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.
To all the Mothers, Madres, Maters, Mutters, Mayan et al May 12, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, Mother and baby, Mother's Day, nature, photography, snow leopard, Snow Leopard cubs, zoo babies, Zoos
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A very Happy Mother’s Day to all to all of the mothers, caregivers, nurturers, pamperers, surrogates and loving coddlers out there. Our mother, Lillian Wolfe, is long gone, but her advice, warnings and general ‘Lili-isms’ live on in our daily lives. She taught us to laugh at life, to think, to question authority, to march, to protest – to fight the good fight. She also gave us our moral compass – one glance from Lillian told us instantly whether our behavior was acceptable or not – and I got a lot of glances. My sister Terry and I remember many childhood events differently but we both agree that our mother was a pistol. Here’s to Lillian Wolfe and all of the other mothers out there who formed and informed what we all are today. 
Animales del Cinco de Mayo May 5, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, axolotl, baby animals, Caiman, Chachalaca, Chihuahuas, coati, Gila monster, Harpy Eagle, Howler monkey, iguana, Jaguar, Manatee, Mexican fruit bat, Mexican wolf, Monarch butterfly, nature, Ocelot, photography, Quetzal, Rattlesnake, Scarlet macaw, Spider monkey, Tamandua, wildlife
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Cinco de Mayo is a big holiday in Mexico. I thought I would share my photos of some of the many animals that come from Mexico. A small sample today includes Harpy Eagle, Jaguar, Mexican wolf, axolotl, Spider monkey, Howler monkey, Ocelot, Scarlet macaw, Iguana, Rattlesnake, Quetzal, Manatee, Monarch butterfly, Coati, Tamandua, Chachalaca, Caiman, Mexican fruit bat, Gila monster and of course Mr. Pepe my adorable senior chihuahua. ARRIBA!
The World of Beatrix Potter April 21, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, baby animals, Beatrix Potter, Morgan Library, nature, NYC, Peter Rabbit, photography
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The Morgan Library has a wonderful, informative exhibit about Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943). She was an English writer, Illustrator, naturalist and way ahead of her time, conservationist. She is best known for her children’s books featuring animals such as Peter Rabbit, which was her first commercially published work in 1902. Her books, including 23 Tales and has sold more than 250 million copies. She was an entrepreneur and a pioneer of character merchandising. In1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character. Potter’s books continue to sell throughout the world in many languages with her stories being retold in songs, films, ballet, and animations. Her life is depicted in two films and a television series. The Morgan Library is one of my favorite places to visit in Manhattan. It also has the best gift shop. This exhibit runs through June 9th. 
While at the Zoo 