Egyptian Fruit Bat

Egyptian Fruit Bat

Fruit bats are in the “megabat” family. Unlike most megabats, the Egyptian fruit bats uses echo-location for navigating in darkness. They produce sounds with their tongues that resemble a series of clicks to the human ear.

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How You Can Help

Conservation at Home


Are you interested in animals, but don't know what to do to help them? Would you like to help preserve habitat for animals but don't know where to start? There are many things you can do, right in your own home and back yard, that will help animals. 

How To Conserve Energy in the Summer:


  • Air-Dry Beach Towels- Let the warm summer breeze dry your wet towels
  • Use Ceiling Fans Rather Than Air Conditioning- It might seem like a no-brainer, but reducing your use of A/C will save energy and money.
  • Plant Trees! Planting deciduous trees (those that lose leaves in the fall) on the south side of any yard is a simple way to help block the heat in the summer and allow it to come through in the winter. 

Recycle your cell phone at the zoo!

Why should I recycle my cell phone?

 

  • In 2008 there were over 250 million cell phone users in the U.S. The average user owns 2 or more cell phones. Most cell phones are thrown away before they are 2 years old!
  • The circuit boards in cell phones contain toxins such as arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc. Flame retardants are found in the plastic housing, printed wiring board, and cables. Batteries contain heavy metals such as cobalt, zinc, and copper.
  • Many of these toxic chemicals have the potential to be released into the air and groundwater when burned in incinerators or disposed of in landfills, thus creating unnecessary threats to animals and humans alike.

Don't throw that cell phone out–bring it to the zoo!


We have partnered with ECO Cell and RecycleFirst to launch a recycling program for cell phones. All makes and models, chargers and batteries are accepted for recycling, whether they are in good working condition or not. Through Eco-Cell’s innovative program, 80% of the phones collected will be used by first-time, low income users in Latin America or by selected local organizations, such as Battered Women’s Programs for emergency use (911 calls). All unusable cell phones and accessories are recycled under strict EPA guidelines by certified recyclers.

You can recycle your ink cartridges at the Zoo, too!

Just drop off your cell phones and ink cartridges at the Membership Desk in our Lobby.  

Click here for more information on Eco-Cell.

Click here for more information on Recycle First.

Butterfly Garden and Bird Feeders

Many species of animals are suffering from habitat loss. You can help by creating a beautiful garden in your own backyard. This will not only beautify any home, but it will also create food for butterflies and birds. If you use native species in your garden, you will reduce the need for fertilizer and water, because these species are adapted to living in your environment. If you start your own bird feeding station, don't forget to feed year round! Birds need food more than ever in the winter!

Here are some web pages to help you start your butterfly garden:

Junk Mail

Tired of receiving tons of junk mail? Here's how to lessen the amount of unwanted magazines and credit card applications. If you want to be removed from all mailing lists, type the following information in a letter: complete name, common misspellings found on mailings, complete address and a message "Take me off all mailing lists."

Send this information to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmington, NY 11735

AND

Director of List Maintenance
ADVO-Systems, Inc.
239 West Service Road
Hartford, CT 06147-1280.

It may take up to four to six months to stop receiving these mailings.

If you want to receive some mailings, but not others, take the unwanted junk mail, write

"Take Me Off Your Mailing List" next to your name and address and send this to them in their own stamped envelope. If they do not send a pre-stamped envelope, save money and send a postcard to the organization with your mailing information.

Reducing Trash

Tired of lugging so much garbage to the curb each week? Here's a solution that will help the environment as well as lighten your trash load. Pre-cycle when you grocery shop!

  • Purchase products in containers that can be recycled. When choosing items such as ketchup and mustard, look for items that are in glass containers. If you need to buy plastic, look on the bottom of the container and look for a number 1, 2 or PETE symbol. These items are the easiest to recycle. Avoid containers with a number any higher than 2.
  • Purchase items that have as little packaging as possible. Avoid packages that are wrapped more than once such as lunch and snack packs.
  • Buy reusable juice boxes and cups instead of throw-away juice boxes. Throw-away juice boxes and single sized juice bottles are not recyclable and the trash generated by them adds up! Reusable juice boxes are simple to use and economical too!

You Can Help to Conserve on Your Next Visit to the Zoo!

Located near the entrance and exit of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, our friendly frog map recycling bin is an opportunity to help the zoo conserve trees. If you visit the zoo often or do not want to keep the zoo map as a souvenir of your visit, please place your zoo map into the frog map recycle bin and help to make a difference!

Here are some great web sites where you can get more information:

The United States Department of Environmental Protection has a web page for you. This page covers topics from acid rain to Waste Wise programs.

To learn more about Endangered Animals in New York State, visit
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7181.html