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Pachyderms pulverize pumpkins in prelude to 'Howloween'

Visitors can see some of the world's largest land animals demolish some of the area's largest pumpkins at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, during the Oregon Zoo's annual Squishing of the Squash. "Our elephant herd will get a 700-pound pumpkin to smash, play with, munch on and maybe even roll around in," said senior elephant keeper Shawn Finnell. "It will be interesting to see what Rose-Tu does this year. She's twenty-one months pregnant, so she could be extra hungry, or she might not be into pumpkins at all."

Oregon Zoo sponsors local teens’ trip to see wild polar bears

Gresham High School senior Haley Schaeffer, along with three Beaverton students known as the Conservation Crew, will be heading to the Canadian tundra this weekend for a weeklong teen leadership camp sponsored by Polar Bears International, the world's leading polar bear conservation group. The Oregon Zoo selected Schaeffer as its 2012 representative in PBI's "Arctic Ambassador" program, based on her past outreach and community involvement. She will join 15 other teens from across the United States, Canada and Australia at the camp, which takes place in and around Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.

Zoo shows off stripes, spots during ‘Tiger and Leopard Awareness Day’

Two critically endangered cat species will share the spotlight Sept. 30, during the zoo's first Tiger and Leopard Awareness Day, presented by Banfield Pet Hospital. Visitors can learn more about the zoo's Amur tigers (Mikhail and Nicole) and leopards (Borris and Kia). These cats' wild counterparts, native to the Amur region of southeast Russia, are among the most endangered big cats in the world. Fewer than 500 Amur tigers are believed to remain in the wild, and the number of Amur leopards is estimated to be fewer than 40.

Oregon Zoo wins three national awards for conservation, environmental efforts

The Oregon Zoo received three prestigious awards from colleagues at zoos and aquariums across the country Wednesday — two for conservation work on behalf of imperiled Northwest species plus a special Green Award for environmental efforts in its day-to-day operations. The awards were announced in Phoenix Wednesday at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' annual conference.

"These awards are like the Oscars of zoos and aquariums," said Kim Smith, zoo director. "They not only recognize the Oregon Zoo's commitment to wildlife and the environment, but show that we have earned the respect of our peers in the zoo and aquarium world. We are very, very proud."

Voluntary polar bear blood draw at Oregon Zoo is a species first

How do you get a half-ton hypercarnivorous beast to willingly submit to a blood test? The short answer to this riddle is, of course, "very carefully." But a broader answer has resulted in significant animal welfare advances at the Oregon Zoo, where polar bear siblings Tasul and Conrad recently became the first of their species to allow blood samples to be taken without being anesthetized. Tasul has been comfortably allowing the zoo's keepers and veterinary staff to draw blood from a back paw since December, while her brother, Conrad, had his first voluntary blood draw this month. Preliminary lab analysis suggests this new method may physically reduce stress during veterinary treatment.

Oregon Zoo to host Sea Otter Awareness Week, Sept. 23-29

Otter lovers, be aware! The Oregon Zoo and Friends of the Sea Otter celebrate Sea Otter Awareness Week, Sept. 23-29 — seven days aimed at showcasing these playful marine mammals and highlighting their critical role in the North Pacific ecosystem. At 11:30 a.m. each day, visitors can stop by the zoo’s Steller Cove exhibit to hear keeper talks and watch the zoo’s two sea otters, Thelma and Eddie, scarf down enrichment treats or participate in training sessions.

Zoo releases 1,183 endangered butterflies into wild

The Oregon Zoo's butterfly conservation lab successfully released the last of this season's 1,183 zoo-reared Oregon silverspot butterfly pupae this week. A dozen pupae (butterfly cocoons) were transported to coastal headlands to complete their transformation and join their wild counterparts.

Once common along the Oregon coast, the Oregon silverspot was reduced to four Oregon populations by the 1990s. The species was listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1980 — one of two Oregon butterflies listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Oregon Zoo’s youngest elephant, Samudra, turns 4 years old

The Oregon Zoo's youngest elephant, Samudra, turns 4 years old Thursday, Aug. 23, and keepers say the popular pachyderm has done quite a bit of growing up this past year. Like many 4-year-olds, Samudra is active and inquisitive, loves to play in water, and prefers fruit to vegetables, according to keepers. But after a few years of depending on his mother for milk and being nurtured by his "aunties," he is now nearly weaned — a necessity with Rose-Tu's second baby on the way — and he has also received some life lessons in what it means to be a bull.

Rosanne Cash to play Oregon Zoo this weekend

Summer's going fast, but there's still time to pack a picnic dinner, stake out a patch of concert lawn, and take in a show by one of country music's all-time greats in an idyllic outdoor setting. Rosanne Cash comes to town Aug. 26 as part of the Oregon Zoo summer concert series presented by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon with support from U.S. Bank and Toyota.

Trombone Shorty stands tall in zoo concert lineup

It’s summertime at the Oregon Zoo, and the Zoo Doo isn’t the only thing that’s funky. Two thrilling musicians, Trombone Shorty and Robert Randolph, will share a bill Aug. 24

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