April
2003
April
29, 2003 - Zoo
Sea Otters Return to Spruced-Up Exhibit
April 28, 2003 - Mom and Me at the Oregon Zoo
April 21, 2003 - Oregon Zoo
Announces 2003 Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series
April 21, 2003 -
New
Survey Finds Children Want to Help Save the Environment
April
21, 2003 - Oregon
Zoo Participates in Million-Minute Reading Challenge
April 21, 2003 - Governor
& Zoboo Help Zoo Celebrate 2003 Earth Day Expo
April
21, 2003 - Bowlers
Gather to Help Save Endangered Rhinos
April
2, 2003 - State
of the Zoo Address Slated For April 2
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April
29, 2003
ZOO
SEA OTTERS RETURN TO SPRUCED-UP EXHIBIT
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Southern sea otter family at Oregon Zoo return
to Portland this week after a month-long stay at Tacoma's Point Defiance
Zoo & Aquarium. The zoo's marine life keepers chose to send Eddie,
Thelma and Oz on "vacation" while the exhibit and holding
pools were repainted rather than try to keep them in an adjacent holding
area. The grinders and construction noise can be stressful to them.
"Stress can adversely affect otters causing them to become agitated
and over-groom.," said senior marine life keeper, JoEllen Marshall.
Keepers at Point Defiance's Rocky Shores exhibit were anxious to host
the Oregon otters. Eddie and Thelma lived at the Tacoma zoo for the
year prior to the opening of Oregon Zoo's Steller Cove exhibit. This
was Oz first venture away from home.
The sea otters traveled in transport crates, which they've been trained
to enter and had ice at their disposal to cool themselves down en route.
The otters also had visual access to one another and staff throughout
the trip.
Marine life keeper Karen Rifenbury stayed in Tacoma with Eddie, Thelma,
and Oz to provide a familiar face and maintain their training and routine
as closely as possible.
"Everything went well at Point Defiance and they were great hosts,"
said Rifenbury. "But we're all really glad to be home."
In the sea otters' absence, their exhibit received a brand new coat
of paint, which keepers hope will prove to be more "otter proof."
The scratches were polished out of the viewing window, as well.
"Sea otters are very hard on exhibits due to their pounding behaviors,"
explained Marshall. "Their zoo diet is as close as possible to
what they'd eat in the wild and includes clam shells and mussels, which
they bang against the exhibit walls and windows to open. The shells
and their toys had taken a toll on the exhibit area's paint and acrylic
windows."
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April
28, 2003
MOM
AND ME AT THE OREGON ZOO
PORTLAND,
Ore. - The Oregon Zoo invites moms and their families to Mom and Me
at the Zoo on Sunday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, sponsored
by Washington Mutual, Portland Family Magazine, 97.1 KISN-FM, and 105.1
The Buzz, is an opportunity for mothers and their children to enjoy
the zoo and participate in a variety of activities.
Mom and
family can visit the zoo's new babies and their mothers, which include
a baby red-flanked duiker born in March and her mom Garnet, and a 7-month
old Swamp Monkey named Bleu and his mother Dannon. Mom will also receive
surprise treats and kids can play zoo games.
Washington
Mutual will offer discounted coupons of $.50 off a childs' admission
(ages 3-11) and $1 off an adult admission. Coloring pages will also
be available at local financial centers.
Other zoo
events honoring mothers include choosing the Zoo Mother of the Year
for 2003 and bringing mom to the zoo's Mother's Day Brunch on May 11.
Voting is currently underway for Zoo Mother of the Year. The three finalists
for this special honor are Coco, a chimpanzee, Dannon, a swamp monkey
and Thelma a Southern sea otter. An on-line ballot featuring photos
of the zoo moms with short biographies is posted on the zoo's Web site
located at www.oregonzoo.org. Votes from the public will be accepted
through Thursday, May 8, 5 p.m. The zoo will announce the winner on
Friday, May 9.
Mother's
Day Brunch will be served at the zoo's Cascade Grill, Sunday, May 11,
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The brunch buffet includes seasonal fruits, assorted
pastries, scrambled eggs, potatoes O'Brien, bacon and sausage, omelets,
French toast, penne pasta primavera, smoked salmon tortellini, spinach
salad, bay shrimp and cucumber salad, fresh asparagus, and desserts.
Cost for the brunch is $15.95 Adults (12 and older) $ 7.95 Youth (ages
3-11). Zoo admission is not included in the price of the brunch. Reservations,
which are highly recommended, can be made by calling 503-525-4299.
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April
21, 2003
OREGON
ZOO ANNOUNCES 2003 WELLS FARGO SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
PORTLAND, Ore.- The Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series at the Oregon
Zoo begins Sunday, June 29 and runs through August. This year the concert
series celebrates its 25th anniversary. The zoo's concert series is
Portland's longest running outdoor summer music series.
This year's series will highlight 26 performances, featuring well-known
artists such as John Scofield, Aimee Mann, Roseanne Cash with Iris Dement,
Suzanne Vega, Dark Star Orchestra, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Asleep
at the Wheel and the Afro Celt Sound System to name just a few. Performances
will take place on the zoo's park-like concert lawn.
"Through Wells Fargo's generous support, the zoo is able to bring
a variety of nationally renowned musicians to Portland," said Tony
Vecchio, zoo director. "In addition to being a family-friendly
series for the community, the revenue generated helps support a variety
of endangered species, including ones found here in the Pacific Northwest."
Concerts will be held on Wednesday through Sunday evenings, with music
as diverse as the animals that reside at the zoo. The result will be
a series filled with an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, country, blues,
salsa and world music. Cost for concerts range from $9-$22 and include
zoo admission. All concerts will be subject to maximum capacity. Tickets
to the $9 concerts are available at the zoo office on the day of the
concert beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets to all concerts are available beginning
May 16 at the zoo office without a service charge, or at Safeway TicketsWest
ticket centers or online at www.oregonzoo.org subject to service charges.
Wells Fargo has supported the concert series since 1997. Last year the
concert series attracted 72,162 visitors and helped generate $1.2 million,
which helps support zoo conservation programs that benefit a variety
of animals.
In 1979, the Oregon Zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a
summer concert series. The concert series serves as a means to generate
additional revenue to assist the zoo in fulfilling its mission of conservation
and education.
In addition to Wells Fargo, generous support for the concert series
is provided by The Oregonian A&E. Concert artists can soon be heard
on The Oregonian's Inside Line by calling 225-5555, extension 3350.
A complete roster with Inside Line extensions and artists' biographical
information can soon be found at the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org.
See the 2003 Wells
Fargo Summer Concert Series for the complete schedule and ticket information.
The
Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo is located five minutes
from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo
is open from 9
a.m. to 6 p.m. The zoo is also on the MAX light rail line. General
admission
is $8 (12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+), children $5 (3-11), and under
3 are free. For additional information, please visit the zoo's web
site
at www.oregonzoo.org or call 503-226-1561.
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April
21, 2003
NEW SURVEY FINDS CHILDREN WANT TO HELP SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
Senator Bill Bradley
Announces Results of "Aza's Poll For The
Planet"
PORTLAND, Ore.-Children worldwide want to get involved in conservation
efforts, and most think young people are doing a good job of caring
for wildlife, according to a new survey released today by the American
Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), of which the Oregon Zoo is a member.
The global opinion poll asked children to share their thoughts about
the environment and questioned them on who they thought was doing the
best job caring for the planet. Sixty thousand children and adults
worldwide responded to "Aza's Poll for the Planet" via the
Internet or on-site at AZA accredited zoos and aquariums across the
country. The Oregon Zoo participated in the national poll last summer
by handing out thousands of AZA postcards to it visitors. The postcards
encouraged children to go to AZA's Web site and take the kid poll.
"Children around the world have made their feelings clear,"
according to former Senator Bill Bradley, who is announcing the full
poll findings on Earth Day. "Kids want to get involved and they
believe they can make a difference and help save the planet. This is
an exciting message of hope for all of us, and an opportunity for AZA
to further engage the resource of children as partners and other energetic
volunteers to make conservation work."
Key findings from "Aza's Poll for the Planet" include:
. 67% of poll respondents age 6-8 believe that Kids are taking care
of wildlife;
. 82% of poll respondents age 6-8 believe Volunteers are taking care
of wildlife, and, as respondents age, their confidence in volunteerism
grows (ages 9-12 = 83%; 13-17 = 87%);
. 95% of poll respondents age 6-8 want to know "How I can help."
"This is first time an organization has polled children on such
a large scale regarding their feelings on this critical subject. They
want very much to work with a leader in conservation so they can help
make a difference," says Senator Bradley. "AZA, by virtue
of its unmatched collective body of scientific and educational work,
is qualified to be that leader, and in partnering with young people,
can help ensure that we will all be able to enjoy the rich diversity
of species in our environment for generations to come."
A complete analysis of the poll findings are being released on Earth
Day, April 22, 2003, in a White Paper directed to decision makers.
"We appreciate Senator Bradley taking our conservation message
to the nation," said Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. "This
poll reveals that children want to help save animals; they want to learn
more about what they can do to help protect the environment and our
wild places. The desire and willingness is there."
"More than 134,000,000 people visit AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums
each year," Vecchio continued. "Unfortunately, few understand
the important conservation work we do every day. "It's our job
to help children find ways to participate in our conservation efforts;
help them find ways to make a difference. I think we're up to the challenge."
In conjunction with Earth Week and the "Aza's Poll for the Planet
results," the Oregon Zoo is hosting its own earth-friendly events,
including the Race to Stop Global Warming and an Earth Day Expo (both
on April 27), as well as a spring butterfly exhibit (opening May 24),
which highlights the zoo's conservation efforts with endangered Oregon
silverspot and Fender's blue butterflies.
The AZA was founded in 1924 and currently represents 212 accredited
zoos and aquariums in North America. Look for the AZA logo whenever
you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting
a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great
experience for you, and a better future for all living things. With
its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife
conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.
For more information visit www.aza.org
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April
21, 2003
OREGON
ZOO PARTICIPATES IN MILLION-MINUTE READING CHALLENGE
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Zoo and North Marion Primary and Intermediate
Schools have teamed up to sponsor a million-minute reading challenge.
As a
reward, 35 students will visit the zoo to watch their principals
Matthew Wilding and Regina Renaldi clean the hippo pool on Monday,
April 21,
from 10
a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
According to Kathy Kenyon, a reading instructor
with North Marion School District and an Oregon Zoo volunteer, "Having
our two principals clean the hippo pool has been a great incentive
for the kids to accomplish
their goal of collectively reading a million minutes."
The incentive helps
fulfill the districts reading program, which asks students to read
with someone for 20 minutes every night. Once a week,
teachers
tally the results and "water" is added to the "hippo
pool" graphs found on bulletin boards in each school. Both buildings
loudly cheered in celebration the morning of April 4th when they reached
the million-minute
mark!
One student representative from each reading class will
attend the event to cheer on the principals in their cleaning quest.
They
will
also have an opportunity to go behind the scenes for a first hand
look.
Immediately
following the cleaning, keepers will fill the pool and let the hippos
out, allowing everyone to see the animals make their
debut in their recently cleaned environment.
"This was a terrific idea!" said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "If
having these principals clean out our hippo pool serves as an incentive
to get kids excited about reading, we're happy to do it."
The remaining 800
students, who were not able to attend the actual event, will watch
a video of the hippo cleaning moment during an assembly.
Vecchio will attend the assembly program and provide colorful commentary
about the principals' pool cleaning experience.According to Kenyon, "Tony
is completely committed to making reading fun for kids. He's been a
long-term volunteer for the SMART program (Start Making A
Reader Today) and has seen firsthand how kids' confidence can grow
as they become good readers. We're so pleased he agreed to do
this."
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April
21, 2003
GOVERNOR & ZOBOO
HELP ZOO CELEBRATE 2003 EARTH DAY EXPO
It's
a full zoo day beginning with The Race to Stop Global Warming and
an appearance by Zoboomafoo!
PORTLAND,
Ore - The Earth Day Expo 2003 will take place on Sunday, April 27
at the Oregon Zoo with a special
appearance by Governor
Ted Kulongoski and PBS's leaping lemur, Zoboomafoo. Sponsored by
Bonneville
Power Association, Green House Network, McCormick and Schmick's,
NW Natural, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon Zoo, and PGE, the
expo
features more than 30 local businesses, nonprofits and government
agencies displaying earth-friendly information, activities, product
innovations
and samples.
"Earth
Day at the zoo is always a fun celebration," said Tony Vecchio,
zoo director. "Visitors will learn about many exciting ways to
connect and protect our environment."
The
Expo follows Portland's Fourth Annual Race to Stop Global Warming,
sponsored by NIKE,
Aveda and Toyota Prius. The race
serves as a
high profile forum for people across the country to express
public concern
about the need for action in regard to global warming-other
cities participating include New York, Seattle, and Denver. Portland
had over 1,000 participants in last year's race.
The
race, which consists of an 8k run and a 5k walk around Washington
Park and Hoyt
Arboretum, will begin at the World
Forestry Center
and end inside the zoo. Alberto Salazar, a three-time New
York City Marathon
winner, will lead the race.
There
will also be the chance for children to participate in a Fun Run/Diaper
Dash around the concert
lawn. Children
can
enjoy a guest
appearance by Zoboo, the loveable lemur from the PBS television
show Zoboomafoo. The costumed character will be available
for photos
and
signing autographs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The expo will
also feature live music by Boka Marimba and Harmonic Convergence,
and face painting,
theater performances and various other artists. In addition,
the event will feature great food, games and educational
activities.
In
conjunction with Earth Day, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association
(AZA), will release its "Aza's
Poll for the Planet" results.
Sixty thousand children participated in the world-wide
poll, which found that children are concerned about the planet
and are eager to
help save it. The poll results also showed that children
believe that zoos and aquariums are helping lead the way in saving
the planet and
educating the public about conservation. The Oregon Zoo
is an accredited member of AZA and is working to facilitate a conservation
ethic in
children and adults alike. The Race to Stop Global Warming
and the Earth Day Expo 2003 are just two examples of steps in that
direction.
The
expo is free to the public after zoo admission. Visitors who take
the "Earth Day Challenge" can also
receive $1 off an adult zoo admission and 50 cents off
for children. The Challenge contains
five simple action items citizens can take to reduce
their environmental impact in a meaningful way. The five
action items are:
1. Sign up for green power
2. Eat organic or locally-grown food
3. Conserve water
4. Volunteer for a watershed restoration activity
5. Commute car-free one or more day per week
More
information about the challenge can be found at www.chinookbook.net/earth_day_challenge_OR_2003.asp.
The
Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo is located on the MAX line,
five minutes from downtown Portland
just off
Highway
26, and
is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission is
$8 (12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+), children $5 (3-11),
and
under 3 are
free. To learn more
about the Earth Day Expo, visit the BPA Web site
at www.bpa.gov/earthawarenessweek.
Earth
Day Expo Schedule - Sunday, April 27
7 a.m. -10 a.m. Race to Stop Global Warming
7 a.m. -7:45 a.m. Registration
8 a.m. Race to Stop Global Warming 8K Run
8:05 a.m. Race to Stop Global Warming 5K Walk
9 a.m. -3 p.m. Zoboomafoo in Elephant Museum
9 a.m. -3 p.m. Earth Day Expo
9:30 a.m. Free Children's fun Run (around concert
lawn; pre-registration required*)
9:45 a.m. Toddler Trot / Diaper Dash
10 a.m. Race Awards
11 a.m. -1 p.m. Harmonic Convergence (on the
stage)
*Must
be pre-registered; does not include free admission for parents or
guardians.
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April
21, 2003
BOWLERS
GATHER TO HELP SAVE ENDANGERED RHINOS
14th
Annual Bowling for Rhinos slated for Saturday, April 26th
PORTLAND,
Ore. -- Hundreds of bowlers will hit the lanes Saturday, April
26th to save the world's endangered rhinos. Bowling for Rhinos,
an annual fundraiser in its 14th year takes place at Beaverton's
Brunswick Sunset Lanes in two afternoon sessions beginning at noon
and 3 p.m.
The Portland Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers sponsors
the event.
Bowling
for Rhinos is a national program that has raised more than $1.7 million
since its inception. Portland bowlers have
raised more
than $143,000 of that amount, more than any other city in the country.
Money raised goes directly to three specific rhino conservation
projects working to protect three of the world's five species of
rhinos.
Bowlers
raise funds by collecting tax-deductible pledges. The Portland event
features door prizes and a raffle for a variety
of items.
Nationally, the top two fundraisers win a two-week trip to Kenya,
and will be
the guests of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Lewa
was the first rhino program supported by the bowling event. Two additional
Indonesian
programs now receive funds - Ujung Kulon
National
Park on the island of Java, a tropical lowland rainforest area
home to the reclusive Javan rhino; and Bukit Barasan Selatan
National Park, on the island of Sumatra. Bukit Barison is home to
the rare
Sumatran
rhino and other endangered animals, including Asian elephants,
tigers,
clouded leopards and Malayan sun bears.
Michael
Illig, a senior keeper and local coordinator for Bowling for Rhinos,
noted that globally,
all rhino populations are low.
"There are less than 2,700 black, only 300 Sumatran and less than 60
Javan rhinos left in the wild," said Illig. "While populations
of white rhinos (estimated to be 10,400) and Indian rhinos (estimated
to be 2,400) are more stable, they too are considered threatened.
Saving all species of rhinos is important, but the most critically
endangered
species drive our efforts."
Oregon
Zoo Director Tony Vecchio is pleased that the zoo's keepers and the
greater zoo community have
done so much to save rhinos.
"The primary mission of the Oregon Zoo is conservation," said Vecchio. "It's
gratifying to see that our staff believes so strongly in that mission that they've
devoted much of their own time and resources to this important effort."
Registration
forms for both bowlers and sponsors are available on the zoo's web site at
www.oregonzoo.org. Individuals and teams are encouraged to register
early,
but walk-ins are welcome. Additional information is available by calling
the zoo's Michael Illig at 503-226-1561, extension 5275.
The
Oregon Zoo is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association (AZA) and is working to
facilitate a conservation ethic in children and adults
alike. Bowling for Rhinos is an event that can involve the entire community.
In
conjunction with the Oregon Zoo's conservation efforts, on Earth
Day the AZA will release its "Aza's Poll for the Planet" results.
Sixty thousand children participated in the worldwide poll, which
found that children are concerned
about the planet and are eager to help save it. The poll results also showed
that children believe that zoos and aquariums are helping lead the way
in saving the planet and educating the public about conservation.
The Oregon Zoo participated
in the poll by handing out thousands of postcards to its visitors as well
as linking its Web site to "Aza's Poll for the Planet."
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April
2, 2003
STATE
OF THE ZOO ADDRESS SLATED FOR APRIL 2
Director
discusses the year in review and future plans at the zoo
PORTLAND,
Ore.-Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio will deliver his annual State
of the Zoo address on Wednesday, April 2, at 11:30 a.m.
in the Cascade Crest Banquet Center. The State of the Zoo address
is sponsored
by Stoel Rives LLP.
Vecchio
will discuss a wide variety of topics from the zoo's education programs
to its national conservation efforts,
including
the zoo's
recent acceptance into the high profile California Condor
Recovery Program. In addition, Vecchio will provide insight on why
he
believes the zoo has achieved record attendance, despite
difficult economic
times.
Vecchio
is expected to share his vision for the future and discuss what new
exhibits visitors can expect to see in 2003
and 2004. He will
also discuss the importance of continued corporate support
for new exhibits such as this summer's butterfly exhibit,
Eagle Canyon (opening
Spring 2004) and Family Farm (opening Summer 2004). In
addition, he will highlight some of the award-winning educational
programs
such
as Zoo Animal Presenters (ZAP) and ZooTeens and thank the
corporate sponsors of those programs.
More
than 100 leaders of Oregon's businesses will attend the State of
the Zoo Address and
Vecchio plans to publicly
recognize
all of them
for their outstanding support of the zoo in 2002.
"Corporations
and businesses are important partners in helping us achieve our mission
'of inspiring our community to care for the future of wildlife,'" said
Vecchio. "Their contributions are vital and help
us create world-class conservation efforts, educational
programs, special events and exhibits," he
added.
Companies
that have generously supported zoo programs include:
AT&T Wireless
HomeStreet Bank
KeyBank
McDonald's Restaurants of Portland/Vancouver
ODS Health Plans
Portland General Electric
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
US Bank
Verizon Information Services
Wells Fargo
Weyerhaeuser
For
more information about innovative partnerships that can benefit both
businesses and the Oregon Zoo,
please
call Cynthia
Thompson, the
zoo's corporate relations manager, at 503-220-5734.
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