Digital Safari Round-Up
We are committed to upholding our mission of providing experiences that inspire and motivate people to care for the natural world. In order to do this, stay close to our website and social channels for updates about our status as well as LIVE educational programming, virtual safaris and an abundance of cute photos and videos of animals, behind-the-scenes caretaking by our keepers, and in-depth stories of the Zoo and our amazing residents!
Missed a post or video? Don’t worry! We have you covered below.
Wednesday, July 29
Welcome to this week’s Digital Safari!
We’re hanging out with Kayamba our African crested procupine, as well as Aaron and Sue from Ambassador Animal Resources (AAR)!
Wednesday, July 22
Welcome to this week’s Digital Safari!
We’re talking virtual camps and programs today.
Wednesday, July 15
Welcome to this week’s Digital Safari!
We’re here with the amazing AAR staff and Aja the southern ground hornbill.
Wednesday, July 1
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Today we are learning all about king vultures!
Wednesday, June 24
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We’re learning about all the ways to enjoy the Zoo!
Wednesday, June 17
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Get to know Astrid and Zoya the warthogs!
Wednesday, June 3
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Today we’re introducing you to Howie and teaching you all about rhinos!
Friday, May 29
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Welcome back to Flamingo Cove, where the only thing rising faster than the temperature is the tension in the flock… Read episode 4 of Hot Pink.
Digital Safari Update: With the Zoo reopening on June 13 and 14 to members and June 15 to the public, we will be moving Digital Safaris to once a week on Wednesdays starting Wednesday, June 3.
Thursday, May 28
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Today we’re with keeper Brittnye who is going to introduce us to Meatball, Sausage, Tyrion and Jorah the wallabies!
Wednesday, May 27
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Water is one of the most important resources available on earth, and all living things on Earth need it in one form or another in order to survive. Jackrabbits only come out during the cooler hours of the day and use the blood vessels in their large, thin ears to stay cool.
Let’s play a game to see how well you can conserve water!
Monday, May 25
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
There are so many interesting shapes to see in the desert, from mountains and canyons to animals and plants. We can make different shapes with our bodies, too! Stretch out and try to copy these desert shapes.
Do some desert yoga!
Friday, May 22
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Looking for FUN and educational ways to keep your kids engaged while at home? Check out our Digital Safari: Education page!
Thursday, May 21
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Have you ever wondered how alligators glide so effortlessley through the water? Wonder no more!
Underneath the duckweed, the alligator’s body and tail is moving back and forth like a rudder. Known as lateral undulation, this movement propels the animal forward forward through the water.
Wednesday, May 20
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Live from the beautiful African tulip tree!
Tuesday, May 19
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We’re walking the Arizona Trail!
Monday, May 18
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We can use our senses to learn about our environment. This helps us learn about the plants, animals, weather, and so much more! Each sense helps us learn different information.
Friday, May 15
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Fun Sloth Facts:
In the wild, sloths can grow algae in their hair due to slow movement, and they can groom the algae off themselves for nutrients.Sloths are nocturnal and sleep 15 to 20 hours a day! They do everything upside down – sleeping, eating, breeding and even giving birth!
Check out the video for fun Fernando facts!
Thursday, May 14
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Operations, primate keepers, AAR and relief staff worked hard to remove all the mulch from the orangutan dayrooms and replaced it with new, higher quality mulch. Operations vacuumed the mulch out of the dayrooms and primate keepers, along with the help of AAR and relief staff, added the new mulch. The new pine bark mulch is very beneficial for Daniel and helping to control his allergies. We are very excited because the mulch, original from when the exhibit was built nine years ago, has never been removed before.
Wednesday, May 13
Tuesday, May 12
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We’re talking with Dr. Jan Schipper, Field Conservation Research Director for the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/Phoenix Zoo, about the remarkable work he and the Conservation department do here in Arizona and around the world to save species.
Monday, May 11
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Osiris is a very food motivated cat and readily participates in training. His keeper gives him a physical cue of pointing to the scale, as well as a verbal cue “scale”. When he sits completely on the scale his keeper bridges him with a verbal “good” and immediately offers a mouse as a reward. Osiris and his keeper repeat the behavior two to three times to make sure the weight is reading accurately.
Friday, May 8
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
It’s the first day of our special Cruise the Zoo events!
Thursday, May 7
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Sound up for the rally call!
This is a group vocalization where painted dogs communicate with each other in an effort to get “psyched” for the hunt!
Our painted dog trio fed on a horse carcass. We usually schedule a carcass feeding for them once a month as part of their nutrition regimen. A carcass feed is a great opportunity for painted dogs and other carnivores in zoos to exhibit a number of natural behaviors, including dragging a large carcass around, ripping and pulling meat off of the bone, gorging themselves on a large meal at once, etc.
Tuesday, May 5
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
It’s Giving Zoo Day!
An essential part of caring for our animals is ensuring the daily operations of the Zoo’s Joyce Corrigan Animal Care Center.
For the next four months alone, we will spend more than $200,000 to operate the Animal Care Center. Recently, a special friend of the Zoo generously committed $100,000 toward this need.
To double the impact of this contribution we have been challenged to seek NEW contributions to match this gift. Give today!
Monday, May 4
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Exploring Desert Animals (grades 1 – 3): Choose two of the five animal videos featured (Mexican gray wolf, coyote, pronghorn, California Condor, speckled rattlesnake)
Learning Objective: Students will begin to develop and use models about how living things use resources to grow and survive (Arizona State Science Standard 1.L2U2.7)
Key details: Animals depend on their surroundings to get what they need, including food, water, shelter and a favorable temperature. Animals depend on plants or other animals for food. They use their senses to find food and water, and they use their body parts to gather, catch, eat and chew the food.
Go on a Virtual Field Trip!
Friday, May 1
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We received a few requests to take a stroll near Monkey Village and catch-up on the ever-so-cute common squirrel monkeys!
Thursday, April 30
Join us for a wild and wonderful virtual celebration of children, animals and Hispanic culture!
¡Acompáñanos para un evento excitante, salvaje y virtual en celebración de los niños, los animales, y la cultura hispana!
Wednesday, April 29
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We return to Stingray Bay to talk about two new additions (pups!) along with experiencing a stingray ultrasound live!
Tuesday, April 28
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We head over to Ambassador Animal Resources facility to learn about Odin the raven. Thanks to keeper Nichole for the talk and demonstration!
Monday, April 27
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Dinah, a Bali myna, is missing interacting with her fans and is looking forward to when guests are able to return. In this video, you’ll see her amazing personality as we venture through Tropical Flights!
Sunday, April 26
Priya, the red brocket deer, celebrated her 9th birthday recently with the help of white-faced saki monkeys Felix and Febe!
Saturday, April 25
Happy 4th birthday, Fernando!
Enjoy eating roses, staying hydrated and taking long naps.
Friday, April 24
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We took a virtual Zoo trip on the Arizona Trail! You HAVE TO see how close the Mexican gray wolves came to the camera!
Thursday, April 23
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
Let’s go on a virtual plant walk!
Tuesday, April 21
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
We take you on another virtual tour of the Zoo… and you’re telling us where to go!
Monday, April 20
Time for another Digital Safari presented by SRP.
It’s been a long month, right? Take a break and join us at the Goat Yard on Harmony Farm as help pet our goats!
Sunday, April 19
By request, here’s a quick video of the beautiful LouLou (with a special appearance from Howie in the background)! Howie and LouLou are both doing great. They are still in the “getting to know each other” phase, and progressing steadily!
Saturday, April 18
Calming Meditation: Cheetahs
Need a break? Take a deep breath.
Rest in nature here with Dirk, Boykin and DeMarco.
Friday, April 17
Many of our guests have requested a Komodo dragon keeper talk. So we made it happen! In today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we took a trip to the Land of the Dragons and got to know MacLeod!
Thursday, April 16
Mooo! For today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we took our miniature Jersey cow, Teenie, for a stroll! Special thanks to Arizona Milk Producers for their support of Harmony Farm for almost 15 years!
Wednesday, April 15
We put a call out earlier this week for you to share your favorite #IMissMyZoo memories and photos with us; we received hundreds of amazing messages. We would need a couple of hours to share them all, but for today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we read as many as we could!
Tuesday, April 14
For today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we drove around the Zoo. No, really; we did! We’ve been getting lots of questions about what the Zoo looks like with no guests, so we grabbed a camera, a cart and took you with us on a tour!
Monday, April 13
For today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we joined keeper Sarah R. at the zebra habitat! Grevy zebras live in semi-arid scrub and grasslands, sub-desert regions and plains throughout Ethiopia, Somalia, southern Sudan and northern Kenya. There are three adult zebras at the Phoenix Zoo!
Sunday, April 12
Michael is all gussied up! He used chalk, an enrichment item provided by his awesome keepers on Easter, to draw on his lips like lipstick!
Saturday, April 11
Check out this fascinating example of a typical target training session with our American alligators. This training helps mitigate social tension between our largest alligator, Brutus, and the rest of the group.
Friday, April 10
For today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we joined Animal Curator Drew Foster on the Zoo’s Arizona Trail to learn all about Arizona snakes!
(Go Diamondbacks!)
Virtual Roars & Pours
In case you missed it, re-watch this extra-special, family-friendly, VIRTUAL Roars & Pours that we broadcasted LIVE on the Zoo’s Facebook and Instagram!
Thursday, April 9
Today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP has us feeding Dalmatian pelicans! Feeding frenzy of Dalmatian pelicans! The world’s largest pelicans have big appetites and our flock eats about 25 pounds of fish every day! The pelicans are given a fish that has been supplemented with vitamins and minerals to ensure they are getting a balanced diet. Many wonder why these birds aren’t spotted like the dog breed of the same name. That’s because they both are named after the historic region of Dalmatia in Croatia from which they originated.
Wednesday, April 8
For today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP, we joined our amazing Ambassador Animal Resources team and met Pandora, Boomer and Monty!
Tuesday, April 7
It’s a very special Digital Safari presented by SRP! Today we are taking a tour of the Thunderbirds Charities Equine Facility!
Monday, April 6
Welcome to another Digital Safari presented by SRP! Today we took a trip to Tropical Flights for a special “Where’s Waldo?” edition! Join Mike Foley, Manager of Trail Programs, to learn all about some amazing birds.
Friday, April 3
Welcome to another Digital Safari presented by SRP! Today we had a very special talk from stingray keeper Mari Belko where we learned all about our stingrays and how they are named after country music superstars (like Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and more)!
Wednesday, April 1
Welcome to another Digital Safari presented by SRP! Today we are at our Mexican gray wolf habitat supported by Ottawa University. Join us!
Tuesday, March 31
Welcome to today’s Digital Safari! We go LIVE from our giraffe deck with keepers Alicia and Sarah to learn all about our amazing long-necked friends. Each day our Digital Safari is presented by SRP!
Monday, March 30
Welcome to today’s Digital Safari: Choose Your Own Zoo-Venture Children’s Trail presented by SRP!
Sunday, March 29
Sports: They aren’t for everyone! Today’s Digital Safari is presented by SRP. Bornean orangutans, Daniel and Rayma, enjoyed different sport balls and Cheerios as enrichment!
Saturday, March 28
Today’s Digital Safari is presented by SRP. Working with animals to participate in their own medical examination is the goal for most animals care specialists. Stingrays present a unique challenge as they are always moving under the water. We began conditioning cownose rays for physical examinations to learn and eventually improve their care during pregnancies. A healthy and happy environment for adult stingrays usually results in baby rays (pups).
Friday, March 27
Today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP is all about Fernando the Linne’s Two-toed Sloth! Did you know, sloths sleep more than 15 hours a day!?
Thursday, March 26
Today’s Digital Safari presented by SRP is all about Beaker the Giant Anteater! Beaker is an 11-year-old giant anteater. The largest of the anteater species, they have a two-foot-long tongue covered in sticky saliva. They have an incredible sense of smell – 40 times better than humans! Giant anteaters, like Beaker, can consume a few thousand ants in just a couple minutes and flick their tongues 150 times per minutes.
Wednesday, March 25
Join us for today’s Digital Safari for a special tour of the Zoo on our Safari Cruiser brought to you by
Tuesday, March 24
Welcome to another Phoenix Zoo Digital Safari! Today, we’re visiting with our Galapagos tortoises as they munch on papaya.
Monday, March 23
Today’s Digital Safari included Sumatran tigers Jai and Indah, and a training wall session!
Sunday, March 22
Join Aja the southern ground hornbill as she walks around Lemur Lane at the Phoenix Zoo. While the Zoo is closed to the public, Ambassador Animals and other Zoo animals will be walking around and meeting other Phoenix Zoo residents. It’s a great form of enrichment for all animals involved!
Saturday, March 21
Meet “Incognito” our five-year-old Meller’s chameleon! Meller’s chameleons are the second largest chameleon in the world growing up to two feet in length.
A chameleon does not change its body color to camouflage but instead will change it based on its mood and as a way to communicate. For this species, a lighter green color indicates a calm state while a darker green, almost black color indicates stress or territoriality.
They are designed for an arboreal lifestyle with feet designed for grasping branches and a prehensile tail which acts like a fifth limb allowing them to grasp as well as hang upside down by to reach lower branches.
Friday, March 20
Join us as Phoenix Zoo employee and author, Susan R. Stoltz, reads her book “A Flamboyance, A Crash, and A Dazzle” to our flamingos… and YOU!
Thursday, March 19
Meet Belo, one of our snakes part of our Ambassador Animal Resources team! Belo means “beautiful” in Portuguese. He is 18 and a half years old – his birthday is on August 18th. In human care, rainbow boas can live between 20-30 years!
Did you know, rainbow boas get their name because they have tiny ridges on their scales that act like prisms and refract the light, giving them a rainbow iridescence!? Belo eats primarily rodents such as mice and rats. But rainbow boas have a wide variety of prey items available in the rain forest including bird eggs, frogs, salamanders, lizards, even other snakes! Brazilian rainbow boas typically grow between 4-6 feet in length, although some have been know to grow to 7 feet!
Wednesday, March 18
We kicked off our Digital Safari series with a video premiere entitled The Peaceful Swim of the Stingray.
There’s something uniquely satisfying about watching stingrays swim. They glide through the water with such ease, you can’t help but feel peaceful.
We hope it inspires a sense of calmness during this tough time; we’re in it together.