In North Texas, a total solar eclipse will be visible on April 8th. This rare event occurs when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun’s face. During the totality, the sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
Zoos in North Texas are making preparations for this exciting event, wondering how their animals will react to the sudden darkness. The Dallas Zoo has African crested porcupines that spend much of their time in dark dens. Christine Montgomery, the zoo’s manager of applied behavior, is intrigued to see how these animals will respond to the darkness and then the return of sunlight. Meanwhile, Melissa Blair, Associate Mammal Curator at Fort Worth Zoo, anticipates that the animals may be curious but don’t expect any major changes in behavior during the eclipse.
Both zoos are inviting people to come watch the eclipse with them. The Fort Worth Zoo is collaborating with a researcher to observe and document animal behavior during this event. Visitors can participate in research by filling out worksheets provided by the zoo. Additionally, guests at both zoos can enjoy special eclipse-themed food available for purchase on April 8th.
