National Geographic Kids USA - August 2017

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ZOO FUN!

GORILLA

DISGUISE

Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio

Whenkeepersrealized

thatGladysthenewbornwest-

ernlowlandgorillawasn’tbeing

caredforbyhermom,they

donnedvestswithgorilla-like

furandactedastemporary

parents.Thecaretakerslooked

afterthebaby24/7,lettingher

clingtothefakefurontheir

backsjustasshewould’vedone

withhermom.Toteachher

gorillabehavior,theymade

gorillanoisesandwalkedon

theirknuckles.Meanwhile,the

keeperspreparedanadult

femalegorillato“adopt”Gladys.

Afterafewmonthstheinfant

wasplacedwithhernewmom,

andthetwogorillasquickly

bonded.Nowthelittleape’sin

greatshape!

PUPPET TIME

Mulhouse Zoo, France

Thiskingvulturechickgota

regularpuppetshowatmeal-

times.Keepersusedalifelike

handpuppetthatlookedlikea

vulturetofeedtheorphan

meat!Theydidthistoprevent

thehatchlingfromlearningto

associatehumanhandswith

food.Eventuallythevulture

wasbigenoughtofeedhimself.

Andheneverknewhiskeepers

hadgivenhimahand.

PLUSH PAL

Taronga Zoo, Australia

AfterMaiyatheredpandawasinjured,shegot

atonofTLC—andastuffedanimal!Maiya’s

momhadaccidentallywoundedherwhilecar-

ryingthecubbyherneck,whichishowred

pandastransportbabies.KeeperstookMaiya

fromhermothertomonitorherrecoveryand

gotherastuffedredpandasoshewouldn’t

getlonely.Maiyalovedherplushtoy,cuddling

againstitduringfeedingsandnaps.Keepers

usedthestuffedanimaltocomfortMaiyauntil

thehealedpandawasreturnedtohermom.

GLADYS GETS A PIGGY-

BACK RIDE FROM A KEEPER

DRESSED AS A GORILLA.

MAIYA CUDDLES

HER TOY DURING

A FEEDING.

RON MAGILL / ZOO MIAMI (SATU, ALL); NORTH CAROLINA ZOO (KENICKIE, BOTH); © CINCINNATI ZOO (GLADYS, BOTH); ERIC ISSELÉE / LIFE ON WHITE (VULTURE); PAUL FAHY / TARONGA ZOO (MAIYA, BOTH). JL KLEIN & ML HUBERT (MICE, PAGES 18–19) 17