Do the Math

Bismarck, N.D. appears to be fighting a losing battle with Missouri River flooding:

"Officials say over 4 million sandbags need to be filled by Thursday. Volunteers have filled nearly 20,000 sandbags at Bismarck's three manned sandbag sites so far on Memorial Day. Between 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., an estimated 19,910 sandbags were filled and given out to homeowners.

"Rain has slowed work at the city's sandbag sites, but the need for volunteers remains, as North Dakota National Guard soldiers will soon be reassigned."

On a bank of the River, Dakota Zoo moved animals out last week.

"Sure to Be a "Weiner""

Detroit Zoo.

"It is with great relish that the Detroit Zoological Society announces the opening of an American Coney Island at the Detroit Zoo. The restaurant is sure to be a “wiener” with zoo visitors..."

Just hangin' out

Just hangin' out, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

This photo and a couple "below" (double click on the photo) are by ucumari (her title too). National Zoo.

Bismarck Needs 4 Million Sand Bags

Filled in five days. One of two spider sand-bagging operations filled 100,000 bags in two-and-one-half day, 24/7, National Guard-led effort.

Volunteers needed! Just bring work gloves and "can do" attitude.

Dakota Zoo Flood Prep

Video.

Dakota Zoo Remains Closed...

...because Missouri River remains at/near flood stage in Bismarck, North Dakota.

"Tunnel of Love" 4 Zoo Pandas

Edinburgh Zoo will build a private tunnel for breeding pair of giant pandas.

“The tunnel means that they can meet up at controlled times and there are enough areas away from the public where they can go and hide away together.” [The Telegraph]

25K Miles @ 54 m.p.g.

The NC Zoo Society Toyota Prius has gone 25,000 miles at 54.0 miles per gallon. Expect it to go higher through the summer months. (It lost a little ground through the cooler months.)

Some like it hot.

Of Course

"A visit to a zoo increases science and environment knowledge in children more than books or classroom teaching alone, a British study found."

And a visit to the symphony, mixed with a great elementary school teacher's program of lessons prior and after, made all the difference, 50-plus years ago, for this appreciator of music.

"The findings showed a 53 percent positive change in educational or conservation-related knowledge areas, personal concern for endangered species or desire to participate in conservation efforts..."

Quagga?

What do you think of this? (I'm thinking "not".) [Hat tip: Bob Sebrosky]

Flooding Closes Dakota Zoo

Flooding potential closes AZA-accredited, North Dakota zoo. Current status.

Penquin Beach

At London Zoo. Fun video.

Probably for the Best

The lost polar bear cub will not be reunited with its mother and sibling. They might not accept it.

""And yet, if you think of the specifics of this case, the choice for this cub was perish in the wild or come into captivity...With this life trajectory for her, this bear has the opportunity to be an ambassador for polar bears, for the Arctic, and to really be an educational symbol. That's a tremendous benefit."

A final home has not been chosen for the bear, but "a likely destination is the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. It has all the physical and handler requirements for the bear.

"They also are going to have the next youngest polar bear at that facility as well, and so the companionship enrichment of young bears is really important..."

Okapi Copy

There's a baby okapi at the Brookfield Zoo.

Watch her stick out her long blue tongue. She will grow it to about 16 inches in length.

Dwarf forest giraffe, with zebra stripes below.

"Let's Brachiate!"

Great National Zoo orangutan photo. By pixelmasseuse.

"Can you say brachiation?"

Check

Up. "The baboon troop’s annual medical check ups have been completed." [May 17 Senior Staff notes, NC Zoological Park]

Check that off as done.

Go Dogs!

Drink water as well as those cats! [RT @edyong209]

Wrapping Up

Winding down. Drying out.

Dr. Mike looks ahead to his next visit to Cameroon.

His report on this visit will focus on elephant poaching.

"Considerable Logistics Exercise"

"Two of the female rhinos will be artificially inseminated next Tuesday using fresh semen taken from rhino bulls in Texas. A considerable logistics exercise is enacted in doing this and involves an expert team from Germany." [also from Director Jones, in NC Zoo senior staff notes 5/18/11]

NC Zoological Park veteran marketing pro Rod Hackney tells me that he is the semen courier, making a quick round flight to Texas tomorrow. He will then videotape the insemination procedure.

A recent bequest through the NC Zoo Society for elephant and rhino breeding will fund the considerable exercise.

"Poacher Encounter"

"So, even though we did not collar any elephants on this trip, we made an important contribution by highlighting the poaching issue here, and by confiscating a weapon and ammo that were being used for poaching. Also, we learned about a large clearing in the area that may offer excellent elephant habitat and, therefore, may be worth seeking legal protection for. We will explore that area when we return to this region." [Dr. Mike Loomis, Chief Veterinarian, North Carolina Zoological Park, field diary entry today]

"Usually Fertile'

"There have been a number of significant hatchings in the Aviary including the Yellow Rumped Cacique, Green Woodhoopoe, Golden White-eye, and Pekin Robins. Our breeding female Wattled Crane, one of the oldest in the country at 42, laid a second egg this year. They are usually fertile." [North Carolina Zoological Park Director David M. Jones, senior staff meeting notes - May 18]

The Ocean Freezes Over...

...in just a few days. The polar bears head out onto the pack ice:

Watch the full episode. See more Nature.

Frustrations

"All team members are tired and frustrated...three men with malaria...others are suffering from other digestive problems..."

"...expect to spend Friday in the field, but we are unsure what will happen after..." [Elephants of Cameroon field diary, 5/19/11].

Flashlight Shared by 10...

...near the end of a long day of elephant tracking in Cameroon.

Seven Little Lions

Another treat of our trip to the National Zoo was seeing all seven of the African lions born there in the Fall. Lots of activity as they shared the good-sized exhibit with Dad.

Can You Say Brachiation?!

Saw National Zoo orangutans cross the zoo >above< us Friday! Ann and I are back from several days in D.C. Wasn't sure about another trip to the Zoo. Sure glad we did! Did not expect we would see their orangs pass over our heads via rope brachiation, although I had read with interest when they created the exhibit - "The O Line". But what a sight it was!

First Documented Case

Ugandan chimpanzees may be hunting red colobus monkeys to extinction. [@BoraZ RT @johnplatt]

"...first documented case of a nonhuman primate significantly overhunting another primate species."

"Poaching Pressure?"

Dr. Mike seeks to explain dearth of elephants where he is now in Cameroon.

C'sar Back on His Feet Again

C’sar is doing fine, but his scheduled cataract surgery has been made very problematic, NC Zoological Park mammal curator Guy Lichty told me in the hall this morning.

The 37-year-old bull African elephant was unable to stand Sunday, without a great deal of help, after a routine training program called for him to get down on his side. This training was designed to prepare him for eye surgery and had been no problem for weeks prior to Sunday.

NC zookeepers, veterinary staff, the local rescue squad, air-lift bags and a heavy-duty, electronic hoist system, provided through the NC Zoo Society for just such a possibility (a down elephant in need of help to stand) were required to get C’sar back on his feet.

Guy shared that he has since heard an anecdotal report that older male African elephants tend to stop lying down at some point due to the difficulty of getting their large bodies, heads and tusks back up.

C’sar weighs over 13,000 pounds.

Zedbra

Zedbra, a photo by Jayden Rebchuk on Flickr.

San Diego Zoo.

"The Scoop on Poop:"

"The Science of What Animals Leave Behind". (Saturday, September 11, at Port Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA.

Prius Pinnacle

The NC Zoo Society 2010 Prius is near the end of a record-setting tank of gas. It has traveled 520.0 miles so far at an average 59.0 miles per gallon. (The on-board computer tells me it can go another 20 miles on this tank, but I will refill soon... before it runs dry!)

The hybrid has now traveled about 24,000 miles at an average 53.9 m.p.g.

Handsome Polar Bear

Check out this Churchill, Manitoba, polar bear portrait by ucumari and see why this one is "all rights reserved".

Impressive Insect Pix

"I will never cease to be impressed by @myrmecos, a man who can go into his garden and take these shots" [@edyong209] and identify them!

Detroit Zoo: Polar Bear Champ

Detroit Zoo, where NC Zoo polar bear Aquila now resides, as preparations for "Project: Polar Bears" construction begin, has been named a "Champion of Polar Bears" by Polar Bears International.

Weird Elephant Fact (#?)

"Lincoln Park Zoo [Chicago] acquired Judy from Brookfield Zoo [also Chicago] in 1943. But the 35-year-old elephant refused to ride in a flatbed truck, so she walked the 18 miles to her new home. Escorted by zoo staff and motorcycle cops, Judy set off at 7 p.m. and traversed the western suburbs and the West Side, resting for two hours in Garfield Park before reaching Lincoln Park at 2:15 a.m."

[Mark Jacob, deputy metro editor, Chicago Tribune; Stephan Benzkofer, Tribune weekend editor.]

"A Little Lost"

Or "essentially no progress after four and one-half hours of [very difficult] hiking".

NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis reports on an early, Elephants of Cameroon "guided" trek.

"As we've been hiking, though, we have also been looking for elephant sign. We're seeing plenty of that, so our spirits are pretty good at this point."

Take Care...

Crete, Greece & Turkey, a photo by russ williams iii on Flickr.

...of our Earth. Seen here are Crete, Greece and Turkey from the International Space Station. (Hat tip: JAmes K Gimzewski - facebook)

Zoo in a Suitcase

Disgusting.

Man arrested at Thai airport had baby exotic animals in his luggage.

"...along with clothes and other objects, were two leopards, two panthers, an Asiatic black bear and two macaque monkeys..." ("panthers" might have been black leopards?)

"...the maximum fine for trafficking animals [in Thailand] is about $1,300. Any one of the apprehended cubs could fetch $5,000 -- sometimes more -- on the black market."

"There are few consequences for even those who have been charged. [The smuggler] was released on bail" the same day.

Bird is the Word!

The NC Zoo will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day this Saturday with educational activities and special music:

Information Stations located near the Aviary

Bird Biofacts: Hands-on station - discover more about bird eggs, beaks, and feet.

Birdwatching and Birdsong: Guests in the RJ Reynolds Forest Aviary can use binoculars to look for some of the 100 birds found there. Also – experience some of the bird songs of our local birds.

Special Music in Junction Plaza: Gary Lewis and the “Swing On” band - 11am – 2pm (in front of mural)

There will be more, including many giveaways and opportunities to talk with staff and volunteers throughout the day.

Bronx Peahen Back at Zoo

The Bronx Zoo's "escaped" peahen has been returned, but not before "she" too did some tweeting:

"“Just wandered into a flock of pigeons and they made me their queen. That's right, you little rats of the air, bow to me.”"

Pondering life's mysteries

Pondering life's mysteries, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

Before Aquila left the NC Zoo for Detroit, by ucumari.

Winner

dief, a photo by belgianchocolate on Flickr.

Gull and penguin compete for fish at Antwerp Zoo (Beauval). belgianchocolate captures the action. BTW, he titles this "Thief" ("dief").

BronxZoosPeahen

Now a female pea fowl "escapes" the Bronx Zoo.

"Seriously, peacock!? We agreed we'd go tomorrow at dawn!" responds @BronxZoosCobra.

Aquila Has Left the Zoo

[from NC Zoological Park media release today]

"Aquila, one of two polar bears at the North Carolina Zoo, was sent to the Detroit Zoo today while his exhibit undergoes a two-year expansion and renovation beginning in the summer. Wilhelm, the zoo's other polar bear, will remain on exhibit until the construction begins and will then be housed in an off- exhibit area during the renovations.

"Born in 1992, Aquila arrived at the N.C. Zoo in 1994 with two other cubs who made up the zoo's original polar bear collection. The three cubs, all siblings, came from the Louisville (KY) Zoo and remained together at the N.C. Zoo until Aquila was sent back to the Louisville Zoo in 2002.

"Then, after a short stay at the Cleveland Zoo in 2008, Aquila returned to the N.C. Zoo in 2009. He is one of five different polar bears who have called the N.C. Zoo home."

Try Not Get Too Attached

It is tough when you are dealing with "baby bear", the orphaned polar bear cub now at the Alaska Zoo.

"...the small cub is gaining weight at an impressive rate of about a pound per day..."

"She's in good hands. As the 45th bear cub, and the eighth polar bear cub, to arrive at the zoo in need of care in the last 25 years, the zoo's staff is no stranger to guests ..."

Mussel Larvae in Sunfish Gills

[from NC Zoological Park e-mail from John Groves, Zoo Curator of Reptiles]

"We are currently assisting staff in the mussel recovery program at NC State University in raising larval mussels in our African lake.

"This project will expand to two or three of the Zoo's ponds or lakes when more species of mussels are available for this project.

"Currently there are three mussel/fish cages in our African lake that house sunfish that have mussel larvae in their gills. The mussels will grow in the fish gills and in the fall will drop out to develop..."

"It takes a very long time for this process to occur in captive conditions and the current research is to test the effects of mussel larval rearing in more natural situations for faster growth and development.

"The mussel larvae in the fish gills cause no harm to the fish. This is the normal process for mussel reproduction and growth of the larvae.

"Both the fish and mussel species being reared here are species that naturally occur in the [ very nearby] Richland Creek system.

"The fish cages in the African lake are being monitored by staff from NC State University, Jody Stancil and his [NC Zoo] horticulture staff at the zoo and myself.

"Please do not disturb these cages in the lake. They are easily seen near the dam on the lake. One cage is submerged and two are floating, but secured to the bottom of the lake.

"The cages will be removed in October to continue the mussel growth in captive conditions. Additional fish/mussel cages will be added to this experiment when other mussel species are available to impregnate fish with their larvae.

"If this experiment is successful it could increase the reproduction, rearing and growth of several endangered mussels in North Carolina for release back into areas where these mussel populations are low or extirpated.

"Mussels are very important invertebrates in our aquatic systems throughout the state...helping to keep these aquatic systems clean."

Mom's Kittens Have Names

Oz and Maya, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

The NC Zoo ocelot kittens have been named Oz and Maya.

"The male was named: Oz (short for 'Ozcollo' - an Incan word for ocelot...
-He has more stripes than spots down his back
-Larger in size at 910 grams
-His tiny incisors have just starting growing in
-He is a lot more feisty than his sister

"The female was named: MAYA (short for Mayan)
-She has more spots than stripes down her back
-More orange fur on her head and neck
-Weighs in at 880 grams
-She tends to let her tongue stick out of her mouth
-She is much more calm than her brother

They are both getting stronger each day. They are still very wobbly on their feet and do not stray far from mom...but not for long - today Oz went on a short adventure...with mom hovering over him as expected. Inca continues to be a very good mom, grooming and nursing all day.

"There is a lot of napping, watching the babies crawl/sleep/poke mom's head and we have seen her and the kittens 'playing' together as well.

"Photo credit to Tom Gillespie and Brigitte Thompson..."

Wendy (Green) Foley
Keeper II-Mammals

Saved from Invasive Snake

NC Zoo senior bird keeper "Debbie Zombeck has returned from the Marianas Islands where the team she was working with trapper and moved a number of birds to islands without the introduced brown [tree] snakes that prey on them. Some birds will also be sent to AZA Zoo breeding programs." [David M. Jones, 5/4/11 senior staff meeting notes.

William & Kate Adopt

The royal couple have adopted an endangered baby Humboldt penguin from the Chester Zoo.

Name's Acorn. Or, given the adoptive parents and my uncertainty about Acorn's sex and royal titles, would that be Prince or Duchess Acorn?

Silent Knight & Henry

Blind sea lions at San Francisco Zoo.

Aquila to Detroit

"Polar Bear "Aquila" will go to Detroit while the new exhibit is being built." [NC Zoo staff notes, 5/4]

Sea Lion Arrives

"A new 18 month-old female Sea Lion has arrived from Pittsburgh. She is on loan." [also from NC Zoo Senior Staff Notes of 5/4]

Amazing Mom!

A day before her big day, check out the two photos here of a New Hampshire mother and her five black bear cubs.

Persistent photographer Tom Sears later captured another photo of the six bears proving that this mother successfully raised her exceptionally large brood to yearling status.

[Hat tip: Arthur Clark, past NC Zoo Society Board Director and NCZPark Council Chair]

Thank You Volunteers!

Honey Bee mural, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

NC Zoological Park Design Curator Ellen Greer forwarded this in-progress photo of the now-complete tile mural wall at the Zoo's Honey Bee Exhibit. This was another wonderful addition by Zoo volunteers including the remarkable Powell couple, Ken and Diane.

The entire Exhibit complex was funded through the NC Zoo Society, mainly by NC Beekeepers and Farm Bureaus.

Speaking of 3 (Trois) Giraffe

"Three of the giraffe are coming up reliably to the deck for hand-feeding and a fourth is now coming more regularly." [David M. Jones, NC Zoological Park director in "Senior Staff Meeting Notes - 05-04-11] Speaking of...

It Pays to Finish 2nd...

...in Polar Bears International's (PBI's) contest.

The Asheboro High School Zoo School (the school is on site here at the NC Zoo) team won a trip to San Diego, admission and a VIP tour of Sea World San Diego and the San Diego Zoo as one of four finalist teams.

Team members Julia Hodgin, Kaitlin Thompson and Cameron Kania, plus adult adviser Heather Soja also won a Beluga (whale) Encounter at Sea World San Diego for the 2nd place finish.

What did PBI name the contest? "Project Polar Bear". (Quite similar to the name of the ongoing NC Zoo Society capital campaign to expand exhibit, interpretive and holding for the Arctic bears here: "Project: Polar Bears".)

drie - 3 - trois - tros :-)

drie - 3 - trois - tros :-), a photo by belgianchocolate on Flickr.

Beauval Zoo photo by belgianchocolate.

"Expecting Historic Birth"

[from NC Zoo media release]

"For the first time in 22 years and only the second in park history, the North Carolina Zoo is expecting a baby gorilla.

"The mother is Jamani, age 11, who was transferred to Asheboro from the San Diego (California) Zoo in January 2010. According to zoo veterinarians, the first-time mom is expected to deliver in late July or early August. The father is “Nkosi,” a 19-year-old male who arrived from the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo in March 2008.

"The pairing of the two was recommended by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, a cooperative program of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) aimed at improving the captive care and breeding of these highly endangered great apes. If successful, the birth will be a major accomplishment, not only for the N.C. Zoo and its animal staff, but also for the entire AZA gorilla conservation effort. Currently there are only about 350 gorillas in 52 AZA-accredited zoos with just six successful births recorded during 2010.

"Keepers and veterinarians suspected Jamani might be pregnant as early as last December. A number of pregnancy tests given over the ensuing months had returned positive results. But the pending birth was not confirmed until a sonogram, or sound wave, picture provided a view of the baby and its beating heart. The sex of the infant has not been determined."

"...Zoo Mammal Curator Terry Webb cautioned, there can sometimes be difficulties in carrying or delivering a baby for a first-time gorilla mother.

"The N.C. Zoo’s first baby gorilla, Kwanza, was born in March 1989. The little male instantly became the zoo’s marquee attraction and was credited with bringing 80,000 additional visitors during his first year on exhibit. But in 1998 Kwanza was transferred to Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo in another breeding move coordinated by the Gorilla SSP. In Chicago, Kwanza’s name was shortened to “Kwan,” and he was matched with several unrelated females that in 2005 resulted in the N.C. Zoo’s favorite son becoming a father himself."

Jamani Expecting!

NC Zoo lowland gorilla Jamani is pregnant. (Late July...early August?)

Big Announcement

NC Zoo has scheduled a media conference for 10 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned.

Zoo School 2nd Nationally

"Just wanted to pass along the good news that our local [Asheboro High School] Zoo School Project Polar Bear Team won 2nd place while at the ceremony in San Diego this weekend!

"This is a contest held each year by Polar Bears International [PBI] that challenges teens to create and carry out projects that reduce carbon emissions in their communities. The AHS Zoo School team conducted energy audits to help individuals and businesses cut back on power usage, rewarding participants with donated packs of CFL bulbs. Their prize was a Beluga Encounter at SeaWorld San Diego. If you see the team mentor, Heather Soja, please pass along your congrats to the team!


"Don't forget to check out their social media video to learn more about what you can do for a healthier earth..."

Marissa Krouse [e-mail]
North Carolina Zoo
Rocky Coast Mammals Keeper I
PBI Arctic Ambassador

Peregrine falcon

Peregrine falcon, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

NC Zoo portrait by ucumari. How DOES she do it?!

Zoo York?

The Big City finds some of its residents like to keep rare...and illegal...pets.

"Brooklyn had the lion['s] share of cases at 14, followed by Brooklyn at 13 and the Bronx at 11.

"The city outlaws 24 categories of animals, including monkeys, hawks, piranhas, geese, marsupials, lemurs, aardvarks and venomous snakes."

Want to play?

Want to play?, a photo by WAM86 on Flickr.

"Face to face. Inches apart. My son and his new friend." WAM86 (photograph, quote and title)

Seneca Park Zoo.

First posted this as "Face to Face" on the day after Christmas 2009. Note the comments.

"Can You Hear Me Now?"

2007 01 20 (036ces) Lions @ Auckland Zoo-300d-10, a photo by Terry Hollis on Flickr.

Auckland Zoo African lions captured interacting by Terry Hollis.

Pandallama

Pandallama, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

Ucumari's title and photo of Lazy 5 Ranch llama with distinctive markings.

"#36 Headed to Casinos"

San Diego Zoo researchers put tracking technology on tortoises and place them in desert near Las Vegas.

"All of the tortoises are outfitted with a VHF radio transmitter roughly the size of a $3 stack of quarters, and 24 of them are also sporting GPS units double the height of a deck of cards but not as wide or long." San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Elizabeth Aguilera has casinos in mind as she describes the sizes of the units.

The tortoises "were nurtured at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center, a partnership between the zoo and federal and state agencies."