Adventure in Botswana: A Trip with LA Zoo

Recently, the Los Angeles  Zoo has begun offering the chance to embark on a real-life safari. Zoo Director, John Lewis, is bringing a group of willing participants on the journey of a lifetime through the countryside of Botswana. The ten day excursion (with additional travel options before or after) takes travelers to various wildlife camps and reserves throughout the country to observe animals in their natural habitat. Among the species native to Botswana are giraffes, baboons, elephants, wildebeests, hippopotamus, lions and hyenas. Highlights of the trip includes stops to the following areas:

Okavango Delta

Considered one of the seven natural wonders of Africa, the Okavango Delta is one of the most varied areas in Botswana as the river directly contrasts with the arid temperature. As a result, a mixture of water-based animals and large herds of various mammals call the region home. An interesting aspect of the Okavango is that all of the water that reaches the delta is either evaporated or transpired and does not flow into any larger body of water. 

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve 

The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is in one of the most remote and hard-to-get-to regions of Botswana. It contains an enormous population of elephants due to the abundant acacia and mopane forests. The reserve is also world-renowned for its Lions, which have been captured in numerous National Geographic documentaries. 

Any traveler will have the option to extend the trip before, to Cape Town, South Africa, or after to Livingstone and Victoria Fall, Zambia (pictured below), and continue the adventure. 

A percentage of profits for the trip will go directly to the Classic Escape Conservation Fund, which supports conservation and wildlife research throughout Africa. Use this opportunity to give back while exploring one of the most diverse areas on the planet! And you get to travel with a knowledgeable zoo director, ensuring an informative and exciting trip unlike any other!

Visit their website for the full itinerary and other details. For information about booking a spot on the trip call (323) 644-4792. 

A Wild Halloween for the Kids to Remember

Dress up and take the kiddies to explore your zoo in the wildest way possible - Halloween style! Zoos put on a variety of ghoulish actives your family will be talking about for months!

Los Angeles, California
Boo is Back for two weekends. Enjoy costumes, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, arts and crafts, pumpkin patch, Campfire Cathy's interacting show of spooky tales, and more! October 19-20 & 26-27 from 10am-4pm.
http://www.lazoo.org/boo/

Sacramento, California
Two nights only October 30 & 31, Sacramento Zoo is hosting Halloween! Trick-or-treat around the lake at over 25 stations, enjoy a magic show, costume dance party and ghoulish games8 Ride the Spooky Train or Creepy Carousel!
http://www.saczoo.org/page.aspx?pid=360

Denver, Colorado
The 29th annual Boo At The Zoo and Boo After Dark offers more than 25 trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal demonstrations and exciting family-friendly entertainment under the canopy of the beautiful fall foliage of Denver Zoo. Boo After Dark is October 25, and Boo at the Zoo October 26 & 27.
http://www.denverzoo.org/event/boo-zoo

Melbourne, Florida
Weekends until Oct 27 enjoy Halloween, Brevard Zoo style with mystical performances, costume contests, Mystical Mansion Ball, Boo Choo Train and more! Friday through Sunday evening October 18-20 & October 25-27.
https://brevardzoo.org/calendar/

Boise, Idaho
Join Zoo Boise Saturday October 26 for characters, costume contests, trick-or-treating, pumpkin patch, face painting, and more!
http://www.zooboise.org/event.aspx?id=1178

Fort Wayne, Indiana
Enjoy “merry-not-scary” fun at the Wild Zoo Halloween!  See zoo animals while you explore Treat Trails, navigate the Mystery Corn Maze, meet Broomhilda the Witch, dance the Monster Mash, and much more! October 18-20, 24-27 & 31 from 1-6pm. 
http://kidszoo.org/programs-and-events/wild-zoo-halloween/

Manhattan, Kansas
Dress up and wander 5 trails of trick-or-treating! Enjoy the Pumpkin PlayZone inside the Nature Exploration Center featuring a straw bale maze, pumpkin games & more!
http://sunsetzoo.com/Index.aspx?NID=262

Topeka, Kansas
The last two weekends in October, dress up in your favorite costume and visit over 20 treat stations!
http://topekazoo.org/

Louisville, Kentucky
Magical Halloween fun happening in Louisville! Meet your favorite storybook characters, princesses, pirates, superheros and more! Visit Mumpkin the Giant Talking Pumpkin and wander through Pumpkinville, USA with its hay maze and hundreds of glowing pumpkins. Trick or treat, take pictures with T-Rex and stroll through Sleepy Hallow every weekend in October!
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/halloween/

New Orleans, Louisiana
Two weekends of Halloween filled fun including trick-or-treat houses, ghost train, scary and non-scary haunted house, and more! Friday and Saturday nights at 5pm on October 18-19 & 25-26.
http://www.auduboninstitute.org/boo-zoo

Battle Creek, Michigan
ZooBoo is the Binder Park Zoo's largest annual fundraiser and allows the park to feed and care for the animals throughout the winter. Trick-or-treat and enjoy the Haunted Africa Safari. October 11-27.
http://www.binderparkzoo.org/boo/

Jackson, Mississippi 
Join Jackson Zoo for carnival rides, costumes and trick-or-treating for Boo at the Zoo October 25-26 and Harvest Festival October 27.
http://www.jacksonzoo.org/events.html

Kansas City, Missouri
Spooky not scary decorations up for Halloween activities including pedal tractor rides, trick-or-treating, monster mural, boneyard graveyard, and the Monster Bash Mash! October 19-20 9:30am-5pm.
http://www.kansascityzoo.org/

New York City, New York
October weekends at the Bronx Zoo feature hay mazes, costume parades, musical theater, magic shows, and Dinosaur Safari! Weekends through November 3.
http://apps.bronxzoo.com/boo/

Cincinnati, Ohio
HallZOOween's happening at the Cincinnati Zoo weekends in October (though the 27th). Enjoy trick -or-treat stations, animal encounters, theater of illusion, Hogwarts Express Train Ride, and a Scare-ousel.
http://cincinnatizoo.org/events/hallzooween/

Portland, Oregon
Howloween's happening! Bring your kiddies to partake in a scavenger hunt and trick-or-treating through the zoo Saturday and Sunday October 26 & 27. Saturday night, explore the park by dark with the Halloween Safari, carmel apple making, games, costume parade and stories!
http://www.oregonzoo.org/events/howloween

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Two spooky weekends of October 19-20, and 26-27 features a not-so-scary Extinction Graveyard, Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, costume parade and more!
http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/Explore/Upcoming-Events/Boo-at-the-Zoo-2013.htm

Providence, Rhode Island
Join the Rogers William Park Zoo every night through November 3 for a breathtaking display of over 5,000 jack-o-lanters! The Spooky Zoo is October 26 & 27 and features trick-or-treating, magic, music, games, creepy crawly animal encounters and pumpkin treats for the animals! Kids in costume get half off admission!
https://rwpzoo.org/305/spooky-zoo

Knoxville, Tennessee
Boo at the Zoo is a 12 night not-so-scary Halloween family fun event featuring devilishly good music and games at the Monster Mash tent in The Clayton Family Kids Cove, your favorite costumed characters throughout the zoo, and the only "haunted" carousel in East Tennessee, the Scary-Go-Round.
There is also a Spirit of the Night 21+ person event Tuesday, October 29.
http://www.knoxville-zoo.org/events_activities.aspx

Chattanooga, Tennessee
Join the cast of Wizard of Oz for two weekends of ghoulish fun of games, face painting, costume contests Friday and Saturday Nights Oct 18-19 and 25-26 from 5:30-8:30pm.
http://www.chattzoo.org/events/fullcalendar

Seattle, Washington
One child in costume free per adult! Pumpkins for the animals, trick-or-treating and more! October 26 & 27 from 9:30am-2:30pm.
http://www.zoo.org/pumpkinbash


Be Green and bring your own reusable bags for trick or treating!

If your city isn't listed here, comment below and we'll add it!


Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!!!

World Rhino Day

Each day 2-3 rhinos are killed for their horns, which in some cultures are seen as having healing powers. 

Between 1970 and 1992, the population of the black rhino species decreased by 96%.
Fewer than 200 Greater one-horned rhinos existed earlier in the 20th century.
There currently are approximately 35-44 Javan rhinos surviving in in one country, Indonesia.
Fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos are believed to survive on the island of Sumatra, with perhaps as few as ten animals remaining in Sabah, Malaysia. 
Only the populations of the Southern white rhino remain viable.The Northern white rhino is believed to be extinct in its last known habitat in Garamba National Park due to poaching.

Oh stop the horror!

Despite the slaughter, rhino numbers worldwide are actually increasing … thanks to the International Rhino Foundation and its partners in countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, India and Indonesia.

Today, September 22, is World Rhino Day. Where we celebrate all 5 remaining species of rhinos. We've said it before, and we'll say it again days like these are important in the plight to spreading awareness and promoting the aid and rehabilitation of endangered species. See wildlife day blog post here. 

You can help save rhinos from extinction by going to zoos. Supporting your local zoo means supporting research, breeding, rehabilitating and reintroducing these endangered species back into the wild. 

Other ways to help according to the IRF: 

White Rhinos

Support our Stop Poaching Now! campaign. Train and equip rhino rangers in South Africa and Zimbabwe, empower legal professionals to prosecute wildlife crime, and employ specially-trained “Horn Dogs” to track rhino horn poachers and smugglers.

Black Rhinos

Funds are needed to move rhinos threatened by poachers to more secure areas in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld region and for our project to reintroduce the black rhino to Botswana by translocating animals from South Africa.

Greater One-horned Rhinos

Re-establish rhino populations in India’s Manas National Park and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. Help us increase the number of rhinos in Assam to 3,000 animals by the year 2020.

Sumatran Rhinos

Employ Rhino Protection Units in Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan and Way Kambas National Parks, home to two-thirds of the world’s Sumatran rhinos, of which only about 100 are believed to remain. Support our breeding efforts at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary.

Javan Rhinos

Employ Rhino Protection Units in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park, the final stronghold for the Javan rhino. Less than 50 remain. If this population disappears, the species will be gone forever.

Ways to Celebrate // Happy Wildlife Day!

Today is National Wildlife Day. Most people shrug off days like today, or Earth Day or Dog Day, etc. But isn't it symbolic, like a birthday, a day to appreciate and celebrate a particular being? Let's celebrate! In this case it's not Timmy down the street, but all wildlife on this earth.

Wildlife includes all animals, plants, fungi, and organisms that are non-domesticated by humans, although it is agreed by most scientists that all wildlife is affected by human species (no surprise there, right?)

Every species is an important of it's ecosystem, and thus the ecosystem of the planet and consequently humans. Jonas Salk once said that if all humans disappeared from the Earth all life would flourish in 50 years, but if insects disappeared all life would end.

That's a very surprising, and humanizing concept (no pun intended). Humans have a unique ability to create and destroy on a massive scale, and like most people, we here at Little Critterz believe in minimizing destruction and conserving the planet for all life on it now, and for generations to come.

So hats off to all the wildlife on Earth. We are entertained and mesmerized by you. We learn from you. We appreciate you. So let's donate to an organization today whose commitment to wildlife preserves the species. Visit your local zoo or aquarium because their efforts are crucial to the survival, education, and research to wildlife. Watch a wildlife documentary to learn about a new species or environment. Or make a purchase on Little Critterz so we can continue to support non-profit wildlife organizations. Whatever you do today, Happy Wildlife Day!

Some of our favorite wildlife species. What's yours?

penguin / caribou / dolphin 

fawn / camel / frog

turtle / octopus / elephant

Enter to Win!

We at Little Critterz know how important the bond is between human and animal life. We are inextricably linked. From tigers, elephants, crocodiles to frogs, butterflies and field mice, animals enhance the joy and wonder on the planet and in our lives.

These Little Critterz are a daily reminder of the beauty of the wild world. Sitting atop a dresser, nightstand or bookcase, each little piece of art is a reflection of the love we have for all life.

So we are giving you a chance to win your choice of 3 'Little Critterz Collection' Carded Miniature Figurines! There are over 300 different styles to choose from in 16 different subsections ranging from Aquatic to Zoo, Dinosaurs to Forest, Egyptian to Fantasy!

Go to our Facebook page for more details!

Vulnerable to Extinction: Tigers

The colors, those eyes, the prowl. The majestic tiger mesmerizes wildlife park goers like few else. Perhaps because the majority of people have seen a tiger in front of them, or knowing of their strength in hunting, there is a misconception that they rule the jungle. But they are threatened, in fact, as little as 3,200 wild tigers are left.

Every species of tiger is endangered. Until the 20th century there were nine tiger species. Three are extinct - the Caspian, Balinise and Javan tigers. In one century, 97% of the tiger population was hunted and killed. Today we see their habitat being destroyed for agriculture, timber and construction of roads and cities. Poaching these animals for illegal trade of parts is at an all time high.

Help these tigers before they become just a memory of what once was.

Snow Day for Xiao Liwu at San Diego Zoo

Today may be the first day of Spring, but yesterday March 19, Panda cub Xiao Liwu and mom Bai Yun ran around, played and enjoyed the snow provided by the San Diego Zoo, through the help of generous donors. It was Xiao Liwu's first time seeing the snow, and after a little hesitation he stepped onto the cold surface and began to enjoy play time with his mother. As is snows in China, the Pandas are a bit spoiled with the nice Southern California weather. It is a real treat for the Pandas to play in an inherently familiar setting.

Xiao Liwu was born in July of 2012, the 6th Panda cub to be born at the San Diego Zoo, thanks to a 12-year research loan from China.

You can see Xiao Liwu, Ban Yun and the other Pandas live through San Diego Zoo Panda Cam.  Become a member of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Conservancy here.