Tag Archives: Little Rock Zoo

Celebrate Earth Day at the Little Rock Zoo with Enrichment Day

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Little-Rock-zoo-logo-4-c-with-tagAt the Little Rock Zoo, Earth Day will be celebrated Saturday April 25th in conjunction with Enrichment Day!

Enrichment at the Little Rock Zoo is defined as the process of providing animals with choices and control while eliciting species appropriate behaviors that exercise the body and stimulate the mind. On enrichment day, the Zoo gives different animals throughout the zoo different enrichment items. This year the Zoo chose to have our Enrichment Day theme be Earth Day!

Come watch the animals have some fun and learn all about what you can do to help save our world’s ecosystems and the animals that live there!

 

10:00     Great Apes – Enrichment with recycled materials

10:30     Elephants (yard 3 by Flossies) – Enrichment

11:00     Big Cats – Enrichment

11:30     Spider Monkey Island  – Enrichment with puzzle feeders

1:15        Penguins – Fish feeding

1:30        Farm (Tunnel area)Horses, Cows, Donkeys – Enrichment

1:30        Anteaters –  Enrichment

1:30        Great Ape – Scatter feed

lrzoo spider monkey artists2:00        Ampitheater – Training flying demo

2:00        Maned Wolves – Enrichment

2:30        Bears – Enrichment

2:30        Primates, Linder exhibit – Enrichment painting demo with Saki primate

3:00        Primates, West Side, Mangabey – Training Demo

ARKANSAS GIVES today!

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Arkansans have a heart for giving. On April 2, 2015, let’s join together to grow the love for our state’s nonprofit organizations. Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., we’re challenging all Arkansans to give to the charities of their choice.

During this one-day event, each donation you give will help your favorite nonprofit organizations qualify for additional bonus dollars from Arkansas Community Foundation. All participating nonprofits will receive a portion of a $250,000 match pool; the more a nonprofit raises, the more of the bonus dollars it will receive.

There are many worthwhile non-profits participating.  But since this is a Little Rock culture blog, here is a listing of cultural non-profits serving Little Rock which are participating.

Maned Wolf Pups born at Little Rock Zoo

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Maned Wolf PupsThe Little Rock Zoo is proud to announce that two maned wolf pups were born Dec. 21 and are growing strong according to Zoo staff.

The pups’ parents are maned wolves Gabby and Diego, two wolves living at the Zoo since 2013.  Maned wolves are known for their tall long legs and reddish-brown coats, but newborn maned wolves have a dark coat that will turn reddish-brown when full-grown. Gabby is now taking her pups out into the yard of her exhibit at the Zoo allowing visitors to catch an occasional glimpse. The pups are expected to fully be out on exhibit in the next two to three months.

The breeding of the maned wolves comes at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). Maned wolves are threatened in their natural habitats in Central and Southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Eastern Bolivia, and Northern Argentina due to deforestation. Maned wolves are even killed for body parts, due to the belief that they carry “magical properties.” This beautiful animal is at a risk of extinction, but with the help of zoo breeding programs like the SSP, maned wolves can still roam.

In 2007, the Little Rock Zoo was given praise for its maned wolf breeding program. Dr. Nucharin Songsasen, a reproductive advisor to the Maned Wolf SSP of North America, visited the Zoo to collect research from the Zoo’s breeding program, which is considered one of the most successful ones in the country.

A Winter Blast at the Museum of Discovery – with special guests from the Little Rock Zoo

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mod winter2015 is coming in with a Blast at the Museum of Discovery!

The museum is hosting a Winter Blast event Friday. Students will explore the science behind cold weather by making snow and blubber that keeps some animals warm during wintry weather, do some winter tinkering and enjoy a hot chocolate bar.

Some of the penguins from the Little Rock Zoo will be available to be petted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Regular museum admission prices apply.

Hurst to lead Department of Arkansas Heritage

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stacy-hurstYesterday Governor-Elect Asa Hutchinson announced that Stacy J. Hurst of Little Rock will be the next director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

“Stacy is extremely bright and hardworking, and she understands the importance of protecting and preserving our state’s incredibly rich history and culture. I have no doubt she will do a remarkable job in her new position as the director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage,” Hutchinson said.

As director of the agency, she will serve as the state’s chief preservation officer. She will oversee the Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templar’s Cultural Center, and Old State House Museum.

From January 2003 until December 2014, Hurst represented Ward 3 on the Little Rock City Board.  A native of Pine Bluff, she moved to Little Rock in 1985 after graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with a degree in Communications.  Since 1996, she has worked at Tipton & Hurst, Inc.  Prior to that, she worked for Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation for twelve years, retiring from the organization as Vice President.

From January 2007 to December 2008, she served as Vice Mayor of the City of Little Rock.  Prior to her election to the City Board, she served as co-chair of the Vision Little Rock, Recreation and Tourism workgroup.  She also served as a member of the Little Rock Zoo Board of Governors from 2000 to 2002.

Hurst chaired the three (3)-year community-wide planning process that led to a vision and Master Plan for the renovation of War Memorial Park.  Since the plan was adopted by the Board, over $2 million has been devoted to improvements within this signature park.  She was instrumental in the revitalization of the Midtown Redevelopment Corridor.  These efforts started with the Statement of Expectations planning document and a Design Overlay District adopted by the Planning Commission and board of Directors.  As a result of this work, tens of millions of dollars of private investment in the Midtown Corridor that continues today.

She was founding chair and board member of the City Parks Conservancy, which raises money for the City’s parks.  She has served as chair of the Nature Conservancy Board of Trustees in Arkansas.  She is currently a sustaining member of the Junior League of Little Rock, after having led the League’s efforts to purchase and restore the historic Women’s City Club in downtown.  Her numerous other community memberships include the Nature Conservancy,Arkansas Arts Center, Youth Home Board of Trustees, Arkansas Women’s Forum, CARTI Foundation Board of Trustees, Little Rock Garden Club, First Tee of Arkansas Board of Trustees, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, Alzheimer’s Arkansas Advisory Board.

Your chance to see Art created by LR Zoo animals tonight

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lrzoo spider monkey artistsThe animals of the Little Rock Zoo have been artistic of late.  Tonight from 6pm to 9pm, the public will have a chance to see this handiwork and perhaps purchase it.

The event will be at the Boswell Mourot Fine Art gallery at 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd.

The public is invited for a viewing and silent auction of art work created by Little Rock’s very own Zoo animals at the Little Rock Zoo! Along with the silent auction there will be ornaments and wine glasses for sale that are also decorated by the animals! Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Admission to this event is free.

4th Penguin Chick Born at Little Rock Zoo

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Fourth Penguin ChickThe Little Rock Zoo is proud to announce that its fourth African penguin chick successfully hatched on Sept. 11 and is doing well.

A unique story follows this penguin. Unlike the Zoo’s last three, this penguin chick was hatched by penguins Mary Beth and Roy and foster parented by penguins Skipper and Eze. Skipper and Eze are parents to the Zoo’s last three chicks.

The new penguin, a male, weighed only 2.3 ounces when born. He now weighs six pounds and is growing strong. Penguin chicks grow quickly when they are first hatched and if they are healthy.

The birth of this penguin is a significant achievement in conservation because of the genetic makeup of penguins Mary Beth and Roy. Mary Beth and Roy were recommended to breed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSP is a conservation program of AZA that aims to protect and conserve endangered and threatened species. The African penguin is an endangered species whose population has declined more than 95 percent since preindustrial times. The African penguin is threatened by oil spills, overfishing, and climate change.

The chick will not be on exhibit until it is old enough to swim on its own. In the meantime, he enjoys lounging on the steps of the Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe exhibit.

About the Little Rock Zoo

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit www.aza.org.