Abilene Zoo Highlights Endangered Species Day

Tomorrow, the Abilene Zoo will highlight animals in need of world attention during Endangered Species Day.

According to a press release, zoo keepers will give presentations about the endangered animals in the zoo's collection from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Additionally, Zoo Education Department staff will be on hand with educational animal encounters. Each endangered species has a unique tale, said the release.

Here is the schedule:

• 10 a.m. Attwater’s Prairie Chicken: The zoo staff breeds these rare grouse to be released into a protected habitat along the coast of Texas. Males are known for a distinctive mating behavior called “booming.”
• 11 p.m. Southern Black Rhinoceros: Meet our mild-mannered rhino named Macho, whose subspecies is struggling to survive in the wild because of poaching.
• 12 p.m. Black Footed Ferret: These North American natives are the rarest mammals on earth because of the decimation of their main diet: prairie dogs. Federal breeding programs are reviving its small population. Presentation will be in Elm Creek Backyard building.
• 1 p.m. Panamanian Golden Frogs: These tiny bright frogs are believed to be extinct in the wild, but zoos are keeping the species alive with hopes of reintroducing them to their habitats.  Presentation is inside the Reptile House.
• 2 p.m. Maned Wolves: These omnivores have a varied diet, but the long-legged canines are struggling to survive in their native South America because of habitat encroachment.

Endangered Species Day activities are included with regular admission, and is free for zoo members. The zoo offers daily keeper chats all summer.