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Northside Business Leaders |
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Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The Northside Business Leaders are proud to partner with Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The Jax Zoo is a great place for the whole family. It is entertaining, educational and fun. We encourage everyone to join and to go to the Jax Zoo many times a year as they are always improving your trip to the zoo.
Butterfly
Gardening 101 - Garden Tour at
the September
4, 2010 August
19, 2010 – The
cost is $10 for Zoo members and $20 for non-members (Zoo
admission is included). Pre-registration is required
and tour size is limited. For more information,
visit: http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/botanical/first_saturday_garden_tours/
For
over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been
dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of
wildlife through innovative experience in a caring
environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection
that consisted of one
, one-half mile east from I-95. For more information on
the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.
Animal
Staff at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Strives to Save
Thistle, the Penguin
Zoo
Officials Report Thistle, the Penguin, Is
Showing Signs of Improvement May 19, 2010 – Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Animal Health and Bird staff reported today that their efforts to save one of the Zoo’s new resident Magellanic penguins appear to be working. Keepers for Thistle, a male penguin that came from the San Francisco Zoo in January 2009 say that the penguin’s appetite has increased during the past several days. He’s alert, exhibiting good behavior, eating really well on his own and has been swimming and diving with the group. “Thistle’s
recent increase in fish intake is really encouraging,”
said Tony Vecchio, executive director of Jacksonville Zoo
and Gardens. “Although his weight has increased, his
prognosis is still guarded, given the long recovery needed
in cases like these.” The
penguin is being medicated for Aspergillosis, which is a
fungal infection that is common among birds. Those who
contract it usually go through a prolonged treatment, and
many do not survive. The Zoo first reported the
penguin’s illness in April, when he was lethargic and had
stopped eating on his own. Until recently, the penguin
was being hand fed fish on an hourly basis. For
over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been
dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of
wildlife through innovative experience in a caring
environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that
consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and
Gardens has grown to house more than 1,400 rare and exotic
animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The
Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an
accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo
Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95. The Zoo is open until
6 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day.
For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org. April
29, 2010 – Jacksonville, FL –
The
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced today that its
Animal Health and Bird staff are working to save one of
its new resident Magellanic penguins that arrived from the
San Francisco Zoo in late January. Thistle, a male
penguin, was reported by keepers two weeks ago as being
lethargic and not eating. He immediately received a
thorough examination by the Animal Health staff which
included taking blood samples. Aspergillosis, a fungal
infection to which penguins are very susceptible, was
suspected, and the bird was placed on treatment, which
consists of anti-fungal medications placed in the fish fed
to the bird. After
treatment first began, Thistle first showed improvement
but still wouldn’t eat on his own. Additional
medications were started to broaden the scope of
treatment, including supportive care, such as fluids and
nutritional supplements. Aspergillosis
diagnosis and treatment in penguins is very challenging.
This disease can be fatal and the treatment length could
be quite prolonged. Thistle continues to remain with the
group during treatment, only occasionally being separated
to receive his medications to prevent undue stress. His
condition is not contagious to the other birds. The
animal staff has been offering food to Thistle hourly
throughout the day, in an attempt to entice him to eat on
his own. Staff is encouraged that he is taking fish by
himself, but the prognosis is still guarded. All
animals here are continually monitored very closely for
any changes in attitude or behavior, and we are doing
everything humanly possible to save Thistle. The Zoo
will report on Thistle’s condition as new information or
changes develop. Tourism
Industry Recognizes Jacksonville
Zoo and Gardens with Award Jacksonville, FL – May 18, 2010 – On Thursday, Mary 13, 2010, Visit Jacksonville, the City’s convention and visitors’ bureau, presented Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens with its “Partner of the Year” award at a ceremony held at The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. This
and other awards presented showcased many individuals,
businesses or organizations in Jacksonville that have
championed economic growth of the City through tourism.
The Zoo’s Executive Director, Tony Vecchio, accepted the
award on behalf of the Zoo. The
Zoo received top honors as a Visit Jacksonville partner
based on a set of criteria involving participation in
activities and its support of Visit Jacksonville’s
mission. “The
Zoo is an important component of the Jacksonville tourism
industry and over the past year has been instrumental in
creating new tourism product for visitors and locals to
enjoy, including the Asian Bamboo Gardens and Komodo Dragon
Exhibit, which opened in March 2009 and the Tuxedo Coast
Penguin exhibit opened in March 2010,” said Mya Carter,
Interim President and CEO of Visit Jacksonville. Excellent
Weather
Jacksonville,
FL – April 30, 2010 – Officials at Jacksonville Zoo and
Gardens announced that the Zoo set a new record for attendance for the month
of April. This was a “repeat performance” following the
record-breaking spring break reported in March. The Zoo’s recorded
attendance total for April 2010 was 108,270. The previous record
holder for April was 99,025, set in 2008 after the opening of Stingray Bay. “The
two consecutive records are evidence that our Zoo is a top attraction in
North Florida and South Georgia,” said Tony Vecchio, executive director of
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. “More and more guests are coming from
other states, indicating that our recognition for being one of the top Zoos
in the nation is growing as well.” To
keep the momentum going, on Saturday, May 8, the Zoo will host the Safe Kids
Water Safety Day event, to be held in its Play Park area in the Splash
Ground. Kids will learn about water safety while enjoying
entertainment, activities and a visit from Jazoo. On Mother’s Day,
May 9, we are treating all moms, including our animal moms. Moms can
bring a coupon from our Web site at jacksonville.com and get in free on
their special day. On that same day, we will announce the Zoo’s
winning animal mom in our “Wild About Moms” Contest. There will be
a celebration at the winning mom’s exhibit with giveaways for guests and
enrichment treats for the animals. For more information go to
jacksonvillezoo.org.
JACKSONVILLE
ZOO
AND GARDENS Jacksonville,
FL – April 12, 2010 – A record-breaking
30,258 people visited the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on
April 2nd and April 5th through 9th, which was spring
break for Duval, Nassau and Clay County schools.
Visitors “flocked” to see the Zoo’s new Tuxedo Coast
penguin exhibit to watch as the Magellanic penguins swam,
bobbled and waddled their way into their hearts. The
new record is a 12 percent increase over the 27,102 that
attended in 2004 when the Zoo hosted its Grand Opening of
the national award-winning Range of the Jaguar exhibit. “After
a rough start to the Zoo’s 2009/2010 fiscal year due to
the extremely cold weather, strong winds and rain, we are
finally gaining ground on meeting our goals for attendance
and revenue,” said Tony Vecchio, executive director of
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. “Now that people are
obviously taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we
are very happy many of them have decided to make the Zoo
their outdoor fun destination.” The
new record did not include a whopping 8,363 who attended
this past Saturday, April 10th, during the Zoo’s 18th
annual Teddy Bear Affair event, sponsored by Nemours, a
children’s clinic. The next Zoo event is its Earth
Day celebration, “Party for the Planet”, on April 24th
and 25th. There will be a “Walk for the Planet” to
raise funds for animal conservation projects at the Zoo on
Saturday morning of the event. To purchase tickets
for the Walk and for more information on Earth Day and
other events and activities at the Zoo, go to
jacksonvillezoo.org. In addition to the new penguins, the Zoo has added sharks to Stingray Bay, two rare okapi and two female gorilla companions for Quito (the very popular and formerly solitary male silverback), to its animal collection. It’s no wonder that the Zoo made Parents’ Magazine’s list of the 15 top zoos in the nation for kids. OPENS NEW EXHIBITS
Rare
Okapi Now On Exhibit at Jacksonville
Zoo and Gardens JACKSONVILLE,
Fla.—(March 15, 2010) — After a few years
of planning, a year of waiting and month of quarantine,
for the first time in its history, the Jacksonville Zoo
and Gardens now has okapi on exhibit, which can be viewed
from the African boardwalk. Kisangani, a 20-year-old
female, came from the White Oak Conservation Center in
Yulee, Florida, and Kimacho, a nine-year-old male, came
from the Houston Zoo. These additions to the
animal collection take the Jacksonville Zoo to a new level
among zoos nationwide. “All
Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ 21 okapi holders must
have appropriate facilities and demonstrate a commitment
to okapi conservation,” said Delfi Messinger, director
of animal programs for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
“Their numbers in the wild are precarious, so we
want to help protect them.” Discovered in 1901, the okapi is a most unusual yet beautiful animal. Although at first glance they look like they might be in the zebra family, they are in fact the only living relative of the giraffe. But the okapi’s head is the only part of this animal that resembles a giraffe. It has a long nose and a tongue that’s 14 to 18” in length -- long enough to lick their eyelids. They are 6 to 7 feet in height and weigh approximately 500 to 700 pounds. Their chocolate-brown coat feels like velvet to the touch, while the white stripes on their hindquarters and front legs, provide excellent camouflage in the tropical rainforests of the Congo region of Africa. Their average life span in the wild is unknown, but in captivity it is 20 to 30 years. The
acquisition is also an important milestone in the Zoo’s
conservation efforts. The International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ascribes habitat loss as a
major threat to the continued survival of okapi in their
natural environment. This loss is brought about by
the clearing of the forests for agriculture and
infrastructure development for human settlements, as well
as hunting. Through a partnership with White
Oak Conservation Center, Jacksonville Zoo now has the
opportunity to contribute to the Okapi Breeding and
Research Station, near the village of Epulu in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. Here, the conservation
partners work with the Congolese Institution for the
Conservation of Nature (ICCN) to provide a reservoir for
new genetic stock into the captive okapi population as
well as creating alternative strategies for economic
development to the local community. For
over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been
dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of
wildlife through innovative experience in a caring
environment. Starting in 1914, the Jacksonville Zoo and
Gardens has grown to house more than 1,400 rare and exotic
animals and over 1,000 unique plant species. The
Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an
accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA). For more information on the Zoo, log on to
jacksonvillezoo.org.
Eight New Penguins and Their Exhibit, Tuxedo Coast, Are Welcomed to the Jacksonville Zoo JACKSONVILLE,
Fla.—(March 3, 2010) —
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will officially
open its new Magellanic penguin exhibit, Tuxedo Coast, on
Friday, March 5, 2010. The
opening of Tuxedo Coast will officially begin at 10:30
a.m., and the public is invited to come see these penguins
in action. Known for their diving and fishing
skills, these penguins are sure to please both children
and adults alike. Visitors to the new exhibit will
be able to watch these penguins as they dive, fish and
swim in their new home. Penguin-themed
entertainment, activities and prizes will make for a
festive weekend for Zoo-goers. Admission to Tuxedo
Coast is included in the price of the regular Zoo
admission ticket. “We
are so excited to finally let the public experience Tuxedo
Coast. Much hard work and time has been put in to
making this exhibit ready for our new penguins, and we at
the Zoo hope that visitors will come away with a wonderful
experience and a deeper understanding of the Magellanic
penguins,” said Tony Vecchio, Executive Director of
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Magellanic
penguins are not the type of penguins one might expect.
They come from South America and can be found off the
coasts of Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Chile. They
are one of the few species classified as
“Temperate-weather penguins.” These particular
penguins that can be seen at the Zoo were hatched in the
San Francisco Zoo and then transported to the Jacksonville
Zoo. There are five males and three females and
range in size from 24 to 30 inches tall. Tuxedo
Coast has been built to help the penguins feel as
comfortable as possible at the Zoo. The updated
2,800 square-foot exhibit was originally the home of the
river otters and has since undergone extensive renovation,
which cost the Zoo over $160,000. The exhibit was
designed to as closely resemble the penguins’ natural
habitat as possible. Visitors can expect to see the
open, arid and rocky environment that Magellanic penguins
in the wild are accustomed to.
Tuxedo Coast features a 12,000-gallon diving tank for the
penguins to continue their active lifestyle of diving and
fishing. Because Magellanic penguins are prone
to mosquito-borne diseases, the addition of a large screen
covering the area has been put in place to protect the
penguins from mosquitoes. Other additions to Tuxedo
Coast include a misting and cooling system as well as
water that will stay under 60 degrees to ensure the
penguins’ ultimate comfort. “We
at the Jacksonville Zoo are especially honored to give
these Magellanic penguins a home since they have now been
put on the Near-threatened List by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is
estimated that over 40,000 of these penguins die every
year because of commercial fishing, hunting and the oil
industry. Our hope with this exhibit is to both help
re-populate the species and also give our visitors a
greater understanding of the situation the Magellanic
penguins are experiencing,” said Geneve Darnell,
supervisor of birds at Jacksonville Zoo. The
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Bring your still and video cameras as it also is a great time for pictures to remember for ever. The Northside Business Leaders President Patricia Hamn & husband Tony, along with Past President Paul Forte & wife Hallie enjoyed a relaxing day at the Jax Zoo recently. The day was filled with great views of the animals & the gardens. The food and service was excellent and reasonably priced.
Take friends or a business client and their family for a laid back and educational day at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens! The Hamn's & Forte's
Click Jaguar Training Camp Button Above.
"Harry" and Neighbor Asian
Now Open
Have you been to Your Zoo Lately?
Baby
stingray with mother
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