DETROIT, Mich., February 22, 2010 – The spiders at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo will soon have some very colorful, very hairy and not-so-itsy-bitsy roommates.  Eight tarantulas – with names such as cobalt blue, pink-toed and Goliath bird-eating – will be given sanctuary at the Nature Zoo’s Tiny Wonders exhibit after being seized in a raid on a Texas exotic animal dealer in December.

“Guests at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo who brave the spider exhibit will be excited by these new additions.  There are some really amazing animals that have beautiful markings and are very impressive in size,” said Scott Carter, Chief Life Sciences Officer.  “Even if you’re not a spider enthusiast, you just might walk away with a new appreciation for them.”

The cobalt blue tarantula (Haplopelma schmidti) is a high-strung, aggressive species found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia and is identified by its bright blue legs and rump.  The pink-toed tarantula (Avicularia versicolor) is native to South America and has long, furry, black legs tipped in bright pink.  The Goliath bird-eating tarantula (Theraphosa blondii) is the largest in the world, growing up to 12 inches.  Despite the name, the South American spider does not eat birds; it eats invertebrates such as crickets and mealworms as well as small vertebrates such as mice and lizards.   

The tarantulas were among nearly 27,000 animals seized in the raid and currently are among more than a thousand of the surviving rescued mammals, reptiles, spiders and amphibians that are being cared for at the Detroit Zoo.  All of the rescued animals are in quarantine for several weeks to ensure they are healthy and acclimating well before being released into their respective habitats.

The Detroit Zoo played an important role in what is being called the largest exotic animal rescue effort in the history of the United States, providing expert assistance in the care of the confiscated animals and homes to more than a thousand of them. 

The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round; admission is free.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.