News | Oregon Zoo

A silverspot butterfly larvae wakes up at the Oregon Zoo's conservation lab.

Wake-up time! Zoo rouses 500 caterpillars for trip to coast

Zoo conservationists are rousing more than 500 Oregon silverspot larvae from their winter dormancy this month. The program aims to bolster threatened populations of rare Oregon silverspot butterfly.

June 22, 2021

A condor chick in a nest room at the Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation in Clackamas.

Condor hatching season rates a '10' with conservationists

Ten fuzzy California condor chicks are squawking in their nests this spring at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation — the biggest batch yet in the zoo's 18-year effort.

June 15, 2021

Zoo keeper holds up a tiny sea otter pup in gloved hands.

Animal-care spotlight: Preparing for changes

A recent survey from Banfield Pet Hospital found 32% of people with pets have asked veterinarians how to make their return to the workplace easier on their furry friends.

May 21, 2021

Condor parent and chick in a nesting area.

Teledyne-FLIR nest-cams show record year for zoo condors

Nine California condors have hatched so far this spring at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation — the biggest batch of chicks in the zoo's 18-year effort to save the species.

May 20, 2021

Call for ponds: community help needed to find turtles

Yamhill County property owners are being asked to help search for a rare Pacific Northwest native reptile: the northwestern pond turtle, also known as the western pond turtle.

May 19, 2021

A chimpanzee climbs a wooden structure at the Oregon Zoo's Primate Forest habitat.

Citizen oversight group praises zoo bond implementation

The Oregon Zoo continues to deliver on promises made in 2008, when the region's voters approved a zoo bond measure promoting animal welfare and sustainability, a citizen oversight group reports.

May 7, 2021

Rescued black bear Takoda enjoys a soak in the tub at the Oregon Zoo.

2 Cubs + 2 tubs: Takoda and Nora show us how to stay cool

As a stretch of warm spring weather settled around Portland over the past month, 11-year-old Takoda and 5-year-old Nora did what many youngsters do: headed for their wading pools to cool off.

May 7, 2021

Sea otter Juno munching on a piece of kelp.

Kelp and sea otters: A Q&A with Dick Vanderschaaf

To learn about sea otters and their role in maintaining Oregon’s kelp ecosystem, we spoke with Dick Vanderschaaf, associate director of marine conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Oregon.

April 13, 2021

American beaver Filbert chews a stick at the Oregon Zoo.

Zoo Foundation awards $40,000 for Oregon conservation

Sea otters, beavers and western pond turtles got some much-needed help this week as the Oregon Zoo Foundation funded $40,000 to support conservation efforts.

April 1, 2021

Polar bear Nora explores her new habitat.

Zoo's spring forecast: sunny with a chance of Nora

As the Oregon Zoo puts the finishing touches on its new Polar Passage habitat, Nora the polar bear is back!

March 21, 2021

Zoo hosts talk on saving imperiled monarch butterflies

Q&A with Sen. Jeff Merkley and Xerces Society expert livestreamed March 18, 2021 As pollinator scientists and advocates fight to save the western monarch butterfly from extinction, the Oregon Zoo is hosting a live Q&A session this week, featuring U.S

March 17, 2021

First condor chick of season arrives with a surprise bonus

The first California condor chick of 2021 arrived in spectacular and surprising fashion this week at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation.