Well, That Didn't Take Long

The zoos of Ohio have only been opened to the public for a few short days, and some dummy already has to start ruining things.  I swear, we're generally glad to welcome back members of the public and share our animals with you.  It's just that we don't intend to share them this closely.  Welcome back to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the scene of this latest act of stupidity...

No matter how many times things like this play out and take a bad turn, there is always another moron waiting in the wings to hop the fence and touch the pretty soft kitty-cat.  It's bad enough that this tool is putting himself in a position where he could get hurt, or where the leopard could get hurt, but he seems to be forgetting some current events.  

As established by some (thankfully recovered) tigers in New York, big cats are susceptible to the coronavirus.  If his guy had it, even as an asymptomatic carrier, he could have infected the animal.  These days, when you see any of us actual zoo staff interacting with big cats, we're typically all decked out in PPE.

Seriously, there are dozens of reasons not to do something like this... and no good reasons to do it.

Species Fact Profile: Dumeril's Boa (Acrantophis dumerili)

Dumeril's Boa

Acrantophis dumerili (Jan & Sordelli, 1860)

Range: Southern and Western Madagascar

Habitat: Semi-Arid Forest, Savannah

Diet: Birds, Lizards, Frogs, Small Mammals (up to the size of young lemurs)

Social Grouping: Solitary

Reproduction: Breeding takes place March through May.  Male uses his small vestigial spurs to stimulate the female.  Gestation period 6-8 months.  Female gives live birth of up to 30 young, each 30-45 centimeters long.  Sexually mature at 3-5 years old

Lifespan: 20-30 Years

Conservation Status: IUCN Least Concern, CITES Appendix I

• Grow up to 2.6 meters (usually 2 meters) in length, with females being larger than males.  Males also differ from females in having longer, thinner tails
• Brown-gray background coloration covered with dark irregular patches for camouflage
• Madagascar is home to two other boa species.  They are unrelated to the pythons of mainland Africa and are instead related to the boas of the Americas
• Adults may be active by day or by night, while juveniles are primarily nocturnal.  During the winter they may undergo a brief period of inactivity
• In decline due to habitat loss, especially deforestation for charcoal production.  In some areas they are feared and hunted and killed on sight (in part because they will eat domestic poultry, in part for leather or for meat).  Some illegal collection for the pet trade
• In some parts of their range, they were traditionally protected.  The patterns of spots on their skin were thought to resemble faces, leading to the belief that their skins held the souls of departed ancestors
• Named after the French herpetologist Andre Marie Constant Dumerli

Decolonization and the Zoo

As our zoos and aquariums reopen during the COVID-19 crisis, they are finding themselves in a somewhat different world than the one they shut their gates on a few months ago.  A large part of that has been due to the disease itself and its impacts on society.  Another significant change was the killing of George Floyd, which has refocused attention on race issues.

Changes have been made in several aspects of American life since then, from the toppling of Confederate memorials to the retirement of the “Aunt Jemima” mascot.  It’s worth pausing to see how these changes may impact zoos – because they do.

Zoos (to a lesser extent aquariums) have a history that is steeped in colonialism.  Before there were even formal zoos, colonial powers sent back exotic animals from their overseas territories back home for the entertainment and education of the populace.  In many ways, these animals served as living trophies of the power of the colonizer.  When the citizens of Belgium saw okapi in the Antwerp Zoo, they were reminded that their tiny little country ruled a sprawling empire in the Congo larger than most European countries.

Zoos weren’t alone in collecting and displaying foreign trophies.  So did botanical gardens and museums.  The “specimens” brought back weren’t always animals, plants, or artifacts, either.  They also included people (evidence: Ota Benga at the Bronx Zoo, CarlHagenbeck’s popular “Ethnographic Exhibitions”). 

Even if people aren’t themselves on display in zoos, we haven’t always done the best job of showing sensitivity to foreign cultures.  “African” tribal architecture (as if that were one thing) is often used in exhibits, often without much real thought towards accuracy or logic.  Sometimes educational messaging goes awry in the minds of the public, leaving them with the impression that “bad” Africans and Asians are poaching and destroying all of the wildlife recklessly – and that things might be better off for the animals if someone else was overseeing conservation efforts and enforcement in those countries.

Zoo history is full of awkward moments, some of which can be uncomfortable (even cringe-worthy) to look at from a 21^st century perspective.   None of which is to say that we should scrap zoos or stop the important work that they do for conservation.  It’s just that there are a few ways that we can do better.  They include:

·      Being careful about incorporating indigenous cultures into exhibits.  Done properly, it can be a great technique for offering an integrated understanding on how people and animals co-exist and provide a holistic educational experience.  Done poorly, it can leave people with the impression that Africans live in huts swarming with monkeys.  When cultures are incorporated into exhibits, they should be depicted accurately and respectfully, preferably with consultation from representatives of that culture.  If in doubt – don’t do it.

·         Highlight and support indigenous conservation efforts.  Many zoos and aquariums partner with in situ conservation partners to save species in their natural habitats.  Provide signage to prominently depict their efforts and help lobby support.  Remind visitors that conservation isn’t just the purview of WWF, WCS, and other large, western-based organizations.  It’s also being carried out, in many cases led, by people on the ground who live in those countries

·         Be mindful of language – the concept of “discovery” is a great example.  Sure, the okapi was “discovered” in the early 1900s – but only in the sense that it was previously unknown to Europeans.  Before that, it had been known to the inhabitants of the Ituri Forest for millennia.

·         Don’t oversimplify conservation messaging.  For example, rhinos are being poached in Africa, and yes, most of the people doing the shooting are Africans.  Don’t let the story end there.  Educate visitors about how economic hardships and overseas demand drive the market for rhino horns (at the same time, be mindful of feeding racist stereotypes about cultures that use endangered animals for food or medicinal purposes – especially the Chinese)

·         Find ways to give back.  Look into selling fair-trade products from range countries in your gift shops.  Contribute to conservation scholarships for African, Asian, or Latin American biologists to receive training abroad – maybe even host one at your zoo for a visit.  It can be a great two-way learning street – they can also deliver lectures/presentations for staff and guests about conservation efforts on the ground.

I don’t think people like Hagenbeck, or William T. Hornaday, or other zoo professionals of their era were necessarily bad people for managing zoos the way they did over 100 years ago.  I hope that futures generations won’t look at the way I do my job and think too poorly of me for not doing it the way they do.  But, as Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, do better.”  We constantly strive to do better by our animals.  Let’s broaden our goal of whom we apply that philosophy to.

From the News: David Attenborough fronts £12,000,000 to save London Zoo

David Attenborough fronts 12,000,000 to save London Zoo

Sir David Attenborough is perhaps the most renowned, respected living naturalist we have today.  His documentaries have inspired millions to care more about the natural world.  In spite of that, or perhaps because of it, he knows better than anyone that even the best documentary can only move people so far.  Sometimes, what you need is to be in the presence of the animals themselves.  His very generous gift to the Zoological Society of London is proof of that.  It's also a fitting endorsement of one of the world's first scientifically-run zoological parks (and the first that ever even used the name "zoo") by one of the most celebrated living Britons... and a fitting encouragement for any other celebrities that may want to follow his example.

Book Review: The Eighth Continent - Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar

“All told, biologists estimate that eight out of ten of all living things on Madagascar exist only there in all the world.  How did this come to pass?  Where the island’s distinctive menagerie come from?  When?  Finally, how did its assorted members get there?”

Looking at a map of the world, the island of Madagascar doesn’t seem that far off from the coast of East Africa.  Appearances can be deceiving.  In truth, Madagascar, the world’s fourth largest island, is totally different from not just Africa, but every other place on earth.  It is home to an array of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth.  Its landscapes are dramatically different from those of mainland Africa.  The culture and origins of its people are an enduring mystery. 

Science-writer Peter Tyson tackles that mystery  and others in The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar.  Over a series of expeditions, Tyson shadows scientists – foreign and Malagasy – as they explore different aspects of Madagascar’s anthropology and zoology, past and present.  He joins herpetological expeditions, scouring forests for lizards that are almost completely unknown to western science.  He descends into caves with paleontologists to unravel the mystery of Madagascar’s recently extinct megafauna, including pygmy hippos, giant flightless birds, and gorilla-sized lemurs.  He travels with anthropologists who seek to untangle the African-Indonesian-Arabic origins of the Malagasy people.  And yes, this is a book about Madagascar, so there are lemurs.  Tyson meets with a primatologist who has discovered a new species of cyanide-eating lemur, but more importantly explores her efforts to promote a sustainable conservation effort to preserve Madagascar’s vanishing forests.

The book is a fascinating overview of the island and offers an enjoyable primer of its history, from the earliest visits of seafarers to the court of the tyrannical Queen Ranavalona I to the colonial era to Madagascar’s uncertain, tumultuous current political scene.  It explores the diverse – yet surprisingly unified – cultures and customs of the peoples.  Likewise, it offers an accessible introduction to the biological mysteries of the island.  Where did its wildlife come from?  Why is its fauna so different from Africa?  Why are some families so abundant and diverse, and others absent completely?  Why are others, such as iguanas and boas, found here, but with their nearest relatives thousands of miles away?

The best thing about The Eighth Continent is the diverse subjects that it tackles, divided into four sections.  It’s like a treasury of Malagasy lore – there’s a topic for anyone’s interest.  Not into geckos?  Fine, skip that section and read up on fossils and forensic paleontology.  Not into bones?  Check out the chapter on the origins of the Malagasy people.

My least favorite part of the book?  The author.  Throughout the book, but especially in its last chapter, he comes across as a somewhat snide, judgmental narrator, sometimes dripping with disdain towards the people that he meets.  Sometimes he has a flash of awareness and catches and corrects himself.  Other times, he judges on.  It does make it a little distracting and clouds your impression of some of the people he meets and the ideas they espouse.  This is especially problematic in the last section, where the author explores the controversy behind competing proposals on how to have communities manage and protect their local forests.  It makes the reader wonder if they’re getting the full, unbiased view.

Madagascar is a fascinating topic for anyone interested in biology.  Too often, conversations (and zoo exhibits) on the subject are zeroed –in on ring-tailed lemurs and not much else.  The Eighth Continent does something that few other books do, which is provide a comprehensive, expansive view of this bizarre, beautiful land mass and the people and animals who inhabit it.

The Eighth Continent - Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar on Amazon.com

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there... big and small.

Zoo Joke: The Gator Pool

The city zoo received an enormous donation from a local millionaire, which they used to build a huge new alligator exhibit.  The exhibit was a vast, sprawling swampland of murky waters, filled with dozens of the biggest alligators that the zoo could find.  The day before the grand opening, the zoo director, flanked by the various keepers, took the millionaire for a preview tour.

The party walked along the boardwalk overlooking the swamp, and the millionaire surveyed the giant, hungry gators swimming in the water below.  He was obviously very pleased with what his donation built.

"This is a great exhibit, people will love it!" he exclaimed.  "But I'll tell you what, I'm glad I don't work here!  It's terrifying enough just watching from up here."   At that moment, as he leaned over the railing, his wristwatch slipped off and dropped into the swamp.

"That watch is priceless to me!" he cried out,  "It's been in my family for generations.  I'd give anything to have it back!"

Seconds later, the group heard a loud splash, followed by a loud gasp as one of the attendant keepers broke the surface of the water.  Instantly, the alligators swarmed him, jaws snapping.  Quickly and skillfully, the keeper dodged their teeth, soon scrambling onto the back of the largest gator.  Then, leaping from the back of one animal to another, he made his way to a nearby tree, which he shimmied up just in time.  The snapping jaws of the alligators closed inches behind him as he scurried up to safety. 

When he finally returned to the boardwalk, dripping wet and shivering with terror, the millionaire's watch was clasped tightly in his hand.

"I can't believe that you got it back!" the millionaire said.  "You've earned whatever reward you can ask for - money, cars, a house, name it!  What do you want?"

"Just this," the keeper replied through chattering teeth... "Somebody tell me who pushed me?"

NOTE: I heard a version of this joke from years ago, but remembered it recently after an incident at St. Augustine Alligator Farm, where a curator was retrieving an object dropped by a visitor in the main alligator exhibit, only to be seized by a large alligator.  Thankfully, he escaped and is recovering from his injuries (I am only okay with using this joke because he is safe).

Keep Calm and Carry On. No, Seriously - Calm Down

Earlier this week, I wrote of the efforts of many dedicated members of the public to help save the Chester Zoo in England.  Similar efforts have taken place around the world, with local communities railing to save their zoos.  That, combined with the outpouring of support we've all seen as zoos share more and more content online while they are/were closed, has been very touching.

However...

There is a subset of the public which has been a bit, shall we say, plaintive, lately.  It's come as zoos are reopening, or contemplating reopening, or refraining from opening based on the restrictions in place by the state or local government.  Some people are angry that things aren't open right away.  Some are angry that things are open, but not all of the amenities and attractions, especially ones which make social distancing difficult or impossible.  Some are angry that admissions are timed and metered, meaning members can't just pop in and out whenever they want, which is one of the main perks of a membership.  And don't even think about broaching the subject of masks...

Look, we get it.  This stinks.  Literally no one is having fun right now.  We would love for everything to be the way it was, with everyone coming and having a great time with no restrictions.  We would also love for you not to die... or at least not to bring home a souvenir from your visit that sickens your elderly relatives.  We're all in uncharted waters here.  We have a responsibility to behave ethically and cautiously.  Besides, a lot of the decisions being made are out of our hands, instead being made by political leaders and health experts.

So everyone, take a step back and calm down.  We're all trying our best to make it through a global pandemic without every aspect of culture and society being lost in the progress.  Just breathe.  It's a bumpy ride, but we'll get there...

Closing the Living Coasts

Just last week, I was touting some great news from the United Kingdom, that the beleaguered Chester Zoo seemed to be saved by an outpouring of community support.  With the zoos of the UK about to open, I hoped that there would be enough support now to keep them all afloat.  Sadly, yesterday I learned that one beloved British facility will not be reopening.  Ever.

Living Coasts, located in Devon, is a unique facility, part aquarium, part highly-specialized zoo, focusing on marine and coastal life.  It won awards for its beautiful aviaries of sea birds, and was renowned for its seals, otters, penguins, and many fish.  I would have loved to have visited someday.  It looks like that chance won't come.

I'm so sorry for the keepers and other staff members who are seeing the end of a facility that they worked so hard for, as well as the community that lost such a spectacular jewel (the animals I don't worry about as much - I know they'll all find good homes).  It's a worrying reminder of how fragile our facilities can be - and it makes it hard not to watch the ongoing pandemic with increasing dread, as we never know what turn it might take next.

Documentary: The Woman Who Loves Giraffes

A week from today is the longest day of the year, which also honors the world's tallest mammal.  It will be World Giraffe Day!  To help celebrate, support the conservation of these (surprisingly) endangered animals, and to pass the time if you're still in Coronavirus lockdown, consider checking out the exciting new documentary, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes.  It details the story of Anne Innis Dagg, a Canadian woman who became one of the first scientists ever (and certainly one of the first women) to study a wild mammal in the field, predating Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey.  

The Woman Who Loves Giraffes

Clicking on the link above gives you the chance to rent the movie online for 5 days for $12.  (You can also check out the trailer there).  Half of the proceeds go to support giraffe conservation in the wild.  Give it a click and help save the long-necks!

From the News: Incredibly Rare 'Baby Dragons" Have Just Gone on Display in Slovenia

Subterranean aquarium?  Almost mythical aquatic salamanders?  Sounds like fun.  This isn't your typical zoo trip - I didn't even know that anywhere in the world even displayed the olm, the European cave-dwelling cousin of the American mudpuppies.  From the looks of the article, I won't be seeing them any time soon - they're on the other end of the world and limited to only 30 visitors a day... although the later point is kinda reminding me of our own zoos right now...

Incredibly Rare 'Baby Dragons' Have Just Gone on Display in Slovenia

A Click Down Memory Lane

With so many things still shut down due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, it's not surprising that I have a lot of time of my hands.  I've been judiciously using this time by 1) tooling around way too much on the computer and 2) spending a lot of time staring at the ceiling, gathering wool.  Sometimes, just to shake things up, I combine the two and spend lengthy periods of time googling various things that pop into my head.

Today, out of nowhere, the memory that came to me was my first computer game (or video game) of my own.  Not surprisingly, it was called "Zookeeper", and it was produced by Davidson.

Long before Zoo Tycoon or Planet Zoo, Davidson's Zookeeper put you in charge of running a zoo.  You didn't get to build one - I mean, this was over 25 years ago, so tech was a little limited.   Instead, you had a zoo of a few dozen species, which you were responsible for the upkeep of.  That meant feeding proper diets, cleaning trash, making sure temperatures were appropriate, and keeping track of pesky troublemakers who were out to ruin things.  Guided by your sidekick Funk E. Monkey (a name which doubtlessly appealed to 6-year-old me a lot), you learned about the animals while taking care of them.

We didn't have an in-home computer at that point - most families didn't - but my dad had a few computers at his workplace, and often there was a spare I could use when I was with him at work. 

Today there is so, so much content about zoos out there, interactive and passive, that a child who is interested can easily learn so much, whether online or on TV or in print, between their visits.  For me as a kid, there wasn't that much available.  Games like Zookeeper meant a lot to me.  They helped keep my interest in animals keen on the periods between visits and gave me some of my first imaginary meanderings of running the zoo... even if the monkey was really calling the shots.



 I can't imagine what the six-year-old me would have done with Zoo Tycoon...

Saving the Chester Zoo

I've never been to the United Kingdom, but I'd love to visit someday.  Mostly because of the zoos, of course.  If I had to limit myself to visiting just three during a trip (on the ridiculous assumption that my travel companions would want to do other things), I could probably force myself to narrow my scope.  The London Zoo would probably be the most convenient to visit, to say nothing of its important role in the history of modern zoos.  Gerald Durrell is a hero of mine who helped shape my worldview of what a zoo can and should be, so his Jersey Zoo in the Channel Islands would be wonderful to see.  In terms of which zoo has the actual animal collection that I'd be most eager to see, I would say Chester Zoo.

This time last week, the prospects of visiting Chester Zoo any time in the future looked grim.  To be frank, it looked like there might not be a Chester Zoo to visit.  With coronavirus closures strangling the zoo's funds, permanent closure looked like a real possibility.

Then the public stepped up.

Chester Zoo 'forever grateful' as it prepares to reopen next week

Members of the public contributed over one million British pounds, certainly an accomplishment at a time when many people are having to tighten their belts due to a volatile world economy.  They also helped convince Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reopen the nation's zoos.  As much as I love them, zoos, I admit, aren't "essential" in the way many services are.  They are, however, much easier to visit safely than many public places are, especially those with few indoor areas.

The last few months have been scary ones, but it's refreshing to remember that, for many people, zoos are vital parts of their lives, and many people have come together to share their commitment to keeping them with us.  As American zoos continue to gradually open, it's worth remembering - we are here for our animals, but we are only here because of our communities.  As long as we have their support, we can weather almost anything.

Bringing Up Babies

The very first New Caledonian giant geckos that I ever saw were also the smallest.

I had just started a job at a zoo's Reptile House, and the geckos had joined the family the same time I had.  The difference, of course, was that I was hired and they were hatched.  Being the world's biggest gecko, they were, not surprisingly, the world's biggest baby gecko.  The hatchlings were already about the size of the full-grown crested geckos that I was familiar with.  And it fell to me to give them their bottles, so to speak.

OK, it wasn't a bottle, but it was baby food.  Gerber's, if I recall correctly, which a special fondness for the peach and pear flavors.  Each days, I'd get a spoonful of the stuff, mix in some shredded cricket, stir in some calcium powder for strong bone growth, and then grab a gecko and plop down.  Sometimes I'd have to dunk a little snoot a few times first to get them interested (I'm told that's how it works for human babies to? I guess? No?), but eventually they'd start licking.

(Sorry, it's a horrble blurry photos.  This predates phone cameras)

Years later, I've had an incredible amount of new experiences as a keeper, some thrilling in the super-exciting-I-can't-believe-I-get-paid-for-this way, and some thrilling more along the lines of the we're'-all-going-to-die way.  Still, I can't think of any experience that was as soothingly therapeutic as plopping back and feeding baby geckos their baby food.

Species Fact Profile: New Caledonian Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus)

New Caledonian Giant Gecko

Rhacodactylus leachianus (Cuvier, 1829)

Range: New Caledonia (main island and smaller surrounding ones)
Habitat: Rainforest
Diet: Invertebrates, Small Vertebrates, Fruit, Nectar, Sap
Social Grouping: Solitary
Reproduction: May lay several clutches per year, each consisting of 2 eggs.  Eggs hatch after 60-90 day incubation period, their sex being determined by the temperature at which they are incubated.
Lifespan: 20 Years+
Conservation Status: IUCN Least Concern

• World's largest living gecko, measuring up to 36 centimeters long, including tail,, weighing 250-350 grams.  Heavy-bodied with a short, stumpy tail and loose skin.  Males have broader heads, more slender bodies than females.  Considered an example of island gigantism
• Skin color may be green, gray, or brown, covered with white or cream-colored mottling that serves as camouflage.
• Highly arboreal. Primarily active at from dusk until dawn, but sometimes seen basking during the day.  Usually shelters for the day in tree crevices
• Capable of dropping their tails when in danger and growing new ones at a later date.
• Scientific name honors the English zoologist William Elfrod Leach.  Sometimes affectionately known as the Leachie
• Up to three subspecies have previously been described; today, none are considered valid
• Feared by the local Kanak people, who called it "the devil of the trees" and believed that it could steal a person's soul.  Capable of making a loud growling noise when threatened.
• Declining due to habitat loss (including electrocution from power lines), as well as predation from introduced mammals, such as cats and rats.  Collected illegally for the pet trade.

Welcome Back, Welcome Back

Earlier this week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced his state's transition into the next phase of the reopening process, one which will allow zoos to reopen.  This paves the way to Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, and other zoos welcoming visitors back for the first time in three months.  Some states have already opened.  Others are expected to follow soon.

It's too soon to say, "We made it!"  Zoos and aquariums have lost a lot of income over the past season, and it's not like things are going to immediately get better.  Visitor rates will be slow and carefully controlled for the next few weeks.  Plenty of people might not yet feel comfortable coming back to anyplace that's not the grocery store or Walmart.  No one is suddenly turning on a spigot of money that's going to refill our coffers.

Still, it's a step back to normalcy, and right now, we could all use that.

From the News: Buffalo Zoo looking for stolen red-footed tortoise

Buffalo Zoo looking for red-footed tortoise stolen Tuesday night

The widespread rumors of zoos being broken into and animals turned loose on city streets across America have proven false... but there is always the exception that proves the rule.  This Tuesday, a red-footed tortoise was stolen from the Buffalo Zoo's Rainforest Falls exhibit, and zoo staff are eager to have her returned.

This isn't the first time that someone has helped themselves to a pet from their local zoo.  Still, the whole thing is pretty bizarre.  First, with the zoo being closed to the public, you'd think it would be even harder than usual for someone to get in and steal an animal.  It's not as if a visitor could come in during open hours, then hide out until everyone was gone.  Also... all that effort and they took a red-footed tortoise?  An animal which is readily available as a pet?  They risked jail and heavy fines for that?  Weird...

Anyway, here's to hoping that the perpetrator realizes the foolishness of their action and that the tortoise is returned soon.  There's already enough crazy stuff going on without adding tortoise-napping to the list.

Take this guy, for example...

Police: Man broke into zoo, said 'he had gotten drunk and wanted to see the monkeys'

"Pop" Goes the Weasel

Yesterday, the management of the Detroit Zoo was called away from the business of figuring out how to keep the zoo afloat during the uncertain age of COVID-19 to deal with an unexpected problem - popcorn.  It turns out that Detroit Popcorn, one of the vendors that sells concessions at the Zoo, found itself in trouble yesterday after some comments made by the company's owner.  At best, the comments - referring to African-American protesters across the country - were stunningly tone deaf, and at worst were vehemently racist.  Soon, several people were flocking to the Detroit Zoo's Facebook page with one question - "What are you going to do about it?"

The decision, as it happened, was a fairly easy one.  The Zoo dropped them.  Fast, hard, and with no room for doubt about what led to their decision:

We've talked a lot over the years about helping our zoos and aquariums "Walk the Walk" to be good environmental stewards.  This has involved reducing our carbon footprints, reducing-reusing-recycling, protecting wildlife habitat on our own grounds, and several other steps to be good global citizens.  It's worth remembering that being a good citizen isn't just about the environment.  It's also about social justice.  We can't say that we're here to serve and educate and inspire our communities, and then go into business with someone who is blatantly contemptuous of a large swath of that community.

Not only is that bad business - it's just wrong.  The Detroit community seems to have seen how Detroit Zoo responded to Detroit Popcorn, and they approve and applaud it.  I would hope all zoos and aquariums wound behave in a similar manner to resisting racism and intolerance in their own communities.

Fake News at the Zoo

Well, I kept on hoping for a day when the top news story wouldn't be Coronavirus... just goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for.

Unrest continue to unfold across the country in many major cities, with some protests over the death of George Floyd evolving into riots.  It's a scary situation for a lot of people, but thankfully, there are always a bunch of idiots who are determined to find ways to make things worse.  One way that they are doing this is by spreading rumors and sowing panic.  One obnoxious trend that we're seeing is pranksters spreading rumors that protesters have broken into zoos and released the animals, which are now running amok.

None of these rumors are true.  They rely on photos from elsewhere, or photoshopped.  Some have no basis in reality with the actual zoo - pictures from Chicago show tigers and Nile hippos running the street, alledgedly released from the Lincoln Park Zoo - which has neither of those species.

Keepers, already slogging their way to work through the pandemic, also have to go to work through the ensuing chaos.  I hope that they - and, well, everybody, really - makes it through this safely.

What's sad is that some people refuse to believe that this is false, even after the zoos confirm that all animals are present and safe.