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Richard Rosevear, Director of Animal Welfare and Conservation Lehigh Valley Zoo March 6, 2017 |
Schnecksville, PA – Lehigh Valley Zoo is happy to announce the birth of a scimitar horned oryx, an endangered species of antelope. The mother and male calf are doing fine and have spent some time off exhibit for bonding and to be monitored by the Animal Care and veterinary staff. The calf will be on exhibit with its mother beginning March 3 and over the weekend. Off exhibit, mom and calf have had a soft introduction to the rest of the herd being able to see, smell and possibly touch each other through an open grate fence. They will all be fully introduced next week.
 Fortunately, there was a population of scimitar horned oryx in zoos. These animals were selectively bred in the Species Survival Plan program to help provide genetically healthy animals to reintroduce in the wild. A group of 25 oryx were initially released in a large fenced area this past March in the Ouadi-Rimé Ouadi-Achim Faunal Reserve in the African nation of Chad. After a period of adjustment and having radio collars checked, the oryx were released to the open reserve. The herd was monitored and found to be adjusting very, well even having several births, so a second group of 23 oryx was released in January. It is planned to eventually establish a herd of 500 animals. The Zoo’s ongoing efforts with the scimitar horned oryx were recognized on a global level in 2015, as the Zoo received Top Honors in the International Conservation Award for AZA Zoos Giving Voice to the Sahara: Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) as a model for a zoo-driven conservation movement. This annual award recognizes exceptional efforts toward regional habitat preservation, species restoration and support of biodiversity in the wild. Lehigh Valley Zoo was proud to share in this award with 52 other zoos who are united under that mission. Conservation and saving species from extinction are core ideals of Lehigh Valley Zoo,” said Richard Rosevear, Director of Conservation and Animal Welfare at the Zoo. “This is our fourth oryx calf born at Lehigh Valley Zoo and we are privileged to be part of a program that is reintroducing a species, which was extinct in the wild, to its native range.” # # # As a member-supported non-profit organization, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society was founded in 2004, but as a treasured community landmark, the Zoo’s history spans over a century. Founded in 1906 by General Harry C. Trexler, a local industrialist, the Lehigh Valley’s Trexler Game Preserve has educated and entertained more than five million people. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Lehigh Valley Zoo hosts year-round, family-friendly events and activities, educational programs, and camps. With a mission to create a safe, engaging and enlightening wildlife experience for guests of all ages, the Zoo demonstrates leadership in the cultural, scientific and conservation communities. To learn more about Lehigh Valley Zoo, we invite you to visit our website, www.lvzoo.org, or follow us on Facebook @LVZOO |
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Lehigh Valley Zoo Announces Birth of Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine
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By LVZoo Lehigh Valley Zoo February 6, 2017 |
| Schnecksville, PA – The Conservation Education Keepers at Lehigh Valley Zoo are pleased to announce the birth of a prehensile-tailed porcupine, which marks the third birth of this species at the Zoo. The baby porcupine, also known as a porcupette, was born on January 17, 2017 to Jasmine and Quill.
Lehigh Valley Zoo participates in the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SSPs are designed to maintain genetically diverse and demographically stable captive populations of species. This birth is the result of a recommended breeding between Jasmine and Quill, who are genetically valuable within the North American captive population. Prehensile-tailed porcupines are primarily arboreal (tree-living), nocturnal animals native to Central and South America with an excellent sense of smell and hearing. Prehensile-tailed porcupines are born with their eyes open and a functional, prehensile tail. A baby prehensile-tailed porcupine looks very different than its parents. Its fur is copper red in color unlike the adults’ dark brown and black fur. One thing they have in common, however, is quills. Porcupettes are born with quills, but the quills are soft when they are first born but harden quickly, immediately preparing it for protection from predators. The prehensile-tailed porcupine differs from the North American porcupine (one of the North American Trail species at the Lehigh Valley Zoo) as they are smaller, more arboreal and have a long prehensile tail to help them navigate through the forest canopy. |
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Lehigh Valley Zoo announces names of African Penguin chicks
We are proud to announce the names of our African Black Footed Penguin chicks – Baridi and Blake!
Blake is the male chick, and Baridi (female) means “cold” in Kiswahili. The names were submitted by zoo members during the naming contest.
On August 3rd, Greer and Thulani began nesting in an area provided to them to insure a safe location for this endeavor. Greer (Mom) laid an egg on August 9th and another on August 12th. Thulani (Dad) watched closely at the entrance to the nesting chamber while Greer sat on the eggs to keep them warm and safe. In the first few days, Thulani and Greer maintained their post with Thulani bringing fish to Greer so she could eat while incubating the eggs. Thulani, however, soon took turns with Greer giving her a break to get up and move around and get food herself. As the days went on, the penguins continued to share egg care duties even to the point of fussing over who was to do the sitting. Keepers started hearing peeping coming from the egg(s) on September 13th and the first egg was pipped (chick’s beak breaking a hole in the egg shell) the next day. The first endangered African penguin chick, Blake hatched at Lehigh Valley Zoo occurred on September 16th and, like clockwork, three days later Baridi hatched on the 19th. Greer and Thulani continue their parental duties keeping the chicks warm and feeding them regurgitated fish as they ask for it.
In order to disturb the penguin family as little as possible during their initial bonding, Keepers waited until the second chick was hatched before weighing either to make sure all was going well. On its hatch day, Baridi weighed 70 (~2.5 oz.) grams while Blake who hatched three days earlier was, already, 151 grams (just over 5 oz.).
Ten days later they weigh 376.12 (13 oz.) grams and 520 grams (18 oz.), respectively.
Once the chicks had lost their downy feathers to unveil their adult feathers they were ready to learn how to swim. Keepers taught them how to swim as a part of the hand rearing process.
Be sure to follow our Facebook page for more information on when the chicks will be out on exhibit!
Lehigh Valley Zoo’s new creatures great and small: African penguin chicks, Masai giraffes
American Bison named National Mammal of U.S.
Congratulations to the American Bison, which was officially designated as the official mammal of the United States! The Lehigh Valley Zoo has been a member of the American Bison Coalition which advocated for this outcome. We will do a talk on the history of bison in the Lehigh Valley at the bison pasture in the Trexler Nature Preserve At 1:00 pm this Saturday Nov. 5th to celebrate National Bison Day!
For the past five years, the American Bison Coalition has joined people across the country to celebrate National Bison Day on the first Saturday of November. Native American tribes, bison producers, conservationists, sportsmen and women, educators and other public and private partners commemorated the day by hosting events celebrating bison in their communities in dozens of states and participating on social media. The U.S. Senate has for the past four years recognized National Bison Day with an official resolution.
First chance to meet the African Penguin Chicks!
Meet the new baby African Penguin chicks this Saturday Oct 22nd!
This meet and greet experience will be in our Bison Auditorium at 2pm, 2:40pm and 3:20pm. The 3 sessions will each be 20 minutes long and the cost is 1 token per person.
Come say hi to the cutest baby penguins and experience them up close and personal!
Corks and Canvas painting party returns Thursday, November 3rd!
Who wants to paint a sloth and meet Bean, our resident sloth?
Our Corks and Canvas painting party returns Thursday, November 3rd! Everyone in attendance will receive a free zoo admission ticket and be entered to win our 2016 grand prize VIP package!
Canvas and all art supplies included. BYOB – bring your favorite wine and snacks!
For more information or to reserve your space, contact Doreen Carl at 610-799-4171 x232 or dcarl@lvzoo.org.
Bean will be on hand from 5:30-6:00pm for all of our painters to meet!
2 African Penguin Chicks born at Lehigh Valley Zoo
On August 3rd, Greer and Thulani began nesting in an area provided to them to ensure a safe location for this endeavor. Greer (Mom) laid an egg on August 9th and another on August 12th. Thulani (Dad) watched closely at the entrance to the nesting chamber while Greer sat on the eggs to keep them warm and safe.
In the first few days Thulani and Greer maintained their post, with Thulani bringing fish to Greer so she could eat while incubating the eggs. Thulani, however, soon took turns with Greer, giving her a break to get up and move around and get food for herself. As the days went on, the penguins continued to share egg care duties even to the point of fussing over who was to do the sitting. Keepers started hearing peeping coming from the egg(s) on September 13th and the first egg was pipped (when a chick’s beak breaks a hole in the egg shell) the next day.
The first endangered African penguin chick hatched at Lehigh Valley Zoo occurred on September 16th and, like clockwork, the second hatched on the 19th.
Greer and Thulani continue their parental duties keeping the chicks warm and feeding them regurgitated fish as they ask for it.
In order to disturb the penguin family as little as possible during their initial bonding, Keepers waited until the second chick was hatched before weighing either of them to make sure all was going well. On its hatch day, the second chick weighed 70 grams (~2.5 oz.) while the one hatched three days earlier was already 151 grams (just over 5 oz.).
Ten days later they weigh 376.12 grams (13 oz.) and 520 grams (18 oz.), respectively.
Washington Post – Pennsylvania zoo introduces new additions to penguin colony
Lehigh Valley Live – Meet the chicks: Penguins born at Lehigh Valley Zoo
Wolf Awareness Weekend Real-Life Feeding!
Wolf Awareness Weekend
(RL) Real Life Feeding at 10:30 am Saturday, October 8.
During a real life wolf feeding you will have the unique opportunity to observe wolves feeding as they would naturally in the wild. We are having a live feeding along with zoo keepers giving an educational message at 10:30 am Saturday October 8th. Make sure you’re at the zoo early for this experience.
Wolves in the Mexican Gray Wolf Species Survival Plan such as these or their offspring may be reintroduced into the wild and is important to maintain the wolves natural feeding habits and behaviors that make them wild animals. In order to provide real life feeding experiences for the zoo’s wolf pack, they receive carcasses from the Pa. State Game Commission that allows for unique opportunities to observe wolves feeding as they would naturally in the wild. Wolves are predators that hunt in packs with skillful cooperation to take down large prey such as deer and elk. These prey animals are an essential part of the wolves diet and any remains are consumed by other animals such as rave, bald eagles, vulture, fox and bear.
Pokemon Sleepover announced – register now!
Join us for a Pokémon Sleepover!
Register now for our two Pokemon themed overnight sleepovers.
September 9th and September 23rd
Extra Sleepover Added – October 7th!
Sleepover events will begin at 6 PM and will end at 9 AM the following day.
Featuring pizza dinner, lure modules at our Pokestops, guided zoo tour, guided nature hike, campfire with s’mores, and catered breakfast!
We will also have Pokémon trading cards available for purchase!
Half Night |
$28 ($25 for members) |
Full Night |
$44 ($40 for members) |
40 Guest limit per night – register now!
To register, call our education department at
610-799-4171 extensions 227, 228, 229 or 238
Guests encouraged to bring outdoor tents due to indoor sleeping space limitations.
