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Sign Language Translator/Instructor Needed

Tom — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:07:58 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3/12/12

The Florida International Teaching Zoo in Bushnell is seeking a unique individual(s) or person(s) witha special skill to help expand our Teaching Zoo Tour programs.

We wish to find a caring person(s) to teach our Zoo Students sign language so that we may expand our programs and tours to the hearing impaired.

Please help us locate that special instructor(s).

You may contact Dr. Mark WIlson, DVM; Teaching Zoo Director/Veterinarian at (352)867-7788 (Leave message) or via email at wwdwd@thezooschool.com

New additions to the zoo

Tom — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:50:11 +0000

The Florida International Teaching Zoo is proud to announce new additions to our zoo family. We are happy to have another birth to our world renowned African Patas Monkey colony. The birth of the new kid brings a group to a total of 12 animals, the largest group in captivity. The Florida Teaching Zoo now holds over 30%of the captive USA population of these unique and threatened species in our two breeding colonies. Momma, Maria is well experienced in child rearing and is being assisted by her older daughters and Daddy Oscar.

Also, the Zoo staff is thrilled to have Maddie, the Peale’s Perigrine Falcon join our burgeoning collection. Maddie is a retired falconry bird that has become an ambassador for the preservation of her endangered species. To say she is regal and beautiful is an understatement of epic proportions. The baby monkey and falcon join black jaguars, laughing hyenas, rare ne’ne’ geese, squirrel and colobus monkeys, and a plethora of rare species in the Zoo School’s collection.

Dr. Mark Wilson, DVM Teaching Zoo founder stated” Our zoo management students need to care for a wide variety of species. Our small zoo can concentrate on unique and endangered animals giving the students invaluable experience. And for them to see the birth and development of an infant monkey being reared naturally in a normal family setting is priceless.

If you would like to visit our new arrivals, feel free to contact the Teaching Zoo at www.thezooschool.com or call our Tour Line @ 888-908-9572.

Black-Spotted Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Tom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:23:19 +0000

Overview

Inca is the name of our lone Black-Spotted Jaguar (Panthera onca). She is one of a long line of baby Jaguars born here at the zoo; in fact, we were one of only three facilities for a very long time that successfully bred the black-spotted jaguar. The Jaguar is listed as near-threatened by IUCN, with their numbers decreasing.

They are the third largest cat in the world, and according to many who actually get to work with them, the smartest, and ultimately the most deadly. Inca is a great display cat, and at nearly 20 years old she has been educating North Central Florida for many years. While most people enjoy seeing her on the regular tour of the zoo, she is also the highlight of our 4pm carnivore feeding time! Check out the other tabs to see photos, videos, and more info on these great cats.

Photos

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Videos

Here are some videos that feature our black-spotted jaguar (Panthera onca) Inca.

More Information

Comfortis Flea Control Now Available

Tom — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:55:25 +0000

We regret to inform you that due to lack of enough interest by our customers we WILL NOT be offering comfortis at this time.

Upcoming Vaccination Clinics

Tom — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:47:17 +0000

Below list of our upcoming vaccination clinics:

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Purchase a Gift Certificate for a zoo visit! The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Tom — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:15:29 +0000

Purchase the best stocking stuffer around! Admission for two or four available. Just enter the amount of admissions you are looking for and an add on donation in the name of your loved one. You can print out tickets to put in their stockings, then we will contact them on December 26th with a code to redeem their certificates for zoo tour reservations.

Happy Holidays!

Event Registration Online for Gift Certificate Sales powered by Eventbrite

Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta)

Tom — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:09:34 +0000

Overview

At the zoo we have a pair of Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Their names are Baby and Charlie. Baby and Charlie are both young adults which we hope will successfully breed soon. While the hyenas are part of our normal tour, many of our visitors come back and see them at our 4PM carnivore feeding. To see the Hyenas eating, check out the video tab above!

Photos

[gallery]

Videos

This is a playlist of the videos we have on Youtube.

More Information

What sounds does a Hyena make?

Name	Sound description	Posture	Context
Whoop	A series of 6-9 (sometimes 15) calls lasting 2–3 seconds each and spaced 2–10 seconds apart. The general tone is a “oo” tone which begins in a low pitch and ends with a high note. This sound can be heard more than 5 km away To Hear our Hyenas Make this sound, Please click here!	Usually done standing, with the mouth opened slightly and the head bent down	Used by both sexes when alone or in a group, and appears to be done spontaneously without external cause
Fast whoop	Similar to the whoop, but higher pitched and with shorter intervals	Tail is either horizontal or high with the ears cocked. Often done whilst running, with the mouth bent down	Used with other hyenas present just before the onset of an attack, often during a dispute over a kill with lions or other hyenas
Grunt	A soft, very low pitched growling sound which lasts several seconds	The mouth is closed, and the posture aggressive	Emitted on the approach of another, unwelcome hyena, and may be followed by chasing
Groan	Similar to above, but more “ooo” sounding and higher in pitch		Before and during meeting ceremonies
Low	“Ooo” sound with a usually low pitch and lasts several seconds	The mouth is slightly open with the head horizontal	Like the fast whoop, but with less tendency to attack
Giggle	A series of loud, very high pitched “hee-hee-hee” sounds usually lasting less than 5 seconds	Running in a fleeing posture with the mouth slightly open	When attacked or chased, usually over a kill
Yell	A loud, high pitched call lasting several seconds	As with the giggle	As with the giggle, but when actually being bitten
Growl	A loud, rattling, low pitched sound lasting several seconds, with an “aa” and “oh” quality	Defensive posture	When under attack, preceding a retaliatory bite
Soft grunt-laugh	A rapid succession of low pitched, soft sounding staccato grunts lasting several seconds	The mouth is closed or slightly open with a fleeing posture and the tail horizontal or high and the ears cocked	When fleeing in surprise from a lion, man or when attacking large prey
Loud grunt-laugh	Louder than the soft grunt-laugh, though still not very loud, and often lasts more than 5 minutes	The mouth is the same as in the soft grunt-laugh, but with the tail high and ears cocked	In encounters with lions or other hyena clans
Whine	Loud, high pitched, rapid, drawn out “eeee” sounding squeals	The mouth is slightly open with the head and tail hanging low	Mostly used by cubs when following a female before suckling, or when thwarted from getting food
Soft squeal	Same as above, but softer and without the staccato quality	The mouth is slightly open with the ears flattened and the head tilted to one side with the teeth bared	Used by both cubs and adults encountering a clan-mate after a long separation

This tab content courtesy of Wikipedia

Photos from the Zoo, December 2012

Tom — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:50:02 +0000

These photos were taken by Austin Pennington of Austin Pennington Photography. Please take a look at his facebook page, and let him know you saw some of his photos here.

Will I Be Able To Have A Part-Time Job?

Tom — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:20:52 +0000

Our program was developed so our students could work a part or full time job while enrolled at the school. Classes are scheduled on Sunday and Monday Night (with Tuesday night classes the first month and a half of the term). Lab days are scheduled one day a week, and at least one public weekend day a month.

Will I Be Working On Weekends Or Holidays?

Tom — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 21:17:48 +0000

Animals don’t observe holidays or weekends, so you are expected to work when needed.