Como Zoo Conservatory
1225 Estabrook Drive Saint Paul, MN 55103
Visitors from around the world visit Como. Recently, some visitors from North Dakota spent some time at Como. Take a look at what they had to say!
Full story can be found HERE.
Como Zoo staff and the visitors celebrated “Chloe the Sloth,” the resident Hoffman’s Two Toed Sloth 12th Birthday on Sunday in Tropical Encounters. Zookeeper Bree gave a 15 minute sloth talk about conservation and fun facts of these unique furry friends. Chloe’s half brother “Stephano,” Como Zoo’s Education sloth, made an appearance as a party guest as well. The public got to interact by blowing into quiet party favors in the midst of bird singing in the exhibit to relate to how sloths may vocalize but are often unheard. Sloths use other adaptations, such as their large noses for sense of smell; to find their friends or mate in the rain forest of Central and South America.
Chloe also received a tomato cupcake on her resident tree which was a hollowed out tomatoes with steamed butter nut squash , noodles, and a strawberry. Zookeepers also brought a “guest” who was a cardboard cut out of the now extinct rhino; to help visitors see that changes and help must be made to conserve and preserve many of the endangered and threatened species. The rhino was unable to be present due to it’s now extinct representation .
Visitors then got to ask questions and interact with keeper staff.
Photos by Jackie Scherer Photography
On World Turtle Day®, zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are highlighting conservation efforts protecting turtles and tortoises and are encouraging the public to join in taking action to help save the species from extinction.
Como is home to many different turtles and tortoises including Galapagos Tortoises, Mata Mata Turtles, Pancake Tortoises, Radiated Tortoieses, Sulcata Tortoises, Wood Turtles, and Yellow-Headed Turtles.
About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and eight other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.
About SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction
SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction combines the power of zoo and aquarium visitors with the resources and collective expertise of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and partners to save animals from extinction. Together we are working on saving the most vulnerable wildlife species from extinction and protecting them for future generations. To learn more, visit AZAsavingspecies.org.
Photos by Zookeeper Ruthie
Sven Sundgaard and Kare 11 stopped by Como to learn how we help Polar Bears in the wild! Sven also made some special enrichment for Buzz and Neil! He is now in Churchill, Manitoba learning about the plight of polar bears and climate change. Follow his adventures on Twitter using the hashtag #ExploreWithSven.
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) today announced that the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.
“Only zoos and aquariums that meet the highest standards are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “By achieving AZA-accreditation, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory demonstrates that it is dedicated to protecting species and educating its visitors about the natural world.”
To be accredited, the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory underwent a thorough review to ensure it has and will continue to meet rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association.
“I hear from people so often that Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is one of their favorite family destinations,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “We should all be so proud of this incredible asset which brings in people from all over the city, state and region. I’m not at all surprised by today’s announcement, but am so proud of the hard work and dedication of our zoo staff and the abiding support from the community – which makes this accreditation possible.”
The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s operation, including animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; visitor services; and other areas. Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal hearing of AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied. Any institution that is denied may reapply one year after the Commission’s decision is made.
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and seven other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.
As a tribute to recently retired and ever-affable zookeeper Pete Lee, Como Zoo’s baby female giraffe now has a name: Frances.
“Over the years, while working behind the scenes, the animals and I would often listen to Frank Sinatra” said Lee. “I’ve always suggested that a nice name for one of our beautiful creatures would be Francis, or Frances with an ‘e’ for a female.”
Pete Lee worked 27 years at Como Zoo. At his retirement party, as a nod to Pete’s longtime penchant for naming an animal Francis, all the guests wore either a Frances or a Francis name-tag. Pete loved to step out from behind the scenes to engage the public. With a quick wit, the ability to tell a great story, and a larger-than-life personality, Pete would educate and entertain guests of all ages. In his 27 years at Como, Pete had worked with just about every animal and in every corner of the Zoo. He worked with the primates, big cats, and for the last nine years the bison, kudu, zebras, and giraffes. When asked what he thought of the naming honor, Pete Lee simply stated “I’m over the moon”.
Pete Lee continues to host his popular radio show “Bop Street,” once referred to as “the best American pop music show in the country”, every Monday from 4pm-6:30pm on Twin Cities “fresh air” community volunteer radio station KFAI.
Frances was born August 24th, and made her public debut August 27th. She is the 6th calf born to Clover and the 19th giraffe birth at Como Zoo in the last 22 years. Frances weighed 135 pounds at birth and now stands over 6” tall. Como’s current herd of giraffes consists of Clover, Daisy, Skeeter (father), and Frances.
Como Zoo was recently named the best Zoo in Minnesota by Yahoo Travel! A big thank you to all of the staff, volunteers, and visitors who make Como such a special place!
For the full list of Zoos (and an adorable picture of Chloe) check out: https://www.yahoo.com/travel/go-wild-the-best-zoo-in-every-state-120496231352.html
The Wyoming Toads are coming out of their hibernation! Once the toads awake from hibernation by gradually increasing the temperature, they will be introduced in pairs to breed for the season. If successful, each individual pair can lay up to 7,000 eggs at one time. These eggs, eventually hatching into tadpoles, will be shipped out to Laramie , Wyoming and back into the wild! This is just one of
On April 4, 2015, Como Zoo hatched their first pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri). The egg was laid this past October and was incubated for 170 days at 88 degrees F to hopefully produce female offspring (many reptiles have gender specified incubation). This hatchling is about the size of a golf ball and is a perfect miniature replica of her parents, who are only 6 inches in length and weigh about a pound each.
Spring must have sprung at Como Zoo! Our Zookeepers and the education animal collection would like to welcome four new baby African Four-Toed Hedgehogs to our collection! The four –toed African Hedgehogs are just one of several species of small mammal that Como Zoo has in its diverse collection that is used for educational programs and value added events at the Zoo. The hedgehogs are often
Join us for a unique opportunity to move your classroom to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory for a week of hands-on, interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning. Como education staff will partner with you to deliver a program where students will use the scientific method to do real-world learning about the plants and animals of Como. Teacher training is provided and the program, including
Our Baby Shower may be over but there is still a lot everyone can do to help save wild Orangutans! Some experts estimate that at the current rate of
habitat destruction for palm oil, orangutans could face extinction in
as few as 10-15 years.
An easy way to find out whether or not the products you buy are orangutan-friendly is to download the FREE smartphone app from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Como Zoo announces the birth, via Caesarean section, of a female orangutan. Markisa, a 27 year-old Sumatran Orangutan, gave birth to a female infant weighing a healthy, 3.45 pounds on January 7, 2015. The newborn was delivered at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center by Dr. Micky Trent, DVM, Veterinary Medical Center Surgeon and lead veterinarian for Como Zoo, with the
