New Zoo Radio Segment on CJOB 68 December 4, 2009

The Zoological Society of Manitoba’s Education Department recently began a new weekly zoo segment on CJOB’s Weekend Wakeup show, every Sunday morning at 7:15 am.

Weekend Wakeup Show with Chris Reid

Join Chris Reid for The Weekend Wakeup Show on CJOB 68! From news, sports, entertainment to what’s happening in your community, Chris covers it all. With kids riddles on Saturday morning and birthdays & anniversary wishes on Sunday, you won’t want to miss a moment of The Weekend Wakeup Show. And hey, it’s a part of your balanced breakfast!

Each week, Chris and Education Director, Scott Gray wil be discussing a new zoo animal along with new happenings at the zoo. Scott will also be posting an animal review the following week, with extra information about the animals discussed on the program. To date we’ve done two segments, the first featuring Steller’s sea eagles, the second featuring Amur tigers. This weekend we will be featuring Arctic foxes. Stay tuned every Sunday at 7:15 am.

Grandparent’s Day at Assiniboine Park September 6, 2009

Join us on Sunday, September 13 for a park-wide celebration of grandparents. Here’s our Grandparent’s Day Activity Schedule:

Assiniboine Park Zoo – Open 10a to 4p
Free Zoo Admission to grandparents accompanied by grandchild
10:30a – Dedication of Polar Bear statue in front of the bear exhibits
11a to 1p – Free coffee or tea at the Animal Tracks Café for Grandparents
11a to 12p – Join us for cake at the Animal Tracks Café
11a to 2p – Free Trolley Tours for Grandparents when accompanied by paying grandchild
11a to 4p – Free interpretative talks
11a to 3p – Grandparents membership special
10a to 4p – Receive a Debby magnet or paperweight with any purchase of $20 or more at the Zoo Gift Shop

Leo Mol Sculpture Garden – Open 11a to 5p
1p; 2p; & 3p – Tours of Gallery, Schoolhouse Studio and the grounds of the Garden
Grandparents with a grandchild receive a package of Leo Mol Art Cards (value $7) while quantities last.

Pavilion Gallery Museum – Open 10a to 5p
Grandparents with a grandchild will receive a Pavilion Gallery Museum catalogue (value $15) while quantities last.

Conservatory – Open 9a to 4p
Conservatory Palm House self guided scavenger hunt maps
10a to noon – Conservatory bouquet making
Noon to 2p – Abilities Garden demonstration and samples from the “Pizza Garden”

World Turtle Day May 18, 2009

The Zoological Society of Manitoba’s Education Department will be celebrating World Turtle Day at the Assiniboine Park Zoo on Saturday May 23, from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. World Turtle Day was initiated in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue, a turtle and tortoise rescue organization founded in 1990 in Malibu, California.

We are profiling these wonderful creatures as part of our International Biodiversity Day celebrations. Our turtle table will be set up next to the Tropical House and will feature interpretive artifacts and live turtles. Education staff will be on hand to talk to zoo visitors about the diversity of turtles, as well as their disappearance due to destructive fishing methods, over harvesting, the pet trade, pollution and development.

• The Canadian Wildlife Services conducted a study at three sites in the Great Lakes region found deformities in male snapping turtles, believed to be the result of chemical pollution.
• “Half of all the green sea turtles off of the Hawaiian coasts are thought to be infected by a deadly disease called Fibropapilloma. It is caused by chemical pollution.” (fromwww.hsus.org)
• “A scientific team monitoring the blood plasma of loggerhead turtles along the U.S. East Coast consistently found significant levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFCs are used as nonstick coatings and additives in a wide variety of goods including cookware, furniture fabrics, carpets, food packaging, fire-fighting foams and cosmetics.” (from: http://www.physorg.com/news122662971.html)
• 86% of sea turtle species threatened with extinction (from http://news.mongabay.com/2007/1114-fws_turtles.html)

The Assiniboine Park Zoo displays the spur-thighed tortoise, red-footed tortoise, yellow-footed tortoise, star tortoise, red-eared slider, and more. We hope to see you at the zoo!