Homer

Homer, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

"Apparently I was very lucky to see Homer. I was told that he rarely comes out during the day." Ucumari re: two-toed sloth; photo taken 3/21/12 at Detroit Zoo.

"Mr. G. Raffe Called"

Or "Anna Conda"..."Ellie Fint"..."Don Key"..."Sally Mander".

It will be April 1 on Sunday and the Como Zoo is ready for the April-Fooled caller "Returning the call of Perry Keat".

From NC Zoo Society experience with our own, past, April 1 requests for "Ted E. Bayer", I predict Como will not have as many calls as expected.

When April 1 falls on a work day, fellow workers trick friends (and enemies) by leaving them a note with the Zoo (or Zoo Society) phone number and a message from "Red Wolfe"; on weekends, we've surmised, the Foolers must be telling family members the garage is on fire instead.

And, in this day of e-mail, texts, tweets and Facebook posts, the pink, "You Have a Message", office form is a bit of an antique.

What Is Wilderness?

National Geographic and Steve Boyes answer.

"...probably the greatest conservationists of all time in Africa were and continue to be the tsetse fly, the buffalo, and the lion. The tsetse is a super-abundant, almost indestructible blood-sucking fly that tirelessly harasses human beings and their cattle when given the opportunity." "If there are buffalo, there are lion, and lions do not mix well with people or livestock. This triumvirate, the tsetse, lion and buffalo, have protected Africa’s wilderness areas for millennia, keeping people and their cattle at bay."

"When you spend time in a true, remote wilderness area you have opportunity to take yourself back 100,000 years like you are undoing everything that we have done and this place, this wilderness, is perfect again... you are not in control of your surroundings, ...you are a refugee in a place that is far greater than [you], a place with teeth, tusks, claws and horns..."

"In February, the nights in the Okavango Delta are punctuated by the piercing, screaming, echoing calls of mating hippos. Imagine what two tyrannosaurus fighting would sound like? Double the ferocity and volume and you have mating hippos. A truly powerful expression of the wilderness..."

"In wildness is the salvation of the world." [Henry David Thoreau]

"...what you feel for the first when you visit a wilderness area... you fit in..."

Elephant Wars

Six Kenya Wildlife Services rangers and at least six poachers have been killed since December "amid a rise in elephant deaths", The Washington Post reports.

Across the continent, African elephants are at the center of similar battles in Cameroon.

Awesome Audio

Video features awesome audio of red wolves howling at Wolf Conservation Center in New York. ["Noisy little #canids!", tweets @tdelene]

Revenge of the Penguins?

At the Edinburgh Zoo. [hat tip: Bob Sebrosky]

Darwin's theory

Darwin's theory, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

A ucumari portrait of a Columbus Zoo bonobo taken March 23.

Lunatic Express

Train from Nairobi.

"Opened in 1901, the Lunatic Express earned its nickname carrying a cast of swaggering aristocrats, scoundrels and hunters of suicidal daring a generation to whom the railway was a ticket to a land of infinite adventure."

Can Zoos Save Polar Bear?

The Washington Post addresses whether captive breeding is the way to save polar bears from global warming.

"Zoological institutions have helped save imperiled species before such as the California condor and the Mexican wolf, which were bred in captivity and reintroduced into the wild.

"The American bison’s numbers dropped from the tens of millions to fewer than 1,000 after the 1880s, kept in small private herds in places like the Bronx Zoo."

The Boys, Brutus and Buckeye

The Boys, Brutus and Buckeye, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

Ucumari just hit six zoos in six days. This was taken at Columbus, Ohio.

8 feet tall and 850 pounds each, these Alaskan brown bears still have a lot of growing to do. Founds as orphans...they are "active teens".

Remember Sally

Speaking of customer service...Sally Steele (now with the NC Coastal Federation) was the NC Zoo Society membership director, providing this to grateful members when I joined staff in 1985 and modeling the behavior to other staff (including moi) into the 1990's.

Customer Service

Investment in customer service is good. Reduce at own risk. [Hat tip: edcone - word up]

Like to think NC Zoo Society has long invested well.

Zebras

Zebras, a photo by jlddvm on Flickr.

Another jlddvm photo at NC Zoo's Forest Edge.

Rescued Grizzly Cubs

Detroit Zoo "unveiled" three, rescued, Alaskan grizzly bear cubs yesterday:

Worthy Operation

Interpol has initiated "the largest anti-elephant ivory poaching operation ever mounted..."

Interpol calls it "Operation Worthy".

"Wildlife agents in 14 different African countries have been raiding outlets and hunting down traders..."

An "unprecedented slaughter of elephants in Cameroon" was the main trigger to Interpol involvement, it appears.

[Video]

Rolling Billboard

Just had the word "Dinosaurs", three large, ragged scratch marks and a small "NCZoo.org" put on the rear window of the NC Zoo Society company car.

The 2010 Toyota Prius will hit 50,000 miles on the odometer today. It is getting 54 miles per gallon.

Staredown

Staredown, a photo by konrad_photography on Flickr.

"I had a stare down with a chimpanzee at the NC zoo. He won :-D" [Photo & quote: konrad_photography]

4 Zoo Rhinos Die

The Taronga Western Plains Zoo said "bacterial infections, snake venom, toxins and many types of viruses have been ruled out as possible causes" of the deaths of four rare white rhinos in recent weeks.

All displayed "mysterious neurological problems such as stumbling..."

Rangers "Deserve Better"

WWF calls on Cameroon's "leaders" to defend African elephants and the "honorable men and women who are putting their personal safety at risk to protect wildlife..." [hat tip: Guy Lichty]

Fed Turbo

I fed browse to young NC Zoo male giraffe Turbo at about 10:30 this morning.

Staff are invited to Acacia Station from 10 - 11 a.m. all this week and next to get the giraffes used to another season of paying feeders.

Springing Up

12 photos of new baby zoo animals compiled by USA Today.

Buffalo Zoo's Statement

On recent "gorilla incident".

"Superficial Wounds"

"A female worker suffered superficial wounds on the arm and leg when a 24-year-old silverback named Koga attacked her. The zoo worker locked herself in a cage with a female gorilla and her baby for protection, leaving the silverback loose. Zoo officials said in a press release that the gorilla never left the "secure non-public area behind" the exhibit."

[CBS News reports that the Buffalo Zoo worker's wounds were not serious, that it was a female gorilla with baby with which that worker locked herself and that public zoo areas were never reached by the "escapee"; earlier reports did not address the severity of the bites or which "other gorillas" were joined by the zoo worker as she locked herself away from Koga.]

T-Rex @ NC Zoo

T-Rex, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

"About to enjoy some Human McNuggets!" Photo and quote by ucumari.

"China's Hunger for Ivory...

...is Killing Cameroon's Elephants." [The New York Times]

Do the Red Wolves Agree?

Nutria are "spreading across North Carolina and Virginia - and wildlife officials, trappers and even conservationists say the critter that looks like a beaver and eats like a hog has got to go."

I understand that the small NC population of rare,endangered red wolves are making a go at survival near Alligator River in NC because of a "ready supply" of nutria in their habitat.

The South American nutria is just one more example of the damage an invasive species can do. "They'll go into a marsh and they'll just clean out all the vegetation."

We are fortunate to have an endemic predator which controls some of these "imports" from South America. If only we had many more red wolves!

Out of the Frying Pan...?

A Buffalo Zoo keeper evades an "escaped" gorilla by locking herself in with "other gorillas".

But the 24-year-old- silverback Koga had "bit her on the hand and calf" and the other Buffalo Zoo gorillas are much-smaller females and a baby.

Spiders Flee Australian Flood

spiders&flood, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

Flooding near Waga Wagga, New South Wales drove fleeing spiders into swarms. [hat tip: @Amazing Photography; not Russ Williams photo]

Bravo "Can Can Girls", etc.!

"Two of [NC]DENR’s sustainability awards were made to [NC]Zoo staff this week – one to Horticulture’s “Can Can Girls” for recycling aluminum cans for plant conservation in Uganda and the other to Elizabeth Freeman for starting the polystyrene recycling program." [Last week's NC Zoo senior staff mtg. note]

Let's Not Forget...

prognosticator?, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

...the NC Zoo red wolf prognosticator.

Thought, when I posted ucumari's photo March 8, that the wolf was just predicting a win in the ACC tourney...now realize it was the "Big Dance", the "whole nine yards", the super-sized enchilada!

Gorilla Behavior

Berlin Zoo gorilla lets workers know they are too close to his territory:

Gingrich @ 'Nother Zoo

Audubon Zoo this time w/ Director Ron Forman.

"Gingrich finished up his zoo visit among the moving T-Rex and triceratops dinosaurs."

The Republican candidate once "slept over" @ the San Diego Safari Park.

Today @ Nashville Zoo

Dino Trek is open (double click on screen to enlarge):

Comedy & Romance

Episode I of "Frozen Planet" airs @ 7 p.m. Sunday on "Discovery".

Comedy: "In Sunday’s second hour,...a painstaking penguin gathers stones one by one, only to have them filched, one after another, by a scheming neighbor whenever the hapless suitor’s back is turned."

Romance: "Nature’s ultimate loner, a 1,400-pound male polar bear, has lumbered across the ice all winter in search of a mate come spring. Picking up her scent from 10 miles away, he finds her, after which they share a tender interlude. Then, just two weeks later, their brief encounter ends..."

Chimp Social Structure...

...as it relates to little Nori & younger Ebi @ the NC Zoo [ZooFileZ]:

Sky-High Safari

Truly unique Zoo experience, near the "African Savanna" @ Riverbanks Zoo (Columbia, SC). Ropes course ranges up to 44 feet. [W/ video; hat tip: Hacky Pitts]

Mimic Octopus!

Most intelligent? [Hat tip: JAmes K Gimzewski]:

T-Rex Ready

Checked out the ongoing installation of "Dinosaurs" @ the NC Zoo this p.m.

Through the trees, I could see that the big T-Rex is already moving and making appropriate T-Rex vocalizations.

It's Not Easy...

...being born a giraffe. (4:31 minutes; hat tip: Bob Sebrosky)

6-Min. Comic Interlude

Take a break from zoos and wildlife. Check out son Evan (22) at Carolines (on Broadway, near Times Square). Double click on the running video to see it full-screen:

Gorilla & Bunny Are Pals

Samantha and Panda are a gorilla and rabbit, respectively. And they share an exhibit at Erie (PA) Zoo.

"At the ripe age of 47, Samantha was too old to be paired with another gorilla..."

Not unlike bringing a dog to the "old folks home"?

St. Louis Zoo Buys Hospital...

...to expand.

14 acres will be added to "landlocked" Zoo.

Baghdad Zoo Saviour

The New York Times remembers Lawrence Anthony.

"Mr. Anthony’s most widely publicized work was after the United States and its allies invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003. Hearing that Baghdad had the biggest zoo in the Middle East, he was in Kuwait within days and packing a car with veterinary supplies before crossing the Iraq border in the wake of the United States soldiers.

"He arrived at the zoo while fighting was still going on to find clouds of flies swarming the carcasses of animals. Looters had stolen many others. Of the 650 animals in the zoo before the invasion, just 35 were still alive, mainly large ones like lions, tigers and a brown bear native to Iraq."

"Mr. Anthony worked in Baghdad for six months, often helped by American soldiers, who volunteered...When he left Iraq, the animals were healthy, the cages were clean and the zoo had been preserved. The United States Army’s Third Infantry Division gave Mr. Anthony a medal for his bravery."

prognosticator?

prognosticator?, a photo by ucumari on Flickr.

"While not a fan of basketball the areas biggest collegiate tournament is starting today. For those of you not familiar it is like Mardi Gras, people wear funny clothes and party a LOT!

"The zoo has a program with NC State (Wolfpack) University's veterinarian school so there just may have been a little favoritism going on!

"Go team go, whoever you are pulling for I hope they win :o)" [Photo, title and quotes fm ucumari; red wolf fm NC Zoo]

Zoo "LAIR"

The Los Angeles Zoo's $14.1 million LAIR (Living Amphibians Invertebrates Reptiles) exhibit opens today.

"Nine years in the making, the 8,300-square-foot LAIR comprises two reptile houses..."

The NC Zoo's two-building, Streamside exhibit complex in "North America" is 9,250 square feet and cost much, much less (in 1985-90 dollars). All of "North America" cost under $32 million to build. The "Rocky Coast" and the "Sonora Desert" were the most expensive structures, at about $4.2 and $3.6 million, respectively.

"The reptile and amphibian exhibit is the penultimate project in a $172 million building program supported by voter-approved Proposition CC bonds.

"Since 2005, the Los Angeles Zoo has carried out a complete makeover that includes a new front gate, animal health and children's discovery centers, as well as its orangutan, gorilla, golden monkey, elephant and sea lion exhibits.

"A $22 million Rain Forest of the Americas exhibit, the last of 16 projects, is slated to open in April 2013."

Dinosaur Traffic!

This Monday, "the dinosaurs" will be arriving @ the NC Zoo. They will stage in parking lot "A" in North America. From there, they will travel via service and tram roads to the exhibit site which is between the Aviary and the Africa Pavilion.

There will be staff and visitor transport delays due to the slow moving traffic.

Should be quite a sight!

black and white

black and white, a photo by belgianchocolate on Flickr.

By belgianchocolate. "Zoo Keulen". (Click on photo to see it all.)

A Shame

GM sold just 7,671 high mpg, electric Volt cars last year and has suspended production for at least five weeks (March 19 - April 23).

The 2 millionth Prius was sold in September 2010. The NC Zoo Society 2010 Prius is about to hit 49,000 miles and is getting 54 mpg. We need affordable, reliable, popular cars that do much better than that (in a world with very limited oil...and limited polar bears and elephants)!

"Heads Up, Kids"

A giant leaf stem needs welding and an over-sized spider web needs repair too, at the NC Zoo.

The Garden Friends playground, near the closed polar bear exhibit and closed KidZone, will also be "down" today through Friday, and again Monday, for minor repairs and touch-up painting.

Consider playing at Watani Grasslands, near the African elephants and southern white rhinos. That's where I'd go, if I were five. (Slidin' down the bronze rhino, playin' the elephant "board game", "flyin'" the helicopter, bein' "grossed out" by the dung beetles, gettin' sprayed by the "vine mister", etc., etc.)

"Future of Zoos" II

Huffington Post on that Future of Zoos Symposium of a month ago.

"The idea of walking from cage to cage may soon be obsolete, and "replaced with animals wandering in larger areas while people would be enclosed...""

And what about robotic animals?

Learn from Your Elders

"A white-crowned sparrow’s song consists of a whistle, a series of notes (it’s called a “note complex”), a buzz and a trill.

"When a young white-crowned sparrow looks to stake out its first territory, which is typically a bush, it hasn’t yet settled on a single song. Its note complexes vary from song to song.

"Older birds who’ve nested in the area for more than one season sing the same song, note for note, over and over." [also from the link in the post below]

By season's end, the young bird sounds much like its elders.

A Bird from da Bronx...

...sounds different than a bird from Baltimore.

Birds' songs are "not [from] a language birds instinctively know. They learn it at a young age — as human children do — by listening to their parents and neighbor birds.

"And just like people, birds learn to speak with accents." [hat tip: @bjkingape]

I learned this years back on an NC Zoo Society cruise in Baja California. One of the naturalists on board was the leader in early findings on this topic. He even featured recordings that distinguished the calls of birds of the sames species from various parts in Los Angeles!

Raleigh Icon

NRC_rendering_4, a photo by russlings on Flickr.

And the NC Museum of Natural Science Nature Research Center will look so cool.

Bravo, Dr. Betsy Bennett!

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences' 80,000 sq ft Nature Research Center will open April 20 - on time, on budget and the fundraising goal is now within sight, Museum Director Dr. Betsy Bennett shared with me today as we discussed our Sylvan Heights Bird Park (Scotland Neck, NC) Board committee responsibilities.

"Cameroon Sends Military"

"A military offensive against elephant poachers...in response to the killing of hundreds of elephants..."

"The poachers...are reportedly Arabic speakers traveling on horseback,...believed to be from Sudan"

""This area alone accounts for 95% of the population of savanna elephants in Cameroon, and around 80% of the total population of savanna elephants in all of Central Africa.”" [hat tip: Guy Lichty]

Zoo Evolution

Bronx Zoo closes Monkey House.

"“Our buildings and exhibits are evaluated on a regular basis. We have decided to close the Monkey House and plan for a new exhibit in the future...”"

"The Monkey House opened in 1901. Its storied past includes the controversial and short-lived exhibit of a Congolese Pygmy named Ota Benga who lived in an open-air cage there in 1906."

NC Zoo - pop. 1046

"Animal staff have prepared an annual Summary and Analysis of the Animal Collection which found that the Zoo has 1,046 animals with an average mortality rate of 10.8% which is considered very low for zoos. The Zoo is one of few that do this analysis which is used to decide on animal management needs." [most recent NC Zoo Senior Staff Meeting Notes]

Double Your Pleasure

Two polar bear cubs make appearance with Mom (Huggies) @ Netherlands' Owehands Zoo Wednesday.

"Goodbye, Productivity"

Siku Cam has been offering hi-def, live-cam of the 3-month old polar bear since Monday.

Siku means "sea ice".

Tune in, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Eastern, daily, @ polarbearcam.com to see the Scandinavian Wildlife Park (Denmark) polar bear.