Who doesn’t love a red panda? September 22, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, Central Park Zoo, International Red Panda Day, Nashville Zoo, nature, photography, Prospect Park Zoo, Red Panda, wildlife, zoocation, Zoos
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Yesterday was International Red Panda Day. Their habitat is being destroyed by deforestation, agriculture, and human settlement, and they are also hunted for their fur and body parts. International Red Panda Day was initiated by the Red Panda Network in 2010 as a way to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts for red pandas.It is celebrated to spread awareness about a species that is near extinction. The day was launched by the Red Panda Network in 2010. At that time, 16 schools and a few zoos participated in red panda activities. Currently, more than 60 zoos around the world participate, with over 100,000 visitors on Red Panda Day. On our many zoocations we have come across lots of red pandas with Tennessee seeming to have the most. Other than being absolutely adorable it is almost impossible to take a bad photo of a red panda.
International Primate Day September 1, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Memphis Zoo, nature, New Zoo, photography, Potawatomi Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Staen Island Zoo, Toledo Zoo, wildlife, zoo babies, zoocation, Zoos
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Today is International Primate Day! The order Primates is one of the most species-rich groups of mammals, third only to Bats and Rodents. Over 500 species belong to the primate order, including lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes! Two thirds of all primates can be found in just four countries – Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Primates mostly live in the jungles of Central & South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. However there are a few unique species that live in temperate areas, where there are warm summers, but winters can become very cold and snowy. Most primates are found living near the equator. Primates, ranging from charismatic chimpanzees and the gentle gorillas to the elusive monkeys that share a unique connection with humans due to their striking similarities in behavior, intelligence, and genetic makeup. More than one-third of primate species are considered critically endangered or vulnerable according to the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature). Primates serve an important role in maintaining healthy forests and ecosystem, which is why protecting them is so important. It was fun putting together today’s montage and revisiting many of the zoos that we have been happy to visit. Enjoy today’s post my fellow primates!
World Painted Dog Day August 25, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Bronx Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, nature, Oregon Zoo, photography, Potawatomi Zoo, travel, wildlife, World Painted Dog Day, zoo babies, zoocation, Zoos
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Tomorrow is World Painted Dog Day. These majestic creatures are also known as African wild dogs or African hunting dogs, which are wild canines and natives of sub-Saharan Africa. Their prey is gazelles, impalas, wildebeests, warthogs, and other small animals. Painted dogs are extremely vulnerable to human encroachment and agricultural expansion, which has been destroying their habitats. They are quite social and intelligent. Within the pack, these canines have a unique social structure. They cooperate in taking care of the wounded and sick members, there is a general lack of aggression exhibited between members of the pack, and there is little intimidation among the social hierarchy. Today, fewer than 7,000 African wild dogs survive in the wild, and only 1,500 of these are adults. Their priority is always to protect their pack; pups get first feed after a kill, ‘aunties’ act as pup-sitters for other mothers, and if a wild dog becomes ill or injured, their pack-mates rally round to care for them. Wilde dogs have also been seen mourning lost family members. Loss of quality habitat and poaching represent the biggest problems. Unless we take action to address these threats, painted dogs will become extinct in our lifetime. All of today’s photos were taken at the following zoos: Potawatomi, Bronx, Oregon, Brookfield and Fort Worth.
World Orangutan Day August 18, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: nature, Orangutans, photography, travel, wildlife, World Orangutan Day, zoo babies, zoocation, Zoos
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Tomorrow is World Orangutan Day. I am fascinated by these beautiful, smart, strong apes. It was fun going through my old photos from visits to the Toledo Zoo, National Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, Cleveland Metropark Zoo and Sedgwick County Zoo to find my favorites orangutan photos. World Orangutan Day is a day every year when conservationists, wildlife organizations, and individuals around the world highlight the plight of orangutans and the horrors of the exotic pet trade and widespread deforestation. Here are 6 facts about these apes.
- There are three species of orangutans: Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli orangutans. All are critically endangered
- Orangutans mainly eat fruit and are essential for dispersing seeds across the rainforest, helping the wider ecosystem flourish. They are known as gardeners of the forest.
- For every captive orangutan sold in the exotic pet market, up to 11 other orangutans are killed while trying to protect the poached ape. Many captive animals also don’t survive the journey.
- Female orangutans only have a baby every seven or eight years, the longest time between births of any mammal.
- Wild orangutans use plants to treat joint and muscle inflammation, just like local people.
- Widespread deforestation, logging, oil palm plantations, human conflict, and the illegal pet trade are the most significant threats to orangutans in modern times.
Sleeping Beauties August 11, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Costume Institute, Fashion, Fashion as art, Metropolitan Museum, nature, NYC, photography, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
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If you have been to the Metropolitan Museum in the past few months you have seen the insane long lines to get into the Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibition, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. When I have visited the Met these past few months I refused to stand in those lines. However, when I visited a few weeks ago, I was one of the first people into the museum when it opened. I got their QR code for admittance to this exhibit and scrambled upstairs quickly. Luckily I was the fifth person in line and now I understand why these lines were so very long. They only allow a few people to enter at a time. This goofy protocol does, however, give the visitor a great experience. I was basically alone with one other man my whole visit. Continuous curved white walls give the show the feel of a lab, or a maze. The exhibition features 220 garments and accessories spanning four centuries, all connected through themes of nature, which also serves as a metaphor for the transience of fashion. Visitors are invited to smell the aromatic histories of hats bearing floral motifs; to touch the walls of galleries that will be embossed with the embroidery of select garments. The show is built on a base of 15 pieces from the institute’s collection that have become so fragile over time they can no longer be displayed on mannequins (the “sleeping beauties”), along with more than 200 hardier gowns and accessories reflecting organic themes such as roses, butterflies and beetles (nature also being fragile). Its curators seek to “reawaken” these items with a dash of technology and sensory overload: touch, smell and sound. The exhibition is on through September 2nd. Plan your visit accordingly and you will enjoy the creativity and quality of the curators. Factoid: The fashion industry funds the work of The Costume Institute, including its exhibitions, acquisitions, and capital improvements. Each May, the annual Gala Benefit, its primary fund-raising event, celebrates the opening of the spring exhibition. 
Ya Gotta Know When to Fold ’em (Part two) July 21, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, banded mongoose, Central Park Zoo, nature, NYC, photography, Red Panda, retirement, Sea Ducks, sea lion, snow leopard, Snow Monkey, wildlife, zoo babies, Zoos
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As I said last Sunday, knowing when to move on is important. I share Part Two of some of my favorite Central Park Zoo photos taken over the last 35 years. I could have created 100’s more photo montages of my CPZ photos but as I said – you gotta know when to move on. Thank you for so many lovely notes, emails, texts, etc about my retirement from the zoo. They mean a lot. Enjoy!
Ya gotta know when to fold ’em (part one) July 14, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, big cats, Central Park Zoo, nature, NYC, photography, retirement, wildlife, zoo babies, Zoos
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After 35 wonderful years at the Central Park Zoo, first as a volunteer Friday Zoo Guide for 20 years and then 15 years as their photographer I decided it was time to hang up my lens. As they say ‘ya gotta know when to fold ‘em’ and seemed like the right time to retire. This blog was started 20 years ago as a way to share all of the photos I took ‘while at the zoo.’ I met many of you through my occasional weekend themed photo classes where you got special access to our collection before zoo hours and others if you worked at the the zoo. To the rest of my subscribers I thank you for being part of my Sunday posts. I already miss the amazing staff at CPZ and of course miss our beautiful collection of animals. Am I going to continue this blog? Absolutely! Will I keep going to zoos? Most definitely! Today’s montage is Part One of some of my favorite photos I took over those years (past and present). I hope you stay along for the ride and my next chapter in life. 
Red, White and Zoo – 2024 July 4, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, art, cranes, Giant Panda, Gus the polar bear, Macaws, nature, NYC, photography, poison dart frog, red eyed tree frog, Red Panda, Sea Ducks, white headed duck, wildlife, Zoos
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Summer is a time for reruns. Accordingly I share last year’s July 4th post. This was a fun montage to create. I didn’t realize how many animals could be included in this red, white and blue themed photo montage. Wishing you a safe, happy holiday and keep those pets inside as most are afraid of the noisy fireworks.
Daddy’s Home June 16, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, Daddy's Home, Father's Day, nature, NYC, photography, wildlife, zoo babies, Zoos
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While most caregivers in the animal kingdom are mothers, there are some fathers who join in the role as caregiver. I salute some of those fathers out there in today’s photo montage. Coincidentally – tomorrow is also National Martini Day. Why not celebrate that special day today? 
Curiouser and Curiouser June 9, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Alice in Wonderland, animals, art, Art exhibit, flowers, horticulture, nature, NYBG, NYC, photography
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`Curiouser and curiouser!’ cried Alice as she entered the magical world in that rich story so long ago. The New York Botanical Garden creates a fun, beautiful and whimsical trip down Alice’s rabbit hole throughout the garden, Mertz Library and the Haupt Conservatory. Inside the Haupt Conservatory, discover thousands of vibrant flowers in imaginative horticultural displays that highlight the lush, blooming gardens of the Victorian era. Then dive deeper into Alice’s world in the Library—you’ll learn about the novel’s historical context and modern interpretations, including the stories of mind-altering plants, which were much-studied during the Victorian era and continue to be the subjects of cutting-edge scientific research today. The Victorian period in which Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) was first published was a time of exploration and wonder that some might call mad. Age of Wonder shows you the era’s impact on this timeless story, with original manuscripts, illustrations, and rare first-edition printings of Alice. This exhibition is on through the end of October.
While at the Zoo 