Good Night, Sweet “Faith”
Zooniversity lost one of its most precious teachers today, our sweet 10-year old fennec fox named "Faith." Faith spent years traveling to schools, libraries, and private events, teaching people about this elusive, and beautiful, desert species. She spent the last seven years with us, battling many obstacles — juvenile cataracts, glaucoma, prosthetic eye surgery, and in her final year, cancer. Faith lost her battle today against the spindle-cell sarcoma that crippled [more...]
Introducing “Tuck” — The South American Armadillo
Yes, we’re a Texas wildlife company, but this is NO Texas armadillo — this is Tuck, a La Plata or 3-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) from the dry, grassy Chaco region of Paraguay in South America. This armadillo species is a favorite of wildlife educators throughout the world for its tame, gentle nature and especially for its unique ability to do something other armadillos cannot do. This is the only armadillo species to be able to retract, or "tuck," into a [more...]
African Cave Spiders, Anyone?
Whoa…it’s creepy, it’s crawly, it looks like a very large, squashed scorpion with some daddy-long-legs glued onto it! It’s actually an African Cave Spider, officially called a tailless whip scorpion (Damon variegatus), and it’s perfectly harmless. How novel… a creepy crawly at Zoonversity that doesn’t bite, pinch, or sting – our creep-phobic zookeepers are very grateful.
Unlike other arachnids, such as true spiders and scorpions, these guys have only six legs. Their other two legs have been [more...]
Come See Us This Summer — Summer Camps and Free Library Shows!
It’s that time again…time to layout your family’s summer activity calendar. And, we hope you’ll include Zooniversity in your busy summer schedule.
Introducing Zoo Camp! Zooniversity will be offering a week-long morning camp for children in grades 1-3 at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth. Your student will love this introduction to zoology and hands-on time with our animal ambassadors. Zoo Camp will be offered the week of August 2-6 — register now before [more...]
Meet Baby Sheila, the Joey Wallaby
Ahhhh…meet our newest baby, little Sheila. She is a 7-month old joey wallaby that we’re fostering until she is big enough to return to her mob at another wildlife educator’s Texas ranch. She is still a pouch baby and travels with us everywhere. She sleeps most of day still, but will remind us that it’s bottle time with some gentle chirps. We’ve introduced her to her first grass and hay, [more...]
Name the Hyrax!
This is Zooniversity’s newest animal ambassador, a yellow-spotted hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei) who needs the perfect name — and we’re asking our Zooniversity friends to name him! Something, cute, yet dignified, that suits his species and his personality. Here’s a bit more about him to give you some creative inspiration…
This 8-pound, football-shaped, herbivore was sent to us by another wildlife educator who just didn’t have the time to work with him. He is usually found in the savannahs and jungles [more...]
Sweet! Enter Our Animal Party Cake Contest
Attention Party Moms & Dads: Dig into your birthday photo files and fish out those pics of your child’s animal-themed birthday cake. Send them to us and, just for sharing, you just might win a $50 gift card to the store of your choice! We’re searching for fun, animal-themed party cake ideas to share with other eager party-planning parents. Cakes, cupcakes, or cookies…little, big, or gargantuan…sweet, cute, or creepy…homemade, half-made, or [more...]
More Junior Zoologists Graduate from Zoo School
Seventy more Junior Zoologists have graduated from BASIC Zoo School. We are so proud of our students, grades K-5th, who attended a 12-week series of Zoo School BASIC classes during Fall semester 2009. Classes were offered in Aubrey, Flower Mound and Frisco and the students met once a week to study all the major phyla of animals: arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Each week the students learned the common [more...]
Thank You for Naming Us “Best in the Metroplex”
Wow…how can we thank you enough for taking the time to vote for us in The Best of the Metroplex Family Choice Awards 2009. Drum roll, please…you named Zooniversity:
"BEST PARTY ENTERTAINER"
And, your verified votes also earned us nominations for:
"BEST ANIMAL ENCOUNTER"
"BEST THEMED PARTY"
Our most sincere thanks to the parents, teachers, librarians, friends and supporters who voted. It’s only with your support and referrals that we can continue [more...]
It’s Time to Register for Spring Zoo School!
It’s that time again! Registration for our Spring 2010 Zoo Schools is now open. BASIC and ADVANCED Zoo Schools are being offered in Frisco, Lewisville and Rockwall. All the details and downloadable registration forms are now available online. Register early, as class size is limited and classes fill-up quickly — so don’t delay! Feel free to forward this announcement to your friends and other interested parents or to post it on [more...]
