NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release, not the date of the event.
March 2010
March 31 — Zoo Welcomes Spring With Annual Rabbit Romp, April 3 March 26 — Supersize That Cake! Oregon Zoo Marks Packy's 48th Birthday March 26 — Zoo to Celebrate Summer With 32nd Annual Concert Series March 24 — Zoo's Condor-Breeding Season Off to Great Start March 23 — Metro, Oregon Zoo Support 'Acres For The Atmosphere' March 22 — Expert to Discuss Condors' Comeback at Oregon Zoo March 22 — Travel Global, Stay Local During Zoo's Spring Break Party March 19 — Zoo Welcomes Spring With Annual Rabbit Romp, April 3 March 18 — Zoo Raises Endangered Butterflies for Release into Wild March 10 — Keepers' Donation Ensures a Swinging Time For Zoo Orangutans March 9 — Oregon Zoo Takes Spring Cleaning to the Next Level March 5 — And the 'Packy' Goes to... Samudra! March 4 — Metro Names New Oregon Zoo Director March 4 — What Would a Lion Do With a Pot of Gold? March 2 — Travel Global, Stay Local During Zoo's Spring Break Party March 1 — Zoo's Frog Conservation Party is B.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Tiara)
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Things will be hoppin' Saturday, April 3, when the Oregon Zoo hosts its annual Rabbit Romp, a celebration of spring for all ages. Rabbit Romp is sponsored by Oregon College Savings Plan and Dex, and is free with regular zoo admission.
Rabbit Romp features candy egg hunts every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children ages 3 to 10 are divided into age groups and invited to hunt for eggs filled with candy and prizes. 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.
During their candy hunts, Rabbit Rompers may enter to win a chance to scatter treats such as apples and yams in the elephant yard for the giant pachyderms to find during their own "egg" hunt.
The polar bears will also be receiving egg-themed enrichment throughout the day.
The Oregon Zoo's internationally renowned animal enrichment program is designed to keep animals mentally and physically stimulated, and to encourage hunting and foraging behaviors. The zoo's Volunteer Enrichment Team works with keepers to create the treats and activities, designing items with specific animals in mind to maximize their enrichment.
"Our activities are a great way to engage the animals, and they're also fun to watch," Shepherdson said. "Our hope is that people will make strong emotional connections with the animals so they'll care more about their wild counterparts."
The 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 custom outfits. The store also has a great selection of animal-themed spring baskets and plush rabbits.
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.
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, will feature more than a dozen shows from July 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. rain or shine unless otherwise noted.
This year's "ZooBeat" premium shows will include appearances by include by Jimmy Cliff (July 23), Levon Helm (Aug. 8), Chris Isaak (Aug. 14), Jamie Cullum (July 25), the B-52s (Aug. 13) and Pink Martini (Aug. 26 and 27), plus a live performance of the popular radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" (Aug. 28).
Wednesday "ZooTunes" concerts include performances by Konono No. 1 and the Carolina Chocolate Drops (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 (Aug. 11) and the Quebe Sisters (Aug. 18).
Funds raised during the concert series support several conservation projects, including the protection of threatened and endangered Northwest species.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- It's an exciting time at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation. In late February, while checking nests belonging to endangered California condors, keepers noticed the first eggs of the season.
So far, six fertile eggs have been discovered, and the number is expected to go up. Once hatched, they will be part of a new success story in a long struggle to breed and return these once mighty birds to the wild.
"This year's breeding season is off to a great start," said Shawn St. Michael, Oregon Zoo curator of birds. "The eggs look healthy, and the parents are doing a great job so far of incubating and nesting."
The California condor is classified as a critically endangered species. In 1982, only 22 individuals remained in the wild. With the help of captive breeding programs like the Oregon Zoo's, condor numbers now total more than 300, counting those in captivity and in the wild.
"Breeding programs have been critical to the survival of the California condor," St. Michael said. "We are doing all we can to help this species someday return to the wild."
The zoo hopes to build off the success of 2009. Last spring was the most productive ever for captive-bred condors, with 17 eggs laid among all the breeding programs. The 17 eggs resulted in 13 nestlings, another milestone for the program. Eight of those nestlings fledged and are flying free in the skies above Arizona and California. 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.
"Life in the wild is uncertain for condor chicks," St. Michael said. "And while the survival of eight out of 13 chicks may seem like a high mortality rate, it's actually better than average for most bird species."
Normally, condors lay a single egg every other year, but in captivity this process can be sped up. If an egg is moved from the nest to an incubator for hatching, female condors will usually lay a second egg and sometimes a third. This procedure is known as double- or triple-clutching, and has dramatically increased condor numbers since captive breeding began.
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.
Accumulated lead poisoning is currently the most severe problem facing the recovering condor population. As condors feed on carrion and other animal carcasses shot by hunters, they can unintentionally ingest lead from bullet fragments. Lead consumption causes paralysis of the digestive track and results in a slow death by starvation.
The California condor had a long history in Oregon. 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 River 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.
The last condor seen in Oregon was near the town of Drain in 1904. The birds held out a little longer in California, but by 1987, the last condors were taken into captivity in an attempt to save the species. Biologists decided to place the remaining condors in a captive-breeding program. The California condor was one of the original animals included on the 1973 Endangered Species Act.
The Oregon Zoo's condor recovery efforts take place at the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, located in rural Clackamas County on Metro-owned open land. The remoteness of the facility minimizes the exposure of young condors to people, increasing the chances for captive-hatched birds to survive and breed in the wild.
California condor captive-breeding programs are also operated at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho. The Oregon Zoo received The Wildlife Society's conservation award in 2005 for "creating the nation's fourth California condor breeding facility."
March 23, 2010 METRO, OREGON ZOO SUPPORT 'ACRES FOR THE ATMOSPHERE' Climate change is causing Arctic sea ice to retreat, threatening polar bears' survival
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon zookeepers are launching a global campaign to save polar bear habitat by improving the landscape in their own back yard -- and teaming up with another popular Metro program.
Under the guidance of Metro's volunteer restoration program, zookeepers are planting native trees and shrubs this month at two of the regional government's natural areas.
"Our zookeepers are showing real leadership by addressing global environmental challenges," Metro Council President David Bragdon said. "They have a perfect laboratory in Metro's 12,000 acres of natural areas, and the volunteer program designed to restore those lands."
This partnership kicks off the local contribution to Acres for the Atmosphere, a new zookeeper initiative to fight climate change. The group encourages local residents to join the effort by planting native trees and shrubs on their own property. For every acre planted, they say, there is potential to reverse the effects of global warming.
NASA satellite observations show Arctic sea ice has declined dramatically during the past 30 years. Many scientists fear polar bears will be unable to adapt and will disappear from the Arctic unless the public takes decisive steps to curb carbon dioxide emissions.
Polar Bears International invited 20 zookeepers from around the world -- including two from the Oregon Zoo -- to see the effects of climate change firsthand last October at a leadership camp in Churchill, Manitoba, the "polar bear capital of the world."
As a result, impassioned keepers such as the Oregon Zoo's Julie Christie created Acres for the Atmosphere. Their mission: save polar bear habitat within the next five years, through education and action. Members are committed to reducing carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere by inspiring their communities to "green" acres -- reforest empty spaces and save existing forests from unsustainable harvesting.
"Acres for the Atmosphere is such an exciting project," Christie said. "It allowed each keeper to create projects that not only benefit their own local communities but also contribute to helping the magnificent polar bear and its Arctic habitat."
Christie recruited more than a dozen colleagues from the Oregon Zoo and the American Association of Zoo Keepers to help with the project locally, and there's talk of involving the zoo's teen volunteers in the future.
Acres for the Atmosphere quickly joined the ranks of Metro restoration volunteers, who donated nearly 8,000 hours last year over the course of 3,000 visits to Metro's natural areas and pioneer cemeteries.
On March 16, Christie and her crew planted more than 250 native shrubs at Metro's Howell Territorial Park on Sauvie Island. These "pollinator friendly" plants will attract bees to help with the pollination of an adjacent organic farm.
The project continues Friday, March 26, at Smith and Bybee Wetlands in North Portland. Acres for the Atmosphere volunteers will plant in a former parking lot, helping nurture the wetlands and discourage people from walking in an area close to nesting turtles.
For additional information about climate change, polar bears and ways to decrease our carbon footprint, visit www.acresfortheatmosphere.org or the following Web sites:
U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: www.ipcc.ch
March 23, 2010 EXPERT TO DISCUSS CONDORS' COMEBACK AT OREGON ZOO Chris Parish will speak on Peregrine Fund's condor reintroduction efforts
California condor expert Chris Parish presents "Returning Condors to Arizona" as part of this year's Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series, hosted by the Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center. The lecture series is held at the zoo and is presented by Pro Photo Supply and Shiels Obletz Johnsen with additional support from Portland General Electric.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Keep your eyes on the sky the next time you visit the Grand Canyon. Thanks to the efforts of several conservation programs, the endangered condor can once again be seen flying high above this northern Arizona region.
Chris Parish, director of The Peregrine Fund's condor reintroduction program, will tell the story of the California condor's triumphant return to Arizona as part of the 2010 Wildlife Conservation Series on Tuesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at the Oregon Zoo.
In his lecture, "Returning Condors to Arizona," Parish will discuss the California condor restoration program in the Vermilion Cliffs region of northern Arizona, including the latest updates on how these birds are surviving and the challenges they face.
The California condor is classified as critically endangered and was one of the original animals included on the 1973 Endangered Species Act. By 1982, only 22 individuals remained in the wild. In 1987, the last condors were taken into captivity in an attempt to save the species. Biologists decided to place the remaining condors in a captive-breeding program.
Several organizations, including the Oregon Zoo, have been crucial partners in breeding, releasing and increasing awareness of the California condor. Thanks to these conservation efforts, there are now more than 300 condors.
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.
Accumulated lead poisoning is currently the most severe problem facing the recovering condor population. As condors feed on carrion and other animal carcasses shot by hunters, they can unintentionally ingest lead from bullet fragments. Lead consumption causes paralysis of the digestive track and results in a slow death by starvation.
Parish, who grew up in the desert foothills of the San Joaquin Valley, was fascinated by wildlife from a young age. After earning a biology degree from Northern Arizona University, he worked with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, reintroducing black-footed ferrets to the wild. In 1997, Parish transferred to the Flagstaff regional office as condor project coordinator, and in 2000 he began directing condor project field efforts for The Peregrine Fund.
The Peregrine Fund is a nonprofit organization founded in 1970 that conserves threatened and endangered birds of prey. The organization has been releasing California condors in Arizona since the late 1990s. In 2008, it reported more than 60 free-flying birds in the region.
For more information about The Peregrine Fund's condor restoration project, visit www.peregrinefund.org.
For more information about the Oregon Zoo's California condor program, visit www.oregonzoo.org/Condors.
The final lecture of the Wildlife Conservation Lecture Series takes place Tuesday, April 27, when Stanley Gehrt, assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist, at Ohio State University, discusses "Urban Coyotes."
The 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.
The host organizations hope the lecture series will strengthen the community's knowledge base on ecological systems and environmental issues -- motivating people to make a difference in the environmental future of the region.
March 22, 2010 TRAVEL GLOBAL, STAY LOCAL DURING ZOO'S SPRING BREAK PARTY No passport required to take in animal enrichment, keeper talks at the Oregon Zoo
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Want to spend spring break visiting lions on the Serengeti plains, polar bears in the frigid Arctic and elephants in the forests of Asia -- all in an afternoon? Adventurers on a budget can travel the world without leaving Portland during the Oregon Zoo's Spring Break Party presented by Fred Meyer, March 22 through April 2.
Animal enrichment events take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily during spring break, with treats and activities for the animals and great photo opportunities for visitors. For a complete schedule, visit www.oregonzoo.org/Events/Calendar/images/SpringBreak2010.pdf
"Enrichment is critical to the health and well-being of the animals," said Dr. David Shepherdson, zoo conservation scientist and an expert on environmental enrichment. "It is often done behind the scenes, but spring break gives visitors some unique opportunities to watch animals interact with their treats."
The Oregon Zoo's internationally renowned animal enrichment program is designed to keep animals mentally and physically stimulated, and to encourage hunting and foraging behaviors. The zoo's Volunteer Enrichment Team works with keepers to create the treats and activities, designing items with specific animals in mind to maximize their enrichment.
"Our activities are a great way to engage the animals, and they're also fun to watch," Shepherdson said. "Our hope is that people will make strong emotional connections with the animals so they'll care more about their wild counterparts."
Zookeepers will also give talks throughout spring break, offering keen insight into the lives and personalities of the animals they care for.
"This is a great opportunity for kids to learn how they can one day become a keeper and work toward creating a better future for our wildlife," Shepherdson added.
And from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, visitors are invited to hop, leap, climb and crawl through Asia on our giant National Geographic map.
Spring break at the Oregon Zoo is presented by Fred Meyer with additional support from Fox 12, PDX TV, Z100 and The Oregonian.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Things will be hoppin' Saturday, April 3, when the Oregon Zoo hosts its annual Rabbit Romp, a celebration of spring for all ages. Rabbit Romp is sponsored by Oregon College Savings Plan and Dex, and is free with regular zoo admission.
Rabbit Romp features candy egg hunts every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children ages 3 to 10 are divided into age groups and invited to hunt for eggs filled with candy and prizes. 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.During their candy hunts, Rabbit Rompers may enter to win a chance to scatter treats such as apples and yams in the elephant yard for the giant pachyderms to find during their own "egg" hunt.
The polar bears will also be receiving egg-themed enrichment throughout the day.
The Oregon Zoo's internationally renowned animal enrichment program is designed to keep animals mentally and physically stimulated, and to encourage hunting and foraging behaviors. The zoo's Volunteer Enrichment Team works with keepers to create the treats and activities, designing items with specific animals in mind to maximize their enrichment.
"Our activities are a great way to engage the animals, and they're also fun to watch," Shepherdson said. "Our hope is that people will make strong emotional connections with the animals so they'll care more about their wild counterparts."
The 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 custom outfits. The store also has a great selection of animal-themed spring baskets and plush rabbits.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- For the fifth year in a row, the Oregon Zoo's butterfly conservation lab has successfully reared Taylor's checkerspot larvae, making significant progress in the effort to save this endangered Northwest butterfly.
This February, after spending seven months in diapause (hibernation), the zoo's 2,500 checkerspot larvae were moved into "wake-up chambers," where they spent the next month eating "voraciously," according to Melissa Arnold, zoo butterfly conservationist.
In early March, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife released more than 2,000 of these well-fed caterpillars into the wild. Thanks to "fast and efficient release crews," said Mary Linders, a species recovery biologist with WDFW, "the larvae had plenty of time to acclimate before cooler evening temperatures set in."
The caterpillars were released at two sites near Olympia, Wash., where some of the region's best prairie habitat remains. They will finish developing in the wild, first turning into chrysalides and then hatching as adult butterflies.
Around 500 checkerspots remain at the Oregon Zoo for educational purposes and for use in perfecting captive-breeding and rearing methods. This year marks the first time all the zoo's released checkerspot caterpillars were bred in captivity, instead of hatching from eggs collected in the wild.
Once abundant in the Northwest, Taylor's checkerspots (Euphydryas editha taylori) are now listed as an endangered species by Washington State and are a candidate for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. Today, their range is limited to isolated pockets of upland prairie. Without large, connected populations, the butterflies struggle to survive.
"Butterflies continue to disappear, which is troubling because they are such an important part of the ecosystem," said Arnold. "They are incredibly sensitive to environmental changes, making them perfect indicators of habitat health, plus they help pollinate prairie plants."
Rearing rare butterflies comes with many challenges. One of the most difficult tasks is feeding the ever-munching larvae, which consume vast quantities of specific plants.
"It's all about the plants," Arnold said. "Without our gardeners growing completely organic, chemical-free vegetation, these critters would have no chance of survival."
Thanks to the zoo's horticulture department, the caterpillars are able to feed on one of the host plants their species eats in the wild, narrow-leaf plantago (Plantago lanceolata).
For the past seven years, the zoo has collaborated with WDFW and other agencies to develop husbandry protocols and raise checkerspots. Parks Canada has served as an international partner. This conservation effort is funded by the Fort Lewis Army Compatible Use Buffer program through WDFW.
In addition to conserving Taylor's checkerspots, the zoo has enjoyed phenomenal success in its work with another endangered butterfly, the Oregon silverspot. The zoo has raised and released thousands of these butterflies in the past 11 years.
As a charter member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Butterfly Conservation Initiative, which includes nearly 50 zoos and aquariums, the Oregon Zoo is strongly committed to butterfly conservation. The Oregon silverspot and Taylor's checkerspot captive-rearing efforts are projects of the NW Zoo & Aquarium Alliance, which promotes collaboration on regional conservation among zoos and aquariums in the Pacific Northwest.
March 10, 2010 KEEPERS' DONATION ENSURES A SWINGING TIME FOR ZOO ORANGUTANS Portland chapter of AAZK raises $56,000 for Oregon Zoo's new Red Ape Reserve exhibit
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Construction on Red Ape Reserve, the Oregon Zoo's new indoor-outdoor exhibit housing orangutans and white-cheeked gibbons, is in full swing -- and getting more swingy by the minute -- with the installation of several "sway poles" for the apes now under way. The new exhibit will open this summer.
The sway poles -- which mimic the movement of the small trees these animals would use to navigate through the forest in the wild -- are a testament to the many people the great apes have inspired: They were purchased through a $56,000 donation by the American Association of Zoo Keepers' Portland chapter.
The idea to raise additional funds for the exhibit came from the keepers themselves, who wanted to go above and beyond the call of duty for their beloved apes. Fund-raising efforts began with the merchandising of stylish Red Ape Reserve T-shirts. Taking the zoo fashion world by storm, these shirts inspired additional groups to rally to the cause, including the Alliance for Primate Education, the ZooTeens Leadership Corp and staffers at Metro, the zoo's governing agency.
T-shirts were not the only things sold, however. In 2008, staff and volunteers hosted an auction and Indonesian-style dinner at the zoo. People from all over the Portland area took part, eager to pick up some snazzy items and united by their love for these great apes.
The staff of "Wild Life Live!" -- the zoo's popular live animal show -- also took up the banner, using their show to educate the public about this fund-raising effort and contributing more than two summers' worth of donations.
While the bulk of the AAZK donation went toward 12 new sway poles, funds were also used to purchase and install 10 niches for the exhibit's signature "enrichment tree." Designed to resemble a massive buttress tree overtaken by a strangler fig, this feature is intended to keep the animals alert, engaged and mentally challenged in their new home. The hollow tree's inside is accessible to keepers via an underground tunnel, and features a multitude of holes through which they can place treats, branches, puzzle-feeders and other enrichment devices. Outside the tree, the primates can wander around, searching for food and stimulation, just as they would in the wild.
Remaining capital was put toward costs of four steel-and-wood seating platforms for the apes as well as the exhibit's log climbing structure.
The public will be able to watch the apes explore their new habitat this summer from both indoors and outdoors -- or even through vertical windows in the recently opened log tunnel that runs through the heart of the exhibit. This unique feature will allow the apes to climb directly over the heads of patrons, giving viewers a new perspective on these fascinating animals.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo is celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a unique way this year. Wednesday, March 17, the animals get lucky with "pots of gold" and other enrichment, while the zoo staff goes "mean and green" on trash during its 18th annual Deep Greening Day.
"Office supplies, used equipment, old paint, used furniture, toner cartridges and paper will be collected for recycling or reuse," said Michael Weatherman, chair of the zoo's award-winning Green Team. "But the real focus is on educating our employees about changes we can make to generate less that needs to be recycled."
The celebration starts at 10:30 a.m., when polar bears and animals from the zoo's Predators of the Serengeti exhibit receive specially designed St. Paddy's Day enrichment. Once the fun is over, zoo staffers will go through their workstations and apply the latest innovative strategies for reusing and conserving everyday office items.
Deep Greening Day is part of the zoo's ongoing resource conservation program, which focuses on daily conservation efforts such as recycling, waste reduction, green purchasing, building design, transportation, and energy and water conservation.
"The conservation of natural resources and environmental sustainability are crucial to the zoo's goals of protecting wildlife and its habitats," said Kim Smith, zoo director. "It makes sense for the zoo to be a model of green operations in the community."
The Green Team is a committee of employees and volunteers representing many of the zoo's departments with the goal of making the zoo an environmental ambassador. The team meets monthly to explore new ways of taking the zoo's green operations to a higher level and make sure the zoo stays on the cutting edge of green technologies.
Each year, the Green Team assembles new resolutions with suggestions from staff members. Two of the zoo's 2010 green resolutions have already been accomplished. Mugs have replaced disposable cups in conference rooms and electric hand dryers have been installed in several restrooms to reduce the use of paper towels.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Not surprisingly, the Oregon Zoo's inaugural Packy Award went to a pachyderm. After the votes were counted, Samudra emerged the victor, beating out Tilly the river otter for the coveted prize.
In light of the upcoming Academy Awards, the zoo last week asked fans to vote for the best zoo animal video of 2009. Choices were between two videos of Samudra and a video of Tilly. As the votes came in, the race looked like it would be close. Both of these young animals are visitor favorites.
The winning video -- of Sam playing "soccer" (kicking around a small blue ball) -- got 37.5 percent of the vote. Tilly's video, which highlighted the story of her rescue from the wild and introduction to the zoo last year, followed with 33 percent of votes. Another video, showcasing Sam's first birthday, got 29.5 percent of the votes.
Samudra was born in August 2008, the first third-generation Asian elephant born in the United States and the first elephant born at the Oregon Zoo since 1994. His birth has revitalized the zoo's elephant herd and given new hope to Asian elephant conservation efforts. Sam can usually be found wandering close to his mother Rose-Tu in the zoo's elephant yard.
Tilly was found orphaned late last summer near Milwaukie, Ore., with wounds from what looked like an animal attack. Veterinarians worked hard to bring the young otter back to health. Tilly has since fully recovered and is thriving in her new home at the zoo's Cascade Stream and Pond exhibit, where she inspires visitors with her playfulness and boundless energy.
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Zoo's governing agency, Metro, has announced that Kimberly A. Smith will serve as the zoo's new director. She begins her duties on March 1. Smith has 25 years of comprehensive zoo experience, most recently serving as the vice president of animal care at the prestigious Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. She will lead Oregon's No. 1 paid tourist attraction as it undertakes $125 million worth of bond-related improvements over the next 10 to 15 years.
"As the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi, the Oregon Zoo is truly the crown jewel of our community," said Michael Jordan, Metro's chief operating officer. "We are very pleased to have recruited such an outstanding zoo director. She is a proven community leader, manager, conservationist and educator - and is well positioned to lead us into a new era of excellence."
Smith has a strong conservation ethic, believing that local wildlife conservation programs should come first, serving as a solid foundation before taking on international efforts.
"When involved in global preservation efforts, the first thing the local community leaders will ask is 'What are you doing at home?'" Smith said. "If the answer is little or nothing, you lose all credibility - you have to walk your talk by taking care of endangered or threatened species in your own back yard."
Smith has built her exceptional reputation in the zoo community because of her collaborative approach to conservation. Her highest-profile efforts came when she was curator of birds at the Milwaukee Zoo. She worked closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with state and local wildlife officials, on several local conservation initiatives, including successfully releasing trumpeter swans to the wild, as well as participating in recovery efforts for piping plovers and whooping cranes.
Smith has a solid track record of overseeing and implementing strategic and master plans. She is also adept at successfully completing large and complex capital construction projects, including the design and construction of the $27 million Great Bear Wilderness and a $4 million dolphinarium renovation at Brookfield. She also designed and managed the $1.3 million expansion of Brookfield's outdoor elephant habitat.
"Smith is absolutely a perfect fit," Jordan said. "We're thrilled that she will continue the important conservation work we've become known for, while overseeing capital construction projects that will make our great zoo even better."
A proven leader within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Smith has chaired and vice chaired many conservation-related committees. She currently serves on the prestigious Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee and the Ethics Board. Also noteworthy are her conservation partnerships with state and federal wildlife officials on numerous native-species recovery efforts.
Metro, the zoo and The Oregon Zoo Foundation began the national search for a zoo director in July and were pleased with the many strong candidates.
"All of our candidates were highly qualified and each of them brought different strengths to the position," said Jordan.
Smith rose to the top of the list for many reasons, including the following:
- She is a strong advocate for conservation.
- She has demonstrated tireless dedication to improving and enhancing animal welfare in accredited zoos.
- She played a leadership role in creating Brookfield's comprehensive strategic plan and implementing the master plan.
- She is adept at managing complex capital construction projects, completing them on time and on budget.
- She has a proven track record working with community leaders, partners and donors.
Smith stated that she is "excited to be part of a zoo that is so clearly supported by its community."
"This is my dream job," Smith said. "The Oregon Zoo is renowned for its recovery and reintroduction efforts with California condors and many Northwest species. I look forward to working with the zoo's dedicated team of professionals - a team that is committed to conservation and environmental stewardship."
Smith began her career at the Phoenix Zoo and has worked at several accredited museums and zoos, including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Dallas Zoo and the Milwaukee County Zoo. She holds a master's degree in science from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee and a bachelor's of science in zoology from Arizona State University.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- What's furry with sharp teeth and green all over? The Oregon Zoo's Predators of the Serengeti exhibit on St. Patrick's Day! On Wednesday, March 17, beginning at 10:30 a.m., zoogoers can watch cheetahs, lions and African wild dogs receive shamrocks, rainbows and papier-mâché "pots of gold" filled with their favorite treats.
"The animals really enjoy these enrichment activities," said Dr. David Shepherdson, zoo conservation scientist and an expert on environmental enrichment. "They show a great deal of intelligence as they figure out how to get the treats inside -- it's very enriching for them."
The zoo's brother-and-sister polar bears, Conrad and Tasul, will also be marking the holiday, with iced-over pots of gold. All the animals are expected to enjoy the festivities as if they were native to the Emerald Isle.
This is the 10th year that special St. Patrick's Day enrichment treats have been handed out to zoo residents and the first since Predators of the Serengeti opened last fall. The Oregon Zoo's internationally renowned animal enrichment program is designed to keep animals mentally and physically stimulated, and to encourage hunting and foraging behaviors. The zoo's Volunteer Enrichment Team works with keepers to create the treats and activities, designing items with specific animals in mind to maximize their enrichment.
"Our activities are a great way to engage the animals, and they're also fun to watch," Shepherdson said. "Our hope is that people will make strong emotional connections with the animals so they'll care more about their wild counterparts."
March 2, 2010 TRAVEL GLOBAL, STAY LOCAL DURING ZOO'S SPRING BREAK PARTY No passport required to take in animal enrichment, keeper talks at the Oregon Zoo
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Want to spend spring break visiting lions on the Serengeti plains, polar bears in the frigid Arctic and elephants in the forests of Asia -- all in an afternoon? Adventurers on a budget can travel the world without leaving Portland during the Oregon Zoo's Spring Break Party presented by Fred Meyer, March 22 through April 2.
Animal enrichment events take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily during spring break, with treats and activities for the animals and great photo opportunities for visitors.
"Enrichment is critical to the health and well-being of the animals," said Dr. David Shepherdson, zoo conservation scientist and an expert on environmental enrichment. "It is often done behind the scenes, but spring break gives visitors some unique opportunities to watch animals interact with their treats."
The Oregon Zoo's internationally renowned animal enrichment program is designed to keep animals mentally and physically stimulated, and to encourage hunting and foraging behaviors. The zoo's Volunteer Enrichment Team works with keepers to create the treats and activities, designing items with specific animals in mind to maximize their enrichment.
"Our activities are a great way to engage the animals, and they're also fun to watch," Shepherdson said. "Our hope is that people will make strong emotional connections with the animals so they'll care more about their wild counterparts."
Zookeepers will also give talks throughout spring break, offering keen insight into the lives and personalities of the animals they care for.
"This is a great opportunity for kids to learn how they can one day become a keeper and work toward creating a better future for our wildlife," Shepherdson added.
And from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, visitors are invited to hop, leap, climb and crawl through Asia on our giant National Geographic map.
Spring break at the Oregon Zoo is presented by Fred Meyer with additional support from Fox 12, PDX TV, Z100 and The Oregonian.
March 1, 2010 ZOO'S FROG CONSERVATION PARTY IS B.Y.O.T. (BRING YOUR OWN TIARA) Oregon Zoo and Radio Disney invite visitors to "wear a crown, save a frog"
PORTLAND, Ore. - Come one, come all to the Frog Conservation Ball. The Oregon Zoo cordially invites all princes, princesses and royal amphibians to participate in a conservation party, March 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. In conjunction with the DVD release of Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," the zoo has arranged several amphibian- and fairytale-themed activities highlighting frog conservation.
"This is a great way to raise awareness about the crisis facing amphibians, while having some fun in the process," said Krista Swan, zoo events coordinator. "We encourage visitors to come adorned in their favorite royal or amphibious attire -- and while frog-kissing is optional, having a 'hopping' good time is a must!"
Zoogoers can learn about the importance of frog conservation and its impact on the ecosystem through crafts, games and educational activities. Festivities also include frog-related kid's-meal prizes and a costume parade that stops at the royal castle scene for a photo opportunity.
Because clean water is crucial to the survival of amphibians, the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services is bringing an interactive watershed model to demonstrate the effects of stormwater pollution on an ecosystem. Portland Parks City Nature also has several fun activities planned to illustrate the importance of frog conservation right here in Portland.
Radio Disney will be on hand to distribute goody bags to attendees, and one randomly selected guest will receive a $150 "Princess and the Frog" prize package, complete with a copy of the DVD. The Conservation Ball and activities are free with zoo admission.
Habitat destruction, climate change and pollution, combined with a rapidly spreading fungal disease, threaten up to one-third of the world's amphibian population. The infectious chytridiomycosis disease is causing severe population declines and species extinctions, which were previously attributed to habitat loss and degradation.
"As many as 165 amphibian species may be extinct," said David Shepherdson, zoo conservation scientist. "Without an immediate intervention, one-third to one-half of the world's amphibian species could become extinct in our lifetime. This would constitute an extinction comparable to that of the dinosaurs."
As an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institution, the Oregon Zoo is committed to assisting the survival of amphibians. Since 2000, AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums have spent more than $1.3 million on amphibian conservation and research projects in more than 20 countries around the world.
