On Zooperhero Day children are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero to get $1 off their admission for the day. Once inside the Zoo, animal keepers will be giving guests an up close look at animals that possess superpowers like flying, night vision, incredible running speed, invincible body armor, and more. Animals featured during the superpower presentations include Amur Tigers, Bats, Spider Monkeys, Elephants and Apes, to name a few.

Adding to the excitement will be Night Flight Comics, which will be in the gift shop alcove from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. handing out free comics, coloring books and one-of-a-kind drawings from real-life comic book artist Bill Galvan.

Join Utah’s Hogle Zoo this Saturday for the Zooperhero fun, and see which of our animals has your favorite superpower!

King Vulture, Courtesy: Keith Lovett, Brevard Zoo

Some people have irrational fears of the dark. Some people are terrified by clowns. Then there’s the most hideous thought of all: Clowns in the dark. Other people are frightened by creepy creatures that seem to have no other purpose on this earth than to scare us silly. In this summer’s Nature’s Nightmares exhibit, Hogle Zoo hopes to lessen some common fears people have of eerie animals and show guests (in the immortal words of our 37^th President of the United States), “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

This summer, Nature’s Nightmares will effectively transform Hogle Zoo’s Tropical Gardens building, which previously featured exhibits such as Ghost of the Bayou and Madagascar, into a haven for the ugly, creepy and crawly. Brightly-colored (and definitely not pretty) King Vultures are the focal point in the exhibit’s main glassed-in habitat. Though unique to this part of the world, these giant scavenger birds are an important part of the Central and South American ecosystem by helping prevent the spread of disease by disposing of rotting remains.

Turning the attention to the ceiling of Nature’s Nightmares provides the awesome sight of over fifty free-flying Straw-Colored Fruit Bats right overhead! This species of African bat is impressively large, with wings sometimes spanning 30 inches. While bats provide ample fodder for storytelling and folklore, they also provide crop farms with the benefits of pollination and seed dispersion. And some might even find these animals as rather cute, and not as scary as they thought. But cover your head with your arms or wear a hat, just in case!

Some folks might find themselves afraid of the water due to the influence of movies like Jaws, but sharks aren’t the only animals that humans think intimidate the water. Nature’s Nightmares features a whole tankful of Red-Bellied Piranha, a water-dwelling creature with a reputation for being one of the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. That reputation isn’t so true, as these animals fulfill a role similar to vultures by scavenging the water for food.

Nature’s Nightmares also features one of the most feared land mammals: the skunk! How many times have you shuddered to think of one of these animals spraying its scintillating scent on your dog or, worse, you? While we fear the stinky spray, many people never realize that skunks play an important role in the wild by helping control rodents and pests, even black widow spiders and scorpions. Skunks also keep roadways and neighborhoods clean by feeding off carrion that might be on the ground.

Not so scary after all, right? But wait there’s more! Nature’s Nightmares will house mosquito larvae, leeches, dung beetles, bees, centipedes and even a giant Goliath Bird-eating Spider! Hogle Zoo Eco-Explorers will be on hand throughout the summer, providing guests with up-close views of spooky specimens like hissing cockroaches, snakes and Norway Rats. Even scary animals are all good, and a trip through Nature’s Nightmares this summer will show everyone not to fear those things that creep in the night.

Sweet dreams!

Here’s something we’ve never done before at Hogle Zoo: Up-Close Animal Encounters beginning this spring. Have you ever wanted to do something really different, cool or special at the Zoo? This is your chance! Starting in May we’ll have info on our Web site telling you how you can purchase a reservation to feed giraffes, fruit bats or rainforest animals here at the Zoo. We’ve even got guided cart tours available for you to purchase, where you can whirl your whole family around grounds in a chauffeured golf cart.

A couple of weeks ago, I got a chance to feed a giraffe and it was an experience unlike anything else. Even though I’ve worked at Hogle Zoo for over three years, I’ve never fed a giraffe before. It was so awesome having male giraffe Riley use his long, 18-inch tongue to take carrots from my hand. Giraffe slobber isn’t as bad as you might think, and I wondered if he liked the smell of my perfume since he tried to put his tongue in my ear. (All of this is on our monthly podcast on Hogle Zoo’s YouTube channel!)

The point is, we’re trying to offer unique experiences for our guests and these Up-Close Animal Encounters are really awesome ways for you do something special with your family! How many people can say they made friends with a giraffe? This summer at Hogle Zoo you can be one of those people! Depending on the Encounter, pricing will range between $25 and $50 a person, but check back on our Web site soon for exact prices and scheduling information.

Another new experience coming to Hogle Zoo this summer is a program we are calling Guest Connections where guests might have keepers randomly choose them to have a special talk or behind-the-scenes peek. This is a program that replaces our previously scheduled Meet-a-Keeper programs, and should be a really great way for our keepers to personally connect with our guests. And… if you’re chosen as random, it’s free with regular Hogle Zoo admission!!

The baby giraffe, a male, was born to Hogle Zoo giraffes Kipenzi (six-years-old) and Riley (six-years-old). First-time mother Kipenzi had the baby outdoors in the yard which she shares with another female giraffe.  Right now, the baby seems small next to the full-sized giraffes, but during its first week of life will grow nearly one inch per day. Baby giraffes weigh about 110 pounds and can rise to their feet and nurse within hours of birth. They can also run before they are 24 hours old.

The new giraffe baby was expected this summer, and Kipenzi appeared she was going into labor just before noon Thursday. By about 12:30 she had successfully delivered her first baby. Less than an hour later, the baby giraffe was standing for the first time.

“The delivery went very well,” said Dr. Nancy Carpenter Hogle Zoo Associate Director-Animal Health. She adds, “It took about an hour and a half from start to finish. Shortly after birth the giraffe was working to stand, and it already seems that Kipenzi is a good mom who is bonding well with her baby.” Giraffes have no specific breeding season, and give birth after a gestation of about 14 to 15 months.

Quick Giraffe Facts: Adult males usually are about 17 feet tall, weighing as much as 3,000 pounds, with necks that can measure 6 l/2 feet long. The pattern of spots on every giraffe is unique and is used to tell one from another.