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.
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? 
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!
National Dolphin Day April 14, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, atlantic white sided dolphins, Bottlenosed Dolphins, dolphins, Indianapolis Zoo, nature, photography, Sea World San Diego, travel, wildlife, zoocation, Zoos
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Today is National Dolphin Day. The day is dedicated to this beautiful and charismatic marine mammal and its importance in protecting the ocean ecosystem. The dolphins shown in today’s montage are Atlantic white-sided dolphins seen on a whale watching excursion out of Gloucester and bottlenosed dolphins seen both at the Indianapolis zoo and San Diego Sea World. 
Bear Hugs March 24, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: andean bears, animals, bears, Giant Panda, grizzly bear, nature, photography, polar bear, polar bear cub, sun bear, wildlife, Zoos
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Yesterday was World Bear Day. There are eight species of bear: the American black bear, Asiatic black bear, the brown bear, the giant panda, the polar bear, the sloth bear, the spectacled bear, and the sun bear. I honor these grand mammals with today’s photo montage. Sending the photos out to you with lots of bear hugs.
The Wearing of the Green March 17, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Birds, frogs, lizards, nature, photography, poison dart frog, St. Patrick's Day, Wearing of the green, wildlife, Zoos
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Today is St. Patrick’s Day. It is customary to wear green clothing, shamrocks or an accessory; which is called the “wearing of the green“. Many animals sport green everyday. Erin go Bragh! 
Spring Forward March 10, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, California Sea lion, fall back, nature, photography, snow leopard, Snow Monkey, spring forward, wildlife, Zoos
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I usually post photos of clocks when we change from daylight savings time and standard time. Not today. I am taking the phrase ’spring forward’ to showcase animals actually springing forward. Sorry about that lack of an hour’s sleep – especially on Oscar Sunday when we on the East coast struggle to stay awake until the end of the Oscar broadcast.
While at the Zoo 