We're All Ears

Fennec fox
Originally uploaded by floridapfe

Up, down, up, up up.

Another strong Fennec fox photo from Everland Zoo, Korea, by floridapfe.

Movie review III - The Sequel II

Its official. There are three main, intertwining stories in the 10-minute (or so) "Wild Earth Africa" 4D movie at the NC Zoo.

A Zoo media release today summarizes: "After a young boy witnesses the shooting of a zebra on his way to school, he’s shocked when the “poacher” visits his classroom. When two unidentified men are spotted with a rifle, rangers are dispatched to apprehend them, protecting the animals at all costs. Concluding a long day, members of a group on safari are awed by a pride of feasting lions found by the veteran Masaai tracker."

Red Wolf Portrait

Originally uploaded by ucumari

Recent ucumari NC Zoo red wolf photo. (The red wolves NEVER stand still for this; ucumari is PATIENT!)

"Great Cats"

A National Zoo keeper describes working with exotic, big cats over video and photos in 97 seconds. (Videos of an African lion vocalizing in the snow are especially worth seeing...and hearing!)

Junkyard Cats Now Detroit Lions

BIG junkyard cats!

The Detroit Zoo is taking in three lions...rescuing them from a Kansas junkyard.

Find it hard to believe that anyone thinks its a good idea to keep lions at a junkyard? Two of the Detroit Zoo's existing (prior to the arrival of the junkyard trio) lions also were rescued from "questionable" care situations. "Katie was taken from a suspected crack house in Detroit in 1992 and neighborhood children discovered Percival in an abandoned house in Detroit in 1993, zoo officials said."

Little Lady

The National Zoo has named its female gorilla baby Kibibi (Swahili for "little lady). (Check out the critically endangered, "western lowland" little lady's photo at the link.)

Vet's Shadow Raves II- The Sequel

Here's the larger story of the recent shadowing of NC Zoo vet Dr. Ryan DeVoe, as developed by Dr. Jayne Owen Parker, NC Zoo Society, and the Zoo's Tom Gillespie.

"While the raffle winners watched, veterinary staff placed the snake’s head in a plastic tube and slowly pumped in anesthesia. DeVoe monitored the snake’s vital signs as it drifted off to sleep."

Beaver Artisan

A beaver has gnawed a door stop for me!

It is about seven inches high and when I wrap my hand around it, much of it remains unwrapped. (A two-hand "wrap" overlaps a bit.) It has a gnawed point at either end and each of scores of tooth marks is prominent.

Found it this morning on an hour jog on Osprey Trail, Greensboro.

The tree it came from must not have fallen when the beaver first gnawed through... probably hung up in the branches of another tree. I hope the tree came down when the beaver completed my door stop by gnawing through the tree once more!

Possum Posse II - The Sequel

From Volunteer Views, by NC Zoo volunteer Carol Kaczmarek):

"In spring of 2008, the NC Zoo received an interesting request from the Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark. They asked that we send them nine young opossums for display and breeding for several zoos in Denmark.

"We here in NC consider opossums very ordinary. In fact, many folks here consider them an ugly pest and call them varmints. Some folks hunt them. Others consider them funny as they were in the old TV series The Beverly Hillbillies. (OK If you do not know what that is—ask your parents or grandparents—Unfortunately I remember it even though I toyed with the idea of claiming someone told me about it.)

"In Denmark, they are considered exotic since the species does not exist there. I really like opossums; I hope they will be a popular exhibit.

"This request brought a flurry of activity. In the WRC [Wildlife Rehabilitation Center], our supervisor began watching the litters of opossums we received to pick suitable candidates. Luckily their request came at the time of year where we admit a
number of orphans, the summer breeding season.

"The Copenhagen Zoo wanted three males and six females, they would be breeding them to maintain a captive population there so care needed to be taken that the opossums be unrelated.

"At the same time, our curator of mammals, Terry Webb, needed to discover what paperwork and quarantine regulations needed to be in place before the opossums could be sent to Denmark. This included getting an international health certificate and a USFWS Customs Declaration Form. They then needed to be quarantined for six months following Danish Quarantine Procedures. Finally they needed to clear a TSA Homeland Security inspection on site.

"For those of us who work in the WRC, the first few months while they were at the center were delightful. Why? Because for a portion of their free time, rabies vaccinated volunteers were allowed to handle these opossums. Since the youngsters would not be released into the wild, they did not need to be kept “wild” and fearful of people.

"In fact, the opposite was true. We were encouraged to handle them so they would be comfortable in the presence of people. Of course, this was a tough job, but somebody needed to do it. We were happy to oblige, and for us, they left much too soon."

Gorilla Sighting II - The Sequel

Here is NC Zoo's Dr. Rich Bergl's telling of the Cross River gorilla sighting story I shared from Terry Shiels.

"Even though we only got brief glimpses of the silverback, it was my best sighting of a Cross River gorilla in 10 years of research on this species. The fact that they are so hard to see emphasizes the level of threat they are under. The gorillas really avoid people because most of the humans they meet in the forest are hunters."

More on Coatis

"Sonoran Desert mammal keepers are collecting perfume samples from magazines and newspapers for enrichment purposes for Chips & Queso (the coatis)." (from NC Zoo's "Volunteer Views" compiled by Toy Jarrett)

More on Bongos

"Bongos are large antelopes that range through lowland forests in western Africa and higher altitude forests in east Africa's Kenya." (from yesterday's monthly "Z-mail" to NC Zoo Society members, compiled by Dr. Jayne Owen Parker)

Lovers and Choppers

Lovers and choppers
Originally uploaded by caseylowry

NC Zoo photo and title by caseylowry.

Sonora Desert Flower

Sonora Desert flower
Originally uploaded by wundermint

NC Zoo photo and title by wundermint.

"Wild Hair"

365 Days - Day 194
Originally uploaded by konrad_photography

"My one day off this week, so I got a wild hair and took a road trip to the NC Zoo. This is the first time in about 6 visits that I've even seen the male lion, too cool." Photo and quote by konrad photography.

Vet's Shadow Raves

The winner of the NC Zoo Society "Shadow a Veterinarian" raffle has already contacted us to call yesterday's shadowing of NC Zoo senior vet Dr. Ryan DeVoe "the most extraordinary day I've experienced in many years."

Among the unforgettable moments for Catherine Bollinger, Pittsboro, and her guest were:

"Reverberating roars of a lioness protesting the impending sting of an anesthesia dart before her annual exam.

"Deft and delicate cancer removal surgery on a snake.

"Bouncing in the back of a Zoo truck crossing the African Plains exhibit as ostriches followed us, wings outstretched like ballet dancers’ arms.

"A Carolina-clay-colored elephant devouring NC native wax myrtle branches with gusto.

"A full-sized grizzly bear obediently presenting his paws for inspection through cage bars in exchange for bits of apple.

"And, of course, that same grizzly spitting out apple all over you."

Ms. Bollinger bought 10 tickets in the raffle which supported conservation medicine here.

Movie Review II - The Sequel

Society staff experienced "Wild Earth Africa" today. (Yesterday I viewed it with Zoological Park management staffers.) Today I sat in a different spot and got a different experience.

At second row (from the front) center yesterday I felt I was missing out on 4D "opportunities" to have water "spit and splashed" on me. At fourth row right, I was "muddied and spat upon", still poked repeatedly and, I felt, had even more "wind and animal breath" blown my way. (A good third or more of Society staff reported being the recipients of no wetting; a similar number, no poking; some experienced neither; most or all felt breezes, breaths, "rumblings" and "leg ticklers".)

Society staff had trouble with the multiple story lines of the brief video. All followed the story of the poachers and rangers. Many thought that was the only story line.

On a second viewing it was more clear to me that the story line of the little boy and the researcher who shot darts rather than bullets at a zebra was intertwined with the story of the Masai warrior, poachers, rhino and local "authorities". (One Society staffer felt that the tourists, "satellite-collared" lion and the "driver with the radio antenna" created a third, intertwined story.)

Still, there was more giggling and "fun screaming" from the Society audience.

(Some Society mothers and father felt that a parental advisory would be a good idea; a bloody lion pride very naturally tears into a zebra carcass at one point.)

[The NC Zoo Society funded the NC Zoo's role in the creation of "Wild Earth Africa".]

Bowling Rhino

Bowling for Rhinos has seen nationwide chapters of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) accomplish much for the species. Abilene Zoo and its local chapter promote the event by having one of its rhinos do a little bowling of its own.

The NC Zoo chapter of AAZK has long been bowling for rhinos and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (also featured in the new SimEx movie "Wild Earth Africa"), having raised over $80,000 for the cause.

Seeking an "Elephant Angel"

She took in a Belfast Zoo baby elephant named Sheila during the 1941 WWII "Belfast Blitz". Now the 75-year-old zoo tries to find the mystery woman's family to recognize her by name during its anniversary celebration.

Movie Review

Well, I did see "Wild Earth Africa" this morning.

Here is a brief review:

Both a young African school boy and a Masai "warrior" know that poaching is wrong and local authorities attempt to put a stop to poachers determined, it seems, to kill zebra, elephant, rhino and, perhaps, lions and more.

3D effects, especially when viewing real camera encounters with elephants and rhinos, are impressive. 4D effects (pokes in the back, a "rumble seat", etc.) are fun, but require some license with reality. (I was repeatedly poked in the back, even when things were "breaking up" in front of me or when an anesthesia dart headed off-camera right.)

The (overly?) ambitious short subject takes on poaching, conservation research, tourism and more. Not all viewers will understand all of what is going on, perhaps, but most should find their $3 addition to a $10 (or less) Zoo visit worth the investment, while learning a little something too.

Chocolate!

Picture 001
Originally uploaded by russlings

Have you ever wondered where that scrumptious delight comes from? ...Seeds from a tropical tree.

"We are very excited to share with you a picture of our
first NC Zoo Theobroma cacao (Chocolate tree) fruit.

"The seeds are fermented and roasted to produce cocoa. Each fruit contains about 30-40 seeds. It takes about 150-300 seeds to make a pound of pure chocolate.

"Come by the aviary and check it out."

Photo and quote by Dana Garner, Aviary Horticulture Staff

Vanilla!

Picture 005
Originally uploaded by russlings

"…So for those of you who are not chocolate lovers.
Vanilla is now blooming in the aviary [NC Zoo].

"Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is an orchid that is grown
commercially for its vanilla beans. The flowers are open
only for one day and are hand-pollinated. The resulting seedpods are harvested green, cured by a sweating process and used for vanilla extract. Most of the world’s vanilla comes from Madagascar and Indonesia.

"Attached is a photo of our flowers. On this day we had 16 open flowers- the most to bloom in one day! Check it out on both sides of the [RJ Reynolds Forest Aviary] entrance doors."

Photo and quote by Dana Ganer, Aviary Horticulture Staff

Gala Movie Premier

Tomorrow morning I go with NC Zoo management staff to a "premier" of "Wild Earth Africa", a "4D" video that will be offered here for $3 beginning April 1.

I will post a movie review tomorrow if possible.

Pink Elephant

Pink African elephants are especially rare...yet a BBC photographer captured photos of a young one. The albino youngster looks good in the photos at the link.

Let's hope the herd (and it) figures out how to protect it from the sun.

Mario

Mario
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

Another in the great belgianchocolate/ Antwerp Zoo series.

Conservation Nearby

Hellbenders, red wolves, Schweinitz's sunflowers, Pisgah Covered Bridge and Ridges Mountain. The NC Zoo is active in their preservation.

Warm Weather Plants

The NC Zoo's warm weather plants have, we hope, survived another winter because a "staff of more than 40 horticulturists daily ensures that the plants receive the proper care - no matter what the season."

"A generous layer of insulating compost or mulch is often all a plant needs to survive through the winter. But for many plants, especially the outdoor cacti at the North America region’s Sonora Desert exhibit, surviving a North Carolina winter has more to do with keeping their “feet” dry than staying warm."


I recently took NC Zoo Curator of Horticulture Gin Wall to my Rotary Club to report on some of the activities of those 40 folks on her team. Many are surprised to learn how big a role horticulture plays at this Zoo.

Bears & Ice Shrink

Polar bears and their sea ice are both shrinking this report claims.

"Scientists say the animals are now only two-thirds as big as they were 30 years ago..." The word "that female bears now weigh an average of 230kg, a full 65kg less than in 1980..."comes out of that summit of Arctic countries on polar bears.

Beer Kegs & Enrichment

This recent AP story details zoo animal enrichment, focusing on some New England zoos.

"The keg's beer smell gets the bears going, as does the deer scent keepers place on the keg."

I've posted some here about enrichment at the NC Zoo.

Eclectus parrot

Eclectus parrot
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Speaking of strong NC Zoo portraits...you can always count on ucumari.

Think you could you win a stare off with her?

Think you could you win a stare off with her?
Originally uploaded by ucumari

"As I approached the lion exhibit I got this unsettled feeling, and sure enough when I looked over, I was being watched! The lioness was locked and ready for a stare off! I stayed there for about 15 minutes, the entire time being closely followed! Her patience and intensity was not only to be admired but feared as well!"

NC Zoo photo uploaded to flickr by ucumari on 18 Mar 09, 4.01PM EDT; her title too.

Chimp

Chimp
Originally uploaded by ND Montgomery

Another strong ND Montgomery, NC Zoo portrait.

One Down...

One of the NC Zoo's two new bongo has arrived and is in quarantine. The other is expected to arrive April 1.

37,446 Hours

Volunteers, "unpaid interns and project based groups" provided the NC Zoo with 37,446 man-hours of assistance in 2008.

"As we look ahead, I believe Volunteers will be more essential to the Zoo in coming years than ever before. The State can...cut spending...but...the wonderful resource we have in Zoo volunteers" will remain, according to Toy Jarrett, NC Zoo Volunteer Services Coordinator. (Some of you will remember when Toy was an NC Zoo Society employee; we are proud of Toy and her continuing career successes.)

NC Zoo Loses 'Hope'

From an NC Zoo media release:

"The North Carolina Zoo lost one of its most well-known residents Thursday when Hope, a female gorilla, had to be euthanized due to a variety of severe medical problems.

"Hope, 35, had become famous as the mother of “Kwanza,” the first and still the only gorilla ever born at the N.C. Zoo. The March 1989 gorilla birth made Kwanza, as well as his parents Hope and Carlos, household names in the state..." (Kwanza now resides at the Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo where he has become a father himself.)

"Hope arrived at the N.C. Zoo in May 1984 after the National Institutes of Health discontinued a gorilla behavioral research program in Louisiana. In recent years she had been under treatment for a variety of medical problems..."

"In recent days the female gorilla had become almost completely blind and appeared to be suffering from severe headaches, according to N.C. Zoo Chief Veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis."

"Other serious medical conditions were also discovered.

"“Speaking for all the veterinarians, zookeepers and curators who cared for Hope, it was the toughest decision all of us have ever made as zoo professionals,” said Ken Reininger, general curator at the zoo."

"Three other gorillas, male Nikunda and females Donna and Katie, remain in good condition and on exhibit daily in the zoo’s Forest Glade gorilla habitat."

Quick on the Uptake?

The NC Zoo's new giraffe feeding station will be "turned over" to the Zoo by contractors April 8 if all goes to plan.

Keepers hope to have the giraffes trained to come to it for feeding by paying visitors by Memorial Day. But there are no guarantees when trying to get wild animals to do such things.

Arctic Fox

Arctic Fox
Originally uploaded by ND Montgomery

Taken today at the NC Zoo according to flickr and ND Montgomery.

Yes, this Arctic fox still has its winter coat.

Hoofstock Back

With spring beginning Friday and temperatures heading up, most the the NC Zoo "hoofstock" are back on exhibit.

Many species of African Plains antelope go off exhibit in the NC winter to protect them from frostbite.

Behavioral Success

An NC Zoo sea lion allowed its keepers to take a full blood sample recently. This is a great training success for those keepers.

Positive reinforcement techniques were employed to elicit this potentially life-saving behavior.

Zoo Curator of Animals Ken Reininger reported this morning that about 40 animal training projects are currently underway here - teaching keepers operant behavior/conditioning techniques beneficial to their charges.

Familiar Ground

Returning NC Zoo polar bear Aquila might go on exhibit very soon after his arrival on or about April 1 "because he's familiar with the exhibit", Zoo veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis reported to management staff this a.m.

Pandallama!

Pandallama!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Lazy 5 Ranch photo and title by ucumari.

Arctic Countries Talk "Bear"

The 5 Arctic countries (Canada, Norway, Russia, Greenland and the U.S.A.) are meeting in Tromsoe, Norway to discuss protection for polar bears.

“Polar bears are environmental indicators…with global warming hitting the Arctic first.” [International Herald Tribune]

Update: Willy

"Polar Bear Wilhelm was immobilized and had extensive surgery on the lesions on the R side of his body on 16 March 09. He was transferred to Mammal Holding for recovery and further intense treatment. He recovered and is alert this morning. He will be off exhibit UFN and is scheduled for a recheck of the lesions on 30 March 09."

Terry D. Webb, Curator of Mammals, NC Zoological Park

Limes.....YES!!!

Limes.....YES!!!
Originally uploaded by beachbum1616

"A number of hoots and barks were heard this morning coming from the chimpanzee exhibit. What was all the excitement about?...Limes were the treat of the morning!"

Title, quote and November photo of lime and NC Zoo chimpanzee by beachbum1616.

The "hoots and barks" probably mean that the selection of limes as "enrichment items" was a success.

Willy Moved

To provide better medical treatment, NC Zoo polar bear Wilhelm was moved to the off-exhibit mammal holding facility this a.m.

"Mammal holding is now considered a dangerous animal area, reports lead keeper Jeff Owen.

Friday Frog Walk

Some NC Zoo Society members will walk the Zoo Friday night with Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles John Groves and the Society's Dr. Jayne Owen Parker to learn to recognize the songs of local frogs.

I know Jayne is good enough at this that her ears provide usable census data on resident frogs.

Baby Hippo Reprieve

Basel (Switzerland) Zoo's baby hippo will not now "be killed and fed to the big cats" as a wire report in my (Greensboro) News & Record tells me this a.m.

Had heard about this. Better USA zoos will not breed animals if they do not have plans to keep them or have a "good home" ready. Birth control is often employed when a "good home" is not.

I am told some European zoos let nature takes its course and, if a "good home" is not available, destroy the animal, but not waste the "nutrients".

The very popular little hippo had Swiss friends speaking up and organizing. Now it appears it will be spared.

Can You Say "Sesquicentennial"?

The Zoological Society of Philadelphia is 150, March 21. The "Philly" Zoo will celebrate by "hatching" the McNeil Avian Center, May 30, with over 100 exotic birds.

The Zoo "has 'recycled' its neoclassical 1916 Bird House, maintaining the historic facade, gutting and redesigning the interior..."

Visiting families can take home "little bird detective kits"...to foster...interest in bird-watching and conservation."

Zebra summit

Zebra summit
Originally uploaded by ucumari

A ucumari/Lazy 5 Ranch (NC) photo and title.

Like my zebra pix!

New African Pavilion

Originally uploaded by reedb006

Remember when you found black and white colobus monkeys on this "tree" in the NC Zoo's African Pavilion? The aging structure is no longer suited to holding monkeys but staff has done a nice job of offering visitors a very pleasant tropical walk between the gorillas' Forest Glade exhibit and the African Plains' rhinos, antelope and birds.

Thanks to reedboo6 for this shot of just a small part of the changed Pavilion.

Season Ready

There are many projects going on in the NC Zoo but the plants, animals, signs, educational graphics, art and park in general look great in anticipation of Spring.

I went out in the Park today especially to see the new grizzly den, the changed African Pavilion and the new Bart Walter art installation at Shani Loop at the Watani Grasslands.

The grizzly den looks great, although the bear was mainly behind it when I went by first today. Later the grizzly was entertaining many visitors by floating on his back in the water below an overlook.

The African Pavilion tropical plant walk also looked great and I found Bart Walter's "The Critics" (two vultures) another strong example of his unique style.

I also saw three new "ant hill" feeders in the African Plains at Watani Grasslands.

There is a nice covered set of benches near the black bear exhibit for those who tire early climbing into "North America" here.

The geyser project, near the elk and bison exhibit, will begin soon.

The junction plaza, between "Africa" and "North America", is cleared for the arrival of the new, larger, "4-D" theater.

There is much more going on and many things have been brightened and repaired.

Bravo! Zoo staff for doing this and much more and still having the Park looking so ready for the April/May crowds.

Willy Off Exhibit Again

Willy is not making "as much progress as we had hoped" with his medical treatment plan, NC Zoo Curator of mammals Terry D. Webb reports today.

The polar bear will be off exhibit and probably moved Monday to the Zoo's mammal propagation building "for more intensive treatment".

The returning NC Zoo polar bear should be here by April 1 and on exhibit shortly thereafter. The hope is that Willy will recover to trade time on exhibit with the returning bear.

New Grizzly Bear Den

New Grizzly Bear Den
Originally uploaded by reedb006

Reed006 has captured the new grizzly bear den at the North Woods at the NC Zoo.

Those New Zoo Giraffes

Those two new giraffes arrived at the N.C. Zoo on Sunday. They are settling into their new environment and getting to know their new keepers.

The young male was born at Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Mo, the last day in May 2008; the young female was born at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, CO, one day earlier in May 2008.

The youngsters will be in quarantine for at least 30 days before their keepers begin the process of introducing the animals to their new exhibit.

We anticipate that they will be on exhibit by mid-April.

Happy B'Day, Julie!

Julie, the NC Zoo senior giraffe, will be 32 years old tomorrow. She appears to be the 2nd oldest giraffe living in captivity.

An April 4 celebration, with a "large/tall natural cake/treat" is planned for her exhibit at about 11 a.m.

Green velvet

Green velvet
Originally uploaded by Katarina 2353

Katarina 2353 photo (and title) of The Alps.

Ain't nature great?!

Chimps Plan Ahead

That chimpanzee in a Swedish Zoo is getting a lot of attention for stockpiling rocks to throw at visitors. It is THE new zoo story.

But this example of an animal planning ahead just reminds me of the time here long ago, when the NC Zoo chimp exhibit was not the fancy new BB&T Kitera Forest but was fronted in chicken-wire. I arrived at it one day with then Animal Curator Ron Morris. The dominant male chimp saw Ron, went away briefly and came back with the "perfect rock". The chimp's underhanded toss was strong but off the mark. Good thing! Because the large, flat, sharp-edged rock cut through the chicken wire like a hot spoon through soft ice cream.

Speaking of SHWP

Speaking of being at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park Friday...turns out this talented blogger/photographer was too. (Note the great slide show at the end and link to "first visited" to find another SHWP slide show, from an August visit.)

This blogger just happened to arrive for the groundbreaking we had scheduled for Phase II of the Waterfowl Park and its featured handicapped-accessible tree house!

Sylvan Heights #2

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park (SHWP) offers the second largest collection of bird species in the USA, behind San Diego Zoo.

I learned this while attending the SHWP Board of Directors meeting in Scotland Neck, NC, Friday.

Nature-Deficit Disorder!

A new coalition housed within the NC Zoo Society is the State’s affiliate of the National Children and Nature Network. The network was co-founded by Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods” and recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal for identifying and articulating “nature-deficit disorder” – the current disconnect between children and nature.

The N.C Zoo was recently the site of the second annual statewide gathering of stakeholders concerned with promoting children in nature. Attendees from across the state voted to endorse a formal coalition called NCCAN! (N.C. Children and Nature!) and adopted a vision, mission, goals, and an organizational structure with a strategic action plan.

The new coalition will be led by Society Director of External Affairs Kathy Bull. Other members of the NCCAN! leadership team are: Richard Rairigh, BeActive NC; Eric Moe, REI, Inc.; Josh Thomas, Topics Education Inc. and Sierra Club; Lisa Tolley and Sarah Yelton, DENR; Randy Fulk, NC Zoo; Nilda Cosco and Robin Moore, NC State Natural Learning Initiative; Jani Kozlowski, NC Partnership for Children, Janet McGinnis, NC Office for School Readiness; and Vonda Martin, NC Parks and Recreation.

Face Full of Willy!

Face full of Willy!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

"Willy's caregivers did let him get out and play in the snow!"

Very recent NC Zoo photo of polar bear Wilhelm, title and quote by ucumari.

Den Improves upon Dent

A sizable indentation in the artificial rockwork at the North Woods grizzly bear exhibit at the NC Zoo had served as a den for the bears on exhibit there since its opening in the 1990's.

Now a more protective den is being installed. I have not yet seen the work nor have I seen a drawing, but expect to find a free-standing den in the exhibit which can keep a bear out of the rain or full sun.

Good Home

As animals continue to be moved out of the NC Zoo African Pavilion, which needs replacing, a female DeBrazza's monkey is headed for the Denver Zoo.

The NC Zoo always looks for or provides good homes for animals which must be taken off exhibit.

Bongo Soon

The first bongo is expected at the NC Zoo March 10.

How Close?

NC Zoo's newest giraffe duo due to arrive March 8.

Giraffe feeding station being built.

Get up close with a giraffe's tongue later this year.

Crane Born at NC Zoo

From an NC Zoo e-mail today:

"The North Woods staff is proud to announce the birth of a wattled crane chick. The cold and snow ha[ve] made this little chick[']s start a little rough but it seems to be doing well none the less.

"Because of the birth of this bird we would like all staff to be extra aware of noises and traffic behind the prairie barn on the North American service road. Wattled Cranes are an endangered species and we don't want to take any chances with this valuable bird.

"Chris Lasher
Animal Management Supervisor"

Quarantine for Bongos

The NC Zoo Hanes Veterinary Hospital reports to "The Midden" that it is preparing for the quarantine of female bongos.

Incoming Baby Squirrels

It is winter and orphaned baby squirrels are again arriving at the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at the NC Zoo, "The Midden" (January 2009) reports.

The late Valerie Schindler used to care for baby gray and flying squirrels at the Durham home she shared with them and with Dr. Anton Schindler, who has caused the rehab center and the Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Learning Center to be created here in her memory and to continue her efforts.

NC Zoo Also Closed Tomorrow

"Due to snow and ice remaining on walkways and service roads from Sunday’s winter storm, the North Carolina Zoo will be closed to the public again on Tuesday, March 3. The park was also closed Monday." From a recent NC Zoo media release.

A.I. Prep

With African elephant artificial insemination in mind, the NC Zoo staff is working closely with African bull elephant Artie, "The Midden" reports.

Fingers are crossed.

Goin' to Toledo

As the NC Zoo African Pavilion continues to move out animals and staff, a colobus monkey has gone to the Toledo Zoo, "The Midden" reports.

Red River Hog Improves

When one of the three NC Zoo red river hogs recently died and another fell ill, there was much concern for the remaining two. "The Midden" (Jan. '09) reports that "the other female [is] feeling much better."

Successful Chimp Intros

As chimpanzee relationships within the large group at the NC Zoo, aging, one-time leader Hondo, Kendall, Tammy, Betty and Amy have formed a smaller group. Jonathan has taken over the larger group. (Tip of the Hat to Aaron Jesue and "The Midden".)

Bufflehead

Bufflehead
Originally uploaded by copeg

copeg took this shot in Palo Alto Baylands.

The NC Zoo Cypress Swamp expects a new one in March.

Bull Elk Sheds Another

The NC Zoo bull elk has lost another set of antlers. Each year's set is larger than the prior year's.