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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ana Bowie
abowie@denverzoo.org
303-376-4841
Tiffany Barnhart
tbarnhart@denverzoo.org
303-376-4844
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DENVER ZOO PHOTO GALLERY: Denver Zoo provides the following images and photo captions for media use in stories regarding the Denver Zoo. Please feel free to contact the PR Department for additional photos or information. Photo credit is required when using the following images.
Click photo for larger image: Photo Credits: Dave Parsons/Denver Zoo
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BABY GORILLA
There are less than a dozen gorilla births a year in North American Zoos. Three births took place at Denver Zoo in 2004.
This 2005 baby can be seen in Primate Panorama at the Great Apes exhibit in the Denver Zoo with mother, Rapunzel and Evelyn a female from the baby's gorilla troop. Zookeepers have determined this gorilla born May 24 is a baby girl and have named her Tinga, which means "to overcome" in Swahili. The aptly-named youngster is the second female born to Rapunzel, but the first to be raised by this new mom.
Zookeepers are pleased with Rapunzel's progress with the baby and say both gorillas are doing well.
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SUMMER SHOWS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND EVENTS AT DENVER ZOO
Memorial Day Weekend Brings Memorable Animal Encounters
Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Denver Zoo visitors will be able to enjoy the expanded shows and demonstrations of the summer season. This season, the zoo is featuring many new activities plus all of the past summer favorites including free wildlife shows. Hands-on animal encounters are back this year under the zoo's new Wild Encounters Theater. Visitors can also enjoy watching Koda and Nuka, the zoo's newest polar bear cubs, African Wild Dog puppies, and lion cubs.
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DENVER ZOO'S PREDATOR RIDGE EXHIBIT BRINGS AFRICA TO DENVER
After three years of planning and 18 months of construction, Denver Zoo's newest exhibit, "Predator Ridge" is complete. In June, 2004, the Zoo celebrated the public unveiling and grand opening of the project, which currently showcases a series of dynamic exhibits designed to recreate a portion of the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya.
Predator Ridge is an example of what accredited zoos nationwide are trying to achieve - larger, more naturalistic and educational exhibits. The eight-acre area is beautifully landscaped habitats will be home to 14 African species of mammals, birds and reptiles totaling 50 animals including lions, spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, crowned cranes, African porcupines, banded mongoose, vulturine guineafowl and more. Within Predator Ridge, the "Lion Kopje" (pronounced COE-pee, an Afrikaans term for a rocky outcropping) exhibit is home to two prides of lions.
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GROWING POLAR BEAR CUBS
Denver Zoo polar bear cubs Koda (Coe-dah), and Nuka, (New-cah) are exploring the larger polar bear habitat at Denver Zoo's Northern Shores exhibit with their mother Voda. The two cubs are thriving playfully at the zoo.
Their new habitat features a large 120,000-gallon pool, a tall rock and diving ledge with underwater viewing opportunities.
Koda and Nuka will share the outdoor exhibit on a rotational basis with the zoo’s other polar bears, but can be seen on exhibit in one of the habitats daily. Both bears are now enjoying fish icicles and have the strength to climb the tall diving rock.
The cubs were born early Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 25, 2004. This is the fourth litter of cubs to Voda and Kavek, since the breeding pair arrived at Denver Zoo in 1987. Voda last gave birth to Cranbeary the day before Thanksgiving in 2001. Zookeepers took special care in selecting names for the cubs. One bear was named Koda, a name created from his parents' names Kavek and Voda. The other bear is aptly named Nuka, which is the Inuit word for "brother."
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ZOO LIGHTS - Open Christmas Eve and Day!
WILDLIGHTS will light up the night December 9 - January 1 with millions of twinkling lights, hundreds of animated animal sculptures, traditional holiday entertainment, fun-filled family activities and refreshments of all kinds.
Carolers will bring holiday cheer; Children can take a ride on the Conservation Carousel and the smell of kettle corn and hot cocoa will warm you on the coldest of nights at the regions most popular holiday lighting event.
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CONSERVATION AND BREEDING PROGRAMS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES are conducted in cooperation with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and have resulted in the birth of several endangered species including an Okapi, (less than 120 animals worldwide) and Amur Leopards (thought to be extinct in the wild). Other notable births in recent years include Siberian tiger, okapi, African lions, African wild dogs, western lowland gorillas, and blue and yellow-backed duikers.
The okapi is 5 feet tall and weighs 450-550 pounds. Its coat is a dark chestnut color with horizontal white stripes on the rump and upper legs. The stripes are thought to be important for calf imprinting and visual "follow me" signals. The lower legs are white with a black band just above the hooves. It has a long neck and head with large ears and a black prehensile tongue. The male has short skin-covered horns. The okapi has an excellent sense of smell and hearing but its eyesight is poor.
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Denver Zoo's Tropical Discovery
The unique design and exhibitry in Tropical Discovery arouses visitor's interests by allowing them to experience first-hand the wonder of rain forest habitats and the fragile relationships between animals and plants in tropical ecosystems.
Dramatic views and experiences await those who journey past waterfalls, darkened caves, jungle ruins and tropical riverbank exhibits. The multi-million dollar home for the Komodo dragon spans 5,500 square feet is located at the north end of Tropical Discovery. Visitors can get nose to nose with the man-eating reptiles, that can grow up to 10-feet long and weigh 250 pounds.
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