Toys, Browse & Worms!

By Jaime Wilson, Zoo Blog Keeper

Yesterday was one of those "I love my job!" days.

As part of our Wild Affair fundraising event back in October, guests could buy an enrichment item for the animals. Enrichments are anything that is out of the ordinary for the animals that will stimulate their minds and get them thinking. Items included everything from puzzle tubes which hold worms to bubble machines.

We started taking pictures of the animals with their new items and thought you might like to tag along!

First stop: Snow leopards
Two balls (we call them Boomer balls), were rubbed down with the common household spice mace, and placed in their exhibit. When their den doors were opened they headed straight towards the new toys to check them out. They spent quite a bit of time sniffing, rubbing and even licking the spice which of course rolled the boomer balls around the exhibit.

Second stop: Black & white ruffed lemurs
Lemurs enjoy eating and playing with browse, so Zoo keepers cut branches from around the Zoo as an enrichment. Two fruitless mulberry trees were purchased and planted to add to our supply of fun and delicious branches. The lemurs even tried to help out with the camera equipment which I have to say, distracted the photographer and videographer for a bit.

Third stop: Coquerel's sifaka
The Coquerel's sifaka are another type of lemur and live right next door to the Black and white lemurs. They also enjoy their browse but can't eat as wide of a variety as other lemurs. Coprosma is one they enjoy and a dozen of them were purchased and planted around the Zoo. On this occasion, they were much more interested in the camera equipment than the plants, so I guess we were the enrichment for the day!

Last stop: Ground hornbills
Ground hornbills love their worms so for this enrichment flexible tubing was capped off at each end, holes are drilled into it and it is filled with worms! They spent their time moving the puzzle tubes around to try to get the worms to fall out. Each time they found one, they would pick it up with the tip of their bill then flick their heads up to toss it into their mouth.

Zoo keepers work hard to come up with new and inventive enrichments for the animals and our Afternoon Enrichment Talks give the visitors a chance to see them! Check out the calendar by day to see where the talks will be when you visit.

Recycle Rummage Sale

By Jaime Wilson, Green Team Member

It's time for our semi-annual Recycle Rummage Sale! Come out the the Zoo Saturday, November 14 from 10 am to 4 pm and get a jump on holiday shopping. We have books, Christmas decor, lots of plush animals, collectibles, electronics, housewares, dish sets, purses, artwork and much more.

We had a Zoo Member Preview today, but there is still a great selection! As you can see from the pictures, the Kampala center is packed with stuff.

The sale is included with Zoo admission, so bring the family, enjoy the crisp weather and find a steal of a deal. All the proceeds benefit conservation efforts at the Zoo and around the world.

Boo at the Zoo 2009

By Jaime Wilson, Zoo Blog Keeper & Ladybug

This year we extended Boo at the Zoo to two nights and apparently that is what people wanted because we had over 4,000 each night! It was our highest Boo attendance ever.

Thank you to the volunteers that worked those nights and to all the lions, ninjas, race car drivers, giraffes, Buzz Lightyears, transformers, princesses, fairies, and everyone else who came out for the night. You all looked fabulous!

Calling all Zoo Parents!

By the Membership Department

Calling all parents!...Zoo Parents, that is.

To all you proud (Zoo) Parents out there, we have a shiny new board with your name on it… literally!

The Zoo Parent Showcase board has been tucked away between the Bateleur eagle exhibit and our Kampala Café for years… no longer! We are excited to present the all new Zoo Parent Showcase board located outside the Membership &Visitor Services office.

We are proud of all of our Zoo Parents and wanted to show it by putting your names right up at the front of the zoo! Thank you for showing your support by sponsoring our animals. Our Zoo Parents play a very important role in keeping us up & running. The money received through the Zoo Parent Program helps us feed, care for, and maintain the animal’s exhibits.

For more information visit our Zoo Parent program page or give us a call at (916)808-5888.
You can sponsor any animal in the Zoo (except for the employees)!

Sacramento Bee Article: The Good Life

By Jaime Wilson, Zoo Blog Keeper

The Sunday edition of our local paper, the Sacramento Bee had a very nice article about the Zoo titled "The Good Life: Zoo visit brings a rediscovery of all the fun and wonder it offers" by Rick Kushman.

Read the article here and check out the slideshow here.

It's great to see people rediscovering the Zoo and appreciating the wonderful animals. Come out and see us soon!

Sacramento Zoo Tweetup - October 17

By Jaime Wilson, Social Media Fan

The Sacramento Zoo had it's first ZooTweetup last June and we thought it was high time for another! Join us on Saturday, October 17 from noon to 3 pm in the Discovery Room (right by the front gate) for networking, live Twitter feed, Zoo crafts and light refreshments. We will also take a free group carousel ride and get a special animal encounter where we meet an Animal Ambassador!

If you are on Twitter, register here for half-price Zoo admission on Saturday, October 17 at 12 pm.

To catch people up, Twitter is a social media site where you can follow what people say, all in 140 characters or less. The Zoo has been on Twitter for almost a year and we share special deals, animal updates and other insider information for our followers. Now it's time for all us to meet up in person!

Make sure to register here! When you show up on October 17 th, you will check in at the front of the Zoo to get your name tags (they are your golden ticket to the half-price admission and activities) then head into the Discovery Room.

If you are already a Sacramento Zoo Member, please check in for your name tags then proceed to the Members Entrance and show your membership card.

And of course, we will be live tweeting the whole time! Tag your tweets with #zootweetup and they will show up on the screen during the tweetup.

Not on Twitter? Join here and follow the Zoo to find out more about the Zoo. If you are trying to find us our Twitter handle is @SacramentoZoo

Giraffe Barn Demolition

By Jaime Wilson, Zoo Blog Keeper

The three giraffe girls made the transition to their new house a couple of weeks ago which put us into the next phase of the Tall Wonders giraffe exhibit renovation and expansion project - destruction!

That's right, the old giraffe barn came crashing down on a Thursday morning with almost all the Zoo staff looking on. I think we now understand how little kids can just watch big earth movers for hours on end. It was mesmerizing to see the wooden fence come out, and then the slow destruction of the barn starting at one corner and finishing near the new giraffe house.

It really is an end of an era seeing that barn come down and a bit sad since so many memories are wrapped up with it, but the new house is beautiful and state-of-the-art! Most importantly it will help keep the girls warm in the winter! Just in time for the cold weather.

The construction will continue now on finishing the middle part of the expanded yard so you will see a lot of dirt moving in the next few weeks.