Kelly Todd, Senior Zookeeper at Austin Zoo, was awarded a Fellowship to travel to Kenya to help with the conservation efforts of the Black Rhinoceros. The expedition was sponsored by Earthwatch Institute and ran from July 25 through August 9, 2011.
Earthwatch Institute is the largest volunteer conservation organization in the world. Mr. Todd’s expedition took place in Kenya at the Ol Pejeta Nature Conservancy. The efforts were focused on saving Sweetwater’s rhinos. Kelly worked in a classic African savannah landscape where the team gathered data on the distribution of rhinos and other large herbivores. Members of the expedition measured the vegetation that these animals eat and observed their behaviors.
The group saw lions, leopards, zebras, buffalo, impala, baboons, hippos and many other species on their daily treks. Additionally, the group spent one day with the neighboring communities and had the opportunity to see an adjacent chimpanzee conservancy.
To learn more about the expedition, visit: http://www.earthwatch.org/expeditions/wahungu.html
Mikhail and Nikolai are the newest additions to the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary.
Say “hello” to our newest primate resident, Jeckle, the golden-handed tamarin! Jeckle is the first tamarin to live at the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary. Jeckle was found at a construction site in the Austin area by an electrician. He was so hungry that he came right up to the electrician and started eating his lunch! It was obvious to the man that Jeckle was lost and in need of care. The electrician brought Jeckle to his daughter who cares for wildlife and she contacted us for help. Jeckle has a new home at the Austin Zoo and has adjusted very well. He quickly became best friends with our common marmoset, Heckle, who had been living alone as we had no other similar primates to house him with. Heckle and Jeckle now share the marmoset enclosure and are having fun. Both marmosets and tamarins usually live in groups, so companionship is important to their well-being. They spend all day playing games, hopping from branch to branch and taking naps.
Meet Jason, our 1 1/2-year old Red Kangaroo. Jason joined Austin Zoo this summer after being surrendered by his owner in San Angelo, Texas. The Red Kangaroo is native to Australia and is the largest of all kangaroos. While Jason may only be 3 feet tall today, he could eventually grow as tall as 7 feet when fully mature! Watch Jason grow with us.
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Learn about the animals at the Zoo before you see them up close!