World of Zoology

NEW! Our World of Zoology Substack! Our mission? To demystify the complex world of zoological research, making the latest discoveries and insights into animal behavior, conservation, and biodiversity accessible to everyone. Please subscribe, it's FREE! worldofzoology.substack.com/about

🐿️ Eight European ground squirrels bred at Opel Zoo have been released into steppe grassland habitats in the Czech Republic to support the recovery of wild populations. This reintroduction effort aim to restore self-sustaining populations of the species in the Czech Republic.

New research shows #bonobo reunions spark short-term stress — but socio-sexual behavior helps defuse tension. A glimpse into how great apes manage conflict & keep the peace. #Bonobos #AnimalBehavior #GreatApes worldofzoology.substack.com/p/how-bonobos-…

@authoradambray @ApeInitiative Data that had not yet been released/analyzed

@WorldofZoology @ApeInitiative Kanzi died last March. Must be a new paper based on old data.

A #bonobo named #Kanzi @ApeInitiative has shown he can track the identities and locations of multiple hidden humans and even objects using both sight & sound. New research suggests #apes share key building blocks of social intelligence with humans. worldofzoology.substack.com/p/a-bonobos-mi…

An Evening With the Central Park #Coyotes nytimes.com/2025/08/19/nyr…

New finding: killer #whales don’t just use tools, they make them for skin care and bonding. In the Salish Sea, #orcas bite off bull kelp and co-groom, like a shared body brush. First tool manufacture seen in marine mammals. @CetaceanMike worldofzoology.substack.com/p/kelp-as-a-gr…

A rare Indian #rhinoceros calf was born at ZOO Planckendael! 🍼 Weighing 60 kg at birth, the healthy newborn is the 3rd offspring of mom Karamat—an important step for the survival of this vulnerable species. 🦏💚 📸ZOO Planckendael

A Belgian zoo foundation is helping save endangered species worldwide — from walruses and red pandas to Spix’s macaws once extinct in the wild. Science, restoration, and hope in action. 🌍🦜 #Conservation #Biodiversity #HopeForNature #PairiDaiza worldofzoology.substack.com/p/saving-speci…

🦍@Apenheul now hosts the largest #gorilla family group in the Netherlands! After carefully merging two groups, 9 gorillas aged 9 months to 51 years now live together in a natural social structure. 📸 Apenheul #Gorillas #ZooSuccess #PrimateCare

😂

Big step for #bonobo conservation: ZOO Planckendael and its Antwerp Zoo Foundation will co-manage 3,600 km² of rainforest in Congo with @IccnRdc for the next 15 years—combining science, rangers, and “bonobo credits” to support local communities.

#Whales drive a vital “nutrient loop”: their waste fertilizes phytoplankton, which produces ~50 % of Earth’s oxygen and fuels marine life. Plus, each #whale can capture ~33 tonnes of CO₂ in its lifetime. Whale #conservation is climate action. 💙🐋💪 phys.org/news/2025-07-w…

Great news from @Bellewaerde: Northern lions Nestor and Zari have been successfully introduced and are now outside together! A key step in saving one of the world’s most endangered lion subspecies. 🦁💛 📸Bellewaerde #Conservation #Lions #Lion #Bellewaerde

Historic first: A baby #koala 🐨 (joey) has been born in the Netherlands—for the very first time ever! The joey is developing in its mother’s pouch at @Ouwehand_Zoo and will make its public debut later this year. 🇳🇱🍼🌿 #Koala #ZooBirth #Conservation 📸 Ouwehands Dierenpark

Today is World Ranger Day. Across South Africa and the globe, we honour the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our natural and cultural heritage with unmatched courage and commitment. #WorldRangerDay #WorldRangerDay2025 #LiveYourWild

#Chimpanzees in open savannahs still spend plenty of time in trees—and often hang below branches to forage. New research suggests early humans may have done the same, reshaping how we think about walking upright. 🔗 doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2… 📸 Rhianna C. Drummond-Clarke/GMERC

After nearly 20 years unspotted, the world’s smallest #snake—the Barbados #threadsnake—has been rediscovered in Barbados. Only ~10 cm long, blind, and burrowing, this tiny wonder survived despite its elusiveness. 🐍🌿 phys.org/news/2025-07-w…

ZOO Antwerp welcomes back the endangered pygmy #hippo after 26 years! In a lush new Swamp Biotope, Nimba now shares her habitat with fruit #bats & African #birds—bringing West Africa to Belgium. #Conservation #ZooNews 📸 Jonas Verhulst/ZOO Antwerpen

#Clownfish, made famous by Finding Nemo, are shrinking during marine heatwaves—losing millimeters in weeks to cope with heat stress. It’s not evolution, it’s survival. 🐠🌡️

In female mountain #gorillas, aggression is not random—it’s strategic. When more males are around, they push against higher‑ranking females; when there are more females, they target weaker ones. Context matters. 🦍 #Gorilla phys.org/news/2025-07-g…