NATURE | Tall Blondes | "Birth of a Giraffe" | PBS

At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, viewers witness the birth of a giraffe, which enters the world six feet above ground. LINK: Youtube

What's a Takin?

A first for the L.A. Zoo is the birth of a female Sichuan takin, born on July 3, 2009!

Though takin may look like a combination of various animals: the snout of a moose, horns of a cow, tail of a bear, body of a buffalo and a mountain goat’s feet and agility, takins actually belong to a group of animals called goat-antelope. This group also includes domestic sheep and goats.

In China takin share a mountain habitat with the giant panda, which has proven beneficial for the takin’s preservation. Pandas are an “umbrella species,” which means that protecting panda habitats also safeguards the other animals that share their habitats. Like the panda, the takin is considered a treasure in its native land and is protected by the Chinese government. The newest addition to the Zoo’s takin herd is wandering the exhibit with its parents! LINK

Day At The Zoo

This adorable Francois Langur is one of many scenes from the zoo that will warm your heart, courtesy of The Big Picture. There's already plenty of negativity out there on the web today; recharge with these awesomely cute photos. LINK

Lincoln Park Zoo Welcomes A Baby Titi Monkey Into The World!

Lincoln Park Zoo is celebrating the birth of a primate called the Bolivian gray titi monkey. Native to South American tropical forests, there are less than 50 individuals in accredited zoos. Lincoln Park Zoo has one of the most successful breeding pairs. LINK

Condor Chicks Hatch

Beginning March 27, two California condor chicks hatched over the past few days and a third chick was beginning to emerge Wednesday at the San Diego Zoos Wild Animal Park. The fourth chick to hatch will be the 150th California condor produced since the Wild Animal Park began breeding this critically endangered species 27 years ago. LINK: Youtube

Big Name, Little Bird

This White-crested Laughingthrush chick was born earlier this month at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY. Native to Southeast Asia, they are notable for their fluffy plumage, which little "Zephyr" here is already starting to exhibit. LINK

Black and White Ruffed Lemurs

A family of seven black-and-white ruffed lemurs take in the sights and sounds of their new home in the canopy of the Central Park Zoos Rainforest exhibit. LINK: Youtube

Meerkat Pups

A carnivore keeper holds meerkat pups, the first to be born in nine years at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. The pups named Zanzibar and Nairobi are four weeks old, born on Jan. 23, 2009. LINK

ZSL Babies 2008

Have a look at the various animal babies born in 2008 at ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos! LINK: Youtube

Zoo in Australia celebrates Christmas early

(NECN/ABC) - Christmas came early in the animal kingdom at Taronga Park zoo in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday.
Some of the zoo's most famous residents awoke to some very merry treats.
The excitement was clearly too much for some, although zoo workers insist the lioness with her head in a paper bag was hungry or curious but not camera-shy.
For the meerkats it was a big event.
Even when one managed to get into a package but not out of it, until zoo staff went to help.
Mary the Gibbon, at 50 years old, had seen it all before and could barely be coaxed to ground-level for her Christmas goodies.
But she finally accepted her gifts and went back to the peace and quiet of her tree to enjoy the treats. LINK

Orangutan Does Housework

A 49 year-old Orangutan at a Japanese zoo has developed a taste for house cleaning. Visitors to the Tama zoo in Tokyo watch as Gypsy the orangutan methodically cleans her enclosure. It is thought she learnt how to house clean by imitating the zoo's cleaners. LINK: Youtube