H O L I D A Y G I F T S
Our wildlife at the Wildlife Conservation Society, like this red panda, get gifts during the holiday season. Their presents are boxes filled with food treats that are wrapped in paper. The activity of “opening” their gifts enriches the animals by encouraging behaviors they would use in the wild like searching and digging for their meals.
There is nothing cuter than a happy red panda at Prospect Park Zoo!
Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
G I V I N G G I F T S
Gift giving is fun.
Our Andean bears at the Queens Zoo get to unwrap presents filled with food treats from their keepers—a form of enrichment where our bears participate in the spirit of the holiday season.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s parks—the Bronx Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium (drop off at Tom’s Diner) are doing more than presents to the animals. We are accepting new toys to give to local veterans’ families in the Bronx and some communities hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy in the New York area. Gift donors will received a free ticket (click for details) to the Bronx Zoo.
Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
F R A N K L I N
While the New York Aquarium is in its recovery, its good to know that the other Wildlife Conservation Society parks in New York are open including Prospect Park Zoo (PPZ) in Brooklyn.
PPZ is a great place to take your camera during Thanksgiving week and meet up with Franklin, the turkey, an icon of the season. Franklin always stands proud of his heritage in the barnyard.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
A L M O S T A U T U M N
Prospect Park Zoo’s red pandas are good Fall photo subjects. The panda’s russet red fur reminds me that the autumnal time of year is here. The first day of Fall is tomorrow.
Fall is among the best times to photograph at zoos. With cooler temperatures, animals can be more active and alert for engaging images in vivid colors.
Bring a telephoto lens, as red pandas like to spend much of the day on tree branches.
Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
