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When giant pandas have twins they are fraternal twins, not identical twins. It is similar to a dog or a cat having a litter. They have the same birthday, but have different individual characteristics. So how do we tell the panda girls apart? A quick way to tell Xi Lun from Ya Lun is to … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Monday, December 13"

As many of you reading this may already be aware, Zoo Atlanta has long been working with one of the most endangered lizards in the world, the Guatemalan beaded lizard (Heloderma charlesbogerti). These venomous lizards are only found in Guatemala’s Motagua Valley, which is composed of largely dry, scrubby habitat. Along with maintaining a colony … Continue reading "Conserving one of the world’s rarest lizards"

Hey there, it’s Cassie from the Gorilla Care Team with an update on Willie B., Jr.’s group! Can you believe it’s been almost a full year since we welcomed Shalia, Kambera, and Amari to Zoo Atlanta to join Willie B., Jr.?  The formation of the group has gone very well, albeit a little slower than … Continue reading "Willie B., Jr. and the formation of his troop"

Giant pandas are able to hold and break down incredibly large pieces of bamboo. However, I am often impressed by the dexterity that they have as well. Because of their pseudothumb – an enlarged wrist bone that acts almost as an extra digit – they are able to pick up small things off the ground … Continue reading "Panda updates – Monday, December 6"

Sometimes, you can only work on “giant panda time,” and that certainly included one recent morning! Lun Lun had slept in the behind-the-scenes dens, and when she woke up, she grabbed some of her overnight bamboo and starting eating again. Fabulous! Terrific! A happy bear! We were glad that Lun Lun seemed so content with … Continue reading "Panda Updates – Friday, December 3"

As you may recall from a previous Keeper Stories, Zoo Atlanta recently welcomed a new arrival: southern white rhino Kiazi! Kiazi recently finished her quarantine period, which is standard for all new arrivals here at Zoo Atlanta. Due to this quarantine period, Kiazi has yet to share space with Mumbles, the Zoo’s male southern white … Continue reading "Milestones for Kiazi the southern white rhino"

Hello, readers! I’m Josh, a member of the Bird Team here at Zoo Atlanta. I can’t believe that we are already approaching the winter season. It feels like just yesterday that the temperatures were in the 90s, but that’s Georgia weather for you. While the seasons find a way to sneak up on us, the … Continue reading "Winter is coming"

One common thread in my interactions with our audiences is that many people believe that zoos exist to entertain an audience. And while we hope our visitors do have a great time while they’re here, entertainment is not our purpose. Our purpose is a vision. Zoo Atlanta exists because we envision a world where humans and wildlife … Continue reading "Why zoos matter"

“I think that we all do heroic things, but hero is not a noun, it’s a verb.” – Robert Downey Jr. Iron Man himself said that. When you hear the word hero, who do you think of?  Maybe superheroes like Iron Man or Wonder Woman, or those who protect or rescue people like firefighters or doctors and nurses, … Continue reading "What is a hero?"

Hello! I’m Sarah, a member of the Outback Station Care Team here at the Zoo. My department is mostly known for our goats, sheep, pigs, and alpacas, but just up the hill from the petting zoo is one of my personal favorite animals that we take care of. It’s probably one most people have never … Continue reading "It’s a deer … it’s a rabbit … no, it’s a mara! "