October is Arts and Humanities Month nationally and in Little Rock. Americans for the Arts has identified a different arts topic to be posted for each day in the month. Next up is Animals. And what better place to see animals than the Little Rock Zoo?
Here are a few photos the Culture Vulture has taken at the Little Rock Zoo over the past few years.
Volunteers are needed to assist with Arkansas’s largest Halloween festival – Boo at the Zoo!
Boo kicks-off Oct. 18 with our Adult Night (must be at least 21 years old to volunteer for this night) and picks up Oct. 20 for a special night for McLarty Auto Group and then continues with their VIP/Members Night on Oct. 24 and the general event Oct. 25 – Nov. 1.
The event is 6 – 9 p.m. each night and there are a variety of volunteer opportunities available.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age or older for regular Boo nights.
Click here to learn more or to register! If you have questions or want more information please contact Kaylah Jackson at 661-7212 or kjackson@littlerock.gov.
The Little Rock Zoo is looking for kids ages 7-12 to provide input for the Mayor’s Task Force on the Future of the Little Rock Zoo. Applications can be downloaded from Little Rock Zoo.com and are due by September 10, 2019 at noon.
During the two sessions held on September 14 and September 21, 2019, the Kid Task Force will be asked what they want to see happen at the Little Rock Zoo. Their opinions will be sought on what kind of new animal habitats the Zoo should offer, what new experiences the Zoo should provide and what other amenities should be added.
As a part of Task Force membership, the children will learn about Zoo operations in a fun setting and get a chance to meet some animals up-close-and-personal. The Zoo’s Education Department will lead a series of roundtable assessments with the Task Force that will include creative “play” sessions to uncover creative thought. Such sessions are used in both adult and child settings to encourage unique thought and creative thinking.
If you have a child interested in taking part in the Task Force, please apply by September 10, 2019, at noon by downloading the application found at LittleRockZoo.com and sending it to mgates@littlerock.gov. Applications may also be mailed to:
Michael Gates
Little Rock Zoo Kid Task Force
1 Zoo Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
The Little Rock Zoo has revealed the name of the new female baby orangutan chosen by public vote.
And the winner is: Kasih (pronounced KAH-see) (Malay), which means love
Kasih, a baby female Northwest Bornean orangutan, was born to mother Berani and father Bandar on July 28. She is the first infant born to Berani and the fifth born to Bandar.
She can be seen at the great ape habitat with Berani. The mother carries the baby with her while she’s outside but does often shield the baby from public view by turning her back.
Kasih’s birth came at the recommendation of the Orangutan Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a program that cooperatively manages orangutan species in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to further conservation goals.
This SSP Program coordinates species conservation, research, husbandry, management and educational initiatives. The Little Rock Zoo also participates in the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program for orangutans. AZA SAFE programs combine the collective strength of AZA organizations to help save species in the wild.
The Little Rock Zoo is asking the public to help choose a name for the new baby orangutan born to Berani and father Bandar on July 29, 2019. The young female is the first infant born to Berani and the fifth born to Bandar.
The public is invited to vote by online poll available at the Zoo’s website and Facebook page. The voting will end Friday, August 30, 2019, when the winning name will be announced. The Zoo keepers have selected four names from which to choose.
The choices are:
The baby orangutan’s birth came at the recommendation of the Orangutan Species Survival Plan® (SSP), a program that cooperatively manages orangutan species in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to further conservation goals. This SSP Program coordinates species conservation, research, husbandry, management and educational initiatives. The Little Rock Zoo also participates in the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program for orangutans. AZA SAFE programs combine the collective strength of AZA organizations to help save species in the wild.
Today is apparently World Elephant Day!
The Little Rock Zoo participates in many elephant welfare and education programs through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Here are some photos of Babe and Sophie at the Little Rock Zoo that were taken a couple of years ago. The top photo was a lucky happenstance. They saw I had a camera and posed for me!
Saturday, August 10, is World Lion Day. In honor of that event, today features three of the newest sculptures in Little Rock.
Dedicated on June 26, the trio of leonine creatures are located in the new roundabout at Zoo Drive and Fair Park Boulevard in War Memorial Park.
Lions Pride consists of three sculptures. Created by Darrell Davis, they are made of cast aluminum. These are likely the first sculptures in Little Rock made of cast aluminum.
One is of a male lion, while the other two depict female lions. All three are posed in sitting positions atop rocks which were installed last month in the roundabout.
One of the large rocks weighs over 37,000 pounds while another weighs more than 35,000 pounds. There are several other rocks in the formation which weigh more than a ton. The rocks were donated by Granite Mountain Quarry.
The project was a partnership between Sculpture at the River Market, the Little Rock Zoo, the Little Rock Parks & Recreation Department, and the Little Rock Public Works Department. A portion of the money donated for this project was a memorial to former Zoo Director Mike Blakely.
Little Rock Culture Vulture 