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.
June
30, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Nearly 30 Portland-area restaurants, bakeries, wineries and breweries will be present for The Oregon Zoo Foundation's seventh annual fundraising gala, "Zoolala: Wild at Heart," presented by Spirit Mountain Casino. On Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m., the restaurants open their booths, the wine is uncorked, the kegs are tapped and the party begins.
Showing off its culinary talents for the first time at Zoolala are Alessandro's Italian Restaurant and Bar, Newman's at 988, Urban Fondue, and Simply Thyme Catering. For a complete list, please visit www.oregonzoo.org. "
One of the reasons Zoolala is the zoo's most successful fundraiser is
because of participation from these incredible local restaurants," said
Tony Vecchio, director of the Oregon Zoo. "Each year, I'm
amazed by the creativity and quality of the food that is served.
It continues
to draw in new guests and makes the evening a true culinary experience." In addition to enjoying the Portland area's finest cuisine, Zoolala guests will have the opportunity to see some of the zoo's animals at night, and can dance the night away to the feel-good sounds of GrüVbox, beginning on the main stage at 7:30 p.m. " Zoolala: Wild at Heart" is also co-sponsored by Cingular Wireless with K103FM as media sponsor. Tickets for Zoolala begin at $150 per person, a portion of which is tax deductible. All proceeds from "Wild at Heart" will help the Oregon Zoo's conservation and education programs. Tickets can be purchased until Friday, July 14, at 5 p.m. by calling 503-220-2492. Cocktail attire is suggested, and you must be at least 21 years of age to attend. June
29, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo and the Bonneville Power Administration will prepare 58 endangered western pond turtles (Clemmys marmorata marmorata) -- a species on the verge of extinction in Washington a decade ago -- for return back to the wild. The turtles begin their bon voyage at the zoo's Cascade Streams exhibit, where they have spent the past nine months growing large enough to avoid being eaten by non-native bullfrogs and large-mouth bass, threats that have decimated the species.
" Giving young turtles a head start during the first months of their lives gives them a real edge," explains Dr. David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo conservation program scientist. "Woodland Park Zoo and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have been working to save Washington's western pond turtles for 14 years. We're glad that we could provide additional assistance in helping save these highly endangered turtles." BPA is again providing $5,000 in support of the zoo's western pond turtle conservation efforts through the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's Fish and Wildlife Program. The council's program is responsible for recommending projects to mitigate for the impact of the Federal Columbia River Power System on fish and wildlife. " BPA is pleased to be a part of an effort to restore the western pond turtle, an important wildlife species of the Northwest ecosystem," said Greg Delwiche, vice president of BPA's Office of Environment, Fish and Wildlife. "This year's encouraging numbers demonstrate that the region's investment in this program is paying off." Just one decade ago, western pond turtles were on the verge of completely dying out in Washington, with only 150 turtles left in the wild. Today, researchers estimate that there are more than 1,000 turtles in Washington. Habitat degradation and disease were, and still are, problems, but the biggest threat to fragile baby turtles is the bullfrog. Found east of the Rockies, this non-indigenous frog has thrived throughout the west, driving pond turtles and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to the brink of extinction. To help restore these rare turtles to their natural habitat, recovery workers take to the field each year. Under the supervision of western pond turtle expert Kate Slavens, they count, trap and fit transmitters on adult female western pond turtles. The female turtles are monitored every two hours during the nesting season to determine where they nest. The nests, which the females dig in the ground and then cover after depositing their eggs, are protected with wire "exclosure" cages that help prevent predators from eating the eggs. The eggs are then allowed to incubate naturally, and the hatchlings are collected in the fall. The hatchlings are about the size of a quarter when they are removed and taken to the zoo facilities, where they can grow in safety. Unlike wild turtles, zoo turtles are fed throughout the winter, so by their summer release, the 10-month-olds are approximately as big as 3-year-old turtles. Some of
the juvenile turtles are equipped with radio transmitters
before release so biologists can learn more about post-release
dispersal, habitat use during active and hibernation
periods, and, ultimately,
their survival
rate. Scientists tracking the released turtles estimate
that 95 percent of the turtles released back to the Columbia
River
Gorge
have survived. June
28, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Zoogoers can check in with bald eagles just in time for the Fourth of July and catch a glimpse of some rare Western pond turtles before they're reintroduced into the wild, as the Oregon Zoo reopens its much loved Eagle Canyon and Cascade Streams exhibits on Saturday, July 1. " The Cascade Streams and Eagle Canyon exhibits are special to many of our visitors," said North America Senior Keeper Amy Cutting. "We have had lots of questions about how the eagles are doing and how big the Western pond turtles are getting. The otters also miss having visitors to watch and kids to chase at the windows."
" Since the major construction elements for Cougar Crossing have been completed, we thought we would try to open the Cascades building early, while the finishing touches of the cougar exhibit are being completed," Cutting said. Beginning Saturday, visitors can once again walk through Eagle Canyon, the world's first zoo exhibit to feature free-flying bald eagles living with salmon, trout and sturgeon. The 20,800 square-foot, $2.4 million exhibit -- with its impressive animals and state-of-the-art interactive displays -- helps highlight the plight of salmon and other native animals found in the Pacific Northwest. More than 100 salmon swimming in deep pools, along with several rainbow trout and sturgeon, greet visitors as they enter the exhibit. Children can explore a bubble -- which is inset into the pool -- to get a nose-to-nose view of the salmon and other large fish. As visitors walk along the forest trail, they encounter towering old-growth trees and cascading waterfalls. Along the trail are a series of bridges and several interactive sculptures. A colorful tile mosaic -- embedded into the trail -- displays the life cycle of salmon. At the top of the canyon, visitors can stop and watch the bald eagles perched on a snag just 10 feet away. No netting or barrier separates visitors from these two large predators with their impressive six-foot wingspans. Behind the viewing platform, children can play in a giant eagle's nest and experience life as a bald eagle. " It's a beautiful place to cool off on a hot summer day," said Cutting. "It will also be the last chance to see this year's Western pond turtle hatchlings. They have reached their target weight for release back to the wild and will be going home in late July. New, tiny hatchlings will arrive in September." Along the
way, visitors will walk by the site of the new Cougar Crossing exhibit,
which will be screened from view
for the
animals' privacy
as they get accustomed to their new home. June
28, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Break out the grass skirts and leis! The luau is coming to the Oregon Zoo when Hapa performs on July 19 as part of the Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer. Described by some as the "sound of Maui," Hapa's music combines Hawaiian and Polynesian music styles with slack-key, blues, bebop and spoken word. " Hapa provides the soundtrack for the 21st-century Polynesia," says Krista Swan, event coordinator. "Their songs bring together native art, history and music."
In 2001, Flanagan met Nathan Aweau, an accomplished musician who had spent 15 years working with legendary Hawaiian musician Don Ho. Flanagan was impressed by Aweau's vocals and over lunch one day, they agreed to work together. Nearly a year and a half later, the duo recorded their first album. When "Maui" was released in March 2005, it peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's world music album chart. Hapa is
on a West Coast tour this summer with stops in California,
Washington and Oregon. This year's concert series is also co-sponsored by Willamette Week. To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday "Plus" concerts, daily visits to the zoo and the ZooLights holiday festival in the winter. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. 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 for the past 10 years and has donated more than $1 million in support of the zoo's conservation and education programs. June
27, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Each summer Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo's director, receives many e-mails asking him to bring children's music back to the zoo. The e-mails must have resonated, because the zoo is hosting a children's concert for the first time since 1995. On Sunday, July 2, at 3 p.m., Putumayo Kids presents "Folk Playground," featuring Victor Johnson, on the zoo's concert lawn. The concert is free with zoo admission.
Johnson, who lives in The Dalles, Oregon, grew up with the folk and blues revivalists of the 1960s. His musical influences include Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt and the Rev. Gary Davis. When Johnson was a child, his parents would invite friends over to play music late into the night. He would sneak out of his upstairs bedroom in his pajamas, make a cozy nest of blankets on the stairway landing, and listen to the music streaming up through a heating vent that looked kind of like an old-fashioned radio. " We lived in a house where all kinds of people would come over and make music in our living room," says Johnson. "The music I make has been handed down over time from one generation to another," he says. "It was given to me, and now I am giving it back to anyone who wants to listen." In 2003, Johnson began focusing on music for kids that the whole family could enjoy. Since then he has become one of the premier family acts in the Pacific Northwest and has a growing reputation for making cool kid music. " I'm honored to bring children's music back to the zoo, especially with Putumayo Kids," says Johnson. "I love coming to the zoo, especially with my daughter. There is always something really cool to see or do." Johnson has appeared in Nick Jr., Parenting, Blues Revue and Curious Parent magazines, as well as on NPR and children's radio shows nationwide. He has won several awards, including two Parents' Choice Silver Awards for his "Country Blues for Kids" and "Kid at Heart" albums. Johnson has also been featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Art Beat" television series and appears on Putumayo Kids' 2006 "Folk Playground" CD. " Folk Playground" features a collection of sing-along family songs, performed by some of America's leading children's musicians and other well-known artists. Following in the grand tradition of American folk music, these musicians have diverse musical backgrounds, though all draw inspiration from their predecessors. For more information about the music and other Putumayo Kids concerts, please visit www.putumayo.com/playground.html " Folk Playground" CDs from Putumayo Kids are available for sale at the zoo's gift shop and during the performance near the concert stage. June
26, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Deadheads everywhere remember Bruce Hornsby for the time he spent touring with the Grateful Dead during the early 1990s. But Hornsby is a remarkable talent in his own right, having won three Grammy Awards and sold more than 10 million albums in a career spanning 20 years. Hornsby's gifts will be on full display when he and his band the Noisemakers take the stage at the Oregon Zoo on July 14 at 7 p.m. as part of the Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer. Hornsby's ability has been recognized by a who's who of fellow musicians, including Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Bob Seger, Bonnie Rait and Willie Nelson, all of whom have worked with him. But it took years for Hornsby to first earn widespread recognition.
By that time, though, Hornsby was already a star. Straight out of the gate, his debut album, "The Way It Is," went multiplatinum and won him a Grammy as Best New Artist in 1986. His trademark piano licks and intricate storytelling ability earned him both popular and critical acclaim. He followed up his smash debut with equally popular albums like "Scenes From the Southside" and "A Night on the Town," which established him as one top songwriting talents to emerge in the late 1980s. Hornsby took home his second Grammy in 1989 for Best Bluegrass Recording for "Valley Road" (from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 2") and his third Grammy in 1993 for Best Pop Instrumental for "Barcelona Mona" (created with Branford Marsalis for the Barcelona Olympics). His latest album, "Halycon Days," evokes Hornsby's hopes for the future and memories of the past, and features guest appearances by Elton John, Eric Clapton and Sting. " We've had Bruce Hornsby at the Oregon Zoo before and he puts on a great show," said Event Coordinator Krista Swan. "His piano playing alone is worth the price of admission, but he's a great storyteller too. It's going to be a fun night." Bruce Hornsby tickets are available online or at the zoo for $19. Premium concert tickets are limited, so ordering in advance is recommended. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and ticket price includes zoo admission. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. 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 for the past 10 years and has donated more than $1 million in support of the zoo's conservation and education programs. This year's concert series is also co-sponsored by Willamette Week. To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. June
22, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Seven years after leaving their war-torn country of Sierra Leone to seek protection in Guinea, the Refugee All Stars have found success beyond the streets of the Sembakounya refugee camp. On July 12, they will perform at the Oregon Zoo as part of the Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer. When Sierra Leone's civil war spilled into the capital of Freetown in January 1999, thousands of citizens were forced to flee the city, including musicians Franco Langba, Arahim Kamara, Reuben Koroma and his wife, Efuah Grace. Although they had all worked as professional musicians in different bands previously, it wasn't until they met in the Kalia refugee camp on the border of Sierra Leone and Guinea that they started to play and sing together for their fellow refugees.
Once relocated in the Sembakounya camp, the quartet teamed up with Mohammed Bangura and Alhadji Kamara, more commonly known by his rap name Black Nature, to form the Refugee All Stars. Armed with a single microphone, two beat-up guitars and a meager sound system, the band took to the streets to entertain fellow refugees. For the past five years, the Refugee All Stars have been performing in refugee camps throughout Guinea. In 2004, they released their first album, "Living Like a Refugee," which was recorded in Freetown with the help of filmmakers chronicling the group's musical journey. The documentary "The Refugee All Stars," released in 2005, follows the band over the course of three years as they make their way from the refugee camps back to their homes in the war-ravaged Sierra Leone. See the Refugee All Stars movie at Hollywood Theatre July 8 - 11. This summer, the Refugee All Stars are on a North American tour, with stops in Miami, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle and Portland.This year, for the first time, the zoo is selling 1,000 tickets for each of its Wednesday "Plus" concerts in advance. Refugee All Star tickets are available online or at the zoo for $9.50. Once 1,000 tickets have been sold, concertgoers can only purchase tickets at the zoo after 4 p.m. on the day of the performance. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and the ticket price includes zoo admission. This year's concert series is also co-sponsored by Willamette Week. To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday "Plus" concerts, daily visits to the zoo and the ZooLights holiday festival in the winter. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. June
22, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo Foundation's summer gala, "Zoolala: Wild at Heart," is slated for Saturday, July 15, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The seventh annual Zoolala, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, features culinary delights from nearly 30 of Portland's premier restaurants, bakeries, breweries, wineries and coffee hosts, and live music from GrüVbox.Tickets are $150 per person ($135 for zoo members). Proceeds go toward the zoo's conservation and education programs.
" One of the reasons Zoolala is the zoo's most successful fundraiser is because of these superb restaurants," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Each year, I'm amazed by the creativity and quality of the food they serve." The gala starts at 7 p.m., as Gate E opens to all ticket holders. Then, the restaurants open their booths, the wine is uncorked, the kegs are tapped and the party begins. The main music act starts at 7:30 p.m. with GrüVbox. Zoolala guests will also enjoy the opportunity to see some of the zoo's animals at night. In the front viewing area, adjacent to the main stage, the females (or cows) of the zoo's elephant herd will be munching on timothy hay and swaying to the feel-good tunes of GrüVbox. " The zoo is a lively place during the day, but it can be almost magical at night," says Vecchio. "With the sights and sounds of our animals -- many of whom are much more active at dusk -- Zoolala promises to be the social event of the summer." " Zoolala: Wild at Heart" is also sponsored by Cingular Wireless and K103 FM. June
21, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Cuban rumba and African rhythms will rock Pete the rhino when Kékélé takes the stage at the Oregon Zoo, July 5. Nearly two years after their last concert here, the Congolese natives, now based in Paris, return to the zoo as part of this year's Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer.
Kékélé's
music is best described as Congolese rumba, a combination of Cuban
rumba and African rhythms that was popular in
the 1960s. The group comprises of eight veteran musicians whose careers
span geography, generations and genres. The artists had each found
earlier success in group and solo ventures, but came together in
1999 to form
Kékélé. Kékélé is currently on a North American tour with stops in Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. In Lingala, the language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a large part of the Republic of the Congo, kékélé is the word for a fibrous vine that grows in the tropical forests of the Congo River basin. This year, for the first time, the zoo is selling 1,000 tickets for each of its Wednesday "Plus" concerts in advance. Kékélé tickets are available online or at the zoo for $9.50. Once 1,000 tickets have been sold, concertgoers can only purchase tickets at the zoo after 4 p.m. on the day of the performance. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and the ticket price includes zoo admission. This year's concert series is also co-sponsored by Willamette Week. To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday "Plus" concerts, daily visits to the zoo and the ZooLights holiday festival in the winter. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price.
PORTLAND, Ore. - The public has chosen the Oregon Zoo's Yellow Left as the Zoo Father of the Year for 2006. The Humboldt penguin father was the overall winner with 66 percent of the online votes while Kiku, the Colobus monkey, came in second with 24 percent. California condor Woy was the third runner-up with 10 percent. “ Yellow Left is a great choice for zoo father of the year,” said Oregon Zoo Director, Tony Vecchio. “When you see how loving he is with his children, you know why he deserves this award.” Vecchio viewed The Zoo Father of the Year vote as an opportunity to educate the public about Humboldt penguins, Colobus monkeys and California condors that are either threatened or endangered. “ Once people make an emotional connection with an animal, they're much more likely to care about the future of that species,” said Vecchio. “This online vote has helped bring attention to the plight of these animals.” June
15, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. - Dads get in free on father's day, June 18 courtesy of Northwest Dodge Dealers. To receive the free admission coupon for dad, stop by the Dodge gift cart near the zoo's entrance. As part of the Dodge Zoo Adventure Tour, visitors use an interactive map to guide them through the zoo to six displays that feature games, prizes, a treasure chest giveaway, and one of six animal-themed Dodge exhibits, including a Durango painted with an oceanscape and a Caravan covered in birds. Kids "go bananas" with face painting, coloring, a mini slot car track, animal pipe cleaner crafts and eShot photos. June
15, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- There's a big, bizarre and beautiful world of arthropods waiting to be discovered, and if Jamie Klein, a ZooTeen at the Oregon Zoo has her way, the zoo will build a new insectarium to showcase specimens from all over the globe. Klein knows it's a lofty goal, but she's willing to overcome obstacles. She's not only received the blessing of Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio, but has also managed to "bug" him into staffing the exhibit this summer, something that hasn't happened for two years.
" The Insect Zoo had been an interactive exhibit," said Klein. "We talked with visitors, especially kids, explaining why insects are so important. It was great to see them change their attitudes." Due to budget cuts, the exhibit remained open, but was not staffed. Thanks to Klein, this summer will be different. An expert staff will be on hand June 17 through Labor Day to answer questions, and explain why they believe the crawly creatures are cool, not creepy. They can explain the five different classes of arthropods (crustaceans, millipedes, centipedes, insects, and arachnids) and answer that age-old question, "What makes a bug a bug?" But the battle won is bittersweet for Klein. " The structure's in pretty sad shape," said Klein. "It's only a matter of time before it will have to be demolished." No more chances to rub noses with an Australian walkingstick or shake a leg with a Mexican red-kneed tarantula -- the opportunity missed to hiss with a Madagascar hissing cockroach, or tickle the senses with a giant African millipede. Such prospects are unthinkable to Klein, and that's what spurs her on. " The Insect Zoo provides a hands-on approach to a subject about which most people would rather have hands off," Klein said. "Insects are the most diverse animal group and 90 percent of all species are beneficial." Klein and other bug-loving ZooTeens are attempting to raise the estimated $250,000 needed for a new insectarium. They have produced a video explaining why people should care about bugs, and have sent copies to talk-show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres. " They haven't responded, but we have received local media attention just because we're trying to be creative," said Klein. " I'll be surprised if they don't succeed," says Vecchio. "They're intelligent, enthusiastic and, most importantly, persistent." June
13, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- With folk-rock melodies and punk-rock urgency, the Indigo Girls are sure to have a sell-out show when they return to the Oregon Zoo concert lawn for the third time. The multiplatinum duo and special guest Danielle Howle will perform as part of the Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer on July 1. " The Indigo Girls are folk-rock at its finest," says Krista Swan, event coordinator. "They are two very talented women singing songs about real life."
In the nearly two decades since, the Indigo Girls have remained one of the most respected folk groups around, releasing acclaimed albums like "Nomads Indians Saints," "Rites of Passage" and their two most recent albums, "Become You" and "All That We Let In." Although they're a duo, the Indigo Girls write songs separately. Saliers' songs tend to be gentler, and often more melodic, drawing from influences such as Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens. Ray's music is more influenced by post-punk songwriters such as Paul Westerberg and Chrissie Hynde. At their best, these two sides of the music play off one another, creating a sound that is both poignant and powerful, like Neil Young at his very best. What makes it work is the undeniable chemistry between the two. Their voices intertwine to spectacular effect. Saliers sings with yearning clarity, while Ray's voice is world-weary and rough around the edges. On stage their chemistry comes to life, which promises to make it a memorable concert at the Oregon Zoo. Opening for the Indigo Girls will be Danielle Howle, a talented singer-songwriter who has released six albums, including two on Daemon Records, the label owned by the Indigo Girls' Amy Ray. Her most recent album, "Thank You, Mark," was released in April on Valley Records. Howle has opened for the likes of Elliott Smith, Ani DiFranco and Throwing Muses, and can add the Indigo Girls as another big name to that list. The public can purchase Indigo Girls and Danielle Howle tickets online or at zoo for $26. Premium concert tickets are limited so ordering in advance is recommended. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and ticket price includes zoo admission. This year's concert series is also co-sponsored by Willamette Week. To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. June
12, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- When Oregon Zoo veterinarians and condor staff successfully assist-hatched the last condor chick of the season on May 28, staff breathed a collective sigh of relief that its most difficult condor-breeding season had come to a close. The next day, the chick was returned to its parents, Condors 137 and 147. The parents assumed their parenting roles with vigor, but on the afternoon of June 6, staff found the chick dead just outside of its nest room. " We're devastated that this happened," says Shawn St. Michael, assistant condor curator. "We don't know how the chick died. Chicks have died under similar circumstances at other condor facilities where the cause of death was unclear. The chick may have had some congenital condition that wasn't obvious during its physical examination." On June 6, Kelli Walker, condor keeper, reported that the youngest of this year's condor chicks at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, was not visible in the nest room. All nest rooms are monitored by video cameras, and keepers were paying particularly close attention to this chick because of the unusual circumstances of its hatching. The last chick of the year had proven difficult from the moment the egg was laid on March 31. This was the first egg laid by Condor 147. She laid the egg with such force that it shot into the sand of the nest room about 8 inches behind her. The egg was pulled for artificial incubation and appeared fine despite its forceful entry into the world. However, late in its incubation it began to appear abnormal. Radiographs of the egg showed the chick was positioned upside down, a position from which it would not be able to hatch without help. Chicks that are upside down in the egg are unable to break into the air-cell, and will suffocate if not assisted. On May 24, a small hole was created in the shell to allow the chick to breath and the egg was returned to the incubator in hopes that the chick would be able to hatch on its own. On May 28, it was clear the chick was unable to hatch unassisted because its shoulders could not rotate from the small end of the egg. Veterinary and condor keepers assist-hatched the chick and moved it to a brooder overnight to rest and recuperate before returning it to its parents the following day. On May 29, after being examined by Dr. Mitch Finnegan, zoo veterinarian, the chick was carefully returned to its parents, who had been sitting on a dummy egg. The return went smoothly, with the female accepting the chick within minutes of its return, and carefully tucking it under her chest to keep it warm. " While the loss of our chick is tragic," says St. Michael. "Our primary focus for the recovery effort is to raise condors that are the best possible candidates for return to the wild so whenever possible we try and return chicks to their parents. Our condors have a much better chance of thriving if they've learned how to be a condor by a condor parent rather than a condor puppet," he added. " This is just part of a growing program, and something that all the condor breeding facilities have had to deal with," lamented St. Michael. "Hopefully we'll have better results next year from this pair." In 2001, the Oregon Zoo became only the third zoo in the nation invited to join the California Condor Recovery Program. In November of 2003, the Oregon Zoo brought condors back to Oregon for the first time in a century. The zoo's condor recovery efforts take place at the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, 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. California condor captive-breeding programs are operated at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. The goal for the condor recovery program is to establish a captive population of 150 birds and two separate wild populations of 150 condors each in California and Arizona. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Condor Recovery Program coordinate and implement the recovery efforts and provide oversight of all program partners. In September of 2005, Oregon's first condor hatched in a century, Kun Wak Shun, was released into the wild at Pinnacles National Monument in central California. June
9, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- The zoo's slender-snouted crocodile could be described as intense and so is Senegalese star Baaba Maal. Critics have described the singer/songwriter's music as a combination of gentle Western African folk and intense reggae and rap. Maal will perform as part of the Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer on June 28.
Raised in a small, northern city in Senegal, Maal was not born to be a musician. According to West African culture, performers must come from the griot caste and Maal's father was a fisherman. His mother was a musician though who sang and wrote her own songs. She taught her son about the traditional sounds of the area and encouraged his musical pursuits. Maal grew up listening to the black music coming out of America including, James Brown, Otis Redding and Etta James.
"
Baaba Maal is a dynamic performer who really entertains the crowd," says
Krista Swan, event coordinator. "He continues to grow a bigger fan
base every year he plays at the zoo." To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday "Plus" concerts, daily visits to the zoo and the ZooLights holiday festival in the winter. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. June
7, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Known throughout West Africa as the "blind couple from Mali," Amadou and Mariam will have the reticulated giraffes swaying to the music when they kick off the Oregon Zoo's Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer on June 21. Born and raised in Mali, Mariam Doumbia became blind at the age of 5 as a result of measles. Not willing to give up on her musical interests, she honed her talent for singing by performing at weddings and traditional festivals. In 1977, she met Amadou Bagayoko while studying Braille at the Institute for the Blind in Bamako. Although he had lost his sight as a teenager due to cataracts, Amadou had already found success playing guitar in Les Ambassadeurs, one of West Africa's most popular bands. Three years later, the couple married and started their musical journey together.
The result was "Dimanche a Bamako," Amadou and Mariam's most successful album to date. Released in France in November 2004, by last summer the record had risen to No. 2 in the French charts, the highest chart-placing ever achieved by an African record anywhere in Europe. Most recently, they were awarded the 2006 Album of the Year for the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music. Dubbed "Africa's funkiest band" by London's Evening Standard, the couple's music combines the sounds of American blues, Cuban son, Indian rhythms and French folk music. Currently, Amadou and Mariam are on a world tour with stops scheduled in London, Paris, Sydney, San Francisco and Portland. For the first time, 1,000 Wednesday "Plus" tickets can be purchased in advance online or are available for $9.50 at the zoo. Once the 1,000 tickets are sold, zoogoers can only purchase their tickets at the zoo after 4 p.m. on the day of the performance. Concerts start at 7 p.m. and ticket price includes zoo admission. To review the 2006 concert lineup and more, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts/index.htm. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday "Plus" concerts, daily visits to the zoo and the ZooLights holiday festival in the winter. 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, zoo concertgoers can help bring black bears back to the zoo by adding $1 to their ticket price. June
2, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- The sun dips low in the sky, and a warm breeze starts the Douglas firs gently swaying near the stage. On the great lawn, people enjoy picnic dinners, laughing, dancing, taking it all in. Music from West Africa fills the air, and nearby the Asian elephants prick up their ears. It can only be summer at the Oregon Zoo. Starting June 21, a series of Wednesday evening "Plus" concerts brings top musicians from around the world to Portland during the zoo's Wells Fargo Summer Concert Series presented by Fred Meyer.
In July, the zoo hosts Kekele from the Congo (July 5), the Refugee All Stars of Sierra Leone (July 12), Hapa from Hawaii (July 19) and Daby Toure of Mauritania (July 26). Then in August, the series features Ska Cubano from the United Kingdom and Cuba (Aug. 2), native Oregonians the Buckles, Jackstraw and Greg Clarke (Aug. 9), Lágbájá from Nigeria (Aug. 16) and last, but not least, Plena Libre of Puerto Rico (Aug. 23). Shows start at 7 p.m.
This year, 1,000 "Plus" concert tickets per show can be purchased in advance online. Tickets will also be available on the day of the show after 4 p.m. All general admission tickets include zoo admission and are subject to availability. Zoo membership at the Plus level includes free admission to all Wednesday Plus concerts, daily visits to the zoo and the ZooLights holiday festival in the winter.
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 for the past 10 years. " Since 1996, Wells Fargo has donated more than $1 million to the zoo," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Through their generosity we're able to fund many important education and conservation programs. The summer series would not be possible without their strong support." 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. This year's concert series is also co-sponsored by Willamette Week. June
1, 2006 PORTLAND, Ore. -- In recent weeks, 17 Washington pygmy rabbits have been born at the Oregon Zoo, and another 50 are expected by the end of summer -- a remarkable development in the story of a subspecies at the brink of extinction. Just a few years ago, only 40 pygmy rabbits remained in the entire state of Washington. Now this critically endangered rabbit appears poised to make a comeback. This fall, the zoo, in conjunction with its conservation partners, will release pygmy rabbits back into the wild for the first time.
With breeding protocols established, the zoo shared its research with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The protocols helped WDFW develop its pygmy rabbit breeding facility at Washington State University in Pullman. " In the past, zoos have spread their conservation efforts all over the world, particularly in tropical areas," says Vecchio. "While these efforts have been extremely important, there has been a tendency to ignore our own backyards. At the Oregon Zoo, we feel that efforts in our own region will prove to be the most effective way to engage our visitors and constituents in conservation actions." Today the Oregon Zoo is home to two full-blooded Washington pygmy rabbits: Lolo, a male, and Bryn, a female. In collaboration with WDFW, the zoo has crossbred Washington rabbits with Idaho rabbits to help strengthen genetic diversity. The zoo hopes to maintain a bloodline of 75 percent Washington and 25 percent Idaho. Pygmy rabbits are the only North American rabbits that dig burrows and reside in a sagebrush habitat. (Jackrabbits, which also reside in sagebrush communities, are actually hares, not rabbits.) In the wild, pygmy rabbits eat sagebrush almost exclusively in the winter; in the summer they eat a more varied diet. They have four litters of approximately two to six young during the spring and summer breeding seasons. Outside of captive breeding programs, their numbers have decreased steadily, primarily due to habitat loss through agricultural development and wildfires.
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Several
restaurants renewed their commitment to Zoolala 2006, including Legends
at Spirit Mountain, Timberline Lodge,
Salty's on the Columbia,
and Paragon Restaurant and Bar. Some restaurants such as The Old Spaghetti
Factory, Beaverton Bakery and Espresso Volare! are participating for
their seventh year. 
The
re-introduction of the western pond turtles into the wild is part
of a collaborative effort among Oregon Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, BPA,
Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
As part of the Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project, conservation scientists
at these organizations "head-start" newly hatched turtles gathered
from wild sites, nurturing them at both zoos for about 10 months. Once
they reach a suitable size of about 70 grams (a little more than 2 ounces),
they are returned to their homes and monitored for safety.
Cascade
Streams and Eagle Canyon, both of which have received awards from the
American
Zoo and Aquarium Association, had been temporarily
closed due to construction of the zoo's Great Northwest exhibit,
which eventually will house animals such as black bear, cougar and
bobcat.
Band founder
Barry Flanagan, who grew up in New Jersey, moved to the Hawaiian Islands
in 1980
to study the art of Kiho'alu, or slack-key
guitar, and Haku Mele, Hawaiian poetic song composition. While
immersing himself
in the Hawaiian culture, Flanagan started Hapa, named for a pidgin
expression meaning a person of mixed racial or ethnic heritage.
Johnson
specializes in traditional styles of acoustic music and storytelling
for kids and families. During his zoo performance, he will be joined
by Kerry Williams, of Django's Cadillac, on mandolin and Tim Ortlieb
on percussion. 
It was only
after Hornsby moved to Los Angeles that his piano playing and songwriting
were noticed
by Huey Lewis, who helped get him a recording
contract. Lewis would go on to be Hornsby's producer and record several
of his songs for himself, including the hit "Jacob's Ladder."
In June
of 2002, the musicians' lives were once again disrupted when the camp
was attacked
by Guineans believing that rebels
were using
it as a staging area for cross-border incursions. International
relief agencies
were forced to evacuate and refugees were left without protection,
food distribution or medical aid for six months. When the agencies
were finally
able to return, they quickly transported thousands of remaining
refugees to new camps away from the border regions.
Several
restaurants have renewed their commitment to Zoolala this year, including
Legends
at Spirit Mountain, Timberline Lodge, Salty's on the
Columbia, and Paragon Restaurant and Bar. The Old Spaghetti Factory,
Beaverton Bakery and Espresso Volare! are entering their seventh year
of participation. Zoolala will also feature newcomers Fernando's Hideaway,
Newman's at 988 and Simply Thyme Catering. For a complete list, please
visit www.oregonzoo.org.
"
African music begs to be heard outdoors, and there's no better environment
for that than the zoo," said Krista Swan, event coordinator. 
ZooTeen Volunteer Jaime Klein holds an adorable Australian walking stick.
She and other ZooTeens worked together to help bring back the Oregon Zoo's Insect Zoo.
Photo by Levi Barnett, courtesy Oregon Zoo.
Emily Saliers
and Amy Ray first met while in high school in Georgia and took their
music with them to the University
of Georgia, where
they were
part of the early '80s Athens scene that also included R.E.M. and
the B-52's. Those years would bear fruit for the Indigo Girls in 1989,
when R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe made a guest appearance on their self-titled
major-label
debut.Stipe
sang background vocals on the song "Kid Fears," but
it was their hit "Closer to Fine" that gained the most
attention, as the album went platinum and won a Grammy Award.
From humble
beginnings to world stardom, Maal has made a career singing about the
empowerment,
enlightenment and peaceful existence of African
people. The combination of voices, string instruments and drums creates
a signature sound that has entertained listeners for years. 
In his teenage
years, Maal experimented with various types of music before recording
his first
album in 1984. Since that time, Maal has
gone on
to make 11 other albums with the most recent being "Mi Yeewnii
(Missing You)." He is currently on a 2006 North American summer
tour including a stop at the Oregon Zoo.
Frustrated
with a lack of opportunities in Mali, Amadou and Mariam moved to the
neighboring Ivory Coast in 1988 to make their
first
recording. Over the years, their music not only caught the ears
of listeners but
also producers. After recording three albums in Paris between 1998
and
2002, the couple was approached by world music hit-maker Manu Chao,
whose own album "Clandestino" was a landmark in the global
Latin fusion.
The series
kicks off with West African pop stars Amadou and Mariam (June 21)
and Senegalese singer Baaba Maal (June 28). 
Although
the musical offerings are diverse, this international lineup has one
thing in common -- tickets for the
Wednesday concerts
are
only $9.50. 
Concerts
at the zoo help support conservation programs. This year, concertgoers
can help bring black
bears back
to the
zoo by adding
$1 to their ticket
price.
"
This tiny rabbit is a big success story," says Tony Vecchio, zoo
director. "Collaborating with the Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife, Washington State University and Northwest Trek, we've worked
tirelessly to help save Washington's endangered pygmy rabbits from certain
extinction. Releasing rabbits back into eastern Washington this fall
is a monumental milestone." 