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INJI AND BATIK GET A NEW HOUSE MATE
Move in a male and everything changes.
The Oregon Zoos two female Sumatran orangutans, Inji, and Batik, have experienced quite a few changes lately. From their enclosure, they watched construction crews create the zoos newest exhibit, Amazon Flooded Forest. The construction closed off the public viewing to the orang enclosure, but beginning Dec. 12, a brand new viewing window will allow the orangs to once again observe zoo visitors. And as if that werent enough, Inji and Batik encountered some changes of their own a new roommate a male.
This summer, the 7-year-old orangutan, Kutai joined 41-year-old Inji and 14-year-old Batik who have lived at the zoo since 1961 and 1996 respectively. However due to the construction of Amazon Flooded Forest, the public has not had an opportunity to meet Kutai.
Move in a male, says senior primate keeper Dave Thomas, and everything changes.
Oregon Zoo had been looking for a male to fill out their group, and eventually breed with Batik, who is regarded as a genetically important female by the Species Survival Plan for orangutans. With the arrival of Kutai, the story of their orangutan group comes full circle. Though he has spent his life up to now in Wichita, Kutais story really begins at Oregon Zoo.
In 1987 Inji and her longtime mate, Harry, had a son, Kalimantan. At the SSPs recommendation, Kalimantan was moved, eventually ending up at Sedgewick County Zoo to form a breeding group there. As planned, Kalimantan bred with a female, a wild-born orangutan. Kutai is their son, making Inji his grandmother.
In the long run, the Zoo hopes that Kutai and Batik will become successful breeders. Initially, however, we want this group, says Thomas, to settle down for awhile.
Theres nothing any cuter than an infant orangutan, continues Thomas. But thats a ways down the road.
The two types of orangutans, Sumatran and Bornean, are both classified as endangered.
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CALIFORNIA CONDORS RETURN TO OREGON
The largest native birds in North America will be returning to Oregon after a 97-year absence.
The Oregon Zoo has just been accepted as a member of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service California Condor Recovery Program, and will be building the nations fourth condor breeding facility. Existing condor breeding facilities are at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho.
The idea of bringing condors back to Oregon originated in a brainstorming meeting about how the Oregon Zoo could participate in the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, slated for 2005-2006. Lewis and Clark saw condors along the Columbia River between The Dalles and Astoria. Their first sighting was on Oct. 28, 1805. In their journals, they refer to them as the beatifull Buzzard of the columbia (sic). They killed one and carefully examined and weighed it, making thorough notes in their journal about the 9' 2 wingspan, red head and whitish patches under the wings.
Condor bones at least 9,000 years old have been unearthed by archeologists in Oregon Indian middens, and the condor is still a common design motif in the traditional art of Wasco Indians, who lived along the Columbia from The Dalles to Cascade Locks. Native Oregonians also captured condor chicks and kept them as protection against natural disasters.
Biologists surmise that condors didnt disappear from Oregon because of lack of habitat, but rather because they were easy prey for humans. Lewis and Clark killed two and wounded another. Explorer David Douglas shot a pair near Multnomah Falls in 1828. Many are also thought to have died after eating predators poisoned by strychnine placed by early settlers.
The last condors were seen in Oregon in 1904, near the town of Drain, in southwest Oregon.
Condors held out a little longer in California, but in 1987, there were only 27 left in the wild. In a desperate attempt to save the species, biologists decided to put all the remaining condors into a captive breeding program. The number of condors has since increased to 16146 in the wild, 15 in field pens, pending release and100 at breeding centers.
The first release of condors back to the wild occurred on January 14, 1992, at Californias Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Los Padres National Forest.
Two other populations have since been established, one at Vermilion Cliffs, Arizona, 30 miles north of the Grand Canyon, and one at the Ventana Wilderness Refuge, near Big Sur, California.
For now, condor eggs laid at the Oregon Zoo facility will be raised at one of the three other breeding facilities and released at existing sites in California and Arizona. However, although it could be years from now, many Oregon biologists and wildlife managers believe we may once again see condors soaring in Oregon skies.
An Oregon population of condors makes sense from several standpoints," according to Zoo Director Tony Vecchio. Not only is Oregon part of their native range, but in the event that a disease came along and wiped out the condors farther south, it makes sense to have an isolated population.
"In such small and somewhat inbred groups of animals, we worry that a disease could come along to which they have no resistance. A remote population which does not mix with the established populations, could be important insurance in such a case.
Whether or not condors will eventually be released in Oregon will be the decision of the California Condor Recovery Team, a group of representatives from various wildlife agencies and breeding facilities appointed by the Regional Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Four to eight pairs of condors will be housed at the Oregon Zoos facility. The birds are likely to be young ones that will hatch this spring at one of the three other facilities. The condors will not be sexually mature for four to five years and they will not be on exhibit to the public in the near future. The facility, which will be ready for birds this late this year or early next year, will be at a remote site, not on the zoo grounds.
It is important that the condors not get used to people, and pains will be taken so the condors dont bond with or associate with humans. If they become too accustomed to humans, they can become pesky when released into the wild, Vecchio said.
Condors, like their smaller turkey vulture cousins, are carrion-feeders, which means they only eat animals they find already dead. Because of this, their re-introduction into the wild has been much less controversial than the reintroduction of species such as wolves and grizzly bears.
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ZOO BRINGS AMAZON TO OREGON
Emerald tree boas, fresh water stingrays, howler monkeys, and colorful toucans can be seen in new state-of-the-art exhibit
Portland, Ore.Beginning this fall, Oregon Zoo visitors can experience a remote jungle in South America without leaving the Pacific Northwest by visiting the zoos new Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit. The new exhibit will be unveiled Saturday, September 29, 2001.
For nearly six months each year torrential rains flood the Amazon basin, transforming it into a watery world, known as the varzea. The varzea is home to some of the planets most extraordinary and diverse plants and animals.
The plants, animals and people there actually thrive when the river is at flood stage, said Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio. There are many species of fish, which do most of their feeding during floods, swimming up into the branches of submerged trees to eat the seeds, nuts and fruit. These unique fruit-eating fish take on the role of seed dispersers by passing the seeds from different trees far from where they were consumed, creating new generations of trees when the waters recede.
With their first step into the zoo's Amazon Flooded Forest, visitors will be transported to a world inhabited by stunning emerald tree boas, colorful poison dart frogs and large Brazilian cockroaches. The distinctive songs of paradise tanagers can be heard as they fly from limb to limb in the forest canopy. On a branch nearby, a motmot tries to attract a mate by twitching its long tail from side to side like a metronome. As visitors travel deeper into the Amazon, they'll encounter marmosets, agouti (a friendly rodent the size of a cat), iguanas and rare species of fish, some of which grow as large as seven feet. In the treetops, large beautiful birds such as Swainsons and channel billed toucans perch as they watch the other birds that call the canopy home. Nearby, saki and howler monkeys can be seen grooming and swinging on sturdy vines. Spending much of its day sleeping, the two-toed sloth hangs upside-down on a mossy branch. Just below the vines and tree limbs are deep shadowy pools of water. Here reside fearsome-looking caiman and unusual Amazonian fish, including rarely seen species such as orange spot freshwater stingrays, arawana, heckle discus, Amazon catfish, bucktooth tetras and arapaima. The largest fish are the arapaima, which can grow up to 10 feet and weigh 400 pounds. The Amazon catfish is also impressive, growing to six feet and weighing up to 600 pounds.
The best has been saved for last. In this pool, visitors encounter small fish darting in and out of soft beams of sunlight. The fish are wary because they share their world with the largest predator of the Amazonthe green anaconda. Anaconda can grow up to 30 feet, making it the worlds largest snake. Here visitors enter the anacondas watery world (without getting wet!) and literally come eye to eye with this legendary and elusive snake.
The anaconda is almost mythical, Vecchio said. To see a giant snake like that underwater is unforgettable.
After months of design and construction, the ambitious exhibit will feature several mixed species exhibits and flood the entire front of the exhibit, making it one of the first of its kind at any zoo.
According to Mike Marshall, primate keeper, This is a big departure for us. Well have in this one exhibit the full spectrum of species living in this ecosystem mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. It will really give you a sense of what an Amazon forest is like.
The Amazon Flooded Forest is the first phase of a multi-year renovation of the zoos 40-year-old primate house. Originally built in 1959, the exhibit was last renovated in 1980 to include Chimp Island and several other exhibits.
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Delilah, a female chimpanzee at the Oregon Zoo has been undergoing diagnostic procedures at Oregon Health and Science University over the past several weeks. Zoo veterinarians have been treating the 28-year-old chimp for liver disease for the past two and one-half years.
Primate keepers observed De, as she is affectionately called, exhibiting signs of abdominal pain early last month and alerted zoo veterinarians. An ultrasound was performed at the zoo hospital, but vets needed more specialized diagnostic testing, which is only available at large teaching hospitals such as OHSU. Due to the similarities between humans and primates, doctors at OHSU compared the chimps ultrasound to a human baseline.
Pathologists at OHSU who read the latest round of biopsies from De reported seeing the same abnormality that was seen on prior biopsies.
"This is a non-specific finding," said zoo veterinarian, Mitch Finnegan, "but exactly why she has this problem is still the million dollar question."
In an effort to answer that question, zoo veterinary staff will send biopsy samples to veterinary pathologists specializing in primates as well as physicians who treat liver disease in humans.
Delilah, who was born and raised at the zoo, has formed close bonds with her chimp group and her keepers. In fact, according to senior primate keeper, Dave Thomas, one of her keepers has been with her since she was 6 months old.
"She's very dear to our hearts and we really enjoy interacting with her," said Thomas. "I'm not sure if it's because she's resided here for so many years, or because it's so difficult not to become attached to chimpanzees due to their similarities with humans, or maybe it's just because of De's unique personality. Whatever the reason, we're doing everything possible to make this time easier for her."
Thomas indicates that it is very important for Delilah to remain with the other chimps and to keep their daily routine as normal as possible. Therefore, she has only been separated from her group while being examined. This not only helps De, but also eliminates the stress being separated from each other would cause the entire group.
"She continues to have access to the outdoors and the opportunity to hang out wherever she wants," said Thomas. "This also gives us the chance to assess her behavior. We keep a watchful eye on her day and night."
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OREGON ZOO TO CLOSE EARLY FOR ZOOLALA
The Oregon Zoo will close early on Saturday, July 21 in preparation for the Oregon Zoo Foundation's gala fundraiser, Zoolala. The zoo gates will close at 3:30 p.m., however visitors may remain on-grounds until 6 p.m. Some areas of the zoo will be inaccessible.
Zoolala tickets are still available through the Oregon Zoo Foundation office. Funds raised at Zoolala will be used for the zoo's Great Northwest exhibit, which will feature endangered salmon, eagles and a family farm.
The event will feature live music from the Tom Grant Band, the Pacific northwest's most prominent musical group with hits consistently topping the New Adult Contemporary/Smooth Jazz charts; Hawaiian music and dance band Naleo O KoFolau; Gypsy Caravan; Chata Addy and Grupo Kultura. Zoolala will also showcase a wide array of delicious foods from 28 of Portland's leading restaurants such as Hall Street Grill; Huber's Restaurant; Jazz De Opus & Opus Too; Morton's of Chicago and Wild Abandon.
A silent auction will feature such items as vacation packages to Palm Springs, Seattle and Sun River; an evening in the AT&T Wireless suite at the Rose Garden to watch a Blazers game; dinner prepared by a professional chef; artwork; and sailing lessons for four.
Zoolala is presented by AT&T Wireless and co-sponsored by Spirit Mountain Casino. Sponsorship packages are available and include an invitation to the pre-gala patron party with Joan Embery and her animals. Tickets are $150 per person ($100 of each ticket price is tax deductible). For reservations, sponsorship and ticket information contact Kris Carico at 503-220-2492.
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Portland, Ore.- The Oregon Zoo's newest exhibit, Steller Cove, has been open for one year, and what a year it's been. The exhibit was launched last July with the expectation that it would be a big hit. And indeed it has been, but it is the residents of the exhibit that have garnered international attention.
On Jan. 3, 2001, nearly six months after Steller Cove opened, marine life keepers arrived at the exhibit to begin what had become their routine. But routine went out the window, as they observed an addition to the sea otter pool. Immediately recognizing they had a rare birth on their hands, marine life keeper quickly went to work to make sure that the pup had every chance to survive. They removed the dad, Eddie to another pool so that the mom, Thelma could nurture and bond with the pup without distraction, then keepers stood back and watched, ready to intervene only if absolutely necessary.
The result is the now famous southern sea otter pup, Oz has the distinction of being the first in the world to be conceived, born, and raised by its mother at a zoo or aquarium. Other southern sea otters have been born in zoos or aquariums but none have survived. Oz made his public debut March 9 with his mother never far way.
"Thelma's been such a great mom," said Karen Rifenbury, marine life keeper. "She deserves a lot of credit for Oz reaching this milestone."
Southern sea otters are an endangered species. Oz's parents were both found stranded when they were infants. They were brought to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program in April 1998 where they were deemed not viable release candidates. Thelma and Eddie came to the zoo when Steller Cove opened.The young sea otter family has been the big draw for the $11 million exhibit, however, it is named for its large Steller sea lions, which inhabit the pool next door. The sea lion area features a 190,000 gallon pool with two islands and rocky, grass-covered cliffs where visitors can view these 1,200-pound animals from above water or through a large, curved window in an underwater grotto. The southern sea otters swim in a 71,000-gallon pool and are visible from above or below water level. Further along, an impressive kelp forest is home to sea stars, urchins, crabs, anemones, sea cucumbers, rockfish, painted greenlings, kelp greenlings, surf perch, cabezon and snails. And at the tide pool, docents share insights about fascinating marine creatures, including sea urchins, anemones, mussels, crabs, sea stars, sculpins, gobies, painted greenlings and gunnels. Nearby, a blowhole set in the rockwork erupts at irregular intervals, spraying lightly salted water into the air.
"We are extremely pleased with the public's response to Steller Cove," said Kathy Kiaunis, zoo deputy director. "The impressive size of the Steller sea lions is often surprising to our visitors and the sea otter's antics are always crowd pleasers. The exhibit has exceeded our expectations, and with the record setting attendance, we couldn't be more pleased," she added.
Steller Cove is the second phase of the zoo's ambitious Great Northwest exhibit, which begins at Cascade Crest Fan alpine habitat with mountain goats, located at the zoo's main entrance. In the future the Great Northwest will also include an Eagle-Salmon exhibit, plus showcase bears, wolverines and other northwest animals nearby. A Family Farm is also in the works featuring a contact area housing domestic animals from a typical Oregon farm as well as rare breeds of farm animals.
The zoo is located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway 26 and is also accessible by MAX light rail line. The zoo is open 9 a.m. daily. General admission is $6.50 (12-64), seniors $5 (65+), children $4 (3-11), and children under 3 are free. Additional information is available on the zoo's web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
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Portland, Ore.The ballots have been counted and the official vote results are inthe Oregon Zoo's sea otter pup will be named Oz (nicknamed Ozzie). At 10 a.m. this morning Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury certified the vote and zoo Director Tony Vecchio made the official announcement of the pup's name in front of the zoo's Steller Cove exhibit.
The Web site staff has cleared all of the discrepancies over participants voting multiple times in the naming contest leaving Oz the clear winner. Web Programmer David Petterson referred to these voters as excessively enthusiastic participants. With or without the votes of these enthusiastic people Oz still comes out on top.
A total of 4233 legitimate votes were counted. The vote results are as follows:
1. OZ 2,221 (2171 online votes and 50 hand votes)
2. Elakha 1,148 (1118 online votes and 30 hand votes)
3. Zale 543 (501 online votes and 42 hand votes)
4. Eureka 173 (156 online votes and 17 hand votes)
5. Del Mar 148 (142 online votes and 6 hand votes)
Marine life keeper Jeremy Goggins championed the new name for the first pup in the world to be conceived, born and raised by his mother in any zoo or aquarium. It's like a dream that this little pup has done so wellespecially since no other zoo-born southern sea otters have survived, said Goggins. I liked Oz because the initials represents the Oregon Zoo, which will forever link the pup to the place of his birth.
Born on January 3, the pup surprised marine life keepers because both his mother Thelma and father Eddie were considered too young to have offspring.
The zoo is located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway 26 and is also accessible by MAX light rail line. The zoo is open 9 a.m. daily. General admission is $6.50 (12-64), seniors $5 (65+), children $4 (3-11), and children under 3 are free. Additional information is available on the zoo's web site at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.
# # #
The following totals show the differences between legitimate and illegitimate hand ballots and internet ballots:
Total from hand ballots: Total hand ballots with participant names*:
| Oz - 498 |
Oz - 50 |
| Elakha - 221 |
Elakha - 30 |
| Del Mar - 96 |
Del Mar - 6 |
| Eureka - 113 |
Eureka - 17 |
| Zale - 305 |
Zale - 42 |
Total from internet ballots: Total internet ballots excluding multiple votes**:
| Oz - 2322 |
Oz - 2171 |
| Elakha - 1198 |
Elakha - 1118 |
| Del Mar - 198 |
Del Mar - 142 |
| Eureka - 183 |
Eureka - 156 |
| Zale - 589 |
Zale - 501 |
* Voters at the zoo were instructed to write their name, address and phone number on the ballot. ** These votes represent ballots in which name, address and phone number was omitted.
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PORTLAND, Ore.--Since the early 1980s the Humboldt penguin population in Chile and Peru has dropped from 20,000 to 9,000. In an effort to help protect the penguin's Peruvian nesting grounds, Oregon Zoo's Zoological Curator, Jan Steele, will serve as an international observer during the guano harvest from February 16 through March 6 at Punta San Juan.
During the last harvest at this site, in 1987, observers recorded at least 150 penguin deaths. Today there are only 1,200 penguins left in Punta San Juan, which is home to the world's largest breeding colony of Humboldt penguins.
"The deaths in 1987 translated to roughly twelve percent of the reserve's total population, and that's a significant toll on these birds," said Steele, who is the curator of the zoo's Humboldt penguin collection. "Because these penguins don't reproduce until they are five years old, and their chicks have one of the highest mortality rates of all penguins, it's a serious impact when adults perish needlessly. These penguins just can't take mortality at that rate and hope to survive."
Humboldt penguins breed in colonies and dig their nest in the guano. Guano is bird excrement and is highly sought after as fertilizer. Nesting in guano helps protect the birds, their eggs and chicks from predators. In addition to the birds that were lost during the 1987 harvest, further losses occurred in later years because the guano had been so over harvested that it forced penguins to locate their nests above ground, which significantly lowers reproductive success. Because of the dramatic decline in the penguin population, a 1998 agreement was reached between the Peruvian government and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The agreement calls for international observers, such as Steele, to monitor the guano harvest to ensure that penguins and their nesting areas are not disturbed. All workers taking part in the guano harvest must sign an "ecological contract" for the protection of penguins and seals. The observers have the authority to encourage compliance with the contract and will monitor the nesting grounds to ensure that unauthorized personnel do not intrude into sensitive areas. If necessary, they will confront individuals who may cause harm to the penguins.
The zoo is committed to the penguins at Punta San Juan. In the last ten years, the zoo has sent two other employees to Punta San Juan to assist with nesting research, and to check on repairs to the one-mile-long concrete wall, which was built to prevent foxes from preying upon penguins. The wall was built more than 50 years ago and had fallen in disrepair, allowing predators to enter nest sites. The Oregon Zoo Foundation raised $25,000 in 1998-99 from 63 individuals and foundations, including the IFC Foundation and the Foley/Frischkorn Wildlife and Conservation Fund, to pay for repairing the wall.
Checking on that protective wall will be a part of Steele's daily monitoring. Steele, a member of the American Zoo and Aquarium's (AZA) Penguin Taxon Advisory Group steering committee, is committed to helping save these endangered birds.
"I want to make every effort to ensure that penguins will continue to be found in the wild," she said. "I want to observe their behaviors and interactions so I can better understand what our zoo animals need. The more I know about penguins, the better advocate I can be for them."
Humboldt penguin numbers first began to decline in the mid-1800s due to the over harvesting of guano and the damage harvesters caused to nest sites. Their population has also declined because they have been harvested for their eggs, meat, oil and skins. Oil spills and commercial fishing have also had an impact. Penguins have drowned after getting caught in fishing nets or starved because over fishing has reduced their food source. Climate changes have also hurt Humboldts. Scientists estimate 65 percent of the Peruvian population of penguins perished during the 1982-83 El Nino due to a lack of food. During the 1998 El Nino there was a dramatic decrease in fish populations, very high rainfall at nest sites and unseasonable temperatures, which attributed to only a few penguins breeding that year.
Humboldt penguins live along the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru. They stand about 27 inches tall and are covered by scale-like feathers, which protect them against frigid water and wind. Downy feathers underneath their top coat help trap a warm layer of air. Nesting on rocky coasts, Humboldt penguins feed primarily on small fish and squid.
Oregon Zoo penguins have produced more than 60 offspring, making it one of the most prolific groups of captive Humboldts in the world. Many of those chicks have helped begin or strengthen Humboldt groups at other zoos. Of the roughly 250 Humboldt penguins in captivity at eleven North American zoos, 25 currently reside at the Oregon Zoo. The zoo's colony is second in size only to that of SeaWorld San Diego. Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo recently sent five Humboldt penguins for breeding purposes and the Oregon Zoo is expecting two more from the Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, Hawaii.
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PORTLAND, Ore.Oregon Zoos Assistant Director, Mike Keele, will attend the International Workshop on the Domesticated Asian Elephant, February 5-10, in Bangkok, Thailand. Keele serves as the coordinator of the American Zoo and Aquarium Associations (AZA) elephant species survival plan and holds the studbook for all North American Asian elephants. He hopes to identify ways that North American zoos can contribute to the effort to reverse the decline of domesticated elephants in Asia.
With the decline of the forest industry in Asia, some of the 16,000 out-of-work elephants are being left to fend for themselves, according to Keele. Thats of great concern because theres little suitable habitat left and what is left is going fast. These elephants are competing more and more for fewer and fewer resources. Im pleased that were beginning global discussions to find solutions for these complex problems.
In the face of Asias rapid human population growth, both the wild and domesticated Asian elephant populations are experiencing an ever-worsening crisis. The population of about 37,000 wild Asian elephants in 13 countries of South and Southeast Asia has been steadily declining, primarily because of habitat destruction. A drop in the numbers of domesticated elephants, now only about 16,000, parallels the wild elephants precipitous decline.
The workshop, the first international conference without a strictly veterinary focus, aims to discuss all of the larger management aspects of the domesticated Asian elephant within a neutral forum. Many experts from around the world will begin a dialogue to identify hands-on field projects designed to quickly help elephants and try to create a permanent entity to facilitate and support those projects.
At the end of the conference information gathered will include: a record of the discussions, conclusions and recommendations; an action plan on how to implement the workshops recommendations; an established group to produce a model registration form and a specialized database; and a mechanism to publicize findings to promote better public awareness.
Since the 1960s, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Forestry Departments wildlife and protected area management program has been active in the conservation and management of elephants, as well as in facilitating human-elephant conflict resolution. Nearly all of these efforts have, however, been focused on wild elephants. FAO has noted that the domesticated Asian elephant receives much less global attention than its wild counterpart. Unfortunately, funding support for the domesticated Asian elephant has been next to nothing according to FAO. They believe that in ten to twenty years many of these animals will be critically important for wildlife conservation and therefore it is critical that the wildlife conservation community play a greater role in monitoring their numbers.
The Oregon Zoo is committed to help save the worlds wild and domesticated Asian elephants.
Elephants have been an integral part of the culture of greater Portland and the Pacific Northwest for nearly 40 years, with more than a million people visiting the Oregon Zoo each year, said Keele. The zoos elephants serve as living ambassadors, educating people to the importance of elephant stewardship.
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PORTLAND, Ore.-Thelma, the Oregon Zoo's southern sea otter, gave birth to a baby on Wednesday morning, January 3. The infant appears to be healthy and zookeepers hope that Thelma, who is a first-time mom, will nurture and take good care of her new baby.
Keeper Jeremy Goggins discovered the new baby when he looked at the sea otter video monitor and saw something unusual. What's that? he asked Senior Keeper JoEllen Marshall. Marshall looked at the monitor and replied, It's a baby sea otter!
Both were quite surprised because Thelma is not even three years old yet and sea otters are not normally sexually mature until they reach at least four years of age. Both keepers immediately went down to the sea otter pool and separated dad (Eddie) from Thelma so she could concentrate solely on her newborn.
According to Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator "Thelma seems to be doing a good job taking care of her baby, but we'll keep a close watch on what transpires over the next 48 to 72 hours. If she continues to nurse successfully, we'll feel pretty confident at that point. Only if it's deemed necessary for the infant's survival, will we intervene," he added.
Keepers don't know the sex of the baby because they are keeping their distance in hopes that Thelma will nurse and care for her new infant. Southern sea otters, which are threatened species, have a six-month gestation period and it is believed she conceived while she was in quarantine with Eddie, who is also nearly three years old.
Southern baby sea otters weigh an estimated 3-5 pounds at birth and rely on their mothers to feed, groom and clean them every two hours. Keepers will watch Thelma constantly for the next 48 hours to ensure she is taking proper care of her baby.
Interaction with people will be kept at a minimum to give Thelma the best possible chance for success at motherhood. Keepers will observe mother and baby from a distance, but will have limited contact during this crucial time.
If Thelma is successful raising her baby, the infant will probably go on display with its parents in the next couple of months, according to Pfefferkorn. In the meantime, zoo staff will be installing a video monitor early next week so visitors can watch Thelma raise her pup.
Thelma and Eddie, both southern sea otters, were found stranded when they were infants. Thelma was brought to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on April 18, 1998, where she was nursed back to health and taught how to forage on her own. She was released back into the wild, but was not able to forage well enough to maintain her body weight and was deemed an "exhibit" animal. Eddie became stranded at Moonstone Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California on April 6, 1998, and was transported to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito for rehabilitation. Later, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, keepers noticed that Eddie's growth was significantly behind that of a "normal" pup. It was determined that he bonded too closely with the people and would not be a viable release candidate. Eddie joined Thelma at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, where they waited for the move to their new home at the Oregon Zoo.
The zoo's new sea otter pool holds 100,000 gallons of seawater and is 13 feet deep at its deepest. Surrounding it are haul-out beaches where the otters can leave the water. Four vantage points offer the public both above-water and below-water views.
Adult southern sea otters average about four feet in length and weigh between 45 to 80 pounds. To help maintain body temperature in the cold seawater, a sea otter will eat about 25 percent of its weight each day. Clams, crabs, sea stars, urchins, mussels, oysters, snails and many other animals are featured on their menu. They tend to forage in water less than 60 feet deep, eating almost any invertebrate they come across. Thelma and Eddie are fed clams, crabs, pollock fillets, urchins and clam strips. The baby, of course, is still nursing at this point.
Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a thick layer of fat to keep them warm in frigid waters. Instead they have the ultimate in double-layered water-resistant fur. Long, outer (guard) hairs form a protective covering that keeps a dense fine undercoat dry. On some areas of their body, otters have 170,000-1,000,000 hairs per square inch of skin--more hairs than any other animal on earth. The average human has approximately 100,000 hairs on his whole head--some even less! Sea otters spend much of their time grooming to keep their fur in good condition. A sea otter blows air into its fur, trapping air next to its skin in order to maintain its 100-degree body temperature. The air bubbles protect the sea otter's skin from cold temperatures, and the coat must be constantly groomed for it to remain waterproof. If not properly groomed, water could reach the sea otter's skin causing the animal to suffer hypothermia and die.
The sea otters' soft, luxurious fur was almost its downfall. Once found from Baja, California to Alaska and Northern Japan, unlimited hunting for the fur trade in the late 1800s and early 1900s almost lead to southern sea otters' extinction. By 1911 only 13 small colonies existed throughout their range. The Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 ended hunting. An imperiled population of southern sea otters still exists in California, while a more vigorous population of northern sea otters can be found in Alaska, although their numbers are in decline due to predation by killer whales.
Located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway 26. The zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 31. General admission is $6.50 (12-64), seniors $5 (65+), children $4 (3-11), and under 3 are free. For additional information, please visit the zoo's web site at www.oregonzoo.org or call 503-226-1561.
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