed for the winter.
I can confirm that one Brazilian Agouti lives in the aviary (I believe that's Mac) and one in the Goeldi's Monkey exhibit (Skippy.)
A new Golden-Lion Tamarin now lives with the current pair, unless it's a birth by the pair of GLT's that the zoo never announced. I doubt that, as they would probably report something as significant as a GLT birth.
I can't find the White-Faced Saki that was in the GLT exhibit in December, so he might have moved. However, there is a new saki female in the saki/howler exhibit.
The peccary boardwalk is still damaged and not fixed. The peccaries weren't out there.
The Black-Crowned Night Herons seem to have actually had several chicks a few months ago, as I saw several juveniles today.
I only saw two Bald Eagles today as I have for my past couple of visits. I wonder what happened to the the other eagle.
Photos coming soon.
EDIT: St. Patrick's Day celebration at the zoo tomorrow: http://www.beardsleyzoo.org/node/614
 
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The Chacoan Peccaries were outside today, and will probably keep on going outdoors if the weather improves.
The majority of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs are coming out of their burrows now.
There is a new nest for the bird in the Barred Owl cage.
Some more work will likely start on the leopard exhibit construction. I feel that the holding building will be painted soon, and some new objects will be constructed and put in the exhibit.
I am unaware of any changes in New England Farmyard or South American Rainforest, as due to time constraints, I could not visit those areas.
 
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Party for the Planet seemed to be successful, and while I volunteered, I managed to see the zoo, I also managed to see every area of the zoo, and check out what was new.
Desmond and the female Andean Condor are getting along better; she tolerates him when he gets near to her. He might even be trying to court her, even though he hasn't even reached sexual maturity yet.
The leopard holding building has had a lot of work done to it. It now looks like it is a cave, with fake rocks. I will post pics of it later.
I have an update on tiger breeding. The AI on Naka didn't work. They're trying to naturally breed Naka with Viktor, but I don't want to go too much into detail. If you want to know more about the breeding, PM me.
Again, I only saw 2 Bald Eagles. I am almost positive that one must have either died or was sent away to another zoo.
New signage was added to the South American Rainforest for the Boa Constrictor, and a new sign was added across from the snake labeling the inhabitants of the building.
One of the male sakis was sent away to make room for the new female.
Half of the Chacoan Peccary boardwalk has reopened.
The new male Snowy Owl is now on exhibit with the female.
The emergency bird holding area in the barn now has a pair of ducks in it.
I forgot to mentioned that a few months ago a horse statue was added to the entrance to the farmyard.
The zoo seems to be preparing for for Mexican Gray Wolves, as the sprinkler was on in the former Timber Wolf exhibit and a keeper was cleaning up the exhibit a little bit.
Tomorrow is Viktor the tiger's birthday. What makes his 8th birthday even more special was that he'll be celebrating at his original birthplace!
Photos will be up soon.
 
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First, the zoo is sending their prayers to Boston, after the tragedy that took place during the marathon.
Second, happy 8th birthday to Viktor the Amur Tiger! And a happy birthday to his sister Koshka in Denver and Nikka in Lansing, both of whom have been mothers. Now if only Viktor wasn't so nervous around Naka, and he could be a father.
Third, apparantely Beeze the Bobcat will be getting his own summer show this year, and the zoo is offering sneak peeks of his training tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday, at varied times. Information could be found at the front gate.
And fourth, April 28th is Autism Friendly Family Day at the zoo. The zoo will open early at 8:30 A.M. for families to get familiar with the environment. With every $12 adult ticket purchased, receive 1 child ticket free ($10 savings) Children under 3 are free. All zoo staff have been trained by an Autism Speaks representative and a quiet area will be available all day for your family's convenience. Please pre-register and check in at the Autism Speaks table outside the zoo entrance to take part in this discount. This is presented by Autism Speaks and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.
 
Update from Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's Facebook page:
"Sorry folks... BeeZe is under the weather and won't be up for doing any programs this week. But fear not! We will be offering presentations with our other animal ambassadors in his place. Check with the front gate to learn what the daily schedule is. And stay tuned for updates about when BeeZe will be doing future programs!"
 
Evening Lecture Series

The first evening lecture series will be tonight at 7:00 P.M. in the Hanson Building. A $5 donation is suggested. Tonight's lecture will be "Bat Chat." Here's a description:
Dr. Miranda Dunbar is batty about bats! For nearly a decade, she has traveled the world to study these unique animals. Come join us as we shed some light on our nocturnal friends. We’ll share bat fun facts, debunk bat myths, discuss local bat species, their important roles in our environment, and what we can do to conserve this imperative group of animals. $5 suggested donation. Refreshments will be served. This program, taking place in the Hanson Exploration Station, is part of the Evening Lecture Series, sponsored by Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo Volunteer Association.
The rest of the evening lectures are as follows:
Horseshoe Crabs-Living Legends on May 15th
The Penguins of Argentina on May 29th
Kayaking with Nature Along the Connecticut Waterways on June 19th
Through The Eyes of Africa- July 17th
The Call of the Apes- August 21st.
I believe there's one more on September 15th; I think it's Sharks and Rays: Feeding Frenzy?
Also, Pet Awareness and Adoption Day is on April 27th. http://beardsleyzoo.org/node/616
 
First births of the year! 2 Nigerian Dwarf Goat kids were born around noon yesterday on Earth Day! The sexes are unknown, but they are on exhibit in the New England Farmyard.
 
From Fairfield HamletHub's Facebook:
"CONNECTICUT'S BEARDSLEY ZOO SUPPORTS RESCUE EFFORT TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF FISH STRANDED IN THE PEQUONNOCK RIVER. Rescue effort happening today, Wed. May 1 from 11am-12:30pm!!

Between 5 - 10,000 fish are stranded in the Pequonnock river adjacent to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. The lack of rain has created low water levels, making it impossible for the fish to migrate up the Pequonnock River and over the dam into Bunnell's Pond. Zoo staff and volunteers, together with staff from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will rescue as many fish as possible in a 90-minute to two-hour period. Using nets, they will capture and carry the fish over the impairment releasing them into deeper water so that they may continue their migration. The goal is to rescue 2-3,000 fish. The rescue effort can only last for 90-120 minutes because human activity in the river agitates the fish, causing them to experience life threatening stress.

WHO:
Zoo staff and volunteers will join with staff from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

BACKGROUND:
Each year alewives and blueback herrings migrate between fresh water and salt water in order to breed, hatch, and live. Due to the height of the dam connecting Bunnells Pond and the Pequonnock River, a "fish ladder" was constructed to aid the annual migration. The fish ladder allows the fish to bypass the dam enabling the fish to "climb" and make it over the height of dam. It is believed to be the highest fish ladder in the northeast.

Conservation is an important part of the zoo's mission and these fish are vital to both the health of the river and to its food chain. Their presence has spurred the repopulation of osprey, large bass, black-crown night herons, and otters to this river. This is the second year in a row that the zoo has supported a rescue effort for the fish.

WHERE:
The dam at Bunnells Pond, in front of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT."
Also, a photo album: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.564917516876359.1073741886.296073370427443&type=1
 
The zoo said on their Facebook that, along with a happy Cinco de Mayo, the new Mexican Wolves will be going on exhibit soon and to stay tuned for more details.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Happy early Mother's Day to mothers at the zoo, such as Mom the Red Wolf, Acorn the Chacoan Peccary, Prairie Dog and Pronghorn mothers, Olivia and Josie the Guinea Hogs, Cupcake and Peaches the Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Julie the Golden-Lion Tamarin, and Kuma the Brazilian Ocelot.
The Mexican Wolves have actually not arrived yet.
The zoo is starting to take down chain-link fencing in the old Andean Bear exhibit, so once the fencing is down they'll probably start replacing it with mesh.
As a temporary exhibit, the zoo will bring in camels and rides will be available. The rides will take place in the left greenhouse yard.
The alligator pool has been cleaned, and the gators are much more visible in the water.
The female Nigerian Dwarf Goats born to Cupcake the goat on Earth Day are on exhibit regularly and quite active. Cupcake's sister, Peaches, also gave birth last week and their birth hasn't been announced publicly yet, so I don't know their genders. They are on exhibit regularly though, and one of them is tan-colored, and the other cream-colored.
Last week on May 5th, 6 Guinea Hogs were born! 5.1 piglets were born, and they are able to go on exhibit when they want to, and are also given access to their holding area. Both females hogs, Olivia and Josie, are on exhibit with the piglets, but I don't know which one is the mother.
The ducks in the emergency bird holding area in the barn were removed and put in the wildlife pond.
There seems to be a new Emerald Tree Boa.
The Reptiles of Connecticut Building has reopened for the season, but the Bug House is still closed.
A new graphic was installed in the South American Rainforest. The graphic lets you try to find all the animals hiding behind plants. There's a picture up in the gallery of it.
 
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