ZOO MIAMI

Zoo Miami announced on Thursday that a 7-year-old red fox named Swift died of a cardiac arrest.

Miami-Dade commissioners chose to defer a vote again on a lease extension for the Miami Wilds water park to be built next to Zoo Miami following public outcry.

The vision of a public-private partnership to build a water park that will attract more tourists to Zoo Miami started before Luca Martinez was born. It started before wildlife influencers were even a thing.

A controversial vote is coming up next Tuesday before the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners on whether to approve a new lease to build a water theme park right next to Zoo Miami, abutting land conservationists say is a critically important biodiversity hotspot.

A judge dismissed a lawsuit on Friday in Miami-Dade County that was part of an effort to stop the development of a new water park at Zoo Miami.

Members of the public packed Wednesday’s Miami-Dade County Commission meeting as officials were set to vote on a lease extension for the Miami Wilds water park proposal at Zoo Miami, a plan so controversial, the zoo’s chief spokesperson publicly denounced it as a private citizen.

A controversial decision is looming at Zoo Miami as commissioners are set to vote later this week on whether to extend the lease agreement for the park Miami Wilds.

A woman who worked at an egg farm wrote her name on an egg right before it was shipped out to market 72 years ago. It is still intact after all these years.

Zoo Miami’s “Turtle,” an 8-month-old male giraffe weighing more than 500 pounds and standing close to 10 feet tall, was recovering from surgery, wildlife expert Ron Magill announced on Thursday.

A critically endangered Addra gazelle was born Wednesday on its exhibit habitat at Zoo Miami. It became the 79th Addra gazelle born in the zoo’s history, Zoo Miami Communications Director Ron Magill confirmed in a press release.

A cheetah cub joined Zoo Miami’s ambassador team nearly two months ago, Ron Magill confirmed in a Zoo Miami press release on Friday.

Zoo Miami’s last black-necked stork, a near-threatened species, died, Ron Magill announced on Friday afternoon adding the “elegant bird” was over 50 years old.

Zoo Miami issued an apology Monday and has stopped their Kiwi Encounter following outrage by New Zealanders who saw a video on social media depicting the handling and housing of the zoo’s kiwi bird “Paora.”

As safety takes the national spotlight, one Miami-Dade student was honored by Miami police Wednesday after showcasing her bravery during a shooting scare nearly two months ago.

Epilepsy Alliance Florida, a nonprofit organization in South Florida, held its annual “Walk the Talk for Epilepsy” in Miami on Saturday morning.

Zoo Miami Animal Health team members successfully released a juvenile Green Sea Turtle back to the wild from Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne Wednesday morning, Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill confirmed.

Zoo Miami made one special teen’s dream come true with a special tour.

An 18-year-old female jaguar at Zoo Miami was anesthetized Monday and transferred to the zoo’s animal hospital for a full set of examinations to determine the cause of her health issues.

Zoo Miami staff members are discussing modifications that need to be made after a tapir briefly escaped from its enclosure Tuesday morning, Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill confirmed.

After nearly four decades, the monorail at Zoo Miami will soon be pulled off the tracks, but you still have a chance to take pictures of it through March 2nd.

Zoo Miami welcomed three otter pups to the world on Tuesday.

Swedish media are reporting that three chimpanzees that escaped from their enclosure in a zoo have been captured and euthanized.

The harsh winter conditions up north can be critical to sea turtles’ health, leaving them “cold-stunned” and incapacitated, which is why Zoo Miami is helping some sea turtles at risk.

One of the avian stars of Zoo Miami’s Eagle Cam remained in critical condition Thursday following surgery to repair a severely fractured right wing.

One of the avian stars of Zoo Miami’s Eagle Cam was in critical condition Monday after she was found with a severely broken right wing.

Zoo Miami visited Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 43 on Saturday in honor of their outstanding service.

Staff at Zoo Miami euthanized an “iconic” 56-year-old Asian elephant Thursday afternoon following a series of health problems, officials said.

Zoo Miami will temporarily close this week as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida.

The Eco-Hero contest is open only to Florida residents within the Miami-Dade and Broward County viewing area.

Zoo Miami welcomed a new giraffe into the herd Tuesday. Sabra, a nearly 12-year-old giraffe, gave birth to a baby girl at around 6:30 p.m., according to Zoo Miami spokesperson Ron Magill.

Veterinarians at Zoo Miami took a close look inside one of the park’s endangered clouded leopards as they tried to get to the bottom of ongoing vomiting issues.

Miami-Dade County is distributing free vaccines for children who are six months old or older from Saturday to Wednesday at eight locations.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers found the 80 pound female sea turtle floating in a Coral Gables waterway May 28 and transferred her to the zoo for treatment. The turtle had severe lacerations to the top of her shell and appeared to be partially paralyzed.

With a storm on the way, Broward County and Miami-Dade County are taking precautions by announcing closures.

Zoo Miami will be closed Friday and Saturday after a Tropical Storm Warning was issued for all of South Florida.

A loggerhead turtle is rehabbing at Zoo Miami's new Sea Turtle Hospital after a shark bit off most of her left fin.

Zoo Miami is hoping their resident 9-year-old orangutan will find her perfect match.

Earth Day in South Florida continues throughout the weekend and there's plenty to do to celebrate Mother Earth.

Zoo Miami welcomes its 72nd critically endangered addax.

Get ready for a hoppin’ good time with the family as Easter egg hunts are being held throughout South Florida this week.

A young boy from Iowa who survived brain cancer had his wish come true and spent the day exploring Zoo Miami's reptiles with Ron Magill.

Zoo Miami has ended its monorail rides after nearly four decades of carrying more than a million riders, the zoo announced Friday in a press release.

The CDC’s latest data shows Florida reported 67,369 new COVID-19 cases from Wednesday, the second-highest daily total in the state since the start of the pandemic.

A 16-year-old Dromedary camel named “Fluffy” died on Tuesday at Zoo Miami after suffering from a degenerative joint disease for more than two years.

Florida's new daily cases of COVID-19 have once again surpassed previous records.

Florida's new daily cases of COVID-19 have surpassed previous records.

With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, Miami-Dade and Broward counties are adjusting, trying to stay ahead of the spread as we head into the New Year.

Amid increased demand for free coronavirus testing, Miami-Dade County opened two new sites. Also, the testing site at Zoo Miami will be open night and day, every day.

Zoo Miami’s 27-year-old male ostrich named Red was found dead Wednesday morning by his keepers, zoo officials confirmed Friday in a news release.

A bald-eagle couple, stars of Zoo Miami's Eagle Cam, reveal an egg on the night before Thanksgiving.

After Zoo Miami’s 385-pound gorilla named Barney developed a lingering cough, veterinarians and animal medical specialists from across Miami-Dade County teamed up to perform additional exams on the great ape.

Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill is excited. He said one of the few eagle nest cams in the world is in Miami-Dade County.

Zoo Miami is mourning the sudden death of “Kumang,” a 44 year-old, female Bornean orangutan, who died on Thursday during recovery from anesthesia following a dental procedure.

Surveillance video shows the glowing eyes of a four-legged animal that is too big to be a domestic cat and was recently on the prowl in Pembroke Pines. It left behind a paw print that was several inches wide.

Zoo Miami has announced that its 2-year-old koala named Hope was found dead Sunday night by staff members.

This morning, Berani, a 13-year-old, male Sumatran tiger, underwent an examination at Zoo Miami to evaluate his fertility after multiple attempts to sire an offspring were unsuccessful.

Vivian Portanova said she was on her way to work when she spotted a coyote in Miami-Dade County’s Richmond West neighborhood.

On Monday, May 17, 12-year-old Binti the Red River Hog successfully gave birth to three healthy piglets at Zoo Miami. The mama of three, two males and one female, is an experienced mother, with several litters under her belt.

Beginning Thursday, appointments are no longer required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any of the Miami-Dade County-run sites.

Monday, April 26, is International Flamingo Day, and if there’s anything more quintessentially South Florida (besides coconut trees and sunshine) it’s the American Flamingo. However, what most people don’t know is that the American flamingo hasn’t always been classified as a native species of Florida.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is joining faith leaders Thursday morning at the Zoo Miami vaccination site to encourage members of the community to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Zoo Miami staff helped discover a brand new species of large spider in the critically endangered Pine Rockland forest surrounding Zoo Miami.

A male giraffe has been doing his part to promote Zoo Miami’s breeding program, with two of his long-legged babies born in the last few days.

Spring is in the air and the baby boom continues at Zoo Miami! Over the past few days, two baby giraffes, one male, and one female were born nearly back-to-back at the zoo.

Host Hunter visits Zoo Miami and the new Conservation Action Exhibit, plus secrets to making healthy food tasty and find out if it’s better for you to walk on pavement or sand.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Zoo Miami’s 11-year-old lioness, Kashifa, was euthanized Monday, weeks after the zoo’s Animal Health and Animal Science teams discovered that she had lost mobility in her hind legs. The lioness was immobilized and underwent an MRI so that her spine and nerve function could be evaluated. Veterinarians determined that Kashifa sustained a “non-compressive injury to her spinal cord,” the news release stated. The lioness underwent nearly three weeks of intensive care, but did not show any signs of improvement. Kashifa was born at the Bronx Zoo in 2010 and gave birth to a litter of four cubs in 2014 at Zoo Miami.

Cars line up at a COVID-19 testing site at Tropical Park, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Miami. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County’s new COVID-19 vaccine pre-registration system is now open. AdYou can preregister for those FDOH appointments at myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 888-499-0840 if you live in Miami-Dade. For more info on the various vaccination programs in Miami-Dade County, click here. If you’re looking for vaccine info in Broward County, click here.

MIAMI – South Florida leaders say the infrastructure is there — they just need more shots so they can vaccinate more people against COVID-19 in the state’s coronavirus epicenter. “We’re telling the governor we want three times or four times the amount of vaccine that we are getting,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. Yet as more and more vaccine locations pop up throughout Florida, the limited supply of shots is spread thinner and thinner. “Of course I’m worried,” City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said. Local leaders stress, however, that people who have received the first vaccine shot will still get appointments for the needed second shot weeks later, and won’t be affected by the shortage.

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. – The new Conservation Action Center at Zoo Miami opens to the public on Saturday, Jan. 16, but Local 10 was able to get a sneak peek at the hands-on experience. Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill said the idea of the center is to introduce one of the “major pillars of the zoo and that’s conservation, but in a fun way.”There’s plenty to see and do, all with the goal of making it an interactive experience with games like Habitat Whack a Mole and Mating Game. There’s also “What’s the Poop?” where visitors can race to see how fast you can scoop the “poop” into compost bins. So, you can come in here and play a variety of games — Interactive games — to try to get involved and understand why it’s so important and what we do every day to conserve wildlife,” Magill said. The first 500 visitors into the center on Saturday and Sunday will receive a free gift, according to the Zoo.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Zoo Miami announced the death of its beloved black rhino, Toshi, on Friday. PHOTOS: Zoo Miami photos of ToshiFull Screen Full Screen 1 / 4 Zoo Miami Eastern black rhino, Toshi, painting. He came to Zoo Miami by ship in April 1983, back when it was called the Miami Metrozoo. Zoo Miami officials say while Toshi was a strong and large animal, he was known to be gentle. The Eastern black rhino is a highly endangered species, but Toshi fathered several offspring during his time at Zoo Miami, and at the time of his death he was a great-great grandfather.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The COVID-19 vaccination site for seniors 65 and older at Zoo Miami opens at 8 a.m. Friday. There will be just one way in and one way out,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said earlier this week. There are 250 appointments on Friday, 500 appointments on Saturday and 500 appointments on Sunday, according to the mayor’s spokesperson, Rachel Johnson. You can click here to access a registration page on the county’s website, though appointments will not always available. The county says to “check back periodically as additional vaccines become available.”RELATED LINKS:Before you go: Download and fill out COVID-19 vaccine consent formsHow to get coronavirus vaccines in Miami-Dade County

But don’t expect to see more appointments available via the county’s website for next week at Tropical Park or Zoo Miami. Just revealed: next week’s #covid19 1st dose vaccine allotment from #Florida as state spreads supply:@MarlinsPark- 7K@HardRockStadium- 7K@JacksonHealth- 8k*Zero* for #Miami Dade Co’s sites. “In every case, it is limited by supply,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. But as more vaccine sites open, a finite supply is spread thinner among the counties, hospitals and other entities doing public vaccinations. ALSO SEEHow to get coronavirus vaccines in Miami-Dade CountyCOVID-19 vaccination site to soon open at Zoo Miami

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County briefly started allowing people to sign up for new COVID-19 vaccination appointments on Monday, but all 2,000 appointments were snapped up within 10 minutes. On Wednesday, the county announced that they will open Zoo Miami as a vaccination site starting on Friday. There will be just one way in and one way out,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. There are 250 appointments on Friday, 500 appointments on Saturday and 500 appointments on Sunday, according to the mayor’s spokesperson, Rachel Johnson. RELATED LINKS:Before you go: Download and fill out COVID-19 vaccine consent formsWhere are coronavirus vaccines available in Miami-Dade County?

MIAMI – There are a few holiday season activities available this week in Broward County. For tickets and for more information, visit the museum’s page. THE ZOO: Outdoor with social distancingZoo Miami is open on Christmas Day from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit Zoo Miami’s site. For more information, visit the garden’s site.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Two Florida International University students received a special surprise Thursday from Zoo Miami. “The Ron Magill Conservation Scholarship came as a product of the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment -- that’s an endowment I started here at the zoo to help protect animals in the wild,” Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill said. Magill passed out the $5,000 checks Thursday to the two students who participated in the first ever selection process. Both students are focusing on species of sea turtles and doing their field studies of hatchings. “I would love to use this money for (that) and also to support my research.”“I was trying to do a sea turtle project in Cuba.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Ron Magill wants everyone to know the holiday season is in full swing at ZooMiami this year. Zookeepers recently used gift wrapping paper and Santa Claus-style decorations to make some regular treats more festive. Here is what Magill reported on Monday:The zookeepers gave Hank, a sloth bear, a gift wrapped box with mealworms. (ZooMiami)The zookeepers gave Hank, a sloth bear, a gift box with mealworms. Reina and Adonia, two jaguars living in ZooMiami, found icy treats, disguised as holiday candy.

MIAMI, Fla. – Miami-Dade County Parks shut down its beaches, marinas, golf course, Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at 8 p.m. Saturday. They will remain closed through Monday, Nov. 9 and officials said they will evaluate a possible reopening for Tuesday, Nov. 10. Meanwhile, the city of Miami is closing its beaches, and parks at 5 p.m. Sunday and will remain closed until further notice due to possible impacts from Tropical Storm Eta. (This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Local 10 and Local 10.com for updates.)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County commissioners are negotiating with a developer who plans to build a water park near Zoo Miami. In 2006, voters approved the development of an entertainment district on land at Zoo Miami that is not environmentally sensitive. Miami Wilds Manager Paul Lambert anticipates it could be up and running 36-months from today. Lambert added that it will be built on a Zoo Miami parking lot, not any green space. “But our thinking right now is that Miami Wilds' development will not have an impact on feeding habits of the bats.”Lambert said they are also open to potential mitigation efforts.

MIAMI – An 11-year-old reticulated giraffe named Pongo from Zoo Miami underwent a series of successful procedures over the weekend. It took more than two dozen people, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, zookeepers and farriers, to immobilize the giraffe and perform the procedures. Full Screen 1 / 9 Photo courtesy: Ron Magill/Zoo MiamiAccording to a Zoo Miami news release, Pongo stands at more than 16 feet tall and weighs close to 2,000 pounds. Pongo has since made a full recovery from his anesthesia and has been reunited with the rest of the herd at Zoo Miami. It is expected to take several weeks for the fracture to heal, so Pongo will be closely monitored over the next few months.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Zoo Miami’s 8-year-old male cheetah named Koda received a wellness exam last week and is said to be in excellent health. After the exam, Koda was reunited with his brother, Diesel, at the amphitheater. “Being able to detect any problems at an early stage plays an important role in the success of any treatment, which is why these types of exams are a fundamental part of the zoo’s overall preventative medicine program.”Full Screen 1 / 7 Zoo Miami's 8-year-old cheetah named Koda undergoes a wellness exam. According to Zoo Miami officials, cheetahs are considered to be Africa’s most endangered big cat. Cheetahs can be found in Eastern and Southern African, and there is also a very small population of cheetahs in Asia.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Zoo Miami reopened to visitors Tuesday after being forced to re-close its doors on the Fourth of July. “We feel relieved and a bit elated,” Ron Magill, of Zoo Miami, said. But with the state now entering Phase 2 of its reopening, zoo officials decided to reopen most outdoor attractions, but not without changes. Zoo officials are also limiting the number of guests they let in each day. “As long as I think they’re taking precautions and safety, I think it’s a good thing,” Ophelia Gualtieri said.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Zoo Miami has never opened for just one person, but that changed to make a dream come true for a young girl battling brain cancer. The zoo still hasnt been able to reopen to the general public since being forced to close by the coronavirus pandemic, but they made a special exception for their guest Friday. See video from that visit above.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. The sign at Zoo Miami reads Thanks for Visiting. And spokesman Ron Magill says they are ready for visitors to safely return. Theyve just been waiting on the green light from Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. All I can tell you is that we at Zoo Miami are ready to open, Magill said Friday. Were just awaiting word from the mayors office.The Mayors office isnt yet ready to make a decision. The Zoo did open to one visitor Friday, 8-year-old Jaden Blanco, who is fighting a brain tumor.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Families were happy when they were able to enjoy Zoo Miami after it reopened from closure during the coronavirus shutdown. Miami-Dade County also order closures of indoor entertainment venues like bowling alleys, movie theaters and non-tribal run casinos only a few weeks after they re-opened. "The numbers continue to trend strongly in the wrong direction," Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. On Friday, the start of the Fourth of July weekend, Miami-Dade County will begin a 10 p.m. curfew and countywide beach closures. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez frames the new measures enacted in response to worrisome metrics as a form of patriotism in a video posted to social media and echoed by Gelber.

MIAMI Zoo Miami on Monday announced the recent birth of a critically endangered Bactrian camel. Zoo Miami officials said the mother, Sunny, is 3 years old and arrived at Zoo Miami in November 2017 from the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa, where she was born. The father of the unnamed newborn, Bubba, 9, was born at the Minnesota Zoo and arrived at Zoo Miami in 2012. Bactrian camels are critically endangered in the wild where it is believed that less than a thousand remain, the news release stated. Zoo Miami officials said camels have the ability to drink up to 30 gallons of water at a time.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Zoo Miami is welcoming the birth of their newest member to the zoo family -- an endangered mongoose lemur. The mongoose lemur was born on May 6 and is now on exhibit with its mother, Julieta. Full Screen 1 / 4 An endangered mongoose lemur was born May 6, 2020, at Zoo Miami. But the mongoose lemur is the only lemur species to be found outside of Madagascar after being introduced to the Comoros Islands, which are located northwest of Madagascar. According to Zoo Miami, mongoose lemurs are found in small family groups that consist of an adult bonded pair and offspring, with the female typically being the dominant individual.

Join host, Hunter Franqui, on a safari to learn how the animals at Zoo Miami are coping in quarantine and how your animals at home can be a factor in your happiness while sheltering in place.

Animal HunterPublished: May 29, 2020, 3:31 pmJoin host, Hunter Franqui, on a safari to learn how the animals at Zoo Miami are coping in quarantine and how your animals at home can be a factor in your happiness while sheltering in place.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. Annual pass holders will get to return to Zoo Miami beginning Wednesday, although the park will officially reopen to the public on June 1. Below is a list of some of the new normal requirements/restrictions at the zoo: Visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a face covering to enter Zoo Miami. We know how important Zoo Miami is to our community and we look forward to once again being able to provide a wonderful experience for the whole family, while keeping each other safe, Zoo Miami Director Carol Kruse said in a statement. Zoo Miami staff members and volunteers will also be wearing face masks and employees working with guests will have their temperature checked daily before their shift. Zoo Miami will be open daily from 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

MIAMI – Jungle Island and the Miami Seaquarium are temporarily closing their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic. “During this time, our animal care professionals will continue their commitment to the health and wellbeing of animals at Miami Seaquarium,” the park stated in a message on its website. “The park’s manatee and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation conservation program will also continue uninterrupted.”According to a news release issued Monday, all Jungle Island events, including the Kids Research Environment & Wildlife (K.R.E.W.) Click here for the latest updates on Jungle Island. “The health and safety of our guests, staff and animals is a top priority,” Zoo Miami stated on its website.

"Sia," short for Siamang, a type of medium-sized primate, is recovering after a successful surgery last Friday, Zoo Miami officials said. MIAMI, Fla. - "Sia," short for siamang, a type of medium-sized primate, is recovering after a successful surgery last Friday, Zoo Miami officials said. After noticing digestive issues, zoo medical staff determined that she would need surgery to clear her GI tract of sand and pebbles. Zoo Miami invited Dr. Gaetano Ciancio, a human transplant and oncology specialist, to join volunteer private veterinarian Dr. Briana Danielson and Zoo Miami associate veterinarian Dr. Marisa Bezijan. The surgery is not expected to have any adverse effect on her booming call, zoo officials said.

"Sia," short for Siamang, a type of medium-sized primate, is recovering after a successful surgery last Friday, Zoo Miami officials said. MIAMI, Fla. - "Sia," short for siamang, a type of medium-sized primate, is recovering after a successful surgery last Friday, Zoo Miami officials said. After noticing digestive issues, zoo medical staff determined that she would need surgery to clear her GI tract of sand and pebbles. Zoo Miami invited Dr. Gaetano Ciancio, a human transplant and oncology specialist, to join volunteer private veterinarian Dr. Briana Danielson and Zoo Miami associate veterinarian Dr. Marisa Bezijan. The trio worked together to remove the sand and pebbles from the animal's GI tract, collaborating on the surgery as part of Zoo Miami's "One Health" initiative.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. - Thousands of hunters are signing up for permits in Florida ahead of the six-week alligator hunting season, which begins Thursday. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 15,000 hunters have applied for permits, but only about 7,700 will actually get one. Alligator hunting is popular because of the thrill, the skin and the meat. Ron Magill, of Zoo Miami, wants hunters to be careful out there and remember to follow the rules. Florida's gator hunting season ends Nov. 1.

Zoo MiamiSOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - A baby giraffe made it's public debut at Zoo Miami on Friday. The unnamed female calf born July 22 moved into the giraffe exhibit with her mother and other members of the herd. Since birth, the calf had been kept at a holding area to give her time to bond with her mother. Zoo MiamiThe baby giraffe is the 56th born at Zoo Miami and weighed 149 pounds at birth. Mom and baby will now be on exhibit daily at the zoo,Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – After Hurricane Irma in 2017, Antonio Pitre noticed there were at least three precariously posititioned utility poles at his neighborhood in Southwest Miami-Dade County that were potentially deadly. Pitre said the utility poles that are outside of his home, near the corner of Southwest 168th Street and 122nd Avenue, near Zoo Miami are totally rotted. He has seen the wind sway a teetering utility pole back and forth and has felt fear. Pitre believed that if the poles cause someone's death or injury it will be because of the their negligence, so he called Leave It To Layron. AT&T worked with Florida Power & Light to transfer its equipment and the job got done.

Zoo Miami welcomed a 7-year-old endangered elephant bull from Australia to its facilities this week. Zoo Miami goodwill ambassador and communications director Ron Magill said in an email that the male Asian elephant named Ongard arrived in Miami Tuesday on a chartered jet and received a police escort. PETA activists were quick to voice their disapproval Wednesday about bringing Ongard to Zoo Miami. Magill said Ongard, who was born Sept. 10, 2010, at the Melbourne Zoo, is the first elephant to ever leave Australia. Magill said Zoo Miami spent nearly a half-million dollars in new renovations to its Asian elephant exhibit in preparation for Ongard's arrival.