The zoo's parking lot is being used to store hundreds of extra ambulances sent to the city to help local hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with emergency calls.
~Thylo
~Thylo
Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo News 2020
- Thread starter AmbikaFan
- Start date
AmbikaFan
Well-Known Member
I have too, but their subject line is always something like, "Only YOU can save Malayan Tigers!" and it's essentially an urgent appeal for money. A newsletter to me is just that, to spread news, not to ask for something in return. They seem to have started as a way for us to visit the zoo while it's closed, but I hope they continue to spotlight animals in this way going forward.
I used to get mailed newsletters just like that, though. They would discuss the goings on at all five facilities. They seem to have stopped that at some point over the last couple of years, unfortunately. I, too, hope these continue moving forward.
~Thylo
AmbikaFan
Well-Known Member
Did you also get the emailed appeals for money at that time? They really bother me because I get them so frequently, before the virus, about every two weeks. It really seemed kind of crass, and it was hard to take such a constant level of "dire-ness" seriously. I'm sure all these causes are very worthy and that money is needed, but you can't come at people 26 times a year and say it's life or death every single time without it seeming like greedy overstatement. I'm actually really glad to see WCS stop the conservation appeals, ask for operating funds for the zoo, and realize that people will want to feel connected in some way and offer the newsletter. I can't imagine why they ever stopped something so fundamental, unless they thought it would compete with conservation efforts for funding?
Yes I did get appeals for donations for conservation programs during that time and still do, the WCS is a conservation organization after all. I'm not sure if you are subscribed to emails from other conservation organizations or not, but they all frequently ask for donations. In fact, the WCS asked a lot less often than most of the organizations that contact me, some of which will email me almost daily.
~Thylo
AmbikaFan
Well-Known Member
Do these organizations give you updates with stories and case studies and pictures, or is it just the hard sell every day? I realize that WCS is one of the biggest and best conservation organizations in the world, but I'm really glad that they're stepping back a bit right now to give the zoo a chance for its needs to be met too. I know we've started discussions on here about the balance between the WCS's conservation work and its zoos, both in terms of operating budgets and special projects and exhibits. The conservation work is more important in a way, but it's the zoos that get people excited about donating to projects in the wild. It's rather a tight cause-and-effect circle, but I sometimes think that emphasizing the zoo more--especially with something as simple and effective as newsletters--would help conservation funding. Someday I should find the WCS financial statement and see just how resources are allocated among various endeavours.
Today is the Wildlife Conservation Society's 125th birthday!
~Thylo
~Thylo
Congrats WCS!!!
On the Madagascar live cam, there's a crow or pigeon sized bird that's mostly or all black. Anyone know what it is? I knew there are birds in the exhibit, but thought they're all small finches and the like.
Eastern Box Turtles Arrive
SEE IT: Endangered bog turtles find new home at Bronx Zoo
A collection of baby Eastern bog turtles were recently confiscated from an individual in New York by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
The tiny turtles, which will be housed at the zoo in a new habitat, will be featured in Saturday’s episode of "The Zoo."
SEE IT: Endangered bog turtles find new home at Bronx Zoo
A collection of baby Eastern bog turtles were recently confiscated from an individual in New York by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.
The tiny turtles, which will be housed at the zoo in a new habitat, will be featured in Saturday’s episode of "The Zoo."
Yes. More than half the AZA population. Given the birth rate I imagine the zoo has plans to move some to another institution, as 20 sounds about capacity for the zoo (maybe 25 max).
Really? Even at 20 the herd is dwarfed by the size of the habitat it seems. I would imagine they want to move some yes but I'm not sure they're at capacity yet. Unfortunately I'm not sure who's available to take any...
~Thylo
If they are breeding so much these past few years I imagine they have somewhat of a plan, otherwise they will need to do a breeding stop. The exhibit can hold more gaur, yet I am more concerned with the off exhibit areas where the gaur spend most of the colder months.
Except for San Diego other holders don’t hold many. Although Omaha’s herd is largely a mystery as it is either not included in the AZA population or has been largely sent away by now.
Found press release “Two of the female calves were born since the Bronx Zoo temporarily closed to the public on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The herd currently consists of 25 animals. The Bronx Zoo has the only gaur breeding program in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).”
Why wouldn't the Gaur have access to the main enclosure during the winter? They're cold hardy.
Omaha no longer holds Gaur, and if there are any left in their ownership they are at the breeding center. I believe only one or two might remain there, though. I'd imagine the Gaur program might turn out like a lot of the zoo's Asian hoofstock programs where they just trade animals back and forth with SDZSP...
~Thylo