Mira, the blind elephant seal that was facing euthanasia before the Oregon Zoo stepped in and gave her a new home, has progressed rapidly in her training since arriving at the zoo on Oct. 2.

"Mira has learned to 'seat,' meaning pull herself out of her pool and onto the deck," said JoEllen Marshall, senior marine life keeper at the zoo. "She also knows 'move-up,' to which she follows the sound of a rattle up higher on the deck."

Before Mira arrived at the zoo Marshall stated that due to the seal's blindness, keepers would need to adjust their regular feeding and training practices, and think acoustically rather than visually. They have accomplished this by touching her back and flippers during training sessions, as well as hand feeding her directly. When she is not hand fed, Mira looks for her meal in the water after hearing a whistle. Keepers toss fish and squid near her facial whiskers so she can easily locate them.

"She's gaining about 5 pounds a week and weighs close to 200-pounds," said Marshall.

As soon as Mira is released from quarantine, keepers will try to get Mira to move to another off exhibit holding area, which will require her to negotiate a curb. Animal management staff hope Mira will build muscle by moving between the quarantine and holding pools.

"Before we put her on exhibit, she needs to be able to pull herself out of the exhibit pool," explained Marshall. "When we are confident she can do this, we will introduce her to the exhibit pool without the sea lions. Eventually, we will introduce Mira to the sea lions. The time line will be determined by Mira's strength and our veterinarians."

Mira, who is believed to be six-months-old, was found stranded on the Northern California coast shortly after being weaned from her mother. She was taken to the North Coast Marine Mammal Center in Crescent City, Calif. where an examination revealed that her retinas were underdeveloped, and it was determined that she could not be returned to the wild. According to Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator at the Oregon Zoo, Mira was facing euthanasia and finding a home in a zoological facility was her only alternative.

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November 2002
OREGON ZOO HOSTS ANNUAL TURKEY TROT

The Oregon Zoo invites runners and walkers of all ages to the annual Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 28. The annual Thanksgiving Day event, organized by the Oregon Road Runners Club (ORRC), includes a 4-mile run and fitness walk beginning at 8 a.m. and a 1-kilometer Tot Trot beginning at 9:30 a.m. A portion of the proceeds from the Turkey Trot will go to the Oregon Zoo to fund animal care and conservation programs.

"The Oregon Road Runners Club has encouraged thousands of people to take steps to improve their health by walking and running over the past 32 years," said Margie Mace, Oregon Road Runners Club president. "This traditional walk and run prior to sitting down to a big Thanksgiving Day meal, has become a real annual tradition and a favorite event among Oregon families and their relatives visiting from out of town over the holiday."

All events are noncompetitive and do not include awards. However there will be a clock at the start and finish line for self-timing. Each event will start across from the Forest Discovery Center and finish inside the zoo by the concert amphitheater.

Early registration is available by mail through Nov. 21. Flyers are available at local running stores. Online registration is also available through Nov. 25 via the Oregon Road Runners Club Web site at www.orrc.net. Fees for the 4-mile run and fitness walk are $20 (ORRC members receive a $4 discount off the early registration amount). Long sleeve cotton shirts are $10 extra and must be reserved by Nov. 21. The Tot Trot for children under 11 years of age is $10 and includes a shirt if the child is registered by Nov. 21. New this year is a family rate of $40 for two adults and up to three children. Registration fees after Nov. 21 and on race day is $24 for ORRC members and non-members, $50 for families.

Parking is limited so participants are encouraged to ride Max. Tri-Met's Washington Park Light Rail Station is just steps from the registration area and the start and finish lines. Drop bags will be provided at registration to check extra clothing. Tri-Met ride timetables are available at www.tri-met.org.

No pets or rollerblades are allowed in any of the events. Strollers and child carrier backpacks are allowed only in the 4-mile fitness walk and must start at the back of the group.

Volunteers wishing to help on this benefit run can call ORRC at 503-646-7867 and leave your name and phone number.

ORRC, a nonprofit organization was founded in Seaside, Oregon in 1970, as an outgrowth of the Trail's End Marathon, the first marathon in the Pacific Northwest. ORRC is a member of the national Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), and is one of the largest RRCA running clubs in the United States with roughly 1,000 members. The Club conducts races and developmental programs for children, adults, runners and walkers, and plans and organizes over 15 running races in the Portland vicinity.

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November 2002
OREGON ZOO CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS WITH 15th ANNUAL ZOOLIGHTS FESTIVAL

The Oregon Zoo will come alive in lights when the 15th annual ZooLights festival begins on Saturday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m. This family tradition will feature more than 500,000 lights illuminating life-sized animal silhouettes, trees, buildings, walkways, and the zoo train.

“The beautiful animated animals, the decorated train and all the new colorful displays are sure to make this year’s ZooLights the best ever,” said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. “It’s become a great tradition for our visitors. I spoke with several families last December who come back year after year to ride the train and see the lights. Some parents who visited as children are now bringing their children,” he added.

Many new silhouettes can be found through out the zoo. As visitors approach the zoo entrance, they’ll be greeted by swinging siamangs and diving dolphins. A large, rotating mobile featuring aquarium animals will dominate the zoo’s entry plaza. Deeper inside the zoo, an anaconda is re-created in lights at the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit and a gingerbread house, complete with candy cane fence, lights up the Crossroads.

The zoo's popular costumed characters and elves will be on hand to greet zoo visitors and pose for pictures. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer will be joined by Buddy Beaver, Honey Bear, Eliza Elephant, KiKi Monkey, Nate the Eagle, Rock E. Goat, Sandy Sea Otter and Titus Tiger. Visitors can also see some of the zoo’s resident animals, including bats, mountain goats, elephants, primates, and a rambunctious herd of pettable pygmy goats.

Music lovers will enjoy the highly animated light silhouette featuring Mick Jaguar performing on the concert stage with his all-star animal band. Mick is joined by Packy Pachyderm tickling the ivories, Richard Lion playing guitar, Gerri Giraffe on Bass, Billy Bear on trumpet, Orville Orangutan on drums and Willy Wildebeest on sax. The Ostrich Sisters perform backing vocals. In addition, the sounds of the season will fill the zoo as more than 100 schools, churches, and professional groups perform holiday musical selections. Several local dance troupes will also be featured.

Favorite light displays from previous years will also return, including trumpeting elephants, tobogganing polar bears and swinging monkeys. Lions can be seen chasing a herd of impalas, while a giraffe grazes nearby. An ostrich gets startled and runs away, hiding its head in the sand. Flying macaws fly from tree to tree. A 35-foot-long dragon mysteriously floats above the walkway. At Steller Cove, a sea lion and dancing sea star greet visitors. Close by are white swans that swim in a garden pond and penguins that dive in arctic waters. A baby kangaroo jumps out of its mother’s pouch and begins to hop around. And darting red and green amphibians play a lively game of leapfrog.

In addition to the lights, characters and music, the Tualatin Valley Model Railroad Club will show off its enlarged NTRAK train display. And children of all ages are sure to enjoy family entertainment every evening in the zoo’s elephant museum, including a conservation-themed puppet show Thursday through Sunday evenings.

The Artist's Market will feature recycled, animal and earth friendly art. And, for last minute shoppers, the zoo’s gift shop, Cascade Outfitters is bursting with animal-related gifts. The zoo's Cascade Grill will offer a nightly holiday buffet. This traditional feast will cost $11.95 for adults and $6.95 for kids. Holiday treats will be available at food locations throughout the zoo.

ZooLights runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 29. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sunday through Thursdays, and 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lights and other activities will continue for one hour past the gate closing time. The festival is closed Dec. 24 and 25.

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October 2002
OREGON ZOO HOSTS A HOWLING GOOD TIME

Families can trick-or-treat AND learn more about wildlife at the Oregon Zoo's HOWLOWEEN AT THE ZOO.

In keeping with the zoo’s mission, this event is educational as well as fun. An intriguing scavenger hunt directs trick-or-treaters to easily accessible activity stations located throughout the zoo in order to collect candy or prizes. In addition, kids can stop by the Amur tiger exhibit and wish the zoo’s tigers, Mikhail and Nicole, happy fourth birthday. The tigers will of course be dressed in the traditional orange and black of the season.

“Kids of all ages can hunt for candy and prizes while in the company of some of the world’s most exciting and exotic animals,” said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. “When children and adults alike visit the zoo, we hope they make a connection with the animals so they care about their future.”

HOWLOWEEN AT THE ZOO is co-sponsored by Goodyear and takes place on October 26 and 27, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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October 2002
OREGON ZOO PROVIDES HOME FOR BLIND ELEPHANT SEAL

Unable to be returned to the wild and facing euthanasia, finding a home was her only alternative.

A blind female elephant seal, who was facing euthanasia, will arrive at her new home at Oregon Zoo October 2, 2002. The 140-pound six-month-old was found stranded on the Northern California coast shortly after being weaned from her mother. She was taken to the North Coast Marine Mammal Center in Crescent City, Calif. where an examination revealed that her retinas were underdeveloped, and it was determined that she could not be returned to the wild. According to Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator at the Oregon Zoo, finding a home in a zoological facility was her only alternative.

North Coast Marine Mammal Center approached Oregon Zoo about housing the seal. "We talked about it, did some research, and after visiting the animal, decided she would make a great addition to the zoo," said Pfefferkorn. Caring for a blind animal will require marine life keepers to adjust their regular feeding and training practices. For example, noise-making beads will be added to the target-training pole and food will be placed in the animal's mouth rather than tossed toward her. "We will have to think acoustically rather than visually," said JoEllen Marshall, senior marine life keeper at the zoo. "And we'll definitely increase our tactile interaction with her."

Marshall and other marine life keepers were responsible for finding an appropriate name for their new young charge. "The scientific name of the elephant seal is Mirounga angustirostris," explained Marshall. "We got creative and came up with Mira." Mira will be in quarantine for 30 days, and gradually be introduced to her new Steller sea lion companions, Julius and Stella.

Elephant seals are named for their large noses, which resemble an elephant's trunk. Males begin developing this enlarged nose, or proboscis, at sexual maturity (about three to five years), and it is fully developed by seven to nine years. Adult males may grow to more than 13 feet in length and weigh up to 4,500 pounds. The females are much smaller at 10 feet in length and 1,500 pounds. The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal.

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September 2002
CHEETAH EXPERT TO SPEAK AT OREGON ZOO
Lecture and slide show of cheetah conservation efforts

Laurie Marker, one of Time Magazine's Heroes of the Planet, and a leading expert on cheetahs and cheetah conservation, will speak at the Oregon Zoo on Sunday, October 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Marker will be accompanied by Kamau and Kgosi, two cheetahs from Leopards, Etc. Kgosi is an extremely rare King Cheetah, one of approximately 30 King Cheetahs on earth.

"There are fewer than 15,000 cheetahs found in Africa—half of what the population was in the 1970s—and less than 200 cheetahs in Iran, the last of the Asiatic cheetahs on earth," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Marker is internationally renowned for her work to save cheetahs. Her lecture will provide fascinating insight on the plight of African and Asiatic cheetahs and her life's work to save these beautiful animals."

Marker has visited Iran twice this past year, working as a consultant to the government there to help develop a community education program. Throughout their remaining range, cheetahs are mostly found outside protected reserves where they are in conflict with humans and livestock, and are killed in high numbers.

In 1990, after years of working with cheetahs at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, Marker co-founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund within the U.S. based WILD Foundation. In 1991, she moved to Namibia, Africa to set CCF up as the first international organization to support on-site cheetah conservation research and education programs. Currently, Namibia has the largest remaining wild population of cheetahs with approximately 2,500 animals or 20 percent of the world's cheetah population.

Marker's conservation research and education programs have raised awareness about issues facing the cheetah. Working closely with the Namibian farming community, Marker has developed programs that enable farmers and cheetahs to co-exist. Today, cheetahs have become a national pride in Namibia and farmers are killing fewer cheetahs. These programs are now being viewed as models for use in other countries where cheetahs are still at risk.

Marker is proud of the awareness her work has bought to the cheetah.

"It's working and the cheetah's being saved, but there is still a lot more work yet to do," said Marker. "Today the cheetah's survival on earth is in human's hand and each of us, individually, can make a difference."

Marker and her colleagues are developing strategies for maintaining free-ranging cheetah populations and habitats outside of protected areas, which are critical for the long-term survival of the species.

"Marker is leading the way in developing long-term cheetah conservation programs," said Vecchio. "We must think critically about the needs of humans and the needs of the cheetah, and find ways for both to live together if we hope to save the cheetah. We're making strides in that direction thanks to committed people like Marker; she's a wonderful ambassador for cheetah conservation," he added.

The lecture and slide show will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Cascade Crest Banquet Center (Skyline Room) at the zoo entrance. Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 for members, students and seniors, and can be purchased at from the zoo office in advanced or on the night of the talk.

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September 2002
TEETH CLEANING SCHEDULED FOR ZOO ANIMALS; KIDS WILL LEARN ABOUT DENTAL HEALTH

Dental instruments used by Oregon Zoo's Dr. Mitch Finnegan, are somewhat longer, larger and tougher than one would find in a normal dentist's office. They better be—especially when your patients include tigers, leopards, hippos and bears.

To clean the teeth of these large animals, Dr. Finnegan needs the best instruments and anesthesias around. A grant of $20,000 from ODS Health Plans (ODS) has significantly improved the dental instruments, workstations and anesthesias. The grant is part of the Children's Oral Health Initiative, a unique educational program designed by ODS to help improve the dental health of Oregon's children.

During the day's events, ODS will unveil a new dental-themed children's book and will provide fun learning activities about healthy dental habits for elementary school kids who will be visiting the zoo. The book features illustrations of zoo animals and was a collaborative effort between ODS and the Oregon Zoo. The Oregon Zoo was selected as a partner for the Children's Oral Health Initiative due to the strong connection many children make with animals.

Dental care in zoos is relatively new. A growing awareness of the importance of animal dental care and the advent of specialized instruments has led to major advances. Today, it is nothing for Dr. Finnegan and his assistants to clean an animal's teeth of tartar, eliminate a cavity, fix a chipped tooth and even perform routine root canals using specialized drills and other instruments.

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September 2002
OREGON ZOO KEEPER REACHES SEMIFINALS IN "ULTIMATE ZOOKEEPER CHALLENGE"

Oregon Zoo's senior North America keeper, Michael Illig is one of 12 keepers nationwide to be selected as semifinalists in Microsoft's "Zoo Tycoon's" Ultimate Keeper Challenge.

Semifinalists were chosen by "Zoo Tycoon" officials from among nominations received nationwide. Five finalists will be determined by the number of votes received at Microsoft's "Zoo Tycoon" Web site. The five keepers with the most votes will advance to the Ultimate Zookeeper challenge to be held November 14 at a finalist's home zoo.

Keepers who make it to the finals will participate in a number of challenges to be judged by a panel of Microsoft judges. Challenges include:

Along with the prestigious title of America's Ultimate Zookeeper, the winning keeper walks away with a $20,000 donation towards habitat and animal care within their home zoo and the opportunity to appear in Microsoft's computer game "ZooTycoon".

            "Michael typifies the kind of animal keepers who care for our animals at Oregon Zoo," said Mike Keele, Oregon Zoo Assistant Director. "He has helped the zoo provide quality conditions for animals and further the zoo's   conservation initiatives during his more than 20 Years working with animals."

The public may cast their vote for Illig through October 10, by going to the "Zoo Tycoon" website at www.zootycoon.com.

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September 2002
BIG CAT. BIG PARTY.
The 2002 Cheetah Conservation Fund Auction, October 20, 2002, 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Cheetah Conservation Fund Director Laurie Marker will be joined by Kamau and Kgosi, two cheetahs from Leopards, Etc., for a unique evening at the Oregon Zoo Banquet Center in Portland, Oregon. Kgosi is an extremely rare King Cheetah,one of approximately 30 King Cheetahs on earth. Ms. Marker, a world-renowned expert on the cheetah, has received many honors, including Time Magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” Award, for her dedication in helping to save the last remaining 12,000 cheetah in the wild.

Laurie Marker co-founded The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990, locating CCF in Namibia, Africa, the country with the world’s largest population of wild cheetah. Ms. Marker has visited Iran twice this past year, working with the government to save the 200 cheetahs living there. A CCF office has been established in Kenya, East Africa, to study and educate parks and locals on how best to preserve the cheetah population in this region. Ms. Marker began working with cheetahs 25 years ago at Wildlife Safari, in Winston, Oregon, and still considers Oregon her home.

BIG CAT. BIG PARTY. October 20, 2002 The Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR
Corporate Tables of 8 - $2,000
5:00-6:00 pm Pre-gala Patron Reception with Laurie and Kamau and Kgosi - $120
6:00 pm Buffet Dinner and Silent Auction-only - $60
Dress is casual or safari
Tickets must be purchased by October 12, 2002

To receive an invitation contact Teresa Delaney (503) 675-1292 or delaneyeklund@msn.com Please contact Oregon Chapter Leader Teresa Delaney to receive an invitation to this extraordinary evening. Call (503) 675-1292 or e-mail at delaneyeklund@msn.com. To learn more about CCF, please visit our web site at www.cheetah.org.

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July 2002
ENDANGERED TURTLES RELEASED IN COLUMBIA GORGE
Oregon Zoo helps save endangered turtles, returning them to the wild

PORTLAND, Ore.-The Oregon Zoo will release 43 endangered western pond turtles-a species on the verge of extinction in Washington a decade ago-in the Columbia River Gorge east of Vancouver, Wash. on Thursday, July 18.

Working collaboratively with Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Oregon Zoo "head-starts" newly hatched turtles gathered from wild sites. The turtles are nurtured at both zoos for about 10 months until they grow large enough to avoid being eaten by non-native bullfrogs and large mouth bass.
"Giving young turtles a head-start during the first months of their lives, gives them a real edge," according to Dr. David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo conservation program scientist. "Woodland Park Zoo and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have been working to save Washington's western pond turtles for 12 years. We're glad that we could provide additional assistance in helping save these highly endangered turtles."

The turtles are in trouble due to habitat degradation and disease. The biggest threat, however, is bullfrogs. Found east of the Rockies, this non-indigenous frog has thrived throughout the west, driving pond turtles and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to the brink of extinction.

The newest releases bring the total number of head-started turtles to 599. Scientists tracking the released turtles estimate that 90 percent of the turtles released back in to the Columbia Gorge have survived.

Some of the juvenile turtles are equipped with radio transmitters before release so biologists can learn more about post-release dispersal, habitat use during active and hibernation periods, and, ultimately, their survival rate.

Each year since the head-starting project was launched, recovery workers take to the field under the supervision of pond turtle expert Kate Slavens to count, trap and fit transmitters on adult female western pond turtles. The female turtles are monitored every two hours during the nesting season in order to determine where they nest. The nests, which the female digs in the ground and then covers after depositing her eggs, are protected with wire "exclosure" cages that help prevent predators from eating the eggs. The eggs are then allowed to incubate naturally, and the hatchlings are collected in the fall. The hatchlings are about the size of a quarter when they are removed and taken to the zoo facilities, where they can grow in safety. After about 10 months, when the juvenile turtles have grown large enough to avoid being eaten by pond predators, they are returned to their birthplace.
Two years ago, one of the first female turtles released in 1990 in the Columbia Gorge laid eggs. The pond turtle, which can live up to 50 years in the wild, takes about 10 years to reach sexual maturity.

In the past few years, the cooperative efforts have brought the pond turtles' numbers in Washington up from a low of 150 in 1990 to more than 700 today. Now listed as an endangered species in Washington state and a sensitive species in Oregon, the western pond turtle was once common from Baja, California to Puget Sound. The Oregon Zoo's participation in the western pond turtle project is funded through The Oregon Zoo Foundation's Future for Wildlife Conservation Fund.

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July 2002
U.S. BANK AWARDS ZOO'S ZAP TEAM $15,000

PORTLAND, Ore. - U.S. Bank has awarded the Oregon Zoo Foundation a $15,000 grant to help fund Zoo Animal Presenters (ZAP). The ZAP program provides 24 underserved teenagers with paid, two-year internships at the Oregon Zoo. Since the birth of the ZAP program in 1999, the zoo has received $105,000 in support of ZAP.

"ZAP provides kids a great opportunity to see themselves as more than the situations they've come from," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "The zoo is a stepping stone to their future-some kids will have a renewed commitment to finish high school, some will decide to go to college, and others may have a clearer picture of what they'd like to do after high school."
The ZAP internships combine hands-on learning with the acquisition of real world skills that help students build confidence and improve communication skills. Students go through months of training that include animal handling techniques and public speaking enhancement skills.

Once trained, ZAP Team members help the zoo's education department plan community outreach programs, prepare animals for outreach programs, and participate in educating other youth about environmental stewardship and conservation issues through various presentations.

"Last year's ZAP Team was one of the most enthusiastic and informed groups of students we've ever worked with," said Vecchio. "I'm committed to this program and we hope we can expand it in the near future. ZAP does a tremendous job building communication skills and confidence. You can see on the kids' faces that they leave here believing they can accomplish anything," he added.

Zap has truly made a difference. Nearly 80 percent of ZAP members are employed or are still involved in the program. The zoo has hired nine former ZAP members to work in the zoo's education and guest services departments, and three others are now working in their own neighborhoods.

The ZAP Team has presented its conservation message to over 10,000 Portland area residents since its inception three years ago. That number is expected to increase as the ZAP program receives additional sponsorship support.

The Oregon Zoo Foundation coordinates all private fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Oregon Zoo, including a membership program, animal sponsorships, corporate and foundation support and major gifts. The Foundation shares the Oregon Zoo's mission: "inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife."

2002 ZAP Summer Schedule
July 31 at 10:30 -noon Blue Lake Park Petting Zoo/ Portland Blue Lake Road, off Marine Drive
July 31 at 1 - 2:30 p.m. Boys & GirlsClubs 2 presentations 4 rotations/ Portland 5250 NE MLK
August 1 at 1 - 2:00 p.m. Oregon City Library 10 min. insect intro, open stations/ Oregon City 362 Warner Milne Rd., in parking lot
August 1 at 10 - 11:00 a.m. Knowledge Beginnings Two, 30 min. presentations/ Tigard 10751 SW 130th Ave.
August 1 at 3 - 4:00 p.m. West Linn Library Insects presentations/ West Linn 1595 Burns St.
August 2 at 1 - 2:30 p.m. Dishman Comm. Center Rotating Stations/ Portland 77 NE Knott
August 2 at 10 - 11:00 a.m. Providence Montessori School Rotating Stations / Portland 830 NE 47th
August 3 at 1 - 2:00 p.m. Multnomah County Library Insect presentations/ Portland Belmont Branch 1038 SE 39th
August 3 at 10:30 - 11 a.m. Catering at Oregon Zoo Please call/ Portland 4001 SW Canyon Rd.
August 4 at 1 - 3:00 p.m. Sellwood, Sunday in the Park Petting Zoo/ Portland SE Seventh & Miller
August 6 at 2 - 3:00 p.m. Multnomah County Library Insect Presentations / Portland St. John's Branch 7510 N Charleston
August 6 at 6 - 8:00 p.m. National Night Out Petting Zoo 200 Portland Please call
August 7 at 1:30 - 3 p.m. Mt. Scott Community Center Indoor and outdoor/ Portland 5530 SE 72nd
August 7 at 10:30 -11:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Two 30 minute presentations/ Sandy River/Troutdale Please call
August 8 at 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Girl Scouts-Mountaindale Rotating Stations/ North Plains Please call
August 8 at 2:30 - 3 p.m. Providence YMCA St. Vincent Little guys-quick animal show and pet/ Portland Mother Joseph Bld. St. Vincent
(3-4yro) (off Barnes)
August 9 at 1 - 2:30 p.m. PAL-Portland Two, 45 minute presentations/ Portland 424 NE 172nd
August 9 at 10 - 11:00 a.m. Cedar Hills Rec. Center 4 stations & a 45 minute presentation/ Portland 11640 SW Parkway

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July 2002
BABY BOOM CONTINUES AT OREGON ZOO
Baby red-flanked duiker is now on exhibit with its mother

After last week’s baby mountain goat was born on exhibit at the Oregon Zoo, the baby boom continues this week with a red flanked duiker born July 21. Duikers are one of the smallest members of the antelope family.

“The calf is inquisitive and bold; her mom, Garnet, is being very attentive as the baby explores her surroundings,” according to Margot Monti, veterinary technician. “The female calf has been observed nursing, and her weight is good,” she added.
Shortly after the calf was born, zoo veterinarians noticed that she had a slight limp in her left rear leg. Upon closer examination they determined that the lower foot joint was partially flexed and appeared to sporadically buckle underneath her as she walked. To remedy this, veterinary staff applied a light splint to her lower leg to stabilize the joint. Each day her lower foot seems to improve, but veterinarians will continue to closely watch her over the next few days.

“The veterinarians chose a pink colored foot splint in honor of her being a girl,” quipped Monti. “And a cute one at that!”

Zoo visitors may have difficulty spotting the calf for the first couple of weeks because mothers often hide their calves away in a brush pile and only collect them when it's time to nurse. This behavior is the mother's way of protecting the baby from predators. Within three to five weeks, zoo visitors should be able to regularly see the calf.

While not endangered, the red-flanked duiker is conservation dependent, which means it has high enough population numbers to have a sustainable population, but it is threatened. Jentink and zebra banded duikers are the only two duiker species currently listed as endangered, but all duiker species numbers are dropping dramatically due to the bushmeat trade crisis in Africa.

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July 2002
BALLET IN THE PARK AT THE OREGON ZOO

PORTLAND, Ore. Most people think that humans are the only mammals that enjoy the classic arts, but it seems elephants enjoy the classics too. Packy and friends are practicing their pliés and pirouettes in preparations for the first ever Zoo Ballet at the Oregon Zoo's outdoor amphitheatre, Tuesday, August 20 and Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m. The performance, featuring The Pacific Festival Ballet, will take place on the zoo's terraced, park-like concert lawn.

Zoo guests, and elephants alike, can look forward to a program including classical and contemporary favorites: "Paquita Variations," "Dance of Nymphs," "Richochet," "One Second," as well as several others, according to John Gardner, founder and artistic director of Pacific Festival Ballet.

The Pacific Festival Ballet is dedicated to presenting affordable classical ballet performances with local professional and student dancers. The principal dancers include Diana Perez, winner of the gold medal in the Jackson Ballet Competition; Shalene Eve, formerly of Joffrey Ballet; Zachary Carroll, formerly of Ballet West and Russell Capps and Maricar Dillon, Nevada Dance Theatre.

"The zoo hosts such diverse performances, I think we must have the most cultured elephants in the country," quipped Jeb Barsh, zoo elephant keeper.

In celebration of the Pacific Festival Ballet's 20th anniversary, Gardner will revive "Scaramouche," from the 1982 "Performance in the Park," with live musical performances by Darius Milhaud and Pianists Tim and Nancy Le Roi Nickel.

"To most, the word ballet conjures up images of tuxedos and sequin dresses in a stuffy, enclosed theater," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "I'm looking forward to seeing four-year-olds dancing on their family's blankets during the performance."

Tickets for performances, which include zoo admission, are available at the zoo offices during regular business hours or at Safeway Fastixx locations. Prices are $12 for adults (12 +), $8 for children (3-11). A $2 discount is available for zoo members at the "Plus" level and higher. Elephants will not be performing ballet, they will simply be observing from the nearby elephant yard.

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July 2002
NEW KID ON THE ROCK AT THE OREGON ZOO

A baby mountain goat was born at the Oregon Zoo's Cascade Crest exhibit on July 16, 2002. The healthy male kid weighed in at 8 pounds.

His five-year-old mother, whose name is Mom, was expected to give birth in May. Animal management staff had become a little concerned about the delay and decided to perform an ultrasound. However, Mom must have gotten wind of the impending procedure, and got down to business yesterday afternoon.

Mom came to the zoo from the Oregon Wildlife Foundation in Sheridan in 1998. A third-time mother, Mom is taking very good care of her baby. Her first baby died shortly after birth, and her second baby Cassie was born last spring.

"Baby is following mom around," said Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator. "Everything is going the way you'd expect."

"He passed his physical this morning and everything looks good," said Michael Illig, senior North America keeper. "He is nursing and performing other bodily functions that indicate a healthy kid."

Newborn kids normally weigh about eight pounds and are very mobile shortly after birth. They are able to follow their mother in about one week. The baby's father, four-year-old Sam, was born at the Pocatello Zoo in Idaho in 1998 and arrived at the Oregon Zoo in April 2000.

Mountain goat breeding season is in late November to early January. Their brief courtship ritual includes chasing, kicking with the front legs, and various vocalizations. The male also licks the female's coat. Gestation is around 150-180 days and one to three kids are born between May and June. Single births are most common, but twins are not uncommon. Triplets are very rare.

Mountain goats prefer steep, rocky areas in alpine or sub-alpine regions. They migrate between lowland winter areas and high elevation sumer ranges. In the Pacific Northwest, wild mountain goats can be seen on Mt. Adams, Mt. Ranier and other places in the Washington Cascades. They can also be seen in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon and Washington's Olympic Peninsula where they have been introduced. About 100,000 mountain goats are estimated to live in North America.

Learn more about Mountain Goats

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July 2002
THREATENED PENGUIN CHICKS WADDLE INTO ZOO PENGUINARIUM
Two Humboldt penguin chicks hatched at the Oregon Zoo between March 28 and 30 are now visible to the public. These are the first chicks to be hatched at the zoo in two years and bring the zoo's penguin population to 32.

The chicks stayed with their parents after they hatched, although keepers took the chicks off exhibit twice a day to check on their hydration status and weight. "Even though the chicks were in nestboxes on exhibit, they were small and didn't have their adult feathers, so viewing them wasn't easy until now," said Jan Steele, zoological curator at the zoo.

Of the 17 species of penguins, the Humboldt is the most threatened. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, placed Humboldts on the Appendix I list in 1981 which means they are "presently threatened with extinction." Commercial guano interests are increasingly encroaching upon their native habitat, the rocky coastline of Peru. Although the government protects much of their habitat, it is not uncommon to find penguin meat and eggs in local marketplaces.

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May 2002
GOVERNOR SLATED TO SPEAK ABOUT SALMON AT ZOO GROUNDBREAKING
Work begins on new Eagle Canyon exhibit to feature bald eagles and endangered salmon

PORTLAND, Ore.—Governor Kitzhaber will speak during the Oregon Zoo’s groundbreaking ceremony for its Eagle Canyon exhibit on May 30 at 10 a.m. The new exhibit will feature bald eagles in flight and endangered salmon and will examine timely issues that affect the two species. An avid proponent of salmon conservation, Governor Kitzhaber will discuss the importance of salmon stewardship during the ceremony.

The Eagle Canyon exhibit will tell the story of eagles and salmon and their role in the ecosystem. The exhibit will explain how salmon travel to sea as fingerlings and return to the tributaries of their birth, three years later. It will also explore how eagles and other species rely on salmon for their survival.

Nestled in a natural wooded ravine, visitors will encounter bald eagles perched along streamside snags. In the stream below, salmon will slide through rushing waters. From the shade of a covered bridge, visitors can enjoy a scenic view of the wooded ravine. The exhibit expands upon the existing Cascade exhibit that displays local animals such as river otter, beaver and other native watershed species.

“We are constantly striving to educate the public about caring for local wildlife,” says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. “This new exhibit will focus on the plight of the salmon and other animals found in our own backyards.”

In 1999, the salmon population in the northwest declined so seriously the National Marine Fisheries Service acted by extending federal protection to five populations of salmon and steelhead across Oregon and Washington. For the first time salmon found in streams and rivers of the heavily populated areas of Portland are federally protected.

“Portland is the first major American community to address the impact of a federally listed endangered species within its city limits,” explains Vecchio. “Salmon-related issues will impact the lives of virtually all residents over the next several years. The success of the state’s salmon recovery efforts will be based upon the decisions made by an educated public.”

As the most frequently visited paid attraction in Oregon—with 1.3 million visitors annually—the zoo hopes to educate its visitors about salmon, inspiring people to care about their future.

“Portland's salmon story will continue to unfold over the next several years,” said Vecchio. “Through strong public support and participation, Portland can become a national model for other communities faced with endangered species-related challenges.”

The Oregon Zoo Foundation has received a total of $779,000 through the support of corporations, foundations and individuals. During the ceremony, The Oregon Zoo Foundation will present a $150,000 check to Tony Vecchio for Eagle Canyon.

The zoo’s commitment to local animals is reflected in the Great Northwest exhibit. Since 1997, the zoo has completed the first three phases of the exhibit. The total project cost for Great Northwest is $37 million. The Oregon Zoo Foundation plans to secure the final $1.1 million needed to complete the Great Northwest exhibit through individual, foundation and corporate sources. For more information about donor opportunities, contact 503-220-5747.

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May 2002
FOREIGN-BORN STUDENTS HONE ENGLISH-SPEAKING SKILLS AT ZOO’S BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT
Spanish, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Arabic speaking students share their butterfly expertise with zoo visitors
PORTLAND, Ore. – From now until May 30, English as Second Language (ESL) students from Beaverton High School will practice their English skills at the Oregon Zoo on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thirty-six ESL students will volunteer in the zoo’s new Winged Wonders butterfly exhibit, helping visitors spot butterflies, answering questions and staffing a children's discovery area.
The students recently arrived in the United States and come from countries all over the world. Ten different languages are represented within their group, including Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Farsi, Hindi (from Fiji), Oromo (from Ethiopia), Creole (from Sierra Leone) and Vietnamese.

The students have been studying butterflies in the classroom as part of a several week unit. Each student has chosen one species of butterfly from the exhibit for more in-depth research; they then orally describe their findings to the class. Through their research, writing, and public speaking assignments, each student has fulfilled common curriculum goals in reading, writing, communication and life science.
Helen Lovgren, ESL teacher for Beaverton School District, says students have found butterflies to be highly interesting, engaging, and meaningful—essential ingredients for learning.

“Now comes the exciting part,” says Lovgren. “The students will be in a position to share their knowledge with visitors. It’s this application of knowledge in a real world situation, outside the classroom, that is so valuable to our young people.”
The students may also be called upon to use their first languages for interpreting to non-English speaking zoo visitors. Each student will wear a button that will identify his or her native language.

“Our visitors come from all over the world,” according to Tony Vecchio, zoo director. “It’s great to have these talented students on grounds to convey butterfly information in English, as well as other languages.”

Lovgren believes that through interpreting butterflies at the zoo, the value of bilingual skills will become increasingly apparent to them.
Beaverton School District serves 4,200 English Language Learners who represent over 12 percent of the district enrollment. The program began in the 1970s with the arrival of Southeast Asian refugees, and today, there are over 70 languages represented in our immigrant and refugee students in Beaverton schools. Currently, there is an English Language Development program at every school in the district.
As of this year, district’s retention/graduation rate of second language learners has increased and the number of students who have been evaluated and have been classified as proficient in speaking/listening/reading/writing of English has gone up over 150 percent from last year (Part of the proficiency portfolio is having met benchmarks in reading and writing) and has significantly helped raise benchmarks and test scores for foreign-born students.
Because of the ongoing, sustained sh