NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release, not the date of the event.
May 2010
May 28 — Carolina Chocolate Drops, Konono N°1 to Play at Oregon Zoo May 28 — Bowlers Hit the Lanes to Help Endangered Rhinos May 27 — Zoo Takes In Second Orphaned River Otter May 27 — Oregon Zoo Taps Local Talent for 'Zoo Brew' May 25 — Honor the Ocean? Zoo Seconds That Commotion May 21 — Afrobeat Superstar Femi Kuti Added to Zoo Concert Lineup May 20 — Oregon Zoo Stage Provides Ideal Setting for Jewel May 19 — Oregon Zoo Dinosaurs are Ready for Their Close-Up May 18 — Legomania Strikes Oregon Zoo May 17 — Zoo to Observe Endangered Species Day, May 21 May 14 — Zoo Ramps Up for Summer with New Hours May 14 — Prehistoric Predators Fly High at Oregon Zoo May 12 — Zoo to Get Warm and Fuzzy with 'Bear Awareness Week' May 12 — Black Bears Return to Oregon Zoo May 7 — Coco the Chimp is Named Zoo's 2010 Mother of the Year May 6 — Zoo Pachyderm Plays Host to Prehistoric Predator May 5 — Zoo Raises Endangered Butterflies for Release into Wild May 4 — Prehistoric Predators Arrive at Oregon Zoo May 3 — Oregon Zoo 'animal investigators' camp inspires future vets
May 28, 2010 CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS, KONONO N°1 TO PLAY AT OREGON ZOO First "Zoo Tunes" show of the season will feature beats from the Congo and the Carolinas
The Carolina Chocolate Drops perform with everything from banjos to bones July 7 as part of the zoo's summer concert series presented by NW Natural. Photo courtesy of the artist.
PORTLAND, Ore. — With new spins on traditional music from the Congo and the Carolinas, the Oregon Zoo kicks off another globetrotting season of "Zoo Tunes" shows July 7, with the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Konono N°1. The zoo's summer concert series, sponsored by NW Natural, features more than 15 shows running through August. "ZooTunes" shows focus on lesser-known acts from around the world.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops — Don Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson — met at North Carolina’s esteemed Black Banjo Gathering in 2005 and have been exploring the beautiful music of the Carolinas' Piedmont region ever since. Using everything from fiddles, banjos and snares to kazoos, jugs and bones, the Chocolate Drops bring old-time American string-band music up to date to produce a sound brimming with history and smarts.
Konono N°1, from the suburbs of Kinshasa, Congo, are described locally as a "tradi-moderne" band. With a distinct repertoire of musical instruments, including three electric likembés, makeshift percussion instruments such as car parts, handmade microphones built from magnets, and a megaphone sound system, Konono N°1 has put its own spin on Bazombo trance music by seamlessly integrating once-unwanted sound distortions into their hypnotic performances.
Advance tickets for the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Konono N°1 are available online or at the zoo for $14.50. Ticket price includes zoo admission. Remaining tickets will be available at the zoo after 4 p.m. on the day of the performance.
Konono N°1 uses makeshift instruments and microphones from recycled car parts to transform traditional Bazombo trance music. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Zoo membership at the Plus level or higher includes free admission to all “Zoo Tunes” concerts (subject to maximum capacity) and daily visits to the zoo. A limited number of tickets will be available to members for advance pickup at the zoo's reception office starting at 9 a.m. the Monday before each Wednesday concert.
Other "Zoo Tunes" performers include Caravan Palace (July 14), Bassekou Kouyate (July 21), Great Big Sea (July 28), Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (Aug. 4) and the Quebe Sisters Band (Aug. 18).
"Zoo Beat" performances include folk-pop singer-songwriter Jewel (June 25), reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff (July 23), U.K. jazz wunderkind Jamie Cullum (July 25), rock 'n' roll legend Levon Helm (Aug. 8), new-wave party rockers the B-52s (Aug. 13), heartthrob crooner Chris Isaak (Aug. 14), hometown heroes Pink Martini (Aug. 26 and 27), and Garrison Keillor's long-running live variety show “A Prairie Home Companion” (Aug 28).
The Oregon Zoo has brought outdoor music to Portland for more than 30 years. In 1979, the zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a summer concert series. Since then, the series has become one of the top outdoor events in the Northwest, and is the region’s longest continuously running outdoor series.
The zoo's summer concert series is presented by NW Natural with support from KINK.fm, KATU, The Oregonian, and Portland Monthly. It features more than 15 performances from June to August.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Rhinos aren't the most elegant bowlers, but Pete, the Oregon Zoo’s black rhino, gave it his best shot before last year's Bowling for Rhinos event and successfully knocked over eight pins.
The 21st annual Bowling for Rhinos fund-raiser takes place June 19 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Sunset Lanes in Beaverton. The event is sponsored by Blue Rhino and is the American Association of Zoo Keepers' national bowl-a-thon and largest conservation effort.
Bowling for Rhinos has raised more than $3.4 million since its inception, and Portland-area bowlers are responsible for $204,056, the second-highest total of any chapter in North America. This yearly fund-raiser is staffed completely by volunteers and sends 100 percent of its proceeds to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Ujung Kulon National Park, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and Way Kambas National Park. These parks protect four species of rhinoceros — black, white, Javan and Sumatran — and provide habitats for hundreds of other endangered plant and animal species.
Michael Illig, assistant curator at the Oregon Zoo and local coordinator for Bowling for Rhinos, noted that globally, all rhino populations are low.
"Fewer than 4,300 black, 200 Sumatran and 60 Javan rhinos are left in the wild," Illig said. "While populations of white rhinos (estimated to be 17,500) and Indian rhinos (estimated to be 2,800) are more stable, they too are considered threatened. Saving every species of rhino is important, but the most critically endangered species drive our efforts."
The annual cost of operating conservation parks is more than $1 million, and fund-raising efforts are critical to their success. Funds are primarily used to create and train security patrol units for protecting endangered species.
Bowlers raise funds by gathering tax-deductible pledges. While bowlers are not required to collect pledges to participate, they are encouraged to make an effort. A $10 participation fee includes shoe rental and three games of bowling. The Portland event features door prizes and raffles for a variety of items.
Registration forms for both bowlers and sponsors are available online: www.oregonzoo.org/Events/BFR/index.htm. To receive sponsor sheets, registration forms must be submitted by Saturday, June 5. Individuals and teams are encouraged to register early. Walk-ins are welcome, with a $25 suggested donation. For additional information, contact Michael Illig at 503-525-4221 or e-mail at portlandaazk@oregonzoo.org.
The Oregon Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is working to facilitate a conservation ethic in children and adults alike. Bowling for Rhinos is an event that involves the entire community and has become a fun tradition for families.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo has taken in a male river otter named B.C. who was orphaned last year in Arkansas. He and the zoo's other young river otter, Tilly, are getting along well, zoo staffers report. According to keeper Kristina Smith, this means "double the antics and energy at our river otter enclosure."
Now that B.C. (short for Buttercup) is fully acclimated to his new home, he and Tilly can be seen on exhibit together; they and Columbia, the zoo's 18-year-old river otter, take turns using the space.
When B.C. first arrived at the zoo, keepers described him as "mellow and timid." But now, Smith said, he's just as playful as Tilly: "They spend a lot of time doing flips in the water, racing each other, playing with rocks and pinecones, sliding down the waterfall and generally being enthusiastic young otters."
B.C. was initially taken in by the Little Rock Zoo after he was found orphaned near Star City, Ark. When Oregon Zoo keepers heard about B.C., they contacted the Little Rock Zoo to see if he could be brought to Oregon.
"Moving B.C. to the zoo has definitely been a success," Smith said. "He quickly hit it off with Tilly and has settled in well."
B.C. and his new companion share a similar history. Named after the Tillamook River, Tilly was found orphaned near Milwaukie, Ore., this past summer. She had been wounded by an animal attack and was seriously malnourished, but has since made a full recovery. /p>
"Tilly and B.C. had rough starts to life," Smith said, "but I'm happy to say they're both doing really well now."
May 27, 2010 OREGON ZOO TAPS LOCAL TALENT FOR 'ZOO BREW' Zoo's fourth annual microbrew festival to feature music by the Crazy 8s
Oregon ska-rock legends the Crazy 8s are reuniting to play Zoo Brew, the zoo's annual festival of Northwest brewers. This year's Zoo Brew takes place June 4, from 5 to 10 p.m. Contributed photo.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Nights at the Oregon Zoo are full of excitement — several nocturnal species keep the zoo hopping from sunset to sunrise — but usually only the animals get to partake in the fun. On Friday, June 4, humans get to join the party at Zoo Brew, where some of the best beer in the Northwest will combine with one of the greatest bands ever to come out of Oregon: the Crazy 8s.
Inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2007, this ska-rock band will provide the microbrew festival's soundtrack, playing live on the zoo's main stage as attendees sample beers from more than 20 local microbreweries.
"No other Northwest event allows guests to enjoy fantastic local brews and take in great live music while mingling outdoors at a zoo," said Kris Carico, Oregon Zoo Foundation special events manager.
Tickets to Zoo Brew are $25 in advance ($30 at the door) and include a commemorative glass and 10 tokens. The festival, sponsored by Willamette Week and KINK.fm, runs from 5 to 10 p.m., rain or shine. Proceeds from this year's event will support the Zoo To You education program, which helps engage kids in animal education through hands-on learning activities and allows them to get up close with live animals.
This year's sponsors include Alameda Brewhouse, Blue Mountain Cider, Boyd Coffee Co., BridgePort Brewing Co., Cascade Brewing, Crater Lake Root Beer, Deschutes Brewery, Fish Brewing Co., Full Sail Brewing, Hopworks Urban Brewing, Klamath Basin Brewing Co., Kona Brewing Co., Lagunitas Brewing Co., Laurelwood Public House and Brewery, Lompoc Brewing Co., MacTarnahan's Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing, Oakshire Brewing, Pale Horse Brewing Co., Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pyramid Brewing Co., Redhook Ale Brewery, Seven Brides Brewing, Southern Oregon Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Spire Mountain Cider, Trumer Pils, and Widmer Brothers Brewing Co.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.oregonzoo.org/Zoo_Brew. Only guests 21 and over will be admitted.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo invites visitors to celebrate the world's oceans and learn how to protect them at its annual Ocean Commotion party Sunday, June 6.
The event, sponsored by KATU and The Oregonian, celebrates World Oceans Day and also brings attention to the crisis in the Gulf. The Oregon Zoo is committed to providing long-term support to wildlife rehabilitation and habitat recovery. All donation box and "wishing well" contributions made during Ocean Commotion will go to Gulf-relief efforts.
Through hands-on activities, Ocean Commotion addresses a variety of threats facing the world's oceans and highlights actions people can take to help preserve wildlife. Interactive stations include the following:
Polar Bear Rescue Mission: Feel real polar bear fur and learn what you can do in your daily lives to help polar bears by reducing carbon levels and other pollutants in the atmosphere.
Help Save the Kelp: Scour the tricky "I Spy" poster to spot animals hiding in the kelp forest. There’s more than meets the eye!
Look, Don't Touch: Use an "aquascope" to safely get up close and personal with the delicate tide-pool environment and learn how you can protect tide pools at the beach with good tide-pool etiquette.
Clean It Up With the Steller Sea Lions: Search for food the way a sea lion does, and participate in a scavenger hunt around Steller Cove. Discover how runoff, pollution and litter affect the hunt.
Save the Sea Otters: Get a firsthand feel of how sea otters' fur acts as insulation in frigid temperatures. Learn ways to protect endangered animals.
Gulf Spill Cleanup: Use dish detergent to clean oil-soaked feathers. ZooGuides will discuss wildlife rehabilitation techniques and the effects of oil pollution on the environment.
Careful What You "Fish" For: Play a fishing game, learn shopping tips for environmentally sustainable and safe seafood, and receive a Seafood Watch card.
Children can enjoy craft stations around the zoo. Washington County Cooperative Library Services will present a special reading of Dr. Seuss' "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish," along with fish-themed crafts and activities, in honor of the book's 50th anniversary.
Zoo animals will get into the swim of things too, with a rockfish feeding at 10:30 a.m., fish toys and ice treats for the sea otters at 12:30 p.m., and squid and octopus toys for the sea lions at 2 p.m.
Partnering with the zoo — and presenting hands-on activities and information at the event — are the Our Ocean coalition, Oregon Sea Grant, SOLV, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Clean Water Services, the Surfrider Foundation, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Ocean Commotion runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 6; World Oceans Day is Tuesday, June 8. All events are free with zoo admission.
May 21, 2010 AFROBEAT SUPERSTAR FEMI KUTI ADDED TO ZOO CONCERT LINEUP Kuti and the Positive Force to return to the Oregon Zoo stage July 2
Femi Kuti & the Positive Force return to the Oregon Zoo stage July 2 as part of the zoo's summer concert series presented by NW Natural. Contributed photo.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo’s summer concert series just got hotter! Nigerian Afrobeat superstar Femi Kuti and his band, the Positive Force, will appear July 2 in the second concert of the summer season. The popular series, presented by NW Natural, is celebrating its 32nd year.
Kuti, the oldest son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, home base for his father’s powerful blend of funk, jazz and heavy percussion. While a natural heir to his father’s musical legacy, Femi Kuti also draws on elements of dance music and hip-hop to create a modern and soulful Afrobeat style entirely his own.
“Femi Kuti’s passion is evident in each song,” said Krista Swan, the zoo’s event coordinator. “His music speaks straight to the heart.”
Kuti performs regularly in Nigeria, where he is a bona fide superstar. He has toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States with his band, the Positive Force. On record, he has collaborated with musicians such as Macy Gray, Mos Def and Common. His most recent album release, “Day by Day,” captures the fierce passion of his live performances, while offering more refined Afrobeat tones, elaborate instrumental patterns and tunes to ignite any dance floor.
Tickets for Femi Kuti and the Positive Force can be purchased at the Oregon Zoo for $17 each.
Tickets can also be purchased (with service charge) at all Ticketmaster ticket centers, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800-745-3000. For more information on the concert series, http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts.
Kuti, the son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti adds elements of dance music and hip-hop to his father’s blend of funk, jazz and heavy percussion. Contributed photo.
Among the other popular acts set to play the zoo this summer are folk-pop singer-songwriter Jewel (June 25), reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff (July 23), U.K. jazz wunderkind Jamie Cullum (July 25), rock ’n’ roll legend Levon Helm (Aug. 8), new-wave party rockers the B-52s (Aug. 13), heartthrob crooner Chris Isaak (Aug. 14), hometown heroes Pink Martini (Aug. 26 and 27), and Garrison Keillor’s long-running live variety show “A Prairie Home Companion” (Aug 28).
The Oregon Zoo has brought outdoor music to Portland for more than 30 years. In 1979, the zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a summer concert series. Since then, the series has become one of the top outdoor events in the Northwest, and is the region’s longest continuously running outdoor series.
The zoo’s summer concert series is presented by NW Natural with support from KINK.fm, KATU, The Oregonian and Portland Monthly. It features more than 15 performances from June to August.
May 20, 2010 OREGON ZOO STAGE PROVIDES IDEAL SETTING FOR JEWEL Multifaceted (and multiplatinum) singer-songwriter to perform June 25 at zoo
Jewel returns to the Oregon Zoo stage June 25, kicking off this year's summer concert series, sponsored by NW Natural. The platinum-selling star will perform hits from throughout her career as well as songs from her new country album, "Sweet and Wild." Contributed photo.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo summer concert series kicks off another scintillating season of music June 25, as three-time Grammy nominee Jewel takes the stage to perform hits from throughout her multiplatinum career. The concert series, sponsored by NW Natural, features more than 15 shows from June through August.
After releasing one of the most successful debut albums of all time — 1995’s "Pieces of You" — Jewel has gone on to sell more than 27 million albums worldwide. Mid-'90s hits like "Foolish Games," "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "You Were Meant for Me" quickly established her as the face of a new crop of female singer-songwriters. In 1997, she played the first Lilith Fair tour and earned a spot on the cover of Time magazine.
Jewel’s first country album, "Perfectly Clear," showcased the singer’s musical diversity and topped Billboard’s country chart in 2008. Her second country album, "Sweet and Wild," comes out June 8, and is said to be inspired by the love and happiness in her life.
"Jewel’s songwriting talent and beautiful, ethereal voice continue to win her new fans year after year," said Krista Swan, the zoo’s event coordinator. "She's always been a great live performer, and the zoo is a perfect place to see her play. 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!"
Jewel is on her national Star Light Café Tour presented by Country Financial.
Jewel performs at the Oregon Zoo June 25 as part of her Star Light Café Tour presented by Country Financial. The show kicks off zoo's 2010 summer concert series sponsored by NW Natural. The multifaceted star will perform hits from throughout her career as well as songs from her new country album, "Sweet and Wild." Contributed photo.
Opening the show is heart-on-his-sleeve country crooner Radney Foster. For the past 24 years, Foster has seen success as a singer, songwriter and producer. His latest album, "Revival," features the single "Angel Flight," which hit No. 1 on the Texas Music Chart.
Tickets for the concert can be purchased at the Oregon Zoo for $24.50 each. Tickets can also be purchased (with service charge) at all Ticketmaster ticket centers, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800-745-3000. For more information on the concert series, visit www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts
Among the other popular acts set to play the zoo this summer are modern Afrobeat sensations Fema Kuti & the Positive Force (July 2), reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff (July 23), U.K. jazz wunderkind Jamie Cullum (July 25), rock ’n’ roll legend Levon Helm (Aug. 8), new-wave party rockers the B-52s (Aug. 13), heartthrob crooner Chris Isaak (Aug. 14), hometown heroes Pink Martini (Aug. 26 and 27), and Garrison Keillor's long-running live variety show "A Prairie Home Companion" (Aug 28).
The Oregon Zoo has brought outdoor music to Portland for more than 30 years. In 1979, the zoo became the first zoo in the nation to host a summer concert series. Since then, the series has become one of the top outdoor events in the Northwest, and is the region's longest continuously running outdoor series.
The zoo's summer concert series is presented by NW Natural with support from KINK.fm, KATU, The Oregonian, and Portland Monthly. It features more than 15 performances from June to August.
PORTLAND, Ore. — They’re back from extinction and fiercer than ever! After two long years, dinosaurs have returned to amaze Oregon Zoo visitors for a second time. “Prehistoric Predators,” the zoo’s blockbuster summer exhibit sponsored by Wells Fargo, opens Saturday, May 22, and continues through Labor Day.
Zoo visitors can follow a trail through an ancient rain forest, surrounded by realistic animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move with lifelike ferocity. The dinosaurs represent 17 species from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. An intimidating Giganotosaurus, which was even larger than Tyrannosaurus rex, is the exhibit’s centerpiece. Its 6-foot-long skull held enormous jaws with 8-inch-long serrated teeth.
"Prehistoric Predators will be an experience with some real teeth to it," quipped Kim Smith, Oregon Zoo director. "The zoo's dinosaur exhibit two years ago was a huge success, so our staff has worked hard to exceed expectations."
The path also will feature photo-opportunity spots and activity stations where visitors can unearth fossils. And, drawing a connection to the zoo's recently opened Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, interpretive signs along the dino path will compare predators from long ago to those found in the present.
"The carnivorous Troodon hunted in packs, had great eyesight with depth perception, and a light body with long legs," Smith said. "That's a pretty good description of today's African wild dogs as well."
Each of the dinosaurs is built on a steel frame and covered with intricately painted foam-rubber skin. State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs' grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth. Strategically placed alternative paths lead parents with younger visitors to activity stations, where they learn what these giants ate, how they cared for their young, what their relationships to other animals were like, possible reasons they became extinct and more.
Admission to the dino exhibit will be $3.50 plus regular zoo admission.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Future engineers, architects, inventors and roboticists will be displaying their technological marvels this week at Legomania, a student science and technology fair expressed entirely though the medium of Legos. Legomania is the capstone event for Oregon Episcopal School's Lego physics classes, and will be held in the Oregon Zoo’s Kalahari Room, May 22–23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year’s Legomania is organized around the theme of "Pete and Packy Play Monopoly," and honors two of the zoo's most famous residents (Pete the rhino and Packy the elephant). The "Pete and Packy Play Monopoly" display is the highlight of this year’s student accomplishments, and features a 6-by-3-foot automated Monopoly board.
The displays are planned, designed, programmed and built entirely by students in OES’s Lego physics classes. Seventy-five advanced Lego "engineers," ages 8 to 17, will demonstrate their creations and the science behind them. Many of the designs feature motors, some have programmable bricks and others are controlled by sensors and computers.
"These are great kids building great contraptions," said Jane Kenney-Norberg, Lego physics instructor. "I stress constantly to the kids that they are representing themselves, their families and their school — and that once they’ve done a zoo show, people will recognize them out in the real world. That certainly makes them pull it together!"
The Lego physics classes teaches principles of simple mechanics, engineering, computer programming and high-level troubleshooting. Not only do students design and build all the constructions, but they devise and execute a "story" — a way for the systems to work together to present the whole sequence — using two computers and four Robolab RCX bricks to program each construction.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Zoo visitors can learn more about the animals that need their help most on Endangered Species Day, Friday, May 21.
Throughout the day, the zoo will feature keeper talks and enrichment activities for some of the endangered species it houses. Activities include the following:
10:30 a.m. — a keeper talk at the chimpanzee exhibit, as chimps receive quilts and papier-mâché fruit baskets.
11 a.m. — a keeper talk and crocodile feeding in the Bamba du Jon Swamp exhibit.
12:30 p.m. — a keeper talk at the wolf exhibit, as the gray wolves tear into papier-mâché rodents and birds.
The Zoo Store will be selling copies of The Oregonian’s colorful 18"x24" "Species on the Edge" poster, featuring stunning portraits by Oregonian photographer Benjamin Brink of the 21 Oregon Zoo animals on the federal endangered species list.
The zoo is home to more than 70 endangered or threatened species and is committed to conserving both local and international wildlife with its award-winning programs. More than 17,000 species are threatened with extinction, according to recent estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Endangered Species Day, which takes place on the third Friday in May each year, has been designated by the U.S. Senate as a time to encourage people to "become educated about and aware of threats to species, success stories in species recovery and the opportunity to promote species conservation worldwide." For more information, visit www.endangeredspeciesday.org
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo is ready to welcome summer, with longer hours, new exhibits and a host of seasonal special events. Beginning Saturday, May 15, zoo gates will open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Visitors may remain on grounds until 7 p.m.
“Many of our visitors like getting here early to beat the crowds,” said Jim Gilbert, the zoo’s guest services manager. “Not all the animals are out at 8 a.m., but it’s interesting to watch as keepers prepare the exhibits for the day. It’s also neat to see the animals as they first enter their exhibits –– they’re usually quite active then.”
Among the zoo’s early risers are eagles, salmon, frogs, turtles and waterfowl in the Great Northwest exhibit; penguins and Inca terns in the Penguinarium; birds in the Vollum Aviary; naked mole rats and spiny mice in the Africa exhibit; fish and reptiles in the Amazon Flooded Forest; and sometimes elephants.
Along with more time to enjoy the animals, zoo visitors will be treated to a summer chock full of events, shows and exhibits, including 17 summer concerts, a new dinosaur exhibit, Zoo Brew, Zoolala and more.
Beginning May 22, Prehistoric Predators will delight dinosaur lovers of all ages with realistic animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move with lifelike ferocity. The dinosaurs represent 17 species from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, including the intimidating Giganotosaurus, which was even larger than Tyrannosaurus rex. Its 6-foot-long skull held enormous jaws with 8-inch-long serrated teeth. The dino exhibit, sponsored by Wells Fargo, runs through Labor Day and is $3.50 plus regular zoo admission.
The zoo’s summer concert series kicks off June 25, with three-time Grammy nominee Jewel and country crooner Radney Foster. The series, presented by NW Natural with support from KINK.fm, KATU, The Oregonian and Portland Monthly, features 18 shows from June through August, by artists such as Jimmy Cliff, the B-52s, Chris Isaak and Pink Martini. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com and the zoo. For more information, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org/Concerts .
Zoo Brew, the zoo’s annual brewers festival, is a perennial favorite. This year’s event, sponsored by KINK.fm, features music by the Crazy 8s and fine fermentables from more than 20 microbreweries. Zoo Brew takes place Friday, June 4, from 5 to 10 p.m. The $25 tickets ($30 at the door) include a commemorative tasting glass, 10 tokens and admission to the zoo after 4 p.m. Valid ID is required, and all proceeds go to local youth outreach program Zoo to You. For more information, http://www.oregonzoo.org/Support/Zoo_Brew.htm .
Beginning June 19, the zoo’s popular Wild Life Live! program, presented by Portland General Electric, returns with “Predators of the Sky,” a live free-flight raptor demonstration featuring eagles, owls, hawks and vultures. Demonstrations take place three times daily on non-concert days. The Insect Zoo also opens for the summer on this day.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Quite a few employees and guests at the Oregon Zoo found themselves doing double-takes recently as enormous dinosaurs flew through the treetops. A heavy-duty crane was used to place the largest of the creatures in their summer exhibit, “Prehistoric Predators.” The outdoor experience will take visitors back millions of years beginning May 22 and running through Labor Day.
“Moving these massive animals created some pretty dramatic moments,” said Jim Gilbert, zoo guest services manager, who is coordinating the seasonal exhibit. “It was amazing to see a 43-foot-long, 4-ton Giganotosaurus fly through the air.”
Zoo visitors will soon follow a trail through an ancient rain forest, surrounded by realistic animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move with lifelike ferocity. The dinosaurs represent 17 species from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. An intimidating Giganotosaurus, which was even larger than Tyrannosaurus rex, is the exhibit’s centerpiece. Its 6-foot-long skull held enormous jaws with 8-inch-long serrated teeth.
“Prehistoric Predators will be an experience with some real teeth to it,” quipped Kim Smith, Oregon Zoo director. “The zoo’s dinosaur exhibit two years ago was a huge success, so our staff has worked hard to exceed expectations.”
The path also will feature photo-opportunity spots and activity stations where visitors can unearth fossils. And, drawing a connection to the zoo’s recently opened Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, interpretive signs along the dino path will compare predators from long ago to those found in the present.
“The carnivorous Troodon hunted in packs, had great eyesight with depth perception, and a light body with long legs,” Smith said. “That’s a pretty good description of today’s African wild dogs as well.”
Each of the dinosaurs is built on a steel frame and covered with intricately painted foam-rubber skin. State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth. Strategically placed alternative paths lead parents with younger visitors to activity stations, where they learn what these giants ate, how they cared for their young, what their relationships to other animals were like, possible reasons they became extinct and more.
Admission to the dino exhibit will be $3.50 plus regular zoo admission.
May 12, 2010 ZOO TO GET WARM AND FUZZY WITH 'BEAR AWARENESS WEEK' A week of keeper talks and animal enrichment that even Goldilocks couldn't bear to miss
PORTLAND, Ore. —Kick off your rain boots and come out of hibernation! Visitors are invited to an affair for the bears, as the Oregon Zoo celebrates Bear Awareness Week, May 16-21.
Throughout the week, keeper talks and enrichment activities at the black bear, polar bear and Malayan sun bear exhibits will help zoo visitors learn more about these amazing creatures. Black bears get a camping scene to explore, the sun bears can dig into papier-mâché termite mounds filled with their favorite bugs, and polar bears get to play in the snow with some new fish toys.
This year, Bear Awareness Week has three new guests of honor –– Dale, Cubby and Tuff –– who are debuting at the zoo’s Black Bear Ridge exhibit. The bears, who 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.
Each year, zoos around the country celebrate Bear Awareness Week to help educate the public about the integral role bears play in nature, as well as the importance of respecting biological diversity.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Black Bear Ridge has some new residents. Three bears –– Dale, Cubby and Tuff –– are acclimating to their new home at the Oregon Zoo. 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.
“Dale, Cubby and Tuff are acclimating well to their new home at the Oregon Zoo,” keeper Virginia Grimley said. “We’re excited about caring for these charismatic bears –– they’re just beginning to explore their beautiful and natural exhibit. The bears are smart and curious. It’s clear that the Hogle Zoo provided terrific care.”
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.
May 7, 2010 COCO THE CHIMP IS NAMED ZOO'S 2010 MOTHER OF THE YEAR Zoo's oldest resident inspired Jane Goodall, helped show importance of mother-infant bond
PORTLAND, Ore. — The votes are in: The public has chosen Coco as the Oregon Zoo's Mother of the Year for 2010. The geriatric chimpanzee pulled in about 52 percent of the zoo's online votes. Not far behind with 37 percent of the vote was Kandungo, a red-flanked duiker. Dannon, an Allen's swamp monkey, placed third with 11 percent.
"Naming Coco as Mother of the Year allows us to share information about this special elderly lady," said Dave Thomas, the zoo's senior primate keeper. "As a mom 17 times over, she has certainly been a great ambassador for her endangered species."
According to Thomas, Coco was a great mother: patient, loving 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 among humans," he said.
At 58 years old, Coco has the distinction of being the oldest animal at the Oregon Zoo, and she is the fourth-oldest chimp in the U.S. zoo population. Coco's actual date of birth is unknown. She was born in the wild around 1952, came to the United States through the pet trade (legal at the time) and was donated to the zoo by her owner in 1961.
"She's quite elderly for a chimpanzee," Thomas said. "But she's doing very well for her age. Chimps lose muscle tone when they age, just like humans, and sometimes we do worry about the older ones getting along."
Lately, Coco has had some difficulty getting into her off-exhibit holding area, but keepers are hopeful that a few recent modifications will ensure years of independent living for this simian senior citizen. Zoo staffers recently added a 19-foot-long section of tree trunk to Coco's home, giving her easier access to the holding area. They also hung ropes from the ceiling for her to grab onto when moving into the off-exhibit enclosure.
In the wild, Thomas noted, a chimp is considered old at about 35. In zoos, they generally live to be about 45.
In the 1970s, Coco was part of a study that changed the way chimpanzees born in zoos are raised. At the time, about half the breeding population of zoo-born chimps in the United States had been born and raised in Portland, and researchers began questioning why zoo-born chimps in the rest of the country weren't reproducing more.
Over the next 15 years, research at the Oregon Zoo showed that chimps who were cared for by their mothers for longer periods were significantly more likely to exhibit natural breeding behaviors by the time they reached adolescence and adulthood.
During this time, the zoo had a strong connection to renowned chimpanzee expert and conservationist Jane Goodall. In 1973, Goodall had been featured in a public service announcement endorsing the formation of the zoo's governing agency, Metro — and she was instrumental in helping the zoo find support to fund a large outdoor area to house all its chimps together. In 1979, Goodall visited the zoo with her husband, Derek Bryceson, director of the Tanzania National Parks.
"Those were very inspirational times with Dr. Goodall," Thomas recalled. "Obviously, we were fascinated by her studies with chimps in the wild. And she was very much interested in our research on mother-infant care with Coco and other zoo chimpanzees."
Based on their research, Thomas and Nancy King Hunt co-authored a chapter on early rearing for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for chimpanzees. Accredited zoos across North America subsequently adopted the new standards, keeping young chimps with their mothers for at least three to five years.
Coco shares her exhibit with three other chimps, including two of her daughters: Delilah, 36, and Leah, 35.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Chendra, an Asian elephant at the Oregon Zoo, shared her living space with a monstrous meat-eating dinosaur this week — and didn't seem to mind a bit.
The enormous Giganotosaurus was temporarily placed in the elephant exhibit in preparation for its move to a nearby hillside, where it will soon star in "Prehistoric Predators," the zoo's blockbuster summer exhibit featuring lifelike animatronic dinos. The outdoor experience, sponsored by Wells Fargo, will take visitors back millions of years beginning May 22 and running through Labor Day.
Even larger than the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, the intimidating Giganotosaurus greeted Chendra with a big smile — flashing teeth like 8-inch steak knives — but keepers say the elephant took the get-together all in stride.
"It was definitely an enriching experience for Chendra," said Bob Lee, senior elephant keeper at the zoo. "A dinosaur is not something she encounters every day. She was quite curious, exploring the dinosaur’s mouth and teeth with her trunk."
Zookeepers are always looking for new and interesting ways to keep animals engaged and active. The Oregon Zoo is internationally renowned for its "environmental enrichment" program, encouraging animals to forage or engage in other natural behaviors.
Giganotosaurus is one of 17 species from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods that will populate the zoo’s dino trail this summer. As visitors walk along the path, they will encounter life-size animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move with realistic ferocity.
"Prehistoric Predators will be an experience with some real teeth to it," quipped Kim Smith, Oregon Zoo director. "The zoo’s dinosaur exhibit two years ago was a huge success, so our staff has worked hard to exceed expectations."
The path also will feature photo-opportunity spots and activity stations where visitors can unearth fossils. And, drawing a connection to the zoo's recently opened Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, interpretive signs along the dino path will compare predators from long ago to those found in the present.
"The carnivorous Troodon hunted in packs, had great eyesight with depth perception, and a light body with long legs," Smith said. "That’s a pretty good description of today’s African wild dogs as well."
Each of the dinosaurs is built on a steel frame and covered with intricately painted foam-rubber skin. State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs' grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth. Strategically placed alternative paths lead parents with younger visitors to activity stations, where they learn what these giants ate, how they cared for their young, what their relationships to other animals were like, possible reasons they became extinct and more.
Admission to the dino exhibit will be $3.50 plus regular zoo admission.
PORTLAND, Ore. —The Oregon Zoo's butterfly conservation lab has taken a new step in its efforts to restore wild populations of the endangered Taylor's checkerspot butterfly. For the first time in its five-year history, the lab's checkerspot program has successfully bred and reared adult butterflies for release in the wild; previously, the program had only reared larvae for release.
"Raising checkerspots is a complicated venture," said zoo butterfly conservationist Melissa Arnold, "so adding this new component to our program is a big deal. We're currently caring for checkerspots in seven different phases of the species' life cycle."
Last week, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife released more than 80 of the zoo's adult butterflies at two sites near Olympia, Wash., where some of the region's best habitat remains. In March, WDFW released more than 2,000 zoo-reared checkerspot caterpillars at these same sites.
According to Arnold, the decision to try releasing fully developed checkerspots was based on other butterfly conservation programs' successes.
"There are programs working with at-risk butterfly species all over the country, and many of their efforts to release adult butterflies have gone well," Arnold said.
"Being able to release caterpillars as well as adult butterflies allows us to hedge our bets against the climatic variation we've been seeing," added Mary Linders, a WDFW species recovery biologist.
The adult checkerspots released by WDFW have been marked, which will allow scientists to distinguish them from butterflies that reached maturity in the wild. Biologists track all checkerspots at the release sites to monitor the species' health and the impact of conservation efforts.
This year marks the first time all the zoo's released checkerspots — both caterpillars and butterflies — 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," Arnold said. "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 caterpillars, 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. — While unsuspecting Portlanders go about their daily lives this week, staff at the Oregon Zoo are on high alert. Fierce hunters and their nimble prey arrived at the zoo gates early Monday, ready to take their places in the summer blockbuster exhibit "Prehistoric Predators." The outdoor experience, sponsored by Wells Fargo, will take visitors back millions of years beginning May 22 and running through Labor Day.
Zoo visitors will be able to follow a trail through an ancient rain forest, surrounded by realistic animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move with lifelike ferocity. The dinosaurs represent 17 species from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. An intimidating Giganotosaurus, which was larger than the well-known Tyrannosaurus rex, is the exhibit's centerpiece. Its 6-foot-long skull held enormous jaws with 8-inch-long serrated teeth.
"Prehistoric Predators will be an experience with some real teeth to it," quipped Kim Smith, Oregon Zoo director. "The zoo's dinosaur exhibit two years ago was a huge success, so our staff has worked hard to exceed expectations."
The path also features photo-opportunity spots and activity stations where visitors can unearth fossils. Drawing a connection to the zoo's recently opened Predators of the Serengeti exhibit, interpretive signs along the dino path compare predators from long ago to those found in the present.
"The carnivorous troodon hunted in packs, had great eyesight with depth perception, and a light body with long legs," Smith said. "That's a pretty good description of today's African wild dogs, as well."
Each of the dinosaurs is built on a steel frame and covered with intricately painted foam-rubber skin. State-of-the-art electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs' grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth. Strategically placed alternative paths lead parents with younger visitors to activity stations, where they learn what these giants ate, how they cared for their young, what their relationships to other animals were like, possible reasons they became extinct and more.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo's new Animal Investigators summer camp lets sixth-grade students go "behind the scenes" and explore how zoos care for animals big and small.
Animal Investigators introduces students to zookeeping and animal husbandry, and provides an insider's look at the zoo's veterinary hospital and animal kitchen. In addition, Banfield, The Pet Hospital's FutureVet curriculum lets campers see how veterinarians use modern medicine to help keep animals healthy.
Campers will also learn about animal enrichment. The zoo is internationally renowned for its enrichment programs, which mentally stimulate the animals and provide them with the opportunity to play, hunt and forage.
Other camp activities include crafts, songs, stories, snacks, train rides, animal visitors and in–depth tours of the zoo. The zoo's summer events and shows are also incorporated.
Animal Investigators begins June 21. Fees are $299 for Oregon Zoo members and $352 for non–members. Early care, late care and lunches are available at an added charge. For more information and to register for camp, visit www.oregonzoo.org/Classes/SummerCamp/index.htm.
Since 1983, the zoo's professional camp staff has been guiding children in exploring and discovering the wonders of the zoo through fun, hands-on learning. All staff members are screened for excellence in programming for children. Every staff member is required to have previous experience working with children, and many return year after year. Typically, staff members have worked for public schools, OMSI, Outdoor School or Audubon. Most are college graduates or are working on a degree. Staff-to-student ratios are 1:8 for kindergarten through first grade, and 1:10 for second through eighth grades.
Established in 1955, Banfield is the world's largest pet general veterinary practice. Banfield strives to make the best veterinary care affordable and convenient in the communities it serves. Because pets play such a valuable role in families' lives, Banfield pet hospitals provide the finest doctors, computerized medical records, Optimum Wellness Plans for preventive care and extended operating hours. Located nationwide, Banfield helps to extend the lives of more than 4 million pets each year.
