Bird Care Count

Gulf oil spill 2010. [@IBRRC]

Humpback Whale Girl Power

Humpback whale females benefit from having girlfriends. [@BugDreams]

"...females were found to associate with their BFFs for up to six years in a row! In addition to the obvious benefits of comraderie and potential benefits for cooperative feeding, females that engaged in these long-term relationships realized an increased reproductive success."

South African Safari

In 29 images.

'Nother New Nori Photo

NC Zoo photo of the new baby chimpanzee.

Parasitic Andean Bear?

San Diego Zoo conservation research scientist speculates as to why an Andean bear is observed closely following a giant anteater through Peru's mountains. [@BoraZ]

"...to benefit from the anteater's superior ability to find and excavate colonies of social insects..."

Escaped Rattlesnake Found Dead

An adult female tiger rattlesnake missing from its ZooAtlanta exhibit since Friday was found dead today on the front porch of a nearby, vacant house.

"We are conducting a thorough review of the incident..."

'Nother Prius Pinnacle

Another tank of gas...another mpg record. 57.0 mpg for 477.6 miles. (Get you one!)

Bonobos & Theory of Mind

Bonobos are more skilled at understanding social causality; chimpanzees, physical causality, study finds. [@BoraZ]

"...the more cautious and socially tolerant bonobo outperformed chimpanzees on the theory of mind scale. Meanwhile, the prolific tool-using chimpanzee, whose survival is more dependent on extractive foraging, outperformed bonobos in the tool-use and causality scale."

Apes, Humans Play @ Zoo

National Zoo offers the chance to play tug-of-war with an orangutan. The ape might spray water at you or mist itself.

"It gives orangutans a chance to make decisions and demonstrate their ability to think."

"In April, the zoo plans to unveil a webcam controlled by orangutans."

22 Baby Dragons

At LA Zoo.

Polar Bears & Michelle Arms

O.K., this is a big stretch for my zoo and wildlife theme. [I regularly search for articles about zoos, polar bears, elephants, often ignoring stories about sports teams and cold-water swimmers called "polar bears" and "the elephant in the room", but...]

"One of the long traditions of the African-American community here is on display daily at the Inkwell, a small stretch of beach in Oak Bluffs where black vacationers and residents have been gathering since the early 1940s for early-morning swims, calling themselves the Martha’s Vineyard Polar Bears.

"About 20 bears were out yesterday for exercise and to gab with each other. The members, many of them north of age 60, were mostly African-American, though anybody is welcome. They are proud of the first family and delighted to have them on the island. The Polar Bear women perform a water aerobics exercise they call “Michelle Arms,’’ named for Mrs. Obama’s toned biceps and triceps."

Have What It Takes?

[UPDATE: 8/28/10 - understand now that this position listing was meant as an internal offering only.]

Position: Zookeeper II
Salary Range: $28,484 - $43,576
Hiring Range: $28,484 - $29,250
Location: Asheboro [NC]

Description of Work

Successful candidate will be assigned to the Watani Grasslands section working with African elephants. Responsibilities include daily assessment and care of exhibit/off-exhibit animal areas, systematic observation, maintains and trains husbandry behaviors applying principles of operant conditioning, develops and implements behavioral enrichment programs to elicit species-typical behaviors, visual observations, and written records for computer database. Reads assigned articles from scientific journals. Participates in team problem solving and decision making processes. Interaction with zoo visitors in formal and informal settings. Participates in occupational health programs due to potential exposures to zoonosis. Zookeeper II's serve as lead workers over assigned Zookeeper I's and temporaries. Schedule involves weekends & holidays and both indoor/outdoor work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Must have a thorough knowledge of animal husbandry including feeding and nutrition, record-keeping, animal capture & restraint, safety, and a thorough knowledge of biology including animal anatomy & physiology, ecology, and behavior for elephants. Must have good oral and written communication skills and good interpersonal skills. Knowledge of operant conditioning and/or environmental enrichment skills, basic computer knowledge for research & daily reporting. Must have good physical agility, strength, vision & hearing, and the ability to perform strenuous physical work in extremes of weather and challenging physical environments e.g. animal enclosures. Specifically, this means the ability to lift 50 pounds, walk, stand, see animals & exhibits for observation and safety as well as hear animal's sounds, radio communication and emergency situations. Must be able to lead work assignments.

Training and Experience Requirements

Graduation from a two-year technical or community college with a degree in Zoo Animal Technology or other related curriculum and two years of animal care experience in a zoo or related facility; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions. Degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.

Offenders Raise Frogs

"Staff and offenders at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Thurston County have had good success raising the Oregon spotted frog at the prison." [unexpected "Seattle Times" quote]

Rehabilitating endangered frogs and prisoners.

Heeeerree's Snotty!

Hellbender2WEB
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

Randolph Community College design students created this hellbender costume for the NC Zoo.

Micro Frog

Old World's smallest frog species (Microhyla nepenthicola) discovered inside pitcher plant in Borneo jungle. [@factZooAnimal RT @mzzainal]

"“...some specimens in museum collections...are over 100 years old...Scientists...thought they were juveniles of other species, but it turns out they are adults...”

Amazing Chimp Birth

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) says Suzie is the third oldest chimpanzee in North America’s better zoos. The 56 year-old is also a new mother!

Sunset Zoo (Manhattan, Kansas) announced the Aug. 18 birth on Monday, saying the mother and baby are in good health.

A 60 year-old chimp is quite elderly.

Zoo Hours 2 Coincide w/ Seasons

Popular Columbus Zoo changes hours.

Rare Capture!

3 birds measure dragon flies. [@AmazingPics]

Bat in Aviary?

Tacca integrifolia flower dg (2)
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

Bat flower...in the NC Zoo R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary. The SE Asian native is currently to your left upon entering the Aviary.

Stunning Shot!

Fishing white-tailed eagle captured in photo at water's surface, with talons extended. [@AmazingPics]

Marketing Hellbenders

A partnership of the NC Zoo Society, Randolph Community College and NC Zoological Park creates awareness of endangered, harmless, giant salamander by creating a "snot otter" costume. "Snotty" made first appearance at New River State Park in Ashe County, Saturday.

"...the species is an indicator of clean water and faces extinction in the next 50-80 years due to reduced water quality."

False Rumor

"On Thursday morning of this week around 8:30 a.m. keepers observed one of our female Gorillas carrying a small dead branch around the exhibit. Since we had a previous incident[,] we mobilized a response but the Gorilla never tried to use the branch to climb an enclosure wall and the branch turned out to be too small and rotted to have supported her if she did. Keepers quickly got the branch out of the exhibit without even bringing the Gorillas off exhibit." Ken Reininger, General Curator, NC Zoo.

"...there have been some rumors...that we had another attempted escape by a Gorilla. This was not the case."

Never Open to Public

Northwest Trek puts red wolves into an off-exhibit breeding facility. [@tdelene]

Northwest Trek is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Monkey w/ Red, Bushy Beard...

...discovered in Columbian Amazon rain forest. [@amazingPics RT @natgeowild]

"The cat-size primate is "fascinating" because it mates for life, an unusual trait among monkeys... Pairs are often spotted sitting on branches with their tails intertwined."

Dads do most of the infant care.

56.0 mpg

The NC Zoo Society company car has gone 433.6 miles so far on this tank of gas, averaging 55.9 mpg. I refilled the prior tank after 424 miles, at 56.2 mpg.

The 2010 Toyota Prius has averaged 54.0 mpg for more than the last 5500 miles.

This is better gas mileage than I attained driving the prior Zoo Society car, the first 2004 Prius sold in Asheboro, NC. (I also owned one of first 2001 Toyota hybrids sold in Asheboro.)

Flash Mob Freeze!

Just happened at Detroit Zoo, in front of Rachman Fountain. (Watches were synchronized a half hour prior to "the freeze".)

"Where's the Monkey?"

There was never a monkey. There was an ape...a chimpanzee. Now it is invisible.

Thanks for paying attention, Dodge.

Necks for Sex

Theory on giraffes' (especially the males') long necks and "thick skulls" is treated by Wild Muse [@tdelene].

"...the necks for sex hypothesis seems on the whole more supported within this paper than the necks for browsing hypothesis..."

"Comparing skulls of males and females that were the same length, they cite studies that document the male skulls to be up to four times heavier."

Video at the link shows male giraffes using longer necks and heavier skulls to club each other, in competition for females, it appears.

Polar Bear Ultrasound

San Diego Zoo senior keeper's blog post explains how "Miss Chinook" dealt with her first ultrasound in nine months. (Chinook was well trained and has a good memory: "...she gave a look that said “What took so long?” and immediately rolled over perfectly.")

arabische of witte oryx

arabische of witte oryx
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

belgianchocolate.

Helping Oiled Pelicans

The NC Zoological Park had requested (and the NC Zoo Society provided) funding to aid those who are cleaning pelicans affected by the Gulf/BP oil spill. Those funds are now being put to good use.

Visual Socialization

baby chimp-1
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

"Beth McChesney, a keeper at the North Carolina Zoo, watches a chimpanzee, born Aug. 2 at the zoo, as it rests in a nursery at the park. The infant had to be taken for hand-rearing shortly after it was determined that her first-time mother could not adequately care for her. The baby is healthy and eating well and weighs 3 lbs. 14 oz. She is cared for by staff 24 hours a day and is carried by them most of the time except for brief periods in an incubator. The goal is to get the infant back into the chimpanzee group as soon as possible. She is daily shown to the chimpanzee group for visual socialization.” (NC Zoo photo and cutline.)

Zoo Says RedFox Broke Rules

Toldeo Zoo report says elephant keeper broke two of its rules prior to near fatal encounter.

Rothchild's Giraffes Listed

Endangered. Pop: less than 2500 mature individuals. [@laelaps]

"Past Ready"

Bonobo sarcasm humor. "Inside the Minds of Animals" interview. [Thanks! @nczoosociety RT @EcoInteractive]

Orangutan Mimes

Study says orangs use pantomime.

"One animal indicated to researchers that it wanted a haircut, as a ruse to divert their attention while it stole something, according to the study." (Orangutan mime pickpocket?)

More Re: Nori

WXII TV 12 News video. Senior Keeper Jennifer Ireland explains. [Hat tip to Kelly Murphy on facebook]

Gorilla Nintendo

A "a butter-fingered boy, a hand-held Nintendo gaming system, a conveniently stationed professional photographer, and some videogame-loving gorillas."

Baboon Operant Conditioning

At the NC Zoo:

Nori to Be "Hand Reared"

The full NC Zoo media release:

"*Baby Chimp Removed For Hand-Rearing at N.C. Zoo*"

"ASHEBORO—A baby chimp born August 2 at the North Carolina Zoo was taken from its mother Saturday for hand-rearing by keepers and a specially trained group of neonatal volunteers after it was determined that the mother could not properly care for the infant.

"The baby chimp, named “Nori” by keepers, had been removed for brief periods throughout the week from her 16-year-old mother, Maki, for evaluation by keepers and veterinarians. The infant’s weight had not increased since its birth Monday.

"According to Zoo Curator of Mammals Terry Webb, although the infant has remained in good condition, the staff was unhappy with the way the first-time mother had been holding the baby, many times upside down, and her general care for it.

"Although several chimps have been hand-reared by the N.C. Zoo in the past, Webb emphasized that the mother was given every opportunity to prove her maternal abilities—an option better for both the infant, mother and the chimpanzee group. While the intervention is necessary, the staff will continue to evaluate their progress."

Better for All Now

"Chimp Update - "Nori" was taken from her mother Saturday for hand-rearing by keepers and a specially trained group of neonatal volunteers after it was determined that the mother "Maki" could not properly care for the infant. Zoo staff gave Maki every opportunity to prove her maternal abilities—an option better for...the infant, mother and the chimpanzee group."

(NC Zoo Society facebook page, taken from the NC Zoo press release)

Arctic Sea Ice Down

Second lowest July. Maintains rapid decline.

Update: Baby Nori

NC Zoo Mammal "Curator Terry Webb and Dr. Mike Loomis [lead veterinarian have] made the decision to [separate] the baby chimp [Nori] from her mother." [from NC Zoo duty officer Ellen Greer's report for August 7,8]

A Monday media release will give details.

Know all tried hard to find a way to keep them together. Know this will be for the best, going forward.

Baby Kookie & Tiny Duckling

Photo of duckling getting piggy-back ride on baby kookaburra. [@AmazingPics RT TelegraphPics]

[WARNING: Jarring cuteness contrast.]

Gangly Games

Mainly Mongoose (Lynda) writes about (and photographs) the giraffe calves which have taken an interest in her and her studies of mongoose. [@BoraZ] "Well, I've been playing Red light/green light for several days. And I'm always 'it'."

Much good giraffe biology here too.

"...giraffes need to grow lungs eight times bigger than our own, just to get a breath of fresh air. If we tried to use a two metre long windpipe, our lungs would draw in and exhale the same stale air, over and over, until we asphyxiated."

Muskrat on Boardwalk

Good name for a rock band, Dave Barry?

Saw a muskrat on the first long boardwalk I reached on the Bald Eagle Trail approach from the trail head near Brass Eagle Loop, Greensboro, as I jogged toward Lake Higgins this morning.

Further along the boardwalk I spotted, in the water, a well-developed, first-year, bull frog tadpole, and then, in a bush on the other side of the boardwalk, one of those local, spider-killing, wasp-looking insects, that appear a smaller cousin of the tarantula hawk. ("The tarantula hawk is relatively docile and rarely stings without provocation. The sting, particularly of Pepsis formosa, is among the most painful of any insect, but the intense pain only lasts for about 3 minutes. Commenting on his own experience, one researcher described the pain as "…immediate, excruciating pain that simply shuts down one's ability to do anything, except, perhaps, scream. Mental discipline simply does not work in these situations."")

Recent Word on Nori

From the NC Zoo, about baby chimpanzee Nori, on facebook, four hours ago: "She is healthy but remains under careful watch. Maki, a first-time mother, is not exhibiting all the mothering skills the staff had hoped but is showing interest and affection for the baby.

"Chimps have been hand-reared at the N.C. Zoo, but the mother will be given every opportunity to prove her maternal abilities."

Skinnier Brown Bears

Why does this Alaskan brown bear viewing guide report skinnier bears in his 2010 Field Trip Earth journal?

"I have to say the high water level has made it hard for the bears to catch fish, which leads to reduced, and slowed, weight gain."

And who is "The Mayor"?

"The bear I call "The Mayor" was constantly being tested by other bears for his top spot. Fortunately for him, his size, weight and attitude is all he needed to retain the top position on the river (though see his scar in the photo in the right-hand Media Gallery)."

Excavation

Two ants. [Photo]

Philly Zoo Baby Giraffe

Watch it run.

How to Overfish

An overfishing endpoint is in sight at the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. [Wild Muse]

The fishing history looks like a strategic plan to reach "endpoint": "The authors conclude that the trawl closure had helped to maintain the fisheries through to the 1960s, and its removal led to the collapse of bottomfish populations. The intensive trawling for bottom species that ensued then prevented the recovery of other species by destroying seabed habitat needed for spawning."

Yet there's still hope: "This once diverse and highly productive environment will only be restored if trawl closures or other protected areas are re-introduced. The Firth of Clyde represents at a small scale a process that is occurring ocean-wide today, and its experience serves as a warning to others."

Pretty in Pink

The NC Zoo's Rod Hackney paints a picture of the NC Zoo Society's recent trip to Kenya, as it reaches Lake Nakuru.

"We spotted a female lion resting high above in a tree, perhaps digesting a recent kill, and a large number of zebras and their colts paraded by our vans, brandishing their signature black and white striped coats.

"As we toured the lake’s circumference on a system of well-traveled trails, we also happened upon a hyena den where three pups nervously awaited the return of their mother and a fresh meal. Marabou storks, with their long beaks and tuxedo-like attire, were also plentiful around the lakeshore, and waddled into the giant pink mass to mix with the flamingoes."

I asked for a big smile and this is what he gave me

I asked for a big smile and this is what he gave me
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Nature Science Center, Greensboro, NC, tiger photo by ucumari.

Her title too.

Great Vet Residency Grad

"A great article on Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka., who received her masters degree in Veterinary Medicine from NC State and did her internship/externship at the NC Zoo! A fine example of the importance and impact of the NC Zoo's Veterinary Residence program." [NC Zoo Society facebook page]

"Kalema together with her husband Lawrence Zikusoka and Stephen Rubanga, a veterinary technician, founded the Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH) gorilla research clinic to improve both human and ecological health", in Uganda.

"In 2008, she received the Conservation-in-Action Award from San Diego Zoo. The previous year, Seed Magazine had named her one of their eight Revolutionary Minds in Science..."

Bit More on Baby Nori

News & Observer on NC Zoo baby chimpanzee.

"Maki was tranquilized while baby Nori was weighed. Both appeared to be healthy, so Nori returned to nurse briefly."

Snail Spit Pain Pills

Better than morphine? [@bugdreams RT @BreakingScience]]

"Chemicals from sea snail saliva can be made into pain pills that work as well as morphine, but without the risk of addiction, a new study says."

Whales Smell!

A sense of smell has been revealed in bowhead whales. [@iescience RT @shirlsmore HT @stevesilberman]

"...scientists suspect the bowhead whales sniff out krill swarms.

"The whales' sense of smell was revealed when scientists dissected their bodies and found olfactory hardware linking the brain and nose, and functional protein receptors required to smell.

"Previously, whales and dolphins were thought to lack the ability.

"Details are published in the journal Marine Mammal Science." [BBC Earthnews]

The Name's Nori

The NC Zoo baby chimpanzee has been named Nori.

Mother Maki is still not caring for Nori as she could if she knew better how.

Nori suckles well when Maki has been anesthetized.

The keeper and veterinary staff are doing all they can to try not to have to fully separate mother and baby, and initiate human hand-rearing. Attempts are being made to train Maki to present Nori to a bottle.

Consideration is also being given to a later possibility of introducing Nori to a surrogate, chimpanzee mother - another zoo chimp mother.

NC Zoo general curator Ken Reininger reports that Maki was held, as a baby, in the same inappropriate manner in which she is holding Nori.

Orangs Burn Few Calories

"...orangutans burn fewer calories than a human couch potato."

Study of Great Ape Trust orangs to be published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

"...the orangutans may have evolved this parsimonious metabolism to avoid starving when the ripe fruits that they eat periodically become scarce in their native rainforests. The evolutionary tradeoff is that orangutans grow slowly and reproduce at a low rate."

Snow Showers Sat./Sun.

ZooCOOL 2010 at the NC Zoo this Saturday and Sunday will feature “snow” showers in the African, Wachovia Akiba Marketplace, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cold treats will be provided the animals on exhibit on the following schedule:

Polar Bears 11 a.m.
Puffins (Sat. only) 11:30 a.m.
Cougars 1 p.m.
Baboons 12 p.m.
Bald Eagle (Sun. only) 1:30 p.m.
Sonora Desert Animals 1:30 p.m.
Gorillas 1:30 p.m.
Chimpanzees 2 p.m.

Baby Chimp Fine, But...

The new NC Zoo baby chimpanzee will be off-exhibit indefinitely [NC Zoo media release, this a.m.]:

"Today’s scheduled media and public viewing of the chimpanzee born at the North Carolina Zoo Monday has been postponed indefinitely.

"Problems arose Monday night when zoo keepers observed that the mother was failing to properly care for the infant chimp.

"Although both mother and baby are doing well today, they will remain off exhibit for now.

"By noon today, a decision will be made either to let the mother keep the infant or to take the baby from its mother for hand-rearing by zoo staff."

Rather than hold the baby to her chest, face in, Maki had been observed yesterday holding the baby face out and/or upside down. Nursing was a concern.

Mouse-Eye Views of Elephant

Two mouse-perspective photos of African elephant.

Maki & Baby

Chimp Baby 2010
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

Chimpanzee born today.

NC Zoo photo by Kat Ahern.

A Chimp Is Born

[from NC Zoo media release] "A chimpanzee was born early Monday at the North Carolina Zoo, the first of its species to be born at the zoo in 12 years.

"The yet-to-be-named infant is a female and was delivered around 7:30 a.m. Monday. The mother is Maki, a 16-year-old female who was born at the N.C. Zoo. The father is Sokoto, a nine-year-old male who came to Asheboro in 2007 from the Miami Metro Zoo.
Both mother and infant were in good condition Monday afternoon. They are expected to be on exhibit when the zoo opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

"The zoo staff had known of the pregnancy for several months. The Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums had recommended pairing Sokoto and Maki last year.

"Monday[']s birth brings the number of chimps in the N.C. Zoo to 13..., [keeping it] "the largest chimp troop in U.S. zoos."

No Predator Eliminates Its Food

Wolves are not killing as many elk as hunters believe. [@Laelaps]

"the Idaho Department of Fish and Game summarized recent elk studies and found only a minority of elk populations are declining and wolves are culprits in few."

"No predator has ever eliminated its food..."

55.8 MPG

The NC Zoo Society co. car (Toyota Prius) is doing 55.8 miles per gallon so far on this tank of gas, through 469.8 miles.

Big Schindler Rehab July

The Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of the NC Zoo Society and Zoological Park admitted 126 animals in July.
July Releases:
Birds:
1 Summer Tanager, 2 Tufted Titmouse, 1 Mallard Duck, 6 Eastern Bluebirds, 3 Northern Mockingbirds, 1 Red-Tailed Hawk, 4 Canada Geese, 3 Northern Flickers, 2 American Robins, 4 European Starlings.
Mammals:
7 Eastern Cottontails, 5 Virginia Opossums
Herps:
1 Eastern Box Turtle.

Myth: Alpha Male Dominance

New understanding of wolf behavior reveals the myth of alpha male dominance and its usefulness in managing the behavior of dogs. [@BoraZ RT @bjkingape]

It appears that "leadership by showing a good example, not dominance" is the better way of dealing with dogs (not to mention other sentient creatures, including, oh yes, people).

Huge Ship Kills Whale?

A "hotel on the water", the Sapphire Princess, found a dead humpback whale pinned to its bow.

The 2670-passenger cruise ship is one of the world's largest.

The NC Zoo Society uses cruise ships which host under 200 passengers when its members enter Alaska's "Inside Passage". (And no humpback "stalking" is practiced or tolerated.)

It makes for a much better experience. The humpbacks seem to approach the size of the ship, and you can get over Tracy Bar and into Tracy Arm to get close to glaciers without waiting in line for your turn behind the cruise ship behemoths. (And you don't hit 40-ton creatures without even knowing it.)

[@Laelaps RT @WhySharksMatter RT @EcoPreservation]

CELLebrate!

Fun, microscopic-life, animated video:Micropatterns CELLEBRATE HomePage . [@Sciencegoddess]