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Grants Boost Erie Canal Education, Preservation, and Tourism
 Buffalo, NY- The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission, in partnership with the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, awarded $43,700 in grants to assist organizations with canal-related education, preservation, and tourism projects.
Seven organizations from Albany to Buffalo received funding, including one in Western New York: The Buffalo Zoo (Buffalo), Albany Institute of History and Art (Albany), Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum (Chittenango), Erie Canal Museum (Syracuse), New York Folklore Society (Schenectady), Schenectady Museum & Suits–Bueche Planetarium (Schenectady), and The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York/WCNY (Syracuse).
“Distributing grants is critical to helping organizations develop new programs or advance their missions, especially in tight economic times,” said Judy Schmidt Dean, Commission Chair. “We are thrilled to be able to fund these worthy projects in 2012.”
“We are extremely proud to be named one of the recipients of these grants,” said Dr. Donna M. Fernandes, Buffalo Zoo President/CEO. “Our goal with the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm is to depict life on a small family farm located along the Erie Canal in the 1850s. Support from the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, and our partnership with the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, will allow us to develop programming that combines environmental education with Canal history to engage thousands of school children each year.”
The Buffalo Zoo, in partnership with the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, received $5,500 to develop a new education program to focus on the interconnectedness of people, the local environment, and the Erie Canal, both past and present. The program will challenge students to consider how the Erie Canal affected (and continues to affect) not only people and society, but also domestic animals, wildlife, and natural habitats in New York State.
“With the help of these federal funds Western New York’s rich Erie Canal history comes to life in a fun, interpretive way for families,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. “I commend the Historical Society, the Zoo and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission for creating this partnership that will educate future generations of the Erie Canal’s critical role in the great rise of our region.”
“What a unique learning experience students will have through this program,” said Tom Blanchard, Chair of the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund. “Providing this type of hands-on learning for youth will help bring to life the rich Erie Canal history that is all around us in Buffalo.”
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DAY…AND THE BUFFALO ZOO’S VERY FIRST ZOOPER SATURDAY EVENT! January 7, 2012
 Buffalo, NY– If you received new electronics for the holidays and you need somewhere to take the old or broken ones, bring them to the Buffalo Zoo as part of the Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.!
The event is being hosted by the Buffalo Zoo, Foit-Albert Associates and Sunnking Electronics Recycling. By recycling your old items, you’ll not only help the environment, but you’ll also be supporting the Buffalo Zoo as the Zoo will earn revenue for each pound of electronics collected!
Accepted items include laptops, televisions, monitors, printers, copiers and more. Please note that gas powered equipment, household hazardous waste and items containing Freon (air conditioners, de-humidifiers, refrigerators, etc.) will not be accepted. All hard drives and private information will be securely wiped and destroyed in accordance with all HIPAA, FACTA, GLB and Sarbanes Oxley regulations, as well as Sunnking’s EPA R2 Certification.
Members of the community are invited to drop off their old electronics in the Buffalo Zoo’s parking lot (located at Parkside Ave. and Jewett) this day ONLY from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Each individual who recycles an item will receive a $1 off admission to the Buffalo Zoo (valid for this day only).
A list of acceptable materials for recycling can be found at www.sunnking.com/acceptable-materials. Question regarding what can or cannot be accepted can also be directed to info@sunnking.com. Additional information about Sunnking’s data security practices can be found at www.sunnking.com/data-destruction. For more information about the actual event, please contact the Buffalo Zoo at (716) 837-3900
Buffalo Zoo Announces Holiday Discount Days and Revised Hours
 Buffalo, NY – To thank Western New York for its continuing support, the Buffalo Zoo is offering special Holiday Discount Days.
From December 26-31, the Buffalo Zoo will slash admission prices. All visitors, regardless of age, will pay $5 per person to get into the Zoo. (Normally, adult and child admission fees are $10.00 and $7.00 respectively. As always, Buffalo Zoo members and children under the age of two years receive free admission.)
Please note that the Buffalo Zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The grounds remain open one hour after gates close.
However, there are some revisions regarding the Zoo’s holiday/winter hours:
Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24): Admission gates close at 1:30 p.m.
Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25): CLOSED
New Year’s Eve (Saturday, December 31): Admission gates close at 2:30 p.m.
New Year’s Day (Sunday, January 1): OPEN regular schedule (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
The Buffalo Zoo will also be CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays during the months of January and February.
During their visit, guests are invited to take part in the Zoo’s special winter activities, including daily keeper talks, training demonstrations, animal encounters and more!
For more information about the Zoo’s Holiday Discount Days, please call (716) 837-3900..
Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday at the Buffalo Zoo!
Birthday Parties Offered Year-Round
Buffalo, NY – Throw a “wild” birthday party for your child at the Buffalo Zoo!
Birthday parties are available most Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., all year long. Each party includes room rental, decorations, full admission to the Zoo, a guided tour to the exhibit of your choice, party gift bags for each child, pizza and soda for the kids, a special gift for the guest of honor, a dedicated party host to lead you through all of the fun and a live animal demonstration.
Prices are $12/child for member-hosted parties and $15/child for non-member-hosted parties. (Please note that there is a party minimum of 10 children and a maximum of 25 children.) The Buffalo Zoo birthday party program allows for a total of FOUR adults (two adults sponsoring the party and two additional adults to assist as chaperones) to attend the birthday party for free. Additional adults may attend for an additional fee (unless they have a Buffalo Zoo membership or guest passes).
For more information or to schedule a birthday party, please call (716) 995-6128 or CLICK HERE
Buffalo Zoo Offering Animal Encounters This Winter!
BUFFALO, NY— In support of the Buffalo Zoo’s mission to educate the public about the world’s wildlife, the Zoo is offering animal encounters this winter.
 Sea Lion Encounter
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Pocus, one of the Zoo’s two male California sea lions, and his keepers. For $20 per person, each participant will have the chance to have a holiday photo taken with Pocus behind-the-scenes inside the holding area at NOCO’s Sea Lion Cove. Participants can choose to receive a kiss from Pocus or pose next to him as a “trainer” holding a target pole. Photo sessions will take place PROMPTLY at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the following weekend dates: November 26 and 27 and December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. The minimum age requirement for participants is 6 years. Each encounter is limited to 16 guests. Reservations can be made by calling the Zoo’s Switchboard Operator at (716) 837-3900 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Other Special Winter Offerings (November 12, 2011 – March 11, 2012)
Keeper Talk/Training Demo (Delta Sonic Heritage Farm) Daily at 10:30 a.m.
View sea lion feeding (Sea Lion Cove) Daily at 11:00 a.m.
View river otter feeding (Otter Creek) Daily at 11:30 a.m.
Macaw Keeper Talk (Living Treehouse in Education Dept.) Sun., Thurs., Sat. 1:00 p.m.
Animal Encounter/Contact (Living Treehouse in Education Dept.) Wed., Fri. 1:30 p.m.
View meerkat feeding (meerkat exhibit by the gorilla habitat) Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.
View gorilla feeding (gorilla exhibit) Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Animal Encounter (M&T Bank Rainforest Falls) Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.
View caiman feeding (M&T Bank Rainforest Falls) Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
For more information about the daily schedule, please call the Buffalo Zoo’s Switchboard Operator at (716) 837-3900 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily or visit www.buffalozoo.org. Your visit to the Buffalo Zoo need not be restricted to the warm summer months. The Zoo is a great place to visit even when the temperature drops. Visitors are constantly surprised by the number of animals that venture out during the winter months. Snow leopards, Amur tigers, snow monkeys, bighorn sheep and California sea lions enjoy most of their day outside in colder temperatures.
If you get a bit chilly during your visit, you can “head south” by visiting our M&T Bank Rainforest Falls exhibit, where you can get close to a variety of exotic animals. You are also welcome to warm up inside several other buildings at the Zoo, including the Reptile House, EcoStation and gorilla complex.
Most of the Buffalo Zoo’s animals are still on exhibit during the winter months, with the exception of our migratory species. When the temperature drops, our animals are acclimate to the change in weather and, in many cases, modifications to their exhibits allow them to enjoy the winter chill. Not only do our polar bears and snow leopards flourish in these cold months, but so do other animals such as our African lions. Our lions have acclimated very well to the winter months and love to venture outdoors whenever they can. Their keepers provide them with hay beds so they are able to have a more comfortable area to rest than on cold surfaces. Depending on the temperature, the lions may also have access to their indoor holding areas should they feel uncomfortable outside. Also in the winter, keepers increase our lions’ diet by 20 percent because their bodies burn more calories to keep warm during the cold months. For many of our animals who come from warmer places, our keepers are able to adjust the exhibit’s environment based on weather conditions so that they are able to enjoy the wonders of winter just as much as our cold weather animals.
Another benefit to visiting the Zoo in winter is the smaller crowds. Not only will you get your pick at the front row view of exhibits, a less crowded Zoo also allows you more time to examine animal behaviors more closely. Many of our animals become lethargic in the summer due to the humidity and heat, but when the temperature is cooler, some animals become more active. While walking through the Zoo in the winter, you may see the snow leopards jumping from rocks, the Japanese macaques swimming in their heated pool or our California sea lions enjoying ice treats given to them by their keepers. Each day brings new experiences at the Zoo for both guests and inhabitants. Personally, my favorite winter activity at the Zoo is to visit Pocus, one of our California sea lions, and get a big kiss from him under the mistletoe. It’s an amazing experience to have such a beautiful creature that close to you. (See Page 3 for more information.)
Special Winter Programming at the Buffalo Zoo
To make your Zoo experience even better, we offer many events during the winter season. Breakfast with Santa is held for two weekends in December with both 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. seatings. Enjoy the morning with a hot breakfast, games and crafts and, of course, the children will have the opportunity to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. After your visit with Santa, you are invited to walk around the Zoo to enjoy a visit with our furry friends. Breakfast with Santa at the Buffalo Zoo has become an annual tradition for many families across Western New York, and we hope to keep that traditional alive for many years to come.
Beginning in January 2012, the Buffalo Zoo will be showcasing a variety of our animal groups throughout the year as part of “Zooper Saturdays.” On the first Saturday of every month, different areas of the Zoo will be highlighted for visitors to enjoy. Join us for activities such as animal enrichments, health fairs, raffles and more each month! These events will combine some of your old favorites and even spice them up with new offerings, too, so be sure you don’t miss out!
Feel the love in February at the Zoo. Every year, our President and CEO, Dr. Donna Fernandes, gives our 21-year-and-over crowd a fun and enlightening lesson on different topics of love in the animal kingdom.
Also in February, for our younger crowd, we have Family Valentine’s Day. Witness the love around the Zoo with our animals as they receive special Valentine’s Day treats from their keepers. Children will also have a chance to make a Valentine for their favorite animal at the Zoo! (See Page 6 for more information about all of our upcoming events.)
The Buffalo Zoo is filled with fun and educational activities all year round. So, dress warmly and in layers, head to the Beastro for some hot chocolate if you get cold, and come experience our very own winter wonderland!
Puerto Rican Crested Tadpoles Shipped For Release Into Wild
BUFFALO, NY—On Tuesday, November 15, the Buffalo Zoo’s herp keepers gathered up 46 threatened tadpoles and prepared to ship them to Puerto Rico, where they will be released into one of several sites in southern Puerto Rico.
Found only in Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican crested toads have rough, warty skin and are olive green and brown in color, with shades of yellow on their heads. As their name implies, they also have a high bony ridge on their heads, which forms a “V” shaped structure.
In 1984, the Puerto Rican crested toad became the first amphibian to be placed in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is designed to help a species maintain a healthy and stable population. For more than 20 years, the Buffalo Zoo has been dedicated in working to save the Puerto Rican crested toad, which has become endangered due, in large part, to habitat loss. In recognition of the Reptile Department’s long-standing breeding efforts, the Buffalo Zoo was honored with the AZA’s Edward H. Bean Award in 1985, and was one of 22 zoos to receive the North American Conservation Award in 2004 for the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Species Survival Program Conservation Partnership.
Currently, 28 AZA institutions house Puerto Rican crested toad populations. The Buffalo Zoo is one of only a few zoos this year to hatch tadpoles. This is the first time since 2006 that the Buffalo Zoo has sent tadpoles to Puerto Rico to be released into the wild. The tadpoles are scheduled to arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday afternoon and will be released the same day.
Buffalo Zoo Animal Babies Get Into the Halloween “Spirit”
Buffalo, NY—The Buffalo Zoo’s baby animals are celebrating the fall season on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 with some special Halloween-themed treats!
Visitors and members of the media are invited to join Buffalo Zoo President/CEO, Dr. Donna M. Fernandes, in watching the baby addax and reindeer receive treat bags. The Zoo’s baby gorilla, Amari, and her fellow troop members will receive pumpkins not only in honor of Halloween but also Amari’s upcoming first birthday celebration on October 8.
The schedule is as follows:
10:15 a.m. Amari (baby gorilla)
10:30 a.m. Guinness (baby addax)
10:45 a.m. Solara (baby reindeer)
Babies Born at the Buffalo Zoo This Spring/Summer
Animals representing 15 species were born/hatched at the Buffalo Zoo so far this year.
The babies that were featured in today’s photo opportunity included:
Addax: Guinness, a male addax, was born to mom, Samonya, and dad, Bakari, on March 17, 2011. The breeding was recommended as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP), which is designed to help a species maintain a healthy and stable population. The addax is an endangered African hoofstock species that numbers less than 250 in the wild.
Reindeer: The Buffalo Zoo celebrated the births of two baby reindeer in 2011. Female, Solara, was born on May 8, 2011 to mom, Aurora, and dad, Borealis. She was featured in today’s photo opportunity. A male, Klondike, was born on April 21, 2011 to mom, Ellie and dad, Borealis. After being weaned from his mother, he was transferred to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY to join another herd.
Western lowland gorilla (born in 2010 but about to celebrate her first birthday): Amari, a female western lowland gorilla, was born on October 8, 2010 at 7:40 p.m. to mother, Sidney, and father, Koga. Sidney, who was born at the Buffalo Zoo in 1997, and 23-year-old Koga, who arrived from the Memphis Zoo in 2007, are both first-time parents. This breeding was also recommended as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered due to habitat destruction and the bushmeat trade.
Other animals celebrating their first Halloween include:
Puerto Rican Crested Toad*
4 Scarlet Ibises
Eurasian Black Vulture*
8 Vampire Bats
2 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
6 Rock Hyraxes
Indochinese Box Turtle*
4 Capybaras
Cattle Egret
3 Agoutis
Blue Poison Dart Frog
*Endangered Species
Have Your Photo Taken With the Stanley Cup
at the Buffalo Zoo! September 30, 2011
 BUFFALO, NY—Thanks to the generosity of Delaware North and the Jacobs family, the Buffalo Zoo will be hosting the Stanley Cup this Friday, September 30 from 11:30 a.m. –1:00 p.m.! The Zoo is proud to offer visitors and staff the opportunity to have a photo taken with the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Stanley Cup--the oldest trophy awarded to professional athletes in North America.
The Boston Bruins, owned by Delaware North Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Jacobs, won the Stanley Cup in Vancouver on June 15, 2011. As part of the Cup’s tradition, members of the winning organization have an opportunity to spend time with the Stanley Cup. Selected by the Jacobs family to host the Stanley Cup, the Buffalo Zoo is grateful to be one of the local stops.
While the Stanley Cup visits the Buffalo Zoo, members of the Jacobs family will also present Buffalo Zoo President/CEO, Dr. Donna Fernandes, with a major donation in support of the Zoo’s planned polar bear exhibit.
The Stanley Cup will be located in front of the Zoo’s grizzly bear exhibit. (NOTE: In the event of heavy rain, the photo opportunity will be relocated to the Zoo’s Ecostation by the bison exhibit.) A photographer will be on hand to take photos, but visitors are also encouraged to bring their own cameras. Visitors must pay Zoo admission to have their photos taken with the Stanley Cup.
Grizzly Cubs Are Now On Exhibit at the Buffalo Zoo!
 Buffalo, NY— The Buffalo Zoo is proud to announce that Koda, Lou Lou and Dolly--the three grizzly cubs that arrived from ZooMontana—are now on exhibit!
Koda, Lou Lou and Dolly arrived at the Buffalo Zoo on June 9, 2011. Their transfer resulted from a request by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to hold the cubs in Buffalo while their permanent home at the Utah’s Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City is finished. The cubs are scheduled to stay at the Buffalo Zoo until Spring 2012.
All three cubs are siblings that were placed at ZooMontana after their mother was euthanized by wildlife officials for mauling three people at a campground in Cooke City, Montana in July 2010. DNA tests confirmed she was the bear that killed one man and injured two other campers while they slept in their tents. It is unknown as to why she attacked them, as confrontations between bears and humans usually occur when a bear feels threatened. The cubs were malnourished, and wildlife officials believe she was desperate to feed them.
Koda, Lou Lou and Dolly are now healthy two-year-old bears that weigh between 175and 200 pounds. As per standard regulations regarding new animal arrivals, they were placed in quarantine for 30 days. Visitors can now see the playful cubs in the bear exhibit across from Sea Lion Cove.
The Buffalo Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. rain or shine. Please note that as the cubs continue to get accustomed to their new surroundings, they may sometimes be exploring their indoor den. We encourage our patrons to check back if they are unable to view the cubs earlier on during their visit.
BUFFALO ZOO AND POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL GIVE FIRST LOCAL PAW OF APPROVAL AWARD TO NICHOLS SCHOOL
 Buffalo, N.Y. – The Buffalo Zoo, in conjunction with Polar Bears International (PBI), has awarded its first annual “Paw of Approval” Award to Nichols School. On April 27, Buffalo Zoo President and CEO, Dr. Donna M. Fernandes, and Polar Bears International (PBI) President and CEO, Robert W. Buchanan presented the Paw of Approval Award to Head of School, Rick Bryan, who accepted the Award on behalf of Nichols during a presentation that also included one of the School’s fifth-grade classes.
PBI launched the Paw of Approval Award program in 2010. This honor recognizes businesses and organizations that make a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint by introducing initiatives to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This year, PBI expanded the program by reaching out to its Arctic Ambassador Centers, like the Buffalo Zoo, to acknowledge local organizations who are putting conservation measures at the forefront of their plans.
Nichols School was selected as the recipient of the Award for taking great strides in reducing its carbon footprint through the Big Green Initiative, a wide-ranging approach to campus sustainability, focusing on campus energy, materials, land and water use. Projects resulting from this initiative include conserving resources, composting food scraps, natural landscaping and incorporating sustainability education into its curriculum. The initiative promotes environmental literacy and sustainability education by involving all aspects of the School community.
Nichols also opened the Class of 1963 Center for Mathematics and Science in January 2010. The 24,000 square-foot facility boasts a sustainable design and numerous eco-friendly features. Among these are: a green roof, tinted window glass, south facing hallways, energy efficient lighting, concrete floors, reused desks and tables, a rain garden, energy saving sinks and toilets, hand dryers and sensor lighting.
The Award given to Nichols consists of a framed, limited-edition polar bear photograph by Daniel J. Cox of Natural Exposures.
“The PBI Paw of Approval Award recognizes environmental leadership within our community,” said Fernandes. “We’re very proud to announce Nichols School as our first recipient.”
Zoo’s Curator of Education Presents FREE Program at the Church of the Nativity in the Town of Tonawanda
 The public is invited to a special presentation by Buffalo Zoo Curator of Education Tiffany Vanderwerf on climate change and its effect on polar bears. The free lecture is Sunday February 20th at noon at The Church of the Nativity, on Colvin Boulevard at Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda. The presentation is part of the Buffalo Zoo’s “Be Cool for Polar Bears” speaking tour.
Vanderwerf had the opportunity to study polar bears in the wild and learn about climate change from leading scientists during a Leadership Camp experience in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, sponsored by the conservation group Polar Bears International. She saw first hand the effects of climate change on polar bears’ tundra habitat and learned ways we can all have a positive and real effect on climate change while helping to save this magnificent species − and save money on our energy bills at the same time!
For more information about the Buffalo Zoo’s presentation on February 20th at The Church of the Nativity, contact Pastor Ruth Snyder at (716) 875-3365. For additional information about the content of the talk or to schedule a presentation, contact Tiffany Vanderwerf at The Buffalo Zoo at (716) 995-6138.
Buffalo Zoo’s Snow Leopard Cubs To Move to the Chahinkapa Zoo
 Buffalo, NY– Ketu and Makalu, the Buffalo Zoo’s two male snow leopard cubs, will find a new home at the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton, North Dakota.
The cubs will leave the Buffalo Zoo early Thursday morning and travel by truck to North Dakota. The Chahinkapa Zoo’s curator, Tom Schmaltz, will accompany the cubs and monitor them throughout the trip to ensure they arrive safely.
The transfer was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is designed to help secure the future of threatened and endangered species. Breeding recommendations are made after the SSP management committee evaluates the ages and relatedness of all the individual animals of a species in captivity to ensure the population remains genetically diverse and demographically stable. Additionally, zoos and aquariums participating in SSP programs collaborate to move animals to other AZA-accredited facilities where space is available for exhibition and breeding.
The Chahinkapa Zoo will serve as a holding institution for the snow leopards for at least five years until they are able to enter breeding recommendations. The cubs will be exhibited together, and Chahinkapa Zoo visitors will be able to view them beginning on April 30, 2011 when the Zoo reopens for the season.
“We are very excited to welcome Ketu and Makalu to our zoo,” said Chahinkapa Zoo Director, Kathy Diekman. “We’re certainly pleased to collaborate with the Buffalo Zoo and participate in this very important program.”
“It’s always sad when our animals, especially young ones, move on to other facilities,” said Buffalo Zoo President/CEO, Dr. Donna Fernandes. “However, we have to keep in mind that this benefits the species as a whole, and in that regard, we are happy that our cubs are growing into healthy adults that will hopefully help contribute to their species’ future.”
Buffalo Zoo visitors will still be able to view the cubs’ mother, Annapurna, and their father, Dwaine. To ensure genetic diversity within the captive population of snow leopards, another breeding recommendation for the pair is not expected for another few years. (Please note that before the cubs leave on Thursday, Buffalo Zoo visitors will have another chance to see the cubs. They will be on exhibit this Wednesday from approximately 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.)
The Buffalo Zoo’s Hellbender Lab Is Officially Open!
 The Buffalo Zoo offered members of the media the opportunity to photograph the Zoo’s hellbender rearing lab that is now officially open for public viewing on January 11th inside the Buffalo Zoo Reptile House.
The eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is the largest aquatic salamander species found in the Americas. Wildlife studies have shown that hellbender populations have declined dramatically, including those that inhabit some watersheds in New York State. Reasons for the decline of these amphibians are unknown. However, scientists are working to study the role of predators, disease (such as amphibian chytrid fungus), angler-related mortality, water quality and suitable habitat conditions and food sources to determine their contributions to the decline of hellbender populations. Although the eastern hellbender is listed as a species of "special concern" in New York, federal and state officials are also working to change their listing to "threatened" or "endangered.”
The Buffalo Zoo is pleased to collaborate with the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Fish and Wildlife Service, and Buffalo
State College to take part in helping to secure this species' future. The Zoo is also grateful for the State Wildlife Grant (management and restoration category) money awarded to our facility to enable us to partner in this headstart project.
In October 2009, Buffalo Zoo reptile and amphibian keepers worked with DEC
senior biologist, Ken Roblee, to collect approximately 700 hellbender eggs from the Allegheny watershed. The eggs were brought to the Buffalo Zoo, where more than 600 of them hatched.
The hellbenders will be reared at the Buffalo Zoo until the summer of 2013. The juvenile hellbenders will then be pit-tagged by qualified Buffalo Zoo staff and released by the DEC at selected sites within the Allegheny watershed. The DEC will monitor the release sites as further population management and restoration actions continue to be identified and developed.
Members of the public are invited to observe the lab and learn more about the hellbender headstart project through the lab’s interpretive graphics.
Wines in the Wild up for a Major Award
 The annual Wines in the Wild event at the Buffalo Zoo is one of the hottest tickets of the summer in Western New York. Regularly selling out weeks in advance, this annual benefit for the Zoo’s Adopt-an-Animal program regularly draws more than 2500 guests and almost as many vendors as the Taste of Buffalo. Now, it is up for a major award. Wines in the Wild has been nominated for a 2010 Buffalo Niagara Events Professionals Outstanding Event Award. Three awards will be given to the nominees that receive the most votes by the members of the Buffalo Niagara Event Professionals, and one award, the “People’s Choice” award will be awarded to the event that receives the most votes from the public on our website, www.BNEventPros.com. This is a popular vote, so it is open to everybody – the direct link to vote is http://bit.ly/BNEPOEAVote. Voting closes on Monday, October 11 at 5pm.
The winners will be announced at the Event Pros 4th Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, October 27th at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.
Erie County Executive, Chris Collins, Supports the Buffalo Zoo’s Launch of a Cell Phone App
 Buffalo, NY– Erie County Executive, Chris Collins, and Buffalo Zoo President and CEO, Donna M. Fernandes, Ph.D., have officially launched the Buffalo Zoo’s cell phone app to support cultural tourism in Buffalo!
As part of County Executive Chris Collins’ tourism initiative, the Buffalo Zoo and Odysseus
Mobile Computing have collaborated to create a cell phone tour of the Buffalo Zoo.
Visitors with Iphones and Droid model cell phones can now download a Buffalo Zoo app, which enables users to easily access multimedia information about animal exhibits, event schedules, the history of the Buffalo Zoo, conservation tips and details about Zoo memberships and other visitor amenities. Using the built-in GPS technology, the app also guides visitors around the Zoo.
To reach out to the increasing number of international tourists who visit the Western New York region each year, information about the animals and visitor amenities is available in six languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin and Japanese.
For more information, visit http://www.buffalozoo.org/iphone.html
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