Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR - www.oregonzoo.org
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Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR - www.oregonzoo.org |
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Press
Kits: Press
Releases: NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release, not the date of the event.
April
28, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- What is the common theme between a shoemaker, a postman, an owl and a passionflower? All four are tropical butterflies at the Oregon Zoo's Winged Wonders exhibit, opening May 20 and running through Labor Day. Grand opening activities are on Sunday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
" I'm always surprised how such a small and delicate creature can have such a huge impact on our visitors," says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "People love butterflies. We received so many impassioned E-mails asking for us to bring back tropical butterflies -- what could we do?" The exhibit opens with more than 450 Central and South American butterflies, including royal blues, Aglaura olivewings, Costa Rica clearwings, false malachites and others. Butterflies are sometimes attracted to bright colors, and visitors should dress accordingly. " Butterflies sometimes mistake a colorful shirt for a flower," says Vecchio. "When these beautiful butterflies land on children or adults, the exhibit is the most magical place at the zoo." The Aglaura olivewing has velvety black coloring with large blue stripes on the upper surface of its wings. It ranges from southern Mexico to Colombia. The Costa Rica clearwing, also called a glasswing, has mostly translucent wings with unique black veining, and ranges from Mexico to Panama. The false malachite, which has large patches of translucent green on its wings, ranges from Mexico to the Amazon Basin. Before leaving the butterfly exhibit, visitors can view a display where dozens of pupae develop and grow. Butterflies that emerge from these pupae are released into the exhibit. " It still amazes me that every day visitors can watch these beautiful creatures eclose from the pupal stage to become butterflies," said Mary Jo Andersen, butterfly keeper. "I feel lucky to witness something day after day that very few people get to see in the wild." Visitors can learn more about butterflies at the exhibit's interpretive center, where hands-on activities show how a butterfly uses its senses of sight, smell and taste. A display highlighting the zoo's field conservation projects with endangered Oregon silverspot and Taylor's checkerspot butterflies is also featured. The display describes how the zoo rears endangered butterflies and explains the life cycle of wild butterflies. Lastly, visitors can learn how to make their own backyards more butterfly-friendly by planting herbs such as fennel and dill to attract the caterpillars of species such as black swallowtail and anise swallowtail. They also learn about the importance of butterfly-attracting nectar plants like asters, zinnia and yarrow -- and the need for sunlight, water, shelter and avoiding pesticides. The tropical butterfly exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and runs through Labor Day. Admission is $2. Web visitors can learn more about butterflies at http://www.oregonzoo.org/Butterfly/moreinfo.htm. Zoo helps save rare butterflies and more. The Oregon Zoo and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) have joined 34 zoos and aquariums from around the country to form the Butterfly Conservation Initiative. The Initiative is designed to bring together government and non-government agencies to aid in the recovery of imperiled North American butterflies. The Oregon Zoo and AZA are committed to butterfly conservation. A portion of the proceeds from the Oregon Zoo's butterfly exhibit helps support the zoo's butterfly education and conservation efforts. April
28, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon Episcopal School's Lego physics classes present an original display of their computerized Lego masterpieces in the Oregon Zoo's Elephant Museum, May 20-21, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is the ninth year the school has displayed its Lego creations, which demonstrate physics principles in a fun and imaginative way. This year's display, organized around the theme "Pete and Packy Go to the Winter Olympics," includes a "Lego Logo Board" bringing together 15 detailed and motorized constructions designed and built by students to honor the zoo's famous rhino and elephant. Students will be on hand to operate all their constructions, and visitors can try out highlights such as a remote-controlled bowling rhino, a car that follows a tape line, and the Squiggle pen. " These are great kids building great contraptions," said Jane Kenney-Norberg, Lego physics instructor. "I stress constantly to the kids that they are representing themselves, their families and their school -- and that once they've done a zoo show, people will recognize them out in the real world. That certainly makes them pull it together!" The display has been designed and constructed entirely by students in the school's Lego physics classes, which cover several grade levels. Eighty advanced Lego "engineers" between the ages of 8 and 15 will demonstrate what they've built. Many of the designs feature motors, some have programmable bricks, and some are controlled by sensors and computers. " Lego physics" teaches principles of simple mechanics, engineering, computer programming, and high-level troubleshooting. Not only do the kids design and build all the constructions, but they devise the "story," and then execute it by programming each construction using two incompatible computers and four Robolab RCX bricks. They must devise a way for the three systems to work together to present the whole sequence. For the past four years, Oregon Episcopal School has been invited to the Oregon State Fair in Salem to display their Logo Board, and the fair has already requested a return appearance Aug. 25-26. Legomania is free with regular zoo admission. April
25, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ever since they were born, she has loved, nurtured and protected her children. She's fed them nutritious foods, such as sage brush, carrion and regurgitated fish, and taught them important life lessons, such as how to build burrow, fly off a cliff and swim through chilly waters. Although this might not sound like a typical mom in the human world, it is everyday life for mothers at the Oregon Zoo.
The finalists were selected by zoo employees from an initial list of 12 zoo moms. "Employees really let their emotions show with their votes," said Vecchio. "They not only cast their votes, but write explanations of why their choices should win." On-line votes will be accepted through Thursday, May 11, at 5 p.m. The zoo will announce the 2006 Zoo Mother of the Year on Friday, May 12.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 503-525-4299. Zoo admission is not included in the price of the brunch; however, zoo admission is not required to attend the brunch. April
21, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Back in 1998, the Portland Art Museum opened a blockbuster exhibit titled "The Wonders of Ancient Egypt." Not to be outdone, the Oregon Zoo unveils its own Egyptian epic with the May 5 debut of "Acomys Cahirinus" (pronounced uh-SO-miss suh-he-RYE-nus).
" With their foxlike faces, enormous ears and big, round, black eyes, they can be a little intimidating," says Gilbert Gomez, assistant zoological curator. "They're very active creatures, and males can be somewhat aggressive and downright dangerous to each other. We'll really have to watch them closely." Females of the species are good mothers and sometimes act as "surrogate moms," according to Gomez. "Females often help other females give birth and even nurse their babies," he says. The zoo has not decided if babies are in its future. To help Acomys Cahirinus feel more at home, the zoo's staff has decorated the outside of the exhibit with hieroglyphics, scarabs and a depiction of the Egyptian god Horus. April
19, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon Zoo showcases Oregon wildflowers and their vital role in the web of life during Celebrating Wildflowers, Sunday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management, highlights the interdependence of Oregon plants and wildlife through fun, family-friendly activities, and is free with zoo admission. " Wildflowers and other native plants are critical to a healthy ecosystem," says Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. "Their vital role is often taken for granted. This event, while involving people with conservation programs, highlights the importance of wildflowers in ways that are fun and exciting for both children and adults."
This year, Celebrating Wildflowers visitors can help create an actual flower garden at Winged Wonders, the zoo's seasonal butterfly exhibit. Hundreds of native plants and flowers will be planted in the butterfly habitat to prepare for the exhibit's May 21 grand re-opening. Other special activities include craft- and paper-making, seed planting and face painting. " People who are concerned about the environment often lament that there is nothing they can do to help wildlife," says Vecchio. "During this event, visitors learn what they can do in their own backyards to make a difference." Celebrating Wildflowers complements Metro's new Nature in Neighborhoods initiative, a region-wide conservation effort that brings people and government together to ensure a healthy urban ecosystem. The initiative aims to protect clean water and healthy natural areas for fish, wildlife and people. Celebrating Wildflowers is an annual event that emphasizes the importance of conservation and management of native plants and their habitats. The event highlights the aesthetic, recreational, biological, medicinal and economic values of wildflowers. For more information about Celebrating Wildflowers nationwide, visit www.nps.gov/plants/cw/. April
19, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- On Saturday morning, the first California condor chick of the year hatched at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation. The chick is the fourth condor to hatch in Oregon. Once grown, the condor will join 129 free-flying condors in the wild.
About three hours after the chick hatched, Tama gave her chick its first feeding. "The chick's response was very good," said Shawn St. Michael, assistant condor curator. "It reached enthusiastically up to its mother for food." Later that evening, Mandan saw the chick for the first time when he relieved Tama on the nest. St. Michael reported the father appeared to lovingly embrace the chick in his outstretched wings without hesitation. The egg was laid Feb. 16 and was left with the parents for about a week to incubate naturally. It was then carefully removed by keepers to check for its viability. The egg remained in an incubator for about seven weeks until it pipped last Wednesday evening. That same night, bird keepers replaced the "dummy" egg that the parents had been sitting on with the real egg.
The first physical will occur when the chick is about a month old. The zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation is located in Clackamas County on Metro-owned open space. The remote facility is designed to minimize the exposure of young condors to people in order to increase the chances for captive-hatched birds to survive and breed in the wild. Oregon Zoo joined the prestigious California Condor Recovery Program in 2003. The zoo currently has 17 condors and released one condor to the wild last year. The zoo's original 16 condors came from team 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 Oregon Zoo's goal is to eventually produce up to 32 young a year. The condor recovery goal is to establish a captive population of 150 birds and two separate wild populations of condors, one in California and the other in Arizona. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Condor Recovery Program coordinate and implement the recovery program and provide oversight of all program partners. Wild condors were last seen in Oregon in 1904, near the southwest town of Drain. Condors held out a little longer in California, but by 1987 only 27 birds were left. In an attempt to save the species, biologists removed the remaining condors from the wild and placed them in 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 approximately 275 California condors in captivity and in the wild. April
18, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- As the school year ends, many kids look forward to long summer days filled with swimming, biking, skateboarding and trips to the beach. The last thing they may think about is safety. To kick off National Safe Kids Week, the Oregon Zoo is hosting its eighth annual Oregon Safe Kids Day on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., sponsored by the Oregon Safe Kids Coalition.
" We're partnering with the Oregon Safe Kids Coalition again this year, because it's critical we educate parents about the importance of water safety," says Krista Swan, zoo event coordinator. "Oregon is famous for its summer recreational opportunities, and we want children to have a safe and fun summer." Safe Kids Day will provide parents, caregivers and children the opportunity to learn about safety through interactive exhibits, prizes, safety tips and hands-on activities. Ten safety stations will be set up around the zoo in a "safety safari." Stations will provide tips in areas such as firearm, poison, transportation, helmet and fire safety. Everyone who completes the safari will have a chance to win prizes, such as bike helmets, knee pads, reflectors and other fun safety-related gear. At the water safety station, kids will learn the importance of wearing life jackets around rivers and streams. Ocean safety will also be touched upon, as kids learn about the dangers of sneaker waves and logs, and why they should always keep an eye on the ocean. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14 and the leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. Each summer, more than 2,500 children die from injuries that could have been prevented. These tragedies peak during the summer when children are supervised less, have more free time and engage in more outdoor activities. Oregon Safe Kids is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, which is dedicated to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury. Communities throughout Oregon have planned safety events during the spring and summer. For more information about the Safe Kids program, please visit www.safekids.org. April
17, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Tickets for the Oregon Zoo's Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer will be available for purchase Friday, April 21, both on-line and through TicketsWest. The series enters its 28th year with 18 performances during June, July and August, including shows by Chris Isaak, Shawn Colvin, Etta James, Indigo Girls and Bruce Hornsby. Performances take place on the zoo's park-like concert lawn.
In 1979, the Oregon Zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a summer concert series. Since then, the series has become one of the top outdoor events in the Northwest, and is the region's longest-running outdoor series. Wells Fargo has sponsored the series since 1996. "Through Wells Fargo's continued support, the zoo is able to bring a variety of nationally renowned musicians to Portland," says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Besides being a family-friendly series for the community, a portion of the proceeds helps support endangered species." Last year, many of the zoo shows sold out, attracting more than 60,000 concertgoers and generating more than $425,000 through the series. These concert revenues support the zoo's efforts to save threatened and endangered species such as Northwest butterflies, western pond turtles, Washington pygmy rabbits and California condors. This year Fred Meyer has become a presenting sponsor of the series. Since 1977, the company has provided leadership and support to the zoo with sponsorships of Rabbit Romp, WAZOO, and the Valentine Poetry Contests. The Fred Meyer Foundation has provided grants to purchase a new van for the educational outreach programs and, in 2004, provided a grant to support ZAP, Zoo Animal Presenters. "The Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series provides great family events in a venue that we are very fortunate to have," says Melinda Merrill, director of Public Affairs at Fred Meyer Stores. "Fred Meyer is thrilled to help bring these concerts to our customers and the community." "The zoo is very pleased Fred Meyer has provided additional support for the series," adds Vecchio. "Through Fred Meyer's support, the series will be even more successful and will help fund important outreach programs such as the Head Start ZooMobile and the senior ZooMobile -- both of which the zoo brings to the public free of charge." All tickets are general admission and prices range from $9.50 to $26. Zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. Wednesday show tickets are only available on the day of the show and are free for Oregon Zoo members at the "Plus" level or higher. All other tickets are can be purchased starting at 9 a.m. on April 21. Tickets will be available online at www.oregonzoo.org, at all TicketsWest ticket outlets, and by calling TicketsWest at 503-224-8499. You can also purchase them at the zoo with no service charge. Beginning April 20, Web visitors can view the complete concert schedule, read artists biographies or purchase tickets by visiting www.oregonzoo.org. April
14, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Since 2000, the Oregon Zoo has welcomed record crowds and continues to be the most visited fee-based attraction in Oregon. Even with strong attendance and revenues, the zoo is facing fiscal challenges such as the increased cost of utilities.
Metro (the zoo's governing agency) and the Oregon Zoo Foundation board are creating the Oregon Zoo Future Vision Committee, made up of business and government leaders. The committee will explore the zoo's future and develop a master plan to address programming and operating goals. The committee is being asked to serve on a short-term basis, beginning in mid-April 2006 and concluding June 30, 2007. "We're embarking upon the biggest planning effort for the zoo's future that has been done in the last 15 years," says Metro Councilor Brian Newman, who is co-chairing the visioning committee. "It's time we took a real critical look at the zoo, similar to what we're doing with our planning efforts for Metro's New Look." Zoo exhibits and the overall industry have changed significantly in the past decade, but the Oregon Zoo's master plan, which guides improvements and programming, was written in 1990. The plan is no longer considered a relevant guide to the future of the zoo, according to Oregon Zoo Foundation Board President Penny Serrurier of Stoel Rives LLP, the visioning committee's other co-chair. "It's clear we need a new operating model," says Newman, "a model that looks closely at our physical site planning, but also takes into account our operational needs, our revenue stream and our expenses. We need for the zoo to operate in a more entrepreneurial and innovative manner while maintaining the rigorous standards required by our public agency." The committee will make recommendations to update the zoo's master plan, improve the zoo's conservation and environmental education programs and initiate operating reforms to address the zoo's fiscal challenges. Metro staff will serve as technical and administrative support to the committee and provide background information. The vision committee is made up of executives from successful companies, including Friends of the Children-National, Nike, PGE, Shiels Obletz Johnsen, Stoel Rives LLP, Tonkon Torp LLP and Wells Fargo. The committee is also made up of Metro leaders, including Councilor Brian Newman (co-chair), President David Bragdon and Councilor Robert Liberty. The Future Vision Committee is charged with making recommendations to strengthen and improve the Oregon Zoo in ways that are consistent with its conservation and environmental education mission. The vision committee will advise the Metro Council and the Oregon Zoo Foundation on the following questions: - What should the Oregon Zoo be like in 10 years? - How should the institution change to reflect public tastes, interests and needs? - How can the zoo better achieve its mission of "inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife"? - What changes need to be made in the Oregon Zoo's master plan, programming and operations to ensure its future success and stability? Related to those questions, the vision committee will make recommendations on the following: - An update of the Oregon Zoo's master plan to guide physical improvements and new exhibits at the zoo for the next decade. Specifically, the master plan must be designed to be fiscally and environmentally sustainable and responsive to input from zoo members, patrons and the public. The zoo should continue to inspire and entertain visitors in ways that are consistent with its conservation and environmental education mission. The plan will include a realistic phasing and financing strategy for implementation and operations. Financing strategies could include operating levies, general obligation or revenue bonds, federal and state grants, private fundraising from foundations, businesses and individuals, new enterprise activities, and other financing mechanisms. - Changes and improvements to the Oregon Zoo's conservation and environmental education programming. This may include expanding and/or creating new program activities while reducing and/or eliminating others, as well as identifying new partnerships and financing strategies to fund program activities. - A new operations plan and business model to stabilize the Oregon Zoo's day-to-day maintenance and operations in light of challenging fiscal trends. The committee will look at reducing costs and increasing revenue in order to stabilize the zoo's finances and should include recommendations on how to make the zoo operations more entrepreneurial in nature. Metro Council is committed in re-envisioning the zoo. In Metro's '06-'07 budget, Council President David Bragdon proposed $250,000 for the overhaul of zoo's strategic business and master plans. April
13, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- "You don't know what you've got till it's gone," sings Joni Mitchell in her 1970s hit "Big Yellow Taxi." "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." Well, the Oregon Zoo is bringing a little paradise back to its parking lot, with the help of a city-secured $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The city-owned parking lot, which serves the Oregon Zoo, the World Forestry Center and the Portland Children's Museum, is returning to a more natural state. Spaces between rows are being widened, but no individual parking spots are being eliminated. Pavement and curbing between rows of parking are being removed and replaced with a drainage layer and native plants and trees. "The landscape improvements should be very dramatic," says Newman. "Non-native plants are being replaced with native trees, which should greatly improve the appearance of the parking lot." The planted areas will also function as stormwater planters that store water and slowly release it back into the sewer system. Stormwater runoff that isn't properly managed flows over streets and other hard surfaces and washes dirt, chemicals and other pollutants into rivers and streams. The landscaped parking lot planters will collect and slow runoff as native plants and soil filter pollutants. "Not so long ago managing stormwater meant putting it into a pipe and forgetting about it," says Sam Adams, the Portland City Commissioner in charge of Environmental Services. "This is an innovative project that manages runoff on site and dramatically reduces the damage stormwater runoff can cause to the environment," Adams says. The parking lot planter will also reduce the amount of stormwater that flows into the combined sewer system that serves the area. A combined sewer carries both sewage from homes and businesses and stormwater runoff from streets and other hard surfaces. When it rains, combined sewers fill to capacity and some of the sewage and stormwater mixture overflows into the Willamette River. By reducing the amount of runoff that flows to the combined sewer, the parking lot planters will help reduce these combined sewer overflow (CSO) events. The project is the result of a stormwater retrofit and reuse analysis by Environmental Services and local landscape design firm GreenWorks. Based on this analysis, the city and the zoo developed and prioritized a list of desired innovative improvements that would educate the public about alternative stormwater use and treatment. The city secured $200,000 in funding from the EPA (transferred to Metro through an intergovernmental agreement), and is coordinating a Portland Parks & Recreation effort to provide native plantings. At least half of the EPA funding will be spent on improvements to the parking lot itself. The remainder will be used for projects aimed at capturing additional stormwater runoff on zoo grounds, including a proposed wetland planter water feature to filter water and minimize runoff down pathways. "The zoo is a conservation organization, so we're constantly looking for ways that we can walk our talk," says Newman. "Our Eagle Canyon walking paths are made from a porous concrete, so rainwater drains into the ground, rather than into our overburdened sewer system." The zoo's conservation ethic can be seen in its everyday activities. The zoo recycles 65 percent of its waste stream and uses eco-friendly building protocols. "We continually strive to do the right thing when it comes to the environment," says Newman. Today Adams, Newman, Environmental Services Director Dean Marriott and Joel Salter of the EPA's Oregon Operations Office helped volunteers and school children plant native grass and trees in one of the completed parking lot drainage areas. The zoo and the city are organizing another volunteer planting day on Saturday, May 13 to finish planting the rest of the drainage areas. People interested in volunteering can call 503-226-1561, Ext. 5654 to register and to get more information. The Bureau of Environmental Services provides city residents with Clean River programs including water quality protection, wastewater collection and treatment, and sewer installation. This project is part of the Environmental Services Sustainable Stormwater Program and is funded by an EPA Innovative Wet Weather Program grant. The project is a good example of how existing impervious areas can be effectively retrofitted to enhance watershed health. More information about the Sustainable Stormwater Program is available at www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=34598. April
10, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Those looking for a South American adventure on the Amazon or an "Out of Africa" experience can explore travel opportunities at the Oregon Zoo's Wild World Tours preview, Sunday, April 30. The event takes place in the zoo's Skyline Room at 4 p.m.
From April 25 to May 4, 2007, Oregon Zoo Conservation Manager Anne Warner leads an adventure up the largest river in the world, the Amazon. Travelers board a ship handcrafted to match the style of an early 19th-century vessel, but outfitted with 21st-century amenities. Discover the diverse wildlife teeming along the river while visiting a riverbank village or hiking through the jungle. Look for gray and pink Amazon River dolphins swimming alongside the ship, monkeys frolicking in the trees or sloths hanging from jungle branches. And, of course, the Amazon is a bird-watcher's paradise: One-fifth of the world's bird species are located in and around this historic passage. From Oct. 5 to Oct. 17, 2007, return with the zoo to Africa -- this time to Kenya. Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio leads travelers past the equator to the Samburu Reserve, home to wildlife rarely found anywhere else in Kenya. See the toothy yawn of a hippo on Lake Naivasha and the dazzling number of flamingos lining the shores of Lake Nakuru. Explore the rolling grasslands of the Maasai Mara in the Serengeti, home to lion, cheetah, elephant, leopard, black rhino, zebra and hippo. As with the Amazon, Kenya is bird-watcher's paradise, with more than 500 resident bird species. Travelers get the chance to meet with conservation researchers from Save the Elephants and the Cheetah Conservation Fund. To R.S.V.P. for the complimentary informative presentation, call 503-220-5770 or e-mail lamoras@metro.dst.or.us by Monday, April 24. Information about the preview and tours are available on the zoo's Web site at http://www.oregonzoo.org/Involved/travel.htm. April
7, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Bear biologist Chris Morgan claims to have never been treed by a bear, despite having studied the creatures for more than 15 years. He has, however, been treed by a moose.
Morgan has studied bears from the Arctic to Scandinavia, but will focus on the Northwest when he speaks at the Oregon Zoo on April 25 at 7 p.m. His lecture, titled "Grizzly Bears of the North Cascades," is part of the zoo's 2006 Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series, which this year is focusing on conservation efforts here in the Pacific Northwest. Pro Photo Supply is the presenting sponsor for the series. Grizzly bears occupy a revered place in the American imagination. They are part of the Western mythology -- wandering through mountain forests, fierce and powerful, inspiring awe and fear in equal measure. After being pushed to the brink of extinction in the 1970s, grizzly populations are on the rebound -- especially in places like Yellowstone Park where conservation efforts have been the most focused. But as bear populations begin to come back, the bears themselves come into conflict with the human population, whose fear of the creatures threatens their recovery. "In conservation circles, there are animals called 'charismatic species,' " says Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio. "These are animals that really capture the public's imagination. In the American West, few species can compare with the grizzly bear when it comes to public interest." The public's interest in bears has allowed Chris Morgan to spend his career focusing on just one animal. As a bear expert, he plays many roles. Morgan is the director of Insight Wildlife Management in Bellingham, Washington. He also travels around the region speaking to audiences about managing bear populations in the Northwest as part of the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project, of which he is co-director. His audiences range from scientific experts to ranchers concerned about their livestock. Morgan teaches part time at Western Washington University, and also creates conservation programs for Canopy, an organization that encourages private-sector involvement in environmental conservation. The Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series is presented by Pro Photo Supply and receives additional support from New Belgium Brewing, Southwest Airlines, Portland General Electric and Shiels Obletz Johnsen. Hosts for the series are the Audubon Society of Portland, the Oregon Zoo and the World Forestry Center. Lectures will be held in the zoo's Banquet Center and begin at 7 p.m. Cost for each lecture: $10 for nonmembers; $8 for members of host organizations, students or seniors. The motivation for the lecture series is the hope that community knowledge will be raised in the areas of wildlife conservation, environmental problems and ecological systems. The lecture series concludes on May 30, when conservation biologist Dennis Sizemore presents his lecture titled "The Taku River: A Generation With the Taku River Tlingit First Nation." Sizemore talks about the importance of establishing mutual trust with native peoples when working on conservation projects, and how large-scale wilderness preservation and community development is not always mutually exclusive. April
6, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore.-Oregon Zoo is throwing an elephant-sized party to celebrate the species that made it famous. Elephantastic, sponsored by Haggen Food & Pharmacy, is a two-day celebration of Asian elephants. The event is slated for April 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to coincide with the birthday of Packy, the zoo's most famous elephant.
Both days will be filled with games, crafts and the ever-popular fashion accessories, elephant ears. A special trunk show featuring the elephant artist Rama is also planned. The highlight of the event will be Packy's 44th birthday party, Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., guests can enter their names in a drawing to be one of four lucky winners to help keepers deliver Packy's giant birthday cake. Packy's fans are invited to sing "Happy Birthday" while the prestigious pachyderm eats (or stomps on) his cake. Packy's party, the longest-running event in zoo history, has become a great family tradition. And the day wouldn't be complete without taking a moment to sign the big guy's birthday card. Packy's cake, baked by zoo Chef Paul Warner, is a 40-pound whole-wheat concoction, topped with frosting, apples, carrots and celery. All guests are invited to share free birthday cake beginning at noon, courtesy of Haggen Food & Pharmacy. Packy, the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in more than 44 years, was born 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, Ore., resident Wayne W. French submitted the winning name. Packy is the oldest and largest male Asian elephant in the United States. He stands 10 feet four inches tall at the shoulder and his average weight is 14,020 pounds. He has fathered seven calves, including 22-year-old Sung-Surin ("Sunshine") and 23-year-old Rama, both of whom currently live at the zoo. On Sunday, April 9, at 1 p.m., Rama takes center stage as the zoo celebrates his birthday (belatedly) with a special cake in the indoor gallery. (Rama's birthday was April 1.) Elephantastic is free with regular zoo admission. For more information on the event, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Events/elephantastic.htm April
3, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore.-Bubba, the famous Burmese python and former resident of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, will move into his spacious new digs in the Oregon Zoo's primate building on Friday, March 31.
"Snakes, including Burmese pythons like Bubba, keep growing for their entire lives," says Elaina Medina, OMSI's public relations director. "With that in mind, OMSI started looking around for a new home for Bubba where he could continue to grow and thrive. It was important to us that the public would still be able to visit him. After much careful research, we found an ideal location for Bubba at the Oregon Zoo." "The zoo is pleased to take over his care," said Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. "Bubba has professional animal keepers and a veterinary team to watch over him, and a great new exhibit to enjoy." In late February, Bubba was carefully transported to the zoo, where he received a full physical. One question that had never been officially addressed was about to be answered: Was Bubba a "he" or a "she"? "There were a few moments when we believed Bubba might be Bubbette," says zoo veterinarian Lisa Harrenstien. "But I can now report with confidence that he is indeed a male." |
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On May 20-21, the zoo opens its butterfly garden filled with large and colorful tropical
butterflies from Central and South America. A stunning morpho butterfly soaks up the sun.
The morpho is a solitary creature and can be found from Nicaragua to Ecuador.
Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy Oregon Zoo.
The zoo
is celebrating Mother's Day by naming its 2006 Zoo Mother of the Year,
and the public is invited to help choose the winner. This year's
finalists are California condor 147, who has been a foster mother to
Tatoosh and recently laid her first egg; Meadow, a pygmy rabbit and
mother
of Larkin and Leslie; and Crash, a Humboldt penguin and mother of Bonita.
(Bonita was featured on Animal Planet's "Growing Up Penguin.")
An on-line ballot featuring photos and short biographies of the zoo moms
is posted on the zoo's Web site: 
"All
three moms are incredibly important to their species, which are either
threatened or endangered," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Allowing
the public to choose a Zoo Mother of the Year gives us a chance to
educate them about the challenges facing these species."
In addition
to honoring mothers from the animal kingdom, the zoo will be holding
a Mother's Day brunch for human moms and
their
families. It will take place at the Oregon Zoo's Cascade Crest
Banquet Center
on Sunday,
May 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The brunch buffet includes seasonal
fruits,
assorted pastries and muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage,
made-to-order omelets, pork loin, pasta with roasted mushrooms
and roma tomatoes,
French toast, as well as assorted salads and desserts. Cost
for the brunch is
$18.95 for those 12 and older, and $8.95 for ages 3 to 11.
Native to
Egypt, North Africa and the Middle East, Acomys Cahirinus has a spiny
back, which is covered with a bristly-looking fur. It lives
in
rocky areas with dense vegetation and is extremely quick on its feet.
An endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly alights on a wildflower. The zoo's Celebrating Wildflowers
emphasizes the importance of conservation of native plants and their habitats.
Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy Oregon Zoo.
The chick's
parents, Tama and Mandan, are the Oregon Zoo's most prolific California
condor
pair. The pair has produced 11 eggs together in the
past and this is their third hatched at the zoo. 
"This
is the first time Tama will be allowed to raise her own chick since
arriving in Oregon, although she has raised many chicks of
her own in the past," according to St. Michael. "She has
always been a very reliable mother." 
This year's
theme is "You Otter
Be Safe in the Water." Exhibits
and activities will focus on safety issues in and around water, including
swimming pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, oceans and tide pools.
"Concertgoers not only get the unique experience of enjoying the
performance alongside the elephants, they have the opportunity to tour
the entire
zoo before settling in for a great night of music," says Krista
Swan, event coordinator.
Lions are an important part of the Oregon Zoo's future. The zoo plans to bring back lions to
Portland by 2009. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy Oregon Zoo.
"We're
so gratified that Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services chose
to partner with the zoo on this important environmental project," says
Brian Newman, Metro Councilor in charge of zoo operations. "Parking
lot improvements like this one help keep our rivers clean. They also
help educate the public about ways we can keep rainwater in the ground
and not in our storm drains, and why that is so important."
Oregon Zoo
Deputy Director Mike Keele, an elephant expert who has traveled extensively
in Africa, will lead an 11-day excursion to
Botswana. The
tour takes place Nov. 7-18, 2006, and is timed to take advantage
of the annual flooding of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana.
Each
year, after the rainy season, the delta floods, and animals from
across the savanna flock there to mate and raise their young alongside
its
plentiful banks. Antelope, zebra, lion, hyena, buffalo, leopard,
cheetah, giraffe and elephant are just some of the species that may
be seen.
"Being
treed by a moose seems particularly embarrassing for a carnivore biologist," Morgan
laments.
"We
decided that, since Packy and the rest of the herd are so well loved,
they needed not just one, but two days to celebrate," said
Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio.
The
zoo stepped in to provide Bubba a home when it became apparent he
was outgrowing his exhibit at OMSI. Bubba was 10 feet long and
weighed 50 pounds when he arrived at OMSI in 1997. He has grown to
more than
14 feet long and now weighs nearly 100 pounds. And he could get
a lot bigger!