Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR - www.oregonzoo.org
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Oregon Zoo - Portland, OR - www.oregonzoo.org |
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Press
Kits: Press
Releases: NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release, not the date of the event.
September
19, 2007
"The one thing I've heard over and over since I came here nine years ago was that we needed to bring back lions," said Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio. "We need to expand Africa to accommodate lions, and the most logical place to expand Africa is next door to Africa." Fortunately for zoo visitors, some animals and elements of the Alaska Tundra exhibit will remain at the zoo. Elk Meadow, across from Trillium Creek Family Farm in the Great Northwest complex, is being renovated to accommodate the wolf pack, and they will move in as soon as their new exhibit is ready. The short-eared owls, long tailed ducks and spotted owls will move to off-exhibit space on zoo grounds. All of the art within the exhibit will be saved and used in other areas of the zoo. The exhibits department plans to move the popular Northern Lights display to the polar bear exhibit. "Any building materials which can be reused, will be," said Brent Shelby, the zoo's exhibit and interpretive design manager. "We not only teach recycling, we live it." Unfortunately for zoo visitors, the grizzly bear and musk ox are moving to new homes. The zoo will soon break ground on the new African exhibit Predators of the Serengeti, which will feature lions, cheetahs and African wild dogs. The exhibit will open in 2009. September
17, 2007
The three cheetah events benefit the Cheetah Conservation Fund, an organization working to ensure the long-term survival of the cheetah. "With only 12,000 wild cheetahs left on earth, time is running out for these endangered animals," said CCF founder Dr. Laurie Marker, a Time magazine "Hero for the Planet" award recipient and world-renowned cheetah expert. Run for the Cheetah The third annual Run for the Cheetah begins with a kids' half-mile dash at 8 a.m., followed by an 8K run/walk at 8:30 a.m. and a 5K run/walk at 8:45 a.m. Dr. Marker and former Gov. John Kitzhaber, the honorary chair for the event, kick off the race and hand out awards. The run begins near the zoo entrance and winds through Washington Park. The run is sponsored by the Oregon Zoo, Azumano Travel, Java Jacket, Comcast, Northwest Paper Box, Columbia Sportswear, Marriott Downtown Waterfront Hotel, Montrail, NuGo, NW Natural, Partners on Demand, REI, KINK-FM, the Lake Oswego Review and National Geographic Kids. To register for Run for the Cheetah, visit www.runforthecheetah.org or call 503-644-6822. The Cheetah Conservation Fund is donating $5 of each $20 registration fee to support the Oregon Zoo. Children must be registered for the kids' dash by Oct. 12. Cheetah Camp Children ages 4 to 11 are invited to Cheetah Camp from 9 a.m. to noon. Campers are divided into age groups and are able to visit with Dr. Marker and two cheetahs, Kamau and Kgosi. Kgosi is an extremely rare king cheetah, one of only about 30 king cheetahs on earth. Campers will also create gifts for children in Namibia, Africa, CCF headquarters. For further information or to register, visit (link no longer available). Big Cat. Big Party. For cool cats who like to party, CCF's sixth annual "Big Cat. Big Party" takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The patron party begins at 5 p.m. with Dr. Marker answering questions about her feline friends, Kamau and Kgosi, in a more intimate setting before dinner and the auction. During the party, there will be both a silent and a live auction. Rebecca Webb from KINK-FM will be the master of ceremonies. Among other items, cheetah-themed plates designed by local high school students are available for bidding. A portion of the proceeds from "Big Cat. Big Party" supports the Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, which will bring lions, cheetahs and African wild dogs to the Oregon Zoo in 2009. Tickets may be purchased for $75 before Oct. 1 and $90 after Oct.1. For tickets, call 503-690-3532 or e-mail ccforegon@cheetah.org. Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 9. September
10, 2007
Zookeepers and the zoo's ocean conservation mascot, Sandy the Sea Otter, help kick off the event on Sunday, Sept. 23. The event features interactive activities such as "Where Your Water Goes," which shows how dumping dangerous chemicals down the drain can harm marine wildlife. In addition, a video from the Monterey Bay Aquarium highlights their efforts to rehabilitate sea otters and reintroduce them to the wild. Other sea otter activities include:
Once found from Baja California to Alaska and northern Japan, sea otters were valued for their soft, luxurious fur and were hunted to the brink of extinction during the late 1800s and early 1900s. By 1911, only 13 small sea otter colonies existed throughout their range. The Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 ended hunting, but unfortunately the treaty came too late to save the Oregon sea otter population. An imperiled population of southern sea otters still exists in California, while a more vigorous population of northern sea otters can be found in Alaska, although its numbers are in decline due to predation by killer whales. September
7, 2007
"World Animal Festival is a celebration of how animals have influenced humans for thousands of years, inspiring them to create music, stories, dances and art," says Krista Swan, Oregon Zoo event coordinator. "In addition to highlighting amazing music and dance from nearly every continent, our professional storytellers will weave animal tales, representing the world's animals in legends and myths." For example, to several Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest, the sea otter represents loyal friendship, while the salmon is seen as a provider. The !Kung San Bushmen in southern Africa revere giraffes and hippos as "rain animals." In India, the Asian elephant appears in the Hindu incarnation of the four-armed god Ganesh, lord of wisdom, intelligence and education. Automakers and sports teams often use animals to depict their products as fast, intrepid and bold. The festival includes musical performances by the traditional Celtic band Tonn Nua on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 3 p.m., and traditional African drummers Chata Addy and Shi Dah on Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. A Native American dance troupe known as Painted Sky performs Saturday, Oct. 7, at 2 p.m. Throughout the zoo, activity areas feature games, educational activities and take-home crafts such as Ukrainian egg decorating (first weekend only), Middle Eastern mosaics, animal-mask making and face painting. Children can also receive henna tattoos, temporary tattoos popular in Africa, southern Asia and India. Visitors can watch zoo animals receive enrichment treats and learn what threatens animals' survival in the wild. During the nine days of the World Animal Festival, "Wild Life Live" bird shows are scheduled daily at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. As always, these shows are weather dependent. World Animal Festival runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. A schedule of activities and performances for the festival can be found at www.oregonzoo.org September
6, 2007
The exhibit, designed by Assistant Curator Michael Illig, recreates the turtles' natural habitat, with cliff walls resembling a mountain streambed, and stones of various sizes scattered throughout. Grassy plants, ferns, logs and rocks adorn the sandy bottom. A nearby pond features logs for basking, with heat lamps creating a seemingly endless summer. A skylight provides natural light, and the soothing sound of rushing water completes the exhibit and brings it to life. The western pond turtles will share their exhibit with Oregon's other native turtle, the western painted turtle. The exhibit also highlights the efforts of the zoo's turtle conservation station, located next door. "Ever since we put in the turtle conservation station, we've wanted to show visitors how the project in the field works," said Illig. "With this new exhibit, visitors can see Oregon's native turtles in their natural setting and also learn about the methods we use to help them." The exhibit includes some of the tools scientists use in the field, such as cages placed around turtle nests to protect eggs from predators. In addition, one of the female turtles on exhibit is fitted with a (nonfunctioning) radio transmitter to show how scientists track adult females to their nests. Once the scientists know where a nest is, they can place the protective cages and mark the site for a return in the fall to collect hatchlings for head-starting. Biologists also track turtles to monitor progress and movement patterns. Signs around the exhibit highlight the plight of these rare turtles, and the effects invasive species have on them.
"Invasive and non-native bullfrogs and large-mouth bass eat the newly hatched pond turtles, and red-eared slider turtles compete for nesting sites," said Illig. Non-native sliders are winning the survival race against the native turtles. The sliders lay eggs later in the season and dig up existing turtle nests and use them for their own. "Invasive species are not only devastating to the turtles," said Illig, "but also to native fish, amphibians and plants." For the past eight years the Oregon Zoo has been "head-starting" baby western pond turtles in its turtle conservation station. Over nine months, zoo staff members monitor and weigh the rare turtles. Once they reach a suitable size of about 70 grams (a little more than 2 ounces), the turtles are returned to the wild and monitored for safety. "With larger turtles, predators such as non-native bullfrogs and large-mouth bass are no longer threats," said Dr. David Shepherdson, zoo conservation scientist. Now listed as an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon, the Western Pond Turtle was once common from Baja California to Puget Sound. To learn how to help native turtles in your backyard, please visit www.willametteturtles.com To watch a video of the zoo's new native turtle exhibit, please visit www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/WPTurtles.htm The turtle reintroduction effort is part of a collaborative effort among Oregon Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Oregon Zoo's participation in the Western Pond Turtle Recovery Project is funded through The Oregon Zoo Foundation's Future for Wildlife conservation fund. September
5, 2007
PORTLAND, Ore.
-- If you were singing along with the Beach Boys in 1962, "Come on a
safari with me," Oregon Zoo invites you to come on a safari
for
free. No, this isn't a surfin' safari. Seniors (65+) and their companions
(one companion per senior) can visit the Oregon Zoo free of charge during
the zoo's annual Senior Safari, Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sponsored by Providence Health Plan, Senior Safari has been planned with "So many people associate the zoo with young children and forget the zoo is here to be enjoyed by everyone," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "By offering this unique day for seniors, we hope older adults can reconnect with animals." During the day, seniors can enjoy a variety of special activities and entertainment. The day begins with complimentary coffee and donuts (while supplies last), provided by the zoo. Seniors can pet Pygora goats and Shetland sheep, see PGE's 'Wild Life Live' birds show and attend animal talks at different exhibits throughout the zoo. Seniors and their guests receive free train rides throughout the day and can enjoy music performances. A reasonably priced lunch is also available. For more information, please visit Providence Home and Community Services is providing wheelchairs free of
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Cheetahs, the world's fastest land animals, can reach speeds of
60-70 mph. To help support their dwindling numbers in the wild, the Oregon
Zoo and the Cheetah Conservation Fund have teamed up to host a variety of
events at the zoo Oct. 14, benefiting CCF and the zoo's Predators of the
Serengeti exhibit, opening in 2009.
A
young Oregon Zoo visitor plays the "predator pounce" game during
World Animal Festival at the zoo. The festival, a celebration of how animals
have influenced humans throughout history, takes place Sept. 29 through Oct.
7, and is free with zoo admission. Photo by Michael Durham
Oregon Zoo visitors can come face-to-face with rare western pond
turtles at the zoo's new native turtle exhibit. Photo by Michael Durham.
A
rare western pond turtle swims underwater in its new exhibit at
Seniors (65+) and their companions (one companion per senior) can
visit the Oregon Zoo free of charge during the zoo's annual Senior Safari,
Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A senior enjoys feeding two of the
zoo's colorful lorikeets. Photo by Michael Durham.