Posted By: Vicki Croke | December 31, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Most people don’t realize that the zoo is a great place to go on a winter day. Plenty of animals — even surprising ones, like zebras — may be hardy enough to go outside on exhibit. And if there’s a little snow on the ground, the pictures you get can be truly beautiful.
The Bronx Zoo proves the point with these shots taken today by Julie Larsen Maher of the Wildlife Conservation Society (which runs the Bronx Zoo). The pictures came with this note:
“Sasha, Norma, and Alexis are Siberian tigers feeling particularly at home this afternoon. Shelby is a female snow leopard striking a stately pose… Happy New Year to all!”
Even if you don’t like the cold yourself, there are always hot spots at the zoo too. I was at the Franklin Park Zoo yesterday enjoying the warm temperatures of the indoor rainforest exhibit, and the antics of the gorillas.
Several of them came right up to the glass to look at us, and one of the males even put on an incredible display of power – racing over and thumping the glass as he showed off his rippling physique.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 30, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Boston Red Sox Captain Jason Varitek gets up close and personal with SeaWorld Orlando’s biggest star, Shamu. Varitek is vacationing in Orlando this week during the off-season with his family.
Varitek also meets a new friend at Discovery Cove. He spent the day swimming with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, snorkeling with rays, hand-feeding exotic birds and relaxing on pristine beaches at the all-inclusive park.
*Photos provided by SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 30, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Berlin’s Zoo introduces its litter of lucky charm piglets ahead of the approaching Chinese Year of the Pig. The 12 piglets were born on December 28 to the Chinese mask-pigs parents, one of the oldest domesticated pig breeds.
According to the pig keeper in Berlin’s Zoo, pigs and a year-change dates back to the 16th Century when a farmer was considered lucky if he got piglets in winter.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 29, 2008 at 10:41 am
With foreclosures on the rise, more people are looking for housing that accepts pets. Check out a list of resources provided by the MSPCA for both tenants and landlords by clicking here.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 25, 2008 at 5:27 am
More than a week ago, a golden retriever was shot and left for dead in west central Minnesota.
On Christmas Eve, she walked out of the University of Minnesota veterinary center on her own four paws.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 24, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Happy Holidays!
Lemon, our favorite Pekin duck, sent in a beautiful Christmas card with this sweet photo and wishes for a “Merry Quackmus.” She lists “cuddling” at the top of her favorite activities on her homepage and she sure looks happy here.
This is a duck with a true sense of the holiday season. The proceeds from Lemon’s book sales (”Lemon the Duck”) go to both human (multiple sclerosis) and duck (waterfowl) causes.
Click here to learn all about Lemon and her book.
Click here to watch Lemon’s debut on NECN.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 23, 2008 at 10:51 am
A wildlife park in South Africa is offering people the opportunity to get up close with crocodiles underwater. At the Cango Wildlife Ranch, in the Western Cape of South Africa, Sky News filmed thrill-seeker, Kylie Mulder, as she entered a giant metal cage and was lowered slowly into the crocodile pool.
The ranch has four very large freshwater Nile crocodiles.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 22, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Across the globe – there are countless dogs and cats who are need of basic veterinary care. The International Fund for Animal Welfare is working to improve the problem here in the U.S., in a place known as Navajo Nation.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 22, 2008 at 11:59 am
Forget “US Weekly”! In this week’s “Oh Behave”, Vicki Croke interviews the biggest star of the holiday box office — the star of the movie “Marley and Me.”
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | December 22, 2008 at 11:57 am
Matthew Pearl is the bestselling author of such thrillers as “The Dante Club” and “The Poe Shadow.” But, we’re blowing the cover off some of his other works — inside the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
