Animals & science
Stories
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A ‘first’ at Antwerp ZOO: Never before performed knee surgery provides an okapi with a pain-free future
Antwerp ZOO’s smallest okapi is once again putting his best foot forward after a serious knee operation. The operation was an absolute first, as this surgical procedure has never been applied to an okapi before. The animal suffered from knee problems ever since it was born, which would have a negative impact on its mobility and general quality of life in the long term.
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An aviary that listens: recall training is huge success
The aviary of the future is located in the very heart of the City of Antwerp, at the edge of Antwerp ZOO. ‘We have 23 species of birds flying about in our Savannah Aviary, all of whom we can check up on individually due to our recall training,’ explains Jan Dams, Curator of Birds and Animal Care Coordinator. Thanks to months of training and the expertise built up by the zookeepers, each species now recognises a specific signal that prompts it to spread its wings and fly straight to its carers.
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The importance of rain in Kenya
It’s finally raining in Kenya! This is excellent news for the Grevy’s zebras in that area after over 22 months of waiting. The area has been affected by an unforeseen and above all unprecedented drought that lasted from November 2022 to the end of March 2023. Thanks to financial support offered by Antwerp ZOO and Planckendael ZOO – and the rain! – the Grevy’s zebra populations here have now been saved from a horrible fate.
Upcoming events
EUAC Congres
The yearly conference of the EUAC, the European Union of Aquarium Curators.
Course 'Introduction to Zoo Conservation Biology'
This course is part of the Master track Behavioural Ecology in the Master Environmental Biology at Utrecht University.
Blog
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Slim bonobos have slim parents
“You are what you eat!” is a common saying. Still, some people can eat whatever they want, while for others, the scale will go up after eating a single cookie. Why does this happen? A lot of it has to do with what you eat and how often you exercise, but there is more to it: you can also have a genetic predisposition to be over- or underweight. And in bonobos, new research shows this is also the case.
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A Window into Barbie’s World: Zoo Animal Welfare indicators
Is giraffe Barbie in ZOO Planckendael using her tongue to eat her food? Is she later spending time ruminating? Is she laying down or standing up when she ruminates? All these behaviours are indicators that we can monitor to assess Barbie’s welfare. Is Barbie’s coat shiny? How is her body condition? Does she have a runny nose? These characteristics on Barbie’s physical appearance are welfare indicators as well.
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Appearances can deceive...
That is certainly the case for golden-headed lion tamarins in South Bahia. BioBrasil's research team recently received many reports about groups of golden-headed lion tamarins appearing in the backyards of houses, on streets and squares, and other places among people. Many people therefore think the species is no longer endangered.
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ZOO Science (English)
It’s finally raining in Kenya! ️💦 The Grevy’s zebras have been suffering from the effects of an unprecedented drought. Thanks to financial support offered by Planckendael ZOO, these zebras have now been saved from a horrible fate. Read more on https://t.co/tq8utneTSx! https://t.co/6fMrbD3PrJ
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ZOO Science (English)
From the lab to the blue carpet: our Biobank fascinates the audience of the In Science Filmfestival! 👌 Two of our own experts enthusiastically joined the panel following the viewing of a documentary on the San Diego Zoo’s Frozen Zoo. Curious? Read more at https://t.co/qtNDGfyXpf https://t.co/q5zcNnPyXG
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ZOO Science (English)
Fascinating news for science lovers! 📚 EAZA has launched a brand-new digital library in which all academic publications about and by zoos and aquariums can be found. You too can consult these documents! Read more about this ambitious project! https://t.co/FIMolZK9Rc