Weird Elephant Fact

When I went on safari to Kenya in the late 1980's I drank many more than one bottle of Tusker lager, the local beer.

I now read that it is being carried in over 75 Sainbury's stores in the UK.

And I now also learn that Tusker was first brewed in 1922 and is named as it is today in memory of the brewery's founder George Hurst, "who was killed by a rogue elephant in 1923."

Please do not name any beverage "Hummer H3 Alpha" in my memory should one of those run me over tonight.

suckers

suckers
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Ucumari's been back to D.C. Took this unique poison dart frog photo day before yesterday. (Her title.)

"An excellent exhibit of frogs is at National Geographic's Explorers Hall! If you are in the area it's a must!" (Her quote.)

The North Carolina Zoo offers poison dart frogs in an exhibit designed to educate regarding the worldwide amphibian crisis. Many better zoos are doing something similar in what they are calling "The Year of the Frog".

A Joey Named Oz

The Riverbanks Zoo has a baby koala named Oz. There is also a good photo of Oz and Mom (Lottie) at the link. (Q.: Dad's name? A.: Great.)

Elelphants Create Lizard Habitat

A researcher claims that elephants, by vigorously browsing on trees and damaging them, create new habitat that African lizards call "home".

"He believes that lizards preference to such habitats may be because the twisted crevices in the elephant-damaged trees give them shelter from predators and the harsh arid environment."

By tearing down trees, elephants also create grassland habitat. Fires burn the dead and dying trees. Grasses grow and feed grazing animals, which feed African plains predators and start that famous cycle of life.

SF Zoo Apology

The Chair of the San Francisco Zoo Society has apologized for the tragic tiger escape of Christmas.

"“Under no circumstance is it OK for an animal to leave its enclosure.”

Interesting Goose

greylag goose
Originally uploaded by russlings

This greylag goose "turned out to be a real ham," according to photographer Lyn Adams. "I have noticed over the last few winters that the [greylag] is showing up with more frequency in NC," Lyn continues. "Most guides show this species as being native to Eurasia. Oh well..."

Wikipedia says that the greylag goose is found in many parts of the world, Lyn, where domesticated geese have gone feral. They will even create hybrids by breeding, for example, with Canada geese.

They are also well known for a fixed action pattern nesting behavior. Once they see an egg out of the nest, they are hardwired to return it in exactly the same way each time. If you put a door knob in the location of a wayward egg they will even use the same routine to pull it into the nest.

More Collaring Details

Field Trip Earth and Dr. Mike Loomis offer more details on today's elephant collaring in Cameroon.

'Nother Cameroon Success!

Dr. Mike Loomis and his team have just successfully collared another elephant on this trip to Cameroon. The NC Zoo vet reports another "textbook" collaring a couple hours north of Red Lake, Mount Cameroon.

This time the collared animal is a rather small female with calf.

Night School

Dedicated Iraqi veterinarians are beginning classes at midnight.

Veterinarians with the North Carolina Zoo and the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) are offering assistance through an Advanced Topics in Zoological Medicine course via a virtual link to veterinarians at the Baghdad Zoo. The course meets every Thursday at 4 p.m. (midnight in Baghdad).

Donors through the North Carolina Zoo Society began supporting the Baghdad Zoo with the 2003 coalition takeover of Iraq. NC Zoo Director Dr. David Jones has coordinated U.S. assistance to Baghdad Zoo ever since.

From NC Zoo media release: "The [veterinary course] effort was initiated by NC State alumnus and Army Major Dr. Scott Willens. With the assistance of the U.S. Army and the support of the N.C. Zoological Society, the necessary equipment was delivered and set up for use by the veterinarians at the Baghdad Zoo.

"In addition to being able to take courses at the CVM, the telecommunicating Iraqi veterinarians will also be able to connect directly to the N.C. Zoo [Hanes Veterinary] Hospital for consultations and advice from a staff of veterinarians experienced in zoological medicine."

Fish Dinner

St Louis Zoo TV ad - Penguin Coast":

NC Zoo Patas Monkey

Originally uploaded by beachbum1616

Today. By beachbum1616. More on patas.

Another NC Zoo Green Initiative

From a very recent NC Zoo media release: "With the throw of a switch Tuesday, Jan. 29, the North Carolina Zoo will house the state’s largest solar power project.

"Partnering with Carolina Solar Energy (CSE) and Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) [and the NC Zoological Society ], the zoo will have in operation a 104 kilowatt, 9,600 square-foot grid-tied, photovoltaic solar system mounted on three picnic pavilions."

Elaborate Failure

"I shall return." (Paraphrasing the "scientist" who attempted to secure hippo "sweat" from inside a hippo costume that could survive a bite three times more powerful than that of a great white shark, which is a good idea because hippos kill more humans than any African mammal...and Africa has many big, capable mammals.)

Trying to find the secret of the best, waterproof sunscreen, the good doctor got stuck in the mud and failed. He plans to return to try again.

Why not use a zoo hippo? Seems he expects better secreted oils from other hippos. (Don't really follow why.)

"Does my rump look big in this? A scientist has gone undercover in a 14-stone armoured hippopotamus suit in Zambia..." (John Harlow, TimesOnline)

Dung Beetle Sculpture

Dung Beetle Sculpture
Originally uploaded by e_monk

At the NC Zoo Watani Grasslands (elephant/rhino exhibits). Grand opening this Spring.

e monk (photographer) says of the larger-than-life sculpture: "I was tempted to call this a macro and see if anyone noticed."

Dung beetles "deal with" all the dung that elephants, rhinos, etc. deposit in their habitats.

That's a Herd!

game_guards_chase_herd
Originally uploaded by russlings

Field Trip Earth photo by NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis of game guards driving off a herd of African elephants in Cameroon.

Mike is anesthetizing elephants to place satellite collars and radios on them for vital research aimed at learning their migratory patterns. Many humans and elephants are documented to have probably been saved due to the effort.

Field Trip Earth is a program of the North Carolina Zoological Society.

Ice! Snow!

Just back from a hike to the top of Hanging Rock.

The dramatic rock outcroppings at the top are safe and dry, but "protected" portions of the lower trail are still covered in snow and ice.

Many folks on the trail today, anyway. (One shared: "Can you imagine there are people who live nearby and never come up here!?!")

One fellow, on the way down, ahead of me, was next coming back up, toward me. Then he turned again and, as I looked back, he held up his keys. They had fallen out of his pocket as he had fallen on the ice, he explained. He was lucky to have missed them so soon after his spill.

It is a longish drive from Greensboro and takes another 40 minutes or so on the 1-mile Hanging Rock Trail to reach the top. It is cool that I could look from the top and see downtown Greensboro, even with my old eyes, as three little bumps on the horizon...as two black vultures soared below me.

...in an Empty Sky"

10406097-M
Originally uploaded by russlings

Another photo (NC Zoo, probably Tom Gillespie) of the Carolina parakeet segment of "Stone that Stands in an Empty Sky" by Roger Halligan.

To see the entire work of art, look for it along the trail between the Sonora Desert exhibit and the red wolf habitat at the North Carolina Zoo.

Carolina Parakeet (extinct)

Carolina Parakeet (extinct)
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Stunning close-up by ucumari of a work of art at the NC Zoo ("Stone that Stands in an Empty Sky", by ex-NC Zoo design staffer/professional sculptor Roger Halligan).

The full sculpture looks like a dramatic rock outcropping on the Zoo's Uwharrie Mountain site, except for this distinctive "hole" in a naturalistic monolith which remembers an extinct species, the Carolina Parakeet.

The sad and complex "reasons for extinction" of Eastern United States' only parrot includes the birds' behavior which makes them regather at the spot where others in the flock have been shot and killed.

monkeys hugging tails

monkeys hugging tails
Originally uploaded by grendelkhan

"I believe these are Bolivian Gray Titi Monkeys, Callicebus donacophilus, intertwining their tails." Photo, title and quote by grendelkhan.

I had just read that Philadelphia Zoo is getting grey titi monkeys and that they do this with their tails, so I Googled and found this.

Imagine seeing a family of four with their tails braided together, as the article claims occurs!

Frog's Last Wave

It is almost time for that David Attenborough special on BBC One (January 28, 9 p.m., UK).

"Life in Cold Blood" will deal with the amphibian crisis. As Attenborough explains, amphibians are " in terrible danger, including the Panamanian golden frog.

"It communicates with its rivals and mates by gentle hand waves and it is absolutely enchanting.

"It is also extremely sad because our film shows this waving for the last time in the wild."

You can see them in an exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo Forest Aviary.

"Blame" Mites, Not Ants

Just came across this May 14, 2007 article, which cites research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicating that mites (not ants) appear to be the dietary source of the poison found in the skin secretions of poison dart (arrow) frogs. (I had believed ants to be the source until now.)

"In the early 1990s, Abbott Labs began working with a frog toxin-derived compound for the treatment of pain. Abbott Labs eventually created ABT-594, a non-toxic, nonaddictive painkiller..."

"The creation of ABT-594 almost didn't happen. The area of Ecuadorian rainforest from which the frog was originally collected in 1974 was cleared shortly thereafter for banana plantations. Luckily, a second collection site still housed the frogs..."

"The near miss with ABT-594 illustrates the importance of conserving biodiversity..."

The North Carolina Zoo exhibits three species of poison dart frogs (blue, dyeing and bumble bee), as well as the also-toxic Panama golden frog, in the entrance lobby of the Forest Aviary.

Gleam in His Eye

Speaking of zoos that might build larger elephant exhibits, the Philadelphia Zoo director is already thinking about bringing "his" African elephants back before he has quite sent them away.

"...and there is room to establish an elephant compound of more than 10 acres at the back of the zoo, [Director Vik] Dewan said. The elephants' current habitat consists of a quarter-acre exercise yard, plus a barn where they sleep."

From NC Zoo Staff Mtg. 1/23/08

That new male Gorilla is expected at the North Carolina Zoo, from Columbus Zoo, in early March. He will be quarantined at the Hanes Vetinerinary hospital for 60 days before being transferred to the exhibit.

Emotional response

Click on the 4-minute audio segment of this SFGate.com article to hear San Francisco Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo's emotional response to a question about zoos' relevance in 2008, as part of a much longer interview about the tragic, December tiger escape.

Couple More Elephant Projects

With the North Carolina Zoo's new elephant and rhino project (Watani Grasslands) coming on line this Spring, who else is working on new pachyderm expansions?

The Birmingham Zoo in Alabama has "unveiled plans for a large, new $15 million exhibit" and the San Diego Zoo just got a grant from the state of California for an "elephant exhibit scheduled to open in 2009", according to the January 2008 issue of "FunWorld" magazine.

Double Indemnity

The cotton-top tamarin is the only other species, besides us, which spontaneously develops colon cancer. On top of direct losses to cancer, an estimated 30,000 cotton-top tamarins have been imported to the United States (from tropical forests of northwest Columbia, South America) by research laboratories working on cures for human colon cancer.

The Oakland Zoo cares for three male and three female cotton-top tamarins, part of a group of zoos and other institutions participating in Project Tamarin which aims to conserve natural resources in the Columbia habitat of the remaining 2,500 or so cotton-tops.

Polar Bear Calls on Canadians

Polar Bear Central blogger Steve Bralovich writes "A Polar Bear Speaks" from the bear's perspective to call on Canadians to petition to save the Arctic bears.

"...recently I've had a hard time finding the ice packs I depend on..."

"...my swims are longer and I'm not as heavy as I once was because of it."

"...we need large bodies with lots of fat."

Unnatural Selection

Experts at Oxford suggest that poachers, by killing the elephants with the larger tusks, have, in 150 years, "accomplished" the kind of change in species that natural selection might "handle" over many thousands of years.

Berried Cedar Waxwing

Berried Cedar Waxwing
Originally uploaded by Fort Photo

"My wildest dreams have come true and waxwings have shown up at the neighbor's mountain ash tree across the street and are feasting on the alcoholic berries. This one was one of the best from my attempt today, I hope they stick around so I can get some more opportunities later."

Photo, title and quote by Fort Photo, uploaded Feb. '07.

World's Weirdest Amphibians

Or "Amphibians on 'The Edge'".

The Zoological Society of London offers four minutes on the most endangered species of the most endangered class of species - the amphibians. A good mini-education on the "amphibian crisis". And the early (1:09-1:20) pictures of the world's largest salamander are, alone, worth much more than the time investment:

'ol fuzzy ears

'ol fuzzy ears
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Thanks ucumari for the Philadelphia Zoo sloth bear, the title and all your wonderful zoo photography.

Waza Safari

The Brisbane Times has an article advising Australians regarding a unique African photo safari to Cameroon, where NC Zoo lead vet Dr. Mike Loomis is again.

Waza National Park there is the focus of the story and always on Dr. Mike's itinerary when in the country (usually a couple times a year) to track, study and aid African elephants and the people in their migratory paths.

On this trip, Dr. Mike will see if he can arrange a future NC Zoo Society-offered travel opportunity to Cameroon and Waza.

Together

Together
Originally uploaded by tomhide

Another strong, Taronga Zoo photo by tomhide. His title.

Polar push ups!

Polar push ups!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Ucumari's December 1, Philadelphia Zoo photo, with her title.

Polar Bears "Vacation" in Buffalo, NY

When the Como Zoo needed to send its Polar bears off this January, as reconstruction begins on the bears' habitat, the zoo in Buffalo was chosen as their destination.

Mammals: 3rd-place

Mammals-3rd-place
Originally uploaded by russlings

As you check out the "2007 Photo Competition Winners" at the NC Wildlife website, you'll find Dustin Maynard's NC Zoo bobcat. Dustin came to the Zoo from Thomasville, NC.

Grand Prize Winner

GrandPrizeWinner
Originally uploaded by russlings

Ed Ziegler, Raleigh, won the grand prize in the "Wildlife in North Carolina" magazine's 2007 photo contest with this school of white mullet in a wave at Emerald Island, NC.

Over 30 winners are displayed at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, through 3/31. Also find a gallery of winners at www.ncwildlife.org.

Couple Quotes

(From this morning's "News & Record", Greensboro, NC:)

"I got to wear a lizard on my shoulder and walk around with a sea lion on a beach...It was so much fun. I love working with animals..." (Abigail Breslin, Oscar nominee for her role as "Little Miss Sunshine", on filming "Nim's Island" in Australia.) Note: she also worked with Jodie Foster on the film, but seems more impressed with working with a sea lion and a lizard.

"The idea that excites me is not opposition to growth, but smart growth, green growth, a sense that Greensboro and Guilford can and should be the most livable metropolitan areas in the state." (Edward Cone on the grassroots victory to add 700 acres to the Haw River State Park over a development company's plan to create a gated golf community.) Note: "livability" seems to be defined here as accessibility to places of wildlife (animal and plant) over limited accessibility to places of sand traps, water hazards, McMansions, as well as Bermuda and bent grasses.

"Balance Gone Bad"

A blog I read recently was by someone well versed on the "amphibian crisis". He had been talking with an acquaintance who was working on "global warming".

When the "global warming" person understood that the other person was concerned about an "amphibian crisis", the reaction was something like" "Frogs?! We're dealing with the fate of the planet here (with "global warming").

Seems to me that the loss of a whole class of animals might be the way "global warming" aims to do us all in, rather than by "simply" drowning those of us living near sea level. ("Global warming" is thought to be a major contributing factor to amphibians' current disease outbreak.)

An interesting, recent study removed one animal, the African elephant, from an acacia savanna habitat. After a relatively short time (they started this study in 1995) the acacia trees reduced their normal provisions of "food and housing" for the ants with which they had teamed up to discourage elephants from eating those trees. The ants moved on. Other insects ate the trees and the acacias fared poorer for the removal of their chief "predator".

If the balance of nature is so easily disturbed in this case of the removal of one (although very large) participant, what can we expect if an entire class of animals is removed? If frogs are no longer eating insects, won't the insects eat more of what they eat? And what will that do to us, if we also had planned on eating it?

$10M Challenge

After turning over $10M to the North Carolina Zoo in 2006-2007, the majority for expanded facilities to exhibit more African elephants and southern white rhinos, the Board of the North Carolina Zoo Society yesterday committed $4M more to the NC Zoo, contingent on the State providing $6M, to improve the Zoo's polar bear facilities, plan for major improvements to its African Pavilion exhibits and create a long-planned children's nature zoo.

The Randolph Friends of the Zoo Watani Grasslands, with larger rhino and elephant herds opens this spring.

Goffin's Cockatoo at 1 month old

Goffin Cockatoo at 1 month old
Originally uploaded by nybird

Nybird's title tells all about this 2005 photo. (Wikipedia on Goffin's cockatoo, with photo of an adult.)

Can You See It?

ZOO ORIGINAL
Originally uploaded by russlings

Another Buenos Aires Zoo ad.

"Out there is more than you can see...can you see it?"

Sylvan Heights "Pintail Carries Artist to Victory"

"News & Observer" on the Raleigh artist who won the Nevada Duck Stamp competition inspired by a pintail from Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, Scotland Neck, NC.

The artist spent 17 hours painting the pintail. Many more hours were spent researching and photographing.

Mother and Child

Mother and Child
Originally uploaded by tomhide

Tomhide three. Taronga Zoo. Thank you, tomhide.

Tomhide Too

Eyes on you
Originally uploaded by tomhide

Another strong animal portrait by tomhide. Taronga Zoo.

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| | | | 2 | | | |
Originally uploaded by tomhide

Unique title and strong photo by tomhide. Taronga Zoo.

More Rosing Polar Bear Photos

Here are more photos of Polar bears (and commentary) by Norbert Rosing.

Polar Bear & "Husky" at Play

Here is the video from the talk ("Animals at Play" by Stuart Brown), featuring the still photos of Norbert Rosing of a lengthy bout of play between a Polar bear "in nature" and a "husky" (domestic sled dog). There can be no doubt that this was a form of play:


Animals at Play from Speaking of Faith on Vimeo.

A Collaring and a Stern Lecture

Read Mike Loomis' Field Trip Earth report of today's collaring.

He also gave a 10-year-old fish poacher a stern lecture about the impacts of fishing with poison.

Follow Kadin's progress soon, on Field Trip Earth.

Tragic

See the San Francisco Zoo tiger tragedy has become a staple of sensational, "O.J. Simpson/Britney Spears" TV channels.

Should have seen that coming. (Big topic of conversation as I meet folks now, "off Zoo".)

Textbook Elephant Collaring

This just in from Cameroon, about North Carolina Zoo lead veterinarian Mike Loomis' efforts to "collar" African elephants for vital research and to protect them from people and vice versa!:

"his team collared its first elephant for the season in waza national park...it was a >30 year-old female in what appears to be the resident herd...female had three calves, including one nursing...darting, collaring and reversing all went without a hitch--mike called it a "textbook" collaring, writes Mark MacAllister of the NC Zoo Society and Field Trip Earth.

"animal is named "Kadin" after his grandson, who had his second birthday a couple of days ago," Mark adds.

"mike's headed to Kalamaloue today, then down to Garoua and Yaounde for a couple days to reset equipment...then to mount cameroon", Mark concludes.

Say Whaaaat?

Say Whaaaat?
Originally uploaded by ucumari

North Carolina Zoo photo, title and quote by ucumari:

"I don't usually go by the chimps but I went down to see if a Flickr friend, Beachbum1616, was there (He has the most incredible chimp photos!). There was no one there so I decided to stay and watch. They are such incredibly fascinating animals! It was like watching a daycare. One of them was running around trying to start something with anybody that would play. He would sneak up and pull a leg and take off! I counted 10 in the exhibit and some were off doing their own thing. This guy was laying on his back, right in front of me and I couldn't resist laying down and taking some shots. As I lay there almost face to face, he started "talking" to me. I don't know if he was mad or not I just know it was a great experience!"

Wild Life?

Television can leave one with the impression that the life of a wildlife field scientist is quite exciting. That, in the field, at least, it is one interesting wildlife experience after another.

Read Dr. Mike Loomis' report of his first six days in Cameroon to "collar" African elephants. The NC Zoo lead vet spent much time packing, unpacking, fueling, traveling and, now, waiting for auto repairs. When actually tracking elephants, there have been none to see or collar so far.

He did come across a run-in between fish poachers and game guards. (More exciting than paperwork, which he reports doing today, as he waits for a replacement, Land Rover tie-rod end.)

Everything's Relative

Fluffy, the Columbus Zoo reticulated python is 24-feet long and as thick as a telephone pole. Fluffy is said to be the largest snake in captivity.

Fluffy would better be named Tiny when compared to the almost-33-footer on the record books!

Securing Amphibians

Sir David Attenborough on the amphibian crisis, BBC radio, Jan. 3:

“Frogs have been dying out … for a long time… some of it’s to do with pesticide pollution, some of it’s to do with loss of habitat… but there has been a mysterious disease which we have now identified… And at the moment there is no cure, and the disease is steadily spreading its way around the world.”

“There are some 5,000 species of frogs around the world… crucial … in the ecology of any region… If there are no frogs eating the larvae, there could be a great increase in the number of mosquitoes around. Equally, there are reptiles and mammals – and birds, particularly – which live on frogs. If they don’t find food from the frogs, they too will become endangered. So once you lose a major element in an ecological system, the echoes, the consequences, are widespread and very, very difficult to predict.”

“… the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, … those responsible societies and organizations which are concerned about conservation, it’s… relatively easy for them to set up bio secure breeding areas. For example, you can get a normal container that ships use to transport goods, and you can convert that into a biologically secure environment in which you can take a population of frogs and preserve it and keep it biologically secure until we have sorted out how we can deal with this disease, and then we may be able to release them in the wild.”

NOTE: The North Carolina Zoo is seeking to build something larger, to deal with several different endangered, amphibian species at one time. The NC Zoo Society is seeking to raise up to $500,000 to help make this happen.

Speaking of the NC Zoo Red Wolf

Originally uploaded by reedb006

Look at reedb006's sharp, recent photo of a rare red wolf. NC Zoo, 12/31/07.

Rare Wolves

Rare maned wolves will soon be exhibited at the Natural Science Center, Greensboro.

The NC Zoo exhibits rare red wolves and has additional, off-exhibit red wolves on site, participants in a breeding program aimed at making them a little less rare.

The maned wolf exhibit benefactor and designer worked together to make that exhibit "as environmentally responsible as possible" because the benefactor "realized that animals like these are becoming extinct because of humans and their consumer choices", wrote Tina Firesheets for the Greensboro News & Record today.

Rod's Record of Truth

In the wake of the fatal tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo and the resultant media attention, Rick Amme has again written a "Viewpoint" for The Business Journal (Greensboro, NC) on the NC Zoo's, and specifically "long-time zoo public relations manager Rod Hackney"'s, 20-year record of "tell it all and tell it now, good and bad".

While the new story was not available to a Google search, this Amme/Business Journal "Viewpoint" of several years ago makes the main points.

Survey Amphibians

Want to get out there and help the amphibian crisis?

You can survey NC amphibians by monitoring their calls.

Changes in amphibian populations will, thereby, be monitored. "Understanding these trends will provide us a better understanding of the status and health of our frog and toad populations, and will enable us to protect critical habitats for our frog and toad species."

Jeff Hall, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and John Groves, NC Zoo herpetologist, will conduct a CASP (Calling Amphibians Survey Project) workshop at the NC Zoo, February 26, 4p.m. to 9p.m. To register contact jeff.g.hall@earthlink.net.

New Approach?

The Nuremberg Zoo has removed a Polar bear cub from its mother shortly after another mother appears to have eaten its cubs there.

Time/CNN reports on the zoo's quandary.

Elephants of Cameroon (continued)

Dr. Mike Loomis is on his way back to Cameroon to continue his efforts to learn about the migration of African elephants in that African country and to find ways to keep them and humans separate and safe, one from the other.

Check out the NC Zoo Society's "Field Trip Earth" website to find out where the three currently-collared elephants have been located by satellite...and much more.

Bamboo

bamboo
Originally uploaded by Captain Flexible

Captain Flexible strikes again.

Duke Gardens. Sunset. Yesterday.

Love the colors.

"Life in Cold Blood"

A David Attenborough program on amphibians and the amphibian crisis will begin on the BBC near month's end. He claims to have video of the last Panamanian golden frogs in the wild "waving goodbye".

The North Carolina Zoo has Panamanian golden frogs and rare poison dart frogs in a new exhibit to tell the same stories about the amphibian crisis.

S.F. Zoo Adds Height to Bear Exhibit

The San Francisco Zoo, site of the tragic Christmas Day tiger escape, has added some height to its Polar bear exhibit.

Zoo Plans to Allow Cubs to Starve

Nuremberg Zoo plans to let Polar bear cubs starve if their mother continues to provide poorly for their needs.

The article quotes the zoo's director as arguing that this is being done because, in nature, when things go wrong, that is that.

The zoo is not "nature", however. The Polar bear which gave birth and is not feeding her young as regularly as may be needed may not be doing so because she was not raised in "nature". I do not know any more than I read at the link. There may be more to the story. What do you think? ("Critter News" doesn't think much of it.)

(Note: some many years ago, the North Carolina Zoo had human volunteers on ready to provide 24-hour care to a baby lowland gorilla (he was named Kwanza after his birth) on the chance that his mother, Hope, would not care for him; in the end, she did...very well.)

More Elephant Talents

A new study believes an African elephant can keep track of the location of over a dozen kin at once, making use of the talents of a very discriminating sense of smell, which can tell the other elephants apart by their urine, as well as its "famous memory".

Other impressive elephant talents include the manipulation of a trunk containing tens of thousands of muscles (we have about 90 in our human tongues, our "most muscled tool") and the ability to thermo-regulate by either sending vast quantities of blood to its ears and other "external" blood vessels or not.

Recycling Close-up

recycling close-up_0294
Originally uploaded by russlings

Close-up version of photo below. (A. Lynch)

Recycling in Rural Costa Rica

C.R. Recycling_0293
Originally uploaded by russlings

Ann Lynch photo, December, 2007.

Art Monkeys

C.R. art monkeys_0129
Originally uploaded by russlings

More Costa Rican art inspired by its wildlife.

(Ann Lynch photo)

Wildlife Art

Wildlife art C.R._0126
Originally uploaded by russlings

Native wildlife inspires much of the art and craft of Costa Rica.

Ann (Lynch) took this on our recent trip to the Central American country which has so much wildlife diversity.

Drought Engineers

Ran my hour today by driving to Greensboro's Osprey Trail head at Church Street where it crosses Lake Townsend...only there is no lake under the Church Street Bridge at present. That finger of the Lake is dried up.

So I was momentarily surprised to find one of the boardwalks along the trail almost covered with water. It often does no more than keep you out of some muddy places below. So I knew to look for signs of the engineers of this.

I did not see the beavers' dam, as I continued along the trail, but I did see plenty of the beaver-gnawed tree stumps.

AZA Exec on SF Tiger Incident

From a "list-serve" e-mailing from Jim Maddy, executive director, Association of Zoo's and Aquariums (AZA), regarding the tragic San Francisco Zoo tiger escape:

"The day after the accident, Chair of the Board Satch Krantz [who is Director of Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia, SC] spoke with The Today Show, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times and NBC Nightly News. Mary Healy [Director of the Sacramento Zoo, who first notified AZA of the San Francisco Zoo escape] also spoke with a number of reporters on behalf of AZA including one from The Washington Post."

Farther down the e-mail: "On Monday, 31 December, the San Francisco Zoo asked to meet with AZA senior leaders in San Francisco. Those leaders were prepared to visit the Zoo on 8 January which date was not available to the local zoo officials. Instead, AZA's independent Accreditation Commission has put together a team that will be conducting a full review and inspection of the Zoo's big cat management program and exhibit in the very near future."

Indian Rope Trick

I've written here about the use NC Zoo lead vet Dr. Mike Loomis and his Cameroonian partner Dr. Martin Tchamba make of chili pepper and pepper spray to direct African elephants away from the crops of people in Cameroon. This article details how Indian elephants are directed away from crops by tying rope "laced with chili powder and tobacco" around agricultural fields.

Polar Bears vs. Oil Drills?

A New York Times copyrighted editorial of yesterday calls on the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to opt "to protect the environment and the polar bear".

"As early as this week , the Fish and Wildlife Service [one Interior Department agency] could list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the result of severe habitat loss caused by global warming and the melting of Arctic sea ice. About the same time, the Minerals Management Service [another Interior department agency] will announce its final decision to sell oil leases covering nearly 30 million acres of polar bear habitat in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska’s northwest coast."

"The polar bears’ plight raises larger issues, including the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels, which produce the greenhouse gases that are destroying the bears’ habitat. It also calls into question the Bush administration’s unsustainable strategy of trying to drill its way to energy independence."

taking their morning vitamins!

taking their morning vitamins!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Title and very special photo of NC Zoo zebras by ucumari.

TV Host to TV Host

Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin explains the amphibian crisis to Ellen DeGeneres holding an extinct-in-the-wild Panamanian golden frog. You'll also find them at the North Carolina Zoo's Forest Aviary.

GEICO Gecko Exhibit

GEICO is sponsoring a gecko exhibit at the San Diego Zoo.

The exhibit is created by the same team (Clyde Peeling's Reptiland) which created the exhibit for poison dart and other colorful frogs at the entrance to the Forest Aviary at the North Carolina Zoo.

On the second of January, remember that this is the Year of the Frog to those concerned about the amphibian crisis. (Yes, it is also the Year of the Rat on the Chinese calendar.) Big things are planned for Leap Day - February 29, 2008.

Squirrel Monkey Out Back

squirrel monkey c.r._0503_2
Originally uploaded by russlings

And Ann captured this squirrel monkey above our back deck at Lapa Rios.

Lapa Rios Capuchin

Capuchin C.R._0218_2
Originally uploaded by russlings

Ann took this of a capuchin monkey when we stayed at Lapa Rios, near Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica. It had opened and drunk from a coconut just prior.

Along the Trail

A long C.R. Trail_0189_2
Originally uploaded by russlings

As we walked the trail below, it occasionally offered a view like this. (Ann Lynch, Costa Rica)

This IS the Trail

C.R. Trail_0185_2
Originally uploaded by russlings

Ann and I hiked along this stream in the rain forest near Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica, in early December, with a guide and one other guest at Lapa Rios. (A. Lynch)

High rubber boots and walking poles were provided.

We walked this stream at night with the same guide the evening before. Saw one of those red eyed little green frogs and lots of leaf-cutter ants doing their amazing (little marching armies) thing.

Santa & "Reindeer"

C.R. Santa_0758
Originally uploaded by russlings

Costa Rican Christmas float. (A. Lynch, 12/07, Monteverde)

Costa Rican Vegetation II

C.R. Vegetation II_0307
Originally uploaded by russlings

Also taken by Ann Lynch in early December.