Azure has been a part of our Zoo family since 2004.
If you’ve visited the Zoo, you’ve likely met a lot of our more than 900 animal residents. Some animals are easy to spot, but others are often not as easy to see because of their habitat set up, their personalities or their sleep cycles among other things. We wanted to start a “Meet the Animals” section of our blog to introduce you to some of the residents that you may (or may not have) met yet!
Meet Azure, our blue-tongued skink! While this little guy may be easy to miss, he’s hard to forget.
Blue-tongued skinks are especially unique because of the clever way they fool predators. Brightly colored body parts are usually a sign that an animal is venomous or poisonous, which can make predators think twice! Their blue tongue also glows under UV light, which can temporarily blind any threats and allow the skinks to flee the scene.
Azure flashes his blue tongue for the camera!
Azure hangs out behind-the-scenes in the Wildlife Discovery Hub with other Animal Ambassadors like corn snakes, leopard geckos, bearded dragons and more.
Even though the hub is closed to the public, these ambassador animals regularly join our Zoo Chats to teach people about their species and their role in the natural world.
At 26 years old, Azure is quite laid back when it comes to his daily care. Give him a cozy hiding spot and the right climate, and he’s a happy camper. With a bubbly personality full of curiosity, he loves to greet people, especially when he knows food is on the way!
His all-time favorite snack is a specialty superfood called “Bluey Buffet,” but he normally grubs on a salad of greens, vegetables and bugs throughout the week, said Animal Ambassador zookeeper Emma Robinson.
When Azure is relaxed, as shown by signs like a normal respiration rate and relaxed movements, we give him the option to join an educational program. If he shows signs he’s ready to end a program, we make sure to take him back home to his habitat.
As an older skink, Azure occasionally encounters some respiratory issues. To minimize these flare ups, our dedicated team avoids using substrates in the lining of his habitat and enrichment that might make his condition worse. We also keep a close eye on him and perform regular checkups to ensure he is in good health!
Eager to see Azure in action? Keep an eye out for our Animal Encounters on select weekdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.