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Who loves coffee?  I do, I do! Coffee, as we know it, is cultivated as varietals of two species of African shrubs. You may recognize the names as Arabica (Coffea arabica) and Robusta (C. canephora). Coffee is now grown in tropical regions around the world, but it is rather specific in its ecological needs. I … Continue reading "For the love of coffee"

When I was very young, I used to think that when birds molted their feathers it meant they dropped every feather at once and were running about looking like a plucked chicken. Thankfully, I quickly figured out that this was not the case. Feather molting in birds is a complicated process that can vary between … Continue reading "What does it mean when birds molt?"

Hanging the extra hammock in one of the behind-the-scenes dens has been a huge hit with the adult giant pandas. You recently saw a picture of Yang Yang snoozing away; well, here you can see a picture of Lun Lun passed out after gorging herself on bamboo shoots. She looks really relaxed! The twins got … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Wednesday, May 22"

The eastern indigo snake is native to Florida, southern Georgia and southern Alabama. These non-venomous snakes are the largest native snake in the U.S. (a large male can be 7–8 feet long!) and are solid black. But, if you look closely, you can see their scales are iridescent (word of the day) and reflect light … Continue reading "Saving icons of the longleaf pine forest"

We recently tried some new enrichment in our behind-the-scenes area for the giant pandas. One of the most challenging and rewarding parts of being an animal care professional is trying to constantly think of novel and engaging enrichment for the animals in our care. Since we can’t offer a new item every single day, this … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Monday, May 20"

Hi everyone, Ashley here! Spring has sprung, and I’m going to tell you all about how we work with the herd of Petting Zoo animals during our busy season. I am an Ambassador Animal Keeper in this area, so I get to work with all the goats and sheep down in the Children’s Zoo. If … Continue reading "Hello from the herd!"

Just in time for Endangered Species Day, Zoo Atlanta celebrates the birth of a rare new arrival. An infant crowned lemur was born May 4, 2019, to parents Sava and Xonsu. Female Sava, 5, and male Xonsu, 6, were recommended to pair by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). They … Continue reading "Endangered crowned lemur born"

Just in time for Endangered Species Day, Zoo Atlanta celebrates the birth of a rare new arrival. An infant crowned lemur was born May 4, 2019, to parents Sava and Xonsu. Female Sava, 5, and male Xonsu, 6, were recommended to pair by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). They … Continue reading "Endangered crowned lemur born"

April and May are some of the most exciting months of the year for the Bird Team here at Zoo Atlanta. Resident birds are busy gathering nesting material, building nests, and beginning to lay eggs in The Living Treehouse, our Bird Propagation Center, and many other places throughout the Zoo. At the same time, our … Continue reading "Magnificent migration"

Two events highlight awareness and action this week. WHAT: The week of May 10 brings two important animal awareness opportunities at Zoo Atlanta: one bringing attention to a threatened bear species, and the other an annual event observed nationwide on the third Friday in May. Sun Bear Day presented by Teddy Grahams Zoo Atlanta spotlights … Continue reading "Sun Bear Day and Endangered Species Day"