The Bluebird Patch

The gates of Zoo Boo Town swing open for guests of all ages this Saturday                                                                                                                 WHAT:                     Atlanta’s favorite fun family Halloween festival returns with opening day of Boo at the Zoo presented by Georgia Na...

Baby Keju has arrived in Atlanta to meet veteran foster mother Madu ATLANTA – October 20, 2015 –  On October 18, 2015, a very special traveler arrived in Atlanta to meet the remarkable ape that Zoo Atlanta experts hope will become her new mother. Keju, a 6-month-old female Bornean orangutan, has joined the Zoo Atlanta family from the Dane County Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wis. In coming days, the infant will have an opportunity to meet Madu, a 32-year-old female Sumatran orangutan who has successfully fostered three youngsters over the past 13 years. Keju has received round-the-clock care from the team at Dane County Henry Vilas Zoo since her birth on April 9, 2015. When it became evident that Keju’s biological mother was not likely to provide appropriate maternal care for her newborn – a situation that is not uncommon for first-time orangutan mothers – the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommended that Keju be transferred to a location with an experienced sur...

Weekend outlook includes Animal Planet, bald eagle sightings and a birthday grand finale for America’s only twin pandas WHAT:  July brings thoughts of family fun, cool treats and American icons, and Zoo Atlanta visitors can look forward to all three. The weekend outlook features visits by Animal Planet; ice cakes for 2-year-old birthday girls Mei Lun and Mei Huan; and sightings of the Zoo’s newest family member, a bald eagle.   Animal Planet Weekend:  Animal Planet takes over the Zoo on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19. Highlights will include a Scavenger Safari Hunt; crafts; Animal Planet photo-ops; and screenings of Animal Planet’s “Big Cat Diaries.” Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.and are free with general admission.

Zoo Atlanta unveiled a new s tate-of-the-art amphibian and reptile complex featuring more than 70 species on Thursday April 2, 2015. Scaly Slimy Spectacular: The Amphibian and Reptile Experience is an $18 million project housing around 100 individual animals representing more than 70 species from around the world. This exhibit includes more than 65 animal habitats and some 60,000 gallons of water in its aquatic environments, including a 30-foot naturalistic waterfall and a river designed to replicate Georgia’s own Flint River system.  Habitats represent some of the world’s most iconic wild places, including a windswept desert, African savanna, Australian billabong, mangrove swamp, Georgia tidal creek, Pacific Northwest stream and many more. The complex’s Georgia eXtremes section houses native species and showcases Georgia’s role as a North American hotspot of biodiversity. “ This is a truly special moment for the Zoo Atlanta family. This is a...

 On Nov. 29., jolly St. Nick will be hosting a cookies and photos party at the zoo Be here when Santa makes his first stop – Zoo Atlanta! Bring the little ones for a personal visit with Santa and a professional photo. Warm up with hot chocolate and cookies, and kick off the holiday season with costume characters, festive crafts, animal encounters, music, and games. Space is limited. Register online by Friday, November 28 to reserve your space.  Reservations are available in one of four time slots: 8:30 a.m.  (Members only)* 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Details here:  http://ow.ly/DuhQG

Fischer's Lovebirds are intelligent and inquisitive birds. In captivity, they like to investigate around the house, and have been known to figure out ways to escape from their cages.  Like all lovebirds, they are very vocal , singing and whistling all day long, especially at dawn and dusk.  They spend a lot of time with their family groups, and those social bonds are very important. Zoo Atlanta have currently three adult lovebirds. You can lean more about them at the zoo keeper's blog !     (Photo by Molly Desmet)

  This Saturday, May 17, is Endangered Species Day at Zoo Atlanta. Endangered Species Day is a great way to learn about endangered species here at the Zoo and also in the wild. We have SO many exciting activities plan that will be fun for the whole family!    10:30 a.m. – Daniel Tiger from PBS’ Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood will be here for a meet and greet in the Birthday Pavillion . 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – We will be showing Born to be Wild, a heartfelt wildlife film about rescued orangutans and elephants in the World Studio .  We will also be featuring information about the Palm oil crisis, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, 96 elephants, and some other great conservation projects supported by Zoo staff! There will be arts & crafts and games at different exhibits around the Zoo.    Rhino Exhibit – Dried Beans Animal Crafts – Use dried beans to fill in an animal outline and make artwork you can take home! Gorilla Exhibit – ...

We have been blessed with another ambassadorship opportunity, this time from one of our favorite places in the whole wide world, Zoo Atlanta! With this ambassadorship we'll be able to give you the inside scoop of upcoming events, behind the scenes, special family programs and all the different animal conservation initiatives happening at the zoo. Zoo Atlanta strives to inspire people to value wildlife on Earth and to help safeguard existing species through conservation. Currently, Zoo Atlanta is preparing for the China Departure of their beloved pandas Xi Lan And Po . Lun Lun’s and Yang Yang’s second and third offspring will now depart on May 12. The bears’ upcoming trip is one of the most anticipated milestones in the life of a U.S.- born giant panda. Their older brother, Mei Lan, made the voyage in 2010 and now resides at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which will also be Xi Lan’s and Po’s new home. Fans are encouraged to visit t...

Double happiness! Lun Lun,  Atlanta's most beloved panda gives birth to twin cubs. The cubs are the fourth and fifth giant pandas born at Zoo Atlanta. T he cubs are the first to be born in the US in 26 years. The first cub, Mei Lan, was born in September 2006. Fewer than 1,600 giant pandas are believed to remain in the wild, where funds from Zoo Atlanta are used to support giant pandas living in eight different nature reserves in China. Lun Lun in labor! Follow the cubs’ milestones on PandaCam presented by EarthCam on zooatlanta.org/pandacam and on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Instagram. Panda fans now also have the opportunity to subscribe to exclusive email content via the new Cub Confidential; subscribe on the PandaCam page on www.zooatlanta.org . 

Peek into the nursery with a first look at Blaze's infant. Blaze, a 16-year-old Sumatran orangutan, gave birth to a male infant on January 10, 2013.    The newborn was delivered via Caesarean section with the consultation of an extensive pre-appointed medical team that comprised human obstetricians, neonatologists and veterinary anesthesiologists. Find out more at http://www.zooatlanta.org/home/article_content/orang_caesarean_section_birth *Photo credit: Zoo Atlanta

 Photo by Atlanta Zoo   Lun Lun, a 13-year-old female giant panda at Zoo Atlanta, has given birth to her third cub spreading a wave of happiness all over the city. The panda is a symbol of peace, happiness and personal growth in China. In Feng Shui, Pandas encourage a kind of Darling- Happiness chi. There is an ancient Chinese saying, 'Blow the Panda a kiss every day and you will have a day of happiness and Good Luck!'   A wild panda normally lives for about 20 years, while a panda that has been bred generally lives for about 30 years. The birth is a significant achievement for global efforts to save a critically endangered species, zoo officials said. Fewer than 1,600 giant pandas are estimated to remain in the wild. There are approximately 280 individuals living in zoological institutions, only 11 of which reside in the U.S. It's a boy!!! http://www.zooatlanta.org/ http://twitter.com/zooatl http://www.zooatlanta.org/1212/panda_cam