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Malfunction leads to loss of stingrays at Gladys Porter Zoo

An investigation is underway at the Gladys Porter Zoo following the deaths of several stingrays residing at the Landing at the Russell Aquatic Ecology Center, zoo officials announced Friday. The life support system provides oxygen, filtration and removal of organic waste. Thankfully, the other tanks in the aquarium were not affected,” zoo officials said in a media release. The group of 18 stingrays included Atlantic rays, cownose rays, Southern rays and yellow rays. Zoo officials noticed the loss Friday morning.

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Big cats seized from Bexar County home were not properly cared for, San Antonio zoo says

Fish & Wildlife are investigating the recent cases involving big cats seized and spotted in Bexar County-area neighborhoods this month. The big cats taken by authorities were not in good health, said Tim Morrow, president and CEO of the San Antonio Zoo. That’s not normal.”AdThe animals will be cared for by the San Antonio Zoo until they are sent to an animal sanctuary, Morrow said. A month ago, a tiger cub was also taken from a home in southwest Bexar County. If enacted, the bill would make it illegal to own tiger petting facilities and exotic big cats.

Polish zoo captures rare mouse-deer birth on video

WARSAW – A zoo in Poland says it's the first to have captured on video the birth of a rare Philippine mouse-deer, and everyone's hoping it’s a male so it can help the endangered species breed. The night birth on Nov. 10 at 2:24 a.m. at the Wroclaw Zoo was filmed by a camera in the stall. It has given experts some knowledge on the mouse-deer’s birth process and the first actions of a newborn, including that it begins to nurse quite quickly. “It is a conservation milestone for this species,” the head of the Wroclaw Zoo, Radosław Ratajszczak was quoted as saying in a statement Tuesday. Their population is shrinking as they lose habitat to palm oil plantations, the Wroclaw Zoo said.

Wild Wednesday: There’s still time to catch Zoo Boo!

SAN ANTONIO – There’s still time to check out Zoo Boo! at the San Antonio Zoo. Kids may not be going door-to-door for candy this year, but they can trick-or-treat for free at the zoo during Zoo Boo! is included with zoo standard admission and free for zoo annual pass holders and monthly members. Every Friday thru October 30, people can trick-or-treat from the comfort of their own vehicles with trick-or-treat stations sponsored by H-E-B during Drive Thru Zoo Boo!

Zoos helping zoos in the wake of Hurricane Laura

San Antonio – Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo (AWSFZ) wasted no time jumping at the opportunity to help their fellow zoo in Alexandria, Louisiana that had suffered significant damage from Hurricane Laura. Dr. Eric Trager, Owner of Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo, described the scene they arrived to as “Devastating” with what seemed like 40-50 huge trees downed throughout the park. However, despite this destruction, the Alexandria Zoo no loss of life and is a major credit to their preparation. If you would like to support the cleanup efforts of the Alexandria Zoo and get more information of the situation go to ZDR3′s gofundme page. Also, head over to Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo’s website to plan for your next visit.

San Antonio Zoo run goes virtual this year

SAN ANTONIO The San Antonio Zoo announced Saturday that its annual 5k run is going virtual to adhere to social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults can register for the event for $40 and children can register for the event for $20. Registration in the event includes the following:Adult- Registration fee, access to submit 5K time online, custom print-at-home bib, custom print-at-home finisher certificate, 2020 Virtual Zoo Run adult shirt, 2020 Virtual Zoo Run drawstring bag, a neck gaiter provided by Academy Sports + Outdoors, and one adult standard admission zoo ticket. Child- Registration fee, custom print-at-home bib, custom print-at-home finisher certificate, 2020 Virtual Zoo Run child shirt, 2020 Virtual Zoo Run drawstring bag, a neck gaiter provided by Academy Sports + Outdoors, and one child standard admission zoo ticket. RELATED: These are the species the San Antonio Zoo is trying to save

Crew from San Antonio Zoo heads to Louisiana to help clean up after Hurricane Laura

SAN ANTONIO A category four hurricane made land fall near Lake Charles Louisiana last week, but also did significant damage to Alexandria, which is about an hour north of Lake Charles. Thats why crew members from the San Antonio Zoo hooked up trailers carrying Bob Cat front end loaders along with chain saws and other construction materials and left Wednesday morning to help out at the Alexandria Zoo. Staff with the Alexandria Zoo have been cleaning up after Hurricane Laura hit last week. Its a very stressful situation you are trying to get everything cleaned up, Adam Malstaff the director of facilities with the San Antonio Zoo said. This is not the first time the San Antonio Zoo has helped out another facility after a natural disaster.

San Antonio Zoo experiences quarantine baby boom

The San Antonio Zoo happily reported Tuesday that a number of new additions have been born in captivity while much of the country is still under a shelter in place order. Full Screen 1 / 3 Chinese Hwamei egg, image courtesy of San Antonio Zoo. Tamandua with mom, image courtesy of San Antonio Zoo. Yunnan Mountain Rat Snake, image courtesy of the San Antonio Zoo. In a press release, San Antonio Zoo President and CEO Tim Morrow said the additions of the animals marks the success of the Zoos Animal Care Specialists.

Twice as cute: Berlin zoo releases new photos of panda twins

This image provided on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019 by the Zoo Berlin shows two Panda cubs in the Zoo in Berlin, Germany. China's permanent loan Pandas Meng Meng and Jiao Qing are the parents of the two cubs that were born on Aug. 31, 2019 at the Zoo in Berlin. (2019 Zoo Berlin via AP)BERLIN – Berlin’s main zoo has released new photos of twin panda cubs born this summer, saying the two are developing well. Zookeepers initially hand fed the cubs — the first giant pandas born in Germany — with bottles of milk pumped from mother Meng Meng but they now feed on their own. She and father Jiao Qing came to Germany from China two years ago.

Santa Barbara Zoo euthanizes Little Mac, its last elephant

Brent Lewin/Getty ImagesSANTA BARBARA, California (CNN) - Little Mac, Santa Barbara Zoo's last elephant, has been euthanized after a series of health issues, the zoo said. After two weeks of a sharp decline in her health, the zoo decided to enter Little Mac into hospice care several days before her death. Dr. Julie Barnes, the zoo's director of animal care and health, said in a press statement before Little Mac's death. Melinda Morgan-Stowell, a guest service manager at the zoo, told CNN Saturday that Little Mac was the last elephant the zoo will ever have. Current regulations require far more room than the zoo has, so the zoo's elephant program and exhibit will be permanently closed, she said.