Picture of the Week: Monkey Hair

The picture of the week comes to you from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. I like to call this one "monkey hair."

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Video - June 2011

Are you looking to see some exotic animals? Check out our video taken at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in June, 2011. A trip to the zoo is not complete without seeing the Cleveland rain forest and all the exciting rainforest animals and plants. One of five major Ohio zoos (not including the Wilds), the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo offers a wide variety of wild animals. Can you name all of the animals in this video clip? File this one under funny and amazing zoo videos. One of the many fun things to do in Cleveland, Ohio!

Zoo Tails Top Posts from 2011

It's that time of year when we look back and reflect on our the great memories from the past year and look forward to the future. Here is a list of some of the most popular zoo news from 2011:

1. Columbus Zoo Map from 2000
2. Cleveland Zoo 2011 Map 
3. Columbus Zoo Pictures from July 2011 
4. Columbus Zoo Polar Bear Exhibit Model 
5. Amazon River Dolphin 
6. Vintage Zoo Pictures: San Diego Zoo 1984 
7. Coyote+Bison Picture 
8. Brochure Spotlight: SeaWorld Cleveland 
9. Busch Gardens’ Baby Cheetah Gets a New Puppy Pal

And here are some of the zoo or animal related videos I put together in 2011:

Update from the Cleveland Zoo

Cleveland Zoo News

The two new Grizzley bear cubs from Wyoming (Cheyenne and Jackson) have joined the two from Montana (Cody and Cooper). A baby capybara was born too. We'll have to go soon to see these new additions!

I've got some great pictures to share from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and I will hopefully be visiting the Wilds for the first time this year this weekend. Let's hope the weather forecast isn't too bad!

Cleveland Zoo Pictures Part 1

Here are a few pictures from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo!

Cleveland Zoo: Elephant Crossing Pictures and Review

As an engineer one of my favorite aspects of going to a zoo is just looking at the exhibits and how they are designed and setup, how the park is organized, etc. The new Elephant Crossing exhibit employs an interesting and unique gimmick but appears to have a serious design flaw. The elephant yards are broken up into two semi-circular areas, a Savannah on one side and a more wooded area on the other. There is a path for visitors leading to the the center of the circle where the indoor elephant viewing (and naked mole rat) is located. There are gates on either side of this passage way that swing open and let the elephants pass from one yard to the other.  A neat idea but when the gates are open it prevents visitors from entering or exiting the inner circle of the exhibit. The pathway may be only blocked for fifteen minutes but it does cause a bit of an annoyance. I think it would have served just as well to have used a bridge or a tunnel for the elephants (such as in the Rhino Rally elephant exhibit at Busch Gardens Tampa). Even when the elephants are crossing, you can't see them that well and don't get all that much closer to them either. Overall, an interesting and unique concept that maybe could have been executed better. Here are a few pictures.

Cleveland Zoo 2011 Map

I did it! I finally made it out to my first zoo of the year and it also turned out to be one I have never visited before. Here is the map for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Pictures, reviews, and video will be coming soon!

Trip to the Zoo

It looks like it is finally going to happen. On Sunday I will be going to my first zoo of the year. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @NtwProductions where I will be tweeting live from the Cleveland Zoo. Stay tuned for new pictures, a review, and probably video too!

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo gets 2 sea lions saved from the brink of death

 Some good news in the wake of the tradegy at SeaWorld:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Buzz and Annabelle are two young California sea lions who experienced the worst of nature and humanity last year. Both almost starved to death and are nearly blind, and one suffered a gunshot wound to an eye.

Around the Web

Images and information on sea lions from National Geographic
Sea lion shot in face to live at Six Flags (mercurynews.com)
Rescue center releases recovered sea lions (sfgate.com)

But thanks to the Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito, Calif., and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the sea lions, which arrived here Wednesday night, are likely to live full, healthy lives.
The Cleveland zoo says this is the first time in at least 20 years that it has acquired exotic rescue-rehab animals. Most of these animals are born in captivity and find their way to zoos through an elaborate network within the 221-member Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Alan Sironen, the zoo's curator of carnivores and large mammals, said Annabelle and Buzz are the culmination of a two-year search. The zoo has another California sea lion and four harbor seals and wanted a larger group.
The new sea lions, both about a year old, flew into Cleveland from Oakland, Calif., on a FedEx flight, tended by Dr. Christopher Bonar, a zoo veterinarian, and Travis Vineyard, assistant animal care manager.
The animals traveled in their own 40-by-27-by-30-inch kennel-like enclosure. Sironen said FedEx is the only carrier that allows animals and handlers to travel together.

Read the rest of the article here.