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NC Zoo Society billboards
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

@NCZooSociety.

The Society's billboards, as designed by the NC Zoo's De Potter, also won an award in the 2010 American Graphic Design Awards competition.


NC Zoo design staff member Diane Villa was also awarded for a logo she created for Kibale Forest Coalition for Conservation Education, a partnership of the NC Zoo, the Society and others in Uganda. Upstretched arms and hands of various shades form the trunks of stylish trees in her winning design.

A Winner!

Alive cover
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

The NC Zoo Society's "Alive" magazine, as designed by the NC Zoo's De Potter, won an award in the 2010 American Graphic Design competition.

"Panda Cows"

Nashville Zoo has now added three Belted Galloway cattle to its historic farm exhibit collection.

These "Oreo" cattle are "sometimes known as "belties" or "panda cows".

Eat your heart out, San Diego.

Moonlight Wolf Howl

After the NC Zoo closes. October 23, 7:30 p.m. Red Wolves may howl.

Male Elk may bugle. Great Horned Owl may hoot. Moon may shine down. (This is nature, so no guarantees.)

Donation.

Starling cloud

Starling cloud
Originally uploaded by Rodents rule

by Rodents rule.

Roosting on the Bayou

In Houston, on the 12th, for the AZA annual conference, Ann and i found ourselves on the bayou near the aquarium at sunset. As we sat on a bench, starlings began to roost on the building across the bayou, as well as on some large, tall works of urban art, and in the nearby trees.

Soon they were arriving by the hundreds and then by the thousands. Large "clouds" of starlings would settle in. Cloud after cloud kept coming, as time passed and we stayed on for the show. Then they started moving off - cloud by cloud - until all was as it had been and Ann and i too moved on.

Taking "oo out of poo"

"Were number one at number two." [@BoraZ]

"Went to the UC Davis Vet School store on the way to work and found a display selling Paper from [animal] Poo."

Willy Loves New Toy

Willy's back
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Willy has found a toy with which he really wants to spend time. Ucumari's NC Zoo photos (click on this one to see four more).

Incredible!

An "Incredible India" tourism ad features a photo of three African elephants in an African savannah.

Much embarrassment over full-page ad in leading newspapers with tagline "Biodiversity: our greatest treasure". (Not THAT diverse!)

Winners II

Winners - Pennies for Polar Bears
Originally uploaded by russ williams iii

Ms. Dunn's Tabernacle Elementary (Randolph County, NC) third grade class won the first Pennies for Polar Bears effort to raise the most pennies last year for Project: Polar Bears. The class was back this year, to kick off a bigger, more wide spread Pennies for Polar Bears campaign, at the NC Zoo's Rocky Coast exhibit, today.

Accidental Eden

Cuba. [@OceanDoctor]

ucumari loves bears...

Smoky de Bear
Originally uploaded by ucumari

...including this Grandfather Mountain black bear. (Taken in June.)

New Imaging Techology...

...shows inside a python digesting a rat. [@edyong209 RT @kzelnio]

Exquisite Snow Leopard Cub

Video captured in the wild. [@Laelaps RT @NHillgarth @greenroofsuk]

Secret Life: Harvest Mouse

From one year of observation by two photographers, 17 great pix. [@petapixel]

"...doesn't get much better..."

"...than the zoo"..."when it comes to science communication..." [@bellekitten]

"The “Wipe for Wildlife” posters were everywhere. This is a campaign to encourage people to use toilet paper made from recycled materials."

Let Me "Axe"...

... are we "Sure" we should not "Ban" this as non-science? [@BoraZ]

Researcher says these birds need deodorant and he hopes to create it.

"He said the kiwi smelled like mushrooms or ammonia, while the flightless kakapo parrot's odor was like "musty violin cases", possibly contributing to its endangered status."

Actually, he has garnered a significant grant for his study.

Pupil Returns as Facilitator Krouse

NC Zoo polar bear keeper Marissa Krouse will return to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, in a new role (from an NC Zoo media release today):

"An educator and zoo keeper from the North Carolina Zoo will travel to the tundra near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, in late September and early October, for a week-long Communicators’ Leadership Camp sponsored by Polar Bears International (PBI), a leading conservation group.

"The two, educator Steve Gerkin and polar-bear keeper Marissa Krouse, will join 18 other educators, zookeepers and public relations professionals from the U.S. and Canada.

"Krouse, who attended the leadership camp last year as a student, was asked to return as a facilitator for this year's class of zookeepers due to the enthusiasm and commitment she demonstrated last year and due to her work on behalf of polar-bear conservation over the past year, according to N.C. Zoo General Curator Ken Reininger.

"The goal of the camp is to inspire, inform and empower zoo professionals to advocate for environmental stewardship in their home communities. The two will additionally learn about polar bears, climate change and how each of us can help.

"Churchill’s polar bears, part of the Western Hudson Bay population, draw visitors from around the world during their fall migration. Every summer, these bears are driven ashore when the ice on the bay melts, taking away their seal-hunting grounds. They spend the next few months resting and fasting. As cold weather returns, they begin to gather on the shore near Churchill to wait for the ice to form—which Krouse and Gerkin will witness."

Got Invasive Tree Snakes?

Bomb them with poisoned, parachuted mice. [@edyong209]

"The new plan: kill the snakes by feeding them acetaminophen, which even in small amounts is poisonous to them. (The typical dose for humans is about 1000 milligrams; a mere 80 milligrams will kill a tree snake.)

“...the snakes aren’t big pill poppers, so the researchers decided to deliver the poison dose by stuffing Tylenol tablets in the mouths of dead mice, an appetizing snake snack."

"...using streamers and cardboard from a party store, researchers at the USGS were able to fashion a parachute, which would land the mice in the canopy, where the tree snakes gobble them up and promptly die."

This saves Guam's native snake ("a tiny, blind worm-like little guy") and more.

Life size Pez dispenser?

Life size Pez dispenser?
Originally uploaded by ucumari

"Willy has a new toy!" Photo & quote by ucumari.

Saw Willy with this yesterday too. He had a blast with it!

7th Sweep

[from NC Zoo media release, 9/23/10]
“The North Carolina Zoo will again coordinate this year’s fall Big Sweep activities in Randolph County on Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. until noon.

“Now in its seventh year, North Carolina Big Sweep is the nation’s first state-wide litter prevention and cleanup campaign and is again allied with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

“Annual participation in the [Randolph] county event has increased from 107 volunteers, who collected 3,800 pounds of litter in 2004, to the 1,621 participants who collected almost 50,000 pounds of litter in 2009. More than 18,000 people participated statewide last year.”

Searching

The NC Zoo is searching for a new female lion through the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Species Survival Program (SSP).

More Baboons

Two of the Hamadryas baboons at the NC Zoo are pregnant. One is due shortly, the other in December.

The Boys Have Arrived

A male zebra and five male vampire bats have recently arrived at the NC Zoo.

Pennies for Polar Bears (Again)

From an NC Zoo media release dated today. The North Carolina Zoological Society and the Zoo School kick off another "Pennies for Polar Bears" season:

"ASHEBORO — The Asheboro High School Zoo School, in partnership with the North Carolina Zoological Society, is kicking off a penny drive to raise funds for “Project: Polar Bears,” to expand the North Carolina Zoo’s Polar Bear Exhibit.

"The “Pennies for Polar Bears” project enlists the help of students from all North Carolina Elementary Schools. Each school voluntarily decides to participate to raise money for one month beginning October 1st.

"Through mid-September, 38 elementary schools in 26 North Carolina counties have committed to raising money for “Pennies for Polar Bears.”"

Media Release Dated Tomorrow

From an Association of Zoos and Aquariums media release dated 9/23/10 (the NC Zoo is reaccredited):

"Silver Spring, Maryland (September 23, 2010) – The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) has announced that the North Carolina Zoo was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission.

"The announcement was made at the AZA National Conference held last week in Houston, TX. N.C. Zoo Director Dr. David Jones represented the zoo before the accreditation committee at the conference.

"“The North Carolina Zoo is one of the best in the world because it has met the highest standards in the world,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “It takes hard work and dedication to meet AZA Accreditation Standards.”"

baby belayan

baby belayan
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

by belgian-chocolate.

"Almost Perfect Crime"

Zookeeper grows "pot" in rhino enclosure. [Hat tip: Elizabeth Garrison McChesney on facebook]

Coincidenza!

Q. At which southern California construction site is a 3-million-year-old whale uncovered?

A. At the site of a planned water tank at the San Diego Zoo!

Q. Is it a good fossil?

A. “This is one is pretty close to complete.”

Julie Died in Her Sleep

It did not seem that I had been long at the annual conference of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Houston when Dr. Jayne Owen Parker, of the NC Zoo Society staff, let me know that Julie the giraffe had died in her sleep Monday night, 9/13/10.

Jayne would be likely a first to know, as her husband Bill Parker is senior zookeeper with responsibilities for the giraffes, among others.

Julie was one of the "original" giraffes in the Forest Edge habitat, the very first of the existing Zoo's exhibits, when it opened in 1979.

She lived on its three-and-one-half acres and in its back areas for over 30 years. She was 33 years old, the second oldest in captivity, and well beyond the giraffe-average 20-25 years.

Her heart gave out in her sleep last Monday. She is missed.

10 Years, 10 Seconds

Dr. Rich Bergl has been studying Cross River gorillas for 10 years and has observed them for no more than 10 seconds. The NC Zoo researcher has learned much about the illusive gorillas, however.

"Bergl and colleagues rely on clues the great apes leave behind. Researchers can tell how many gorillas are in a group, what they eat, and where they go by analyzing their trails, dung and nests - the beds of leaves and twigs the animals make each night for sleeping."

The Charlotte and Raleigh dailies told his story and the story of NC Zoo veterinarian/researcher Dr. Mike Loomis, who also studies in Cameroon. But Mike tracks the larger, African elephant.

Messy Eater

See Kansas City Zoo baby sea lion eat formula of herring, water, whipping cream and salmon oil. Yummy and fattening!

Shark Allies

Cuba & USA. [@OceanDoctor]

Mixed Reviews for "Bear Hug"

Nissan Leaf TV ad gets widely diverse reaction. (Real life advice: avoid Polar bear hugs at all costs!)

Dead Fish Flying

Dead flying fish in a wind tunnel still great glider. [@BoraZ]

"Angle of takeoff matters, as does elevation."

"Transition Song"

@BirdDive RT @bgblogging: "Listening to strings of geese overhead backed up by the drone of insects in the field: transition song."

Wasp on White Clover

@Photobug52

Gorilla Art

Gorilla plate
Originally uploaded by russlings

Zoo to Do (NC Zoo Society dinner/dance/auction) is tomorrow night. A favorite auction avail is "The 'famous' gorilla pottery painting by Nkosi & New Salem Pottery". [NC Zoo Society facebook page]

Bowerbirds' Forced Perspective

Male bowerbirds appear to create a forced perspective stage on which to impress the females. How smart is that? [@BoraZ]

"...bowerbirds are closely related to some of the smartest of all birds – crows, ravens, jays and their kin."

Baby Pygmy Pix

Baby pygmy hippo photos from Poland's Wroclaw Zoo.

Bunnies Are Jealous

Too cute? (Woke up in Alaska some years back to find a raft of sea otters waking themselves at the bow of the Yorktown Clipper; treat of a lifetime!)

Ant vs. Elephant

At one-billionth the size, the ant drives the elephant away from one plentiful African acacia tree.

"Columns of angered ants will crawl up into elephant trunks to repel the ravenous beasts from devouring tree cover throughout drought-plagued East African savannas, playing a potentially important role in regulating carbon sequestration in these ecosystems..."

"The researchers decided to test whether these tiny ants were repelling the world’s largest land mammal by serving as bodyguards for the tree in exchange for shelter and the food it supplied in the form of a sugary nectar solution."

"...they offered elephants at a wildlife orphanage a choice between these “ant plant” trees, with and without ants on the branches, and their favorite species of tree, the Acacia mellifera, to which the researchers added ants to some of its otherwise antless branches.

“We found the elephants like to eat the “ant plant” trees just as much as they like to eat their favorite tree species, and that when either tree species had ants on them, the elephants avoided those trees like a kid avoids broccoli..."

Zoo Doesn't Want These Animals

[from an NC Zoo e-mail today from General Curator Ken Reininger] "We are experiencing a fairly regular problem with raccoons getting stuck inside the blue dumpster next to the Ed Bldg. Can you pass the word to everyone in your office to make sure the doors to this dumpster are closed after using it?"

Sea Lion Mauls Boy

Taronga Zoo sea lion injures young participant in "show".

'Nother Nasty Recession Job

Full-suit saber-tooth tiger puppeteer. [@Laelaps]

"Extremely hot, claustrophobic full-suit puppet with limited sight range. … Must carry 73 pounds on back in a crawling position, supported by arm stilts for periods of 20 minutes, multiple times a day."

Dog Swims with Dolphin

Regularly! [Hat tip: Susan Eyerman Armusik via Joyce Fink on facebook]

Zoo Atlanta Apologizes...

...for "highly uncharacteristic" rattlesnake escape.

Lion Loses Cancer Battle

[from NC Zoo media release of this afternoon]

"A female lion was euthanized at the North Carolina Zoo Friday morning after veterinarians determined that mammary cancer had spread to the point that she would not recover.

"The 12-year-old female had been at the N.C Zoo since 2002 after being transferred from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas. According to Zoo Senior Veterinarian Dr. Ryan DeVoe, the lion has only been diagnosed with the problem two weeks ago, but her condition had declined rapidly.

"“The cancer had metastasized to the lungs and she was suffering,” DeVoe said. “There was nothing we could do for her.”

"Meanwhile, the zoo’s nine-year-old male lion remains on exhibit and in good health. Efforts to find a replacement for the female have not yet begun. There are currently no other lions in the collection."

Good News for Frogs

The 10,000th Chiricahua leopard frog reared at the Phoenix Zoo's Conservation Center has been released into the Arizona wilderness.

The Chiricahua leopard frog has a "distinctive salt and pepper pattern on the rear of the thigh of adults and some juveniles, [along with] dorsolateral folds that are interrupted and inset towards the rear, stocky body proportions, eyes that are relatively high and upturned on the head; and relatively rough skin on the back and sides."

The Chiricahua leopard frog "grows to be about four inches, and inhabits a range of open freshwater bodies from excavations to large ponds."

Wild Horses & Earl

North Carolina wild horses have a hurricane "plan". [Tip of hat to Governor Perdue retweet of @visitnc]

Vampire Bats & Kangaroo Rats

Don't know the details...just like the sound of it: more vampire bats and kangaroo rats are coming to the NC Zoo Sonora Desert pavilion General Curator Ken Reininger announced at management staff meeting this morning.

"i rock for snot otters"

Why does it say "i rock for snot otters" on the costume Randolph Community College design students have created for the NC Zoo hellbender mascot?

"Snotty", the Eastern Hellbender (giant salamander), helps the Zoo's curator of reptiles and amphibians, John Groves educate folks about this "Species of Concern", also known as the snot otter.

Groves' research sees him, and others, finding and counting the big salamanders in the pristine mountain streams they require. You have to turn over many large "rocks" to find one hellbender.