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NOTE:
Dates indicate date of press release
January 2003
January
22, 2003 - Oregon
Zoo Expands Program to pay for School Field Trips
January
21, 2003 - Zoo's
Oldest Male Asian Elephant Dies Unexpectedly
January 15, 2003 -
Despite Sluggish Economy, Zoo Breaks All-Time
Attendance Record
January
14, 2003 - Oregon
Zoo Offers New Program for Home-Schooled Children
January 14, 2003 -
Zoo Offers Programs for Home-Schooled Children
January 14, 2003 -
Oregon Zoo Vaccinates Birds of Prey for West Nile
Virus
January
9, 2003 - Highly
Endangered Mandrill Moves to Oregon Zoo
View
releases from:
January
| February | March
| April | May
| June | July
| August | September |
October | November | December
January
22, 2003
OREGON
ZOO EXPANDS PROGRAM TO PAY FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
Spirit Mountain Community Fund's $37,500 donation---originally benefited
Polk and Yamhill county schools---has been expanded to include Benton,
Linn, Lane, Lincoln and Tillamook counties
PORTLAND, Ore.-The Oregon Zoo has expanded its program to pay for
school field trips to the zoo during the current school year. The
program, made possible by the $37,500 grant from the Spirit Mountain
Community Fund (SMCF), will now pay for buses for low-income schools
in Benton, Linn, Lane, Lincoln, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill counties.
Schools qualify by the percentage of students who rely on the free
and/or reduced price lunch program.
The SMCF grant helps underwrite the anticipated costs of
bus transportation to and from the Oregon Zoo for as many
as 9,000 children and their
chaperones. "With Oregon public schools facing devastating budget
cuts, it's important that we continue to make these experiences available
to students," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director.
Support from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund will provide public
schools in these eligible counties with up to three free buses to
transport students to and from the zoo. As a condition of the grant,
the zoo is making a special effort to serve schools with more than
50 percent student eligibility in the free and/or reduced price lunch
program.
"This grant helps the zoo serve children from rural communities,"
said Angela Blackwell, director of the Spirit Mountain Community
Fund.
"We have been happy to help bring the zoo's birds of prey outreach
program to these schools in the past. Now we have a wonderful
opportunity
to take the next step and make it possible for many of these deserving
students to visit their zoo for the very first time."
The Spirit Mountain Community Fund has given more than $15
million to deserving organizations in western Oregon since
its creation in
1997.
In addition to zoo education programs for schools, the Spirit
Mountain Community Fund made an early major gift in support
of the zoo's Eagle
Canyon exhibit. Eagle Canyon, a watershed exhibit to
feature bald eagles and salmon in a natural forest setting,
will be the next phase
of the zoo's Great Northwest exhibit when completed next
year.
For more information about the field trip grant program
or to check on eligibility for your school, call 503-220-2781.
January
21, 2003
ZOO'S
OLDEST MALE ASIAN ELEPHANT DIES UNEXPECTEDLY
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Photo
by Benjamin Brink/
Courtesy of The Oregonian.
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PORTLAND,
Ore.- Hugo, the Oregon Zoo's oldest bull Asian elephant, died unexpectedly
Monday night from unknown causes. An extensive necropsy will be conducted.
Preliminary results from the necropsy should be completed in ten to
21 days.
"When
keepers came in on Saturday morning they found Hugo on his side with
labored breathing," said Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator.
Keepers
and vets were successful getting Hugo to his feet with the aid of
a sling and administered a catheter to start fluids in an attempt
to keep him hydrated, and to begin treatment with antibiotics.
"Keepers
and vets cared for Hugo around the clock, but were unable to save
him," said Pfefferkorn. "We cared a lot for Hugo and gave
him a 150 percent effort; it was hard for us to see him go."
The
Oregon Zoo acquired Hugo from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus in November 1983. He was estimated to be 43-years-old. Hugo
weighed
approximately 10,000 pounds and stood 10 feet tall.
According to Elephant Keeper Jeb Barsh, Hugo was a favorite among
elephant keepers.
"He
was highly intelligent, "said Barsh. He enjoyed challenges like
food puzzles and playing with his many elephant toys. He also liked
to get huge ice blocks that he would quickly break apart - he was
just a magnificent animal."
The Oregon Zoo's innovative and respected elephant management program
is world-renowned in the zoo community. Twenty-seven baby elephants
have been born at the Oregon Zoo. No other zoo comes close to this
accomplishment. Currently, the zoo is home to six Asian elephants:
four females and two males.
January
15, 2003
DESPITE
SLUGGISH ECONOMY, ZOO BREAKS ALL-TIME ATTENDANCE RECORD
PORTLAND,
Oregon - Popular special events and new exhibits boosted
the Oregon
Zoo’s annual attendance to 1,330,838,
breaking the previous record of 1,328,761 visitors
set in 2000.
Zoo Director
Tony Vecchio is pleased by the community support.
“We’re
thrilled with the response to our special programs and new exhibits,
” said Vecchio. “We attribute the increase to the popularity
of last summer’s butterfly exhibit, and our many special programs,
including ZooLights, our concert series and Packy’s 40th birthday
party.”
The
first time zoo attendance exceeded one million was in 1962, the year
Packy
was born. Packy’s birth brought in 1,211,170 visitors from all
over the Northwest eager to see the first baby elephant born in the
United States in 44 years.
It
wasn’t
until 1989 that the zoo broke the one million mark again. Since then,
the zoo has welcomed over a million guests in 11 of the last 14 years.
Vecchio
believes the zoo will continue to attract more visitors because of
its commitment to offer new exhibits and programs.
“This
summer we’re bringing back butterflies by popular demand—with
the addition of many new and colorful species,” said Vechhio.
“The butterfly exhibit promises to be a real block buster, and
coming in 2004 we’ll open our family farm and Eagle Canyon,
featuring bald eagles and endangered salmon. We have great things
happening
that keep people coming back.”
January
14, 2003
OREGON
ZOO OFFERS NEW PROGRAM FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN
The Oregon
Zoo has announced a new education program for home-schooled children,
ages six and older. The zoo has planned two Home-School ZooSnooze
programs, Feb. 20-21 and March 6-7 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 a.m.
According
to the zoo's Education Program Coordinator Rex Ettlin, home-schoolers
will see the zoo in a whole new light-moonlight! Participants will
enjoy a pizza dinner and go on a guided nighttime safari. The highlight
of the evening will be a behind-the-scenes tour.
"ZooSnooze
promises to be a great educational adventure for home-schooled kids,"
says Ettlin, "We're teaching kids about the importance of animals
and conservation, while creating great childhood memories."
During
ZooSnooze, home-schoolers will come face to face with insects and
reptiles, and will also enjoy some fun hands-on opportunities with
certain animals. In addition, kids will make an enrichment item (animal
toy) and watch the animal later play and interact with it, go behind
the scenes to see the zoo's popular birds of prey, and, the next day,
enjoy a continental breakfast. At the conclusions of the program,
home-schoolers can explore the zoo on their own.
Ettlin
adds, "Kids will long remember how they learned all about wildlife
and saw many rare animals under the cloak of darkness, one of their
liveliest times!"
Cost
for Home-School ZooSnooze is $40 person for youth or adult. Children
may not attend without a registered adult. Up to five children may
accompany one adult. To register, please call 503-220-2781 or e-mail
moddet@metro.dst.or.us.
The Oregon
Zoo, located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway
26, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 31. 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.
January
14, 2003
ZOO
OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN
The Oregon
Zoo announces its 2003 educational programs for home-schooled students.
Educational programs give students attending school at home the opportunity
to explore the zoos animals and the habitats in which they live.
"Education
is our number one priority at the Oregon Zoo," said Education
Programs Manager Roger Yerke. "Through a variety of programs
throughout the year we educate more than 188,000 students, introducing
them to seldom-seen animals and educating them on the importance
of
conservation."
The zoo
offers the following educational programs to home school students:
. Discovery boxes filled with insects, magnifying glasses and educational
literature
. Curriculum guides (downloadable from www.oregonzoo.org) to use before,
during or after their trip to the zoo
. ZooSnooze overnights with hands-on learning activities and behind-the-scenes
tours
. Internships for teenagers that offer career exploration opportunities
. ZooTeens summer volunteer program (applications are available now)
. Day camps during the summer, winter and spring school breaks
. Online opportunities include the zoo's web site (www.oregonzoo.org),
which is an excellent source of information for homework and school
reports. This information can also be obtained by calling the Animal
Information Line at 503-226-1561, then press 2.
For more
information on the zoo's education programs for students or to reserve
a kit call 503-220-2781.
The Oregon
Zoo, located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway
26, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 31. 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.
January
14, 2003
OREGON ZOO VACCINATES BIRDS OF PREY FOR WEST
NILE VIRUS
PORTLAND,
Ore.-With West Nile virus (WNV) now in Washington state and experts
predicting its arrival in Oregon this spring, Oregon Zoo veterinarians
are beginning to vaccinate animals, which are susceptible to the virus.
On Wednesday,
Jan. 15, the
zoo will
vaccinate its
birds of prey
and other
susceptible bird
species with
the WNV equine
vaccine,
which
is believed to
lessen the severity
of the
virus. "We know West
Nile is coming to our region," said zoo Veterinarian Dr. Mitch
Finnegan. "We
have an important
collection of
birds and other
animals
that we're doing
all we can to
protect."
The vaccinations will take place one-day prior to a West Nile virus
workshop, featuring public health and conservation experts from around
the country. The workshop, slated for Thursday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. at the zoo, will provide current WNV information and bring
the health and conservation communities together in order to develop
an effective and ecologically sound plan to combat the virus.
The zoo will next vaccinate its zebras with the equine vaccine. A
prioritized list of all animals that will be vaccinated is currently
being prepared.
"Our goal is to provide the safest and most comfortable environment
for our animals," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "We're
working with
state and local
officials
to help minimize
the impact."
The zoo is also preparing protocols for mosquito abatement. Abatement
efforts include eliminating mosquito habitat such as standing water;
cutting back vegetation throughout the zoo's 64 acres; setting mosquito
traps; applying environmentally-safe insecticides and larvicides around
grounds; and pre-screening birds from other zoos.
In an effort to detect the virus early, the Oregon Zoo is working
collaboratively with local and state public health organizations.
The zoo is also participating in surveillance activities along with
accredited zoos around the country.
Surveillance activities entail monitoring the grounds for dead or
sick wild birds and other mammals, testing all dead animals found
on grounds, and reporting tissue samplings to the surveillance network.
WNV was first detected in the United States in 1999 and has been detected
in 42 states. The virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
The virus can be devastating to wildlife, especially corvids, which
include ravens, crows, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers. The virus can
also infect humans, horses and other mammals.
On Oct. 2, 2002, the Washington State Department of Health announced
the state's first case of a dead bird detected with the virus. For
more information about WNV, pet and horse owners should contact their
veterinarian or visit The American Veterinary Medical Association.
Other resources can be found on the USDA's web site http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.html
and Center for Disease Control's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.
January
9, 2003
HIGHLY ENDANGERED
MANDRILL MOVES TO OREGON ZOO
 PORTLAND, Ore. - A colorful 61-pound male mandrill will move
into the Oregon Zoo's primate exhibit on Friday, Jan. 10. Kinshasa,
or Kinny for short, was born at Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse, New York
June 5, 1997 and later moved to the North Carolina Zoo. His move to
the Oregon Zoo was a recommendation of the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association's Species Survival Plan for mandrills.
His introduction
to the rest of the mandrill troop went well according to Senior Primate
Keeper David Thomas. "He's not overly aggressive," said
Thomas. "We're observing positive interaction with the keepers
in the areas of hand feeding and training."
Male
mandrills are significantly larger than the females, weighing from
50- to 75-pounds, while females can weigh up to 35 pounds. The males
are also more colorful than females with a blue to purple rump, a
bright red nose with blue, ridged swelling running lengthwise on either
side. They also have white cheek whiskers, a yellow beard and a dark
brown crest on the crown of the head.
Mandrills are highly endangered. In Africa, the mandrill population
has been in a drastic decline in recent years, and mandrills have
been on the endangered species list since 1980. In Gabon-one of the
three African countries in which mandrills are found-logging has increased
in the rainforests, further destroying the mandrill's habitat. An
additional threat to loss of habitat is the increasing market in African
cities for mandrill meat, which is viewed as a delicacy. Mandrills
have long been hunted as a food source for local people, but now commercial
hunters are culling many animals, sending the meat to coastal cities.
In the wild, much of the mandrills' time is spent on the forest floor,
but they do climb to the middle layer of trees to sleep. Their social
organization is harems, with one adult male, several adult females
and their young. During the dry season, several harems may join to
form larger troops of up to 200 members. Their bright facial colors
are perceived as threat signals and a penetrating stare is used to
intimidate a male rival and to establish domination. To denote submission,
they lower their body and show their colored rear end. Males are constantly
on the alert for predators. If baring his teeth does not scare off
an intruder, the adult male will work himself into a frenzy, jumping
up and down. Bright red spots will appear on his wrists and ankles
and his chest will turn a vivid blue. It is believed that this color
change is produced by a specialized circulatory function.
The Oregon Zoo is home to five mandrills, one male and four females.
The females include, Nikki, 16; Victoria, 15; Natalie (Victoria's
daughter), 2; and Susannah, 6.
The zoo is open 9 a.m. daily. General admission is $8 (12-64), seniors
$6.50 (65+), children $5 (3-11), and children under 3 are free. The
zoo is located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway
26 and is also accessible by MAX light rail line.
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