Giovanni van Bronckhorst named the two rare Sumatran tiger cubs in Rotterdam Zoo. This was a heart’s desire of Rotterdam Zoo. The naming took place during the second obligatory vaccination. Giovanni was allowed to take a few hairs from the cubs for DNA-research. Finally Marc Damen, director of Rotterdam Zoo, offered him a year’s membership so that he and his family may follow the progress of the little ones.

Rotterdam Zoo wished to name the tiger cubs after Giovanni to honour his special merits during the World Cup 2010 and as a veteran of the Rotterdam football club Feyenoord. This is the more appropriate because Giovanni, like these Sumatrian tiger cubs, is from Asian origin (of: has some Asian blood).

After the naming and the vaccination the cubs and their mum stepped outside in their enclosure the Tigercreek. In spite of the rain they showed off and started exploring the entire circuit, the wet river bed included. In this beautifully, richtly planted Tigercreek it looked like a journey of discovery in the Sumatran jungle.

Rotterdam Zoo is very pleased that after 8 years tiger cubs were born again, the more so because the Sumatran tiger is an endangered species. Only a few hundred of these magnificent cats are still living on Sumatra. Therefore it is very important to breed these tigers in zoos. The European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for the Sumatran tiger is coordinated in London (UK).

source (and photos): http://www.rotterdamzoo.nl/?DocID=4523

Taipei - A private zoo in Taiwan has become the island's first to breed "ligers" - a hybrid of a lion and a tigress - but officials seized the cubs and said on Monday they may fine the owner.

The three liger cubs were born Sunday at the World Snake King Education Farm in the south, but one of them died almost immediately, said the farm's owner, Huang Kuo-nan.

Full article:

source (and photos): http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/Lige ... n-20100816

movie:

source (and photos): http://www.depers.nl/opmerkelijk/502325 ... aiwan.html

iPad owners can follow the baby elephant in Blijdorp Zoo by downloading the new application "Blijdorp Streams". Launched today, this is a world first; Blijdorp Zoo are the first zoo to launch an iPad application.


With 54,000 views since the birth of the elephant on 20 July, the webcams have been a big hit on the Internet. Now wherever you are, you can follow the adventures of a baby elephant and her family and read the latest news from Blijdorp.

The free iPad application can be downloaded via the App Store (iTunes): http://itunes.apple.com/app/blijdorp-streams/id384463979?mt=8

A version for the iPhone is expected to be available within one week.

The iPad app, the webcam widget & broadcast are sponsored by Security Center, Kinky Lemon and Amaziq.


source (and photos): http://www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl/p3.php?docid=4587

Species Is Highly Endangered and Births in Captivity Are Rare; Female Cubs Now About 2 Months Old

A Paris zoo has announced the birth of two rare Southeast Asian clouded leopards.

The two female cubs, named Pati and Jaya, have made their first appearance to the public in recent days at the zoo in the Jardin des Plantes park.

They were born May 14. Out of tradition, the zoo didn't send out a birth announcement until now because it wanted to make sure the mother and babies were in good health.

Two other cubs were born last year to the same parents.

The cats, known for their gorgeous pelts, are threatened by poachers and loss of habitat in Southeast Asia and parts of China. The Smithsonian National Zoo says it is hard to estimate how many there are in the wild because they are reclusive.

click here to watch video of the baby leopards

source (incl. photos and video): http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/ ... 2443.shtml

A mixed-up monkey is confusing visitors at ZSL London Zoo after taking a shine to another species’ baby.

Maternal Juanita, a golden-headed lion tamarin, has adopted an emperor tamarin baby - much to the surprise of zookeepers.

The surrogate mum, who jumps around the zoo’s Rainforest Life exhibit with the two-month-old baby on her back, started taking an interest in her neighbours’ baby just weeks after it was born.

The baby emperor tamarin, who is grey and already sporting the start of an adult’s signature white moustache, was first seen clinging on to Juanita’s fiery orange mane, a month after it was born.

Emperor tamarins, native to South America, are usually brought up by their fathers who carry them until they are old enough to fend for themselves.

Senior keeper, Lucy Hawley, said: “At first the father of the emperor tamarin baby was a little nervous about Juanita – but now they all seem to get along just fine.

“Juanita has never had a baby before so it seems like her mothering instinct has just kicked in this time around… who knows what animal she’ll be carrying around next.”

Rainforest Life

Visitors can see Juanita and 'her' baby in Rainforest Life, ZSL London Zoo’s exciting new experience within the Clore Rainforest Lookout.

Enter London’s only living rainforest where you’ll come face to face with a variety of amazing rainforest species including monkeys, sloth and tamandua.

--
To watch an adorable video of the monkeys, visit the ZSL website.

source (incl. photos and videos): http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/ ... C5Q,IJP0,1

Today, after their first vaccinations, the two young Sumatran tiger cubs ventured into their outside enclosure at Rotterdam Zoo for the first time.

The cubs were born in the night of 20/21 May, earlier this year. For the mother tigress, Alia, who arrived from Wuppertal Zoo on 4 April 2007 when she was 2 years old, it is her first litter.

The father, Hermes, was born on 17 October 1994 at Warsaw Zoo and arrived at Blijdorp on 17 May 1996. He lives alone on one half of the Tiger Creek in Blijdorp.

Mother Alia and her cubs are now exploring their own half of Tiger Creek, which is a special experience for the two cubs. Up until now, they have stayed very close to their mother in the indoor nursery where the public could watch them on a monitor.

It's been eight years since there were tiger cubs born at Blijdorp and the staff at the zoo are very pleased with the little cubs, especially as the Sumatran tiger is threatened with extinction. In Sumatra, only a few of these beautiful cats remain. Breeding of the Sumatran tiger in captivity is coordinated in London for the European breeding program (EEP).

It took a long time before Alia and Hermes came together for mating. Eventually, they succeeded, and with two endearing little tiger cubs as a great result. With the current weather and the beautiful planting in the Tiger Creek, it's like the cubs are exploring the jungles of Sumatra!

source (and photos): http://www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl/?DocID=4572

Last night, Tuesday 20 July, an elephant was born at 22:00 in Blijdorp Zoo, Rotterdam. It is the fourteenth elephant born at Blijdorp, and is the ninth female.


For the father, Timber, born in 1998 to Ramon (now deceased) and Khaing Phyo Phyo (now at Antwerp Zoo), it is his first young. The mother, Bangka, born in 2000 to Alexander (now at Amersfoort Zoo) and Irma (still at Blijdorp Zoo), it is also her first young.

It is also the first time in the world that an elephant is born to parents that were also born in the same zoo, and yet are not related to each other.

The elephant herd at Blijdorp Zoo now consists of one male and six females.There are three generations of elephants; Irma is a grandmother.

Since the birth, Bangka has been in the outside enclosure with her calf, for the public to see.

You can watch the elephant family live via a webcam during the evening and night. During the day they are seen in the large outdoor enclosure.

source (and photos): http://www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl/?DocID=4569

Orang Utan Anak from Ouwehands Zoo gave birth to a boy on Tuesday, 13 July 2010. Both mother and son are doing very well. At this time Anak and her son are still separated from the rest of the group. The other orang utans are interested though and are trying to catch a glimps from the new member of the family.

The Organ Utan group in Ouwehands consists of eight animals. Bako is the male of the group and therefore the father of the newborn. The group further has two fully grown females Jewel and Tijntah and the young Damai, Yuno and Dawn.

Mother and son can be seen in the inside enclosure.

source (and photos): http://www.ouwehand.nl/Basis.aspx?Tid=5 ... uws.Id=133

Two little Visayan Warty Piglets are running round and round in the Malaysian Forest at Blijdorp Zoo. They are enjoying the weather. On first glance, one would not think they are anything special. However, the Visayan Warty Pig is a critically endangered specie.

Blijdorp Zoo imported eight of them six years ago. The first piglets were born already in 2005 and in the meantime there are living more than 40 of this strange pig in a number of European Zoos. Blijdorp coordinates the breeding programme of the European Endangereed Species Programme (EEP) for this species. Having said that, all of the animals remain property of the Philipines Government.

source (and photos): http://www.rotterdamzoo.nl/?docid=4567

Now that the colobus monkeys have moved to their brand new enclosure, the islands between the tiger enclosure and the Terraszaal restaurant have been inhabited by 10 ring-tailed lemurs.

These relatively tall half-monkeys with their noticeable bushy tails belong to the maki or lemur family and came from Apenheul. At Apenheul, rivalry between females of one big group occured resulting in two hostile groups. A new group was formed with ten of these females. As Blijdorp was just on the lookout for new inhabitants for the now empty enclosure of the colobus monkeys, the whole group ended up in Rotterdam.

It was approximately 30 years ago, when Blijdorp had ring-tailed lemurs for the last time. Back then they were kept behind the scenes. Now they are back and also visible to the public.

source (and photos): http://www.rotterdamzoo.nl/p3.php?docid=4550

Olmense Zoo's white lion Apollo with female, Doedoe (Brown Lion) recently had a new litter of cubs. Four little ones, them and mother Doedoe are doing very well.

It is Doedoe's first litter since arrving at Olmense Zoo. For now she and the cubs remain in the inside enclosure where the public can see them through the glass.

The cubs all have the colour of mother Doedoe but do carry the white gene from their father.

source (and photos): http://www.olmensezoo.be/cms/index.php/ ... r-geworden

A few months ago, a lovely couple of jungle cat had arrived at Olmense Zoo.

The male and female were not just sitting around during the last months. In the meantime, it appears that they have had a litter of four and the little ones make sure to get heard in the inside enclosure.

The little ones are currently still with their mother. The eyes are open already ... so it will not be long before the family can venture outside.

The cats look like an ordinary cat compared to other small cats like the caracal or the serval. However, that does not mean that they are less important as a species.

source (and photos): http://www.olmensezoo.be/cms/index.php/ ... -niet-stil

When Australian surfers found three weak juvenile penguins on beaches near Sydney, they contacted the Taronga Zoo, which admitted them to their animal hospital. After almost three months of rehab, the still tiny penguins were healthy enough to return to their ocean home. Watch some of their recovery and their release in the touching video below and make sure to catch their post meal singing session around minute 1:40.



Penguins come ashore to molt and during that time they are particularly vulnerable to predators.

source: http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2010/0 ... -wild.html

On 28 June 2010, giraffe Iwana gave birth to a healthy calf. After 2.5 hours and a fall from almost 2 metres, the young, light coloured calf, was born. Iwana, also born in Artis, is doing well.

Until now, the calf has not been named. Since the giraffe comes originally from Africa, Artis wants to give her an African name.

You can send your name suggestion to giraffenjong@artis.nl and get the chance to receive an Artis de Partis-package and a VIP tour behind the scenes.

Mother Iwana and her calf can be seen on the Savanna.

source (and photos): http://www.artis.nl/nieuws/2010/06/28/giraffe-geboren/

The sixth eagle ray was born Tuesday 29 June in the Ocean at Burgers' Zoo. Although the young was born two to three weeks earlier than expected, it is a heavyweight. The animal weighs 2.7 kilos! In May 2009, an eagle ray was born for the first time in Europe last May 2009 at Burgers' Zoo. After that, two more twins followed and now another newborn. By the way, the first young that was born in May 2009 can already be seen by visitors in the tunnelbasin at the end of the Ocean.

The wave of births is preceeded by years of preparation. The eagle rays arrived as young animals at Brugers Zoo around the year 200 being about 40 to 50 centimeters wide. As from the date of arrival they were hand fed every day to ensure they eat well.

A feeding of six fully grown eagle rays takes about 30 to 60 minutes but this way the keepers ensure a healthy and varieed feeding feeding for the animals. By now, feeding, surroundings and care have been perfectioned so that the animals have moved over to reproducing.

Eagle rays reproduce in a special way, the eggs develop inside the body and hatch within the mother. In the beginning, the embryos will feed from the yolk (similar to a chicken egg) rather than through a placental connection with the mother. The gestiation period takes 10 to 12 months.

source: http://burgerszoo.eu/over-burgers-zoo/n ... -de-oceans

Keepers at Chester Zoo are celebrating success after the egg of a very rare Victorian Crowned Pigeon successfully hatched.

The blue and purple coloured bird has a crown of feathers on its head and is the world’s largest pigeon.

Similar size to a turkey, the very rare bird comes from the rainforests in New Guinea.

Andrew Owen, curator of birds at Chester Zoo, said: “This is the first time we have bred this species in several years. We are keeping an eye on the progress and hope to see the chick fledge its nest fairly soon.”

The Victorian Crowned Pigeon and many other species of birds can be found in the Zoo’s Tropical Realm indoor enclosure.

Owen added: “Our team of bird keepers not only look after our birds at the zoo, but as a charity, we also support the conservation of many of the species overseas.”

source: http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk ... _page.html?

A rare white antelope has been born at Paignton Zoo.

The Kafue Flats lechwe calf was born on Sunday 23rd May. She is the first white lechwe born at Paignton Zoo in over 20 years.

Her keepers have named her Sethunya, meaning blossom, because of the hawthorn blossom around the paddock.

Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “The lechwe are shy animals in a large paddock and she is very small, so she may be difficult to see - but she is white so she does stand out. She is a naturally-occurring curiosity – and very lovely!”

The youngster’s colouring is due to a double recessive gene that only occurs in females. She is not a true albino as her eyes are blue not pink. She has been examined and micro-chipped by the Zoo vets. Ghislaine Sayers, Head of Veterinary Services at Paignton Zoo, said:

“In the wild this sort of thing makes animals an easy target for predators and they don’t normally reach breeding age, so the gene is not passed on. Zoo animals are more likely to survive but if they bred it would increase the presence of the gene. If we ever re-introduced white lechwe into the wild we would be increasing the presence of this undesirable gene. When she is older we will use a contraceptive implant..”

The Kafue Flats lechwe (Latin name Kobus leche kafuensis) is an antelope found in parts of Botswana, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Angola. It lives on flood plains and grassland. A single youngster is born after a gestation period of 210 days (7 months).

Many white or albino animals lack their protective camouflage and are unable to conceal themselves from predators, so their survival rate in the wild is usually low. Albinos can have health problems including poor eyesight.

The lechwe is threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. The species is classed as Vulnerable, meaning it has been categorised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as likely to become Endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve. The Zoo has a small herd made up of one dominant male, two young males and three females.

source (and photos): http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/news-even ... php?id=201

Members of the public are invited to take part in a free of charge Count Me In! Beach Party on Sunday 11th July.

The event, which takes place at Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaton, will hopefully allow individuals to come across interesting beach wildlife and record findings such as crabs, shells, seaweed and maybe even whales.

The event is organised by Chester Zoo, Count Me In!, RECORD, the Wirral Rangers and coastal expert, Ian Wallace of Liverpool Museum.

Karen Lawson, Project Coordinator, comments: “this event is informative, interactive and is open to anyone who is interested. Count Me In! aims to create wildlife recorders of the future. We hope people will come down and find out what it’s all about!”

Attendees can either drop in anytime during the day or book on to one of two workshops 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm.

No experience necessary, all age groups welcome but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Please note there is a free bus available from Chester Zoo, departs 9.30am - returns 4pm. Booking for the bus is essential.

For more information, please contact Karen Lawson on 01244 383749 or 07812482251. More details also available from http://www.record-lrc.co.uk

source (and photos): http://www.chesterzoo.org/Home/News/Jul ... dlife.aspx

Sadly, one of the five lion cubs that were born in Planckendael, died on Thursday after, seriously weakened, being abandonded by its mother.

Management of Planckendael is very much regrets the death but could not intervene to prevent it as the rest of the cubs could have been endangered.

The cub was obvious behind in terms of growth and it had problems getting to one of the teats for the invaluable milk of its mother.

Despite it having a tough time and being visibly lighter than the others, it still appeared to have fighting spirits. However, mother Kolya had to make a decision to not also endanger the remaining cubs and so she left the little one behind in the outside enclosure where it eventually passed away Thursday evening.

source: http://www.hbvl.be/nieuws/in-de-rand/ai ... ndael.aspx

After a gestation period of 110 days gave lioness Kolya birth to 5! cubs on 05
April in Planckendael. Never before had so many lions been born at Planckendael. The sex of the cubs is currently still a well kept secret. Because they were born in 2010, they will be given a beautiful Indian name starting with the letter L. Today, 10 June, Kolya and her family will have the doors opened to show themselves to the public for the first time.

Images from the nursery can be seen on screens outside the enclosure, near the Asian Serre. All fingers are crossed that all 5 of them will make it because one cub has trouble getting to on of the four teats of the mother as his four siblings are faster. Planckendael is happy and proud with these births to contribute to an international breeding programme for this highly endangered lion subspecies.

After the unfortunate litter in late 2009 where the mother killed its cubs, this is fantastic news for the Indian lions.

The Indian lion is a threatened species in nature and is only found in one place in the world: in the Gir Forest National Park in India. The number of Indian lions still living in the wild is estimated at only 400!

This number is rapidly decreased by the hunting of these magnificent animals. Since it is forbidden to hunt them, their ever shrinking habitat is the greatest threat. The breeding programmes in zoos are currently the only "reserve" for the population in nature.

In the wild, Indian lions live mostly in couples or threesomes, but after birth the mother separates herself with the litter. The two adult lions at Planckendael were also separated so that the lioness can give all her attention to her cubs. It is important that young mothers and their offspring spend time together by themselves. The lioness and her cubs were kept in the nursery and cameras were used to monitor the nursery. The family will be reunited when the cubs are stronger and after they have explored the outdoor enclosure sufficiently.

Indian lions sleep about 20 hours a day, the rest of the time they are playing or hunting. The roar of the male lion can be heard kilometres away! They are true carnivores and hunt primarily on large prey.

source: http://www.planckendael.be/news.asp?par=home&nid=150\
Photo credit: Marco Bastiaens

A first for Planckendael and for Belgium.

A snowleopard cub was born 04 April 2010. Mother Maili shielded little Laila young well and kept it hidden in the nursery behind the scenes. A few weeks later, Maili's health rapidly deteriorated and she died shortly after. Planckendael's keepers are now taking over the role of foster mom as the young's genes are of highest importance to the breeding programme for this species as there are only 200 animals in Europe and 4000 in nature.


source (and photos): http://www.planckendael.be/news.asp?cat=&nid=147

For the first time in eight years, there are tigers born in Rotterdam Zoo. The carers found tiger mum Alia this morning with three cubs. One cub was too weak and died after a short time, but the other two are doing well so far. They have been drinking the milk, which is obviously a good sign.

For Alia, it is the first time she's given birth. The father is fifteen year old Hermes, originally Polish, he has already fathered cubs in 2000 and 2002. Hermes is genetically very important for the European breeding program. In the beginning Alia was terrified of older Hermes. Only later, when Alia was older, her fear went away and in mid February they paired.



Sumatran tigers, such as Hermes and Alia, are very threatened in the wild. At last count in Sumatra there were only 326 counted! In the European breeding program for this subspecies there are approximately one hundred animals in 45 zoos on record. Hence, these cubs are very welcome news. After the first critical days are over, it will be possible for visitors to see the cubs.

source (and photos): http://www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl/?RubriekID=2373

ps. interesting fact for you... did you know that the father, Hermes, is the tiger in our logo?!!

The first birth of what is expected to be a wave of births of Squirrel Monkeys happened today. The keepers are very excited of the ones to come as some 20 more births are expected in the coming weeks.

Apenheul is very proud that so many squirrel monkeys are born every year.

Actually, every year a big wave of births takes place. For squirrel monkeys, there is a birth season where in a short space of time, a lot of babies are born.
20 more are expected but it is probable that there will be more. Squirrel monkeys deliver in the group, amongst the other monkeys.

This means visitors of Apenheul can see and enjoy the newborns straight away.

source (and photos): http://www2.apenheul.nl/index.cfm?pid=1 ... ItemID=198

On Wednesday April 21 there was a big surprise for the keepers at Bellewaerde Park! Giraffe Simone unexpectedly gave birth to a baby girafje during the night.

The keepers were obviously aware of the pregnancy of Simone, but there was no certainty about the timing of the mating. As such, it was impossible to predict the date of the birth.

The last time Bellewaerde Park was able welcome a baby giraffe was in 2002. For mom Simone and dad Zuri it is their first offspring. Zuri died unexpectedly on Christmas Day 2009 but lives now a bit further in his little offspring. To remember him Bellewaerde Park keepers would like to give Zuri's young a name starting with the letter Z.



source (and video): http://www.babygiraf.be/

A pair of crocodiles were victims of a heat wave at a zoo in Chhattisgarh where the maximum temperature has touched 45 degrees Celsius, officials said on Wednesday.

A postmortem report Wednesday said that male and one female crocodile, both aged about six years who were found dead at Nandan Van zoo on the outskirts of capital Raipur Monday, had died of the searing heat.

"The crocodiles failed to sustain a plus 45 degrees Celsius temperature. The female crocodile was pregnant and all 16 eggs were taken out from her stomach during the post-mortem," Jaikishore Jaria, the veterinary doctor of the zoo, told reporters.

Forest department sources said "poor care of the crocodiles" could also have played a role in their death.

"The zoo had just a pair of crocodiles left and both were kept in open-air water encircled by a cemented platform. During day time, the water turned hot and it looks that this could also be a reason for their death," sources in the department said.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home ... 869139.cms