Z-mail from the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo!

Click here to read this message on our web site

September 15, 2011
Gone Fishin' Watch keepers feed Scooter and Scuttle every afternoon. With no need for a fishing pole or bait, great white pelicans Scooter and Scuttle expertly capture fish in their huge pouched bills. Twice a day, zoo keepers stand on the bridge and toss fish to the duo.  The pelicans almost always catch the fish.  "We try to toss the fish into their mouth, but once in a while we miss," says zoo keeper Kelly Sinak.  "They're pretty good about scooping up any fish that accidentally falls into the water." Sinak explains that Scooter, the male, is a bit greedy.  "If Scuttle (the female) drops a fish, he rushes over to scoop it up - not for her, but for himself!" The pelicans, which are native to the swamps and lakes of Africa, each get about 85 fish per feeding - that adds up to more than two pounds of fish per day!  Plan a visit to catch the pelicans' afternoon feeding.  Keepers normally feed the pelicans sometime between 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. daily. The pelicans are experts at scooping fish from the water with their pouched bill. Sandy and her colt Chester are new in the Big Red Barn. Meet Sandy and Chester There are two new faces in the Big Red Barn at the Indiana Family Farm!  Sandy, a friendly pony, and her colt, and three-month old male named Chester, moved into the barn last week.  Stop by and say hello! Conservation Corner: Red Pandas International Red Panda Day is September 17. Red pandas are beloved for their cherubic faces and beautiful fur.  But in the wild, their numbers are declining rapidly.  Experts estimate that fewer than 15,000 red pandas survive in the wild of India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.  Red pandas are an endangered species. A number of organizations are at work protecting red panda habitat, which is the key to their survival.   September 17 is designated as International Red Panda Day.  Pay a visit to Junjie and Xiao to learn more about red pandas next time you visit the zoo.	Coming Up Tues. & Wed. in September Storytime Sept. 10 - Oct. 1 Fall Zoo School Sept. 21 Zoo Volunteer Training Oct. 9 Zoo Closes for the Season October 14-16, 20-23, 27-31 Wild Zoo Halloween Click for event details and mark your calendar! Hours The zoo is open every day, including holidays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until October 9, 2011. Admission Prices $13.00 for adults $8.50 for children age 2-14 $10.50 for seniors age 60 and over Babies age one and under and Zoo Society Members are admitted free. Helpful Links Renew Your Zoo Membership Renew for 2 years and save $10! Adopt-an-Animal The perfect gift for Mom, Dad, or anyone! Make a Donation You too can make a difference at the Zoo by making a donation. Member Change of Address Have you moved?  Update your membership information to continue receiving our mailings.

STAY CONNECTED:             Visit our web site: www.kidszoo.org

Please do not reply to this message.  If you have a question that is not answered by our website click here to contact us by e-mail. If you would like to stop receiving this newsletter, click here to be removed from our list.