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Vultures Face Many Threats—but You Can Help Them Survive
International Vulture Awareness Day is September 3, 2016, so over the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing posts written by our amazing bird keepers in preparation for the big day. We’ll also celebrate...
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Power to the Pollinators
Have you heard the buzz? This is National Pollinator Week (June 20 to 26)! We can thank pollinators for many of our favorite foods—blueberry muffins, almonds, coffee, apples, and chocolate, just to...
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Big Bird
They are big. They can also be loud—and they will not be ignored. They are kori bustards Ardeotis kori, the heaviest flying birds in Africa. Kori bustards are an iconic species in southern and eastern...
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The Best Nest
HIGH AND DRY A flamingo’s single, chalky white egg hatches atop a pile of mud. Both male and female construct the tall nest, heaping and packing soft mud into a volcano-shaped mound. The high nest...
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Altering the Flight Plan
For a wild bird, even the friendliest skies can suddenly turn turbulent. Obstacles such as injury, illness, or human interference can cause an unexpected change in life’s route—and it’s often not in...
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A Big, Hot, Beautiful Day at the Safari Park
It’s always a banner day spending time at the Safari Park, but when it includes a behind-the-scenes experience, it becomes a shiny, indelible memory with really cool photo ops. So it was on an August...
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Zari’s Choice
Curious but calm, Zari the zebra steps into the “crib”—a sort of patio behind her main yard. Her nostrils work to gather the scent of a stranger accompanying her familiar trainer, but her eyes and ears...
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All Fired Up!
Wildlife “fashion” takes on many forms and hues—animals can wear even the flashiest colors with great aplomb. In celebration of autumn, let us behold a few species that flaunt some fiery shades of...
View ArticleThis is Not a Halloween Blog
Look up in the capital city of Madagascar, Antananarivo (aka “Tana”), and you will find more than fierce blue sky and an array of endemic birds that rivals all others on Earth. Strung between power...
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Elusive Wonders
Since the earliest days of the San Diego Zoo, there have been snakes—all kinds of snakes. There were local snakes first, many of which were found on site in Balboa Park during construction of the Zoo....
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Happy H–’alalā-ween!
Set down your pumpkin spice lattes for a moment and pick up a coconut instead. In many places around the world leaves are changing colors but here in Hawaii the leaves just as lush and green as ever....
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Rock Stars
Africa Rocks spotlights the amazing biodiversity found on the African continent, with unusual and striking species ready for their rise to fame. Ushering you into each new area are rock formations...
View ArticleMaking a Difference for Orangutans
Orangutan Caring Week, November 13 through 19, is fast approaching, and we’re excited! During the week, we have plans to highlight all things orangutan at the San Diego Zoo. Help us to spread the word...
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What’s New with the Three Bears?
There’s a lot going on at the Zoo’s Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge, 24 hours a day—even after all the guests go home and the keepers clock out for the night. At various hours, timed scent dispensers...
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Across the Spectrum
The Animal Kingdom has an extraordinary color palette. Pick any color on the spectrum, and there is an animal somewhere that displays it to excellent effect. Some animals are kaleidoscopic wonders,...
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Animal Slumber
Animals that sleep less than four hours are large herbivore land mammals like elephants, cows, and giraffes. Nothing beats a good night’s sleep—just ask anyone who suffers from insomnia. A solid seven...
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Little Rockers
Offering protection, shade, food, denning sites, and vantage points to watch for predators, a kopje (pronounced ko-pee) is much more than a stack of boulders surrounded by seemingly sparse vegetation....
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Feeding the Roar, Part I
The 100-year history of the San Diego Zoo is made up of tales of perseverance and ingenuity when it came to meeting the needs of the animals in its care. In the early years, one of the greatest...
View ArticleFeeding the Roar, Part II
As the San Diego Zoo’s centennial year comes to a close, we’re looking back at how we have fed the many beloved mouths that call the Zoo home. You can read Part I here. Part II highlights some of the...
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Bear Apparent
When you’re descended from what could be considered Zoo royalty, it can be difficult to escape your family’s shadow. That is, of course, unless you happen to be a smart and sassy little Andean bear...
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