March
2003
March 28, 2003 -
Zoo Celebrates Famous Pachyderm's 41st Birthday
March
27, 2003 - Zoo Otters Hit the Road
for Spring Break
March
26, 2003 - Baby Red-Flanked Duiker
is now on Exhibit with his Mother
March
25, 2003 - Oregon Zoo Welcomes Spring
With Annual Rabbit Romp
March
20, 2003 - Zoo
Launches New Pre-School Program April 1
March
19, 2003 - Local
Celebs Kiss Zoo Animals for Make-A-Wish
March
14, 2003 - Portland
Family Adventure
March
14, 2003 - An
Affair for Bears
March 14, 2003
- Polar Bears
Play Irish Tug of War
March
5, 2003 - Oregon
Zoo Recruits New ZooAmbassadors
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March
28, 2003
ZOO CELEBRATES
FAMOUS PACHYDERM'S 41st BIRTHDAY
PORTLAND,
Ore.--Packy, the Oregon Zoo's most famous elephant, celebrates his
41st birthday with the help of zoo visitors, Saturday,
April 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Several
new events are planned for Packy's Big Day, including:
. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.-Keepers share their insights about Packy;
. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.-Keepers demonstrate Packy's training program;
. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.-Elephant herd shares in Packy's celebration;
. 1:55 p.m.-The "girls" (Pet, Sunshine, Rose-Tu and Chendra)
deliver Packy's birthday treats;
. 2 p.m.-Packy enjoys his birthday treats and cake
. 2:30 p.m.-The "girls" celebrate with their own cake;
. 2:40 p.m.-Rama celebrates his 20th birthday (belatedly) with
a special cake in the indoor gallery. (Rama turned 20 on April
1.)
The
highlight of the social event of the animal kingdom occurs at 2 p.m.
when keepers present Packy with his giant birthday cake.
Packy's
fans are invited to sing "Happy Birthday" while the
prestigious pachyderm eats (or stomps on) his cake.
Packy's
cake, baked by the zoos own Chef Paul Warner, is a 40-pound
whole-wheat concoction topped with peanut butter frosting,
apples, carrots, and celery. After Packy has finished his cake, everyone
is invited to stop by the Albertson's canopy for a piece of
the "people" cake.
This is the 20th year that Albertson's Food Stores has created
the 4' x 8' masterpiece that feeds at least 5,000 people.
Floppy
elephant ears are the fashion statement of the day, and enhance
the fun of dancing the Packy Shuffle. Visitors
can meet
costumed elephants
Eliza and Elliot while they enjoy face painting and games,
and the day wouldn't be complete without taking a moment
to sign
the BIG guy's
birthday card.
Packy,
the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in more than 44
years, was born on April 14, 1962 making
international
news. Gifts
poured in, a song was written in his honor and a radio
station sponsored a naming contest. Gresham, Oregon resident Wayne
W.
French submitted
the winning name.
Packy
is the largest Asian elephant in the United States; he stands 10'6" at
the shoulder and tips the scales at 12,200 pounds. He is the father
of seven calves, including
21-year old Sung-Surin ("Sunshine")
and 20-year old Rama, both of whom currently live at
the zoo.
Packy's
Birthday Party is presented by Verizon SuperPages and co-sponsored
by Albertsons and Rosey 105. Packy's
Birthday is free with regular
zoo admission. General admission is $8 (12-64), seniors
$6.50 (65+), children $5 (3-11), and children under
3 are free.
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March
27, 2003
ZOO
OTTERS HIT THE ROAD FOR SPRING BREAK
Last
chance to see them in Portland is this weekend
PORTLAND,
Ore. - The Southern sea otter family at Oregon Zoo will head out
of town Monday, March 31.
Eddie, Thelma and Oz aren't suffering
from a case of spring fever as much as a desire to escape the spring-cleaning
planned for their exhibit.
"Their
exhibit and holding pools are scheduled to be repainted," said
Senior Marine Life Keeper JoEllen Marshall. "We decided to
let the sea otters stay with friends at Tacoma's Point Defiance
Zoo & Aquarium
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.
Keepers
at Point Defiance's Rocky Shores exhibit are looking forward
to hosting the Oregon otters, and have prepared an off exhibit
holding space and pools for their visitors. Eddie and Thelma
lived at the
Tacoma zoo for the year prior to the opening of Oregon Zoo's
Steller Cove
exhibit. This visit Oz will be joining his parents on the adventure.
Marshall,
Oregon Zoo Marine Life Keeper Karen Rifenbury and Oregon Zoo Veterinarian
Lisa Harrenstien will accompany the otters on
the trip North to monitor the animals. The sea otters will
travel in
transport crates, which they've been trained to enter and will
have ice at their
disposal to cool themselves down en route. The otters will
have visual access to one another and staff throughout the trip.
"Ear plugs are a necessity for anyone riding in the transport van," said
Marshall. "Eddie and Thelma began sounding off half-way
to Portland when they moved here from Tacoma. It's an amazingly
loud shrill sound."
Rifenbury
will stay in Tacoma with Eddie, Thelma, and Oz to provide a familiar
face and maintain
their training and
routine
as closely
as possible.
"I'm
busy packing for the trip," said Rifenbury. "We're
taking numerous sea otter toys and other enrichment devices,
like puzzle feeders
and car wash strips, which resemble kelp for the otters
during their stay."
And
one can't forget the most important element of a road trip-food!
"We're taking enough clams, crabs, mussels, squid, urchins, and fish
to last the entire visit," said Rifenbury. "They
each eat eight to ten-pounds of meat daily, or 20-percent
of their
body weight.
That's like a 150-pound person eating 30-pounds of Big
Macs in one day!"
Sea
otters have little body fat and need the nourishment to support their
grooming and
feeding activities and
stay warm
in 50-degree
water. They have a very fast metabolism and are fed
six times daily.
When
they return to their Oregon Zoo home, the sea otters' exhibit will
have a brand new coat of paint,
which keepers
hope will
prove to be more "otter proof." The scratches
will be 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 have taken a toll on
the exhibit
area's paint and
acrylic windows."
The
sea otters will be on exhibit through Sunday, March 30.
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March
26, 2003
BABY RED-FLANKED DUIKER IS NOW ON
EXHIBIT WITH HIS MOTHER
PORTLAND, Ore. – A red-flanked duiker born on March 11 will make
his Oregon Zoo debut on March 27. Duikers are one of the smallest members
of the antelope family.
“The calf is inquisitive and her mom, Garnet, is very attentive as the
baby explores his surroundings,” according to Chris Pfefferkorn,
zoo curator and American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s studbook
keeper for red-flanked duiker. “The calf is nursing, and his
weight is good,” he added.
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."People are hunting these animals relentlessly
for meat to feed their families," said Pfefferkorn.
Pfefferkron
oversees the red-flanked duiker population management plan, which
is designed to insure that zoo populations are maintained
and
also develop the zoo's conservation links to in-country programs
in Africa.
Duikers
are found throughout sub-saharan Africa, in wetlands, rainforests
and heavy timber forest. Duikers are classified as
frugivores.
In the wild they browse or graze on grass, leaves, shrubs and
trees, but the
main component of their diet is wild fruits, such as yams,
sweet potatoes and carrots. They've also have been observed eating
carrion and insects,
so they have a protein need in their diet, which is different
from most antelope. At the zoo they are fed a variety of vegetables
and
a milled grain, which has vitamins and minerals that they need.
They are provided browse, as well as insects like mealworms
and
crickets
for a little protein in their diets as well.
This
baby will stay with its parents between six months to a year. Red
flanked duikers become sexually mature at around
one
year of
age, so it will need to be removed from its parents before
it becomes sexually
mature to avoid inbreeding. Where the animal goes will depend
on the population management plan and the needs of the population
at the time
it's ready to move.
See
our Baby Duiker in action in our Video
Archive Gallery.
The
Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo is located five minutes
from downtown Portland just off Highway 26 and
is also
accessible
by MAX light rail line. 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.
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March
25, 2003
OREGON
ZOO WELCOMES SPRING WITH ANNUAL RABBIT ROMP
PORTLAND,
Ore. - The Oregon Zoo invites families to celebrate spring during
Rabbit Romp on Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The
traditional candy "egg" hunt begins at 9:30 a.m. and
is repeated every 20 minutes. Children age three to ten will be divided
into five age groups with each group having a chance to find a "magic" egg,
which contains a special prize. Other activities include a petting
zoo, games, puppet shows, face painting, photo opportunities and
a Mad Hatter's Tea Party by the Young People's Theater Project. The
Oregon
Humane Society will be in the Cascade Plaza with information about
rabbit adoptions and to provide proper pet care instruction.
Toddlers
age two and under can participate in a candy “egg” hunt
organized especially for them.
Zoo
animals will also celebrate Rabbit Romp with special Easter-themed
enrichment. At 10:30 a.m., polar
bears will receive large wooden
crates (“Easter Baskets”) filled with hay and watermelon-sized
plastic eggs. Once the polar bears find their pastel-colored
eggs, they are sure to play catch with them and may even take
them underwater
as visitors watch. In addition, the zoo’s elephants will
receive special Easter-themed surprises at 11:30 a.m.
The
Oregon Zoo is internationally renowned for its enrichment programs,
which provide animals the opportunity to play, hunt
and forage
as they would in the wild. The zoo is always looking for innovative
way to
keep the animals engaged.
Rabbit
Romp is free with regular zoo admission. General admission is $8
(12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+),
children $5 (3-11), and
children under
3 are free. Rabbit Romp is co-sponsored by Safeway and Rosey
105.
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March
20, 2003
ZOO
LAUNCHES NEW PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM APRIL 1
New
Zoo Pre-School Program Explores Animals From A to Z
PORTLAND,
Ore. - The Oregon Zoo will launch Animals A to Z, a new program for
pre-schoolers and parents this spring. Each day will feature a
different animal and includes a tour, craft, games, activities and
a special hands-on opportunity with a touchable animal.
"Classes will focus on developing preschool skills, including number
and letter recognition, colors and shapes, listening skills and cooperative
play," said Rex Ettlin, program coordinator.
The program, which will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,
begins April 1 and runs through mid-June. Two 90-minute sessions
are available each day beginning at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Fees
for each one-day class are $23 for one child and one adult and $11.50
for each additional child. Members of the zoo receive a discount.
For
further information visit the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org,
or call 503-220-2781. Registration must be received at least one
week in advance of class date.
The
Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo is located five minutes
from downtown Portland just off Highway
26 and is also accessible
by MAX light rail line. 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.
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March
19, 2003
LOCAL
CELEBS KISS ZOO ANIMALS FOR
MAKE-A-WISH
8th Annual Make-A-Wish® Penny
Drive Concludes with Kissing an Animal
at the Oregon Zoo
WHAT:
The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Oregon celebrates the conclusion of
its 8th annual Make a Million for Make-A-Wish® penny drive by having coin
drive partners kiss an animal at the Oregon Zoo.
WHO:
John Erickson and Tom Parker, air staff of penny drive partner K103FM,
will do the honors as part of a challenge they created on air during
the morning show.
Local school kids visiting the zoo will be on hand to cheer for the two DJs
as they kiss either a Blue-Tongued Skink, Rosy Boa Constrictor, an
Opossum, a Madagascar
Hissing Cockroach, or a mystery animal.
WHERE: Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland
WHEN: Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 11:00 a.m.
WHY: Kissing a zoo animal will conclude the Make-A-Wish penny drive.
Throughout the month of February and part of March, K103 listeners
have been urged to
support local wishes for children will life-threatening illnesses by collecting
pennies.
Participants
have made deposits at U.S. Bank branches throughout Oregon and Clark
County, Washington to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of
Oregon.
This
year, the penny drive has raised more than 9 million pennies ($90,000)
statewide for local wishes. Donations will still be accepted
at any U.S.
Bank throughout
Oregon and Clark County, Washington.
Great
photo opportunity!
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March
14, 2003
PORTLAND FAMILY ADVENTURE
Pack the kids in the car and head for Portland!
PORTLAND,
Ore.--Oregon Zoo, OMSI and La Quinta Inn are teaming up this spring
to provide a
low cost package that includes lodging and
tickets.
Between now and the end of May, a night's lodging for four plus four
tickets to either the Oregon Zoo or OMSI is $93, taxes and fees
included.
Oregon Zoo is beautiful in the spring. The blooming trees and
flowers are almost as much of an attraction as the animals. Animals
are more
active on cool spring days than they are in the heat of summer.
Spring events at the zoo include Bear Fair on March 22 (bring
the kids AND their teddy bears,) Packy, the elephants 41st birthday
party on April
12, Rabbit Romp on April 19, Oregon Safe Kids Day on May 3 and
Celebrating Wildflowers on May 17.
OMSI opens its newest museum-built and designed exhibit on May
17.
"
Moneyville" is a colorful, vibrant town-like exhibit that explores
everything about money, from what it is to how it works. The interactive
exhibit helps to build math skills and promote economic literacy in
a fun, immersive urban environment. Explore how is money made, who
invented
it, and what it takes to make a million in the stock market.
Accommodations at La Quinta Inn include an indoor pool and free
breakfast.
For reservations, call 800-531-5900 or visit La Quinta's web
site at www.lq.com.
For more information about the zoo and OMSI, go to www.oregonzoo.org and www.omsi.edu.
The Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. General zoo 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. The
zoo is open from
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional information on this event and other
activities at the zoo are available at the zoo's web site at www.oregonzoo.org or
by calling 503-220-3687 (recording).
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March
14, 2003
AN AFFAIR FOR BEARS
A party even Goldilocks wouldn't miss!
PORTLAND,
Ore. - Do bears hibernate in the winter? Visitors will discover the
surprising answer to this
question and learn other facts about
bears during Bear Fair, on Saturday, March 22 between 10 a.m. and
3 p.m. at
the Oregon Zoo.
Bear
Fair will star polar, grizzly, and Malayan sun bears as well as teddy
bears. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. many of the
bears will receive
special treats, including, toys, feeder balls, large barrels, and
huge piles of ice. Other Bear Fair activities include stories, activity
stations, and experiments that will educate visitors about the different
habitats
and characteristics unique to each bear.
A
special Teddy Bear Picnic area will be set up for children of all
ages to bring or purchase their
lunches and feast with their teddy
bears or
other stuffed buddies.
According to Krista Swan, Oregon Zoo event coordinator, 'Repair-A-Bear',
a special surgical mending station, will be set-up for operations,
check-ups, shots, chiropractic adjustments and emergency patchwork "in case
your teddy bear or other stuffed buddy needs a little extra loving care."
The
zoo's costumed bear mascot, Honey Bear, will be making friends during
her appearance, along with Smokey Bear.
Oregon
Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo, which opens at 9 a.m. daily,
is located five minutes
from downtown Portland just off Highway 26
and is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Teddy bears can ride
MAX for
free. Bear Fair is free with regular zoo admission. General admission
is $8.00 (12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+), children $5.00 (3-11), and
under 3 are free. Additional information can be obtained by visiting
the
zoo's web site at www.oregonzoo.org or calling 503-226-1561.
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March
14, 2003
POLAR BEARS PLAY IRISH TUG OF WAR
PORTLAND, Ore. - A game of Irish tug of war is expected to break out
in the Oregon Zoo polar bear winter exhibit. In honor of St. Patrick's
Day keepers will furnish the bears with green car wash strips attached
to green buckets.
"Conrad and Yugyan love to play with the car wash strips," said Marine
Life Keeper Julie Christie. "It's a great amount of fun for them,
and for our visitors."
Windows
in the summer exhibit will be decorated with green cream cheese,
giving visitors an opportunity
to see the bears up close,
as they lick
the windows clean.
Keeping
in the holiday spirit, green ice treats filled with seafood will
be given to Steller's sea lions,
Julius and Gus.
This will
be Julius'
third year celebrating St. Paddy's Day at the Oregon Zoo,
but the festivities will be a first for newcomer, Gus who arrived
at the zoo in December.
This is the third year that the special St Patrick's Day
enrichment treats have been handed out to zoo residents.
The Oregon Zoo
is known internationally
for its enrichment programs, which provide animals with the
opportunity to play, hunt and forage as they would in the
wild.
Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. General zoo 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.
The zoo is open from
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional information on this event and
other activities at the zoo are available at the zoo's web
site at
www.oregonzoo.org or
by calling 503-220-3687 (recording).
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March
5, 2003
OREGON ZOO RECRUITS NEW ZOOAMBASSADORS
Volunteers discover fun facts about lorikeets and butterflies,
while helping educate visitors about the importance of conservation.
PORTLAND, Ore.- Do you enjoy butterfly watching and hand-feeding
colorful lorikeets? Have you ever wanted to learn more about attracting
local wildlife to your backyard, including birds and butterflies?
The zoo is seeking volunteers to work at least one 3 1/2-hour shift
per week from mid-May to Labor Day.
ZooAmbassadors will provide general animal and exhibit information
to visitors, while spending time with highly-social parrots
in the lorikeet exhibit and colorful butterflies in the butterfly
garden.
According to Oregon Zoo Director, Tony Vecchio, "Being
a ZooAmbassador is a great way to get involved in the care
of some
beautiful birds
and butterflies. Our volunteers also make a difference in
the community by educating the public about the importance
of conservation."
ZooAmbassadors' duties include: talking to zoo visitors;
insuring the safety of the birds and butterflies; monitoring
the exhibit doors
to prevent birds and butterflies from flying away; and
many other duties.
There are many benefits to volunteering. ZooAmbassadors
will meet people who share similar interests and values;
receive free zoo admission
and a complimentary train ride; have the opportunity
to volunteer at zoo concerts; learn about how to attract
local
wildlife; and participate
in training opportunities only available at the zoo.
ZooAmbassadors will be required to attend one orientation
session. The orientation will be offered on the following
days:
Tuesday, April 1, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, April
3, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Friday, April
11, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 19, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Upon
completion of the orientation, ZooAmbassadors will receive ten hours
of training.
The
zoo is seeking families to volunteer. Children ten to 14 can volunteer
with a parent,
while teens 15 and older can volunteer without
one.
The
Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo has one of
the largest zoo volunteer
programs in the
country.
More
than 1,500 individuals
volunteer more than 117,000
hours per year.
Please
RSVP for the date of your choice by calling
503-220-2783
or e-mail communityvolunteer@metro.dst.or.us
