Fozblog

Tuesday Trivia - Introducing Siamangs

The Dickerson Park Zoo staff has welcomed two new residents into the gibbon exhibit in the Tropical Asia geographic region of the zoo. Makali, an 9-year-old female from Syracuse, N.Y., and Lucu, a 5-year-old male from Milwaukee, Wis., are the zoo’s first siamangs. One of the characteristics that make siamangs unique from other gibbons is that they have a throat sac that inflates during their vocalizations.

True or false: As a result of their throat sacs, siamangs' vocalizations can be heard up to five miles away.

Email your answer by Thursday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Thursday for the correct answer and for more information about siamangs.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Hungry Hippos

If you answered “E. A and C only” to this week’s Tuesday trivia question, you are correct! Hippopotamuses like Henry are herbivores and naturally feed on aquatic plants, grass and foliage. However, if you stop by Dickerson Park Zoo on Saturday Aug. 27, you may catch a glimpse of our lovable hippo enjoying a special treat.

This Saturday, Dickerson Park Zoo is celebrating Henry's 30th birthday during the annual Pancakes in the Park event. If you stop by Henry's exhibit at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or noon you'll get to see him munching on his special birthday treat -- a whole watermelon. Large fruits, like watermelon, are sometimes given to hippopotamuses on special occassions as a nice addition to their plant-based diet.

Of course, birthdays are more fun if you get to share the celebration with others. So, the zoo is offering free slices of chilled watermelon to the public as well. Be sure to stop by the zoo this Saturday and join in the fun.

Congratulations to Shawn Scott from Lenox, Mo., whose name was drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!

Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!

Tuesday Trivia - Hungry Hippos

If you’ve visited Dickerson Park Zoo any time in the past 30 years you’ve likely seen one of the zoo’s most famous residents, Henry the hippo. This week Dickerson Park Zoo is celebrating Henry’s 30th birthday during the annual Pancakes in the Park event. Since Henry can’t eat birthday cake, you may wonder what he would normally eat in the wild.

Which food(s) do hippopotamuses eat in the wild?
A. Grass
B. Small fish
C. Aquatic plants
D. B and C only
E. A and C only

Email your answer by Thursday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Thursday for the correct answer and for more information about hippopotamuses.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Tortoises

If you answered “A. Islands in the Indian Ocean” to this Tuesday’s trivia question you are correct! Aldabra tortoises are native to  grasslands, scrublands, mangrove swamps and coastal dunes of the arid, hot Aldabra Islands in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar.

These large tortoises are the last surviving species of the Giant Island Tortoises of the Indian Ocean. While other giant tortoises were killed for food, the Aldabra tortoises survived because their island was not near the main shipping route.

Since these tortoises aren't fond of being outside during the cold, blustry Ozark winters, Dickerson Park Zoo is building a new tortoise building to house them during the winter months. This approximately 1,070-square foot building will house the tortoises and allow visitor viewing of the animals through glass windows. The exhibit rooms will have water pools and a sand pit for potential egg-laying by the females. The floors will be covered by a special rubber-cushioned flooring for the comfort and health of the animals. You'll want to be sure to stop by and see the tortoises's new winter residence when it opens in the fall of 2012.

Congratulations to Donna Miner from Pittsburg, Kan., whose name was drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!

Play along again next week for your chance to win a pair of one-day admission passes!

Tuesday Trivia - Tortoises

If you happen to stop by and visit the giant Aldabra tortoises at Dickerson Park Zoo in the upcoming weeks you may notice a bit of construction. That is because the zoo is beginning to build a new building to house the popular, large and lovable tortoises. The new tortoise building will protect these friendly reptiles from the Ozarks' winter climate, and still allow them to be viewed by zoo guests.

Aldabra tortoises aren’t fond of cold temperatures, this is because they’re native habitat doesn’t experience such cool weather. Where are Aldabra tortoises native to?

A. Islands in the Indian Ocean
B. Coastal eastern Africa
C. Islands in the South Pacific
D. Coastal South America

E-mail your answer by Thursday at noon to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org for a chance to win two admission passes to Dickerson Park Zoo. Remember to include your mailing address for your chance to win.

Check out FOZblog on Thursday for the correct answer and for more information about tortoises.