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Reptiles just don’t get an even break in the public’s consciousness sometimes. For centuries, the public, and many biologists have dismissed them as cognitive and behavioral simpletons that simply are incapable of showing any interesting behaviors compared to the birds and mammals. Well, I hope that our wonderful readers of this column will immediately know … Continue reading "Cognition in Reptiles"

Hi friends near and far! This is Rob with Ambassador Animals here to answer probably one of the most frequently asked questions for our team of animals! That question, of course, is do these alpacas spit? The answer probably doesn’t surprise anyone and that is … absolutely they do! Spitting, while maybe gross to us, … Continue reading "Do alpacas spit?"

Applications are available now for children from Title One Schools in metro Atlanta ATLANTA – March 16, 2023 – Zoo Atlanta will extend community access to its signature camp experience with the return of the Safari Camp Scholarship Program in summer 2023. The program will provide a week of Safari Camp for 42 children ages … Continue reading "Safari Camp Scholarship Program"

Under the driver’s seat of your car right now, there is probably a small metallic disc.  It’s mostly copper.  There is some nickel in its composition as well. It’s not smooth. The edge is ridged. It has 119 ridges. It doesn’t weigh much at all, about .2 ounces. It’s about 1.5 mm thick. It’s nearly … Continue reading "The power of a quarter"

Today I’d like to spend some time talking about the turacos. You may have noticed these personable birds in our aviaries, hopping from branch to branch or making a variety of unique vocalizations. This group of birds belongs to the family Musophagidae. The family name is derived from the words Musa, the genus name for banana plants, and … Continue reading "Talking about turacos"

Quarter-sized hatchlings are ambassadors for one of Georgia’s most threatened wild places ATLANTA – March 9, 2023 – A pair of tiny Georgia native turtles are the newest members of one of the rarest species in the United States. Two critically endangered bog turtles hatched at Zoo Atlanta on February 28 and March  2, 2023. … Continue reading "CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BOG TURTLES HATCH"

Of the 200+ species we steward here at Zoo Atlanta, binturongs are perhaps one of the least known. These adorable mammals from the family Vivvirid are also called “bearcats” (although they are not cats) and hail from Southeast Asia. Among those familiar with the species, they are known for their notably recognizable scent: buttered popcorn. … Continue reading "Why do binturongs smell like popcorn?"

Hey friends! I hope you are all doing well and thriving. My name is Allie, and I am a gorilla caretaker. Have you ever thought about what it takes to prepare for a new gorilla baby? Shalia (21), our pregnant female in Willie B., Jr.’s group, has undergone multiple steps to prepare for her new … Continue reading "Preparing for a baby gorilla"

Educator Appreciation Day offers free admission for educators; Biomechanics Day invites people of all ages to explore animals in motion WHAT: Learning and discovery are at the forefront at Educator Appreciation Day and Biomechanics Day on Saturday, March 11, 2023, with two special events highlighting the role of Zoo Atlanta and partners as leaders in … Continue reading "Educator Appreciation Day and Biomechanics Day"

Hark, O reader of the Keeper Blogs! I—Daniel!—have come to talk about iguanas. And not just any iguanas, but some particularly cute ones: the Grand Cayman blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) and the San Salvador iguana (Cyclura rileyi rileyi). I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that, given that you’re the kind of … Continue reading "Iguanas!"