Urban Wildlife

Busch Gardens welcomes baby female Cape buffalo

Submitted by Kristin Weber, Web Producer, 10News In Your Neighborhood

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011, 4:42pm

Busch Gardens welcomes baby female Cape buffalo

Tampa, FL -- On Sept. 21, Busch Gardens welcomed its newest addition, a female Cape buffalo, born to mother Semara.

The park says at the time of his birth, the calf weighed approximately 45 lbs. The playful and explorative youngster now weights 75 lbs. Once full grown, Cape buffalos can weigh up to 2,000 lbs.

Cape buffalos are extremely social; members of the same group will stay in direct contact with each other and will often sleep with their heads resting on one another.

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Submitted by Bryan Friesen, 10 News Weekend Morning Show Producer

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011, 9:46am

Ready for some scares? ZooBoo kicks off at the Lowry Park Zoo on Friday.

The yearly event celebrates the spirit of Halloween with family friendly haunted houses and trails, animal encounters, light displays, music and rides.

You'll be able to get a "Shriek Preview" of ZooBoo on Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for only $10.

Click here to purchase tickets online.

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Cute baby Fennec Fox comes to Busch Gardens

Submitted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 30th, 12:32 pm

Tampa, Florida (via Busch Gardens Blog) -- Busch Gardens’ fennec fox is now about five months old. He’s a big hit with guests, because his cuteness isn’t due to just his looks!

This five month old fennec fox lives at Jambo Junction at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

He greets his handlers with high pitched squeals and thumping fluffy tail. He loves tossing green beans into the air and catching them in his mouth before eating them. This fox’s food and water can regularly be found strewn and splashed all over his habitat (because he digs in both of his bowls!

This EXTREMELY adorable species comes from one of the most EXTREME habitats on the planet: the deserts of Northern Africa. Fortunately, the fennec fox has many adaptations to help him survive there.

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Submitted by Kristin Weber, Web Producer, 10News In Your Neighborhood

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011, 3:28pm

Tampa, FL -- Busch Gardens Tampa welcomed its newest addition yesterday in the park's Serengeti Plain.

A female eland calf made her way in the world weighing in at 50 lbs. But she won't stay little for long. Eland are the largest of the antelope species, with adult females weighing in at around 1,000 lbs.

The Serengeti's Plain now has 11 antelope, with this calf being the second born this season. The other female calf was born just over a month ago and is twice her newborn size.

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Submitted by Kristin Weber, Web Producer, 10News In Your Neighborhood

Monday, August 22nd, 2011, 12:53pm

Busch Gardens Tampa

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Submitted by Tammie Fields, Weekend Anchor/Reporter

Saturday, August 20th, 2011, 3:00pm

Thai one on for the Tigers event is Sunday!

Wimauma, Florida - The public is invited to the grand opening of Elmira's Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday, Aug. 21.

The non-profit sanctuary is located on seven acres in Wimauma and is home to bears and big cats. The event is being called "Thai one on for the Tigers."

It takes place from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at 13910 Seminole Trail. Organizers say there will be Thai food, live music and you will be able to take a tour to see the animals.

Admission is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Call 941-776-8975.

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Submitted by Kristin Weber, Web Producer, 10News In Your Neighborhood

Thursday, July 21st, 2011, 2:02pm

Tampa Zoo releases recovered manatee and her mom

Tampa, FL -- A mother manatee and female calf were returned "home" in Collier County waters Wednesday after the calf was treated by Lowry Park Zoo staff for a boat strike injury.

The mother, nicknamed Pina, and the calf, nicknamed Colada, were found in Estero Bay near Coconut Drive in Lee County on April 8. Pina was retrieved as well, even though she did not suffer any injuries because Colada was still dependent on her.

During treatment, the Zoo's veterinary and manatee rehab team visited BluePearl Veterinary Partners radiology for a CT scan on Colada. The staff performed a CT for a pneumothorax, air in the chest cavity outside of the lungs, that was the result of a blunt trauma wound to her chest.