We will be visiting the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in Saint Paul, MN. Here is a bit of general information.
But first here is an interesting story about the NEW baby bison born recently (it is kinda sad as well- as they can not keep the baby!)
"June 16, 2011 - The American Bison area is an exciting place today at the zoo. Around 11 am, one of the bison (named Aunt Bea) gave birth to a calf. The baby was up and walking within an hour of being born and is nursing well already. Mom cleaned up the calf and also seems to be doing well.
Keepers noticed earlier this morning that two year old Aunt Bea was agitated. She was making some unusual noises and keeping her tail in the air. Labor continued for about an hour, holding the attention of hundreds of kids on what turned out to be a very interesting field trip! Seeing the birth and first steps of the calf was definitely a learning experience for many visitors to the zoo today.
The calf is somewhat unique in that it is believed to be melanistic. This means it was born with a black coat. Most American Bison are a cinnamon or reddish color at birth and their coats darken with age. Other than its color, the baby seems to be normal and healthy. The sex and name of the calf have yet to be determined.
The mother bison, Aunt Bea, came to the Como Zoo on November 17th of last year and was pregnant before her arrival. The gestation period for bison is about 270-300 days, not far from that of humans. The other American Bison at the zoo, another female, was unbothered by all the excitement in the exhibit today."
"Como Zoo turned over the naming rights of its baby bison to its 29,000+ Facebook fans. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s volunteers submitted names, zoo staff picked four finalists, and the Facebook fans voted for their favorites. With 56% of the votes cast, “Bogo” was chosen. Bogo (short for “buy one, get one”) was chosen as a humorous comment on the baby bison’s surprise arrival; it was unknown that the bison’s mother, “Aunt Bea”, was pregnant when she came to the zoo last November. The other names fans had opportunity to vote on were Opie (21%), Thundar (13%), & Bruno (10%).
Bogo was born on June 16th at 11:10am as many surprised guests and staff looked on. He was standing and walking within an hour of birth. He weighed 125 lbs and stood three feet tall at birth. Bogo is the first calf born to two year old mom, Aunt Bea. Como’s current herd consists of Aunt Bea, Bogo and one other adult female."
Admission
Free. A voluntary donation of $2 for an adult and $1 for a child to help us care for our plants and animals is appreciated. You are always welcome whether or not you choose to make a donation.
Hours
Open every day of the year.
Summer hours (April – September)
10am – 6pm
Winter hours (October – March)
10am – 4pm
Come to Como’s annual Halloween family festival and support Minnesota’s free zoo while you boo at the Zoo.
Tickets are $7 per person at the gate. Buy them online now and save $1 per ticket!
Zoo Boo is a non-scary Halloween event, recommended for children between the ages of 3 and 10, but everyone is welcome. For this unique fall fundraiser, the grounds of Como Zoo are transformed into a world of fairytales and fun! Over 200 live costumed characters interact and entertain children! This magical event offers families a safe trick-or-treating experience and many Halloween surprises.
Children are encouraged to wear costumes, but many come dressed as they are. This outdoor event is held rain or shine so please dress appropriately for the weather.
We encourage ZooBoo guests to use our FREE park and ride shuttle service during ZooBoo. The park and ride lot is a State Fair parking lot located next to the International Institute of MN (1694 Como Ave.), directly across from the MN State Fair grounds.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Facebook
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Twitter
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory You Tube
Como Keeper Blog and Gardener Blog
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