Association of Zoos and Aquariums

A new way to connect with WILDlife! ⛅ Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo introduced the world to Wild Canada—a remarkable 21-acre #Redevelopment project aimed at deepening visitors’ connection with iconic Canadian wildlife and the dynamic #Ecosystems they call home! 🌲 🌄 The vision for the redeveloped space was to create a destination that encouraged visitors to reflect on the relationship between humans and the land, deepen their connection to #Wildlife, and foster a sense of renewed hope for the future. From the outset, the Wild Canada redevelopment project was underscored by a commitment to thoughtfully and respectfully incorporate Indigenous worldviews and Ways of Knowing in order to authentically tell these stories throughout the interpretive experience. The #Zoo worked with two Indigenous community engagement consultants from Siksika First Nation to advise, share teachings, and help foster relationships, weaving Indigenous worldviews into the experience. 🌎 “The Canadian zone of our Zoo has educated and inspired generations of conservationists for decades. When it came time to reimagine what this experience could be, we recognized the importance of infusing the journey with stories that reflect our location’s significance and the layers of footprints that have crossed these lands through the centuries,” said Lauryn Record, M.Sc., senior strategist of interpretive planning and creative services at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. 💚 Read more about the importance of this new place on our website: https://bit.ly/4cMvcMg #Conservation #Exhibits #Development #Calgary #Canada #CalgaryZoo #Indigenous #FirstNations

🌊 Exciting news from the Oregon Coast Aquarium! 🌊 🎉 The #Aquarium has received a generous $500,000 gift from the Marcia H. Randall Foundation to support the construction of its Sees-Ha Xwee-Nish Marine Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. You can double the impact as well! 🌟 Through the end of this year, the Foundation will match your donations dollar for dollar, up to $500,000, when you give to the Aquarium's wildlife rehabilitation fund: https://bit.ly/4eOnYJn. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of only three facilities in the #PacificNorthwest (and the only one in Oregon) authorized to provide critical care to endangered marine animals like sea #Turtles, northern fur #Seals, and snowy #Plovers. 🏥 The rehabilitation center will expand the Aquarium’s capacity to offer immediate and long-term medical attention, giving vulnerable #Wildlife a second chance at survival. 🔬 It will also serve as a research and teaching facility for students and emerging professionals in #Veterinary medicine and #MarineScience. In Connect, learn more about the unique #Education, #Research, and #AnimalCare opportunities the Center will offer: https://bit.ly/3XRgY8t. #Oregon #PNW #MarineLife #AnimalHealth #WildlifeRehab #Veterinarian #VeterinaryMedicine #SeaTurtles #Aquariums

🎺🎺 Fanfare, please! It's time to celebrate the birth of two trumpeter swans at The Maryland Zoo! 🥚 The hatchlings, called cygnets, were part of the eighth group of eggs or “clutch” laid by the Zoo’s trumpeter swans. Over the past decade, parents Scuttle and Buttercup have played a crucial role in the #Conservation of their species. Last year, the cygnets born at the Zoo were released into the wild in #Oregon as part of a trumpeter swan restoration program led by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. 🏞️ This year, one cygnet will follow the same journey to Oregon. The other will become part of AZA’s Trumpeter Swan Species Survival Plan® program and contribute to the growth and sustainability of the species. To prevent the cygnets from imprinting on humans, the Zoo has opted for a hands-off approach for those involved in the #Reintroduction program. The swan parents will raise the cygnets themselves, teaching the young ones essential skills that will improve their chances of survival in the wild. 🌿 Trumpeter swans are the largest #Waterfowl species native to North America and the largest swan in the world. 🦢 In the early 1900s, they were nearly hunted to #Extinction for their skin, feathers, meat, and eggs. Today, federal protections are in place to preserve the remaining trumpeter #Swans. 📰 Read more about these protections in Connect: https://bit.ly/4cI4mEO. #Swan #ZooBorns #MigratoryBirds #Wildlife #Birds #SSP #Baltimore #Maryland #Zoos

Join us for the AZA 2024 Annual Conference, a 5-day event in #Calgary, Canada, from September 14th to 19th. As the largest and most comprehensive gathering for #Zoo and #Aquarium professionals in the country, attending this conference allows you to connect with more than 2,000 dedicated colleagues who share a common vision to protect and save species. You will have the opportunities to: 🐬 Explore ideas and best practices with more than 150 education program sessions, poster presentations, and round-table topic discussions 🐢 Hear updates from meetings of over 75 AZA Committees, SAFE, and Animal Programs 🦊 Discover successes and lessons learned from a community of experienced and emerging professionals in the field 🐒 Experience new technology and services from more than 150 companies and organizations showcasing their latest products Designed for the needs of the #AZA community, this conference aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and professional growth. With a wealth of learning opportunities and networking experiences, you don't want to miss out! Register early now! https://bit.ly/3RVnYxa #WeAreAZA #Zoos #Aquariums

🛎️ Let’s ring the bell for Kengele! 🛎️ Kengele, whose name fittingly means “bell” in Swahili, is a magnificent male southern white rhino who recently arrived at Rolling Hills Zoo! 🦏✨ He traveled about 900 miles west to get to #Kansas from his previous home at The Wilds, a research and conservation center affiliated with the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Brenda Gunder, general curator at the Zoo, hopes that Kengele’s unique personality and commanding presence will make him a favorite among visitors. He also provides a fantastic opportunity for guests to learn about the critical #Conservation efforts needed to protect these majestic animals. 🌿 Kengele, along with Evey, the Zoo’s female southern white #Rhino, will help continue the ongoing efforts to sustain the southern white rhino population. Currently, southern white rhinos are classified as near-threatened due to habitat loss and #Poaching for their horns. Rolling Hills Zoo remains committed to the protection of this incredible species, as well as to animal welfare and #Education. ❤️ You can read more about Kengele in Connect 📰: https://bit.ly/4cI4mEO. #Rhinos #Rhinoceros #AfricanWildlife #Zoos #Wildlife #Ohio #SaveTheRhino

Nestled where the #RockyMountains meet sprawling grasslands, the Alberta Biodiversity Festival stands as a beacon of collaboration and #Conservation ⛰️. Organized by the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Government of Alberta, and Bow Habitat Station, this annual festival promotes environmental stewardship and community engagement. 🤝 Major goals of the festival are to strengthen #CommunityOutreach and local partnerships, ultimately inspiring action and advocacy for Alberta’s unique ecosystems. Through hands-on activities, visitors gain a deeper understanding of Alberta’s rich #Biodiversity and learn practical ways to support wildlife and wild places. 🦌🌲 Inclusivity is central to the festival, allowing visitors of all ages and backgrounds to engage in ways that matter to them. From interactive touch tables with biofacts to arts and crafts, #Educational board games, and theatre presentations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 🎨 Art bridges science and community engagement at the festival. Collaborations with local artists have resulted in stunning permanent installations at the Zoo, including vibrant #Murals and costumes inspired by local #Fauna. #Indigenous perspectives are integrated throughout the festival as traditional knowledge keepers from Treaty Seven territory share insights on their ancestral connection to the land. They explore topics like traditional #Medicine and the effects of #Bison population decline on the Parklands. 🌿 In its third year, the Alberta Biodiversity Festival continues to serve as an engaging platform for raising awareness about local #Ecosystems and conservation initiatives across #Canada. The organizers continue to embrace adaptability to address #Environmental challenges and shape the festival's future. 📰 In Connect, read more about the ongoing impact of this unique festival: https://bit.ly/3zvduOV. #Alberta #Education #Environment #CommunityEngagement #Wildlife #Inclusivity #Festivals #Zoos

🌟 Good things come in threes at John Ball Zoo! 🌟 Last month, three new Magellanic #Penguin chicks were born to two pairs of parents: one chick to mom, 19-year-old Ri, and dad, 24-year-old Quffy, and two chicks to mom, 16-year-old Qberta, and dad, 14-year-old Hogan. 🐧 For now, the animal care team remains as hands-off as possible, letting the parents care for their babies. None of the chicks are visible to guests because they are being covered and protected by their parents, but they will be soon as they grow larger. The Zoo will closely monitor the chicks to ensure they are being fed, remain healthy, and continue to grow. Magellanic penguins are a near-threatened species found in South America, mainly in #Argentina, #Chile, and the Falkland Islands. 🐟 They face several threats, including overfishing of #Anchovies (their primary food source), habitat destruction, and #Pollution. Read in Connect about John Ball Zoo's success in raising 46 near-threatened #Penguins from birth: https://bit.ly/4cKCDDn. #ZooBorns #ZooBaby #AnimalCare #AnimalHealth #GrandRapids #Zoos #SouthAmerica

With her charming and playful spirit, Himalaya, the newest red panda at The Buffalo Zoo, has already begun to “cap”-ture hearts ❤️. This adorable 11-month-old traveled from the Greenville Zoo to her new home in #Buffalo as part of AZA’s Species Survival Plan® program. This collaborative effort among AZA-accredited zoos ensures genetic diversity for endangered species like red pandas, which are threatened by habitat loss and #Poaching according to the IUCN. 🌿 Over the coming weeks, the animal care team will introduce Himalaya to Mogwai, a three-year-old male red panda who joined the Buffalo Zoo family last year from the Pueblo Zoo 🐾. Right now, visitors can take a “peak” at Himalaya as she continues to settle into the red panda habitat, located in the Vanishing Animals North section. The Zoo hopes Himalaya will inspire visitors to appreciate the importance of conservation and understand their crucial role in saving #Wildlife. 📰 Read more in Connect: https://bit.ly/4cKCDDn. #RedPanda #SSP #EndangeredSpecies #Conservation #Zoos #Himalayas

🐠 Animal ambassadors come in all shapes and sizes! At The Seas with Nemo and Friends® at EPCOT, Walt Disney World Resorts, various species coexist within the main environment at The Seas, including different types of #Stingrays that often live together in groups that promote successful breeding. Over the past few years, #Disney’s animal care team has reared a number of cownose and spotted eagle ray pups, aiming to create individuals that thrive in a 5.7-million-gallon, mixed species environment and serve as impactful ambassadors for their species. 🌊✨ Epcot's diverse and fast-moving main environment presents significant challenges for stingray pups that don't have parental guidance. The Seas team observed the adult rays to identify the natural qualities that would set the pups up for success in this dynamic habitat. To help these young rays, #Disney’s team goes beyond the usual task-oriented training, and also focuses on cultivating soft skills and "personality traits" like courage, curiosity, and resilience. These skills have been proven to be essential in helping the #Rays navigate the complex and sometimes intimidating environment of The Seas, and thrive in the presence of predators and unfamiliar situations. 🙌 Disney's animal care team has spent years refining a training regime that encourages confidence and adaptability. Like the rays themselves, the team is constantly learning and adjusting, reflected in their tailored approach for each new pup. 💡 Learn more about this unique training in Connect: https://bit.ly/3W77y7A. #AnimalAmbassador #AnimalHealth #AnimalCare #Florida #EPCOT #Aquarium

What can you do with first aid products that you can no longer use, but are still in good condition? At Reid Park Zoo, this question was answered by the LGBTQ+ community. Teegan Nowell, a Guest Services Associate at the Zoo, shared the story in Connect 📰. As part of their ongoing commitment to #Equity, community engagement, and #Sustainability, Reid Park Zoo now donates their excess first aid supplies to the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). This organization redistributes the products to the community, helping to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1.2 million people live with HIV in the United States. SAAF is dedicated to advancing health, well-being, and social justice for those living with HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized communities in #Arizona and beyond. Reid Park Zoo's partnership with this organization has allowed them to make a meaningful impact in their community this #PrideMonth. ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 In Connect, read Teegan Nowell’s reflections on the value of Pride and how this collaboration embodies AZA’s belief that diversity, equity, access, and inclusion are core components of #Conservation work: https://bit.ly/3ziYuDq. #HIV #AIDS #Healthcare #CommunityPartnerships #LGBTQ