Species of the Day

To coincide with the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, and increase awareness of the huge variety of life and raise the profile of threatened species, IUCN has launched The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ™ “Species of the Day”.

Each day in 2010, a different species will be featured! Visit the site each day to learn more about these threatened species.

What has Makan been up to?

Many of you know that juvenile male orangutan, Makan, recently moved to Sacramento Zoo. We received an update from his keeper and wanted to share it with you:

Makan is doing very well. His second first incisor came in. He and Cheli wrestle a lot and he takes his afternoon naps in her lap. Ginger and Makan do have positive interaction most of the time. The pictures are from a double birthday party for Cheli and Makan (their b-days are a week apart). .

From Janine,
Primate Keeper at Sacramento Zoo

Creative Valentines

Want to include a sweet treat with your valentines this year? Choose a treat from our Palm Oil Free Valentine Candy Guide! Remember, palm-oil free candies are orangutan safe!

My son’s class will get these cute valentine treats made from Pearsons Mint Patties – 100% Palm Oil Free!

Scavenge for Vultures!

-Photo Credit: Tracey Gazibara
Post by Jenyva Turner

Our Zoo docents are holding a "Scavenge for Vultures" sale on Saturday, February 6th in the Lodge at Moose Lake beginning at 12:00 pm. Docents plan to bring a variety of animal-themed items to sell. The funds raised will go towards Cape Griffon vulture conservation in South Africa. Come scavenge around for something you'd like!

Why save vultures? As obligate scavengers, vultures play a vital role in the health of an ecosystem by cleaning up animal remains and helping prevent the spread of disease. Unlike other scavengers, vultures have powerful stomach acids that kill many diseases that affect humans and other animals.

In areas where vultures have disappeared, the ecological cycles cannot be completed successfully. The Vulture Programme in South Africa is working with local communities to ensure that existing vulture populations prosper so that they can repopulate areas where vultures no longer exist and once again restore ecological balance.

We welcome you in our efforts to help vultures!

Party Time!

Thanks to all who attended the birthday celebration for Tumani and Godek on Saturday!

We celebrated alongside the primates with special palm-oil free treats for the apes - and humans. Thanks to everyone who brought birthday enrichment gifts! Keepers were so appreciative of all the guest donations like Dixie cups, burlap, sheets, and frozen veggies that will be used for animal enrichment.

And what a turnout of local media for the “Media Challenge”! After peeling a banana without the use of their opposable thumbs, these folks had to peel a hardboiled egg and unwrap a piece of candy – all without the use of their thumbs! (An animal species is said to have opposable thumbs if the thumb is capable of bending in such a way that it can touch all the other digits on the hand. Opposable thumbs are a signature feature of the primate family, and played a large role in the ancient humans' invention and use of tools.)

Alongside their media colleagues, Barbara Cotter (Gazette), Lindsay Watts (KRDO), Craig Coffey (Fox 21) and Andy Koen (News First 5) took part in the challenge. Andy walked away the returning champion!

Enjoy this slideshow of the party people – and primates!


Photo Credit: Thea Etchells