September 2004
September 30 - Zoo invites teachers to free teachers in-service
day October 8
September
28 - "Wild About Zoos" partnership
raises $48,730 for Northwest zoos
September
23 - Oregon Zoo vaccinates condor chick for West Nile Virus.
September
22 - Oregon Zoo celebrates 30 years
of accreditation.
September
20 - Oregon Zoo to host multicultural celebration of animals.
September
14 - Zoo introduces fall animal encounters, featuring animals
from giraffe to grizzly.
September 9 - Seniors honored with free
day at Oregon Zoo.
September
7 - Zoo releases endangered Oregon butterflies to the wild.
View
releases from:
January | February |
March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October |
November | December
Video
Clips
Visayan
Warty Pigs | Flying Reindeer | St.
Patrick's Day
Presents
for Primates | Zoolights | Holiday
Enrichment
Rama's Holiday Trunk Show | Recycling | Pygmy
Rabbit
SuperBowl
September
30, 2004
ZOO
INVITES TEACHERS TO FREE TEACHER IN-SERVICE DAY OCTOBER 8
Teachers are invited to go behind the scenes at the Oregon Zoo and gather teaching
resources and inspiration from the animals during the zoo's FREE Teacher In-Service
Day, Friday, October 8, from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Optional behind the scenes
tours will be offered 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Teachers
can participate in two of seven workshops. Each workshop is geared
toward different grade levels. For example, Catch Kids with Critters
- Animals in Early Childhood Education (grades pre K-2), teaches
new strategies in capturing the attention of young children. Teachers
can also learn how to have a successful field trip during the How
to Use the Zoo - Field Trip Success Stories workshop (grades pre
K-6).
" Past
workshop participants have enjoyed our hands-on approach to science," says
Roger Yerke, zoo education manager. "Teachers learn about the
importance of conservation and the nature of science-its strengths,
weaknesses and surprises."
Workshops
like Suitcase for Survival (grades 5-12) explores a hands-on discovery
kit that features bones, pelts and confiscated animal items. The
kit focuses on the importance of stewardship of endangered species
and the challenges these species face from illegal poaching. Once
teachers have attended the workshop, they can borrow the kit free
of charge.
After
lunch, teachers are free to explore the zoo on their own, or take
advantage of a Behind the Scenes tour of the zoo's elephant exhibit,
or talk with keepers at the zoo's new Eagle Canyon exhibit and Conservation
Lab.
" Once
teachers experience zoo animals firsthand, they will take these experiences
back to the classroom and share their knowledge of animals with their
students," says Yerke.
In addition to meeting the zoo's education staff, teachers can meet with educators
from Forest Discovery Center, Portland Parks, Friends of Tryon Creek and 15
other nature-based organizations-and pick up a FREE curriculum.
Teachers
will receive a 10 percent discount on all educational materials at
the Cascade Outfitters gift shop, including books, puzzles, videos
and computer software.
To
register for the Oregon Zoo's FREE Teacher In-Service Day, Friday,
October 8, log on to www.oregonzoo.org/education. Advance registration
is required as space is limited. For more information, call 503-220-2781
or email moddet@metro.dst.or.us. 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. daily. For additional information,
please visit the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org, or call 503-226-1561.
Schedule:
8 a.m. - Check in, Educator's Marketplace, Refreshments
9:30 a.m. -11 a.m. - Workshop Session 1
11 a.m. -11:15 a.m. - Break
11:15 a.m. -12:45 p.m. - Workshop Session 2
12:30 p.m. - Lunch on your own (dine in one of the restaurants or bring your
own)
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Optional Behind the Scenes Tour
Teachers are invited to go behind the scenes at the Oregon Zoo and draw teaching
inspiration from the animals at the FREE Teacher In-Service Day, Friday, October
8, from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The Oregon Zoo also offers FREE curriculum materials
and workshops during the FREE Teacher In-Service Day on Friday, October 8.
Visit the zoo's Web site for more information or call 503-220-2781.
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September
28, 2004
" WILD ABOUT ZOOS" PARTNERSHIP
RAISES $48,730 FOR NORTHWEST ZOOS
Seattle-based HomeStreet Bank recently contributed
a total of $48,730 to northwest zoos through its "Wild About
Zoos" partnership with Oregon Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
and Woodland Park Zoo. The Oregon Zoo received $12,240 to support
its education and conservation programs, including efforts to save
endangered western pond turtles, Washington pygmy rabbits, Oregon
silverspot butterflies, and other northwest species.
Through "Wild About Zoos," HomeStreet Bank donated $10
to northwest zoos for every new bank account, mortgage, loan, and
insurance policy opened between May 1 and July 31, 2004. HomeStreet
generated 4,873 new accounts in that time, which included 1,224 accounts
in the Portland area. As a result, the minimum financial commitment
of $40,000 to the three zoos was exceeded.
"
HomeStreet Bank has proven to be a great friend to the zoo," according
to Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. "This donation helps fund
many important conservation programs that help save local endangered
species. HomeStreet's commitment to the Oregon Zoo, and our conservation
partners in Washington, directly benefit imperiled and threatened
northwest animals. We'd love to see this worthwhile program continue."
This
is the third year of "Wild About Zoos." Since the
program's inception, HomeStreet has contributed more than $180,000
to zoos, including more than $45,000 to the Oregon Zoo alone.
HomeStreet
Bank's tradition of community involvement dates from its early
years, taking the form of community leadership,
volunteerism,
and charitable contributions. Each year, HomeStreet contributes
two
percent of its annual pre-tax profits to organizations in
its communities. The "Wild About Zoos" partnership
is a major element of the bank's corporate focus on parks and
open spaces.
The
Oregon Zoo's mission is to inspire the community to create a
better future for wildlife. As the largest paid attraction
in the
state of Oregon, the zoo is an effective tool for educating
the public about the value of environmental and cultural
preservation for all
living things. Special promotions, such as "Wild About Zoos," help
fund the zoo's conservation efforts and its environmental stewardship
message.
The Oregon Zoo is a service of Metro. The zoo opens at
9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown
Portland,
just
off Highway
26. General zoo admission is $9 for adults (12-64), $7.50
for seniors (65+), $6 for children (3-11), and children
under 3
are free. Additional
information is available on the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org
or by calling 503-226-1561.
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September
23, 2004
OREGON ZOO VACCINATES CONDOR CHICK FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
With the arrival of the West Nile virus in Oregon, Oregon
Zoo veterinarians have vaccinated its condor chick with a new avian
vaccine.
"
We know West Nile is in parts of Oregon and may soon may be in the
Portland metro area," said zoo veterinarian Dr. Mitch Finnegan. "It's
critical we protect our condor chick."
Finnegan will draw blood from the chick in a month to determine if
antibodies have formed, indicating protection.
Concern among conservationists for threatened and endangered birds,
such as condors, led to the development of the vaccine. With only 247
birds in existence, protecting genetic diversity is critical to the
survival of the species. The loss of even one bird can have a serious
impact on the genetic health of the entire population.
American Bird Conservancy, American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and
Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund led the efforts to develop a West
Nile vaccine for birds. It is hoped that the vaccine will prove an
effective tool for protecting condors.
The vaccine was created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
by microbiologist Jeff Chang and was given to crows before the vaccine
was tested on condors. The vaccine reduced the mortality rate in West
Nile-infected crows by 40 percent. According to Chang, the vaccinated
condors seem to be responding well, with the majority of the roughly
188 birds developing antibodies.
"
As long as there is a detectible antibody, the host will be protected.
That is happening in the majority of the condors now," Chang said. "I
am very sure the condors are going to be well protected because of
this vaccine."
A majority of the condor population has been vaccinated as part of
a study conducted by the CDC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
Aldevron, a biotechnology company that produced the vaccine. The first
condor was vaccinated at the Los Angeles Zoo in October of 2002. The
program has expanded to the other breeding facilities, which includes
the Oregon Zoo. Condors living in the wild will also be vaccinated.
West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. The
virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus can
be devastating to wildlife, especially birds in the corvid family,
which include ravens, crows, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers. The virus
can also infect humans, horses and other mammals. At present, no condor
has tested positive for the virus.
Oregon Zoo's condor facility is located in Clackamas County on Metro-owned
open space. The remoteness of the facility minimizes the exposure of
young condors to people, increasing the chances for captive-hatched
birds to survive and breed in the wild.
Condors have a long history in Oregon. The condor was a common design
motif of the Wasco people, who lived along the Columbia River from
The Dalles to Cascade Locks. The condor was considered a helper to
the native peoples and a key character in many myths.
The last condors were seen in Oregon in 1904, near the town of Drain,
in southwest Oregon. Condors held out a little longer in California,
but in 1987, there were only 17 left in the wild. In an attempt to
save the species, biologists decided to place all the remaining condors
into a captive breeding program. When Congress passed the Endangered
Species Act in 1973, the California condor was one of the original
animals included on the list. Today there are 247 California condors
in captivity and the wild.
The Oregon Zoo is only the third zoo in the nation invited to join
the California Condor Recovery Program. With the first phase of the
breeding facility completed last November, twelve condors arrived from
Program members at the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal
Park and The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise,
Idaho.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire
the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to
conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California
condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Washington
pygmy rabbits, and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies
on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
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September
22, 2004
OREGON ZOO CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF ACCREDITATION
Oregon Zoo is celebrating 30 years of
accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA),
the national organization
of zoo and aquarium professionals in North America. Oregon Zoo was
the second institution to qualify for the honor since accreditation
for such institutions was adopted by AZA at its national conference
held in Portland in 1972. The other qualifying zoo was the Philadelphia
Zoo. The accreditation procedure, which began in November of 1973,
culminated with accreditation being granted in October of 1974.
"
We are proud of our history of accreditation by AZA," said Oregon
Zoo Director, Tony Vecchio. "To be the second zoo to be accredited
says a lot about Oregon Zoo and our deep-rooted desire to provide the
best care for our animals."
The procedure to acquire accreditation began with an extensive questionnaire.
The questionnaire was then submitted to the accreditation commission,
which thoroughly and extensively examined it for acceptability. An
AZA visiting committee then made a comprehensive inspection of the
physical facilities and checked in all areas of management to ensure
that the institution was maintaining the standards necessary to qualify
for accreditation. All aspects of the zoo were scrutinized. Veterinary
care and facilities, financial support, physical facilities for visitors
and staff, and questions about the animal collection were all part
of the accreditation process.
Dr. P.W. Ogilvie, Executive Director of the Portland Zoo, as it was
then named, commented at the time, "Portlanders can take pride
in this national recognition as their zoo strives to provide the quality
facilities the community deserves."
Of the 2800 facilities licensed by the USDA to exhibit animals, only
214 have applied for and received accreditation. Once accredited, AZA
facilities must undergo a review every five years. Oregon Zoo had their
most recent review this summer.
"
They lauded our education division, marketing division, The Oregon
Zoo Foundation, local conservation efforts, and elephant program," said
Vecchio. "The concerns they had were not surprises, and in areas
for which we already have a plan of action."
In their exit interview with Vecchio, the committee made mention of
many 'Points of Particular Achievement.'
" Great staff
"
Appearance of the zoo is "very good, clean, well landscaped, attractive
exhibits"
" Attention to emergency drills and safety training
" " Extraordinary use of interns and volunteers. .
."
" " Catering and food service is excellent."
" Commended efforts to get staff and visitors to use public
transportation
" Strong support received from the Metro Council and The
Oregon Zoo Foundation Board of Directors
Oregon Zoo's accreditation was formally renewed by AZA's accreditation
commission on September 18 at their annual conference in New Orleans.
"
We passed with flying colors and a lot of praise," reported Vecchio.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire
the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to
conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California
condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Washington
pygmy rabbits, and Oregon spotted frogs. Other projects include studies
on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown
Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light
rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged ride MAX or take TriMet bus
#63 to the Oregon Zoo. Call TriMet Customer Service, 238-RIDE
(238-7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General admission is $9 (12-64), seniors $7.50 (65+), children $6 (3-11),
and children under 3 are free. Additional information is available
on the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
Back to Top
September
20, 2004
OREGON ZOO TO HOST MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION OF ANIMALS
World Animal Festival at the Oregon Zoo
is a multicultural celebration of animals, highlighting how animals
have been feared,
revered and celebrated throughout the world. The event, presented by
the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation for seven straight years, is slated
for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25 and 26, then again on Saturday and
Sunday, Oct. 2 and 3. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day
and are free with zoo admission.
"
We're excited to feature animals from our own Northwest region this
year," said Krista Swan, Oregon Zoo event coordinator. "World
Animal Festival is a wonderful way to explore and learn about different
animals here at the zoo and how they have influenced different cultures,
beliefs, and customs."
Throughout the festival's two weekends, local cultural groups will
present their versions of animal folklore to zoo guests in a variety
of ways, including art and craft exhibits, storytelling, performance
art, and live music at the Entry Plaza and the Main Stage. In addition,
activity areas around zoo grounds will feature take-home crafts such
as animal quilt squares or family crests, games like Puma Pounce, educational
activities and interactive displays. Visitors may also collect stamps
in their World Animal Festival passport for a prize.
"
It is Weyerhaeuser's pleasure again this year to invite families from
Oregon and southwest Washington to this fun and educational event," said
Nancy Arend, vice president for Weyerhaeuser's appearance wood business
and a member of the Oregon Zoo's board of directors. "For Weyerhaeuser,
protecting wildlife habitat is key to our sustainable forestry and
sustainable business practices. This event is a perfect fit for us
in that it celebrates wildlife diversity, and what we can do collectively
to sustain wildlife populations around the world."
Entertainment highlights include:
9/25: Chata Addy, Radio Disney, Sister Caravan
9/26: Chinese Lion Dancers, Portland Conservatory of Music, Njuzo Mbira
10/2: Juliet Wyers, Raz - Persian Music, Birds of Prey
10/3: Mythobolous Mask theatre & workshop
World Animal Festival is free with general zoo admission.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to
inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed
to
conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California
condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Washington
pygmy rabbits, and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies
on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown
Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX
light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take
TriMet bus
#63 to the Oregon Zoo. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE
(7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General admission is $9 (12-64), seniors $7.50 (65+), children $6
(3-11), and children under 3 are free. Additional information is
available
on the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
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September
14, 2004
ZOO INTRODUCES FALL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, FEATURING GIRAFFE TO GRIZZLY.
Fall Behind the Scenes Encounters available through November.
Animal lovers who have ever dreamed of working at a zoo
can get one step closer through programs at the Oregon Zoo. Behind
the Scenes Encounters provide guests with an insider's glimpse into
the lives of the zoo's most interesting inhabitants. There are only
10-15 spots available for each tour, so register early.
Through Behind the Scenes Encounters, guests explore areas not normally
accessible to the public and learn about the animals directly from
zoo staff. Some encounters even offer hands-on activities with the
animals, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
"
Our tours offer up-close experiences with animals from around the world," says
Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Having the chance to encounter a
16-foot-tall giraffe or a 600-pound grizzly within just a few feet
is something you'll never forget."
Many of the encounters involve helping with the Oregon Zoo's innovative
and internationally renowned animal enrichment program. Enrichment
is designed to keep the animals mentally and physically active, just
as they are in the wild.
"
Enrichment activities are designed to keep animals moving and thinking-and
they're a blast to watch," says Charis Henrie, education program
coordinator.
Behind the Scenes Encounters are enriching for the visitors as well,
creating an appreciation for animals through one-of-a-kind experiences.
Visitors and their families learn about the animals through personal
interactions. Encounter offerings change quarterly so there is always
something new to see and do at the zoo.
BEHIND THE SCENES ENCOUNTERS
Behind the Scenes Encounters allow guests to see what lies behind closed
doors and meet animal care staff. Questions are answered during the
one-hour tour as guests discover the rewards and challenges of caring
for wild animals. Behind the Scenes Encounters are for guests ages
12 and up. Prices are $34 for zoo members and $40 for non-members.
Grizzly Encounter, September 18, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn how the zoo's
environmental enrichment efforts help one of the largest predators
in North America stay physically and mentally active. Help hide enrichment
treats around the exhibit and watch as the grizzly hunts for his morning
snacks.
Polar Bear Encounter, September 26, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn about
the powerful polar bears, Conrad, Tasul and Yugyan. Help prepare
some bear-sized
toys and treats for these Arctic natives and watch them play and
swim together.
"
Watching a bear smash a barrel of fish in a skimmer box is a blast," says
Marine Life Keeper JoEllen Marshall. "We can't offer the bears
seals, their natural prey, but we can challenge them with other
items, like pickle barrels. Bears and participants give the tours
a big
paws up!"
Flooded Forest Encounter, November 7, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Get a chance
to meet Judi Agouti (a very cute, cat-sized South American rodent).
You'll also meet the other furry and feathered residents of the Amazon
Flooded Forest. The saki and howler monkeys may even come over to
say hello. You'll also discover some of the challenges keepers encounter
with so many animals sharing a space.
Feline Encounter, November 13, 8 a.m.-9 a.m. A chance to get up-close
to a few really big cats. Join keepers as they hide treats for our
feline friends. Learn how important it is to keep these beautiful
animals physically fit and mentally active.
VIP BEHIND THE SCENES ENCOUNTERS
VIP Encounters offer 90 up-close minutes with animal care staff and
animals. Prices are $85 for zoo members and $100 for non-members.
Participants must be 14 or over.
Giraffe VIP Encounter, October 9, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Visit with the
zoo's tallest residents and learn about their biology in the wild
and their special care in zoos. Talk with keepers about the innovative
giraffe barn; tour the stalls and hand-feed the giraffes.
"
You can't imagine how tall a giraffe is until you've stood next to
one," explains Africa Keeper Anna Michel.
FAMILY ENCOUNTERS
Behind the Scenes Family Encounters allow children 8-13 (accompanied
by an adult) to go behind closed doors to meet staff. During the
hour tour, guests discover the rewards and challenges of caring for
wild
animals. Member prices for family encounters are $50 for two people
and $25 for each additional person. Non-member prices are $60 for
two people and $30 for each additional person.
Elephant Family Encounter, September 18, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Meet and
feed Chendra, the zoo's smallest elephant. Learn about her life in
Malaysia
and how the orphaned elephant has been accepted into the zoo's family
of elephants.
Wolf Family Encounter, October 24, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Don't be afraid
of the big bad wolf. Wolves have been given a dreadful reputation
in stories for years. Come and discover the real story of wolves.
How
they get along together, how they hunt, and how they survive in many
different habitats. Join us and find out how wrong Little Red Riding
Hood really was!
Bats Family Encounter, October 30, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Happy Halloween!
Get a glimpse behind the scenes of the bat cave. Learn about fruit
bat ecology, discover little known bat facts and find out how bats
are managed in zoos. Help prepare a mid-morning snack for our flying-mammal
friends and maybe even see the breeding group off exhibit.
For more information please visit www.oregonzoo.org or call 503-220-2781.
Gift certificates for Behind the Scenes Encounters are also available.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to
inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed
to
conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California
condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Washington
pygmy rabbits, and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies
on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown
Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX
light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take
TriMet bus
#63 to the Oregon Zoo. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE
(7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General admission is $9 (12-64), seniors $7.50 (65+), children $6
(3-11), and children under 3 are free. Additional information is
available
on the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
Back to Top
September
9, 2004
SENIORS HONORED WITH FREE DAY AT OREGON ZOO
Seniors, and one companion, can let their inner child
out at the Oregon Zoo during the 29th annual Senior Safari, Tuesday,
Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by Providence Health Plan,
Senior Safari has been planned with seniors in mind.
Seniors can begin their day at the zoo with complimentary coffee and
donuts (while supplies last).
Special activities and entertainment throughout the day include free
train rides, animal chats, animal feedings, petting zoo and bird displays,
as well as dancing and vocal ensembles. Reasonably priced lunch options
will also be available.
Providence Home and Community Services will provide wheelchairs free
of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Numbers are limited,
so persons needing a wheelchair are urged to bring their own if possible.
Volunteers will be available to assist with wheelchair navigation.
Representatives from Providence Medicare Extra Ambassadors, Providence
Rehabilitation Services, Providence Health Plans, Providence Health
System and Oregon ZooGuides will help with the day's activities.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire
the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to
conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California
condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Washington
pygmy rabbits, and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies
on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown
Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light
rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus
#63 to the Oregon Zoo. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433),
or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General admission is $9 (12-64), seniors $7.50 (65+), children $6 (3-11),
and children under 3 are free. Additional information is available
on the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
Back to Top
September
7, 2004
MEDIA
ALERT
Editor's note: For dramatic video of endangered butterflies being released
at Cascade Head near Lincoln City, please contact Bill at lamarcheb@metro.dst.or.us.
Digital images are also available.
Who: Butterfly Conservationist Mary Jo Andersen of the Oregon Zoo will
highlight northwest butterflies, and what the zoo is doing to save
these delicate creatures from extinction.
What: Andersen talks about the recent release of endangered butterflies
at Cascade Head near Lincoln City, and the arrival of egg-laying butterflies-critical
for captive rearing.
Where: Oregon Zoo's butterfly conservation lab. Meet at Gate D and
dial 448 on phone pad near zoo administration door.
When: Thursday, September 9, 2004, from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Why: To protect rare butterflies from certain extinction.
Photo Op: See female Oregon silverspot butterflies, which are currently
laying eggs, as well as the laboratory that makes this entire project
possible. Digital video of butterflies being released into the wild
will also be available.
ZOO EXPANDS EFFORTS TO SAVE RARE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BUTTERFLIES
The
Oregon Zoo has increased the number of threatened butterfly species
it is rearing three-fold. The zoo is aggressively
trying to save the Taylor's checkerspot, the Mardon skipper, and the
Oregon silverspot butterflies from extinction.
For five years the zoo has worked with Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo,
Washington State Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and, this year, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, to
conserve the Oregon silverspot and stabilize the declining butterfly
population on the Oregon coast. This year, the zoo has added two new
butterfly species, successfully rearing Taylor's checkerspots and Mardon
skippers in the zoo's butterfly lab.
"
Our expanded butterfly conservation efforts are being seen more and
more as part of the new zoo ethic," said Mary Jo Andersen, butterfly
conservationist. "It's becoming quite common for zoos to work
outside their traditional captive programs to aid in the protection
of species in their natural habitat."
The zoo has raised more than 130 Mardon skippers, 250 Taylor's checkerspots
and 90 Oregon silverspots this year.
Andersen collects eggs from female butterflies to ensure the continuation
of the zoo's captive-rearing program. The females are obtained from
their natural habitat and induced to lay their eggs in the zoo's butterfly
lab. The eggs are collected daily, and put into petri dishes, where
they hatch into tiny larvae.
"
Each larva is only about two millimeters long," according to Andersen. "When
you observe them under a microscope, you can see that they are a perfect
miniature caterpillar."
The Taylor's checkerspot butterfly is listed as critically imperiled
in Oregon and is a federal species of concern. Its usual habitat is
along the coast, from mid-Washington to northern California, in places
such as coastal bluffs and islands on rainshadow turf. Only four populations
remain, and three contain fewer than 50 individuals. The 251 larvae
now at the zoo's lab are in diapause (hibernation for insects) until
March, when they will wake and grow into pupae and be released back
into the wild in Washington.
The Mardon skipper is endangered in Washington, imperiled in Oregon,
and a federal candidate for the endangered species list. This butterfly
tends to live in glacier outwash or mounded prairies and is usually
found throughout Washington, including the southern Puget trough. The
population of Mardon skippers is small and declining rapidly. The zoo
is working to determine the best method for rearing eggs. Twenty-four
larvae have hatched at the zoo, each about 1 millimeter in length.
The Oregon silverspot butterfly is listed as threatened under the U.S.
Endangered Species Act. It was once found in coastal grasslands from
northern California to southern Washington, but has disappeared from
all but a handful of sites along the Oregon coast due to habitat loss
and the disappearance of its host plant, the western blue violet. The
zoo has reared silverspots for five years, releasing the rare butterflies
at Cascade Head near Lincoln City, Oregon to help boost the population.
The Oregon Zoo will soon begin breeding the endangered Fender's Blue
butterfly, which is native to Willamette Valley grasslands. Fender's
Blue caterpillar feeds only on one host plant known as the Kincaid's
lupine, which is also endangered. Like the blue violet for the Oregon
silverspot butterfly, the endangered Kincaid's lupine is also being
raised at the zoo.
According to Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director, butterfly populations
throughout North America are in decline, with 22 butterfly species
listed as either endangered or threatened. To address this problem,
the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), five other partner
organizations, and 49 zoos, aquariums, and nature centers from around
the U.S. and Canada have formed the Butterfly Conservation Initiative
(BFCI). The BFCI is designed to bring together non-governmental organizations
and government agencies to aid the recovery of imperiled North American
butterflies.
The Oregon Zoo's butterfly restoration efforts were greatly enhanced
through the creation of a new butterfly research lab. The lab was funded
through a $16,100 grant from the AZA and has enabled the zoo to raise
rare Pacific Northwest caterpillars and chrysalises.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire
the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to
conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California
condors, three species of northwest butterflies, western pond turtles,
Washington pygmy rabbits, and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include
studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.
The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown
Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light
rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus
#63 to the Oregon Zoo. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433),
or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.
General admission is $9 (12-64), seniors $7.50 (65+), children $6 (3-11),
and children under 3 are free. Additional information is available
on the zoo's Web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
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