March
30, 2007
OREGON ZOO READY TO 'PARTY FOR THE PLANET'
Who says it's not easy being green?
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is throwing a party:
141 parties in 42 states and two countries, to be exact. The Portland
version of the AZA's "Party for the Planet" takes place at the Oregon Zoo
during its Earth Day celebration Sunday, April 22, from noon to 4 p.m.
"At the 'Party for the Planet,' our members will showcase their animals and
educate visitors about how actions we take in our own neighborhoods affect
the environment where these animals make their homes," says Dot Siegfried,
marketing manager for the AZA.
The Oregon Zoo's party promises fun for everyone. "We're excited to
participate in this event," says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "We want to
show people that helping the Earth is fun."
Partygoers will be able to make and wear their own animal masks, learn to
fold origami frogs and craft coffee-filter butterflies, hear stories and
more. Visitors will also learn about things they can do to keep our planet
healthy, like recycling and backyard composting.
A local leader in conservation, the Oregon Zoo strives to serve as a model
for earth-friendly operations. The zoo's on-site composting facility
processes more than 2 million pounds of herbivore waste each year. Steller
Cove, the popular Pacific Coast exhibit, uses a closed-filtration system so
the holding areas do not need to be dumped and refilled. Reusable cups and
flatware are used in the Cascade Grill to reduce solid waste. The zoo
protects the planet and celebrates the planet. Now, it is throwing a party
for the planet.
Individuals can help save animals and their habitats every day by doing such
simple things as turning off unnecessary running water or turning down the
heat at night and when they are away.
"Party for the Planet" is free with zoo admission. To get 50 cents off the
admission fee, ride TriMet and show your MAX or bus ticket at the ticket
office. For 101 things you can do to help the planet, visit
http://www.oregonzoo.org/Conservation/whatyou.htm.
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March
29, 2007
TUSKO
THE ELEPHANT GOES IN FOR SECOND TUSK-REMOVAL SURGERY
Surgeons to remove the final section of Oregon Zoo bull elephant's
infected tusk
PORTLAND,
Ore. -- After 14 years with a broken tusk, Tusko the Asian elephant
will finally be tuskless. 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 a final tusk surgery on April 1. The last few inches
of Tusko's chronically infected, broken left tusk will be removed completely
during the surgery.
Nearly all of Tusko's broken left tusk was removed during a February
operation. However, the surgical crew was unable to remove a chunk of
compacted, hard dentin tissue in the deep part of the tusk cavity. Veterinarians
could not risk keeping Tusko under anesthesia any longer because of the
possibility he might be too weak to stand up.
"After four hours of surgery, we discovered our tools were not long enough
to reach all of the tusk," said Dr. Mitch Finnegan, Oregon Zoo lead veterinarian. "But
we would have stopped the surgery even if we had longer tools available --
we simply ran out of time."
Before the initial surgery in February, keepers had trained Tusko to
lie down on a 12-by-16-foot waterbed for the surgery. The 2,000-gallon
bed 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, and continues to lie down when requested.
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 helps prevent damage to his internal organs and loss
of blood circulation, both of which can prove fatal.
Trainers had also placed large straps under the waterbed, which were
attached to chains linked through rollers. If Tusko had been unable to
stand up on his own, they would have used the straps to assist him.
The April 1 surgery will be very similar to the February operation. Tusko
resumed his training to lie on the specialized waterbed soon after the
first surgery. The emergency safety straps will again be in place to
lift Tusko in the event he is unable to stand after surgery.
This surgery is risky, but Finnegan says the risks are outweighed by
Tusko's discomfort and the overall threat the chronic infection poses
to his long-term health. The concerns for this round are the same as
the last. However, the veterinary staff expects this surgery to take
less time. The first surgery lasted five and a half hours.
"Since the last surgery we worked with the maintenance staff to specially order
and fabricate the exact length of tools we need," said Finnegan. "I don't foresee
this surgery taking as long."
Tusko is expected to make a full recovery from his surgery and should
completely heal within the next year as the wound slowly fills in with
new tissue.
To see a video of Tusko's February surgery, please visit: http://www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/TuskoSurgeryVNR.htm
To see video of Tusko's training, please visit: http://www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/elephant_TuskoSurgery.htm
Tusko broke both his tusks during the late 1970s and had his 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 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 makes 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
work at 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.
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March
28, 2007
DINOSAURS RETURN TO OREGON ZOO FOR SPRING BREAK
Zoo brings back popular 3-D thrill ride 'Dino Island II: Escape From Dino Island'
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon Zoo visitors come eye-to-eye with the threatening
Tyrannosaurus rex, pteranodons and other dinosaurs in the return of the
zoo's popular thrill ride, "Dino Island II: Escape From Dino Island." The
feature, produced by SimEx-Iwerks, runs during the "Zoo's Gone Wild" spring
break party, now through April 7.
The "Dino Island" adventure catapults riders into the action from the very
beginning. As a crisis unfolds on Dino Island, the Earth Science Team has to
capture "Tony," the only male T. rex left in the world, before a volcano
erupts and takes out all remaining life. It's a race against time as lava
begins to flow, cliffs break away and dinosaurs come at riders from every
direction.
Nearly 362,000 people have experienced the zoo's simulation theater since it
premiered in May 2003, generating more than $1.2 million for many
conservation and education programs at the zoo.
"Dino Island" plays in the SimEx-Iwerks simulation theater located on the
former entry plaza directly across from the Amur tiger exhibit, close to the
Zoo Railway Station. In addition to regular zoo admission, a $4.50 ticket is
required. Members receive a 50-cent discount. Due to the limited number of
seats, a maximum of 800 visitors per day are able to experience the ride.
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March
26, 2007
ZOO STAFF PREPARES FOR TUSKO'S SECOND SURGERY
Oregon Zoo maintenance staff helps to make elephant's surgery a go
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Last month, Tusko, the 6.75-ton, 35-year-old bull Asian
elephant on loan to the Oregon Zoo from a private elephant facility in
California, underwent a five-hour surgery to remove his infected left tusk.
Veterinarians were surprised to discover the tusk extended farther into the
skull cavity than any other North American elephant that's had this surgery.
Nearly all of Tusko's broken left tusk was removed during the operation.
However, the surgical crew was unable to remove a chunk of hard, compacted
dentin tissue in the deep part of the tusk cavity. Veterinarians could not
risk keeping Tusko under anesthesia for any longer because of the
possibility that he might not wake up.
"As we conducted the surgery, we learned our tools were not long enough to
reach all of the tusk," said Dr. Mitch Finnegan, Oregon Zoo lead
veterinarian. "We needed longer, more specialized tools, so we turned to our
maintenance staff for help."
Maintenance Supervisor Mark Perkins had worked closely with Finnegan to
create the tools for Tusko's surgery in February, and he was ready to
coordinate the fabricated or specialized tools needed to complete the
procedure.
"Dr. Finnegan came to me and asked me to find drill bits, chisels and tools
longer than what we had used previously," Perkins said. "The maintenance
staff immediately went to work. After an extensive search, we found some of
the tools we needed. Those that we didn't find, we made."
The tools needed for an operation of this scale are not standard surgical
instruments. For the first surgery, maintenance staff rounded up concrete
drills, chisels and chainsaws. They also installed emergency safety
straps -- to lift Tusko in case he was unable to stand after surgery -- and
the waterbed vital to Tusko's comfort and safety.
Custom-made tools for the second surgery include a two-inch-diameter round
drill bit, similar to the one used in the first surgery - but much longer.
Perkins also specially ordered two carbide-tipped die drills, one measuring
nine-sixteenths of an inch wide by two feet long, and the other two inches
wide by two feet long.
Veterinarians will use the smaller carbide-tipped die drill as a guide,
drilling a small pilot hole through the tusk material up to the start of the
skull bone. Then, they will mark the measurement on the bigger drill to
ensure they do not break through the skull bone.
Another tool Perkins ordered for the surgery was a die grinder with a
special grinding bit used for plastic. The grinder will smooth out the
jagged edges inside the tusk cavity.
"During the first surgery, the drill heated up so much that the ivory was
melting to it, causing the drill to dull," Perkins said. "So we ordered a
bit meant for plastic. It is designed to resist the plastic adhering to the
drill-bit surface."
The maintenance team also purchased long crowbars to modify into chisels,
and they ordered a set of plastic-coated sledgehammers to help reduce the
amount of noise in the surgery room.
Construction and maintenance play a crucial roll in keeping the zoo in
working order, but they also directly help with animal surgeries when called
upon. "Without their metal-working skills or knowledge of tools, Tusko's
surgery would not be possible," said Finnegan. "They are critical in this
procedure."
"It is a rewarding experience to be such an integral part of a surgery this
size," Perkins said. "The success of this surgery rests on many shoulders
and the maintenance team is proud to help in any way we can."
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.
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 the male elephants Packy and Rama
prior to Tusko's arrival, their genetic relatedness to the zoo's females
makes breeding unfeasible.
In the past 25 to 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 work at 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.
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March
26, 2007
ELEPHANTASTIC CELEBRATION FEATURES PACKY'S 45TH BIRTHDAY
Famous elephant reaches milestone during Oregon Zoo's two-day pachyderm
party.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Herd up the family! It's time for the fourth annual
Elephantastic celebration. The Oregon Zoo's Asian elephants will be living
large April 14 and 15, during the weekend-long event honoring the zoo's
popular pachyderms. This year's Elephantastic will feature Packy's 45th
birthday and his son Rama's 24th birthday.
Elephantastic kicks off Saturday, April 14, with Packy's birthday bash, the
longest-running event in zoo history. Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., visitors
can enter to win a chance to lead Packy's parade around zoo grounds and help
keepers deliver Packy's cake. At noon, enjoy a free piece of birthday cake,
courtesy of Lamb's Thriftway. At 2 p.m., Packy receives a unique birthday
cake, a 40-pound whole-wheat concoction topped with frosting, apples,
carrots and celery, baked by the zoo's own Chef Paul Warner. Guests are
invited to help sing "Happy Birthday" while the prestigious pachyderm chows
down. The fun continues throughout the day, with face painting and games.
Before you leave, don't forget to take a moment to sign the big guy's
birthday card.
One day is not enough to celebrate the zoo's largest animals, so don't miss
the events planned for Sunday, April 15. The day starts off at 10 a.m. with
elephant training and feeding demonstrations, and a chance to witness the
painting prowess of Packy's son Rama. Then at 1 p.m., at the indoor gallery,
Rama takes his turn in the spotlight with a birthday cake to celebrate his
24th birthday.
Elephantastic is not just about the birthdays of Packy and Rama. The event
celebrates the zoo's entire elephant herd. Asian Elephants are an integral
part of the zoo, not to mention huge fan favorites. The Oregon Zoo is
recognized internationally for having the most successful breeding herd of
Asian elephants of any zoo. The herd has been a part of the zoo since 1952.
In 1962, Packy made international news as the first Asian elephant born in
the Western Hemisphere in 44 years. Zoo attendance skyrocketed, exceeding a
million visitors for the first time ever. Gaining instant fame, Packy even
graced the cover of Life magazine. He is the only second-generation captive
bull to breed successfully in world zoo history, having sired seven calves.
Packy is the oldest and largest Asian elephant in the United States,
standing about 10 feet 6 inches tall at the shoulder with an average weight
of 14,020 pounds.
To view footage from Packy's birth at the Oregon Zoo, visit
http://www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/PackysBirthday.htm
It's hard to live in the shadow of a 7-ton father, but Rama, Packy's son,
has made a name for himself as an artist. Rama's paintings have been
featured in various art galleries and have raised about $15,000 for the
Oregon Zoo Foundation's Future for Wildlife elephant conservation program,
as well as many other conservation efforts.
The Oregon Zoo's elephant herd consists of six elephants. The bulls are
Packy, Rama and Tusko (who arrived at the zoo in 2005). The cows are
Sung-Surin and Rose-Tu, both born at the Oregon Zoo, and Chendra, the orphan
elephant from Malaysia.
Elephantastic is free with regular zoo admission. For more information on
the event, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Events/elephantastic.htm
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March
23, 2007
OREGON ZOO ORANGUTAN TO HAVE GALLBLADDER REMOVED
Forty-seven-year-old Inji will have surgery March 26
Inji the orangutan is having surgery to remove her gallbladder on
Monday. Inji is well-known for her predictions of Super Bowl winners. Here
she spends time with a young visitor, while wearing one of her favorite
Super Bowl T-shirts. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy Oregon Zoo.
© Oregon
Zoo |
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Inji, the 47-year-old matriarch of the Oregon Zoo's
orangutan troop, will have her gallbladder removed on March 26. Inji, famous
for her yearly Super Bowl predictions, was observed to be not eating
normally Dec. 23, 2006. She showed signs of pain a few days later and was
taken off exhibit and given a complete exam, as well as an ultrasound. The
ultrasound revealed gallstones.
"We suspect that the exit from the gallbladder -- the bile duct -- was
partially obstructed when Inji went through her painful period," says Lisa
Harrenstien, Oregon Zoo veterinarian. "But it seemed to resolve on its own,
like the ball of a ball valve going back and forth."
Magnetic resonance imaging was done Jan. 31. She has not shown any further
signs of pain and has been eating normally. Some of the gallstones have been
treated with medication, but some are too large to be treated. Because of
this, zoo veterinarians determined Inji would need to have cholecystectomy,
or gallbladder-removal surgery.
Specialists will be performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which allows
for faster healing than open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery involves making
several small incisions in the abdomen to allow the insertion of surgical
instruments and a small video camera. The camera sends images to a video
monitor, allowing the surgeon a close-up view. The gallbladder is then
removed through one of the small incisions.
"There are many risks associated with her surgery and anesthesia," says
Harrenstien. Risks include tearing the bile duct, which would leak bile,
potentially causing infection. Also, the gallbladder's wall may be inflamed
from the gallstones, increasing the chance that the gallbladder wall tissue
could rupture during surgery. This would also release bile into the
abdominal cavity. Another risk is serious bleeding, a normal risk associated
with any abdominal surgery. Additional abdominal complications are possible
as well.
At 47, Inji is a geriatric orangutan, and this also increases the risk of
surgery. "Her body may not handle general anesthesia as well as a younger,
stronger animal," says Harrenstien. "That being said, she seems impressively
healthy in general, and this isn't our main concern."
Orangutans also have very sensitive respiratory systems, and the combined
effects of being under anesthesia and being close to humans could lead to a
respiratory infection.
Zoo veterinarians strongly feel that the risks of surgery are outweighed by
the risks and discomfort Inji faces if her gallbladder is not removed.
Untreated symptomatic gallstones can block the normal flow of bile,
resulting in severe or even fatal damage or infections to the gallbladder,
liver and pancreas.
Inji's incisions should be fully healed in one to two weeks. She will be off
exhibit for at least a week, but maybe longer.
Inji joined the Oregon Zoo family in 1960. Inji is a grandmother, and along
with Coco the chimpanzee, she has been with the Oregon Zoo longer than any
other animal.
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March
21, 2007
RARE BABY COLOBUS MONKEY DEBUTS AT OREGON ZOO
3-month-old to be introduced amid 'Zoo's Gone Wild' spring break festivities
PORTLAND, Ore. -- A new baby colobus monkey is thriving at the Oregon Zoo.
The newest addition to the zoo's Africa Rain Forest exhibit makes her debut
Sunday, March 25, with a keeper chat and introduction at 10:30 a.m.
Delu (pronounced DAY-loo) was born Dec. 14, but keepers have been waiting
for consistently warmer weather before letting her out on exhibit. She is
the fourth baby -- and first female -- for mother Mali, 11, and her mate,
Kiku, 16.
"We chose the name Delu, because it is a Hausa word for a female born after
several sons, implying 'the only girl,'" said Anna Michel, senior Africa
keeper.
Initially born with pure white fur, Delu is taking on her striking
black-and-white adult coloring. Her full coloring will continue to grow in
over the next couple of months.
Colobus monkeys are a threatened species in their native region of eastern
Africa because of encroachment by humans and a loss of habitat when forests
are cut down. There are four different species of black and white colobus
monkey; the Oregon Zoo houses the guereza (Colobus guereza), subspecies
kikuyuensis. The monkeys have pouched stomachs adapted to leaf digestion,
and males use vocalizations to establish territory.
Delu's debut takes place during the annual Zoo's Gone Wild spring break
celebration at the zoo. In addition to the baby colobus monkey, visitors can
see polar bears chowing down sno-cones, elephants munching on ice treats,
and lorikeets nibbling at fruit-kebabs and Hawaiian leis made of fruit.
The zoo's spring break festivities start March 24 and last until April 6.
Each day is filled with events such as keeper talks, animal enrichment
activities and concerts.
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March
20, 2007
ZOO
WELCOMES SPRING WITH ANNUAL RABBIT ROMP, APRIL 7
The
Oregon Zoo's polar bears also get in on the fun of Rabbit Romp;
the bears receive large pastel-colored eggs with hidden surprises inside.
© Oregon
Zoo |
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo invites families to celebrate spring during
Rabbit Romp on Saturday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rabbit Romp is
sponsored by Dex, and is free with regular zoo admission.
Rabbit Romp features a candy egg hunt every 20 minutes. Children ages 3 to
10 are divided into four age groups, with each group having a chance to find
a "magic" egg containing a special prize. Toddlers 2 and under can
participate in a candy hunt organized especially for them.
Rabbit Romp festivities also include a petting zoo, games and photo
opportunities. Several lucky Rabbit Rompers may win a chance to hide special
"eggs" (treats such as apples and yams) for the zoo's elephants to find. The
elephants participate in their own egg hunt, while sea otters and polar
bears also celebrate Rabbit Romp with special egg-themed enrichment.
Oregon Zoo Store offers kids an opportunity to purchase and create their own
furry animal friends at "Animaland." Kids can dress their newly created
plush toys in special commemorative Rabbit Romp T-shirts. The store also has
a great selection of animal-themed Easter baskets and plush rabbits.
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March 16, 2007
CANCELED -- GLOBAL WARMING FORCING BUTTERFLY MIGRATION, BIOLOGIST SAYS
Jessica Hellmann discusses climate change, butterflies, March 27 at the Oregon Zoo
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Global warming is "an inconvenient truth" for plants and animals as well as people: A rapidly changing climate has already forced at least 279 species to move closer to the poles. Other species have been driven to extinction by their inability to adapt. Jessica Hellmann, assistant professor of biological sciences at Notre Dame University, discusses the effects of climate change on butterflies, Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at the Oregon Zoo, as part of the 2007 Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series.
Hellmann's lecture, "Butterflies, Climate Change and the Future of Biodiversity," draws on her research on butterflies in oak grasslands of the Pacific Northwest. Her research on climate change brings her and her students west to Washington and Oregon each spring and summer and has recently been covered by both The New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
"Studies have shown that butterflies have responded to climate change in two ways," says Hellmann. "Some species have shifted their geographic distribution poleward and upward in elevation, but others have experienced population extinctions as climatic conditions change."
Further research is needed to determine whether butterflies are evolving in response to climate change, notes Hellmann. "It would not be surprising to see genetic changes in populations due to climate change, but species are unlikely to evolve entirely new adaptations to climate change as the pace of warming is incredibly fast," she says.
Hellmann will also address the role humans could play in helping species at risk of extinction. "Individuals, policy makers, and land managers all have a role to play in preserving global diversity, and Northwestern ecosystems can teach us how to be effective stewards," she says.
The Wildlife Conservation Lecture series is sponsored by Pro Photo Supply, Shiels Obletz Johnsen and New Belgium Brewing. Hosts for the series are the Audubon Society of Portland, the Oregon Zoo and the World Forestry Center. 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.
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March 16, 2007
EGGS-CEPTIONAL! RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR OREGON ZOO CONDORS
Endangered California condors produce fifth egg of season at zoo's off-site facility
California condor No. 147 suns her 9½-foot wingspan. Her recent
egg, laid the afternoon of March 11, is the fifth this season from condors
at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation.
© Oregon
Zoo |
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Endangered California condors are producing eggs at a
record rate this year at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife
Conservation. Five eggs have been laid so far, and the zoo anticipates its
most successful condor-breeding season ever.
The latest egg was laid the afternoon of March 11 by condor No. 147. She and
her mate, No. 137, will sit on the egg for up to two weeks before keepers
remove it to test the egg's fertility.
"The egg looks good and will be left with the pair for 10 to 14 days of
natural incubation," says Shawn St. Michael, assistant condor curator.
Condor keepers have determined that the first two eggs of the season are
fertile. These eggs -- laid by Tama and Ojai, respectively -- are now in an
incubator. The hens are currently sitting on dummy eggs, although these may
be removed to encourage the condors to mate again (called "double
clutching"). Keepers will decide whether to do this based on the number of
fertile eggs produced.
A third egg, produced by Woy and Wiloq, was candled on March 14 and
determined to be infertile. Keepers are double clutching the pair.
"I'm reasonably confident that they'll lay again," says St. Michael.
Keepers hope to candle a fourth egg, produced by condor No. 174 and Mali,
this weekend.
In other condor news, Pismo, the zoo's primary mentor bird, departed for
Ventana, Calif. on March 1. She is currently mentoring a group of young
condors in a field-release pen at Pinnacles National Monument. They are
expected to be releases sometime this spring. Pismo is scheduled to return
to the Oregon Zoo this fall.
The zoo recently acquired a new condor, No. 385, from The Peregrine Fund in
Boise, Idaho. He is currently housed in a large pre-release pen with
mentor-in-training No. 148.
"Upon being introduced, the two birds acted as if they were long lost
buddies, and have been getting along famously ever since," says St. Michael.
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 five 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.
For more information about the Oregon Zoo's California condors, visit
http://www.oregonzoo.org/Condors/index.htm
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March 14, 2007
ZOO RELEASES EIGHT RARE WASHINGTON RABBITS INTO WILD
Rachel
Lamson of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife releases a
pygmy rabbit into the wild near Ephrata, Wash., yesterday. Lamson works
in Portland with the Oregon Zoo's pygmy rabbit conservation program.
© Oregon
Zoo |
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Most would describe the broad hillside of Washington's Sagebrush Flats as empty and desolate, but for everyone involved in the conservation efforts of Washington's native pygmy rabbit, this area is actually a beacon of hope.
On March 13, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State University, Northwest Trek and the Oregon Zoo released 20 of Washington's endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits into the wild for the first time. Present at the release were representatives from conservation partners, local landowners, researchers, biologists and members of the press.
"There was a positive, upbeat atmosphere at the release," said David Shepherdson, conservation scientist at the Oregon Zoo. "The feeling of happiness was tinged with a certain amount of anxiety, but overall it was great for everyone involved with the conservation efforts to see their hard work pay off."
The release took place at Sagebrush Flats in Douglas County, near Ephrata, Wash. The rabbits were released at the entrances of artificial burrows, which had been placed prior to their arrival. Most rabbits appeared nervous, but easily made their way into the burrows, with a few immediately popping out their heads to survey their new habitat.
The WDFW led the release and took precautionary measures to avoid immediate predation, including removing perches near the release sight. The WDFW will monitor the rabbits before trapping any potential predators.
"The effect of trapping is very temporary," said Shepherdson. "WDFW will wait to see if predation is a problem and then decide what actions to take. When trapping, there is always potential to negatively effect the habitat."
Prior to the release, Oregon Zoo veterinarians fitted radio transmitters on eight of the zoo-reared rabbits, which are now helping WDFW biologists track the movement of the endangered rabbits in the wild.
"The radio transmitters allow us to monitor their survival, including everything from movement to reproduction," said Michael Illig, assistant curator in charge of the zoo's rabbit program.
Over the next several years, the zoo and its conservation partners will continue to release the endangered rabbits. Depending on the success of future breeding efforts, the next release could be as early as September 2007. The ultimate goal is to produce six different populations connecting through Washington's sagebrush-steppe region.
"To people who aren't familiar with the plight of the pygmy rabbit, this is a very big step," said Shepherdson. "These rabbits are a signature species of Washington's sagebrush-steppe region, which is a threatened habitat. Not only will conservation efforts support pygmy rabbits, they will also improve the sagebrush-steppe habitat, which benefits all the species living there."
The WDFW is working with local landowners to establish a habitat conservation agreement, where residents agree to dedicate a portion of land specifically to pygmy rabbit restoration. So far, two agreements have already been made.
A pygmy rabbit sits outside an artificial burrow shortly after being released near Ephrata, Wash., yesterday. A radio collar on each rabbit's neck will track its survival in the wild.
© Oregon
Zoo |
In 1993, the WDFW listed the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit as a state endangered species. Following a steady population decline, in 2001 and 2002, the WDFW enacted an emergency recovery program, finding only 16 rabbits in the entire state.
Washington's Columbia Basin is geographically isolated from other pygmy rabbit populations, which makes loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding a problem. In addition, the rabbits' diet consists of old growth (deep soil) sagebrush, which is becoming scarce in eastern Washington. Finally, wildfire, disease and predation are constant threats to their survival.
"These rabbits, like most endangered species, have had the odds stacked against them," said Illig. "Captive breeding has allowed us to control the variables that work against pygmy rabbits in the wild. Increasing population and genetic diversity will help give these rabbits a far greater survival rate."
The Oregon Zoo's involvement with pygmy breeding began when Idaho pygmy rabbits arrived at the zoo in December 2000. Zoo staff constructed behind-the-scenes habitats full of loose soil, with tubes to serve as hiding places for the reclusive rabbits. They also constructed nest boxes fitted with infrared video cameras to monitor the rabbits' behavior. Using video recorders, scientists studied their activity patterns exhaustively, learning subtle behavioral nuances.
In 2001, the research paid off, as the Oregon Zoo became the first zoo in the world to successfully breed Idaho pygmy rabbits. Thereafter, the zoo bred Washington's endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. However, efforts weren't successful until the 2006 breeding season, when the zoo had a record number of births, with 32 kits.
With breeding protocols established, the zoo shared its research with the WDFW. The protocols helped the WDFW develop its pygmy rabbit breeding facility at Washington State University in Pullman as well as the program at Northwest Trek.
In 2002, the USFWS allotted $1.3 million for the acquisition of 7,900 acres of habitat for the pygmy rabbit. Since then, the Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management and WDFW have been acquiring and protecting both existing and potential pygmy rabbit habitat, as well as developing native seed sources for habitat restoration.
Today the Oregon Zoo is home to 35 pygmy rabbits, including two full-blooded Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits: Lolo, a male, and Bryn, a female.
The smallest rabbit native to North America, the pygmy rabbit is the only rabbit to dig burrows and reside in a sagebrush habitat.
Initial progress in the pygmy rabbit recovery program was made possible by generous grants from the WDFW, the Foley/Frischkorn Wildlife and Conservation Fund, the Larson Legacy, the federal Endangered Species Act and the Bonneville Power Administration, via the Northwest Power Planning Council. In addition, the USFWS, WDFW, WSU and Northwest Trek all collaborated with the Oregon Zoo on their pygmy rabbit breeding and conservation efforts.
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March
9, 2007
ZOO'S GONE WILD FOR SPRING BREAK!
Oregon Zoo extends spring break activities to let Washington schools in on the fun
A pygmy goat "goes wild" during Oregon Zoo's spring break party. For the first time, the zoo has extended the Zoo's Gone Wild spring break event to include Washington schools.
© Oregon Zoo |
PORTLAND,
Ore. -- Move over Cancun. Forget about Vegas. The Oregon Zoo is the
latest spring break destination du jour. At the zoo's fourth annual
Zoo's Gone Wild celebration, March 24-April 6, spring breakers can
go wild with mountain lions, penguins and black bears.
"Portland may not be the Caribbean, but zoogoers have great imaginations," says
Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "We can all put on our Hawaiian shirts
and just pretend."
"This year we're especially excited to have a second week of activities," Vecchio
added. "Our neighbors to the north have been asking if we could
extend spring break for an extra week - since many Washington students
are on a different school schedule -- and this year that's just what
we've done."
Sunday,
March 25 will feature a Hawaiian music show at noon and 2:30 p.m. The
following Sunday, April 1, will feature music by local pirate band
Captain Bogg & Salty
at the same times. All music shows will be free with zoo admission.
Returning this year is an exhibit of two dozen lovely pink flamingos
to Tiger Terrace. Vecchio says he's delighted with the birds, since they
are made of sturdy plastic and don't require special diets or attention
from keepers.
The event provides a tropical vacation for the animals as well as for
zoo visitors. Visitors can watch as polar bears eat sno-cones, lorikeets
receive fruit leis, and cougars devour a luau feast. They can also check
out the zoo's newest exhibit, Black Bear Ridge, which features both black
bears and bobcats.
"Our great volunteers and staff have been planning these events
for months," says Vecchio.
Animal enrichment activities and keeper talks are scheduled daily:
Beat-the-Heat Saturdays
On Saturdays, March 24 and 31, meerkats will explore miniature tiki huts
and dig into papier-mâché coconuts filled with delicious
(to meerkats) bugs. Over in Cougar Canyon, it will be cool for cats,
with a fruit-adorned luau feast set for 1 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., Steller
sea lions get in the swim with some tropical ice treats (following
2 p.m. sea lion keeper talks).
Sno-Cone Sundays
Polar bears enjoy "sno-cones" at the Oregon Zoo during its annual spring break party. For the first time, the zoo has extended the Zoo's Gone Wild spring break event to include Washington schools.
© Oregon Zoo |
On Sundays, March 25 and April 1, polar bears chow down sno-cones, elephants
munch on ice treats, and lorikeets nibble at fruit-kebabs and Hawaiian
leis made of fruit. Visitors will also have a chance to see two of
the zoo's youngest residents: March 25 marks the debut of Delu, the
zoo's new baby colobus monkey (keeper chat and introduction at 10:30
a.m.) And visitors can try to sneak a glimpse of Rio the ocelot kitten,
during 11 a.m. keeper talks.
Mighty Mai Tai Mondays
On Mondays, March 26 and April 2, Bug the grizzly bear is treated to
a gigantic frozen (non-alcoholic) "mai tai," complete with
a sugarcane straw, papier-mâché umbrella and tropical
fruit. Bug's happy hour starts at 10 a.m., and -- while he won't be
seeing any pink elephants -- visitors can marvel at the zoo's Asian
elephants during a 1 p.m. keeper talk and training demonstration.
Tropical Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, March 27 and April 3, mandrills feast on treats hidden inside
papier-mâché coconuts and hang ten on papier-mâché surfboards.
Surf's up at 10 a.m. -- cowabunga! At 1 p.m., lorikeets receive Hawaiian
leis made of fruit.
Big Wave Wednesdays
On Wednesdays, March 28 and April 4, the chimps get ready for a tropical
vacation with Hawaiian shirts and some papier-mâché cruise
ships (10 a.m.). At 2:30 p.m. Steller sea lions shoot the tube and
receive some tropical ice treats (following 2 p.m. sea lion keeper
talks).
Beach Party Thursdays
On Thursdays, March 29 and April 5, the zoo's wolves wolf down a Hawaiian
luau feast: strips of bison hide hidden inside a life-size papier-mâché pig "cooking" over
an open pit (1 p.m.). At 2:30 p.m. the hippos get poolside service,
with melons floating in their water and a beach ball filled with grain
to bounce around.
Aloha Fridays
Friday, March 30 and April 6, it's mayhem in the a.m., as orangutans
put on Hawaiian shirts and set about destroying a papier-mâché surfboard
and Ford woody station wagon (10 a.m.). Social hour starts at 11 a.m.,
as keepers and vet staff go into the wolf exhibit and socialize with
the wolves; a keeper will also be present to chat with visitors about
what they're doing.
Zoo visitors
can enjoy special spring break treats of their own. The zoo's restaurants
will serve island burgers, Jamaican jerk chicken and pineapple upside-down
cake. A reggae blend of coffee will be served. The barbecue cart will
be open, serving an island chicken sandwich. Tropical tunes will be
piped over the P.A. system, and event volunteers will be decorating
the zoo with giant hibiscus blossoms, flower garlands and grass skirting.
Visitors are encouraged to enhance the zoo's décor
by coming in Hawaiian shirts or other tropical attire.
Visitors
can also join the fun by entering the "Move About the
Zoo" contest for a chance to win tickets from Southwest Airlines.
Spot the Southwest airplane hidden somewhere on zoo grounds, then submit
a slip of paper indicating the plane's location. At the end of the week,
two winners will be selected to receive a pair of tickets each.
Zoo's Gone Wild is designed to showcase the Oregon Zoo's internationally
renowned animal enrichment programs. Animal enrichment is designed to
challenge animals with complex tasks that require problem solving.
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March
9, 2007
OREGON ZOO READY FOR RELEASE OF RARE WASHINGTON RABBIT INTO WILD
Oregon Zoo veterinarians attach radio transmitters to an adult Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, so WDFW biologists will be able to track the rare rabbit in the wild.
© Oregon Zoo |
PORTLAND, Ore. -- On March 13, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State University, Northwest Trek and the Oregon Zoo, will release 20 of Washington's endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits into the wild for the first time. The release will take place in Douglas County north of Ephrata, Wash. The WDFW will oversee the release and will, initially, protect the rabbits from predators.
"By keeping the rabbits safe during their introduction -- a time when they are especially vulnerable to predators -- WDFW can help their chances of surviving in the wild," said Michael Illig, assistant curator in charge of the zoo's rabbit program.
Recently, Oregon Zoo veterinarians fitted radio transmitters on 8 of the zoo-reared rabbits, so WDFW biologists will be able to track their movements in the wild.
"The radio transmitters will allow us to monitor their survival, including everything from movement to reproduction," said Illig.
In 1993, the WDFW listed the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit as a state endangered species. Following a steady population decline, in 2001 and 2002, the WDFW enacted an emergency recovery program, finding only 16 rabbits in the entire state. Based upon the success of this release, future releases will be made to replenish Washington's rabbit population.
Washington's Columbia Basin is geographically isolated from other pygmy rabbit populations, which makes loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding a problem. In addition, the rabbits' diet consists of old growth (deep soil) sagebrush, which is becoming scarce in eastern Washington. Finally, wildfire, disease and predation are constant threats to their survival.
"These rabbits, like most endangered species, have had the odds stacked against them," said Illig. "Captive breeding has allowed us to control the variables that work against pygmy rabbits in the wild. Increasing population and genetic diversity will help give these rabbits a far greater survival rate."
The Oregon Zoo's involvement with pygmy breeding began when Idaho pygmy rabbits arrived at the zoo in December 2000. Zoo staff constructed behind-the-scenes habitats full of loose soil, with tubes to serve as hiding places for the reclusive rabbits. They also constructed nest boxes fitted with infrared video cameras to monitor the rabbits' behavior. Using video recorders, scientists studied their activity patterns exhaustively, learning subtle behavioral nuances.
In 2001, the research paid off, as the Oregon Zoo became the first zoo in the world to successfully breed Idaho pygmy rabbits. Thereafter, the zoo bred Washington's endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. However, efforts weren't successful until the 2006 breeding season, when the zoo had a record number of births, with 32 kits.
With breeding protocols established, the zoo shared its research with the WDFW. The protocols helped the WDFW develop its pygmy rabbit breeding facility at Washington State University in Pullman as well as the program at Northwest Trek.
In 2002, the USFWS allotted $1.3 million for the acquisition of 7,900 acres of habitat for the pygmy rabbit. Since then The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management and WDFW have been acquiring and protecting both existing and potential pygmy rabbit habitat, as well as developing native seed sources for habitat restoration.
Today the Oregon Zoo is home to 35 pygmy rabbits, including two full-blooded Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits: Lolo, a male, and Bryn, a female.
The smallest rabbit native to North America, the pygmy rabbit is the only rabbit to dig burrows and reside in a sagebrush habitat. (Jackrabbits, which also reside in sagebrush communities, are actually hares, not rabbits.)
Initial progress in the pygmy rabbit recovery program was made possible by generous grants from the WDFW, the Foley/Frischkorn Wildlife and Conservation Fund, the Larson Legacy, the federal Endangered Species Act and the Bonneville Power Administration, via the Northwest Power Planning Council. In addition, the USFWS, WDFW, Washington State University and Northwest Trek all collaborated with the Oregon Zoo on their pygmy rabbit breeding and conservation efforts.
"The zoo and its dedicated conservation partners have worked tirelessly to help save Washington's Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits from certain extinction," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "This tiny rabbit is a gigantic success story."
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March
7, 2007
GLOBAL WARMING FORCING BUTTERFLY MIGRATION, BIOLOGIST SAYS
Jessica Hellmann discusses climate change, butterflies, March
27 at the Oregon Zoo
