Oregon Zoo 2002 Press Releases

Last year Oregon Zoo experimented with just a few strings of low-energy LEDs, or light-emitting diodes during its annual winter festival ZooLights. Based on last years experience, the ZooLights technical crew decided this year to replace about 50,000 of the high-wattage lights with the LEDs, which are nearly unbreakable and rarely burn out.

Few visitors will even notice the difference, said Oregon Zoos Event Technical Coordinator, Russell Guinn. "LEDs give off a little different glow, but they're also practically kid-proof."

Besides being long lasting and nearly indestructible, the zoo is also saving a significant amount of energy.

"We're estimating we'll save about 16,000 watts an hour or about 80,000 watts a night," said Guinn.

LEDs, which are built around semiconductor material, are not new, but have only, recently become affordable, as the price of semiconductor devices has plummeted. While the drop in price made LEDs a more cost-effective lighting option, one large obstacle kept the zoo from using the technology. Until recently the only color choice was clear a little too boring for ZooLights.

Zoo visitors can enjoy the holiday season during the zoo's 15th annual ZooLights, November 30 through December 29. Decorated with more than half-million holiday lights, ZooLights is a family tradition, which features life-sized animal silhouettes, trees, buildings, walkways, and the zoo train. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. nightly with costumed characters and elves greeting visitors. In addition to the light displays, the event features pettable pygmy goats, conservation-themed puppet shows, eco-friendly artists market, seasonal culinary treats, and hundreds of music and dance groups. Cascade Grill also offers a nightly holiday buffet for $11.95 (adults) and $6.95 (children).

OREGON ZOO VISITORS GET RARE CHANCE TO VIEW LARGE ANIMALS AT NIGHT DURING ZOOLIGHTS

Oregon Zoo visitors have the rare opportunity to see tigers, leopards, elephants and polar bears at night during the 15th annual ZooLights festival, Nov. 30-Dec. 29, beginning each night at 5:30 p.m. The event features more than a half-million lights, the holiday-themed zoo train, and a variety of costumed characters. ZooLights is closed Dec. 24-25.

Most zoo visitors never see how energetic the zoo animals are at night, according to Tony Vecchio, zoo director. The zoo is a lively place during the day, but is especially magical at night. With holiday music and the sights and sounds of our animals, ZooLights promises to be the social event of the winter.

While walking through the zoo visitors will view more than 500,000 lights illuminating life-sized animal silhouettes, trees, buildings, walkways, and the zoo train. In addition, guests can come face to face with Steller sea lions and southern sea otters as they perform their graceful moves under water. Guests can also stroll through the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit and see the legendary anaconda, caiman, howler monkeys, toucans, turtles and a wide variety of fish.

Two of the zoos most popular residents, the Amur tigers, may be seen sauntering around their exhibits having recently dined on fresh bones and treats.

Visitors enjoy watching the night activities of the leopards, tigers and elephants, as well as seeing the graceful movements of the sea otters, said Vecchio. The animals help make each evening memorable.

Many new silhouettes can be found throughout the zoo. As visitors approach the zoo entrance, theyll be greeted by swinging siamangs and diving dolphins. A large, rotating mobile featuring aquarium animals will dominate the zoos entry plaza. Deeper inside the zoo, an anaconda is re-created in lights at the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit and a gingerbread house, complete with candy cane fence, lights up the Crossroads.

Visitors can also see some of the zoos resident animals, including bats, mountain goats, elephants, primates, and a rambunctious herd of pettable pygmy goats. In addition, the sounds of the season will fill the zoo as more than 100 schools, churches, and professional groups perform holiday musical selections. Several local dance troupes will also be featured.

Favorite light displays from previous years will also return, including trumpeting elephants, tobogganing polar bears and swinging monkeys. Lions can be seen chasing a herd of impalas, while a giraffe grazes nearby. An ostrich gets startled and runs away, hiding its head in the sand. Flying macaws fly from tree to tree. A 35-foot-long dragon mysteriously floats above the walkway. At Steller Cove, a sea lion and dancing sea star greet visitors. Close by are white swans that swim in a garden pond and penguins that dive in arctic waters. A baby kangaroo jumps out of its mothers pouch and begins to hop around. And darting red and green amphibians play a lively game of leapfrog.

In addition to the lights, characters and music, the Tualatin Valley Model Railroad Club will show off its enlarged NTRAK train display. And children of all ages are sure to enjoy family entertainment every evening in the zoos elephant museum, including a conservation-themed puppet show Thursday through Sunday evenings.

The Artist's Market will feature recycled, animal and earth friendly art. And, for last minute shoppers, the zoos gift shop, Cascade Outfitters is bursting with animal-related gifts. The zoo's Cascade Grill will offer a nightly holiday buffet. This traditional feast will cost $11.95 for adults and $6.95 for kids. Holiday treats will be available at food locations throughout the zoo.

ZooLights, co-sponsored by Clear Channels and United Rentals, runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 29. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sunday through Thursdays, and 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lights and other activities will continue for one hour past the gate closing time. The festival is closed Dec. 24 and 25.

PRESENTS FOR PRIMATES - Chimps, orangutans and mandrills enjoy the holiday season at the Oregon Zoo

Primates at the Oregon Zoo will celebrate Christmas a little early this year when Santa's elves (primate keepers) present food gift boxes to the zoo's chimpanzees, orangutans, mandrills and L'Hoest on Tuesday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

Zoo volunteers solicited boxes, while keepers and zoo veterinarians planned the contents. Treats include dry cereal, raisins and other dried fruit. The gift boxes were wrapped with paper made of non-toxic materials and non-adhesive tape was used.

Enrichment activities, such as these gift boxes, are used to encourage natural hunting and foraging behaviors. This is the third year that the primates have received boxed and wrapped food items for the holidays, but providing enrichment is a routine task for zookeepers. The Oregon Zoo is known internationally for its enrichment programs, and zoo staff anticipate lots of playful, predatory and otherwise interesting activity from the animals.

The other primates (zoo visitors) can enjoy the holiday season during the zoo's 15th annual ZooLights, November 30 through December 29. Decorated with more than half-million holiday lights, ZooLights is a family tradition, which features life-sized animal silhouettes, trees, buildings, walkways, and the zoo train. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. nightly with costumed characters and elves greeting visitors. In addition to the light displays, the event features pettable pygmy goats, conservation-themed puppet shows, eco-friendly artists market, seasonal culinary treats, and hundreds of music and dance groups. Cascade Grill also offers a nightly holiday buffet for $11.95 (adults) and $6.95 (children).

EARTH FRIENDLY GIFTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD -
ZooLights' Artist Market Features Gifts Made From Recycled Materials

Holiday shoppers will find it easy to be environmentally friendly and purchase truly unique gifts at the ZooLights' Artist Market at the Oregon Zoo. Nearly 40 artists will present the mix of art, craft and style between 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. November 30 through December 28 as part of the ZooLights festival.

"The Artist Market is a part of ZooLights that visitors shouldn't miss," said Krista Swan, Oregon Zoo event coordinator. "We've brought in artists that not only create beautiful gift items, but are also sensitive environmentally."

The Artist Market will highlight local artists who work with recycled, reclaimed and sustainable materials. Historic wooden toys created out of reclaimed & recycled wood, jewelry from vintage beads, and recycled metal animal sculptures are some of the items that will be available.

Gifts celebrating other cultures include Tibetan rugs, Mexican paper mache folk art, Mahendi Body painting, Ukrainian decorated eggs, and Nigerian metal art and batik fabrics. Photography, linocuts, prints, painting, sculpture, as well as art and functional glass round out the wide array of gifts.

Artist Market shoppers will be giving a gift to animals at the zoo with every purchase. Twenty-percent of all sales at the Artist Market go to provide care and enrichment for the animals, as well as fund conservation programs.

Zoo visitors can enjoy the holiday season during the zoo's 15th annual ZooLights, November 30 through December 29. Decorated with more than half-million holiday lights, ZooLights is a family tradition, which features life-sized animal silhouettes, trees, buildings, walkways, and the zoo train. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. nightly with costumed characters and elves greeting visitors. In addition to the light displays, the event features pettable pygmy goats, conservation-themed puppet shows, eco-friendly artists market, seasonal culinary treats, and hundreds of music and dance groups. The Cascade Grill also offers a nightly holiday buffet for $11.95 (adults) and $6.95 (children).

"OH, I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS" - Zoo gifts benefit local endangered animals

Holiday purchases help fund the zoo's conservation efforts for endangered Oregon and Washington animals.

In the hunt for truly distinctive holiday gifts, look no further than the Oregon Zoo. Offering many unique and eco-friendly gifts, each purchase helps the zoo raise funds for its conservation programs and environmental education efforts.

Forget the fruitcake and adopt an animal for that special someone this holiday season. Whether the apple of your eye walks, swims, hops, crawls or flies, here's the perfect way to learn more about the habits and habitats of nearly 100 species of exotic animals through the ZooParents adoption program. Starting at $25, the adopting "parents" receive a personalized certificate, animal fact sheet and a one-year subscription to the Zoo's newsletter, Oregon Zoo Tracks. Adopt at the Naturalist level, $55, and receive all of the benefits above, plus a color photo of your animal and two passes to Zoofari, an evening featuring behind-the-scenes group tours led by Oregon Zoo keepers.

Money raised through your tax-deductible donation benefits the Zoo's Future for Wildlife program. This program helps fund conservation programs for endangered and threatened species including western pond turtles, Washington pygmy rabbits, Oregon spotted frogs, California condors and Oregon silver spot butterflies. Animal adoptions may be purchased by calling 503-220-2493.

Zoo memberships are always an appreciated gift. Member benefits include free zoo admission for one full year, admission benefits at more than 100 zoos nationwide, invitations to members-only events, a quarterly newsletter and discounts on zoo train rides, educational camps and classes and at the zoo's gift shops. Memberships begin at $39. For further information, call 503-220-2493.

Daily passes, which are valid for one year from date of purchase, are available by calling 503-226-1561 ext. 0.

The Annual Holiday Sale at the zoo's main gift shop, Cascade Outfitters is in full swing. The sale runs concurrently with ZooLights, through December 29. The sale covers all merchandise in the newly redecorated store, and the shelves are stocked with brand new animal-themed gifts. There are a wide variety of animals to hug, puzzles to solve, books to read, and collectibles gifts for everyone on your list. The sale gives zoo members a 20 percent discount on all purchases. Gift wrap and shipping is available and zoo admission is not required to shop at Cascade Outfitters.

If you prefer to shop from the comfort and warmth of your home, the gift shop is conveniently located on the World Wide Web. It can be accessed directly at http://store.yahoo.com/oregonzoo-cascadeoutfitters or through a link on the homepage of the zoo's Web site located at www.oregonzoo.org. Gift wrap, shipping and the 20 percent member discount are also available on the web.

"We're also happy to help you shop by phone," said Cascade Outfitters Manager, Michele Young. " If it's cute, cuddly, fast or sleek, big and furry, or hiding in a snow globe, we've got it, and we're here to help you."

Polar bears at the Oregon Zoo will celebrate the holidays a little early this year as they explore their newly remodeled exhibit, December 6.

"The remodel was done for the benefit of the bears," said the zoo's Conservation Program Scientist David Shepherdson. "It gives them more time in the outdoors, which they generally prefer and allows them to get away from each other."

The roof was scheduled for maintenance, but instead of re-roofing, it was removed. The area that covers visitor viewing will remain.

"Given the option, the bears chose to spend more time in the uncovered exhibit," said the zoo's zoological curator Chris Pfefferkorn. "Removing the roof on the entire exhibit will give them more of what they want."

Visitors will also benefit from more light in the exhibit. The once dark exhibit inhibited visitors from seeing the bears once they climbed out of the water. "The size of the exhibit hasn't increased, but what visitors are able to see has nearly doubled," said Pfefferkorn.

Media Alert: Applications will be accepted beginning January 1, 2003 and ending March 1, 2003.

Teens from Astoria to Hood River, Longview to Salem, help educate the public about animal conservation.

A bright splotched corn snake wraps around your arm. A sleek ferret basks in the warm sun, content to catch a few winks in your lap. A desert tortoise still shows the pattern of a fiberglass repair on its shell. You know the story behind the injury and rescue, while children gather around eager to hear your story. Looking for something wild and exciting to do this summer? If you love animals and have a desire to learn more and teach about animals at the Oregon Zoo-this is the program for you.

The Oregon Zoo is looking for students who are entering 9th through 12th grade this fall to be ZooTeens. Applications are available now and will be accepted until March 1, 2003.

"ZooTeens get the chance to make a difference in the world-we are doing something important," explains Arial Zimmerman, a fifth-year zoo teen team leader and Lincoln High student. " Through ZooTeens, we learn about the importance of protecting the environment by interacting with the keepers and the zoo animals. We use that knowledge in turn to educate zoo visitors about the animals and the importance of animal conservation."

Each summer 300 teens, ages 13 to 17, contribute 30,000 hours to the zoo. The program, which is in its 26th year, focuses on public interaction and education, teaching the students animal knowledge, public speaking, and job skills. ZooTeens travel from as far away as Astoria, Hood River, Longview and Salem to participate in the program.

While volunteering as a ZooTeen, students have the opportunity to present animals to visitors, help keepers with the care and feeding of pettable animals in the Little Zoo, go on a behind-the-scenes tour with keepers, and manage the pygmy goat kraal-solely run by teens. Some ZooTeens, with additional training, will also be able to work in the Insect Zoo, give animal presentations, and serve as a junior camp counselor at zoo day camps.

"We are the only zoo in the nation that has teenagers supervising teenagers," said Mia Reager, zoo youth volunteer coordinator, "This allows the teens to create a unique environment where they feel they belong; it's a kind of family."

ZooTeens gain an insider's view of the zoo and its animals, make new friends, develop leadership skills, gain public speaking skills in a fun environment, handle some zoo animals, and explore career possibilities. ZooTeens apply and go through an interview process, which teaches valuable career skills and prepares them for future job interview situations.

ZooTeens work 11 hours a week, split into two 5 1/2 hour shifts, with two weeks vacation off. They receive 30 hours of background training. Fifty to 70 ZooTeens may be invited to remain on and participate in the winter volunteer program. Thirty-five of these ZooTeens have the opportunity to become "Team Leaders." These select teens help lead the program on a daily basis.

The Team Leader program has received Mutual of Omaha's Wildlife Heritage Center's Award of Excellence twice for youth leadership involvement. "The ZooTeen program is helping me prepare for college," said Zimmerman, "I am using the volunteer experience and skills I have learned to apply for college scholarships."

Additional ZooTeen information can be obtained by visiting the Zoo's Volunteer section of our site or by calling 503-220-2449.

Mira, the blind elephant seal that was facing euthanasia before the Oregon Zoo stepped in and gave her a new home, has progressed rapidly in her training since arriving at the zoo on Oct. 2.

"Mira has learned to 'seat,' meaning pull herself out of her pool and onto the deck," said JoEllen Marshall, senior marine life keeper at the zoo. "She also knows 'move-up,' to which she follows the sound of a rattle up higher on the deck."

Before Mira arrived at the zoo Marshall stated that due to the seal's blindness, keepers would need to adjust their regular feeding and training practices, and think acoustically rather than visually. They have accomplished this by touching her back and flippers during training sessions, as well as hand feeding her directly. When she is not hand fed, Mira looks for her meal in the water after hearing a whistle. Keepers toss fish and squid near her facial whiskers so she can easily locate them.

"She's gaining about 5 pounds a week and weighs close to 200-pounds," said Marshall.

As soon as Mira is released from quarantine, keepers will try to get Mira to move to another off exhibit holding area, which will require her to negotiate a curb. Animal management staff hope Mira will build muscle by moving between the quarantine and holding pools.

"Before we put her on exhibit, she needs to be able to pull herself out of the exhibit pool," explained Marshall. "When we are confident she can do this, we will introduce her to the exhibit pool without the sea lions. Eventually, we will introduce Mira to the sea lions. The time line will be determined by Mira's strength and our veterinarians."

Mira, who is believed to be six-months-old, was found stranded on the Northern California coast shortly after being weaned from her mother. She was taken to the North Coast Marine Mammal Center in Crescent City, Calif. where an examination revealed that her retinas were underdeveloped, and it was determined that she could not be returned to the wild. According to Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator at the Oregon Zoo, Mira was facing euthanasia and finding a home in a zoological facility was her only alternative.

The Oregon Zoo invites runners and walkers of all ages to the annual Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 28. The annual Thanksgiving Day event, organized by the Oregon Road Runners Club (ORRC), includes a 4-mile run and fitness walk beginning at 8 a.m. and a 1-kilometer Tot Trot beginning at 9:30 a.m. A portion of the proceeds from the Turkey Trot will go to the Oregon Zoo to fund animal care and conservation programs.

"The Oregon Road Runners Club has encouraged thousands of people to take steps to improve their health by walking and running over the past 32 years," said Margie Mace, Oregon Road Runners Club president. "This traditional walk and run prior to sitting down to a big Thanksgiving Day meal, has become a real annual tradition and a favorite event among Oregon families and their relatives visiting from out of town over the holiday."

All events are noncompetitive and do not include awards. However there will be a clock at the start and finish line for self-timing. Each event will start across from the Forest Discovery Center and finish inside the zoo by the concert amphitheater.

Early registration is available by mail through Nov. 21. Flyers are available at local running stores. Online registration is also available through Nov. 25 via the Oregon Road Runners Club Web site at www.orrc.net. Fees for the 4-mile run and fitness walk are $20 (ORRC members receive a $4 discount off the early registration amount). Long sleeve cotton shirts are $10 extra and must be reserved by Nov. 21. The Tot Trot for children under 11 years of age is $10 and includes a shirt if the child is registered by Nov. 21. New this year is a family rate of $40 for two adults and up to three children. Registration fees after Nov. 21 and on race day is $24 for ORRC members and non-members, $50 for families.

Parking is limited so participants are encouraged to ride Max. Tri-Met's Washington Park Light Rail Station is just steps from the registration area and the start and finish lines. Drop bags will be provided at registration to check extra clothing. Tri-Met ride timetables are available at www.tri-met.org.

No pets or rollerblades are allowed in any of the events. Strollers and child carrier backpacks are allowed only in the 4-mile fitness walk and must start at the back of the group.

Volunteers wishing to help on this benefit run can call ORRC at 503-646-7867 and leave your name and phone number.

ORRC, a nonprofit organization was founded in Seaside, Oregon in 1970, as an outgrowth of the Trail's End Marathon, the first marathon in the Pacific Northwest. ORRC is a member of the national Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), and is one of the largest RRCA running clubs in the United States with roughly 1,000 members. The Club conducts races and developmental programs for children, adults, runners and walkers, and plans and organizes over 15 running races in the Portland vicinity.

The Oregon Zoo will come alive in lights when the 15th annual ZooLights festival begins on Saturday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m. This family tradition will feature more than 500,000 lights illuminating life-sized animal silhouettes, trees, buildings, walkways, and the zoo train.

The beautiful animated animals, the decorated train and all the new colorful displays are sure to make this years ZooLights the best ever, said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. Its become a great tradition for our visitors. I spoke with several families last December who come back year after year to ride the train and see the lights. Some parents who visited as children are now bringing their children, he added.

Many new silhouettes can be found through out the zoo. As visitors approach the zoo entrance, theyll be greeted by swinging siamangs and diving dolphins. A large, rotating mobile featuring aquarium animals will dominate the zoos entry plaza. Deeper inside the zoo, an anaconda is re-created in lights at the Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit and a gingerbread house, complete with candy cane fence, lights up the Crossroads.

The zoo's popular costumed characters and elves will be on hand to greet zoo visitors and pose for pictures. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer will be joined by Buddy Beaver, Honey Bear, Eliza Elephant, KiKi Monkey, Nate the Eagle, Rock E. Goat, Sandy Sea Otter and Titus Tiger. Visitors can also see some of the zoos resident animals, including bats, mountain goats, elephants, primates, and a rambunctious herd of pettable pygmy goats.

Music lovers will enjoy the highly animated light silhouette featuring Mick Jaguar performing on the concert stage with his all-star animal band. Mick is joined by Packy Pachyderm tickling the ivories, Richard Lion playing guitar, Gerri Giraffe on Bass, Billy Bear on trumpet, Orville Orangutan on drums and Willy Wildebeest on sax. The Ostrich Sisters perform backing vocals. In addition, the sounds of the season will fill the zoo as more than 100 schools, churches, and professional groups perform holiday musical selections. Several local dance troupes will also be featured.

ZooLights runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 29. Hours are 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Sunday through Thursdays, and 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The lights and other activities will continue for one hour past the gate closing time. The festival is closed Dec. 24 and 25.

Families can trick-or-treat AND learn more about wildlife at the Oregon Zoo's HOWLOWEEN AT THE ZOO.

In keeping with the zoos mission, this event is educational as well as fun. An intriguing scavenger hunt directs trick-or-treaters to easily accessible activity stations located throughout the zoo in order to collect candy or prizes. In addition, kids can stop by the Amur tiger exhibit and wish the zoos tigers, Mikhail and Nicole, happy fourth birthday. The tigers will of course be dressed in the traditional orange and black of the season.

Kids of all ages can hunt for candy and prizes while in the company of some of the worlds most exciting and exotic animals, said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. When children and adults alike visit the zoo, we hope they make a connection with the animals so they care about their future.

HOWLOWEEN AT THE ZOO is co-sponsored by Goodyear and takes place on October 26 and 27, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Unable to be returned to the wild and facing euthanasia, finding a home was her only alternative.

A blind female elephant seal, who was facing euthanasia, will arrive at her new home at Oregon Zoo October 2, 2002. The 140-pound six-month-old was found stranded on the Northern California coast shortly after being weaned from her mother. She was taken to the North Coast Marine Mammal Center in Crescent City, Calif. where an examination revealed that her retinas were underdeveloped, and it was determined that she could not be returned to the wild. According to Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator at the Oregon Zoo, finding a home in a zoological facility was her only alternative.

North Coast Marine Mammal Center approached Oregon Zoo about housing the seal. "We talked about it, did some research, and after visiting the animal, decided she would make a great addition to the zoo," said Pfefferkorn. Caring for a blind animal will require marine life keepers to adjust their regular feeding and training practices. For example, noise-making beads will be added to the target-training pole and food will be placed in the animal's mouth rather than tossed toward her. "We will have to think acoustically rather than visually," said JoEllen Marshall, senior marine life keeper at the zoo. "And we'll definitely increase our tactile interaction with her."

Marshall and other marine life keepers were responsible for finding an appropriate name for their new young charge. "The scientific name of the elephant seal is Mirounga angustirostris," explained Marshall. "We got creative and came up with Mira." Mira will be in quarantine for 30 days, and gradually be introduced to her new Steller sea lion companions, Julius and Stella.

Elephant seals are named for their large noses, which resemble an elephant's trunk. Males begin developing this enlarged nose, or proboscis, at sexual maturity (about three to five years), and it is fully developed by seven to nine years. Adult males may grow to more than 13 feet in length and weigh up to 4,500 pounds. The females are much smaller at 10 feet in length and 1,500 pounds. The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal.

CHEETAH EXPERT TO SPEAK AT OREGON ZOO
Lecture and slide show of cheetah conservation efforts

Laurie Marker, one of Time Magazine's Heroes of the Planet, and a leading expert on cheetahs and cheetah conservation, will speak at the Oregon Zoo on Sunday, October 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Marker will be accompanied by Kamau and Kgosi, two cheetahs from Leopards, Etc. Kgosi is an extremely rare King Cheetah, one of approximately 30 King Cheetahs on earth.

"There are fewer than 15,000 cheetahs found in Africahalf of what the population was in the 1970sand less than 200 cheetahs in Iran, the last of the Asiatic cheetahs on earth," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Marker is internationally renowned for her work to save cheetahs. Her lecture will provide fascinating insight on the plight of African and Asiatic cheetahs and her life's work to save these beautiful animals."

Marker has visited Iran twice this past year, working as a consultant to the government there to help develop a community education program. Throughout their remaining range, cheetahs are mostly found outside protected reserves where they are in conflict with humans and livestock, and are killed in high numbers.

In 1990, after years of working with cheetahs at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, Marker co-founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund within the U.S. based WILD Foundation. In 1991, she moved to Namibia, Africa to set CCF up as the first international organization to support on-site cheetah conservation research and education programs. Currently, Namibia has the largest remaining wild population of cheetahs with approximately 2,500 animals or 20 percent of the world's cheetah population.

Marker's conservation research and education programs have raised awareness about issues facing the cheetah. Working closely with the Namibian farming community, Marker has developed programs that enable farmers and cheetahs to co-exist. Today, cheetahs have become a national pride in Namibia and farmers are killing fewer cheetahs. These programs are now being viewed as models for use in other countries where cheetahs are still at risk.

"It's working and the cheetah's being saved, but there is still a lot more work yet to do," said Marker. "Today the cheetah's survival on earth is in human's hand and each of us, individually, can make a difference."

Marker and her colleagues are developing strategies for maintaining free-ranging cheetah populations and habitats outside of protected areas, which are critical for the long-term survival of the species.

"Marker is leading the way in developing long-term cheetah conservation programs," said Vecchio. "We must think critically about the needs of humans and the needs of the cheetah, and find ways for both to live together if we hope to save the cheetah. We're making strides in that direction thanks to committed people like Marker; she's a wonderful ambassador for cheetah conservation," he added.

The lecture and slide show will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Cascade Crest Banquet Center (Skyline Room) at the zoo entrance. Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 for members, students and seniors, and can be purchased at from the zoo office in advanced or on the night of the talk.

TEETH CLEANING SCHEDULED FOR ZOO ANIMALS; KIDS WILL LEARN ABOUT DENTAL HEALTH

Dental instruments used by Oregon Zoo's Dr. Mitch Finnegan, are somewhat longer, larger and tougher than one would find in a normal dentist's office. They better beespecially when your patients include tigers, leopards, hippos and bears.

To clean the teeth of these large animals, Dr. Finnegan needs the best instruments and anesthesias around. A grant of $20,000 from ODS Health Plans (ODS) has significantly improved the dental instruments, workstations and anesthesias. The grant is part of the Children's Oral Health Initiative, a unique educational program designed by ODS to help improve the dental health of Oregon's children.

During the day's events, ODS will unveil a new dental-themed children's book and will provide fun learning activities about healthy dental habits for elementary school kids who will be visiting the zoo. The book features illustrations of zoo animals and was a collaborative effort between ODS and the Oregon Zoo. The Oregon Zoo was selected as a partner for the Children's Oral Health Initiative due to the strong connection many children make with animals.

Dental care in zoos is relatively new. A growing awareness of the importance of animal dental care and the advent of specialized instruments has led to major advances. Today, it is nothing for Dr. Finnegan and his assistants to clean an animal's teeth of tartar, eliminate a cavity, fix a chipped tooth and even perform routine root canals using specialized drills and other instruments.

OREGON ZOO KEEPER REACHES SEMIFINALS IN "ULTIMATE ZOOKEEPER CHALLENGE"

Oregon Zoo's senior North America keeper, Michael Illig is one of 12 keepers nationwide to be selected as semifinalists in Microsoft's "Zoo Tycoon's" Ultimate Keeper Challenge.

Semifinalists were chosen by "Zoo Tycoon" officials from among nominations received nationwide. Five finalists will be determined by the number of votes received at Microsoft's "Zoo Tycoon" Web site. The five keepers with the most votes will advance to the Ultimate Zookeeper challenge to be held November 14 at a finalist's home zoo.

Keepers who make it to the finals will participate in a number of challenges to be judged by a panel of Microsoft judges. Challenges include:

"Zoo Tycoon" Challenge - Keepers play the "Zoo Tycoon" game to see who can build the most vibrant zoo.
Race Against The clock - Finalists tackle a variety of zoo keeping tasks to see who can complete their duties in the most timely and efficient manner.
Zoo Facts Quiz - Game show-style quiz challenges keepers and tests their knowledge of animal care and conservation.
Conservation Platform - Each finalist describes his or her individual program for animal care awareness.

Along with the prestigious title of America's Ultimate Zookeeper, the winning keeper walks away with a $20,000 donation towards habitat and animal care within their home zoo and the opportunity to appear in Microsoft's computer game "ZooTycoon".

"Michael typifies the kind of animal keepers who care for our animals at Oregon Zoo," said Mike Keele, Oregon Zoo Assistant Director. "He has helped the zoo provide quality conditions for animals and further the zoo's conservation initiatives during his more than 20 Years working with animals."

The public may cast their vote for Illig through October 10, by going to the "Zoo Tycoon" website at www.zootycoon.com.

BIG CAT. BIG PARTY.
The 2002 Cheetah Conservation Fund Auction, October 20, 2002, 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Cheetah Conservation Fund Director Laurie Marker will be joined by Kamau and Kgosi, two cheetahs from Leopards, Etc., for a unique evening at the Oregon Zoo Banquet Center in Portland, Oregon. Kgosi is an extremely rare King Cheetah,one of approximately 30 King Cheetahs on earth. Ms. Marker, a world-renowned expert on the cheetah, has received many honors, including Time Magazines Heroes for the Planet Award, for her dedication in helping to save the last remaining 12,000 cheetah in the wild.

Laurie Marker co-founded The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in 1990, locating CCF in Namibia, Africa, the country with the worlds largest population of wild cheetah. Ms. Marker has visited Iran twice this past year, working with the government to save the 200 cheetahs living there. A CCF office has been established in Kenya, East Africa, to study and educate parks and locals on how best to preserve the cheetah population in this region. Ms. Marker began working with cheetahs 25 years ago at Wildlife Safari, in Winston, Oregon, and still considers Oregon her home.

BIG CAT. BIG PARTY. October 20, 2002 The Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR
Corporate Tables of 8 - $2,000
5:00-6:00 pm Pre-gala Patron Reception with Laurie and Kamau and Kgosi - $120
6:00 pm Buffet Dinner and Silent Auction-only - $60
Dress is casual or safari
Tickets must be purchased by October 12, 2002

To receive an invitation contact Teresa Delaney (503) 675-1292 or delaneyeklund@msn.com Please contact Oregon Chapter Leader Teresa Delaney to receive an invitation to this extraordinary evening. Call (503) 675-1292 or e-mail at delaneyeklund@msn.com. To learn more about CCF, please visit our web site at www.cheetah.org.

OREGON ZOO CELEBRATES INSECT ZOO'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH BUG WEEK
A week of bizarre bugs and activities at the zoo

To learn more about the Insect Zoo or for video options, click here.

PORTLAND, Ore.-The Oregon Zoo is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Insect Zoo with a week dedicated to incredible insects. The zoo's Bug Week starts Saturday, August 17 and runs through Friday, August 23 and will feature numerous activities for insect-loving children of all ages.

"Kids love the smaller members of the animal kingdom," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "The ZooTeens came up with all the buggy ideas; Bug Week is a fun way to celebrate 25 years of amazing arthropods at the zoo."

Bug Week's fun and games will commence on Saturday, August 17, and run from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Cheryl Kolander from Aurora Silk doing silk spinning demonstrations.

"Cheryl will show everyone how to make soft cloud-like yarn from abandoned cocoons," said Charis Henrie, education program coordinator. "It's an incredible sight to see and people are always amazed by the outcome."

Sarah Stein, youth librarian from the Sellwood-Moreland Library, will host Bug Story Time at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m., with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Other on-going Bug Week activities include:
* Build a Bug - kids build an imaginary bug from a collection of magnetic wings, legs and antennae.
* Spider Web Adventure - kids try to get a "fly" (Nerf ball) through a spider web (Hoola Hoop with string web).
* Scavenger Hunt - kids take a look at the smaller things in lifeÅ\like bugs.
* Bug Art Project * kids make their own colorful butterflies; then take their works of art home with them.
* Bug Games - kids "Bee-come" a pollinator or act like a spider or just get buggy for a day!
* Tarantula (and other Arachnid) Feedings * Kids (who aren't squeamish) get to watch some of the Insect Zoo residents have lunch, while ZooTeens talk about the zoo's many legged friends and their eating habits.

Bug Week festivities are free with paid admission.

ENDANGERED TURTLES RELEASED IN COLUMBIA GORGE
Oregon Zoo helps save endangered turtles, returning them to the wild

PORTLAND, Ore.-The Oregon Zoo will release 43 endangered western pond turtles-a species on the verge of extinction in Washington a decade ago-in the Columbia River Gorge east of Vancouver, Wash. on Thursday, July 18.

Working collaboratively with Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Oregon Zoo "head-starts" newly hatched turtles gathered from wild sites. The turtles are nurtured at both zoos for about 10 months until they grow large enough to avoid being eaten by non-native bullfrogs and large mouth bass.
"Giving young turtles a head-start during the first months of their lives, gives them a real edge," according to Dr. David Shepherdson, Oregon Zoo conservation program scientist. "Woodland Park Zoo and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have been working to save Washington's western pond turtles for 12 years. We're glad that we could provide additional assistance in helping save these highly endangered turtles."

The turtles are in trouble due to habitat degradation and disease. The biggest threat, however, is bullfrogs. Found east of the Rockies, this non-indigenous frog has thrived throughout the west, driving pond turtles and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to the brink of extinction.

The newest releases bring the total number of head-started turtles to 599. Scientists tracking the released turtles estimate that 90 percent of the turtles released back in to the Columbia Gorge have survived.

Some of the juvenile turtles are equipped with radio transmitters before release so biologists can learn more about post-release dispersal, habitat use during active and hibernation periods, and, ultimately, their survival rate.

Each year since the head-starting project was launched, recovery workers take to the field under the supervision of pond turtle expert Kate Slavens to count, trap and fit transmitters on adult female western pond turtles. The female turtles are monitored every two hours during the nesting season in order to determine where they nest. The nests, which the female digs in the ground and then covers after depositing her eggs, are protected with wire "exclosure" cages that help prevent predators from eating the eggs. The eggs are then allowed to incubate naturally, and the hatchlings are collected in the fall. The hatchlings are about the size of a quarter when they are removed and taken to the zoo facilities, where they can grow in safety. After about 10 months, when the juvenile turtles have grown large enough to avoid being eaten by pond predators, they are returned to their birthplace.
Two years ago, one of the first female turtles released in 1990 in the Columbia Gorge laid eggs. The pond turtle, which can live up to 50 years in the wild, takes about 10 years to reach sexual maturity.

In the past few years, the cooperative efforts have brought the pond turtles' numbers in Washington up from a low of 150 in 1990 to more than 700 today. Now listed as an endangered species in Washington state and a sensitive species in Oregon, the western pond turtle was once common from Baja, California to Puget Sound. The Oregon Zoo's participation in the western pond turtle project is funded through The Oregon Zoo Foundation's Future for Wildlife Conservation Fund.

U.S. BANK AWARDS ZOO'S ZAP TEAM $15,000

PORTLAND, Ore. - U.S. Bank has awarded the Oregon Zoo Foundation a $15,000 grant to help fund Zoo Animal Presenters (ZAP). The ZAP program provides 24 underserved teenagers with paid, two-year internships at the Oregon Zoo. Since the birth of the ZAP program in 1999, the zoo has received $105,000 in support of ZAP.

"ZAP provides kids a great opportunity to see themselves as more than the situations they've come from," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "The zoo is a stepping stone to their future-some kids will have a renewed commitment to finish high school, some will decide to go to college, and others may have a clearer picture of what they'd like to do after high school."
The ZAP internships combine hands-on learning with the acquisition of real world skills that help students build confidence and improve communication skills. Students go through months of training that include animal handling techniques and public speaking enhancement skills.

Once trained, ZAP Team members help the zoo's education department plan community outreach programs, prepare animals for outreach programs, and participate in educating other youth about environmental stewardship and conservation issues through various presentations.

"Last year's ZAP Team was one of the most enthusiastic and informed groups of students we've ever worked with," said Vecchio. "I'm committed to this program and we hope we can expand it in the near future. ZAP does a tremendous job building communication skills and confidence. You can see on the kids' faces that they leave here believing they can accomplish anything," he added.

Zap has truly made a difference. Nearly 80 percent of ZAP members are employed or are still involved in the program. The zoo has hired nine former ZAP members to work in the zoo's education and guest services departments, and three others are now working in their own neighborhoods.

The ZAP Team has presented its conservation message to over 10,000 Portland area residents since its inception three years ago. That number is expected to increase as the ZAP program receives additional sponsorship support.

The Oregon Zoo Foundation coordinates all private fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Oregon Zoo, including a membership program, animal sponsorships, corporate and foundation support and major gifts. The Foundation shares the Oregon Zoo's mission: "inspiring our community to create a better future for wildlife."

2002 ZAP Summer Schedule
July 31 at 10:30 -noon Blue Lake Park Petting Zoo/ Portland Blue Lake Road, off Marine Drive
July 31 at 1 - 2:30 p.m. Boys & GirlsClubs 2 presentations 4 rotations/ Portland 5250 NE MLK
August 1 at 1 - 2:00 p.m. Oregon City Library 10 min. insect intro, open stations/ Oregon City 362 Warner Milne Rd., in parking lot
August 1 at 10 - 11:00 a.m. Knowledge Beginnings Two, 30 min. presentations/ Tigard 10751 SW 130th Ave.
August 1 at 3 - 4:00 p.m. West Linn Library Insects presentations/ West Linn 1595 Burns St.
August 2 at 1 - 2:30 p.m. Dishman Comm. Center Rotating Stations/ Portland 77 NE Knott
August 2 at 10 - 11:00 a.m. Providence Montessori School Rotating Stations / Portland 830 NE 47th
August 3 at 1 - 2:00 p.m. Multnomah County Library Insect presentations/ Portland Belmont Branch 1038 SE 39th
August 3 at 10:30 - 11 a.m. Catering at Oregon Zoo Please call/ Portland 4001 SW Canyon Rd.
August 4 at 1 - 3:00 p.m. Sellwood, Sunday in the Park Petting Zoo/ Portland SE Seventh & Miller
August 6 at 2 - 3:00 p.m. Multnomah County Library Insect Presentations / Portland St. John's Branch 7510 N Charleston
August 6 at 6 - 8:00 p.m. National Night Out Petting Zoo 200 Portland Please call
August 7 at 1:30 - 3 p.m. Mt. Scott Community Center Indoor and outdoor/ Portland 5530 SE 72nd
August 7 at 10:30 -11:30 p.m. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Two 30 minute presentations/ Sandy River/Troutdale Please call
August 8 at 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Girl Scouts-Mountaindale Rotating Stations/ North Plains Please call
August 8 at 2:30 - 3 p.m. Providence YMCA St. Vincent Little guys-quick animal show and pet/ Portland Mother Joseph Bld. St. Vincent
(3-4yro) (off Barnes)
August 9 at 1 - 2:30 p.m. PAL-Portland Two, 45 minute presentations/ Portland 424 NE 172nd
August 9 at 10 - 11:00 a.m. Cedar Hills Rec. Center 4 stations & a 45 minute presentation/ Portland 11640 SW Parkway

BABY BOOM CONTINUES AT OREGON ZOO
Baby red-flanked duiker is now on exhibit with its mother

After last weeks baby mountain goat was born on exhibit at the Oregon Zoo, the baby boom continues this week with a red flanked duiker born July 21. Duikers are one of the smallest members of the antelope family.

The calf is inquisitive and bold; her mom, Garnet, is being very attentive as the baby explores her surroundings, according to Margot Monti, veterinary technician. The female calf has been observed nursing, and her weight is good, she added.
Shortly after the calf was born, zoo veterinarians noticed that she had a slight limp in her left rear leg. Upon closer examination they determined that the lower foot joint was partially flexed and appeared to sporadically buckle underneath her as she walked. To remedy this, veterinary staff applied a light splint to her lower leg to stabilize the joint. Each day her lower foot seems to improve, but veterinarians will continue to closely watch her over the next few days.

The veterinarians chose a pink colored foot splint in honor of her being a girl, quipped Monti. And a cute one at that!
Zoo visitors may have difficulty spotting the calf for the first couple of weeks because mothers often hide their calves away in a brush pile and only collect them when it's time to nurse. This behavior is the mother's way of protecting the baby from predators. Within three to five weeks, zoo visitors should be able to regularly see the calf.

While not endangered, the red-flanked duiker is conservation dependent, which means it has high enough population numbers to have a sustainable population, but it is threatened. Jentink and zebra banded duikers are the only two duiker species currently listed as endangered, but all duiker species numbers are dropping dramatically due to the bushmeat trade crisis in Africa.
"People are hunting these animals relentlessly for meat to feed their families," said Chris Pfefferkorn, zoo curator and American Zoo and Aquarium Associations studbook keeper for red-flanked duiker.

Pfefferkron oversees the red-flanked duiker population management plan, which is designed to insure that zoo populations are maintained and also develop the zoo's conservation links to in-country programs in Africa.

Duikers are found throughout sub-saharan Africa, in wetlands, rainforests and heavy timber forest. Duikers are classified as frugivores. In the wild they browse or graze on grass, leaves, shrubs and trees, but the main component of their diet is wild fruits, such as yams, sweet potatoes and carrots. They've also have been observed eating carrion and insects, so they have a protein need in their diet, which is different from most antelope. At the zoo they are fed a variety of vegetables and a milled grain, which has vitamins and minerals that they need. They are provided browse, as well as insects like mealworms and crickets for a little protein in their diets as well.

This baby will stay with its parents between six months to a year. Red flanked duikers become sexually mature at around one year of age, so it will need to be removed from its parents before it becomes sexually mature to avoid inbreeding. Where the animal goes will depend on the population management plan and the needs of the population at the time it's ready to move.

To learn more about Red Flanked Duikers, click here.

BALLET IN THE PARK AT THE OREGON ZOO

PORTLAND, Ore. Most people think that humans are the only mammals that enjoy the classic arts, but it seems elephants enjoy the classics too. Packy and friends are practicing their pliés and pirouettes in preparations for the first ever Zoo Ballet at the Oregon Zoo's outdoor amphitheatre, Tuesday, August 20 and Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m. The performance, featuring The Pacific Festival Ballet, will take place on the zoo's terraced, park-like concert lawn.

Zoo guests, and elephants alike, can look forward to a program including classical and contemporary favorites: "Paquita Variations," "Dance of Nymphs," "Richochet," "One Second," as well as several others, according to John Gardner, founder and artistic director of Pacific Festival Ballet.

The Pacific Festival Ballet is dedicated to presenting affordable classical ballet performances with local professional and student dancers. The principal dancers include Diana Perez, winner of the gold medal in the Jackson Ballet Competition; Shalene Eve, formerly of Joffrey Ballet; Zachary Carroll, formerly of Ballet West and Russell Capps and Maricar Dillon, Nevada Dance Theatre.
"The zoo hosts such diverse performances, I think we must have the most cultured elephants in the country," quipped Jeb Barsh, zoo elephant keeper.

In celebration of the Pacific Festival Ballet's 20th anniversary, Gardner will revive "Scaramouche," from the 1982 "Performance in the Park," with live musical performances by Darius Milhaud and Pianists Tim and Nancy Le Roi Nickel.

"To most, the word ballet conjures up images of tuxedos and sequin dresses in a stuffy, enclosed theater," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "I'm looking forward to seeing four-year-olds dancing on their family's blankets during the performance."

Tickets for performances, which include zoo admission, are available at the zoo offices during regular business hours or at Safeway Fastixx locations. Prices are $12 for adults (12 +), $8 for children (3?11). A $2 discount is available for zoo members at the "Plus" level and higher. Elephants will not be performing ballet, they will simply be observing from the nearby elephant yard.

NEW KID ON THE ROCK AT THE OREGON ZOO

A baby mountain goat was born at the Oregon Zoo's Cascade Crest exhibit on July 16, 2002. The healthy male kid weighed in at 8 pounds.

His five-year-old mother, whose name is Mom, was expected to give birth in May. Animal management staff had become a little concerned about the delay and decided to perform an ultrasound. However, Mom must have gotten wind of the impending procedure, and got down to business yesterday afternoon.

Mom came to the zoo from the Oregon Wildlife Foundation in Sheridan in 1998. A third-time mother, Mom is taking very good care of her baby. Her first baby died shortly after birth, and her second baby Cassie was born last spring.

"Baby is following mom around," said Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator. "Everything is going the way you'd expect."

"He passed his physical this morning and everything looks good," said Michael Illig, senior North America keeper. "He is nursing and performing other bodily functions that indicate a healthy kid."

Mountain Goats

Newborn kids normally weigh about eight pounds and are very mobile shortly after birth. They are able to follow their mother in about one week. The baby's father, four-year-old Sam, was born at the Pocatello Zoo in Idaho in 1998 and arrived at the Oregon Zoo in April 2000.

Mountain goat breeding season is in late November to early January. Their brief courtship ritual includes chasing, kicking with the front legs, and various vocalizations. The male also licks the female's coat. Gestation is around 150-180 days and one to three kids are born between May and June. Single births are most common, but twins are not uncommon. Triplets are very rare.
Mountain goats prefer steep, rocky areas in alpine or sub-alpine regions. They migrate between lowland winter areas and high elevation sumer ranges. In the Pacific Northwest, wild mountain goats can be seen on Mt. Adams, Mt. Ranier and other places in the Washington Cascades. They can also be seen in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon and Washington's Olympic Peninsula where they have been introduced. About 100,000 mountain goats are estimated to live in North America.

Click here for more information on Mountain Goats

THREATENED PENGUIN CHICKS WADDLE INTO ZOO PENGUINARIUM

Two Humboldt penguin chicks hatched at the Oregon Zoo between March 28 and 30 are now visible to the public. These are the first chicks to be hatched at the zoo in two years and bring the zoo's penguin population to 32.

The chicks stayed with their parents after they hatched, although keepers took the chicks off exhibit twice a day to check on their hydration status and weight. "Even though the chicks were in nestboxes on exhibit, they were small and didn't have their adult feathers, so viewing them wasn't easy until now," said Jan Steele, zoological curator at the zoo.

Penguin Chick

Of the 17 species of penguins, the Humboldt is the most threatened. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, placed Humboldts on the Appendix I list in 1981 which means they are "presently threatened with extinction." Commercial guano interests are increasingly encroaching upon their native habitat, the rocky coastline of Peru. Although the government protects much of their habitat, it is not uncommon to find penguin meat and eggs in local marketplaces.

GOVERNOR SLATED TO SPEAK ABOUT SALMON AT ZOO GROUNDBREAKING
Work begins on new Eagle Canyon exhibit to feature bald eagles and endangered salmon

PORTLAND, Ore.Governor Kitzhaber will speak during the Oregon Zoos groundbreaking ceremony for its Eagle Canyon exhibit on May 30 at 10 a.m. The new exhibit will feature bald eagles in flight and endangered salmon and will examine timely issues that affect the two species. An avid proponent of salmon conservation, Governor Kitzhaber will discuss the importance of salmon stewardship during the ceremony.

The Eagle Canyon exhibit will tell the story of eagles and salmon and their role in the ecosystem. The exhibit will explain how salmon travel to sea as fingerlings and return to the tributaries of their birth, three years later. It will also explore how eagles and other species rely on salmon for their survival.

Nestled in a natural wooded ravine, visitors will encounter bald eagles perched along streamside snags. In the stream below, salmon will slide through rushing waters. From the shade of a covered bridge, visitors can enjoy a scenic view of the wooded ravine. The exhibit expands upon the existing Cascade exhibit that displays local animals such as river otter, beaver and other native watershed species.

We are constantly striving to educate the public about caring for local wildlife, says Tony Vecchio, zoo director. This new exhibit will focus on the plight of the salmon and other animals found in our own backyards.

In 1999, the salmon population in the northwest declined so seriously the National Marine Fisheries Service acted by extending federal protection to five populations of salmon and steelhead across Oregon and Washington. For the first time salmon found in streams and rivers of the heavily populated areas of Portland are federally protected.

Portland is the first major American community to address the impact of a federally listed endangered species within its city limits, explains Vecchio. Salmon-related issues will impact the lives of virtually all residents over the next several years. The success of the states salmon recovery efforts will be based upon the decisions made by an educated public.

As the most frequently visited paid attraction in Oregonwith 1.3 million visitors annuallythe zoo hopes to educate its visitors about salmon, inspiring people to care about their future.

Portland's salmon story will continue to unfold over the next several years, said Vecchio. Through strong public support and participation, Portland can become a national model for other communities faced with endangered species-related challenges.

The Oregon Zoo Foundation has received a total of $779,000 through the support of corporations, foundations and individuals. During the ceremony, The Oregon Zoo Foundation will present a $150,000 check to Tony Vecchio for Eagle Canyon.

The zoos commitment to local animals is reflected in the Great Northwest exhibit. Since 1997, the zoo has completed the first three phases of the exhibit. The total project cost for Great Northwest is $37 million. The Oregon Zoo Foundation plans to secure the final $1.1 million needed to complete the Great Northwest exhibit through individual, foundation and corporate sources. For more information about donor opportunities, contact 503-220-5747.

FOREIGN-BORN STUDENTS HONE ENGLISH-SPEAKING SKILLS AT ZOOS BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT
Spanish, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Arabic speaking students share their butterfly expertise with zoo visitors
PORTLAND, Ore. From now until May 30, English as Second Language (ESL) students from Beaverton High School will practice their English skills at the Oregon Zoo on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thirty-six ESL students will volunteer in the zoos new Winged Wonders butterfly exhibit, helping visitors spot butterflies, answering questions and staffing a children's discovery area.
The students recently arrived in the United States and come from countries all over the world. Ten different languages are represented within their group, including Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Farsi, Hindi (from Fiji), Oromo (from Ethiopia), Creole (from Sierra Leone) and Vietnamese.

The students have been studying butterflies in the classroom as part of a several week unit. Each student has chosen one species of butterfly from the exhibit for more in-depth research; they then orally describe their findings to the class. Through their research, writing, and public speaking assignments, each student has fulfilled common curriculum goals in reading, writing, communication and life science.
Helen Lovgren, ESL teacher for Beaverton School District, says students have found butterflies to be highly interesting, engaging, and meaningfulessential ingredients for learning.

Now comes the exciting part, says Lovgren. The students will be in a position to share their knowledge with visitors. Its this application of knowledge in a real world situation, outside the classroom, that is so valuable to our young people.
The students may also be called upon to use their first languages for interpreting to non-English speaking zoo visitors. Each student will wear a button that will identify his or her native language.

Our visitors come from all over the world, according to Tony Vecchio, zoo director. Its great to have these talented students on grounds to convey butterfly information in English, as well as other languages.

Lovgren believes that through interpreting butterflies at the zoo, the value of bilingual skills will become increasingly apparent to them.
Beaverton School District serves 4,200 English Language Learners who represent over 12 percent of the district enrollment. The program began in the 1970s with the arrival of Southeast Asian refugees, and today, there are over 70 languages represented in our immigrant and refugee students in Beaverton schools. Currently, there is an English Language Development program at every school in the district.
As of this year, districts retention/graduation rate of second language learners has increased and the number of students who have been evaluated and have been classified as proficient in speaking/listening/reading/writing of English has gone up over 150 percent from last year (Part of the proficiency portfolio is having met benchmarks in reading and writing) and has significantly helped raise benchmarks and test scores for foreign-born students.
Because of the ongoing, sustained sheltered English training the ESL district staff has provided to teachers like Lovgren, and the support of district ESL counselor and bilingual liaisons, secondary students are taking more content classes, staying in school and are on track to graduate, says Virginia Aguilar, executive administrator of special programs for Beaverton School District. Adding, district data reflects this.

Aguilar says opportunities like the zoo project, provide students a vehicle to integrate and demonstrate their content knowledge, their native language, and their academic English skills.

The zoo works closely with the Beaverton School District on other educational programs. This is the third time ESL students from Beaverton High School have served as interpreters at the Oregon Zoo.

THIRD CONDOR CHICK HATCHES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BACK-COUNTRY
For the third time this year a California condor chick has hatched in the wild. The inside of the nest cave is deep and obscured by bushes so biologists are unable to see the chick. However, increased activity by both parents at the nest indicate that the egg hatched on Tuesday May 28.

The nest is adjacent to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary of the Los Padres National Forest in the rugged back country of California's Ventura County. Service and Zoological Society of San Diego biologists have been monitoring the nest for the last eight weeks. The chick's parents were captive-reared at the Los Angeles Zoo, are eight years old, and were released into the wild 1n 1995.

In nearby canyons, two other condor pairs are successfully brooding chicks. The oldest chick is now seven weeks old, it is the first chick in 18 years to hatch from an egg laid in the wild. The other chick is nearly three weeks old. Another active condor nest in the Grand Canyon, Arizona may also have a chick. There are 70 condors now living in the wild in California and Arizona, 16 in field pens ready for release and 113 in captivity at the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two geographically separate populations, one in California and the other in Arizona, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs.

The largest bird in North America, condors are scavengers that have soared over mountainous areas of California since prehistoric times, but
their numbers plummeted in the 20th Century. Condor numbers declined in part due to loss of habitat and food and from shooting, lead poisoning and toxic substances used to poison predators. Condors were listed as an endangered species in 1967, under a law that pre-dated the existing Endangered Species Act. In 1982, the condor population reached its lowest level of 22 birds, prompting biologists to start collecting chicks and eggs for a captive breeding program. By late 1984, only 15 condors remained in the wild. After seven condors died in rapid succession, it was decided to bring the remaining birds in from the wild for the captive breeding program. In 1992, the Recovery Program began releasing California condor back into the wild.

The California Condor Recovery Program is built upon a foundation of private and public partnerships. The focus of the condor recovery effort is the release of captive reared condors to the wild to ultimately establish self-sustaining populations. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for coordinating the conservation of the California condor, working with the Los Padres National Forest, California Department of Fish and game, and several private partners.

Private organizations and institutions are not just interested observers, but are active and essential participants in the implementation of the recovery program, contributing personnel, expertise, institutional support, and funding. California condor captive breeding programs are operated at San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, and The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey. To date, 218 condor chicks have been raised in captive propagation facilities. Release programs in California are managed by Ventana Wilderness Society and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge; the Arizona release is managed by The Peregrine Fund.

For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit http://www.fws.gov

FIRST WILD-LAID CONDOR CHICK HATCHES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BACK COUNTRY
For the first time in 18 years, a condor egg laid in the wild has hatched in the wild. The egg hatched on Thursday April 11, in a nest in the rugged back country of California's Ventura County. The chick's parents were captive-reared at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park, then released into the wild at the age of one by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the Service) in 1995.

Dr. Allen Mee of the Zoological Society of San Diego watched the historic event. "The female, R8, went into the cave at around midday" he said. The male, W0, was sitting on the already cracked egg. She stared at her mate for a while, waiting for him to leave, but he just stared back. Then she nudged him off the egg, pushing her head under his tail. In attempting to incubate the egg, she inadvertently crushed the egg shell, exposing the chick. For several hours she was restless and appeared confused, trying to incubate both the chick and the egg pieces. Eventually she settled down on the new born chick. It was just incredible."

"Since the hatching W0 and R8 have been excellent parents feeding and caring for the chick in text-book fashion. However, we'll remain cautiously optimistic while this chick develops." said Mike Barth, the Service's Supervisory Wildlife biologist for condor recovery efforts in southern California. "It's very exciting, the significance of this hatching for the condor program is so much greater than the event itself."

Dr Mee found the nest site February 18 after several weeks of monitoring a pair of condors as he and U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists investigated nest caves in a remote canyon. Concerned that the male of the pair was initially not sharing egg incubation duties with the female, biologists planned to remove the egg from the nest and substitute it for an artificial egg that would then be cared for at the Los Angeles Zoo until hatching was imminent. Biologists would then repeat the egg swap. However, those plans changed after the male, which had finally begun incubating the egg, refused to leave the egg when biologists approached the nest, an action that was viewed as a positive commitment by the male parent to care for his offspring. Biologists decided to let the pair incubate the egg on their own.

For the past two months the pair have been attentive parents and have shared in the incubation duties, spending up to a week on the egg at one time. "They have continued to be attentive during the incubation and hatching stage of parenthood," said Marc Weitzel, manager of the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, which supervises condor recovery in Southern California. "This gives us confidence that they will continue nurturing the chick." In May 2001, these parents were part of a condor trio--one male and two females--that successfully hatched a Los Angeles Zoo egg in the wild. Unfortunately, that chick died within a few days.

Four other condor nest sites have been observed this year, two more in California and two in the Grand Canyon in Arizona, according to Bruce Palmer, the Service's Condor Program Coordinator. The numbers of breeding pairs are increasing every year and with every attempt at breeding the condor pairs gain valuable experience.

Zoo Director for Los Angeles Zoo, Manuel Mollinedo said, "The Los Angeles Zoo has been involved with captive breeding California condors for almost twenty years and it's wonderful to see those captive birds now breeding in the wild." "We now know that these captive bred birds are capable of living and breeding in the wild," said Steve Thompson, Manager of the Service's California-Nevada Operations Office, "and now with this hatching and four other active condor nests, we eagerly anticipate the successful rearing of a chick this season." "A condor chick hatched in the wild for the first time in 18 years is a major success because it shows captive-bred adults can reproduce successfully in the natural habitat," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton, who as an associate solicitor with the department in the 1980s, played a role in removing the last remaining condors from the wild so they could reproduce in captivity and be reintroduced later. "Hand-in-hand with many partners, we are pulling this majestic bird back from the brink of extinction."

There are 63 condors now living in the wild in California and Arizona, 18 in field pens ready for release and 104 in captivity at the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho. Seven more captive-bred juveniles will be released in the Sespe Wilderness Area in Ventura County, California this spring.

The goal of the California Condor Recovery Plan is to establish two geographically separate populations, one in California and the other in Arizona, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs. The largest bird in North America, condors are scavengers that have soared over mountainous areas of California since prehistoric times, but their numbers plummeted in the 20th Century. Condor numbers declined in part due to loss of habitat and food and from shooting, lead poisoning and toxic substances used to poison predators. Condors were listed as an endangered species in 1967, under a law that pre-dated the existing Endangered Species Act. In 1982, the condor population reached its lowest level of 22 birds, prompting Service biologists to start collecting chicks and eggs for a captive breeding program. By late 1984, only 15 condors remained in the wild. After seven condors died in rapid succession, it was decided to bring the remaining birds in from the wild for the captive breeding program. In 1992, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began releasing California condor back into the wild.

The California Condor Recovery Program is built upon a foundation of private and public partnerships. The focus of the condor recovery effort is the release of captive reared condors to the wild to ultimately establish self-sustaining populations. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for coordinating the conservation of the California condor, working with the Los Padres National Forest, California Department of Fish and game, and several private partners. Private organizations and institutions are not just interested observers, but are active and essential participants in the implementation of the recovery program, contributing personnel, expertise, institutional support, and funding. California condor captive breeding programs are operated at San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, and The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey.

To date, 218 condor chicks have been raised in captive propagation facilities. Release programs in California are managed by Ventana Wilderness Society and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge; the Arizona release is managed by The Peregrine Fund.

BOWLERS GATHER TO HELP SAVE ENDANGERED RHINOS
13th Annual Bowling for Rhinos slated for Saturday, April 20th

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Hundreds of bowlers will hit the lanes Saturday, April 20th to save the world's endangered rhinos. Bowling for Rhinos, an annual fundraiser in its 13th year, takes place at Beavertons Brunswick Sunset Lanes in two afternoon sessions beginning at noon and 3 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Portland Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers.

Bowling for Rhinos is a national program that has raised more than $1.4 million since its inception. Portland bowlers have raised more than $133,000 of that amount, more than any other city in the country. Money raised goes directly to three specific rhino conservation projects working to protect three of the worlds five species of rhinos.

Bowlers raise funds by collecting tax-deductible pledges. The Portland event features door prizes and a raffle for a variety of items. Nationally, the top two fundraisers win a two-week trip to Kenya, and will be the guests of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Lewa was the first rhino program supported by the bowling event. Two additional Indonesian programs now receive funds Ujung Kulon National Park on the island of Java, a tropical lowland rainforest area home to the reclusive Javan rhino; and Bukit Barasan Selatan National Park, on the island of Sumatra. Bukit Barison is home to the rare Sumatran rhino and other endangered animals, including Asian elephants, tigers, clouded leopards and Malayan sun bears.

Michael Illig, the Oregon Zoos senior Africa keeper and local coordinator for Bowling for Rhinos, noted that globally, all rhino populations are low.

There are less than 2,700 black, only 300 Sumatran and less than 60 Javan rhinos left in the wild. While populations of white rhinos (estimated to be 10,400) and Indian rhinos (estimated to be 2,400) are more stable, they too are considered threatened, Illig said. Saving all species of rhinos is important, but the most critically endangered species drive our efforts, he added.

Oregon Zoo Director Tony Vecchio is pleased that the zoos keepers and the greater zoo community have done so much to save rhinos.

The primary mission of the Oregon Zoo is conservation, he said. It is especially gratifying to see that our dedicated staff believes so strongly in that mission and has devoted so much of their own time and resources to this important conservation mission."

Registration forms for both bowlers and sponsors are available on the web site. Individuals and teams are encouraged to register early, but walk-ins are welcome. Additional information is available by calling the zoos Michael Illig at 503-226-1561, extension 275.

RABBIT ROMP AT THE OREGON ZOO

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Oregon Zoo invites children of all ages to celebrate spring during Rabbit Romp on Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The traditional candy "egg" hunt, divided into five age groups for children three to ten years of age, will again be held every 20 minutes beginning at 9:30 a.m. Each hunt includes a "magic" egg that can be turned in for a special prize. Other activities include a petting zoo, bunny rabbit crafts, games and stories and a Mad Hatter's Tea Party by the Young People's Theater Project. The Oregon Humane Society will be on hand with rabbit adoptions and to provide proper pet care instruction.

An interactive learning station features enlarged versions of pygmy rabbit burrows, which can be explored. Rabbit Rompers can learn about this endangered species that lives behind-the-scenes at the zoo by watching a video of the pygmy rabbits in action and speaking to Zoo Animal Presenters.

Rabbit Romp is free with regular zoo admission. General admission is $7.50 (12-64), seniors $6 (65+), children $4.50 (3-11), and children under 3 are free. Support for Rabbit Romp is provided by Rosie 105 and Safeway.

SEA OTTERS THELMA AND EDDIE ARE REUNITED

PORTLAND, Ore.Today, sea otters Thelma and her mate Eddie were re-introduced after a long separation. The two otters were separated after Thelmas pup Ozzie was born to ensure the pups safety and to prevent another pregnancy. Ozzie was the first southern sea otter to be conceived, born and raised by his mother in a zoo environment. US Fish & Wildlife Service has requested that Thelma have no additional pups until a formal sea otter breeding plan is adopted.

Thelma recently received a birth-control implantthe first of its kind on a female southern sea otterto prevent another pregnancy. Zoo staff confirmed that the implant is working effectively and therefore the zoo is able to reunite the two sea otters.

According to Senior Marine Life keeper JoEllen Marshall, We do expect to see some breeding behavior, where males can sometimes show aggression towards females. We hope there wont be too much aggressionand well be prepared to separate the two if we need to.

Marshall believes the introduction will work out fine because of the animals past relationship.

We hope that we can help rekindle that close bond, said Marshall. Once a formal breeding plan is in place, we hope that Thelma and Eddie can have another pup.

Thelma was found stranded on a California beach as an infant and rehabilitated at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She was rehabilitated and released back into the wild twice, but was unable to maintain body weight. She was brought back to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where officials determined that she could not survive in the wild and began the search to find her a new home. Thelma and her mate Eddie spent a short period at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Wash., before arriving at the Oregon Zoo in the summer of 2000 upon completion of the Steller Cove exhibit.

To the surprise of their keepers, Thelma gave birth to a pup although both she and her mate Eddie were both a year younger than the expected age of maturation.
The Oregon Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium are partners in a sea otter conservation program to ensure the continuing survival of the southern sea otter through rehabilitation and research.

Thelma and Eddie can be seen swimming in the Steller Cove exhibit. General admission is $7.50 (12-64), seniors $6 (65+), children $4.50 (3-11), and children under 3 are free.

AN AFFAIR FOR BEARS
A party even Goldilocks wouldnt miss!

PORTLAND, Ore. Do bears hibernate in the winter? Visitors will discover the surprising answer to this question and learn other facts about bears during Bear Fair, March 23 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Oregon Zoo, sponsored by ODS and the dentists of the Oregon Dental Association.

Bear Fair will star polar, grizzly, black and Malayan sun bears as well as teddy bears. Bear Fair activities include crafts, stories, and experiments that will educate visitors about the different habitats and characteristics unique to each bear.

A special Teddy Bear Picnic area will be set up for children of all ages to bring or purchase their lunches and feast with their teddy bears or their teddy bears buddies.

According to Krista Swan, Oregon Zoo event coordinator, Repair-A-Bear, a special surgical mending station, will be set-up for operations, check-ups, shots, chiropractic adjustments and emergency patchwork in case your teddy bear or its buddy needs a little extra loving care.

ODS will be on hand to check on the oral health of bear buddies and will hand out special prizes for children who stop by the booth and bare their teeth.

Smokey Bear will be making a guest appearance from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. to educate children about protecting bears natural habitats by practicing fire safety in the forest. The zoos own costumed bear mascot, Honey Bear, will be making friends during her appearance.

PORTLAND, Ore. The female elephants at the zoo will each receive a valentine gift from their favorite keepers on Thursday, February 14. The heart-shaped boxes--once filled with chocolate--will contain apples and other fruit and vegetables.
Gouda, the new baby swamp monkey and his mom will also receive heart-shaped boxes full of Valentine's surprises. Their boxes will contain raisins, grapes, bananas and seeds.

Tasty, heart-shaped ice treats filled with Valentine's delicacies will be given to Eddie the sea otter and the feisty river otters, MacKenzie and Columbia.

This is the second year that the special Valentine's Day enrichment treats have been handed out to zoo residents. The Oregon Zoo is known internationally for its enrichment programs, which provide animals with the opportunity to play, hunt and forage as they would in the wild.

WORLD'S FIRST CONTRACEPTIVE-IMPLANT SURGERY PERFORMED ON FEMALE SOUTHERN SEA OTTER DEEMED SUCCESS

PORTLAND, Ore.Thelma, the Oregon Zoo's resident sea otter, is swimming in her exhibit again after recuperating from surgery. Thelma recently underwent surgery receiving the world's first contraceptive implant on a female southern sea otter. The reversible procedure was successful and Thelma is now recovering on exhibit.

We performed this reversible procedure because US Fish & Wildlife Service recommended that we not allow our sea otters Eddie and Thelma to have another pup, according to Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator. He added, It was important to us that this procedure be completely reversible. We hope that we may someday participate in a captive breeding and reintroduction program for sea otters.
Dr. Michael Murray, an aquatic mammal veterinarian who works closely with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, performed the surgery. The surgery which has never been performed on a female southern sea otterinvolved placing a small, time-released contraceptive under her skin in the lower abdomen area. Thelma's implant was inserted between the body wall and the skin, tucked under a fat pad near her right rear leg. Dr. Murray chose the area because of the protective fat layer, and because otters tend to groom their lower abdomen less actively, reducing the chance for infection. Of the surgeries Dr. Murray has performed in this area, none of the otters have shown post-operative problems.

Dr. Murray was asked to perform the surgery because he has extensive experience operating on hundreds of sea otters at Monterey Bay Aquarium. He operated on Thelma when she was just six months old, placing a radio transmitter in her abdomen shortly before she was to be released into the wild.

Thelma was found stranded on a California beach as an infant and rehabilitated at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She was rehabilitated and released back into the wild twice, but was unable to maintain body weight. She was brought back to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where officials determined that she could not survive in the wild and began the search to find her a new home. Thelma and her mate Eddie spent a short period at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Wash., before arriving at the Oregon Zoo in the summer of 2000 upon completion of the Steller Cove exhibit.

To the surprise of their keepers, Thelma gave birth to a pup although both she and her mate Eddie were both a year younger than the expected age of maturation. Their sea otter pup, Oz, was the first southern sea otter in the world ever to be conceived, born and raised in a zoo or aquarium.

The Oregon Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium are partners in a sea otter conservation program to ensure the continuing survival of the southern sea otter through rehabilitation and research. Thelma can be seen swimming in the Steller Cove exhibit.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE - BE A ZOOTEEN
Teens from Astoria to Hood River, Longview to Salem, help educate the public about animal conservation.

PORTLAND, Ore.æ A bright splotched corn snake wraps around your arm. A sleek ferret basks in the warm sun, content to catch a few winks in your lap. A desert tortoise still shows the pattern of a fiberglass repair on its shell. You know the story behind the injury and rescue, while children gather around eager to hear your story. Looking for something wild and exciting to do this summer? If you love animals and have a desire to learn more and teach about animals at the Oregon Zoothis is the program for you.

The Oregon Zoo is looking for students who are entering 9th through 12th grade this fall to be ZooTeens. Applications are available now and will be accepted until March 1, 2002.

ZooTeens get the chance to make a difference in the worldwe are doing something important, explains Arial Zimmerman, a fifth-year zoo teen team leader and Lincoln High student. Through ZooTeens, we learn about the importance of protecting the environment by interacting with the keepers and the zoo animals. We use that knowledge in turn to educate zoo visitors about the animals and the importance of animal conservation.

Each summer 300 teens, ages 13 to 17, contribute 30,000 hours to the zoo. The program, which is in its 25th year, focuses on public interaction and education, teaching the students animal knowledge, public speaking, and job skills. ZooTeens travel from as far away as Astoria, Hood River, Longview and Salem to participate in the program.

While volunteering as a ZooTeen, students have the opportunity to present animals to visitors, help keepers with the care and feeding of pettable animals in the Little Zoo, go on a behind-the-scene tour with keepers, and manage the pygmy goat kraalsolely run by teens. Some ZooTeens, with additional training, will also be able to work in the Insect Zoo, give animals presentations, and serve as a junior camp counselor at zoo day camps.

We are the only zoo in the nation that has teenagers supervising teenagers, said Mia Reager, zoo youth volunteer coordinator, This allows the teens to create a unique environment where they feel they belong; it's a kind of family.

ZooTeens gain an insiders view of the zoo and its animals, make new friends, develop leadership skills, gain public speaking skills in a fun environment, handle some zoo animals, and explore career possibilities. ZooTeens apply and go through an interview process, which teaches valuable career skills and prepares them for future job interview situations.

ZooTeens work 11 hours a week, split into two 5 1/2 hour shifts, with two weeks vacation off. They receive 30 hours of background training. Fifty to 70 ZooTeens may be invited to remain on and participate in the winter volunteer program. Thirty-five of these ZooTeens have the opportunity to become Team Leaders. These select teens help lead the program on a daily basis.

The Team Leader program has received Mutual of Omaha's Wildlife Heritage Center's Award of Excellence twice for youth leadership involvement. The ZooTeen program is helping me prepare for college, said Zimmerman, I am using the volunteer experience and skills I have learned to apply for college scholarships.

PORTLAND, Ore.The Oregon Zoos wolves, musk ox, and grizzly bear celebrate the new year with Christmas trees, recycled from the homes of zoo employees. The trees help to enrich and stimulate the animals and add variety to their surroundings. This is yet another example of the zoos commitment to recycling and its ongoing efforts to preserve the environment.

The zoo earlier announced its Green Resolutions for 2002, which include several paper reduction measures as well as reductions in use of energy, non-sustainably produced items and fuels.

Because of our involvement with conservation of endangered species, we think the zoo should set an example for other businesses, said Zoo Director Tony Vecchio.

The zoos green resolutions for 2002 are:

Continue to explore new sources of sustainable products.
Reduce use of copy paper an additional 15 percent by encouraging employees to create and send documents electronically (hence this electronic news release).
Explore electronic archiving of documents and reduce the amount of paper that goes into files.
Put requirements for sustainability measures in Request For Proposals (RFPs) for outside contractors.
Reduce orders of phone directories by 75 percent and instead encourage staff to use the internet-based directory.
Whenever possible, use local, sustainably grown lumber.
Convert 80 percent of our in-house forms to electronic, on-line versions.
Use reusable plates and silverware for our student programs.
Set up a program to recycle fluorescent bulbs.
Sign up at least 200 employees to participate in the citywide Car Free-Care Free week, and continue to encourage staff and volunteers to leave their cars at home at least one day a week.
Increase the amount of information available on the zoos internal web site, and, accordingly, minimize the amount of printed employee information.
Inform and inspire others individuals and businesses by sharing the zoos green ideas, and by facilitating information exchanges.

This is the third year that the zoo has published green resolutions, and many resolutions from past years have become ongoing zoo policy. These include:

Striving to serve only foods that are grown and harvested using sustainable and environmentally sound practices at the zoos restaurant and catering facilities.
Providing opportunities for zoo staff and volunteers to participate in at least two environmental projects, such as habitat restoration or trash pick-up.
Working with zoo vendors and suppliers to reduce packaging.
Incorporate green design principles in building design, development and remodeling projects.
Purchasing products that have been recycled or have a recycled content, including used vehicles and office equipment.
Using the least toxic products in grounds maintenance and custodial operations.
Recycling everything&.including animal wastes!

The zoos Green Team wrote the resolutions. The team meets monthly to explore new ways of taking the zoos green operations to a higher level. The Green Team includes representatives from all areas of zoo operations.