S.D. Zoo-born Pandas Survive Quake

"The word trickling in from China confirms that San Diego Zoo-born panda cubs Hua Mei and Mei Sheng survived the earthquake that heavily damaged the Wolong National Nature Reserve.

"Five pandas escaped, including Hua Mei's oldest cub, but the cub since has been recaptured. As of yesterday, only one of the panda preserve's 83 pandas still was missing..."

"The employees are living in cars and in tents and trying to take good care of the pandas..."

Two new harbor seals - their first day at the NC Zoo!

Two new harbor seals - their first day at the NC Zoo!
Originally uploaded by tigerscandy

Tigerscandy took it May 21. Uploaded and titled it May 29.

Note the water clarity.

Active Seals

Saw the two new NC Zoo harbor seals for the first time yesterday. They were actively swimming in their Rocky Coast habitat. One of our long-time resident sea lions was also swimming while the other was waiting near the door where keepers enter the seal/sea lion exhibit for training and feeding.

Even 'though the training session times vary, the sea lions often know when one is immanent. I have often seen them waiting, probably because they hear preparations being made by the keepers, within the Rocky Coast's internal, back areas. Then I've seen them excitedly race swim laps in their pool as they hear another trigger which indicates that the training and the feeding is just about to begin.

Guess the young seals will learn this too after a while.

When you watch the keepers train the seals and seal lions, elephants and other NC Zoo animals you will hear a high-pitched whistle which is blown just before the animal gets a food reward for successfully performing the requested behavior. This is called a "bridge". The animal gets to expect and to value the sound of that whistle as a reward.

Over time, and when food rewards are not available or practical, the whistle may still reward the animal for the behavior.

The Zoo keepers use positive reinforcement, never negative, to teach behaviors which help the keepers care for their charges. A sea lion might offer a flipper or an elephant a foot, so the keepers can occasionally treat an injury or infection, or do a "maintenance pedicure".

Some NC Zoo animals even offer an arm or an ear for blood to be drawn or a shot administered! It takes a great deal of time and effort to use positive reinforcement toward such a result, but it saves the animal (and keeper) much stress when it means darting and anaesthesia are not needed.

Elk behind

Elk behind
Originally uploaded by ucumari

NC Zoo photo (and title) by ucumari.

The bison and elk are off exhibit for a few days for a little exhibit improvement.

There are two new harbor seals, antelope on the African Plains and a new gorilla (16 year-old Nik) at the Forest Glade.

Today the nine rhinos on the African Plains seemed to all want to get under the same one tree on the 30-acre exhibit!

Calm in the Forest Glade

Nik and the three lady gorillas were each calmly "doing their own things" when I got to the gorilla exhibit at the NC Zoo today. Each was dealing, individually, with some of the plentiful browse material to be found in the Forest Glade exhibit.

The calm was a change from a recent visit there.

"Man, these Primate Biscuits are Good!"

"Man, these Primate Biscuits are good!"
Originally uploaded by beachbum1616

"Caught this brave little one munching on one of the chimp's primate biscuits at the NC Zoo recently." [beachbum1616, 23 May 08]

Grandfather Mt. Beekeeper

Grandfather Mountain President Crae Morton has taken up beekeeping.

I told the NC Zoo Society Board Director that I hiked on his Mountain three times last week. He told me the next time I'm there I need to look him up so he can show me his bees.

"...he hopes that by 2009 they can harvest enough [honey] to keep a jar on the employee lunch table."

More importantly, “As part of our greening program ... I understand that bees help create a healthy environment for flowering plants,” explained Morton. “Establishing our own hives can only help our conservation efforts.”

It will also help Grandfather Mountain educate visitors about the unexpected and dramatic die-off of our honey bees.

Seals & Sea Lions Again

The NC Zoo Rocky Coast exhibit again offers seals and sea lions, as the two new harbor seals have successfully been introduced to our sea lions.

NC Zoo Attendance Mark Shattered

From an NC Zoo media release of today: "...the North Carolina Zoo set a new attendance record over the Memorial Day weekend.

"Last weekend’s three-day total of 32,732 visitors shattered the previous Memorial weekend record of [25,806 set in May 2005]..."

The new pachyderms (African elephants and southern white rhinos) and their new Watani Grasslands Reserve exhibit, as well as the weather, are among the factors credited.

New NC Zoo Harbor Seal

Seal-31(72)
Originally uploaded by russlings

"One of the two harbor seals that went on exhibit [a few days ago] for the first time at the North Carolina Zoo checks out the exhibit's pool. Zoo visitors now can daily see the two new harbor seals at the park's Rocky Coast exhibit in the North America region." (NC Zoo photo by Tom Gillespie)

We Require Food!

Horned Lark Chicks
Originally uploaded by russlings

Horned lark chicks photo by NC Zoo Sonora Desert Keeper II Nicole Petersen.

Ladder

Ladder
Originally uploaded by greer82496

Photo by greer82496 looks down one of the Grandfather Trail (Grandfather Mountain) ladders.

Mile High Singing Bridge

Ann and I are back from a week at a little place high above Valle Crucis and Banner Elk, NC.

I did some hiking on Grandfather Mountain on three occasions. Ann went on the more strenuous two, including one that involved ladders and cables on the Grandfather Trail.

Ann did her first crossing of the "Mile High Swinging Bridge" too.

The wind was up so much on Grandfather early in the week that I could hear the bridge "sing" as I trekked on the Black Rock and Grandfather Trails well below.

Awaiting his manicure!

Awaiting his manicure!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

NC Zoo grizzly bear.

Excellent portrait and apt title by ucumari.

merel en okapi

merel en okapi
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

Like it!

belgianchocolate frames a very rare okapi at Zoo Antwerp out of focus and hones in on a common blackbird (merel).

Nik Circles the Forest Glade

I got a call this morning that Nik, the new, 16 year-old, lowland gorilla had been directed into the NC Zoo's Forest Glade exhibit this morning with the three gorilla females. There was much activity.

I headed straight for the exhibit. I was told that I had missed the greatest activity, but much was still going on. Nik circled the outer perimeter of the exhibit several times as I watched. Two of the females tried to stay 10 or more yards ahead of him. Another had picked a spot with her back to an artificial rock wall. There was a little chest pounding by Nik at one point.

He was most interested, it seemed, in continuing to circle.

Earlier, I was told by a Zoo staff witness, the pursuit was more active and there was a point when the females slapped him and backed him up.

A family which had come from a northern state to see the zoo and the gorillas in particular were surprised and delighted to arrive just as the "introduction on exhibit" started, the Zoo staffer reported.

Later, I am told the females had regrouped and Nik was in a heavily planted part of the "Glade" planning his next move.

"Refusing to Be Detoured"

Hank Dewald, Roanoke Daily Herald, wrote about Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park:
"Refusing to be detoured by a potential environmental disaster, the... Park... held a gala grand opening for its new Flamingo exhibit Thursday afternoon.

"The flamingos, almost 100 of them, performed almost on cue once Brad Hazelton, who is responsible for the exhibit along with Center founder Mike Lubbock, cut the ribbon and opened the door to their breeding shed. The celebration came as the cleanup of hundreds of gallons of oil illegally dumped into a drainage ditch and stream running into the center's property continued.

"As the crowd, many wearing pink creations of all kinds, stood quietly watching from all around the exhibit area, the birds looked outside and cautiously began moving out as a group.

"They seemed to realize they were the center of attention and took full advantage of it. Several headed straight for the pond and before everyone knew it, the entire flock was strutting about as only flamingos can."

"Lubbock explained how the project began. Hazelton, who interned one summer at Sylvan Heights before eventually becoming the curator of the Fort Worth Zoo, took one look at what is now the exhibit and said “This would be a great compound for Lesser flamingos.”

"“Brad is one of the most successful breeders of Lesser flamingos in North America,” Lubbock told the crowd. “With only 25 adults, he managed to raise seven in one year.""

"Careless Mistake"?

The three men responsible for the oil spill at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl turned themselves in. They face felony charges.

"If it weren't for the oil spill you would see thousands of animals in the stream. But Dan Louk [Sylvan Heights Waterfowl educator] says everything, from the insects to frogs [...] the entire ecosystem [...] is gone because of the oil."

"Love Your Car"

elephant-car-404a_670724c
Originally uploaded by russlings

This male African elephant seems to say to this Swiss couple on safari. (Barcroft Media photo)

True Lark

A horned lark chick has hatched at the Sonora Desert at the NC Zoo.

The horned lark is the only true lark of North America.

Mussels on Exhibit

The NC Zoo is receiving freshwater mussels to go on exhibit in "Streamside" this summer.

Federal Charges Too?

The trio who are charged with spilling thousands of gallons of oil which has flowed into Sylvan Heights Waterfowl may also face federal charges an EPA rep reports.

The EPA may need two weeks to complete the clean-up.

The trio had permission from the owner to remove the tanks holding the oil for scrap metal.

"Fortunately for the [waterfowl] park, all of the habitats and displays are completely independent and fed by deep wells, instead of from local ground water."

UPDATE: I understand that they are hoping at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl that it does NOT rain, as that could send the oil deeper into the Park's wetland before the EPA has completed its clean-up.

Bad Guys Lose?

Frogs and habitat lose too at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl, Scotland neck, NC.

Bear Wins!

Oil loses?

Polar bear is designated "threatened", but not yet "endangered". Environmentalists call for more protection.

Latest on Waterfowl Oil Spill

Here is the latest news on the oil spill at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl.

"Sylvan Heights staff speculated someone had tried to dismantle the tanks to sell as scrap. The drains for both tanks had been removed, allowing the Grade 6 industrial oil to drain."

"Halifax County Sheriff's Detective Doug Pilgreen did not confirm the staff's speculation, but said an investigation was in progress."

"Vanishing Frog" Found

Jeff Corwin and Houston Zoo biologists, filming "The Vanishing Frog", locate a species feared to have gone extinct in the wild.

"The species in question is Atelopus varius, which is one of two species of golden frogs native to Panama, both of which are on the path to extinction in the wild. The specimens in question were found after an exhaustive search of a remote mountain river where the species was formerly found in great numbers just a few years ago."

Oil Spill Source Identified

Two parked tankers are said to be the source of the oil spill affecting wildlife in and around Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, Scotland Neck, NC.

"No animals [of size] have been killed by the spill, but authorities said a few birds and turtles were covered in oil."

Me & My Shadow

vogel in de zon
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

Photo by belgianchocolate.

Test Your Noggin...

...about froggin'.

Oldest Zoo Gorilla Turns 55

At the Dallas Zoo.

Jenny "celebrated her 55th birthday by munching down a four-layer frozen fruit cake and banana leaf wrapped treats."

Sylvan Heights Aids Oil-Soaked Wildlife

A media release prepared by the NC Zoo Society today:

"Staff at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck today found themselves cleaning thick, black oil from turtles and birds living in a creek that runs through the Park. The creek, which also runs into an adjacent wetland, was seriously contaminated some time during the night by waste oil.

"“This is a potential tragedy we’re working very hard to mitigate,” Sylvan Heights Executive Director, Mike Lubbock said. “As we do, it’s important that we show people how easily and quickly a resource that benefits all of us can be severely damaged for generations.”

"When the contamination was discovered early this morning, Lubbock immediately notified Scotland Neck police and Sylvan Heights staff began damming the creek with soil to prevent further damage to the wetland and harm to the Roanoke River further down stream. Police called for assistance from the Halifax County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"So far, the spill does not threaten Sylvan Heights’ captive birds or exhibits and the Park will be open to visitors as scheduled. Animals rescued from the contaminated water will be released into the wild once they are cleaned and determined to be in good health.

"Lubbock remains concerned, however, by potential damage to the wetland area Sylvan Heights maintains on its property. The wetland is part of migration routes for many birds and Sylvan Heights has been working to preserve the area for wildlife. Sylvan Heights also permits limited access to the wetland for educational programming and for visitors to observe a pristine natural habitat.

"The cause, source and magnitude of the spill are still under investigation and efforts to contain the spill continue.

"Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park opened to the public in October 2006. The facility is dedicated to educating people about the importance of conservation and research focusing on waterfowl and wetland habitats. The Waterfowl Park is home to the largest collection of captive waterfowl in the world, many of them rare and endangered."

Narwhals More Endangered than Polar Bears

A recent peer-reviewed study names narwhals more threatened by climate change than the better known marine mammal, the polar bear.

"The narwhal, which dives about 6,000 feet to feed on Greenland halibut, is the ultimate specialist, evolved specifically to live in small cracks in parts of the Arctic where it's 99 percent heavy ice..."

NC Zoo Open Monday

Just got the call that the NC Zoo will return to its regular schedule tomorrow.

Modern Princess Kisses Frog

Xenia, Princess of Saxony, kisses a frog at Leipzig Zoo to bring attention to the amphibian crisis and "Year of the Frog".

The 21 year-old princess "joins in with the efforts made by Sir David Attenborough, who is the patron of the global amphibian campaign and has already been able to take on board personalities such as Jean-Michel Cousteau and Jane Goodall."

Eli's Eyes

A howler monkey at Hogle Zoo benefits from a gift-in-kind of artificial lenses following cataract surgery.

james river

james river
Originally uploaded by Captain Flexible

Captain Flexible took this and "spring" today.

spring

spring
Originally uploaded by Captain Flexible

Photo & title - Captain Flexible.

"No Alternative"

The Health Department's requirements added to the need to close the North Carolina Zoo.

From a Zoo media release today which noted that repairs to a water main break in the Zoo's "African" region proved to require shutting down all Zoo water: "Those repairs, along with Health Department requirements that the entire water system be flushed and sanitized, forced zoo officials to close the entire park until at least Monday. The problem does not affect the zoo’s animals which are being provided with water from ponds and other temporary sources.

"“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this causes for visitors,” said Dr. David Jones, zoo director. “It certainly comes at an inopportune time with Mother’s Day normally one of our busiest weekends. But we have absolutely no alternative.”"

NC Zoo Closed -5/10 & 5/11

A major water main break at the North Carolina Zoo now requires that it close Saturday and Sunday.

The plan yesterday was that the Zoo would be open, but without water in the African section. Portable toilets had been brought in and water was being carried in to animals .

Late yesterday afternoon, however, those of us working in the Stedman Center, in the North American section, were surprised to find the water off there. My assumption was (is) that that was a result of the repair effort in "Africa".

I was called at about 6:30 a.m. by a Zoo Ranger who advised me that the Zoo would be closed. I have been told that the repairs that were made overnight and into this morning require 24 hours now for sealants to set before water can be turned back through the pipes.

This is not something the Zoo or Society ever want - closed on a normally busy weekend. Zoo and Society earned revenues depend greatly on weekends in April and May, our busiest season.

But that is minor to the concerns of the zoo keepers and horticulturists and others who are making special arrangements to keep the Zoo's collections alive.

hidden copperheads

hidden copperheads
Originally uploaded by Captain Flexible

Taken and titled by Captain Flexible. Excellent capture! (View large.)

Beware: Accidental Zoo Kidnapping

The wonderful Omaha Zoo plans another new exhibit - 1500 butterflies.

Because they land on visitors and cling, an exit mirror helps you avoid accidentally taking the "animal collection" home.

NC Zoo Water Advisory

A recent NC Zoo media advisory notes: "A 12-inch water line that provides water to much of the zoo’s African exhibit region ruptured on Thursday. As a result, visitors touring that portion of the zoo over the next few days will be required to use portable toilets brought in until the water line is repaired.

"The Crocodile Café restaurant near the zoo’s African entrance as well as water fountains in the African region will also be unavailable to visitors this weekend. But limited food service will be provided in the African section by portable snack stands. The park’s African animals remain on exhibit and are being provided with water from temporary sources.

"Meanwhile, restaurants, restrooms and water fountains in the zoo’s North American region as well as those in the Junction Plaza located at the center of the park remain open and fully operational."

Elephant Soccer Star

The Daily Mail has four photos of the "footballer" African elephant.

Grolar Bear (or Pizzly)?

Dr. George Divoky suggests that we will see more grolar bears as global warming causes the habitats of grizzly and polar bears to overlap. (Wikipedia even suggests that when the father is a polar bear the hybrid animal is being called a "pizzly".)

Dr. Divoky is research associate, Institute of Arctic Biology, U. of Alaska - Fairbanks.

Nik's Time Arrives

Gorilla-2
Originally uploaded by russlings

“A gorilla at the North Carolina Zoo checks out his new facility for the first time Wednesday. The 16-year-old male, who recently arrived at the park from the Columbus (OH) Zoo, will be slowly introduced to the female troop members and is expected to go on exhibit permanently by about the end of May.” (NC Zoo photo by Tom Gillespie)

Feeding & Wintering Deadlines

The North Carolina Zoo aims to complete its new giraffe feeding station in November and to open it by Easter. It aims to complete the new barns, to protect greater herds of African antelope from the cold, by December of 2009 and to open them the following February.

This from a morning management staff meeting here today.

Lemurs 'Round the Clock

ringstaartmaki katta lemur halfaap primaat primate
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

Love belgianchocolate's recent framing of these Zoo d'Amneville lemurs.

Driving Hazards - African-Style

Even after passing through an African elephant, thorns embedded in their droppings can puncture automobile tires.

Not to worry about hippo and rhino droppings. Rhinos are thorough chewers. Hippos prefer softer, aquatic vegetation. (Link)

Decide Already!

Following much delay, a federal judge gives the US Interior Department until May 15 to decide if the polar bear should be listed as endangered.

Are you going to play, or take my picture...?

Are you going to play, or take my picture all day?
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Ucumari's recent photo and title.

NC Zoo's Willy with an "enrichment item".

Zoo Scavenger Hunt

The NC Zoo will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day Saturday, 10am – 3pm.

Among the activities will be an Aviary Scavenger Hunt — visitors will be able to pick up scavenger hunt forms at the entrance to the RJ Reynolds Forest Aviary and exit, answer questions in the aviary, and return to either station for tattoos and stickers.

Side By Side

Side By Side
Originally uploaded by SWVirginiaDeity

I have never seen the NC Zoo elk or its North American Plains exhibit look anything like what SWVirginiaDeity saw there March 29.

Title by SWVirginiaDeity too.

"Cousteau Loves Frogs..."

and talks about it:

wicked looking forest at the zoo

wicked looking forest at the zoo
Originally uploaded by msbellee

Turning the camera away from the animals at the NC Zoo, msbellee took and titled this in April.

Volcanic rocks of Purgatory Mountain in the ancient Uwharrie Mountains of North Carolina.

New to Grasslands

Two Thomson's gazelles from Bronx Zoo, one male blesbok & one male common waterbuck are new to the African Plains at the NC Zoo.

More "Caring"

Also from the Spring issue of the "Community of Caring" newsletter of the NC Zoo Society and Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center:

"A young American alligator arrived from Monroe County. Someone found it wandering the streets with its jaws taped shut."

The Center took in three bobcat kittens last summer. "Each came from a different litter and location. Two kittens did not survive, but the third one - the only non-injured orphan - thrived. Once it proved itself a skilled hunter, we released it in the Uwharrie Mountains."

"The Center's cutest patient, hands down, was a baby North American river otter that arrived from Fort Fisher Aquarium."

"Most Unusual Patient"

Trapped in a closet overnight, she was too dehydrated to eat.

So the hummingbird moth was taken to the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the NC Zoo.

"The staff quickly learned to extend her proboscis so that she could sip nectar again. Shortly after her first meal, she began laying eggs," reports the Spring edition of the Center's "Community of Caring" newsletter.

"Within minutes, the little mother was whisked outside and began laying her eggs on the right plants to feed her hungry caterpillars. The last time we saw her, she was fluttering into the bushes."

Rodeo Clown Barrels

Man-made termite mounds, 15 to 16 feet tall, will be added by the NC Zoo design staff to the Watani Grasslands, which rhinos, ostriches and antelope roam.

The mounds will offer a safe spot for keeper and veterinary staff to operate from when they need to get close to the potentially dangerous members of the living collection.

Goose Solution?

You can find nine southern white rhinos, ostriches and dozens of African antelope on the Watani Grasslands' African plains exhibit at the NC Zoo. You will also find many Canada geese (other "volunteer" additions to the Zoo).

To try to create a more geographically accurate collection there, General Curator Steve Miller reports that six African spur-winged geese will be added to the mix.

The hope? That the aggressive African geese, with natural weapons on their wings, will drive the North American geese to a more appropriate, American habitat.

Guaranteed Pregnant

Dr. Steve Miller also reports that a pregnant bison will come to the NC Zoo about November.

How can he guarantee this? The Wilds in Ohio will provide the bison. They have many. There should be multiple pregnant bison there come November, a good time to transport hoofed animals, long after the hottest days of summer.

Dr. Barb Wolf, who was a veterinarian here, is currently a vet at The Wilds.

Volunteers!

General Curator of the NC Zoo Steve Miller says watch and listen for the very big, loud bull frogs in the Cypress Swamp exhibit here. The "volunteer" additions to the exhibit should be found near the five alligators which are part of the exhibit collection.