Tag: Zoos

Watch: Rescued mountain lion cub snuggles with ‘perfect plushy’

The tiny cougar, being cared for by the Oakland Zoo, is shown taking comfort in the companionship of its super-soft stuffed dog.

The Oakland Zoo has shared adorable footage of its newly acquired mountain lion cub snuggling with its favorite toy and comfort item – a plushy stuffed dog.

“The perfect plushy just hits different!” the zoo exclaimed via social media.

Footage shows Briar, who was rescued in early August after being found without a mom in El Dorado County, is shown cozying up to and napping briefly upon the stuffy’s shoulders.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DALzHKIPf_d/

Briar was 4 or 5 weeks old when he was rescued – a search failed to turn up its mom – and will be cared for by the Oakland Zoo until a forever home can be found.

One of the top comments: “Thank you, for everything you’ve done for Briar. I still think of Mama.”

Sumatran tiger cubs greet the world during naming ceremony in Berlin

Meet Ede and Kuno.

Say hello to the two adorable Sumatran tiger cubs at Tierpark Berlin. The zoo welcomed the twin tigers in February and introduced them to the world during a naming ceremony on Tuesday, May 14. The cubs, Ede and Kuno, were born to mother Mayang and father Jae Jae.

Tierpark Berlin says the cubs represent “a new ray of hope for the preservation of this rare species.” Sumatran tigers are a critically endangered species, with under 600 existing in the wild.

“Zoos are key to the survival of this and other threatened species,” Dr. Andreas Knieriem, Zoo and Tierpark Director, said in a statement. “Conservation breeding in human care is an important component of the work being done by international networks to protect the last remaining tigers.”

Learn more about these Sumatran tiger cubs in the photo gallery below. Plus, read up on some of the world’s animal conservation efforts here.

Wish this pair of adorable pumas a happy birthday

Time to celebrate!

Happy birthday, Olympia and Elbroch! On March 6, the Philadelphia Zoo posted an adorable video of these two precious pumas celebrating their first birthdays together.

As the Philly Zoo wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “We estimate the cubs were born around this time. These siblings joined our family in early July after being rescued in Washington, and very quickly became beloved by both staff and guests!”

A local news report further explains that the puma cubs were rescued from Kalama, Washington, and transferred from experts at the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to the Philly Zoo. Formerly underweight and at-risk, pumas Olympia and Elbroch can be seen thriving and enjoying a birthday cake made of ice in the video below.

Want to wish these puma cubs a happy birthday yourself? You can direct your birthday wishes to the pair via social media. Or, better yet, visit the Philadelphia Zoo and see if you can get a glimpse of the pumas in person!

Note: The featured image is a stock photo used to illustrate the story.

Watch this surprisingly graceful ostrich twirl for the audience at Cincinnati Zoo

See it twirl!

Animals can be strange. Strange animal activities range from zoo animals escaping their enclosures to wild critters messing with trail cameras. Sometimes, you’ll even see stories about a moose or coyote chasing skiers. With all of these weird stories in the world, it can be hard for a cute critter to stand out. But one talented ostrich from Ohio’s Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens has beat the odds with an eye-catching dance.

Footage from earlier this month shows one of the zoo’s ostriches twirling around in its habitat and delighting onlookers. As the zoo said on February 10, this large flightless bird gracefully performed some spectacular spins, dancing “like no one’s watching.” Watch this talented ostrich for yourself in the video below.

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See why the Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the world’s best zoos

Visit one of the country’s top zoos.

Before the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium became the attraction it is today, the area was known as Riverview Park. The City of Omaha founded the park in 1894. The following year, the park’s first animals arrived. Acquisitions included a moose, bear, and “moving fish.” By 1898, the park had grown to host over 120 animals, from deer to bison. In 1963, the zoo earned the Doorly name following a $750,000 donation by Margaret Hitchcock Doorly. Margaret donated in honor of her late husband, Henry Doorly, chairman of the World Publishing Company.

Since 1963, the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has grown to include a sprawling African Grasslands exhibit, a Gorilla Valley, Children’s Adventure Trails, and more. Get a preview of these fascinating attractions with this list of six reasons why you should visit the Henry Doorly Zoo.

Watch: ‘Compassionate’ elephant returns shoe dropped by child

Video has surfaced showing an elephant using its trunk to pick up a child’s shoe, which had fallen into its enclosure, and gently return the shoe to the child.

Video has surfaced showing an elephant using its trunk to pick up a child’s shoe, which had fallen into its enclosure, and gently return the shoe to the child.

“He is confined. But not his spirits & compassion,” Susanta Nanda described on X. “Returns the shoe of a child which accidentally fell in its enclosure.”

Nanda works for the Indian Forest Service, but the footage he obtained is from a facility in Weihai in Shandong Province, China.

Nanda added a hopeful sentiment in parenthesis: “Free wild [animals] from cages.”

‘Ultimate polar bear plunge’ finally accomplished at Tacoma zoo

A polar bear at a Tacoma zoo thrilled guests recently when, for the first time, she leaped from her exhibit’s island platform into its saltwater pool.

Polar bear twins at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash., have been working up the nerve to leap from the exhibit’s island platform since they arrived in June.

This week, one of the bears, named Astra, accomplished the feat in a display of confidence and grace.

The accompanying footage shows the magnificent leap amid muffled cheers of guests watching from behind glass in an underwater viewing station.

The zoo stated via social media: “This was the first time she courageously dove off the island into her saltwater pool – making a beary big SPLASH! Astra and twin sister Laerke have been toying with the idea of leaping from the platform since arriving in June.”

After splashdown, Astra emerged directly in front of guests as if to gauge their response.

Apparently, they were impressed.

“She tucked her chin. Went headfirst. Perfect diving form,” reads one comment.

“A Perfect 10!” reads another.

8 incredible animal exhibits you can see at the Brookfield Zoo

Cute critters galore.

Zoos have changed a lot over time. If your idea of a zoo is sad animals housed in small cages, it might be time to learn about modern, conservation-minded zoos. While some zoos still have sketchy practices, accredited organizations like Illinois’s Brookfield Zoo prioritize animal welfare. Carefully maintained habitats keep all kinds of critters safe and happy.

Want to see these fascinating animal habitats for yourself? Plan a visit to the Brookfield Zoo! Located just outside of Chicago, this animal attraction promises hours of fun. Get a preview of the zoo’s best animal exhibits in the gallery below.

If you’re craving more adorable animal content, check out the Brookfield Zoo’s polar bears enjoying a snow day here.

7 things to see during a day trip to Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo

Enjoy a free day of fun.

Experience a wild world for free at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo. This incredible destination is one of few free zoos in the United States. It’s also one of the country’s oldest zoos, with tons of exhibits for the whole family to enjoy. Visitors can spend all day exploring gorilla, polar bear, and lion habitats. Plan your perfect trip with this guide to the zoo’s seven best sightseeing opportunities.

If your schedule is flexible, you can also stop in for one of the zoo’s animal events. Wildlife enthusiasts can meet at the Kovler Seal Pool for a seal training and feeding event. The “Ape Cognition and Care” activity is also open to guests from Monday to Friday. Find even more zoo events and attractions here.

Can you spot the leopard hiding at the Oakland Zoo?

The Oakland Zoo has posted an image to Facebook asking followers if they can spot its camouflaged male leopard.

The Oakland Zoo recently acquired a female leopard in the hope that she will develop a “love connection” with its resident male.

Their names are Emma and Lucha, and an update on their progress is forthcoming.

In a tease to this effect, the zoo on Friday shared an image of a camouflaged Lucha, an 11-year-old male, and stated to followers:

“Lucha the leopard is spotted… but can you spot him in this pic?”

Many in the comments section claimed to have spotted Lucha at first or second glance.

But for others it took a while, perhaps, because there’s a spot in middle of the image that looks as though it could be hiding Lucha.

RELATED: Can you spot the rattlesnake in Arizona man’s yard? 

Some used the comment section to inquire further about the courtship between Emma and Lucha.

The most likely hiding place, of course, is the base of the tree:

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