Off Exhibit at The Maryland Zoo

They are a Maryland native species and extremely endangered, so when the call came to the Zoo Hospital saying a wild bog turtle from Delaware needed medical treatment we quickly agreed to help. In an exciting twist, it was discovered that the injured turtle was carrying eggs! On this episode of Off Exhibit Dr. Ellen Bronson, director of animal health, conservation, and research at the Zoo shares the story of this one very tiny and special patient. Plus, hear an update what happened to the eggs she was carrying.

Off Exhibit is a podcast featuring in-depth discussions with animal professionals and wildlife experts from behind-the-scenes at the Maryland Zoo. Subscribe via iTunes, Android, or RSS. New episodes uploaded on Wednesdays.

The post Off Exhibit: Turtle in Trouble appeared first on The Maryland Zoo.

The Zoo’s sustainability program is growing, quite literally, in the Commissary Department. With so many mouths to feed here at the Zoo, our grocery list is a long one. Commissary Manager Andrew Young is one of the people responsible for managing and fulfilling that list, so he’s also one of the greatest champions of offsetting some of the cost and environmental impact of food purchases. That’s where the garden comes in. On this episode of Off Exhibit, learn if this new project has been a fruitful one and what other green initiatives are taking place behind-the-scenes here at the Zoo.

Off Exhibit is a podcast featuring in-depth discussions with animal professionals and wildlife experts from behind-the-scenes at the Maryland Zoo. Subscribe via iTunes, Android, or RSS. New episodes uploaded on Wednesdays.

The post Off Exhibit: Growing Sustainability appeared first on The Maryland Zoo.

Box turtles are on exhibit in the Maryland Wilderness, but it’s also not uncommon to see wild box turtles throughout the Zoo. These unique reptiles are native to Maryland and much of the United States, however, like many other local species they are facing challenges from habitat loss and land development. For close to 20 years the Maryland Zoo has worked to monitor and collect information on box turtles to gain more insight about their health, growth, and reproduction. On this episode of Off Exhibit we sit down with zookeeper Kat Mantzouris who is leading the Zoo’s box turtle project. Learn more about this small, but important, local turtle and what the Zoo is doing to help ensure a healthy population for the future. Plus, discover how the project is collecting valuable information as part of the Zoo’s efforts to conserve this and other species.

Off Exhibit is a podcast featuring in-depth discussions with animal professionals and wildlife experts from behind-the-scenes at the Maryland Zoo. Subscribe via iTunes, Android, or RSS. New episodes uploaded on Wednesdays.

The post Off Exhibit: Out of the Box Conservation appeared first on The Maryland Zoo.

In June of this year, the Zoo welcomed its second giraffe calf in less than a few months. The excitement of Kesi’s first calf, however, was quickly replaced with concern as it was clear from the beginning that this giraffe newborn was in need of help. For four very intense weeks, the animal care and veterinary teams at the Maryland Zoo worked tirelessly to give Julius round-the-clock intensive care in an effort to see him through some very significant health hurdles. Tube feedings, bottle feedings, plasma transfusions, intravenous fluids and other medical procedures were just part of the effort which grew quickly to include giraffe experts and doctors both near and far from places like Columbus Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore. In the end, the exhaustive effort wasn’t able to help Julius overcome what, from the beginning, was a very serious set of circumstances. The knowledge gained during his brief but impactful life, however, now lives on to help other giraffe calfs both here and around the country who may face similar challenges in the future.

On this very special episode of Off Exhibit, Erin Cantwell, the Maryland Zoo’s Mammal Collection and Conservation Manager, shares the behind-the-scenes story of Julius’ birth, his health concerns and all that happened inside the Giraffe House during those very intense weeks. Plus, learn more about the procedures, the decisions and the effort that went into his critical care and how other Zoo animals receive the same level of care year round. The Zoo team was overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and support for Julius, Kesi and the care professionals working on their behalf. If you followed Julius’ birth and updates on social media this will be a podcast you won’t want to miss.

Many followers have reached out to ask how they can help following the loss of Julius. If you’d like to support the Zoo’s animal care, the best way is through a donation. The Maryland Zoo is a nonprofit organization that relies on visits, memberships and generous gifts from friends like you to help fund animal care, education programs and wildlife conservation efforts. Make a tax-deductible donation anytime.

Off Exhibit is a podcast featuring in-depth discussions with animal professionals and wildlife experts from behind-the-scenes at the Maryland Zoo. Subscribe via iTunes, Android, or RSS. New episodes uploaded on Wednesdays.

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The post Off Exhibit: Julius’ Story appeared first on The Maryland Zoo.