The Couple Who Sketch Together...

A blog posting of zoo sketchings from one couple's day at the zoo.

No Foolin'

Tomorrow, April 1, the North Carolina Zoo will begin summer operating hours of 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily; those hours will remain in effect through Oct. 31.

The NC Zoo is open every day, year-round, except Christmas Day.

Brothers Sue S.F. Zoo

The two survivors of the tiger attack at San Francisco Zoo Christmas Day have made claims.

My jog today, mainly in Guilford Courthouse and Country Parks in Greensboro also took me along the Lawndale Drive sidewalk. Through the trees, one of the Natural Science Center of Greensboro's tigers, inside its habitat, watched me running and "stalked" me. (Couldn't help but think about the Christmas "escape".)

The Natural Science Center and NC Zoo Society offer the other's members 50 percent reciprocity.

Earth Hour at Google

blackgoogleearthhour
Originally uploaded by russlings

Here's how Google celebrated Earth Hour.

My Earth Hour

I read under the dim light of a hand crank flash light. Was that cheating?

Sydney's Already Done It

The Australian city has already gone dark for Earth Hour.

How soon will it be 8 p.m. where you live?

Hat tip - Brian Reed again.

Odd Frog

The Mississippi gopher frog digs into other creatures' burrows and covers its large eyes with its front feet when it is threatened.

Memphis Zoo is having good success at breeding the rarities in this Year of the Frog.

Tip of hat - Brian Reed.

They Came!

Well more than a thousand NC Zoo Society members came to Wake Up with the Animals this morning as the temperatures turned steadily colder.

Busy greeting at the African bridge, I did not get up to see any elephant training at the new Watani Grasslands (elephant/rhino) exhibits, but word came back from some members sent home early by the cold that the elephants and rhinos were putting on a breeding demonstration of their own...a promising sign for the future of Watani Grasslands and the Species Survival Plans for African elephants and southern white rhinos. (With gestation periods approaching two years, don't expect baby pachyderms just yet!)

Member Preview

Many members of the NC Zoo Society are expected for early arrival tomorrow morning.

Besides the regular early entry (8a.m.), McDonald's breakfast, etc., a preview of Watani Grasslands will be featured. The new elephant/rhino/visitor areas open formally next Friday.

Weather permitting, an elephant training will be offered "card-carrying" Zoo Society members in the new "tracking station". Hope I get a chance to see that. I've enjoyed the few I've seen, but I've never seen one while standing next to a helicopter!

Dr. Martin Tchamba Returns

When Dr. Martin Tchamba, head of the World Wide Fund for Nature's elephant conservation programs in Cameroon, comes to my office Monday it will be the first time in many years that I will have had that pleasure.

Martin, and NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis, have been working together to conserve African elephants in Cameroon for a decade now. I first met him before that decade began, when he and Mike explained the planned program to me.

Because that program was new to me and I had not yet got a good grasp of Martin's English pronunciation (probably a third language to him), I misunderstood, for some time, how Martin and his team had been keeping elephants out of small, Cameroonian farms, where the pachyderms can, of course, do great damage in short order. Elephants are easily bothered by hot peppers and they were being driven off by little "bombs" which release the irritant.

I heard "paper bombs", however, and believed for some time that Martin was using firecrackers to frighten away the migrating elephants!

I am so glad Martin can come to the opening of our expanded elephant and rhino exhibits, April 4. (Especially because Martin was nearly killed by an elephant some years back, but also because it will give him time with his son Patrick, who is a student at North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro.)

Baghdad Zoo Update

The US Embassy in Baghdad offers an update, with photos, on the Baghdad Zoo. Mainly a big improvement since the occupation. (Efforts are being made there to change the cultural tendency toward teasing primates.)

The NC Zoo and its veterinary residency with NC State University School of Veterinary Medicine offers video conferencing training opportunities to veterinarians in Baghdad. Baghdad Zoo vets can even "text" the NC Zoo or the School of Veterinary Medicine to secure added advice, off the conferencing schedule.

NC Zoo & The Wilds Partner

An exchange of veterinary residents between the NC Zoo and The Wilds will give those specialized students expanded learning opportunities, because of the variety offered within the larger animal collection created through combination, according to NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis yesterday.

Dr. Barbara Wolfe, who once worked with Dr. Loomis at the NC Zoo, is Director, Wildlife and Conservation Medicine, The Wilds. Dr. Wolfe and Dr. Loomis are two of only 90 veterinarians worldwide named diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Dr. Wolfe is associate editor for the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and member of the Wildlife Scientific Advisory Board of the Morris Animal Foundation, providing support for wildlife research worldwide.

In addition to her D.V.M., Dr. Wolfe holds a Ph.D. in reproductive physiology, which has led her to research and conservation projects throughout North America, Thailand, Laos and Costa Rica.

For the Birds

If you don't do it for conservation of energy and the reduction of light pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, then turn your lights off for Earth Hour, Saturday, to aid migratory birds, the American Bird Conservancy's Collisions Campaign asks.

"Many North American cities such as Chicago, Toronto, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Detroit have initiated ongoing Lights-Out programs to reduce greenhouse emissions."

Tip of the hat to Ken Reininger, NC Zoo curator of birds.

More on Desire Dontego

In staff meeting today NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis reported that it was the darted African elephant that turned on team member Desire Dontego in Cameroon earlier this month and seriously wounded him. (In the confusion, it had been thought that perhaps another elephant had attacked.)

Mike shared that in order to better protect darted elephants and to get medical attention to them shortly after darting, Desire was their lead team member for closely following the elephant from the moment of darting. Desire ran after the elephant in question, which heard him following, turned on him, chased and attacked him.

Look for Batir & Tonga

As the NC Zoo introduces its four newer African elephants to its three "long-timers" and to the new, Watani Grasslands exhibit, and if you are at the Zoo Saturday as an NC Zoo Society member arriving early for "Wake Up with the Animals" (or later) look for two newcomers in the new "habitat". They are known as Tonga and Batir.

Habor Seals...No Check

The harbor seals expected from New Brunswick Aquarium are still snowed in.

Eventually!

4 New Alligators...Check

NC Zoo herpetologist John Groves brought those four new alligators for the Cypress Swamp exhibit here from St. Augustine, FL, as Tort also arrived.

We now have, I believe, a total of eight alligators.

Tort's Re-Return...Check

Tort (one of the first two NC Zoo animals, with other Galapagos tortoise, Retort) has re-returned and is in quarantine. (The Aldabra tortoise pair, which will join him in KidZone this season, had already arrived earlier.)

In the Nik of Time...NOT

He was delayed by weather. And his name is "Nik", not "Nick".

But the NC Zoo received a new male, lowland gorilla from the Columbus Zoo yesterday.

"His house name is Nkosi (“Nik”). He was born at the Columbus Zoo on 26 September 1991. This is an SSP [Species Survival Plan] recommended transfer." Terry D. Webb, Curator of Mammals.

"Nik will be in quarantine at the vet center for 60 days. He should transfer to forest glade [exhibit] in late May.

"The staff will have a plan to get him introduced to our females at that time. It will take some time to get him integrated and we look forward to seeing him on the exhibit this summer."

NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis reports Nik to be a "nice looking...calm" animal.

Groucho!

Groucho!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Columbus Zoo pronghorn.

flickr photo of March 11 by ucumari, who titled it with help from libbylou1300.

Odd Couple?

As they discuss possible names for that baby elephant born at Maryland Zoo last week, readers of the Baltimore Sun seem to be reaching some consensus around Oscar.

I didn't understand why at first and then realized that Oscar and mother, Lil' Felix (often just Felix) would make an odd "Odd Couple".

Shed Fear of Snakes

Fort Jackson called on Riverbanks Zoo (Columbia, SC) herpetologist Scott Pfaff to help alleviate the fear of snakes some safety troop members suffer as they travel ahead of their units.

"“All snakes have a reputation of being much more aggressive than they really are,” Pfaff said."

Tip of the hat to Hackey Pitts.

Go Figure

My picture-perfect Easter egg hunt is on a grassy lawn on a warm, sunny morning.

My Google search for news items on Easter egg hunts at Zoos yesterday got four results (brrr!):
Green Bay, Wisconsin's New Zoo's EggStravaganZoo, with a photo of one young lady holding her Easter basket in snow up to her knees; Erie (NY) Zoo, where there "was no danger of chocolate bunnies melting" all day; Roosevelt Park Zoo, Bismark, ND, where hundreds of children showed up, "despite the cold and snow"; and Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, NY, with a photo of an egg hunter hidden behind his or her heavy hooded jacket.

Big Reptile Facility

Fort Worth Zoo plans $18M herpetarium.

Happy Spring...

easter
Originally uploaded by russlings

...from Cincinnati Zoo and moi.

Amazing Angolan Elephants

Herds of African elephants are returning to Angola (from Namibia and Botswana) and are successfully avoiding the many land mines left from the civil war.

""It's quite a mystery," said Curtice R. Griffin, the UMass professor of wildlife ecology leading the research. He estimates that hundreds of elephants have crossed through the mine fields without incident."

That Baby Elephant Should Help

The Maryland Zoo's financial woes should be aided by the birth, last night of the baby elephant pictured at this link.

He is 290 lbs., 42" tall and successfully taking nourishment!

"Can You Bear It?"

Norway town has more polar bears than people.

"The bears have been totally protected since 1973, and cannot even be tracked for sightseeing." Still, the tourists have discovered this place, so near the North Pole.

Tiny SF Zoo Tigers

SF Zoo Tiger Cub 3
Originally uploaded by russlings

Speaking of San Francisco Zoo tigers, the Zoo very recently released photos of its Sumatran triplets.

Baghdad Zoo Rebounds

And the Pet Blog gives some credit to the NC Zoo Society.

Lots of good folks sent money through the Society to Baghdad Zoo. Many of those had given through us earlier for Kabul Zoo.

Mixed Review

The New York Times reports on the AZA's (Association of Zoos and Aquariums') critique of the San Francisco Zoo's response to the tragic Christmas Day tiger escape and mauling.

Zoo's Delinquent Water Bill

It was called the Baltimore Zoo. More recently it is the Maryland Zoo.

Whatever you call it, the Zoo's financial problems continue to grow, it seems. It owes $500,000 in late water fees.

Like Mike

Scientists in Botswana and Tanzania put satellite collars on African elephants to study their movements, as NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis does in Cameroon.

"People have been killed when they try to chase elephants away [from their crops] or encounter them unexpectedly at night."

What's the Plan?

Brian asked regarding the NC Zoo and its aging population. Here is a TV news item that ran on the topic some time back:

Join the Club

"...in addition to suffering from increasingly difficult humanlike geriatric problems--allergies, osteoperosis, arthritis, glaucoma--zoo animals are also fighting obesity because their natural diet often can't be replicated."

Better medical care is making them live longer. Geriatric problems are on the rise. Staying lean and mean is a constant challenge.

Are we talking about zoo animals? Humans? Or is it all about me?

The NC Zoo has an aging population of animals. Diet (and the use of food as "enrichment") is a challenge here.

I try to stay away from the fatty foods. I regularly visit a local Doc for one of those "old man" ailments.

Submit Already!

19-01-08_Wolves1
Originally uploaded by Will Pridham

Searched for another gray wolf submission photo. Found Will Pridham's January upload from Haliburton (Ontario) Wolf Centre.

Submission

Submission
Originally uploaded by ucumari

With ucumari's help, we know who is *not* the "alpha".

Wolf Park, March 10.

May I Introduce, Jonathan?

The large chimp group at the NC Zoo numbers over a dozen, but you will not find quite that many at any one time on the exhibit. I asked lead chimp keeper Jennifer Ireland to explain:

"We are currently managing 2 chimp groups and will likely do so for the next several years. The reason we are having to do this is Kendall. Kendall, a 9 year old male, was an entertainment chimp who came to us last spring. He was raised by humans and had very little contact with chimps growing up so lacks the chimp knowledge and social skills he needs to be successful in our group.

"We've worked really hard to integrate Kendall with other chimps. Currently he is with Jonathan and two females (Tammy and Maki). While its important for Kendall to be with Jonathan so that he can build a relationship with and hopefully gain an ally in Jonathan, this is not the best situation for Jonathan.

""At 11 years old, Jonathan needs access to adult males and females so he can establish himself in the social hierarchy and continue to hone his political skills. So, in order to try to do what's best for all chimps, we will take Jonathan from Kendall's group and put him in with Hondo (alpha male), Lance and Sokoto (two 8 year old males) and whatever female that chooses to separate herself for the day. We usually do this once a week and leave him in the new group for 1 or 2 days.

"We also try and do this with Maki but we put her in the whole group so she has access to all the females.

"Jonathan is at an age and of a soft temperament that just "throwing him in" with the large group, mostly made up of females, could be dangerous as the females would be trying to prevent him from climbing the social ladder.

"Its been challenging to be able to do what's best for each individual chimp as those are often competing factors. This fusion/fission style of group management was our solution and actually is how chimps function socially in the wild.

"We are currently trying to decide how best to proceed with Kendall's integration to the chimp group. It is a difficult situation as Kendall does not act appropriately in certain situations and we are unsure how much normal chimp aggression/tension he can handle. Whether or not he'll be able to integrate into the whole group is yet to be seen. He's at a difficult age to be introducing to others and he lacks the confidence and skills he needs to prevent him from becoming a punching bag."

There was a time that, if I thought about it at all, I would have thought that all it took to create a chimpanzee exhibit is to acquire some chimps and put them together.

reflection

reflection
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Reflection upon reflection.

Ucumari's gray wolf, Wolf Park photo series is stunning!

to the heavens...

to the heavens...
Originally uploaded by ucumari

I deleted this post by accident.

Did not want to lose ucumari's wonderful capture of the intent looking and listening of the Wolf Park gray wolves.

Valerie took it March 10, titled it March 12.

Slightly Stirred

Within an especially welcome spring chorus, in this Year of the Frog, the mallard couple slightly stirred the still, purifying wetland waters.
(A moment on my Osprey Trail, Greensboro, NC, jog, today.)

Harmful Ads?

You've seen them on TV through the years. Ads in which the "funny" chimpanzee dresses and acts like a human.

The most recent issue of "Science" includes a study which suggests that those ads make people think that chimps are not endangered in the wild.

Gorillas, orangutans and chimpanzees are all endangered, but the study suggests that seeing so many chimps in ads has us believing that the chimps must be more plentiful.

Tip of the hat to NC Zoo's Elizabeth "Beth" Garrison.

Duke primatologist Brian Hare, who was at the NC Zoo Tuesday with Alan Alda, is a co-author of the study.

Gator Lungs

Research now helps me understand how alligators at the NC Zoo (and elsewhere) maneuver.

Tip of the hat to Brian Reed.

Night School (revisited)

More on the Baghdad Zoo, NC Zoo, NC State University School of Veterinary Medicine and NC Zoo Society training partnership.

Zoo Tots Lamp Shade

zoototslampshade
Originally uploaded by russlings

Like zoos? Need a gift for a favorite tot? Consider this.

I'm beautiful , no matter what they say

I'm beautiful , no matter what they say
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

House sparrow photo (Oct. '05) and title from belgianchocolate's "I love animals!" flickr set.

Deep snow!

Deep snow!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Amur tiger, quite comfortable in the Columbus Zoo snow. Taken March 9.

Ucumari, photo and title.

Pachyderms Project

With the Grand Opening of Watani Grasslands, featuring larger exhibits for African elephants and southern white rhinos, set for April 4 at the NC Zoo, the now nine rhinos are set. They have been introduced to each other and their new, 30-acre habitat and have been sharing time on it regularly.

The seven elephants are much more of a challenge to animal keepers and curators. Our original three are spending time in both segments of the larger, seven-acre space. Today they first had access to their large, new, scratching "tree". The male, C'Sar, made right for it, I'm told.

But the introduction of all seven to each other and to the exhibit may not be complete, and all may well not be in place, April 4.

Animal introductions, especially for the intelligent, socially-complex species, can take quite some time.

Fortunately the elephants have their big new "barn", with its many indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as their much larger, sectioned exhibit. All will work out with time.

Prius Finally Needs New Parts

The NC Zoo Society company car, an environmentally-friendly Toyota Prius, has traveled 138,000 miles since the latter half of 2003.

It finally (today) wants more in the way of replacement parts than oil filters and tires. A "trooper", it still requires little: a couple different air filters (it has not been garaged and has accumulated some dead leaves and wasps) and a simple drive belt.

Still getting over 50mpg.

M*A*S*H* Star Been...Gone

Yes, Alan Alda was here Tuesday.

Yes, I knew he was coming.

Yes, I haven't blogged about it until now. (He didn't need to be distracted by "M*A*S*H*" and "The West Wing" fans.)

He was doing important work on an upcoming PBS special "The Human Spark", a three-part documentary about what makes us human, due to air next year.

Alda, who also met with researchers at Duke University on Monday, started filming last week and said he will tape additional segments in France, England and South Africa, as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Duke primatologist Brian Hare suggested the NC Zoo as a shooting location, zoo spokesman Rod Hackney said.

As Alda explained, humans and chimps share 98 or 99 percent identical DNA. The documentary will examine the 1 or 2 percent difference.

"What really is it that makes us, us? How are we different from these chimps that we're going to see out here? Chimps are our closest cousins in the animal world... but that one percent makes a gigantic difference."

Big Stride for Small Zoo

"Greensboro's [NC] small, urban zoo took an elephant-sized step today. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited the Natural Science Center."

Ann & I visited last May, on Day 2 of operation.

Zoo Sketches

Zoo sketches by Sarah Morrissey. She doesn't say which zoo, but she lives in Richland, WA.

Sounds Like a Winner

The San Diego Zoo has teamed up with the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians and The Burpee Foundation to restore and revitalize the tribe’s traditional ecological knowledge of native plants and their uses.

Scientists from San Diego Zoo will partner with the experience and knowledge of tribal members to "educate and empower tribal youth about their cultural and environmental heritage."

Marine Goats

Grass carp will be introduced to the water moat at Cato Patas Monkey Island at the NC Zoo.

Zoo General Curator Steve Miller got unanimous agreement today for his plan to seek to acquire dozens of the fish, which are herbivores, which will keep the moat waters clean and grow to as much as 60 pounds, as they "eat almost anything".

As the State of North Carolina requires, these grass carp (or White Amur Carp) will be infertile ("triploids", due to an extra set of chromosomes).

Steve assures me that grass carp are nice creatures, which will follow you around the moat edge, once they take a liking to you, especially if you have purchased 25 cents worth of carp feed from one of a couple planned vending machines.

Hospital Food

A browse garden is being planted specifically for the patients of the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the NC Zoo.

Tip of the hat to NC Chapter AAZK.

Hanging Around the Aviary

Look for the blue crowned hanging parrots' nest in the NC Zoo's RJ Reynolds Forest Aviary. They are sitting on eggs.

The hooded pittas are also building a nest.

Tip of the hat to "The Midden" ("all the poop fit to print"), a publication of the NC Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers.

10 lb. Monkey Escapes Briefly

A Francois Langur monkey escaped its Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha, Neb.) exhibit for a few minutes yesterday. It soon wanted to return.

"A spokesperson for the zoo says the...monkey returned to his island on his own: "When they're not in their environment, they're not sure what to do." She says this kind of monkey by nature "is not vicious" and no zoo visitors were in danger at any time."

Wolf Framed by Wolf

"Leapin Lizard"!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

""Leapin Lizard"! One of the guides would say this and the wolf would leap up! It was the coolest! GREAT time, GREAT place!!" (ucumari re: gray wolves, at Wolf Park, Lafayette, Indiana. Taken yesterday.

Insult to Injury

Now Mike has been robbed in Cameroon! (A little money is being wired as I type.)

What a long, trying trip it's been.

Much More Detail on Desire

Daily field journal entries for March 2-11 are now on Field Trip Earth.

NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis offers detailed reports of Desire's run-in with an elephant and transport to hospital. (Photos of his injuries reveal how fortunate Desire was not to have been killed.)

Troubles with bees in camp escalated to the March 5 entry, which ended with another insect problem. "At midnight, I was awakened by what I thought was rain. I turned on my light and saw that my tent was covered with thousands of ants."

The March 6 entry tells of Desire chasing the darted elephant, then running back past Mike with an elephant in pursuit of him. Moments later: "As I approached him, he said "Mike, I'm going to die.""

"The night seemed to go on forever." That is how the March 6 entry ends. Desire was injured at 10:30 a.m. At 6:30 p.m., after hours of difficult hiking with Desire on a stretcher, they decide to walk all night using headlamps.

An hour later a storm makes them set up camp in a swamp in two inches of water. They had to wait, cold and wet, for day break due to the now very treacherous, wet trail.

There was still a long way to go to reach hospital.

Loving the snow!

Loving the snow!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

"Columbus got about 20" of snow! A lot of the animals were hiding, but this is one cool zoo!"

Photogenic, Columbus Zoo Alaskan brown bear taken yesterday by ucumari. Her title. Her quote.

Green, White & a Little Blue

Originally uploaded by reedb006

NC Zoo Bali Mynah uploaded Saturday by reed006.

Much More Than a Rustling

I understand that if you are close to a condor in flight you will not forget the sound. The large, powerful raptor makes a great deal of noise in passing...much, much more than a rustling of feathers.

The Oregon Zoo is sending four condors it has raised to be released into the wild of Arizona.

"California condor captive-breeding programs are also operated at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the Los Angeles Zoo and the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey." The latter, in Boise, Idaho, is where the Oregon birds were sent in preparation for the Arizona release.

More Detail on Desire

Here is more, from NC Zoo vet Dr. Mike Loomis on the injuries to Desire Dontego and recent developments in Cameroon.

More Trouble in Cameroon

Desire Dontego, a long-time, Cameroonian colleague of NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis, was injured during a collaring operation in the Mintom region. "He is in the hospital in Yaounde with fractured ribs and a hematoma on his back, but is expected to recover fully," reports Field Trip Earth coordinator Mark MacAllister, who continues:

"the short story is this:

"the team isolated a group of three females and one calf...mike fired a dart and hit one of the females...the team began to follow the darted elephant...according to mike, one of the "undarted" animals then turned on desire and struck him...desire, however, says it was the darted animal that hit him...mike's vision was obscured while this was going on, but he is convinced that an undarted animal reached desire

"once desire was down, the team began to attend to his injuries and to build a stretcher to transport him out of the forest...several other trackers, along with veterinarian michael kuwong, continued to pursue the darted elephant...they followed the animal for about 35 minutes but it never went down...it is not clear why the anesthetic did not immobilize the elephant, but that's a problem to solve another day

"the chase team rejoined mike after about 90 minutes and the group began to carry desire out of the forest...though they needed to travel only about 14KM as the crow flies, their route took them about 30KM through the forest...the trail was bad, and they had to cross several swamps and rivers...after sixteen hours, they emerged from the forest and met a vehicle at the trailhead...a very long trip through Lele and Mintom eventually brought them to Yaounde at 4:00AM the next day...the team went essentially two nights without sleep

"all is settled down now...mike has visited desire in the hospital several times...desire will be there for another 10 days or so but, as noted above, should recover fully...mike will be meeting with WWF [World Wide Fund for Nature] on several issues, including tracker safety, before leaving Yaounde on Friday, 14 march"

This has been a difficult visit to Cameroon for Mike, following early successes. (Link)

"Handsome Hamadryas"

"Handsome Hamadryas"
Originally uploaded by beachbum1616

"This male Hamadryas Baboon posed for his portrait earlier today while enjoying the warmth of the African Pavilion.

"Uploaded [taken, titled & written] by beachbum1616 on 9 Mar 08, 9.02PM EDT."

These primates do have a very special look about them!

Rarest of Ducks

Speaking of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl, here is something from Field Trip Earth on one of its longest running and top priority projects:

"Living deep in the shady rain forests in the Sumatra provinces of Indonesia is one of the rarest ducks in the world—the White-winged Duck (Cairina scutulata)."

"The White-winged Duck is a rather large bird with a dark brown, almost black, body and white patches on the wings which are most easily seen when the birds extend their wings for flight."

Sylvan Heights Co-Director Mike Lubbock has been working with the species for almost 40 years! The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) have both recognized the species for special emphasis and Lubbock for leadership in conservation breeding.

Otter Love...Not?

The river otters I saw wrestling on the shore of the Uwharrie River were probably not breeding. Adult river otters are one of the few species that engage in wrestling play.

Then again, river otter breeding is a spring activity. (I just don't know that I would recognize it if I saw it; can anyone help?)

Greenmon and I enjoyed a rather rapid "float" on the Uwharrie (NC) from Low Water Bridge to Route 109, near Badin Lake. The weather was sunny and comfortable. (We waited until noon, as the morning was very brisk.)

The Boys

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl
Originally uploaded by Toby07

Mandarin ducks at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl by Toby07.

I was at the Park Friday (Board meeting) and Saturday (members' morning event).

Check out the new Chilean flamingo exhibit.

Turn, Turn, Turn

A tiger cub has been born at the San Fransisco Zoo, scene of the Christmas tiger tragedy.

Scimitar- Horned Oryx

Scimitar- Horned Oryx
Originally uploaded by Ian Mc1

The National Zoo has sent a scimitar-horned oryx to Tunisia as part of a release to the wild of an animal that had ceased to exist in nature. Let's hope there are as many as bison soon!

Photo by Ian Mc1 was taken in Orana Wildlife Park, Christchurch, New Zealand.

NC Zoo 'Gators

alligator
Originally uploaded by ucumari

By ucumari.

Seals & Gorilla Still Delayed

It has been very cold with much snow on the ground in Oregon where the harbor seals are awaiting a trip to the NC Zoo. So they will wait a bit more.

Recent storms also continue to delay the transport of Nick the gorilla to the NC Zoo.

As far as the eye can see

As far as the eye can see
Originally uploaded by horstgeorg

Horstgeorg photo (and title) of sunflowers in Bulgaria.

Vet's Wife's Tale

"I had the best times of my life and some of the most anxious times of my life." (Glenda Loomis, wife of NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis upon her return from Cameroon.

Dr. Loomis has remained to continue his long research project. "The project, partnering the zoo and N.C. Zoo Society with the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Forests, is credited with drastically reducing the number of elephants and humans killed due to conflicts with farmers and villagers in the migration routes."

Caught these two necking!

Caught these two necking!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Taken yesterday at the NC Zoo (uploaded and titled today) by ucumari.

Thanks, Valerie!

The "Active Movement" Movement

Like the "No Child Left Inside" movement, New Zealand's "Active Movement" efforts are aimed at getting young people, and all people, moving around, preferably outdoors in nature. It too seems a cure for "NDD", nature-deficit disorder.

A New Zealand Zoo attempts to get the human primates active.

"No Child Left INSIDE"

"The NC Zoo and NC Zoo Society will be hosting the No Child Left Inside Conference Thursday, March 6th, which will be held in the MPR [multi-purpose room] of the Stedman Education Building. Approximately 50 attendees are expected," reports Karen Powell of the NC Zoo Society.

Attendees will be learning more about the movement to get our young people back outside, in nature, active, healthier and more in tune with wild places and wildlife.

"Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder", a popular book by Richard Louv, defines the movement.

SF Zoo Arrest for Animal Taunting

A man has been cited for allegedly tossing acorns at a rhino at the San Francisco Zoo where a tragic Christmas tiger attack killed one man.

Big Tooth Ache

Big cat root canals are almost becoming commonplace. (See photo of one at Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington, IL..)

Been done here (NC Zoo) too.

Panamanian Golden Frog

Panamanian Golden Frog
Originally uploaded by ucumari

NC Zoo photo by ucumari in the Year of the Frog.

So Much Better

A trip to the Baghdad Zoo in words and photos on the "Babylon & Beyond" blog. It is not the best, but so much better than it was when US troops first went in and the North Carolina Zoological Society became the vehicle for over $100,000 in donations which the NC Zoo Director David M. Jones directed to those on site to help with the desperate needs of that zoo.

"We had a great trip. I never imagined we would find a nice place to visit just 15 minutes from my house, and we've decided to go back there every once in a while. Although the zoo is not great compared with zoos in other parts of the world, it is much better than it was on my last visit 15 years ago."

TV Calls from Mike

NC Zoo veterinarian "Dr. Mike Loomis, who was caught in the recent civil unrest in Cameroon, W. Africa, will be calling in, via satellite-phone hook-ups, to both WFMY-TV [Channel 2] and [WGHP-TV] FOX-8...tomorrow (Tues.) during their [Piemont NC] morning news shows. He is scheduled to call FOX-8 at 7 a.m. and to call WFMY at 7:30 a.m.

"Mike’s family and friends, who were there visiting with him on his extended trip, safely left Cameroon on Saturday." [Tom Gillespie and Rod Hackney report for the NC Zoo; Rod will be in the Fox-8 studio tomorrow.]

Mike has returned to his long-running research project involving the migration of African elephants within Cameroon.

All's Well

From Cameroon (and the US) by way of Field Trip Earth's Mark MacAllister:

"(1) i talked to mike [NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis] this morning...he is in Lele [Cameroon] and about to enter the forest near Ngoila Ancien...the area has been scouted and there's been lots of recent elephant activity, so he's hoping to deploy a collar in there pretty quickly...he sounded happy to be back in the forest again, to say the least

"(2) i talked to glenda loomis...she and everyone else in her party is back in the US and settled in"

Break Through

Spear Fishing
Originally uploaded by copeg

"Testing out my new 400mm f5.6L lens. Caught this Great Egret fishing at Palo Alto Baylands this morning.
Nature Photography by Greg Cope" [copeg]

Morning Launch

Morning Launch
Originally uploaded by Fort Photo

Fort Photo can take "em!

"A portion of the wintering population of Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. I love the running crane with the bit of splash."

Title & quote also by Fort Photo.

POUNCE!

POUNCE!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Very recent photo of NC Zoo polar bear Wilhelm (a.k.a. "Willy") showing typical polar bear behavior. To "Willy", the red plastic is a seal and it is going down.

Photo and title by ucumari.

"That's a Darn Cute Monkey"

"A nine-month old female golden snub-nosed monkey, Mei Mei, relaxes at the Yokahama zoological gardens..., south of Tokyo..."

Tip of hat to Hackey Pitts.

Blood Wildlife

"some 100 rangers, outgunned and outmanned, are killed every year defending Africa's wildlife." Newsweek reports on militia and warlords funded by poaching rare and endangered animals.

Now Janjaweed are killing elephants, rhinos and people for ivory and rhino horn.

Good News from Cameroon

NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis just spoke from troubled Cameroon (after seeing his relatives and friends safely out of the country) with Mark MacAllister, of Field Trip Earth, in North Carolina: "he said that all flights got out OK last night and that Yaounde and Douala are clear and safe

"he was on the road to the south and headed back into the field"

Zebra Playing "Dead"?

Zebra
Originally uploaded by ucumari

No. Just a timely, 2006 capture of an NC Zoo zebra by ucumari.

Margaret & Keeper

baby giraffe
Originally uploaded by russlings

"A 10-day-old Rothschild giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) named Margaret gives a lick to her keeper, Tim Rowlands, at Chester Zoo, Chester, England, last week. The 5-foot, 75-pound giraffe was born two weeks early and is the first calf for her 6-year-old mother Fay who was having difficulty suckling hence the keeper is hand-rearing Margaret. (AP Photo/Jon Super)."

Tips of hat to Hackey Pitts and Freep.com (Detroit Free Press).

Those eyes!

Young Chick

"A one-week-old King Penguin chick is weighed at the Moody Gardens Aquarium in Galveston, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. The chick, which won't be named until its sex is determined through DNA testing once it is older, hatched on Jan. 31, 2008, to parents Harry and Christmas. (AP Photo/The Daily News, Kevin M. Cox)" (Link to Seth's pix, click on number 8.)

Tip of hat to Hackey Pitts, High Point, NC, for clipping of "so-ugly-it-is-very-cute" chick.

More Legal Trouble?

The San Francisco Zoo is being sued by a zookeeper who was mauled in 2006 by the same tiger who escaped and killed a visitor on Christmas 2007. A suit is likely in that case too.