Miami Metrozoo Podcast
By Miami MetroZoo
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Podcast Description
Explore the Miami MetroZoo
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Howler Monkey | Howler monkeys use their extremely loud calls to signal their troop's presence to others or as an alarm. The sound begins as a low guttural howl and then magnifies to such a volume that it can be heard over 1 mile away. This monkey is one of the largest monkeys from the New World and has a prehensile tail. The male is black and the female is golden to dark yellow. Offspring are brown and young males start to turn black at 2 and half years old. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dromedary | The one humped camel or Arabian camel as it is also called, no longer exists in the wild in Arabia. Now it is only found in the domestic state in Arabia and in other parts of the world. The Dromedary camel like the two-humped Bactrian camel is extremely well-adapted for life in the desert and is able to survive for weeks without food or drink by using its reserve of fat stored in the hump when necessary. This large herbivore eats a wide variety of plants, including salty and thorny species that the camel can tolerate thanks to its thickened lips. The camel is called the" Ship of the Desert" due to its swaying motion as it moves across the sands. It walks by moving the front and back legs on the same side forward together and then the other side moves forward, this produces a swaying or rocking motion reminiscent of a ship on the water. This camel forms small herds that include one male, several females and the young. The male will defend his herd by spitting, biting and even leaning on his opponent. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
African Crested Porcupine | When the African crested porcupine raises its quills it gives it a "crested" appearance. The quills are long, about 1 foot in length and very sharp. When they come off, new quills grow in to replace them. The African crested porcupine weighs up to 55 pounds making it the largest and heaviest African rodent. And like other members of the rodent family, the porcupine wears down its big incisors (front-teeth) by gnawing on its food such as bulbs, bark, berries, roots and fruits. It forages for food both day and night; the African porcupine takes shelter in burrows, crevices or under boulders. Look for the distinctive black and white banded quills of the porcupine in the shelter in the middle of the exhibit. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Matschies Tree Kangaroo | Mataschie's tree kangaroo is a tree climber, an arboreal marsupial. To aid in its tree climbing abilities all four feet have curved claws with rough pads on the bottom to help with gripping. The forelegs are about the same size as the hind legs unlike ground kangaroos where the back legs are much longer. This tree kangaroo can also move each back leg independently. It only weighs around 15 pounds and although it usually moves slowly but deliberately, it can travel quickly through the trees leaping 30 feet from tree to tree. Tree kangaroos like to eat juicy leaves, flowers, fruit, nuts, insects, small birds and eggs. This kangaroo also eats grass and can jump 60 feet to the ground without getting hurt. Mataschie's tree kangaroo is just one of the many species that Miami MetroZoo is involved with through the Species Survival Plan. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Siamang | Siamang's are also lesser apes. Their arms are twice the length of their body and they are the largest gibbons. Like the white-handed gibbons this species can walk upright among the branches with its arms stretched out for balance. The gibbons can leap 30 feet to another branch very quickly. The siamangs are a close family usually staying with 30 feet of each other at all times and are rarely more than 100 feet apart. Underneath the chin is an inflatable throat skin that the siamangs use to increase or amplify the volume and distance of their duets. Each siamang has a distinct voice and while they are performing they also do some acrobatic moves through the trees. This special duet can be heard every day mid-morning at the Zoo, and you don't have to be next to the exhibit to hear it, the sound travels for more than a mile. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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White Handed Gibbon | The white-handed gibbon has long, muscular arms that exceed the length of the body. This acrobatic ape is a lesser ape. Lesser apes are like their relatives the great apes but are smaller in size; they have a more slender form and longer canine teeth. In addition when they swing from branch to branch, a form of locomotion called brachiating, they use their fingers as hooks. The hands have long fingers and the small thumb is set close to the wrist, keeping it out of the way as the gibbon swings. This gibbon spends most of the day looking for fruit, leaves and insects. Time is also spent on mutual grooming each day. The gibbons perform a daily duet usually around dawn and dusk. It is a call of long hoots to each other and to neighboring groups. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Koala | There are about 300 species of marsupials in Australia, but perhaps none as well known as the Koala. It is not a bear even though it has a teddy-bear appearance with its large nose, small eyes and roundish head. The koala is small, measuring only about 2.5 feet tall and is arboreal, spending almost its whole life in the eucalyptus trees. It eats only eucalyptus leaves. Koalas eat about 2 pounds of food a night and drink very little water getting moisture from the leaves it eats. Koala is the aboriginal word for "no drink". There are very few zoos in the United States that display koalas due to their specialized dietary requirements of particular kinds of eucalyptus leaves. We have two koalas here Mary Quinn and Cobber who rotate out on exhibit. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
White Backed Vulture | This large type of vulture found in the New World (the Americas) is the Andean Condor. With a wingspan of 11 feet it is one of the largest flying birds. Andean condors show sexual dimorphism, the sexes of the species look different. The male condor's head is red, has a prominent comb and a wattle underneath the beak. The female of the species is larger than the male and has a black head with no comb or wattle. Condors are mainly scavengers but will occasionally go for prey. They may soar over huge distances searching for food. The bill is strong for tearing open dead animals. Along the coast they feed on the carcasses of marine mammals. Andean condors have one egg every other year and are attentive parents caring for the chick until it is ready to be on its own- about one year after hatching. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bongo | Thirteen stripes, twelve on the side and one across the chest give this antelope its name; in Swahili bongo means thirteen. With vertical white stripes and a chestnut colored coat this is one of the most distinctive looking forest antelopes. Heavy, curved horns that average three feet in length are present in both the male and female and are used to pull down high branches so they can browse. The long, prehensile tongue can grasp bunches of leaves at a time to eat. This antelope is one of the species that MMZ is working with to help save for future generations, as part of the Species Survival Plan. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gemsbok | Another type of Oryx is the Gemsbok; this African antelope is also called the southern Oryx and the "Spirit of the Desert". Both sexes have the long, ringed horns and a black and white face. Males use their horns in contests to determine dominance. The gemsbok grazes during the cooler parts of the day, usually around twilight and at night. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bactrian Camel | Bactrian camels stand about seven feet tall at the shoulder. This two-humped camel has many adaptations to withstand the Gobi's desert's extreme temperatures that range from -20 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter the camel has a shaggy dark brown coat which, when it begins to warm up, sheds very rapidly with huge sections falling off all at once. It has a double row of long eyelashes and three eyelids that help keep out sand during sandstorms. Camels have a wide footpad that helps in maintaining stability walking in the sand and snow. The calloused knees protect the joints from the hot sand when the camel sits down. Camels can go long periods of time without water and then drink 30 gallons of water in 10 minutes when it becomes available. While there are many hundreds of thousands of domesticated Bactrian camels the wild Bactrian camel is now rare. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Lemur | Three species of lemurs are exhibited together here, the ring-tailed lemur, the red-ruffed lemur and the black lemur. All lemurs are found on the island of Madagascar or on small neighboring islands. Lemurs belong to group of primates called prosimians. Prosimians are considered to be more primitive than monkeys and apes. Lemurs have a long claw on their second toe, which is used for grooming. Their sense of smell is well developed and the snout is more doglike. The ring-tailed lemur has scent glands on its forearms and it rubs the scent on its tail and then engages in "stink fights" by waving its smelly tail in the face of opponents. The ring-tailed lemur is a diurnal species that basks in the sun during the day, sitting upright with its chest exposed to the sun. This species lives in large groups of animals called troops. Both sexes look similar. The red-ruffed lemur is so named for the ruff of fur around its neck and ears. The black lemur is the male of the species; the female is more of a rusty brown. This species of lemur is more nocturnal. Typical weight of a lemur is about 5-6 pounds; look for them high in the trees. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Marabou Stork | The marabou stork may not be too pretty but it is well suited for its lifestyle. This stork is one of the largest flying birds with a wingspan of over 9 feet long. The wings help the stork soar as it searches for food. This stork eats carrion (dead meat) and is also a predator. It uses its big bill to tear off slabs of rotting food from dead animals and to grab prey like insects and other small animals. The marabou stork is often seen with herd animals and goes in front of the herd to catch the small critters that are trying to get out of the way of the moving herd. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Komodo Dragon | The komod0 dragon is the largest lizard in the world but is found only on a few Indonesia islands. Only officially discovered in 1910 it has been protected since 1915 by a series of laws in Indonesia. The Komoda dragon is an impressive looking reptile reaching over 6 feet long and weighing more than a full-grown man. Here at the Zoo there are both a male and a female Komodo dragon, however the two dragons cannot be out in the exhibit together as the male would try to kill the female. Only during breeding season will the female be accepted. Miami Metrozoo is the third institution in the United States to have Komoda dragons breed and produce viable offspring. This dragon has a forked tongue and finds its food by smelling or "tasting the air". The Komoda can smell carrion, dead meat, up to 3 miles away, and it also hunts and kills prey. It can eat a whole animal like a deer in one meal and then take a week to digest it. Be sure to check out the Komoda dragon statue as you make your way away from the exhibit, it is the closest you'd want to get to a real one. A Komoda is also capable of running over 10 miles per hour in short sprints and the bite is usually fatal due to the infection causing bacteria present in its mouth. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Blood Phyton | The blood python is a type of constrictor that can be found in the Old World. The name blood python comes from its dark red blood looking blotches. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Addax | Addax belong to a group of antelope that is referred to as the "horse-like antelopes". Once when they were more plentiful you could see 20 addaxes in a herd but now they live either alone or in small herds of two to four. The horns are impressive with one to three turns. They are critically endangered throughout northwest Africa and have been extinct in Egypt since the turn of the last century. Addaxes are well adapted to extreme heat and droughts and wander in search of vegetation. Their wide hooves keep them from sinking into the sand and they get much of the water they need from grasses and leaves. During the day they sometimes rest in the shade to escape the sun's heat. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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New Guinea Singing Dog | The New Guinea Singing Dog is a distinctive wild population of canine found off the North east coast of Australia on the island of New Guinea. It looks similar to a dingo but has a shorter, broader muzzle. The "singing dog" has the ability to produce some very unique howls with a huge range of pitches and signals | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gaur | The Gaur is the largest of all wild cattle. Bulls weigh over 1,500 pounds and have huge heads with S-shaped horns that are over three feet long. Gaurs are found in parts of India and are normally shy and timid despite their big size. The species is endangered and is a part of the Zoo's Species Survival Plan. Gretchen and Gunter are the two gaur on display. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Warthog | The warthog is one of the fiercest looking mammals with its tusks and warts over its face. It is a peaceful animal though, preferring to run instead of fight. It can run 30 miles per hour and holds its tufted tail straight up in the air as it does. The tusks are canine teeth that grow out and upward. These are used primarily for digging and rooting. When warthogs fight another warthog it is face-to face trying to knock the other off balance. They are generally active in the daytime and like to wallow in mud but prefer clean water to lie in when available. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Chimpanzee | Chimpanzees are one of the favorites animals to observe in a Zoo. Chimps are highly intelligent and very gregarious (sociable). The family group may number up to 50 individuals. Like the gorilla, the chimpanzee uses facial expressions to communicate. Chimps have over 30 distinctive calls, and different foods illicit different sounds. Touching and grooming between group members is important in the chimpanzee social structure. During the day chimps are active and search for food, eat, and play. Chimps are tool users and can use sticks to dig out insects and other bugs from their hiding places. Be careful where you stand to watch the chimpanzees, they have the ability to pull a lever that dumps water on visitors. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Guanaco | The guanaco is a New World member of the camel family; it is similar to but smaller than a llama. Guanaco is both a grazer and a browser eating many types of grasses and shrubs and feeding on lichens and fungi. This camel relative is three to seven feet in length and weighs 210 to 290 pounds. The Andean people raise guanacos for their wool, meat and skins. They also use them as pack animals. The guanaco is neither an endangered nor threatened species, and is fairly common in Argentina and Chile. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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East African Crowned Crane | The crowned crane is associated with long life and fidelity in some cultures. Crowned cranes will preen each other's gold-feathered crests and do duets together. The dance of the crowned crane involves head bobbing, hopping, flapping and even high leaps. Some of the crane dances serve as models for West African tribes. The crowned crane is the only crane able to perch or roost in trees. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Indian Rhinoceros | Indian rhinos have one horn. This horn is made of keratin, which is the same material as a person's fingernails. Rhinos tend to rub their horns down or off by rubbing them against rocks or similar hard surfaces. The Indian rhino is one of five species of rhino and is also one of the rarest mammals in the world. Its status in the wild is considered critically endangered. Rhino horn is sought after due to the belief that it has magical or medicinal properties. The Indian rhino stands six feet tall at the shoulder and weighs about 3,300 pounds making it look like an armored tank. The skin's armor plate appearance has folds of more flexible skin between the "plates" that allow the rhino to move. Rhinos can move and turn their huge bodies quickly. Indian rhinos can charge at 30 miles per hour but prefer to flee when disturbed. Tall grasses make up the bulk of this rhino's diet and it gets these grasses by curling its upper lip around them and pulls them down and into its mouth. During the day this rhino will spend time in water or wallowing in mud. This is the most aquatic species of rhino and the Zoo's rhino is often seen in the pool submerged with only its head | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Black Duiker | Black Duikers are small antelopes placed in a group called forest duikers. Their family group is solitary and little is known about their habits in the wild. They are often hunted for their meat by natives and by large predators. Duikers weigh between 2 to 30 pounds and stand just less than two feet tall at the shoulder; they have low shoulders and high hips. The duiker has an acute sense of smell and long mobile ears. The eyes are large and face forward. The horns are spike like, directed backwards and are shorter than the head. Along the muzzle are lines of smear glands the duiker uses in scent marking. This small duiker is able to move through the forest easily and can quickly scoot into thick vegetation giving it the name "diving buck". | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Giant Tortoise | The Galapagos tortoise isnt only one of the oldest living creatures it is also the largest living tortoise. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Muntjac | Miami Metrozoo exhibits only one type of deer and it is the Muntjac. An easy way to tell the difference between deer and antelope are what's on top of the head. Deer have antlers and antelope have horns. Antlers are forked or have many branches. The antlers on a Muntjac are not very large however only measuring about four inches. The Muntjac belongs to a primitive group of antlered deer. By looking at Muntjac's teeth, you can tell males from females, males have upper canines. These animals are omnivores and will kill and eat small mammals and birds. Located below the eyes are scent glands that are used to mark their territory. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Squirrel Monkey | Squirrel Monkeys share their exhibit with howler monkeys and are less than half the size of howlers. Both these monkeys are found in parts of the New World, Central and South America. Squirrel monkeys form huge groups called troops, with as many as 100 members. This monkey can quickly travel through the canopy of tropical forests. To sleep, the squirrel monkey huddles squatting with their head down and their tail tucked between the legs and draped over a shoulder. They were once imported as part of the pet trade, but now it is illegal. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Goitered Gazelle | The Goitered Gazelle is a small antelope that weighs less than 100 pounds. The goiter refers to the larynx of the male, which gets enlarged during the "rut", or mating season. Like most antelope the goitered gazelle has keen eyesight, hearing and sense of smell. This gazelle lives in the desert and semi-desert areas of southern and central Asia. It eats quickly during the cooler parts of the day while watching for enemies. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Onager | Wild herds of Onagers were once seen on the desert plains of northern Iran and Central Asia. Now they are endangered. They can run as fast as 40 miles per hour and use their speed as a primary defense against predators. But speed doesn't counter habitat destruction and the spread of diseases from domestic animals. This "wild ass" as it is also called is a beast of burden and has been for a very, very long time. The onager can go for a few days without drinking and can live on a variety of plant material. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Yellow-Billed Hornbill | The Yellow Billed Hornbill is a ground dwelling hornbill. It is terrestrial and like other hornbills seals the female in a hole in a tree as she incubates eggs and raises the chicks. The male has a reddish color at the base of the bill and the female bill is a bit shorter. It hunts locusts, termites and other insects. This hornbill has a symbiotic relationship with mongoose. They help each other out; mongooses as they look for prey stir up lots of insects and the hornbill then grab and eat the insects. The hornbill warns the mongooses of danger as they move along. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Andean Condor | This large type of vulture found in the New World (the Americas) is the Andean Condor. With a wingspan of 11 feet it is one of the largest flying birds. Andean condors show sexual dimorphism, the sexes of the species look different. The male condor's head is red, has a prominent comb and a wattle underneath the beak. The female of the species is larger than the male and has a black head with no comb or wattle. Condors are mainly scavengers but will occasionally go for prey. They may soar over huge distances searching for food. The bill is strong for tearing open dead animals. Along the coast they feed on the carcasses of marine mammals. Andean condors have one egg every other year and are attentive parents caring for the chick until it is ready to be on its own- about one year after hatching. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Grants Gazelle | There are about 100 species of antelope and most of them live in Africa. Grant's gazelle is a medium-sized antelope between 75 and 100 pounds. Active in the daytime it eats at dawn and dusk and rests in between. Grasses make up its diet during the rainy season but in the dry season it's mostly browse. See if you can catch them bouncing or pronking all on four legs, it is quite a sight to see. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Glossy Starling | Starlings are small to medium sized perching birds. They have strong feet and are fairly fast flying birds. The glossy starlings have bright iridescent plumage that come in different colors. The African glossy starlings are related to the starlings that were introduced into North America about a century ago. The birds are omnivorous and have some very diverse and complex calls. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Colobus Monkey | An African monkey, the black and white colobus is also known as the "mantled colobus". It has black fur with white fringe on its back and around the face. Babies are born all white and start to darken at about 3 to 4 months of age. Colobus monkeys live in family groups and are arboreal, staying in the trees most of the time. They are vegetarians eating a variety of leaves. They have a digestive system that can break down old or tough leaves. Watch the colobus as they leap from place to place headfirst. When they do venture down from the trees, they come down headfirst. When a predator threatens a troop, the male jumps and roars until the rest of the troop has fled. The iguanas seen in this exhibit and throughout the Zoo are considered pests and are unwanted introduced animals. They are not native to Florida and were either released by pet owners or escaped. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Meerkat | A meerkat is a small sociable animal that lives in colonies. It is active during the day and shares in the work of the colony. Some Meerkats go hunting for prey and others tend to the burrows or warm in the sun but there is always someone on guard duty. Sentries will take a high spot and watch the skies for potential danger from predators. If danger is spotted warnings are sounded through barks or cries of alarm. In captivity, Meerkats have mistaken planes and helicopters for predators. Meerkats are also known as suricates and are a type of mongoose. They can kill and eat prey, such as scorpions and snakes that are dangerous for other predators. At dusk meerkats retire into their network of burrows. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Grevys Zebra | Two species of zebra are exhibited here at Miami Metrozoo, the most common zebra species Grant's, and the Grevy, the largest zebra species. The Grevy zebra may weigh over 700 pounds and stand about 9 feet at the shoulder. Zebras are all about stripes and the stripe pattern on each individual is unique. Grevy Zebra's stripes are thin, spaced close together and black. The stripes go all the way down to the hooves with stripes on the neck and down the chest tending to be a little wider. The rump stripes form a circle or bulls-eye at the base of the tail. Like other zebras this species is a grazer. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sable Antelope | A large and impressive African antelope is the Sable Antelope. It is one of the "horse-antelopes" and has an upright mane. The C-shaped horns with heavy rings are found on both sexes. The males will use these horns in sparring contests for possession of the females with other males who come into their territory. During the dry season sable antelope may gather in herds of over 100 individuals but in the wet season the herds tend to be between 5 to 30 animals with one dominant male, females and their young. These antelope are considered endangered in the wild due to hunting and habitat destruction. Hunters finally stopped killing this magnificent animal for trophies, when the sable antelope could only be found in the same areas as the disease carrying tsetse fly. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Malayan Water Monitor | The Malayan Water monitor is the world's second largest lizard. This monitor lives near or around water and can stay underwater for 30 minutes. Look for this one in the water and in one of the corners. It is full-grown and five feet long. The tail is used to help it swim and as a weapon it can whip around. Monitors have forked tongues they use to "taste the air". | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Cuban Crocodile | The Cuban crocodile is the rarest crocodilian in the Western Hemisphere. It is found only in the southwestern area of Cuba and on one nearby island. This is due to poaching, competition from introduced species and habitat loss. This large crocodile is noted for its ability to leap from the water and grab small mammals from overhanging branches. The crocodile lies motionless with only its head above water before it jumps getting lift from its powerful tail. The Cuban crocodile is very attractive with yellow dots or spots on its body resembling pearl drops. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Okapi | The okapi, a shy relative of the giraffe was unknown until a century ago. Little is still known today about its lifestyle in the wild in the deep rainforests of central Africa. It is about 5 feet at the shoulder, weighs 500 pounds and it is easy to see its chocolate brown coat with white stripes on its legs and rump. Its neck is long and its front legs are a little longer than the back legs, which may make browsing easier. The long, gray to black tongue is long enough for the animal to reach its eyes as it licks its face. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Himalayan Black Bear | The Himalayan or Asiatic black bear is a medium sized bear weighing up to 400 pounds. It has a whitish chest marking giving it the name "Moon Bear". This bear may spend half its time on the ground and the other half in the trees. It is an excellent tree climber and when on the ground can walk on two feet due to the strength of its back legs. It is an omnivore, eating a variety of foods that include fruits, nuts and small critters. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Nilgai | The Nilgai is an Asiatic antelope that is found in India and eastern Pakistan. The word "nil" means blue (in Hindustani) and "gaw" means cow (in Persian), making this cattle relative a "Blue bull or blue buck". True to its name the male's coat is a blue-gray and it darkens with age. The female is more yellowish brown. Only the male has horns, they are short, only about eight inches long. The nilgai has longer front legs than back legs and is very wary of predators. It is a grazer and browser foraging in the morning and early evening. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Flamingo | Bright and colorful, flamingoes are among the most sociable of all birds. Their pink color is a result of the food they eat. Flamingoes are filter feeders putting their bills into the water to sift out the tiny plants and animals they eat. Flamingoes are well adapted for wading, the long legs keep their feathers from getting wet and their webbed feet keep them from sinking into the soft soil or mud. Although seen in a group there really is no leader and they seem to do almost everything as a group, even courtship displays. When it is time to build a nest for the anticipated egg, the flamingos will gather mud and sticks together and build miniature volcano looking nests, just out of reach of the flamingo next door. Flamingo babies are white with downy feathers when they hatch out. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Black Rhinoceros | Black rhinoceros are critically endangered like the Indian rhinoceros. The black rhino has two horns on its nose and, unless recently wet, normally appears gray. During the day this animal might be in the shade or wallowing in mud if a water source is nearby. Black rhinos browse at night, dusk and dawn looking for food. An adult may weigh about 2,500 pounds and stand five feet at the shoulder. The sense of smell is the strongest sense for rhinos but they also have excellent hearing. They are solitary animals and mark their home range with dung piles and urine squirts. The eyes are small and they have poor vision. On display here at the Zoo is a pair of black rhinos and a youngster who was born in January 2004. The two year old is a male rhino that is not related to the pair and is exhibited on a separate paddock in the back. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bat-Eared Fox | This small carnivore with big ears is the Bat-Eared Fox. Look for it on the ground in this exhibit. This small fox is just 2 feet long and weighs less than 10 pounds. The ears that look almost too big for its small face can detect insect movements under the ground. The fox locates its prey of termites and then digs for them. A good digger, this fox makes several dens in its home range with multiple entrances, chambers and long winding tunnels. The bat-eared fox lives in pairs or family groups and communication between the members include signals with the ears and tail or soft whistles. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Wattled Crane | Found in south central Africa this crane is named for the wattle, a long thin pouch adjacent to the base of its bill. Usually found in wetlands, this crane uses its long bill to dig for roots and stems of plants that are in water. It also builds a nest that is surrounded by water. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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African elephants are the largest land animal in the world and weigh up to 15, 000 pounds. The African elephant is also the la | Elephants can live about 60 years, longer than all other non-human mammals. The Asian elephants seen here include Dahlip a male who was originally in Crandon Zoo and was born in 1966. The female is Nellie who is 3 years younger than Dahlip and weighs in around 9,300 pounds, about 3,000 pounds lighter. Asian elephants in general are a little smaller and weigh less than African elephants. Elephants eat huge amounts of food but only digest about 40% of what they eat. They eat a variety of plants species and may spend more than half the day foraging for food. What they don't digest goes comes out as dung balls. Each dung ball weighs about 4 pounds and they can drop over 100 of these a day. Asian elephant males have noticeable tusks while a female may not have tusks or they may be too small to be seen. Tusks are upper incisors (front teeth) that are thick and curved. Tusks are used mainly as an aid in getting food or as a weapon for defense. An elephant's trunk is an elongated extension of the upper lip and nose with great flexibility due to thousands of muscle pairs. It functions almost as a hand with one finger-like projection on the top. Our elephants often take daily dust bathes. The dust acts as a sunscreen and insect repellant. Elephants are very social animals and live in matriarch herds led by the oldest and most experienced female. Unfortunately human encroachment and the killing of elephants for their ivory has led to the elephants endangered species status. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Crocodile Monitor | The crocodile monitor is a lizard, but not just any lizard; at over 11 feet, with two thirds of that tail, it is the longest lizard in the world. The crocodile monitor likes to be in the trees where it can hunt for birds and bird eggs. This arboreal monitor is black with bright yellow dots and lives in the rainforests of New Guinea, an island off the coast of Australia. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Malayan Sun Bear | The Malayan sun bear is the only tropical bear and is a short bear, ours here at the Zoo weigh between 200 and 250 pounds. This bear has a golden yellow patch on its chest giving it the name "Sun Bear". It has a 10-inch long tongue that it extends into holes to get termites, grubs or honey, giving it its other name of "honey bear". The bear's claws are long and curved and can be used for ripping open bark or logs and for tree climbing. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Oryx | The Arabian Oryx is found in the Arabian Desert where it can exist for weeks without water. It is an herbivore eating such plants as grasses, herbs and shoots. This antelope is gregarious and follows the rains in search of plant growth. An adult oryx will outrun or out maneuver most predators. The horns can be used as weapons but are mainly used for fighting for rank in the herd. Looking at the Oryx in profile the horns appear as one, and with its white coat the Oryx may have been the basis of the unicorn myth. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Stanley Crane | The national bird of South Africa is the Stanley Crane. It was named after Stanley of the "Stanley and Livingston" fame, so it is said. It is also known as the "Blue and Paradise" crane. They vocalize loudly and their calls can be heard a mile away. During courtship the cranes do a dance that includes running, leaping and making these loud calls. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Dama Gazelle | The Dama Gazelle weighs between 90 and 190 pounds, making it one of the larger species of gazelle. Both males and females have horns. Long legs make this gazelle a very fast runner. It can browse on a little bit higher leaves by standing on its back legs. Its diet includes herbs, grasses and shrubs and it gets most of its water from the food it eats. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gerenuk | Looking like a smaller version of the giraffe but actually a type of gazelle is the Gerenuk, "giraffe-neck" in Somali. Most noticeable about the gerenuk is its ability to stand erect on its back legs to reach higher branches without leaning on anything to support it. It balances its weight over the back legs and can stand this way for long periods of time while foraging. This feat is also helped by extra vertebra in the spine. When on all four legs the gerenuk stands three feet at the shoulder, but when standing on only the back two legs, gerenuk can measure 7 feet tall. The gerenuk has a long pointed tongue and a very narrow snout. Only the male has horns and during courtship" hums". | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Asian Small-Clawed Otter | The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all the otters. It is under 10 pounds in weight and 2-3 feet in length. An excellent swimmer and diver this otter can stay underwater for over five minutes. Surprisingly fish are not a mainstay in its diet, as it prefers crabs and other shellfish. An otter's fur can stay waterproof as long as the fur is clean and well groomed. There is another layer of shorter fur underneath that traps air and keeps the skin dry. Social groups usually number less than a dozen members and they stay together through noise and scents | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Spotted Hyena | There are three species of hyena with the Spotted Hyena being the largest and most common. It may weigh 150-200 pounds and the female is larger than the male. This is also the only hyena species with spots. Hyenas live in large groups called clans that may number 80 members led by a dominant female. The clan lives, hunts and defends its territory, which also includes communal dens. Spotted hyenas also like to play in water and may wallow in the mud. Primarily nocturnal, hyenas will scavenge for food or actively hunt for prey. Hyenas have bone crushing jaws and strong stomachs. They can digest almost everything they eat, and what they can't digest gets regurgitated in pellet form. Hyenas can run for miles without getting tired. If they are hunting as a group they go for larger prey and work cooperatively to bring it down. The hunting pack signals for the others once a kill is made with their whoops or laughing sounds. If a hyena is hunting alone it goes for smaller prey. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Clouded Leopard | The Clouded Leopard of Asia is the smallest of the "big cats", which also includes lions, tigers, and jaguars. The cloud-looking elliptical spot pattern gives this cat its name. This cat is extremely arboreal, spending most of its time in trees stalking its prey of monkeys and escaping danger. It is said that the clouded leopard might have some connection to the extinct saber tooth cats due to the size of the clouded leopard's canine teeth. For its size of 50 pounds, the teeth are quite large. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Bairds Tapir | The largest American tapir is the Baird's tapir found in the jungles and grasslands of South America. It may stand four feet at the shoulder and weigh over 500 pounds. Tapirs have prehensile noses and are expert swimmers, using their long noses as snorkels. They are herbivores and eat fallen fruit, leaves, and other plants. They use the same paths repeatedly through the forests. Thick skin with a short bristly mane may provide this tapir some protection from jaguar's bites. This animal communicates with shrill whistles to warn others to stay away from its territory or to communicate with its offspring. The young tapir has a pattern of yellow and white stripes and spots resembling watermelon stripes. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Greater Kudu | One of the most noticeable things about the greater kudu is the horns. Set in a wide "V" these spiraled horns have three full turns to them and are the longest horns of any antelope reaching five to six feet long. The horns are only present in the male in this species. The greater kudu's ears are large and its eyesight keen to detect danger. This African antelope is second in size only to the Giant Eland with recorded weights over 600 pounds. Like the giant eland the greater kudu is an excellent jumper. The kudu has six to ten white stripes on its body. Its diet includes leaves, grasses, flowers and other plant material. The greater kudu communicates with a wide variety of sounds; among these sounds are barks, grunts, and bleats. Kudu's usually live in small family groups of just six to ten individuals. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Orangutan | Orangutans are orange apes. Orangutan means "Person of the forest" in the Malay language. This great ape is more than just visually different than chimps and gorillas. The orangutan is solitary, not living in groups with other members of its species. The orangutan is also the largest arboreal mammal spending most of its time in the trees of tropical forests. Its arm span is about 7 feet and its hands almost reach the ground when walking. The orangutan will take leafy branches and use them as shelters and during rain storms the plants may serve as umbrellas. Orangutans will use their hands to strip plants to get to the juicy parts inside and will take a leaf, dip it into the water and let the water drip into its mouth. Each night an orangutan makes a new nest among the treetops by bending branches to make a platform where it sleeps. Here at the Zoo you might see an orangutan with a t-shirts or burlap sacks, these are given out as enrichment for the animals. Orangutans are long-lived apes, and a male orangutan has large cheek pads that grow larger as he ages. The female orangutan at the Zoo is over 50 years old. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Grants Zebra | There are two species of Zebra here at Miami Metrozoo; Grant's the most common species of Zebra and Grevy, the largest species of Zebra. Grant's zebra stripes go all around the body and are fairly wide. Zebra patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints to people; no two zebras have the exact same stripes, and the stripes on either side might not even match. As with all zebras they can run fairly fast reaching 35 miles per hour. This striped animal has a mane on its neck and its eyes are located on the sides of the head giving it surround vision so they can see what is going on around them at all times. Ears are long and mobile; a zebra can twist their ears around to listen to surrounding sounds without moving their bodies. Characteristic of zebras is their whinny and braying, which they use to communicate with each other. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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European White Stork | The white stork is a symbol of good luck to many Europeans. These storks migrate every year from Africa and arrive in Europe with the spring. This stork stands over 3 feet tall and has a red bill and red legs. Although mainly white it does have black feather on its wings and back. Communication between white storks is done mainly through bill clattering, a very rapid movement of opening and closing the bill. The storks use this clattering for either a defense display or a greeting, depending on what the situation calls for. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Pygmy Hippopotamus | Pygmy hippos are more than just a smaller version of the Nile hippo. Pygmy hippos spend most of their time on land although they are good swimmers. Their eyes are on the sides of the head and their toes have less webbing giving them more secure footing. They are about five feet long and stand about 2.5 feet at the shoulder. Following fixed and well-traveled trails through the thick underbrush of the forest, pygmy hippos forage at night searching for various types of vegetation. Pygmy hippos are nocturnal and due to their secretive nature little is known about their habits. These hippos tend to be solitary or live in pairs. Here we have two females, Honey and Kelsey each with their own side of the exhibit. Honey was born in 1965 and is one of the oldest pygmy hippos in the United States. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Giraffe | As everyone knows the Giraffe is the tallest living animal standing over 18 feet tall when full-grown. Its legs alone may be 6 feet tall. When a baby giraffe is born it averages 6 feet tall and 150 pounds. A baby grows up fast adding around 4 feet in the first year and by the time it is 5 years old it's almost a full-grown giraffe. Reticulated giraffes all have large brown spots with white borders but no two giraffes have the exact same pattern. With their height and good eyesight giraffes keep a look out for danger. Adult giraffes can run fairly fast, about 35 miles per hour, but usually meander along at 10 miles per hour. Like other animals giraffes do sleep but they usually sleep standing up and only for a few minutes at a time. When feeding among the treetops, giraffes use their very long, black tongue to grasp leaves; the tongue can be 18 inches long and gives the giraffes that extra little bit it needs to get to the choicest leaves. Each giraffe needs to eat hundreds of leaves a week. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Giant Eland | The Giant Eland is the world's largest antelope. In the wild it is found south of the Sahara desert in savannah and woodland habitat. In captivity there is a limited number of giant elands and Miami Metrozoo is the only zoo in the southeast to display this species and only one of five zoos in the United States. This antelope can weigh more than 2,000 pounds yet still run 45 miles per hour and jump more than five feet in the air to clear anything blocking its way. Both sexes have spiraled horns with the male horns being a little larger than the females. The males have skin flaps under the throat called dewlaps. Giant elands often form large herds with other species such as zebras and giraffes. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Banteng | Male cattle are called bulls and females are cows. Banteng bulls stand over five feet at the shoulder and weigh close to a ton. The bull is dark brown to black brown in coloration while the cows are red to brown. Both sexes have white undersides and a black stripe down the back. The legs look like they have white stockings on. The horns are another way to tell the males from the females, the bull's horns are 30 inches long, angled out and up. The cow's horns are smaller and almost crescent shaped. In this exhibit we have a typical herd of one male and his females, note that one of the cows has a missing tip on her horn (that's one way we can tell them apart). | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Red River Hog | One of the newest members to the Miami Metrozoo family is the Red River hog. This hog is also called the "bush pig" or the reddish pig due to its reddish brown coat. With its long pointed ears with tufts and white facial stripes it is easy to see why this hog is also considered the most colorful of wild pigs. Like other pigs it is most active at night and an omnivore finding food just about everywhere and eating almost anything. Pigs have a keen sense of smell and will use their snout when rooting and digging into the ground for food. Most pigs live in groups called "sounders" and communicate by squeals and grunts. In the wild, this hog is very sociable and its "sounder" usually consists of two to fifteen females, young piglets and one male. Pigs are the only hoofed mammal to have litters rather than one or two offspring. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Rhea | Even though the Rhea is in the African lobe of the Zoo it is found in South America. It is the largest ratite or flightless bird in the Americas at 5 feet tall. It, like the ostrich, has sharp claws on its feet and is a fast runner able to reach speeds of over 35 miles per hour. The rhea is an omnivore eating most types of plants but will also eat insects and other small critters. When it comes to raising the chicks it is all about the male, he digs the nest, he incubates the egg and he raises the chicks. Outside of breeding season, rheas are sociable birds living in groups. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Saki | The white faced Saki monkey has longer legs than arms. It is a small primate that likes to eat fruit that is not yet ripe. They are seed "predators" and are able to crack hard nuts with their canine teeth. The male has the white face whereas the female has a brown face with stripes along the sides of the nose. They have great leaping abilities and spend little time on the ground. Sakes have loud calls for territorial spacing but not as loud as the Howler's. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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White-Crested Laughing Thrush | With a name like the white-crest laughing thrush you can assume that this bird has a loud and unusual call and you'd be right. Asia is the home of these thrushes who also known as "babblers". These birds are very sociable and maintain contact through their calls. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Saddle-Billed Stork | Standing at almost 6 feet tall the saddle-billed stork is one of the tallest species of stork. Like the black-necked stork this male stork has dark eyes and the female has yellow eyes. The male has a small wattle (underneath its beak) and red feet. Saddle-billed storks are named for their coloration of their beak. The stork uses its beak to jab at small critters in or near the water, such as fish and frogs. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Black Necked Stork | The black-necked stork is Australia's only stork and it can also be found from India to Indonesia. The brown eyes belong to the male of the species and the female has yellow eyes. Miami Metrozoo is the only Zoo in the United States to display a pair. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Red Kangaroo | In this exhibit you will see a small "mob" of kangaroos. Mobs are what Australians call a group of kangaroos. In the wild, they may travel in mobs up to 100 individuals. Red kangaroos are also known at the great kangaroos. They are one of the largest living marsupials. Marsupials are pouched mammals. Red kangaroos may stand about 5 feet tall and weigh 55 to 200 pounds. Their tail is 3 feet long and very strong. The kangaroo's back legs do not move independently meaning they don't walk, they must either jump or hop. Using these powerful back legs red kangaroos can bound over 25 feet in one jump. They can also reach 30 miles per hour for short periods. While moving at faster speeds the heavy tail moves like a pendulum swinging up and down providing momentum and the kangaroo actually becomes more energy efficient this way. Female red kangaroos are also called "blue fliers" because of their bluish fur. Females have only one young at a time and the "joey" is about the size of a peanut when it is born. The female gives birth after a month's pregnancy. The joey stays in the pouch for about 6 months though. These grazers mainly feed and travel at night and rest during the day sheltered from the hot sun. Their acute sense of smell helps them to detect water and their keen eyesight can spot a predator such as the dingo (wild dog) about a quarter mile away. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Thompsons Gazelle | The 'Tommy" or Thompson's gazelles are on exhibit with the giant elands. In the wild, hundreds of gazelles living in herds are commonly seen with other herbivores. The Tommy is the only gazelle with the thick jet-black strip on its side. The tail, just 6-8 inches long seems to be in constant motion. When an animals senses danger it jumps in the air as if bouncing, signaling alarm to the others. It can run 40 miles per hour and leap over 25 feet in one bound. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Anoa | The smallest of wild cattle is the Anoa. This species has a dark brown to black coat and may weigh over 300 pounds. It has a plump looking body with short legs and a thick neck. Both the male and female anoa have horns that point backward. In the dense forest, the horns help the anoa push through the thick vegetation. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Malayan Tapir | The Malayan tapir is the largest of all the tapir species and the only one found in the Old World, in Southeast Asia. This tapir is also called the "blanket tapir" referring to the white marking on its back in contrast to the rest of the dark coat. Tapirs are expert swimmers with nostrils at the tip of the snout. Tapirs are rarely far away from water, often diving in to escape predators or just to cool off. They have prehensile noses and can stretch the trunk to reach leaves on branches to bring down to the mouth. It, like the Baird's tapir, moves along well-worn trails through the forests where it lives. Shrill whistles warn other tapirs to stay away and also allow a tapir to communicate with its little one. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Cape Hunting Dog | The Cape hunting dog is also known as the Painted Dog and the African hunting Dog. It's scientific name means "painted wolf". Each dog has its own unique coat pattern of black, gray, yellow and white patches. These dogs are one of the most social of all canines and are pack animals. They hunt in a pack, and also take care of the sick, the young and the old in the pack. The pack has strong bonds reinforced by their body language, licking and vocalizations. The pack depends on each other for survival and is led by a dominant pair. The painted dog is one of the most efficient predators on the plains and also the rarest large carnivore in East Africa. Its population is greatly reduced in the wild due to habitat loss, over hunting, and disease spread by domestic dogs. The painted dog's survival depends on active conservation and education. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Nyala | Found in South Africa the Nyala prefers dense bush and to be near water. This antelope is both a grazer and browser eating leaves, fruits and grasses. The male is larger and heavier than the female. The male nyala may weigh up to 300 pounds and has horns measuring in length just over two feet long. The female and offspring are reddish brown or tan with up and down white body stripes. The male's stripes are not as distinct and are on a coat of gray or charcoal. Males have white hair along their backs, which they can bristle to signal threats. They also have an alarm call that sounds similar to a dog's bark. New offspring or calves are "tuckers", which means they stay hidden in the brush for their first few weeks of life. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Ostrich | The ostrich is the tallest and heaviest living bird. Its average size is 7 feet tall and 300 pounds. It is a flightless bird that lives on the grasslands of Africa. If an extra large size doesn't discourage predators it uses speed as a defense, being able to run 40 mph for about a half hour at a time. Its stride (the distance between steps) can be over 10 feet. Although this is a flightless bird it does have wings, and these wings help the ostrich to balance while running. If it can't outrun an enemy or danger the ostrich can deliver a forward kick that is powerful enough to kill a lion. This bird has only 2 toes unlike most birds that have 3 or 4. The largest toe of the ostrich has a 4-inch claw that can be used for defense. Ostrich use their wings during courtship displays are to show dominance or submission within the group. Both male and female parents take care of the eggs, usually numbering about 20 in a clutch. Each egg weighs 3 pounds or more and the eggshell has to be strong enough to support the weight of a 300-pound mother nesting on it. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Sloth Bear | The sucking noise a Sloth bear makes when eating is so loud it can be heard over a football field away! This bear has no upper front teeth and can create a vacuum in its mouth by closing its nostrils and pursing its lips to suck in its favorite food of termites. It also eats ants and fruit. The sloth bear's shaggy black fur is longest between its shoulders. This bear is not a great tree climber despite the 3-inch claws; they are used instead to tear into termite mounds or other places where insects might be. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gorilla | The lowland gorilla is the largest member of the great apes. A mature male may weigh over 500 pounds. Females are usually lighter weighing about 200 pounds. Gorillas live in groups led by a mature male, a silverback. He determines when they move, when they eat, where they eat and where they rest. The family group spends the day together foraging for leaves, shoots and stems, resting, and then more foraging and resting. The group seen here is a typical family group, a silverback male, two females and the offspring. Gorillas are docile creatures and use a variety of facial expressions, body gestures and sounds to reinforce the bonds within the group. Be sure to check out the gorilla cave viewing window to get a close-up look at these gentle creatures. | 9/25/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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African Lion | A lion's roar can be heard five miles away and it is either a signal of territorial warning or lets other members of their own pride know a lion's location. Although the lion lives in a pride or group, it is unusual in the cat family. A large mane easily distinguishes a male lion, which is absent in the female. In making the movie "The Lion King" Disney observed our lions for days and incorporated their research into creating the lion movie stars. Currently, there are only three female lions on exhibit. There is a large window inside the cave to the right of this exhibit that provides a close-up viewing opportunity of the cats when they are lying adjacent to it. | 9/24/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Tiger | Tigers are the largest members of the cat family and easily recognized by their orange coat with vertical stripes. Each tigers has a distinctive striping pattern. The tigers here at Miami Metrozoo are Bengal tigers. There are three females usually on exhibit, two orange cats and a white one. The orange tigers are sisters and the white tiger has been their adopted sister since they were all about 6 months old. The white tiger is not an albino; the white coat is a variation of the orange color. When tigers meet they may rub heads or make a poofing [make the sound] sound as a greeting. A tiger may rest 20 hours a day under a tree in the shade or even take a dip in some water. Tigers are also excellent swimmers.The temple building in this exhibit was designed based on five ruins in India. In their natural habitat in Asia tigers have been known to take over abandoned temples. | 9/21/06 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 82 Episodes |
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