We Can Help
The homework helper is a section to help you with your homework needs. The Zoo/FONZ website has a wealth of information at your fingertips, just a click away. Here are some helpful hints for finding what you need.
Searching
If you're doing a project on a plant or animal, do a search in the search box in the top right corner. Be specific! For example, if you're looking for information on bears, type in the type of bear you're looking for: for example "Polar Bear" instead of just "Bear".
The ZooGoer Magazine Archive has a collection of articles on hundreds of animals from bustards to zebras.
Check out the Animal Program Pages that are relevant to your animal, for a wealth of information. There are stories and tidbits, as well as lots of fact sheets.
Be sure to check out the drop-down menus under Animals, Etc., Conservation & Science, and Education.
Useful Zoo Site Links
What is Biodiversity? offers answers to frequently asked questions about the conservation of plants, animals, and ecosystems.
The Migratory Bird Center is a great source of information on birds.
Useful Smithsonian Site Links
Museum of Natural History
Tropical Research Institute
Environmental Research Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I interview or shadow an animal keeper or veterinarian?
Unfortunately, no. The keepers and veterinarians are busy
enough taking care of the animals—feeding them, cleaning
their
enclosures,
doing routine checkups and more. We do offer some staff interviews
and bios online, with more coming in the future. 
Staff
Interviews
I need to create a zoo for my project, can you tell me how much animals and habitats cost?
We can't do that either. Most zoos are elaborately designed conservation parks, and do not work as solitary units. Instead, they work with other zoos, institutions, researchers and nature reserves. There is no set price for any animal, it would be like setting a price on the idea of wildlife. Most zoos simply trade animals, rather than buying them.
Can you tell me everything about this animal?
Yes and no. There's a wealth of information on this site
(and the Internet) to help you out, but we can't email
you
everything you need. We have listed several useful websites below. After you have done your own research
on the Internet and in the library, you can
email us with specific questions you have, and we'll be happy
to help out.
Can I use a photo from this site for my project?
Copyright information is here. Generally, using photos for education purposes (such as in a report or project) is fine, as long as you give credit to the photographer and Smithsonian Institution, or, if no photogpher is mentioned, the website.
Outside Links
It's impossible to have all the information about animals and wildlife in one place. One of these sites is sure to help.
Zoos and Aquariums
For
a list of zoos and aquariums with websites, check out the
page maintained by the AZA
(Association of Zoos and Aquariums).
The information about the AZA Species
Survival Plans for
endangered animals is particularly interesting.
Wildlife and Other Animal Resources
NatureServe
Explorer offers
authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000
plants, animals, and ecological communities of the United
States and Canada.
Animal Diversity Web: The University of Michigan's online database of thousands of species.
Animal
Info: Well researched information on rare, threatened,
and endangered mammals.
Mammal Species of the World: The Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History site all about mammals.
Electronic
Resources about Ornithology: Birds
Electronic
Resources about Lepidoptera: Butterflies and Moths
Birding: A page all about bird watching
Wildlife
in Your Yard: Learn from the WindStar Wildlife Institute
how to attract more wildlife to your property
Bat Conservation International
Bugbios: cool photos, info, and links about bugs and other
insects
B-EYE: See the world through the eyes of a honey bee!
MicroAngela: Really cool images taken with a scanning electron
microscope
Vertebrate Flight Exhibit
American
Museum of Natural History
Raptor
Resource Project: Learn more about osprey and pregrine
falcons
AmphibiaWeb: All
about amphibians
Yahooligans!: Yahoo! for kids has links to a lot of animal information
Conservation Links
International Tiger Information Center
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF International)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF North America)
Conservation International
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Greenpeace
National Wildlife Federation
National Parks Conservation Association
Defenders of Wildlife
The Envirolink Network
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Publications/Television
Environmental News Network
Grist Magazine
Discover Magazine
Science News
New Scientist
Discovery
Channel
BBC Science and Nature: AnimalsZoobooks
Government Agencies
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service
Other
Google.com - an excellent search engine
Hint: If you are looking for
animal information, type the animal's common name AND its
scientific name in the search
box. For example, for tiger information, type:
tiger Panthera
This will keep your search from returning results on, in this example, the Detroit Tigers baseball team, Tiger Balm sold at drugstores, and other irrelevant items.
Most online encyclopedias will give you the scientific
name of your animal. The University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web provides information about thousands of species.
The most reliable information will come from the websites of zoos, natural history museums, universities, well-known conservation organizations, and government agencies.
