NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release, not the date of the event.
April 2010
April 29 — Zoo Workshop to Present Latest Buzz on Native Pollinators April 28 — Black Bears Return to Oregon Zoo April 27 — Mothers of All Kinds Honored at Oregon Zoo April 23 — Oregon Zoo Summer Concert Tickets on Sale April 28 April 23 — Celebrate Mother's Day With Brunch at the Oregon Zoo April 21 — Zoo Uses Green Building Practices to Celebrate Earth Day April 21 — Oregon Zoo Polar Bears Help 'Lick Climate Change' on Earth Day April 20 — Oregon Zoo Celebrates First Condor Chick of 2010 April 17 — Nearly 8,000 People Help Celebrate Famous Pachyderm's 48th Birthday April 15 — Supersize That Cake! Oregon Zoo Marks Packy's 48th Birthday April 13 — Coyote Expert Unveils Research at Oregon Zoo April 13 — Supersize That Cake! Oregon Zoo Marks Packy's 48th Birthday
April 29, 2010 ZOO WORKSHOP TO PRESENT LATEST BUZZ ON NATIVE POLLINATORS Experts promote conservation practices in urban, agricultural and natural settings
A bumblebee approaches a red currant flower from below. In May, the Oregon Zoo and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation will co-host a workshop on conserving Oregon's native pollinators. Photo by Mace Vaughan, courtesy of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Recent studies show that pollinator populations are declining in North America, and scientists do not really have an explanation. Honeybees alone pollinate more than 130 crops in the United States and add $15 billion in crop value each year. If populations decline further, global food webs (and with them the economy), biodiversity and human health will be significantly threatened.
On May 14, the Oregon Zoo is teaming up with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to host a daylong workshop aimed at helping bees and other pollinators. Experts will discuss the unique biology of Oregon's native bees, explain how to identify them and present ways of creating habitats that support pollinators around the home, garden or farm.
A leaf-cutter bee sits atop a blanket flower. In May, the Oregon Zoo and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation will co-host a workshop on conserving Oregon's native pollinators. Photo by Mace Vaughan, courtesy of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
The workshop is intended for land and park managers, landscape architects, golf course managers, conservation groups, biologists, researchers, educators and homeowners who want to create a suitable habitat for pollinators in their back yard.
A morning session will provide information about bee ecology and pollinator conservation, and in the afternoon, participants will take a walk outside to look at pollinators and habitats around the zoo.
April 28, 2010 BLACK BEARS RETURN TO OREGON ZOO Zoo's Great Northwest will be home to three black bears
Cubby the bear scratches his back against a tree at the Oregon Zoo. Cubby, Dale and Tuff — three new residents of the zoo’s Black Bear Ridge exhibit — will be acclimating to their new home over the next couple weeks and should be permanently on exhibit sometime next month. Photo by Kristine Torres, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Black Bear Ridge will soon have some new residents. Three bears — Dale, Cubby and Tuff — have a new home at the Oregon Zoo and should be permanently on exhibit sometime next month. Lucky visitors may catch glimpses of the three over the next couple weeks as the bears become acclimated to their surroundings. The bears, which previously lived at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, have each had an interesting path to Oregon.
Dale, the lone female of the group, was found orphaned as a cub in Minnesota in April 2001. Authorities with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources rescued her and raised her at a rehabilitation center. Because of Dale’s close interactions with humans, she could not safely be released back into the wild. The bear advisory group from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums stepped in and found Dale a home at the Hogle Zoo.
Tuff was born on a private breeder’s property in Missouri and sold illegally (without permits). Officials confiscated the young bear, transferring him first to a licensed facility and then to the Hogle Zoo in 2004.
The other male, Cubby, was born at Chahinkapa Zoo in North Dakota and moved to the Hogle Zoo in 2003
“We know Dale, Cubby and Tuff will enjoy their new home at the Oregon Zoo,” said Kim Smith, zoo director. “Our staff is excited about caring for these black bears –– and about seeing their reaction to the beautiful, natural exhibit they will now call home. The Hogle Zoo is an excellent facility and we are very grateful for the quality care these animals received there.”
Black bears are the smallest bears native to North America. Males can reach up to 6 feet in length and weigh anywhere from 150 to 600 pounds, while females generally weigh less than 300 pounds. Black bears are omnivores and eat everything from grasses, fruits, berries and insects to, occasionally, carrion or hunted game.
Black bears are found throughout Alaska and Canada and in sparsely populated forested regions of the contiguous United States.
PORTLAND, Ore. —The Oregon Zoo is celebrating Mothe’s Day by naming its 2010 Zoo Mother of the Year, and the public is invited to help choose the winner. This year’s finalists are an Allen’s swamp monkey named Dannon, a chimpanzee named Coco and Kandungo, a red-flanked duiker. An online ballot featuring photos and short biographies of the zoo moms can be seen at http://www.oregonzoo.org/Voter2010/vote_form.cfm
"These three moms all represent species that are endangered, threatened or at risk in the wild," said Kim Smith, zoo director. "As successful moms, they’ve done a great deal to help their species."
The finalists were selected by zoo employees from an initial list of seven zoo moms.
"Zoo employees enjoy the chance to choose the finalists, "Smith said. "They want to see their favorite make the ballot."
Online votes will be accepted through Thursday, May 6, at noon. The zoo will announce its 2010 Mother of the Year on Friday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m.
In addition to honoring mothers from the animal kingdom, a Mother's Day brunch for human moms and their families will take place in the Oregon Zoo's Cascade Crest Banquet Center on Sunday, May 9. First seating is at 9 a.m. and last seating is at 1 p.m. The brunch buffet includes pastries and quick breads; scrambled eggs with mushrooms, tomatoes, ham, chives and white cheddar; bacon and sausage; made-to-order omelets; breakfast potatoes; French toast with maple syrup; biscuits and gravy; chicken-and-mushroom ragout with wild rice; as well as assorted salads and desserts. Cost for the brunch is $21.95 ($9.95 for ages 3-11).
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 503-525-4299. Zoo admission is not included in the price of the brunch; however, zoo admission is not required to attend the brunch.
ANIMAL BIOGRAPHIES
COCO
Coco, a 57-year-old chimpanzee, has the distinction of being the oldest animal at the Oregon Zoo. She first came to the United States through the pet trade and was donated to the zoo by her owner in 1961. She shares her exhibit with three other chimps, including two of her offspring, Delilah and Leah.
According to Dave Thomas, the zoo's senior primate keeper, Coco was a great mother: patient and protective of her babies. He found that she interacted with her infants in a way that closely resembled human mother-infant interactions.
"We'd see the love, the sensitivity, the protection and the play interactions from her that people assumed only happened between humans," Thomas said.
DANNON
Dannon, a 20-year-old Allen's swamp monkey, is the proud mother of Bleu, a 7-year-old female.
Shortly after the birth of one of this monkey's babies, zoological curator Chris Pfefferkorn said, "Dannon is a very attentive mother and has not let her baby down since giving birth. We don’t know the sex yet because she is pretty protective of their new baby.''
Dannon came to the zoo in 1994 on breeding loan from the San Diego Zoo.
KANDUNGO
Kandungo, a 6-year-old red-flanked duiker, has given birth to three calves while residing at the Oregon Zoo –– two in 2009! She was born at the Oregon Zoo and shares her exhibit with her three offspring and her mate.
According to keeper Gwen Gerdsen, Kandungo is a protective mom: “She always makes it tough for zoo visitors to spot her calf the first couple of weeks, hiding it away in the brush between feedings. This instinctive behavior is the mother duiker’s way of protecting her baby from predators in the wild.”
April 23, 2010 OREGON ZOO SUMMER CONCERT TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 28 Oregon's revered outdoor series returns with big names and summer fun
Jewel (pictured), the B-52s, Chris Isaak, Jimmy Cliff, Pink Martini, the Swell Season with Black Francis and many other talented musicians will perform as part of the Oregon Zoo summer concert series presented by NW Natural. Tickets for the series go on sale April 28.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Twilight fades and a warm breeze blows across the lawn. The band tunes instruments and checks mikes: "Testing 1, 2, 3." Spectators are gathered on the lawn ready to listen to some hypnotic rhythms when … an elephant trumpets in the background? It must be the 32nd annual summer concert series at the Oregon Zoo, with music and shows as diverse as the animals.
The series, presented by NW Natural with support from KINK.fm, KATU, The Oregonian and Portland Monthly, will feature more than 15 shows from June through August. It is the longest continuously running outdoor concert series in the Pacific Northwest and one of the most anticipated events of the summer. Tickets go on sale April 28 at www.ticketmaster.com and the zoo.
"Our shows are family-friendly and the best place in the Northwest to experience music by world-class artists," said Krista Swan, zoo events coordinator. "It feels like the concert lawn is a million miles from downtown Portland –– giant fir trees sway in the breeze, kids enjoy elephant ears, and our elephant herd stands nearby, watching the performances. It's a magical venue –– there’s no place like it!"
Concerts will be held Wednesday through Sunday evenings, with music as diverse as the animals that reside at the zoo. Delicious food options at reasonable prices will be available to guests and concertgoers. All shows are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
This year's "ZooBeat" premium shows will include appearances by include by Jewel with Radney Foster (June 25), Jimmy Cliff with Trevor Hall (July 23), Jamie Cullum (July 25), the Levon Helm Band with Joe Pug (Aug. 8), the B-52s (Aug. 13), Chris Isaak (Aug. 14), the Swell Season with Black Francis (Aug. 20) and Pink Martini (Aug. 26 and 27), plus a live performance of "A Prairie Home Companion" (Aug. 28).
Wednesday "ZooTunes" concerts include performances by Carolina Chocolate Drops and Konono N°1 (July 7), Caravan Palace (July 14), Bassekou Kouyate (July 21), Great Big Sea (July 28), Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (Aug. 4), Cross Canadian Ragweed with Micky & the Motorcars (Aug. 11) and the Quebe Sisters Band (Aug. 18).
Funds raised during the concert series support several conservation projects, including the protection of threatened and endangered Northwest species.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Celebrate Mother’s Day with the Oregon Zoo moms, while enjoying a delectable feast personally prepared by the zoo's renowned executive chef. A brunch to remember will be the highlight of Mom's special day, followed by a leisurely stroll through the zoo's lush grounds — taking in all the sights and sounds.
The zoo's catering department will be serving an exceptional menu of family favorites and gourmet specialties, including chicken and mushroom ragout with wild rice; scrambled eggs with mushrooms, tomato, ham, chives and white cheddar; mac and cheese; French toast; and made-to-order omelets. Champagne will also be served.
The brunch is Sunday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 503-525-4299. Seats are $21.95 each. Seats for children 3-11 years old are $9.95. All revenue generated by events at the zoo directly support the zoo's mission.
Zoo admission is not included in the price of the brunch; however, admission is not required to attend the brunch.
After mom's scrumptious brunch, make sure to visit the zoo's dedicated mothers, including Mali, a 13-year-old colobus monkey who is mother to Oscar, Maliki and Delu; Rose-Tu, mother to young Samudra, the Asian elephant calf; and Coco, a 57-year-old chimpanzee, who is not only an excellent mother but is also the zoo's oldest resident.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo strives to celebrate Earth Day every day, officials say. The zoo aims to stay at the forefront of the sustainability wave as it incorporates green building practices in the construction of Red Ape Reserve, its highly anticipated indoor-outdoor orangutan exhibit scheduled to open this summer.
"We were green before 'going green' was cool," said Brent Shelby, Oregon Zoo exhibits manager. "But we're substantially increasing our efforts to remain a leader in green business practices."
A prime example is the partnership between Metro's Parks and Environmental Services department and the zoo, which also is operated by Metro. In an effort to preserve rare stands of Oregon white oak and other native plant populations at the Graham Oaks natural area near Wilsonville, Metro conservationists selectively thinned Douglas fir and Oregon ash trees.
While the fir and ash trees were problematic for the fragile and slow-growing Oregon white oak, they are perfect for the climbing needs of orangutans. The thinned trees will soon be put to good use in Red Ape Reserve.
"The trees will allow the orangutans and gibbons to travel off the ground, which is their natural behavior," said David Thomas the zoo's senior primate keeper. "We're always thinking about ways to provide better homes for the animals in our care, and these trees, installed horizontally and diagonally in the interior exhibit, give them the option of moving without touching the floor."
The repurposing of thinned trees is just a continuation of green building practices in the construction of Red Ape Reserve. During demolition of the old exhibit, workers saved the concrete to be crushed on site and used as backfill. Iron in the concrete was also salvaged and recycled. These green construction efforts resulted in 2,500 tons diverted from the landfill. And since the material was reused on site, the zoo bypassed the need to truck demolished material out and truck new material in, thereby decreasing air pollution.
According to Shelby, the zoo also salvaged structural iron from the old exhibit: "Our crews did the salvage work, and we are supplying the materials to the contractor for reinstallation."
Additionally, Portland Center for the Performing Arts (another Metro-operated facility) donated 40 21-foot lengths of pipe and 12 11-foot lengths of pipe that they no longer need for use in the exhibit.
"Rather than chuck all that pipe into a landfill, the zoo is reusing it," Shelby said.
Possible uses at Red Ape Reserve include scaffolding, handrails, artificial bamboo, and branch structures.
April 21, 2010 OREGON ZOO POLAR BEARS HELP 'LICK CLIMATE CHANGE' ON EARTH DAY Zoo bears enjoy enrichment, while Arctic Ambassador discusses the plight of the polar bear
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Zoo polar bears Conrad and Tasul will have a colorful cream cheese mural painted on their window Thursday, April 22, at 10:30 a.m. in honor of Earth Day.
"The bears come right up to the window to lick off the cream cheese," said Julie Christie, marine life keeper and Polar Bear International’s Arctic Ambassador. "It's a great treat for them — and for visitors, who get to see the bears with just a pane of glass separating them. This intimate interaction helps illustrate the bears’ magnificence. It also helps people understand what’s at stake should global warming continue."
On this day, millions of people around the world unite to bring attention to various green causes.
"Climate change is a huge challenge, but it’s not all doom and gloom," said Dr. David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo deputy conservation manager. "By working to reduce climate change, we also will save money by using less power, become healthier by driving less, and save more habitat for wildlife. These are things every individual can do that will make a positive difference to our lives, the lives of other humans and the wildlife we share the planet with. It’s a win, win, win situation!"
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo’s first California condor chick of the year hatched last Thursday, April 14, to foster parents Atishwin and Ojai. With fewer than 400 living condors in the world, successful hatchings such as these represent an important event for the species.
"Our first hatching went beautifully," said keeper Kelli Walker. "The chick looks healthy. It’s growing well and starting to shuffle about the nest room. With any luck, another bird will hatch this week — and we have hopes for two more after that."
After 30-45 days, keepers will give the new condor its first medical checkup, including inoculations against West Nile virus.
"We try to handle the condors as little as possible," Walker said. "Not only is human contact upsetting to the parents, we’re preparing these animals for a life in the wild. Even if bred in captivity, we ensure that chicks are raised by condors, learning condor instincts and behavior."
Last year, the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation sent three condors to the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho, for release into the wild. Not counting this year’s total, 22 eggs have been laid at the Jonsson Center since the program began in 2003, and 10 Oregon Zoo-reared birds are now flying free in the wild. Located on rural Metro-owned land, the remote Jonsson facility allows condors to be raised in a natural setting, minimizing exposure to people.
California condors were brought to the brink of extinction in 1987, when only 27 remained in the world. Accidental lead poisoning was (and is) a primary cause of condor deaths, while DDT and other chemical poisonings prevented successful reproduction. In an attempt to save the species, biologists began capturing wild condors in 1982, and entering them into captive breeding programs. By 1987, all 27 remaining animals were captured. Due in part to the breeding efforts of centers like JCWC, there are now nearly 350 California condors in captivity and the wild.
Condors are the largest land birds in North America, with wingspans of up to 10 feet and an average weight of 18 to 25 pounds. They are highly intelligent and inquisitive, and they require a tremendous amount of parental investment in the wild. As well as being an ecologically important scavenger species, California condors are also important to Oregon’s history and culture. Lewis and Clark saw the large birds as they traveled along the Columbia River. Archaeologists have unearthed 9,000-year-old condor bones from Native American middens, and condors were a common motif for the designs of Oregon’s Wasco people, who lived along the Columbia between The Dalles and Cascade Locks. The "Thunderbird" was considered a spiritual guide to the native peoples and is a key character in many myths.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo threw an elephant-sized party today to celebrate the species that made it famous. Elephantastic, held each year on a weekend close to Packy’s birthday, marked the famous pachyderm’s 48th birthday.
Elephantastic featured a full day of activities, with games, crafts and that ever-popular fashion accessory: elephant ears. Visitors were treated to free birthday cake, courtesy of Lamb’s Wilsonville Market, and some lucky kids got to help keepers deliver Packy’s giant birthday cake.
Packy received his cake at 2 p.m. sharp and everyone sung him "Happy Birthday." The cake, baked by the zoo’s executive chef, Paul Warner, was a 40-pound whole-wheat concoction topped with frosting, apples, carrots and celery.
The fun continued through the afternoon with face painting, games, puppet shows, elephant-sized puzzles, crafts and a giant birthday card for Packy.
Elephantastic also celebrated the birthday of Packy’s son Rama, the zoo’s resident artist, who turned 27 on April 1. Rama is best known for a unique painting technique in which he blows nontoxic, egg-based paint across the canvas with his trunk. Art critics have dubbed the style “abstract eruptionism,” comparing Rama to celebrated two-legged artists such as Jackson Pollock.
The Oregon Zoo is world-famous for its Asian elephant breeding program. More than 25 calves have been born at the zoo, including Samudra, the most recent addition to the herd, born in August 2008.
Packy put Portland on the map in 1962, making international news as the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years. Portlanders first learned of the impending birth through a January Oregonian article, and the city came alive with anticipation. Stuffed elephants appeared in toy departments and schoolchildren made drawings of what they thought the baby would look like. For three months, zoo veterinarian Matthew Maberry literally lived in the elephant house, keeping a close watch on the maternity ward.
The big event happened shortly before 6 a.m. on April 14, and news about the 225-pound baby spread rapidly. Newspapers and radio stations around the world announced the birth, and Life magazine covered the event with an 11-page spread describing “The Nativity of Packy.” Gifts flooded the zoo –– everything from gold-plated safety pins to hand-knit baby clothing –– and visitors flocked to see the new pachyderm. Attendance soared, setting an all-time high with 1.2 million visitors for the year. It would be more than 25 years before zoo attendance reached a million again.
Packy is now the oldest male Asian elephant in the United States –– and one of the largest, standing 10 feet 6 inches tall at the shoulder and tipping the scales at around 12,550 pounds. He has fathered seven calves, including 28-year-old Sung-Surin (“Shine”) and Rama, both of whom currently live at the zoo.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo is throwing an elephant-sized party to celebrate the species that made it famous. Elephantastic, held each year on a weekend close to Packy's birthday, takes place April 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the zoo. During this year's festivities, the zoo will mark Packy's 48th birthday.
Elephantastic, free with zoo admission, features a full day of activities, with games, crafts and that ever-popular fashion accessory: elephant ears. Visitors are treated to free birthday cake at noon, courtesy of Lamb's Wilsonville Market, and kids can enter a drawing for a chance to help keepers deliver Packy's giant birthday cake.
At 2 p.m., Packy receives his cake and everyone can join in singing "Happy Birthday" while the prestigious pachyderm chows down. The cake, baked by the zoo's executive chef, Paul Warner, is a 40-pound whole-wheat concoction topped with frosting, apples, carrots and celery.
The fun continues through the afternoon with face painting, games, puppet shows, elephant-sized puzzles, crafts and a giant birthday card for Packy.
Elephantastic also celebrates the birthday of Packy's son Rama, the zoo's resident artist, who turned 27 on April 1. Rama is best known for a unique painting technique in which he blows nontoxic, egg-based paint across the canvas with his trunk. Art critics have dubbed the style "abstract eruptionism," comparing Rama to celebrated two-legged artists such as Jackson Pollock.
During Elephantastic, the zoo will display some of Rama's work at a "trunk show." (Get it?) For a separate fee, guests may commission a personalized Rama masterpiece to be created for them at a later date. To see video of Rama and other elephants painting, visit www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/Elephant_painting.htm.
The Oregon Zoo is world-famous for its Asian elephant breeding program. More than 25 calves have been born at the zoo, including Samudra, the most recent addition to the herd, born in August 2008.
Packy put Portland on the map in 1962, making international news as the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years. Portlanders first learned of the impending birth through a January Oregonian article, and the city came alive with anticipation. Stuffed elephants appeared in toy departments and schoolchildren made drawings of what they thought the baby would look like. For three months, zoo veterinarian Matthew Maberry literally lived in the elephant house, keeping a close watch on the maternity ward.
The big event happened shortly before 6 a.m. on April 14, and news about the 225-pound baby spread rapidly. Newspapers and radio stations around the world announced the birth, and Life magazine covered the event with an 11-page spread describing "The Nativity of Packy." Gifts flooded the zoo -- everything from gold-plated safety pins to hand-knit baby clothing -- and visitors flocked to see the new pachyderm. Attendance soared, setting an all-time high with 1.2 million visitors for the year. It would be more than 25 years before zoo attendance reached a million again.
Packy is the oldest male Asian elephant in the United States -- and one of the largest, standing 10 feet 6 inches tall at the shoulder and tipping the scales at around 12,550 pounds. He has fathered seven calves, including 28-year-old Sung-Surin ("Shine") and Rama, both of whom currently live at the zoo.
April 13, 2010 COYOTE EXPERT UNVEILS RESEARCH AT OREGON ZOO Lecture will give us a unique look at this newest urban conqueror
Dr. Stanley Gehrt, shown here with coyote pup, will discuss "Urban Coyotes" April 27 at the Oregon Zoo. Gehrt's lecture concludes this year's Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series, hosted by the Audubon Society of Portland, the zoo and the World Forestry Center. Photo courtesy of Stanley Gehrt.
PORTLAND, Ore. — In Cook County, Ill., just miles from Chicago's busy O'Hare International Airport, researchers are tracking a coyote they've nicknamed "Big Mama", hoping to learn more about how these animals are surviving and adapting in this environment of high-rises and highways. The truth is that the coyotes living there are doing remarkably well.
Dr. Stanley Gehrt, assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist at Ohio State University, explains how the coyote has adapted to urban life as part of the 2010 Wildlife Conservation Series on Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at the Oregon Zoo.
In his lecture, "Urban Coyotes", Gehrt, also a senior scientist for the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, will explain what he and his team are doing with the coyotes in Cook County.
Unlike many wild creatures, the coyote has adjusted fairly well to urban life. This intelligent and highly adaptable predator is an opportunist, and will eat everything from rodents (which generally make up the bulk of a coyote's diet) to fruit and even garbage. Coyotes have also been found to help regulate the sometimes overabundant populations of white-tailed deer and Canada geese.
Coyote territories vary depending on whether an animal is living as part of a pack or on its own. Pack members generally cover territories of around three square miles, whereas solitary coyotes will cover areas of 25 square miles or even more. These territories most often include parks, forested areas, golf courses and similar places, but can also include residential neighborhoods and urban developments.
"Coyotes are our neighbors," said Dr. David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo conservation scientist. "Quite a few of them live in the Portland area, and it’s important for us to understand their habits and learn how we can coexist."
In February 2002, a coyote wandered onto a MAX train at Portland International Airport, earning much media coverage and inspiring the song "Light Rail Coyote" by local rockers Sleater-Kinney.
Coyotes have gotten a bad reputation for attacks on pets, according to Gehrt. In some areas, when a cat goes missing its owners assume a coyote has eaten it. While it's true that coyotes will attack domestic cats and small dogs, they don't do it that often.
Even worse, some people fear coyotes will attack small children. But this kind of behavior from a coyote is very rare, Gehrt says.
Gehrt has completed a study of urban coyotes in Chicago that has been described as the "most ambitious work of its kind in the country." His team tracked 220 radio-collared coyotes in Chicago over the course of six years. This data contains valuable insights for wildlife lovers, professionals and neighborhoods who would like to learn how to co-exist with urban coyotes.
Gehrt received his bachelor's degree in biology from Bethany College, followed by a master's in biology from Emporia State University. He also holds a doctoral degree in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Missouri. Gehrt is a certified wildlife biologist.
The 2010 Wildlife Conservation Series is presented by Pro Photo Supply and Shiels Obletz Johnsen, with additional support from Portland General Electric. Hosts for the series are the Audubon Society of Portland, the Oregon Zoo and the World Forestry Center. Lectures are held in the 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.
April 13, 2010 SUPERSIZE THAT CAKE! OREGON ZOO MARKS PACKY'S 48TH BIRTHDAY Portland's 'biggest' celebrity feted at zoo's annual Elephantastic event
Packy the elephant on his 1st birthday at the Oregon Zoo on April 14, 1963. The public will help celebrate Packy's 48th birthday during the zoo's annual Elephantastic festivities, April 17. Photo by Christina Christensen, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo is throwing an elephant-sized party to celebrate the species that made it famous. Elephantastic, held each year on a weekend close to Packy's birthday, takes place April 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the zoo. During this year's festivities, the zoo will mark Packy's 48th birthday.
Elephantastic, free with zoo admission, features a full day of activities, with games, crafts and that ever-popular fashion accessory: elephant ears. Visitors are treated to free birthday cake at noon, courtesy of Lamb's Wilsonville Market, and kids can enter a drawing for a chance to help keepers deliver Packy's giant birthday cake.
At 2 p.m., Packy receives his cake and everyone can join in singing "Happy Birthday" while the prestigious pachyderm chows down. The cake, baked by the zoo's executive chef, Paul Warner, is a 40-pound whole-wheat concoction topped with frosting, apples, carrots and celery.
The fun continues through the afternoon with face painting, games, puppet shows, elephant-sized puzzles, crafts and a giant birthday card for Packy.
Elephantastic also celebrates the birthday of Packy's son Rama, the zoo's resident artist, who turned 27 on April 1. Rama is best known for a unique painting technique in which he blows nontoxic, egg-based paint across the canvas with his trunk. Art critics have dubbed the style "abstract eruptionism," comparing Rama to celebrated two-legged artists such as Jackson Pollock.
During Elephantastic, the zoo will display some of Rama's work at a "trunk show." (Get it?) For a separate fee, guests may commission a personalized Rama masterpiece to be created for them at a later date. To see video of Rama and other elephants painting, visit www.oregonzoo.org/VideoArchive/Elephant_painting.htm.
The Oregon Zoo is world-famous for its Asian elephant breeding program. More than 25 calves have been born at the zoo, including Samudra, the most recent addition to the herd, born in August 2008.
Packy put Portland on the map in 1962, making international news as the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years. Portlanders first learned of the impending birth through a January Oregonian article, and the city came alive with anticipation. Stuffed elephants appeared in toy departments and schoolchildren made drawings of what they thought the baby would look like. For three months, zoo veterinarian Matthew Maberry literally lived in the elephant house, keeping a close watch on the maternity ward.
The big event happened shortly before 6 a.m. on April 14, and news about the 225-pound baby spread rapidly. Newspapers and radio stations around the world announced the birth, and Life magazine covered the event with an 11-page spread describing "The Nativity of Packy." Gifts flooded the zoo -- everything from gold-plated safety pins to hand-knit baby clothing -- and visitors flocked to see the new pachyderm. Attendance soared, setting an all-time high with 1.2 million visitors for the year. It would be more than 25 years before zoo attendance reached a million again.
Packy is now the oldest Asian elephant in the United States -- and one of the largest, standing 10 feet 6 inches tall at the shoulder and tipping the scales at around 12,550 pounds. He has fathered seven calves, including 28-year-old Sung-Surin ("Shine") and Rama, both of whom currently live at the zoo.
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