|
|
|
NOTE: Dates indicate date of press release
January
January 22, 2003 - Oregon Zoo Expands Program to pay for School Field Trips
January 21, 2003 - Zoo's Oldest Male Asian Elephant Dies Unexpectedly
January 15, 2003 - Despite Sluggish Economy, Zoo Breaks All-Time Attendance Record
January 14, 2003 - Oregon Zoo Offers New Program for Home-Schooled Children
January 14, 2003 - Zoo Offers Programs for Home-Schooled Children
January 14, 2003 - Oregon Zoo Vaccinates Birds of Prey for West Nile Virus
January 9, 2003 - Highly Endangered Mandrill Moves to Oregon Zoo
View releases from:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
OREGON ZOO EXPANDS PROGRAM TO PAY FOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
Spirit Mountain Community Fund's $37,500 donation---originally benefited Polk and Yamhill county schools---has been expanded to include Benton, Linn, Lane, Lincoln and Tillamook counties
PORTLAND, Ore.-The Oregon Zoo has expanded its program to pay for school field trips to the zoo during the current school year. The program, made possible by the $37,500 grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund (SMCF), will now pay for buses for low-income schools in Benton, Linn, Lane, Lincoln, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill counties. Schools qualify by the percentage of students who rely on the free and/or reduced price lunch program.
The SMCF grant helps underwrite the anticipated costs of bus transportation to and from the Oregon Zoo for as many as 9,000 children and their chaperones. "With Oregon public schools facing devastating budget cuts, it's important that we continue to make these experiences available to students," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director.
Support from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund will provide public schools in these eligible counties with up to three free buses to transport students to and from the zoo. As a condition of the grant, the zoo is making a special effort to serve schools with more than 50 percent student eligibility in the free and/or reduced price lunch program.
"This grant helps the zoo serve children from rural communities," said Angela Blackwell, director of the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. "We have been happy to help bring the zoo's birds of prey outreach program to these schools in the past. Now we have a wonderful opportunity to take the next step and make it possible for many of these deserving students to visit their zoo for the very first time."
The Spirit Mountain Community Fund has given more than $15 million to deserving organizations in western Oregon since its creation in 1997.
In addition to zoo education programs for schools, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund made an early major gift in support of the zoo's Eagle Canyon exhibit. Eagle Canyon, a watershed exhibit to feature bald eagles and salmon in a natural forest setting, will be the next phase of the zoo's Great Northwest exhibit when completed next year.
For more information about the field trip grant program or to check on eligibility for your school, call 503-220-2781.
ZOO'S OLDEST MALE ASIAN ELEPHANT DIES UNEXPECTEDLY
 |
|
Photo by Benjamin Brink/
Courtesy of The Oregonian.
|
PORTLAND, Ore.- Hugo, the Oregon Zoo's oldest bull Asian elephant, died unexpectedly Monday night from unknown causes. An extensive necropsy will be conducted. Preliminary results from the necropsy should be completed in ten to 21 days.
"When keepers came in on Saturday morning they found Hugo on his side with labored breathing," said Chris Pfefferkorn, zoological curator.
Keepers and vets were successful getting Hugo to his feet with the aid of a sling and administered a catheter to start fluids in an attempt to keep him hydrated, and to begin treatment with antibiotics.
"Keepers and vets cared for Hugo around the clock, but were unable to save him," said Pfefferkorn. "We cared a lot for Hugo and gave him a 150 percent effort; it was hard for us to see him go."
The Oregon Zoo acquired Hugo from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in November 1983. He was estimated to be 43-years-old. Hugo weighed approximately 10,000 pounds and stood 10 feet tall.
According to Elephant Keeper Jeb Barsh, Hugo was a favorite among elephant keepers.
"He was highly intelligent, "said Barsh. He enjoyed challenges like food puzzles and playing with his many elephant toys. He also liked to get huge ice blocks that he would quickly break apart - he was just a magnificent animal."
The Oregon Zoo's innovative and respected elephant management program is world-renowned in the zoo community. Twenty-seven baby elephants have been born at the Oregon Zoo. No other zoo comes close to this accomplishment. Currently, the zoo is home to six Asian elephants: four females and two males.
DESPITE SLUGGISH ECONOMY, ZOO BREAKS ALL-TIME ATTENDANCE RECORD
PORTLAND, Oregon - Popular special events and new exhibits boosted the Oregon Zoos annual attendance to 1,330,838, breaking the previous record of 1,328,761 visitors set in 2000.
Zoo Director Tony Vecchio is pleased by the community support.
Were thrilled with the response to our special programs and new exhibits, said Vecchio. We attribute the increase to the popularity of last summers butterfly exhibit, and our many special programs, including ZooLights, our concert series and Packys 40th birthday party.
The first time zoo attendance exceeded one million was in 1962, the year Packy was born. Packys birth brought in 1,211,170 visitors from all over the Northwest eager to see the first baby elephant born in the United States in 44 years.
It wasnt until 1989 that the zoo broke the one million mark again. Since then, the zoo has welcomed over a million guests in 11 of the last 14 years.
Vecchio believes the zoo will continue to attract more visitors because of its commitment to offer new exhibits and programs.
This summer were bringing back butterflies by popular demandwith the addition of many new and colorful species, said Vechhio. The butterfly exhibit promises to be a real block buster, and coming in 2004 well open our family farm and Eagle Canyon, featuring bald eagles and endangered salmon. We have great things happening that keep people coming back.
OREGON ZOO OFFERS NEW PROGRAM FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN
The Oregon Zoo has announced a new education program for home-schooled children, ages six and older. The zoo has planned two Home-School ZooSnooze programs, Feb. 20-21 and March 6-7 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 a.m.
According to the zoo's Education Program Coordinator Rex Ettlin, home-schoolers will see the zoo in a whole new light-moonlight! Participants will enjoy a pizza dinner and go on a guided nighttime safari. The highlight of the evening will be a behind-the-scenes tour.
"ZooSnooze promises to be a great educational adventure for home-schooled kids," says Ettlin, "We're teaching kids about the importance of animals and conservation, while creating great childhood memories."
During ZooSnooze, home-schoolers will come face to face with insects and reptiles, and will also enjoy some fun hands-on opportunities with certain animals. In addition, kids will make an enrichment item (animal toy) and watch the animal later play and interact with it, go behind the scenes to see the zoo's popular birds of prey, and, the next day, enjoy a continental breakfast. At the conclusions of the program, home-schoolers can explore the zoo on their own.
Ettlin adds, "Kids will long remember how they learned all about wildlife and saw many rare animals under the cloak of darkness, one of their liveliest times!"
Cost for Home-School ZooSnooze is $40 person for youth or adult. Children may not attend without a registered adult. Up to five children may accompany one adult. To register, please call 503-220-2781 or e-mail moddet@metro.dst.or.us.
The Oregon Zoo, located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway 26, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 31. The zoo is also on the MAX light rail line. General admission is $8 (12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+), children $5 (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.
ZOO OFFERS PROGRAMS FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN
The Oregon Zoo announces its 2003 educational programs for home-schooled students. Educational programs give students attending school at home the opportunity to explore the zoos animals and the habitats in which they live.
"Education is our number one priority at the Oregon Zoo," said Education Programs Manager Roger Yerke. "Through a variety of programs throughout the year we educate more than 188,000 students, introducing them to seldom-seen animals and educating them on the importance of conservation."
The zoo offers the following educational programs to home school students:
. Discovery boxes filled with insects, magnifying glasses and educational literature
. Curriculum guides (downloadable from www.oregonzoo.org) to use before, during or after their trip to the zoo
. ZooSnooze overnights with hands-on learning activities and behind-the-scenes tours
. Internships for teenagers that offer career exploration opportunities
. ZooTeens summer volunteer program (applications are available now)
. Day camps during the summer, winter and spring school breaks
. Online opportunities include the zoo's web site (www.oregonzoo.org), which is an excellent source of information for homework and school reports. This information can also be obtained by calling the Animal Information Line at 503-226-1561, then press 2.
For more information on the zoo's education programs for students or to reserve a kit call 503-220-2781.
The Oregon Zoo, located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway 26, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 31. The zoo is also on the MAX light rail line. General admission is $8 (12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+), children $5 (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.
OREGON ZOO VACCINATES BIRDS OF PREY FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
PORTLAND, Ore.-With West Nile virus (WNV) now in Washington state and experts predicting its arrival in Oregon this spring, Oregon Zoo veterinarians are beginning to vaccinate animals, which are susceptible to the virus.
On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the zoo will vaccinate its birds of prey and other susceptible bird species with the WNV equine vaccine, which is believed to lessen the severity of the virus. "We know West Nile is coming to our region," said zoo Veterinarian Dr. Mitch Finnegan. "We have an important collection of birds and other animals that we're doing all we can to protect."
The vaccinations will take place one-day prior to a West Nile virus workshop, featuring public health and conservation experts from around the country. The workshop, slated for Thursday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the zoo, will provide current WNV information and bring the health and conservation communities together in order to develop an effective and ecologically sound plan to combat the virus.
The zoo will next vaccinate its zebras with the equine vaccine. A prioritized list of all animals that will be vaccinated is currently being prepared.
"Our goal is to provide the safest and most comfortable environment for our animals," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "We're working with state and local officials to help minimize the impact."
The zoo is also preparing protocols for mosquito abatement. Abatement efforts include eliminating mosquito habitat such as standing water; cutting back vegetation throughout the zoo's 64 acres; setting mosquito traps; applying environmentally-safe insecticides and larvicides around grounds; and pre-screening birds from other zoos.
In an effort to detect the virus early, the Oregon Zoo is working collaboratively with local and state public health organizations. The zoo is also participating in surveillance activities along with accredited zoos around the country.
Surveillance activities entail monitoring the grounds for dead or sick wild birds and other mammals, testing all dead animals found on grounds, and reporting tissue samplings to the surveillance network.
WNV was first detected in the United States in 1999 and has been detected in 42 states. The virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus can be devastating to wildlife, especially corvids, which include ravens, crows, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers. The virus can also infect humans, horses and other mammals.
On Oct. 2, 2002, the Washington State Department of Health announced the state's first case of a dead bird detected with the virus. For more information about WNV, pet and horse owners should contact their veterinarian or visit The American Veterinary Medical Association. Other resources can be found on the USDA's web site http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/wnv/wnv.html and Center for Disease Control's web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm.
HIGHLY ENDANGERED MANDRILL MOVES TO OREGON ZOO
PORTLAND, Ore. - A colorful 61-pound male mandrill will move into the Oregon Zoo's primate exhibit on Friday, Jan. 10. Kinshasa, or Kinny for short, was born at Burnet Park Zoo in Syracuse, New York June 5, 1997 and later moved to the North Carolina Zoo. His move to the Oregon Zoo was a recommendation of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's Species Survival Plan for mandrills.
His introduction to the rest of the mandrill troop went well according to Senior Primate Keeper David Thomas. "He's not overly aggressive," said Thomas. "We're observing positive interaction with the keepers in the areas of hand feeding and training."
Male mandrills are significantly larger than the females, weighing from 50- to 75-pounds, while females can weigh up to 35 pounds. The males are also more colorful than females with a blue to purple rump, a bright red nose with blue, ridged swelling running lengthwise on either side. They also have white cheek whiskers, a yellow beard and a dark brown crest on the crown of the head.
Mandrills are highly endangered. In Africa, the mandrill population has been in a drastic decline in recent years, and mandrills have been on the endangered species list since 1980. In Gabon-one of the three African countries in which mandrills are found-logging has increased in the rainforests, further destroying the mandrill's habitat. An additional threat to loss of habitat is the increasing market in African cities for mandrill meat, which is viewed as a delicacy. Mandrills have long been hunted as a food source for local people, but now commercial hunters are culling many animals, sending the meat to coastal cities.
In the wild, much of the mandrills' time is spent on the forest floor, but they do climb to the middle layer of trees to sleep. Their social organization is harems, with one adult male, several adult females and their young. During the dry season, several harems may join to form larger troops of up to 200 members. Their bright facial colors are perceived as threat signals and a penetrating stare is used to intimidate a male rival and to establish domination. To denote submission, they lower their body and show their colored rear end. Males are constantly on the alert for predators. If baring his teeth does not scare off an intruder, the adult male will work himself into a frenzy, jumping up and down. Bright red spots will appear on his wrists and ankles and his chest will turn a vivid blue. It is believed that this color change is produced by a specialized circulatory function.
The Oregon Zoo is home to five mandrills, one male and four females. The females include, Nikki, 16; Victoria, 15; Natalie (Victoria's daughter), 2; and Susannah, 6.
The zoo is open 9 a.m. daily. General admission is $8 (12-64), seniors $6.50 (65+), children $5 (3-11), and children under 3 are free. The zoo is located five minutes from downtown Portland just off Highway 26 and is also accessible by MAX light rail line.
|
