Oregon Zoo February 2007 Press Releases

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NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release, not the date of the event.

February 2007

February 27 - Oregon Condor Lays Second Egg Of 2007 Season
February 27 - Zoo Seeks Youth And Adult Volunteers To Become ZooAmbassadors
February 26 - Oregon Zoo's Crest-To-Coast Adventure Nearly Complete
February 23 - Bears, Bobcats Complete $36-Million 'Great Northwest'
February 22 - Climate Change Decimating Polar Bear Population
February 21 - Oregon Zoo Condor Lays First Egg Of 2007 Season
February 17 - Tusko The Elephant Nearly Tuskless
February 15 - Oregon Zoo Expert Leads Tour Of The Amazon
February 14 - Students Learn About Zoo Jobs During Career Day
February 13 - Tusko The Elephant Soon To Be Tuskless
February 12 - Oregon Zoo Establishes Endangered Species Justice Fund
February 9 - Climate Change Decimating Polar Bear Population
February 6 - Make A Difference-- Be A ZooTeen
February 5 - International Animal Writer Visits Zoo
February 2 - Oregon Zoo Animals Predict Prolonged Winter, Bears Victory

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ojai, a 22-year-old California condor hen at the Oregon Zoo, laid the second egg of the breeding season late last week. The egg was laid on the morning of Feb. 24 at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation. This is the first egg that Ojai and her mate Atishwin have produced together.

"We weighed and examined the egg, and all appears to be in order," says Shawn St. Michael, assistant condor curator. "We should know whether or not it's fertile in a few weeks."

The egg will be naturally incubated for 10 to 14 days. Then it will be pulled, candled, put into an incubator and replaced with a dummy egg. "When the chick starts to hatch, at approximately 57 days, we switch it with the dummy egg so the chick will hatch under its parents," says Kelli Walker, condor keeper.

In January, four of the zoo's juvenile condors were moved to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho, in preparation for their release into the wild. Among them was Tatoosh (No. 367), born in April 2005, the second condor to be hatched in Oregon in more than a century. The others were Meriwether (No. 379), also hatched in 2005, and Ursa (No. 404) and Wiley (No. 420), both hatched in the spring of 2006.

Tatoosh and Meriwether are slated for release this summer into the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument of northern Arizona, and the younger two will be released during the summer of 2008.

In 2001, the Oregon Zoo became the third zoo in the nation to join the California Condor Recovery Program. California condor captive-breeding programs are also operated at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey. The Oregon Zoo was the recipient of The Wildlife Society's Conservation Award for "creating the nation's fourth California condor breeding facility" in April 2005.

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. The Jonsson Center is currently home to 17 condors. In addition to the two eggs so far this year, eight eggs have been laid since the Jonsson Center was established, and six offspring have been produced.

Condors, the largest land birds in North America, have wingspans of up to 10 feet and weigh 18 to 30 pounds. They are highly intelligent and inquisitive, often engaging in play. Their range extended across much of North America during the Pleistocene Era, which ended about 10,000 years ago. By 1940, that range had been reduced to the coastal mountains of Southern California, and in 1967 condors were added to the first federal list of endangered species. In 1987, the 17 condors remaining in the wild were brought into captivity and a captive-breeding program was developed.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Do you enjoy interacting with people and animals? The Oregon Zoo has opportunities for youth and adult volunteers to work at least one 3 1⁄2-hour shift per week from June to Labor Day in the Winged Wonders butterfly exhibit as ZooAmbassadors.

ZooAmbassadors provide general animal and exhibit information to visitors, while spending time with colorful butterflies in the butterfly garden. Ambassadors 15 and older can volunteer on their own, while people between the ages of 10 and 14 can volunteer with a parent.

The zoo is encouraging entire families to volunteer. "Last year several family members volunteered together," commented Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. "It's rare for children to be included in these opportunities. It's a unique way to create lasting family memories."

The program is designed to extend knowledge about the importance of wildlife conservation, while simultaneously bringing families together. Duties include talking to zoo visitors, insuring the safety of the butterflies, and monitoring the exhibit doors to prevent butterflies from flying away.

"I have seen huge changes in the demeanor and communication skills of kids who volunteer," commented Paula McCall, volunteer coordinator. "It's a fun learning experience for everyone involved."

There are many benefits to volunteering. ZooAmbassadors meet people who share similar interests and values; receive free zoo admission and a complimentary train ride; have the opportunity to volunteer at zoo concerts; learn about how to attract local wildlife; and participate in training opportunities only available at the zoo.

Potential ZooAmbassadors are required to attend one orientation session. After attending the orientation overview, those choosing to continue will receive 10 hours of training. The orientation will be offered on the following days:

To R.S.V.P. for the session of your choice, please call 503-226-1561, ext. 5397, or e-mail ZooAmbassadors@oregonzoo.org. The deadline to sign up for the first orientation session is March 20.

The Oregon Zoo has one of the largest zoo volunteer programs in the country. More than 2,000 individuals volunteer more than 156,000 hours per year.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- In March, the project that took a decade -- and $36 million -- will be complete. The last two components of the Oregon Zoo's Great Northwest exhibit, Black Bear Ridge and Cascade Canyon Trail, open March 10, introducing black bears and bobcats to visitors and rounding out the zoo's crest-to-coast adventure.

"It's been a long road, but the finished product is worth it," says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "The opening of Cascade Canyon Trail and the addition of black bears and bobcats is the realization of a vision that took a decade to finish -- a celebration of the beauty and natural wonders of the Great Northwest."

The first phase of the Great Northwest exhibit, Cascade Crest, opened in 1998 and introduced mountain goats to zoo visitors. The new exhibit leads from the mountain goats deeper into the forest via a 100-foot-long suspension bridge with a bird's-eye view of Black Bear Ridge, a naturalistic habitat for three American black bears. Past the bridge, visitors can get a close-up peek at the reclusive bobcats in a hollowed-out tree that also happens to be a heated den.

From there, the trail winds through the forest and connects with Eagle Canyon, the award-winning exhibit where Athena, a bald eagle, flies free over a salmon-filled stream. Following the stream, the trail continues into a stream-and-marsh environment where industrious beavers and playful river otters are found.

Just outside this area, wildlife meets the growing human population at Cougar Crossing and Trillium Creek Family Farm. (Also, here is a chance to see another view of the black bears.) Cougar Crossing, which opened last summer, is the newest addition to the Great Northwest, providing two orphaned cougars with a habitat and visitors with an up-close experience of Oregon's largest cats. At Trillium Creek, a unique, teen-run exhibit, visitors can learn about Oregon's agricultural heritage and the inner workings of farm life in the Northwest while interacting with rare breeds of farm animals.

The last leg of the journey takes visitors to Steller Cove, home to two magnificent Steller sea lions. Here at the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the endangered southern sea otter also makes its home, helping to represent the beauty of the Oregon Coast. With the kelp beds and tide pools of Steller Cove, the journey from crest to coast is complete.

" We hope the wonderful experience that visitors have here will translate into people caring more about Oregon's natural areas and the animals that live in them," says Vecchio.

Completion of the Great Northwest project has been made possible by numerous donations, private support and sponsors, including the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, sponsor of Black Bear Ridge and Cougar Crossing.

A number of Great Northwest activities have been planned for the Black Bear Ridge grand opening. Activities run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include:

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Strolling beneath a shady canopy of trees, you are startled by the presence of a 700-pound black bear. You retreat slowly, only to find yourself face-to-whiskers with a bobcat in its den. What do you do? Just enjoy the view of Black Bear Ridge at the Oregon Zoo. The $2-million Black Bear Ridge exhibit opens March 10.

The new exhibit, supported by the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, provides an up-close encounter with the rarely seen black bears and bobcats that inhabit the Northwest.

"Black bears and bobcats are notorious for their reclusive natures," says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "However, with cities now expanding into rural areas, we're hearing about more sightings and interactions. Our hope with Black Bear Ridge is not only to show these majestic Northwest animals, but to bring more awareness to the threats they are facing."

The 14,000-square-foot Black Bear Ridge exhibit, along with the addition of the Cascade Canyon Trail, completes the $36-million Great Northwest exhibit. The trail includes a 100-foot-long suspension bridge, which will provide a bird's-eye view of roaming black bears.

"The bridge allows our visitors to get a unique view that is not available anywhere else in the zoo," says Vecchio. "This makes the trail an essential addition in completing the Great Northwest experience."

In Black Bear Ridge, guests are invited to try to tell the differences between a black bear and its relative, the grizzly, or view a typical year in the life of an Oregon black bear. Moving on, guests can learn all about bobcats, from their typical daily diet to the origin of their name.

A number of Great Northwest activities have been planned for the Black Bear Ridge grand opening, which is sponsored by Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation. Activities run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include:

Design and construction of Black Bear Ridge was completed with sustainability and animal interests in mind. For example, black bears are great climbers, so it was essential to leave the existing trees during the construction.

"Black bears are described as monkeys in bear suits, because of their great climbing abilities," says Brent Shelby, exhibits manager. "The exhibit crew saw the existing forest as a perfect place for the bears to climb, so we went the extra mile to incorporate those trees during construction."

Bobcats were also considered during the construction and were treated with an overturned tree stump that serves as a heated den. A built-in viewing window in the den provides an excellent view of the bobcats.

The black bear exhibit consists of three wild-born black bears. The males, Homer and Pete, are named for the cities they were orphaned near: Homer and Petersburg, Alaska. Both are estimated to be 16 years old. The female, Gerry, is estimated to be nearly 20. Her most recent weight was 306 pounds.

In addition, the zoo has two bobcats in Black Bear Ridge, both 6 years old. The male, Kajika, weighs about 26 pounds, and the female, Kasa, weighs about 18-19 pounds. The pair are brother and sister, and come from the Baltimore Zoo.

With the completion of the Great Northwest exhibit, visitors can use the Cascade Canyon Trail to see the different animals that call the Northwest home. The artwork found along the trail -- including a carved wood fence using images of the forest from girls at the east Portland Boys & Girls Club -- is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The Great Northwest experience starts in the snowcapped mountains, runs through the watersheds, forests and farms of the valley, and ends on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

The black bear is the smallest of the three bear species native to North America, which include the grizzly and the polar bear. An estimated 600,000 black bears inhabit North America. They can grow up to 6 feet long and range from 90 to 400 pounds. They communicate through body and facial expressions, sounds, touch and scent markings. Some famous black bears include the Forest Service's Smokey Bear and the teddy bear, named after Theodore Roosevelt, who refused to shoot a cub on a hunting trip.

Bobcats are about twice the size of an average housecat. They can reach up to 3 feet in length and weigh anywhere from 15 to 30 pounds. The bobcat is North America's most common native cat. Small tufts of hair on the tips of bobcats' ears enhance their hearing abilities. The name bobcat comes from the animal's stubby or "bobbed" tail.

February 22, 2007
CLIMATE CHANGE DECIMATING POLAR BEAR POPULATION
Biologist Steven Amstrup discusses global warming, polar bears in Oregon Zoo lecture

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Scientists agree: If greenhouse-gas emissions remain uncurbed, the consequences to the planet will be devastating. Wildlife biologist Steven Amstrup discusses the effects of global warming on polar bears as part of the Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Oregon Zoo.

Amstrup, a research wildlife biologist with the Alaska Science Center, is an expert on polar bears and has studied firsthand the effects that the changing climate is having on their population. Amstrup presents his findings during the lecture "Polar Bear: Ultimate Sentinel for Climate Change."

"Polar bears almost exclusively eat seals, and they are equally as dependent upon the sea for their nutrition as are seals, whales and other aquatic animals," says Amstrup. "But because polar bears are not aquatic, their only access to the seals is from the surface of the sea ice."

Over the past 25 years, the summer sea-ice melt period has lengthened, and the summer sea-ice cover has declined by more than a half million square miles. "Longer ice-free seasons have resulted in reduced survival of young and old polar bears and a chronic population decline over the past 20 years," says Amstrup.

"Recent observations of nutritionally driven cannibalism and unexpected mortalities of prime age polar bears in Alaska are consistent with a population under stress," he adds.
According to zoo conservation scientist David Shepherdson, the Arctic region is probably the most sensitive area right now, but increasingly the effects of global warming will be felt worldwide, and wildlife will be among the first casualties.

In late December, the Bush administration proposed listing polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Shepherdson cautions that such a listing will not guarantee polar bears' survival into the next century. But it will provide funding and legislation to help reduce short-term threats to the bears, such as hunting and den-site disturbance, while the bigger problem of climate change is tackled on a global scale.

The Wildlife Conservation Lecture series is sponsored by Pro Photo Supply, Shiels Obletz Johnsen and New Belgium Brewing. Lectures are held in the Oregon Zoo's Banquet Center and begin at 7 p.m. The cost for each lecture is $10 for nonmembers and $8 for members of host organizations, students or seniors.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Tama, the Oregon Zoo's oldest reproductively active California condor, laid the first egg of the breeding season last week. The egg was laid on the morning of Feb. 17 at the zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation.

"I know better than to speculate as to who will lay the next egg," says Assistant Condor Curator Shawn St. Michael, "but we are seeing encouraging breeding behavior from a number of pairs."

Tama's egg will be naturally incubated for the next two weeks and then removed and candled to determine if it is healthy and developing normally. The egg will then be artificially incubated until it begins to hatch, which should occur around early to mid April.

"Once we see an external pip, we will immediately return the egg to Tama," says St. Michael.

The Jonsson Center is currently home to 17 condors, including six breeding pairs and three mentor birds. Mentor birds serve as role models for younger birds, teaching them appropriate behavior. Pismo (female), the zoo's primary mentor, will move to Ventana, Calif. in a few weeks to be a temporary mentor until returning to the Oregon Zoo in the fall.

In January, four of the zoo's juvenile condors were moved to The Peregrine Fund in Boise, in preparation for their release into the wild. Among them was Tatoosh (male, No. 367), born in April 2005, the second condor to be hatched in Oregon in more than a century. The others were Meriwether (male, No. 379), also hatched in 2005, and Ursa (female, No. 404) and Wiley (male, No. 420), both hatched in the spring of 2006.

Tatoosh and Meriwether are slated for release this summer into the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument of northern Arizona, and the younger two will be released during the summer of 2008.

The zoo also acquired a new condor, known as No. 385, from The Peregrine Fund. Condor No. 385 hatched in May 2005 and is considered too "genetically valuable" to be released into the wild, according to St. Michael. The bird's genetic value comes from three of his grandparents, who were wild birds. The zoo plans to use No. 385 for breeding purposes when he reaches maturity in six years.

In 2001, the Oregon Zoo became the third zoo in the nation to join the California Condor Recovery Program. California condor captive-breeding programs are also 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 Oregon Zoo was the recipient of The Wildlife Society's Conservation Award for "creating the nation's fourth California condor breeding facility" in April 2005.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Tusko the elephant was in surgery for more than five hours today to remove a chronically infected tusk. The tusk-removal surgery began at 8:54 a.m. and ended at 1:58 p.m. - the 6.75-ton, 35-year-old bull elephant was sedated during the entire surgery. He is now alert and resting.

Nearly all of Tusko's broken left tusk was removed. However, veterinarians could not risk keeping Tusko under anesthesia for any longer without the possibility that he might not wake up. Veterinarians will have to do additional surgery at a later date to remove the final small pieces of his tusk.

"I'm pleased that Tusko did so well during this surgery," said Mitch Finnegan, Oregon Zoo veterinarian. "He was a great patient."

Tusko is expected to make a full recovery from his surgery and will completely heal within the next year. The wound will slowly fill in with new tissue.

Tusko broke both his tusks during the late 1970s and had root canals done on each while living at a Florida zoo. Tusko's right tusk was removed when he was a young elephant.

"Breaking tusks is not a problem unique to elephants in captivity," said Mike Keele, Oregon Zoo deputy director. "It is common in wild elephants as well." Tusks grow throughout an elephant's life, but otherwise are essentially no different from ordinary teeth. However, Tusko's left tusk had died and was no longer growing.

Mitch Finnegan compared the tusk to a broken, rotten tooth in a human. "Bacteria build up in the wound and may enter into the bloodstream," he said. "This can cause heart problems."

Tusko's keepers had been cleaning the wound daily with water and Nolvasan disinfectant to keep the infection from spreading throughout his head. Tusko is blind in his right eye, probably from a past infection in his missing right tusk. If Tusko were living in the wild, the infection resulting from his broken tusk would be very debilitating. "Over time," says Finnegan, "it would probably kill him."

To prepare for his surgery, keepers trained Tusko to lie down on a 12-by-16-foot waterbed. The bed, which holds 2,000 gallons, was filled with warm water after the elephant was anesthetized. Because he is a former circus elephant, Tusko was already well-trained in a variety of behaviors, making it easy for zoo staff to build upon what he already knew.

The surgery was risky, but Finnegan says the risks were outweighed by Tusko's discomfort and the overall threat the chronic infection posed to his long-term health. The main risk involved with Tusko's surgery was the anesthesia, which is especially dangerous for an animal as large as an elephant.

Compounding the risk was the amount of time Tusko needed to be anesthetized, a total of five hours. "Because he was under for so long, there was a slim chance he would be too weak to stand up," said Finnegan. Trainers had planned ahead for this possibility by placing large straps under the waterbed, which were attached to chains linked through rollers. In the event that Tusko had been unable to stand up on his own, they would have used the straps to assist him.

Elephants lie down to sleep, but can only do so for a few hours at a time because their large body mass can cause them to suffocate. Lying on the waterbed helped prevent damage to his internal organs and loss of blood circulation, both of which might have proven fatal.

Tusko was born in Southeast Asia in 1971. He came to the Oregon Zoo in 2005 from an California elephant facility for the purpose of breeding with Sung-Surin and Rose Tu. If Sung-Surin doesn't get pregnant by the time she turns 25, according to Keele, the odds are against her becoming pregnant beyond that age. Even though the Oregon Zoo had male elephants Packy and Rama prior to Tusko's arrival, their genetic relatedness to the zoo's females make breeding unfeasible.

In the past 25-30 years, more has been learned about elephants than in the past 5,000 years. This is largely because elephants have been subject to intensive study at zoos across the world. The Oregon Zoo has been at the forefront of many discoveries. Until only recently, humans knew next to nothing about the reproductive biology of elephants. But through the work of the Oregon Zoo and elsewhere, we know much more about elephant breeding cycles, the length of gestation and how elephants rear their young.

An endangered species, Asian elephants are represented by an estimated 38,000-51,000 individuals living in fragmented populations in the wild. Agriculture, deforestation and conflict with humans pose a constant threat to wild Asian elephants. The Oregon Zoo, through the Future for Wildlife program, has supported several range-country conservation projects primarily to protect native elephant habitat and to mitigate the often fatal human-elephant conflicts. Human-elephant conflicts are now the leading cause of death for elephants in Asia.

In response to the dwindling population of Asian elephants in the wild, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, of which the Oregon Zoo is a member, strives to maintain a sustainable population of the endangered elephants in North America. Currently, birth rates are lower than necessary to do so. Tusko will contribute to the genetic diversity, and perhaps the eventual survival, of the Asian elephant population in North America.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Amazon River makes up one-fifth of the world's freshwater supply and the rain forest around it supplies about 20 percent of the world's oxygen. This region is home to more than 2.5 million insects, thousands of plant species and more than 2,000 birds and mammals. Discover all the river and the rain forest have to offer aboard a 19th-century ship on an exclusive nine-day excursion with the Oregon Zoo, April 27 to May 6. The deadline for signing up is March 16.

Anne Warner, the Oregon Zoo's conservation manager, leads the adventure up the largest river in the world, the Amazon. 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.

"I can't wait to wake up to birdcalls, swim with the river dolphins and hike in the jungle," says Warner. "It will be amazing to be on a ship in the heart of the Amazon rain forest."

Before embarking on the Amazon cruise, travelers explore Lima, Peru filled with ancient architecture and cultural traditions. Enjoy dinner in a temple built in 400 A.D., as well as the shopping and culture around the hotel.

From Lima, travelers fly to Iquitos, a rain forest village, to board La Turmalina. This 19th century vessel accommodates up to 22 passengers and has been handcrafted, offering state-of-the-art accommodations in elegant cabins, each with air-conditioning, a private bathroom and hot shower.

For the next five days, cruise along the Amazon River, seeing a variety of wildlife and a vast assortment of birds, including oriole blackbirds, purple gallinules, egrets and yellow headed caracaras. "We can fish for piranhas and catfish, and see the impressive Victoria Regia water lilies," says Warner. The Victoria Regia, known as the "queen of the lakes," has leaves that can exceed 7 feet in diameter and can support the weight of a small child.

The trip takes travelers through the Amazon National Park. Here, high bluffs line the river and the forest is much taller. "Travelers feast their eyes on the landscape of mysteries set before them," says Warner. "Towering trees festooned with epiphytes and palms and woody vines fashioned into a vaulted canopy create the shadow lands of the tropical rain forest."

An optional post-excursion allows travelers to explore the mysteries of the Incas at Cusco and Machu Picchu. Cusco is the oldest continually inhabited city in the western hemisphere and many of the roads and stonewalls are from Incan times. The excursion includes such archaeological finds as the ancient Incan temples of the sun and the moon, the large Incan fortress of Sacsayhuamán, the Kenko amphitheatre and Tambo Machay, the traditional bathing place for Incan royalty whose water source remains a secret to this day.

The entire trip along the Amazon River starts at $5,195 and the post-excursion to Cusco and Machu Picchu is $2,595. For information on how to sign up for this adventure, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Involved/travel.htm or call 503-525-4234.

PORTLAND, Ore. - More than 60 high-school students from Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties go behind the scenes and come nose to nose with sea otters, penguins, raptors and elephants during the Oregon Zoo's free Career Day, Thursday, Feb. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Students learn about careers in animal and veterinary care, education, design, management, visitor services, marketing and development. This year's Career Day was coordinated by high school intern Leslie Puente, a junior at Merlo Station.

"During their zoo visit, these kids quickly discover the importance of continuing their education," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "They learn what it takes to work at a zoo or other conservation organization, and how they can make a real difference in helping save endangered species by the choices they make."

From touring the animal care facilities to exploring how the zoo promotes its programs, students discover a variety of job possibilities and learn what educational backgrounds are required for each position. Students visit the zoo's animal hospital and go behind the scenes to view penguins, sea otters, elephants, primates and butterflies.

Career Day is a free program offered to local students. The zoo has offered the program since 1999. Students must apply through their "school to work" coordinators to attend.

The Oregon Zoo is committed to education. In 2005-2006, the zoo hosted 254,971 participants through 25 educational programs, including Career Day.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Tusko's got tusk problems. The 6.75-ton, 35-year-old bull elephant, on loan to the Oregon Zoo from a private elephant facility in California, is set to have tusk surgery Feb. 17. Tusko's chronically infected, broken left tusk will be removed completely during the surgery. He is already missing his right tusk, which was removed when he was younger.

Tusko broke both his tusks during the late 1970s and had root canals done on each while living at a Florida zoo.

"Breaking tusks is not a problem unique to elephants in captivity," says Mike Keele, Oregon Zoo deputy director. "It is common in wild elephants as well." Tusks grow throughout an elephant's life, but otherwise are essentially no different from ordinary teeth. However, Tusko's left tusk has died and is no longer growing.

Zoo veterinarian Mitch Finnegan compares the tusk to a broken, rotten tooth in a human. "Bacteria build up in the wound and may enter into the bloodstream," he says. "This can cause heart problems."

Tusko's keepers have been cleaning the wound daily with water and Nolvasan disinfectant to keep the infection from spreading throughout his head. Tusko is blind in his right eye, probably from a past infection in his missing right tusk. If Tusko were living in the wild, the infection resulting from his broken tusk would be very debilitating. "Over time," says Finnegan, "it would probably kill him."

To prepare for his surgery, keepers have been training Tusko to lie down on a 17-by-20-foot waterbed. The bed, which holds 2,000 gallons, will be filled with warm water after the elephant is anesthetized. So far, keepers say, Tusko is right on schedule with his training. Because he is a former circus elephant, Tusko was already well-trained in a variety of behaviors, making it easy for zoo staff to build upon what he already knew.

The surgery is risky, but Finnegan says the risk is outweighed by Tusko's discomfort and the overall threat a chronic infection poses to his long-term health. The main risk involved with Tusko's surgery is the anesthesia, which is especially dangerous for an animal as large as an elephant.

Compounding the risk is the amount of time Tusko will need to be anesthetized, a maximum of four hours. "Because he will be under for so long, there is a slim chance he may be too weak to stand up," says Finnegan. Trainers are planning ahead for this possibility by placing large straps under the waterbed, which will be attached to chains linked through rollers. In the event that Tusko is unable to stand up on his own, they will use the straps to assist him.

Elephants lie down to sleep, but can only do so for a few hours at a time because their large body mass can cause them to suffocate. Lying on the waterbed will help prevent damage to his internal organs and loss of blood circulation, both of which can prove fatal.

Tusko was born in Southeast Asia in 1971. He came to the Oregon Zoo in 2005 for the purpose of breeding with Sung-Surin and Rose Tu. If Sung-Surin doesn't get pregnant by the time she turns 25, according to Keele, the odds are against her becoming pregnant beyond that age. Even though the Oregon Zoo had male elephants Packy and Rama prior to Tusko's arrival, their genetic relatedness to the zoo's females make breeding unfeasible.

In the past 25-30 years, more has been learned about elephants than in the past 5,000 years. This is largely because elephants have been subject to intensive study at zoos across the world. The Oregon Zoo has been at the forefront of many discoveries. Until only recently humans knew next to nothing about the reproductive biology of elephants. But through the work of the Oregon Zoo and elsewhere, we know much more about elephant breeding cycles, the length of gestation and how elephants rear their young.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo is receiving money from criminals -- criminals who violate wildlife statutes, that is. Community service payments ordered by Oregon's federal court as part of wildlife-crime sentences will now go into an Endangered Species Justice Fund, created by the zoo and the U.S. Attorney's Office in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Money in the fund will be used to help endangered and threatened species.

"It's sad to see crimes that hurt wildlife, but we are pleased with the opportunity to have some good come from tragedy," said Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio. "It's an honor for us to team up with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help endangered wildlife."

The start-up money from the fund comes from the prosecution of a nationwide conspiracy to sell ocelots illegally. In recent years, wildlife investigators have prosecuted criminals for a broad range of crimes, from trafficking in endangered species and furs to illegally killing hundreds of migratory birds.

"I plan to make sure that criminals who commit wildlife crimes pay to help undo the damage they've done," said U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut. In 2005, Immergut and Gov. Ted Kulongoski established a similar endowment to target money from industrial-pollution prosecutions to environmental grants. The endowment -- known as the Oregon Governor's Fund for the Environment -- makes annual grants of hundreds of thousands of dollars to local environmental groups.

The goal of the Endangered Species Justice Fund is to decrease the environmental harm caused by wildlife crimes prosecuted in Oregon. Grants will fund programs that protect and support endangered and threatened species, as well as programs that work to combat illegal trafficking and sale of endangered and threatened species.

Since crimes prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office involve animals from all over the world, the fund will support programs that help Northwest species as well as efforts abroad.

The Endangered Species Justice Fund will be a part of the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. The program has a long history of success in international conservation efforts to help elephants, rhinos, penguins, cheetahs, leopards, snow leopards and chimpanzees in Africa, Asia and South America. FFW also has a proven track record locally, helping to fund regional conservation activities such as the reintroduction of Oregon silverspot butterflies, Washington pygmy rabbits and California condors.

"I am very proud that the U.S. Attorney's office has recognized the zoo's great work in helping endangered wildlife here in the Northwest and around the world," commented Vecchio. "With their help, we will make an even greater impact."

"We are grateful to the Oregon Zoo and the U.S. Attorney's Office for focusing attention on the problem of wildlife crime and ensuring that penalties from those offenses benefit species here and abroad," said Ren Lohoefener, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Region, headquartered in Portland. "When an individual or organization unlawfully sells wildlife -- especially protected species -- it creates a market that encourages their exploitation, in some cases driving a species closer to extinction."

February 9, 2007
CLIMATE CHANGE DECIMATING POLAR BEAR POPULATION
Biologist Steven Amstrup discusses global warming, polar bears in Oregon Zoo lecture

Over the past 25 years, the summer sea-ice melt period has lengthened, and the summer sea-ice cover has declined by more than a half million square miles. "Longer ice-free seasons have resulted in reduced survival of young and old polar bears and a chronic population decline over the past 20 years," says Amstrup.

"Recent observations of nutritionally driven cannibalism and unexpected mortalities of prime age polar bears in Alaska are consistent with a population under stress," he adds.

According to zoo conservation scientist David Shepherdson, the Arctic region is probably the most sensitive area right now, but increasingly the effects of global warming will be felt worldwide, and wildlife will be among the first casualties.

In late December, the Bush administration proposed listing polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Shepherdson cautions that such a listing will not guarantee polar bears' survival into the next century. But it will provide funding and legislation to help reduce short-term threats to the bears, such as hunting and den-site disturbance, while the bigger problem of climate change is tackled on a global scale.

The Wildlife Conservation Lecture series is sponsored by Pro Photo Supply, Shiels Obletz Johnsen and New Belgium Brewing. Lectures are held in the Oregon Zoo's Banquet Center and begin at 7 p.m. The cost for each lecture is $10 for nonmembers and $8 for members of host organizations, students or seniors.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Teens looking for something wild and exciting to do this summer should consider becoming a ZooTeen at Oregon Zoo. Students entering 9th through 12th grade this fall may apply now through March 1 for this award-winning volunteer program.

ZooTeens present animals to visitors, help keepers with the care and feeding of pettable animals, go on a behind-the-scenes tour with keepers, and manage the pygmy goat kraal -- run solely by teens. Some ZooTeens, with additional training, give animal presentations and serve as junior camp counselors at zoo day camps.

"We are one of the only zoos in the nation that has teenagers supervising teenagers," said Mia Reager, zoo youth volunteer coordinator. "This allows the teens to create a unique environment where they feel they belong. It's a kind of family."

ZooTeens gain an insider's view of the zoo and its animals, make new friends, develop leadership skills, gain public speaking skills in a fun environment, handle zoo education animals, and explore career possibilities. ZooTeens apply and go through an interview process, which teaches valuable career skills and prepares them for future job interview situations.

"It's the most amazing program I could ever have hoped to be a part of," said Jessica Underwood, 16, a ZooTeen team leader and Leadership Corps secretary. "It's so great to really come together with so many passionate people and do great things to help animals and our community."

ZooTeens work 11 hours a week, split into two 51⁄2-hour shifts, with two weeks' vacation. They receive 24 hours of training. From 50 to 70 ZooTeens may be invited to participate in the winter volunteer program, and 35 of these have the opportunity to become team leaders. These select teens help lead the program on a daily basis.

The Team Leader program has twice received an "Award of Excellence" for youth leadership involvement from Mutual of Omaha's Wildlife Heritage Center.

Each summer ZooTeens contribute 30,000 hours to the zoo. The program, in its 28th year, has participants from as far away as Longview, Wash., Eugene and Salem.

Portland, Ore. -- Vicki Croke has been writing about animals for more than a decade. Author of "The Modern Ark: The Story of Zoos -- Past, Present and Future" and the "Animal Beat" column for The Boston Globe, Croke concludes the Oregon Zoo's Dine & Discover series on Feb. 14.

During "A Valentine Evening With Vicki," Croke presents the story told in her latest book, "The Lady and the Panda." It is the story of Ruth Harkness, a Manhattan socialite who, in 1936, traveled to Tibet to capture the most mysterious animal of the day -- the giant panda.

Croke spent four years researching the story of Harkness, a woman she says was "forgotten by history," for her bestselling book. The book has received rave reviews and plans are in the works for a screen version starring Nicole Kidman as Harkness. "It's a great story of adventure, romance and conservation," says Croke.

The fascinating story will be complemented by gourmet food from Chef Paul Warner. Warner has chosen a South American theme for the food, because "in the middle of February, we need to bring our minds somewhere warm."

The four-course dinner will include an hors d'oeuvre display of empanadas, chilaquiles, pumpkin tamales and barbacoa de carnero (shredded roasted beef served with tortillas or sopas). Next, guests will be served albóndigas, a Mexican meatball soup. The main course will be bobó de camarão, a Brazilian shrimp and coconut stew over rice. Finally, the dessert will be pavê de biscoito maria, a caramel cookie layered torte.

"We like to make food that is interesting and you probably wouldn't find in most American restaurants," says Warner.

Dine & Discover, presented by The Boeing Company, is a series of three intimate food and wine experiences representing different regions of the world and fascinating animals. Each evening starts with a reception featuring delectable appetizers. The meal is a masterpiece of regional fare created by Warner and is accompanied by a presentation from a zoo staff member or guest speaker on the animals being highlighted.

The cost for each Dine & Discover evening is $75 per person, or $500 per table of eight. Seating is limited to those with reservations. To make reservations, call 503-220-2492 or e-mail Kris.Terich@oregonzoo.org. Guests must be 21 or older.

Future for Wildlife annually offers grants to support projects that directly contribute to the survival of animal populations in the wild. Projects funded in the past include repairs to the perimeter wall of the Humboldt penguin reserve in Punta San Juan, Peru; development of an environmental education program on Rodrigues, Mauritius; and a survey of endangered turtles in Hainan, China.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Predictions can be a tricky business, but with great confidence the Oregon Zoo's animals have made not one, but two predictions.

Ke, one of the zoo's resident hedgehogs (the zoo equivalent of Pennsylvania's "Punxsutawney Phil" and Canada's "Wiarton Willie") saw her shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter are on the way.

Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder presided over the hedgehog festivities on the zoo's concert lawn, as zoo volunteers assisted with the Ke's emergence.

"The groundhog is a relative newcomer to the prognosticating game," commented Burkholder. "Historically, the hedgehog was used in this centuries-old European tradition, but immigrants to North America discovered there were no hedgehogs in their new homeland. They substituted the groundhog, but being purists, we're going back to the original critter."

Meanwhile, Inji, matriarch of the zoo's orangutans, donned a Chicago T-shirt, signaling a Bears win in Sunday's Super Bowl XLI. In the past, Inji has correctly predicted the winners of two Civil War games and four Super Bowls, and her overall record is 6-3. Her grandson Kutai, who is two for two in Super Bowl picks, chose an Indianapolis Colts T-shirt. The zoo's other orang, Batik, also chose a Colts shirt, which surprised keepers, as in the past she has not shown an interest in this event.

"It's fun to watch all the orangs put on the T-shirts, but Inji's pick is the official prediction," said senior primate keeper Dave Thomas.

According to Thomas, Kutai has been inserting himself into the prediction process for the past two years and obviously wants to be part of the event. "It's not clear that he has inherited his grandmother's talent, but so far he's two for two."

Inji's ability to choose the winner of football games was discovered several years ago by chance. A local sportscaster had seen the orangs receive clothing as enrichment items and wondered what they would do with T-shirts from the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers prior to the Civil War football game. Inji, the more dominant of the group at that time, chose to wear the T-shirt of the school that eventually won the game. She was given the same challenge the following year, and again picked the winner. Due to exhibit construction and new animal introductions, Inji took some time off from her predictions. When conditions were again favorable, that year's Civil War game had passed, but the Super Bowl was only a few weeks away, so she began predicting Super Bowl outcomes.

Zookeepers are always looking for new and interesting ways to keep the animals engaged and active. Giving the orangutans T-shirts and other interesting items serves as environmental enrichment. The Oregon Zoo is internationally renowned for its environmental enrichment program, designed to keep animals mentally and physically challenged and stimulated.