Category: Virginia Zoo

What’s a Caecilian? Virginia Zoo’s Newest Baby

December 26, 2011

Caecilian, Virginia Zoo

"This is the first Caecilian born at the Virginia Zoo," said Craig Pelke, Birds and Cctotherms Curator at the Virginia Zoo. Resembling large earthworms or small snakes, Caecilians completely lack limbs and swim like an eel. Their skin is smooth and a dark-matte blue-grayish-brown in color. Their eyes are small and covered by skin for protection; Caecilians have poor eyesight, which is limited to light and dark perception, but have a great sense of smell.

Just over 6 inches long (15.2 cm), the baby Caecilian has been moved off exhibit to a separate holding tank away from the adults. It's still too early to tell if it is male or female. "We first brought them here in 2008 to help celebrate the Year of the Frog and we recently acquired 4 juveniles from the Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey."

"When it gets closer to adult size, we'll move it back on exhibit, but that could be months," said Martha Hamilton, a zookeeper who cares for the Caecilians.

This species fo Caecilian, the Rio Cauca (Typhlonectes natans), is also referred to as "blue worms." They are aquatic amphibians that give live birth in the water. They range from western and northern Colombia to the Lake Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela, where they live in drainage systems, rivers, marshes and lakes, thriving in polluted water.

Photo Credit: Winfield Danielson/Virginia Zoo
African Crane Chicks First March Outside

October 14, 2011

Crane, Virginia Zoo

Two African crowned crane chicks were recently introduced to their outdoor habitat at the Virginia Zoo and are now accepting visitors.

"They hatched in late August, but we wait until they bulk up and are less vulnerable before putting them in the outdoor habitat," said zookeeper Dennis McNamara, who works on the team that cares for the chicks. He added that the chicks still spend the night indoors, and will continue to do so until they are nearly full grown.

Named for what appears to be a crown of golden pins on their head, which are actually modified feathers, African crowned cranes are native to the savannah south of the Sahara. The birds stand just over 3 feet tall and weigh nearly 8 pounds, with the males tending to be slightly larger. They feed on insects and other invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals and seeds.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for people to observe the chicks' transformation into the striking adult birds," said Greg Bockheim, the Zoo's executive director.

Photo Credites: Winfield S. Danielson/Virgina Zoo

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Diving Six Feet Head First into the World

August 2, 2011

Giraffe, Virginia Zoo

The Virginia Zoo is pleased to announce the birth of a baby Giraffe. After a two-hour labor and a six-foot headfirst drop, giraffe parents 10-year old Billy and 9 year-old Imara welcomed their new baby Thursday, July 28 at 4:20 p.m. The gestation period for Giraffes is 15 months, so this birth has been long anticipated by Zoo staff. Many Zoo visitors were lucky enough to watch the entire labor and birth.

Photo credits: Craig Pelke

"The idea of a six-foot drop sounds scary to people, but it's normal for a Giraffe," explains executive director Greg Bockheim. "It helps stimulate breathing to get the baby on its own – and since baby Giraffe can be 6-feet tall and 150 pounds, the fall doesn't seem so far to them." Zoo staff and board members are ecstatic about this new baby, he added. Mom and baby can be viewed by Zoo visitors now.

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Double Dose of Giraffe Calf

October 14, 2010

Giraffe, Saint Louis Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Virginia Zoo

Two different giraffe babies have been born at two different zoos in recent weeks. We've brought them together for a not-so-little rubbernecking opportunity!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

A 1-month-old giraffe calf named Machaleo made his debut alongside his mother, Shani, at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Wednesday October 13th. The male calf is the 115th Uganda giraffe born at the Safari Park. In addition to the giraffe the Park is also home to a 3-month-old black rhinoceros and several antelope and gazelle that are being hand raised.

Photo Credits: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

St. Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo's newest addition, is just about a month old in these photos, and seems to love sunbathing. Born on September 10, 2010, he weighs about 136 pounds and stands over 6 feet tall. This is the seventh calf for Susie and Dexter, who has sired 13 calves altogether. Mother giraffes are very affectionate and protective toward their babies, touching and licking them frequently. Susie's gestation period was about 15 months.

Photo Credits: Ann Aurbach

The following is a short video of Desi…
Virginia Zoo Welcomes Leggy Girl

October 27, 2009

Giraffe, Virginia Zoo

Mother giraffes give birth standing up, so newborn calves drop 6 feet to the ground. However, baby giraffes are often 6 feet tall and upwards of 150 lbs., so they don't seem to mind. Born October 23rd, the new giraffe calf at the Virginia Zoo promises to be a tall girl as her father, Billy, is on his way to being the tallest giraffe in North America, standing at 17 feet and still growing.

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A Litter of Lion Cubs in Virginia

May 7, 2009

Cat, Lion, Virginia Zoo

After a 110 day pregnancy, the Virginia Zoo welcomed four healthy little lion cubs this past Saturday. These pictures were taken on Monday at only two days old and keepers still do not know the sex of the kitten quadruplets.

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Baby Boom at the Virginia Zoo!

October 13, 2008

Armadillo, Bongo, Turtle & Tortoise, Virginia Zoo

The Zoo’s male eastern bongo fathered a
calf, the first of his offspring since he arrived at the Virginia Zoo
last year. The female baby, named Eva, was born the morning of
September 23.

The Zoo also is proud to announce the hatching of two eastern box turtles on September 24.

The Zoo’s six-banded armadillos, Bobby and June Bug, are the parents of two male armadillo pups born on July 24.

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