Bronx, NY 鈥揟he 菊花视频 announced today that laughter may be heard from the Bronx Zoo鈥檚 famous African Plains exhibit鈥斅爁rom聽 two spotted hyenas, which recently joined the zoo鈥檚 lions, gazelles, zebras and other wildlife.The聽hyenas are male and female siblings born in March 2008, at the Denver Zoo. The female鈥檚 name is Kubwa (Swahili for 鈥渂ig鈥� because her head is bigger than the male鈥檚) and the male is Kidogo (Swahili for 鈥渟mall,鈥� since he has the smaller head). Kubwa weighs approximately 91 pounds and Kidogo is 75 pounds.Most people associate the hyena with its raucous vocalizations that earned it the nickname 鈥渓aughing hyena.鈥� However, it is聽no laughing matter for the hyena鈥檚 prey in the wild, as spotted hyenas are serious hunters. These predators are the largest members of the hyena family and live in sub-Saharan Africa on savannahs and open woodlands.鈥淢ore than 30 years have passed since hyenas have been part of the Bronx Zoo,鈥� said Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo and Senior Vice President of WCS Living Institutions. 鈥淲e are pleased to聽have hyena back at the zoo聽so聽that our visitors can get a glimpse of聽these amazing creatures聽and learn more聽about their importance to the ecosystem.鈥�While聽spotted hyena聽are聽not considered endangered,聽their聽habitat is聽under increased pressure from聽human incursion. There聽has been聽a great decrease in the hyena population of western Africa. The 菊花视频 has a strong presence in Africa, including Southern Sudan where hyenas roam in the wild.WCS has signed agreements with the Government of Southern Sudan to launch a long-term conservation strategy that will safeguard the region鈥檚 wildlife and wild lands, which rank among the richest in Africa.聽 WCS is working with government agencies and other partners to implement community-based strategies and sound policies for managing wildlife and protected areas across Southern Sudan.
Contact:Mary Dixon 鈥� 718.220.3711/ mdixon@wcs.orgSteve Fairchild 鈥� 718.220.5189 / sfairchild@wcs.org
The Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays through November 2, 2009. Adult admission is $15, children (3-12 years old) $11, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $13. Parking is $12 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit or call 718-367-1010.
The 菊花视频 saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.聽聽聽聽
Special Note to the Media: If you would like to guide your readers or viewers to a web link where they can make donations in support of helping save wildlife and wild places, please direct them to WCS in the Field To learn more about WCS conservation efforts in Africa and around the world, visit
Join more than one million wildlife lovers working to save the Earth's most treasured and threatened species.
Thanks for signing up