Quantcast
Channel: Woodland Park Zoo Blog
Viewing all 1016 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

How do you get a tortoise to take its medicine?

October 6, 2015, 1:31 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor

A spoonful of sugar was Mary Poppins’ trick, but it’s a plateful of bananas that makes the medicine go down for our Asian brown tortoise.

Watch: How does a tortoise take its medicine? Produced by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren with additional footage by Alyssa Borek.

Just like you might put your pet’s pill inside a pocket of food, zookeepers find creative ways to get our 1,000+ animals to willingly take their medicine when needed. It’s not always an easy task!


Faced with the challenge of administering a liquid dose of parasite treatment to a tortoise, Day Exhibit keeper Alyssa Borek had an idea to get the animal’s cooperation. She cut up chunks of banana, hollowed out the insides, lined the chunks up on a little plate and poured the liquid medicine into the cores.

The results are messy. Yet effective.


Now that the medicine has been gobbled up, we’ve sent fecal samples off to the lab and we’ll get results soon to determine if the treatment is working.

It’s not uncommon for a tortoise to show parasites in its system, and this tortoise presented no symptoms. It was our preventative approach to health care at the zoo that first detected them. We all make our way to the doctor when we’re feeling ill, but a preventative approach means providing proactive health care before symptoms emerge.

Keepers are the first line of preventative care; their daily observations form the baseline of each individual animal’s health profile. Our expert veterinary crew then performs annual exams and regular testing to get ahead of any health concerns.

It was the yearly testing of each tortoise’s fecal samples that detected the parasites in the first place, and now that we are treating before any complications emerge, we are setting the tortoise up for a healthy life.

That way, its next banana treat will be just for fun.
↧
Search

Endangered Oregon spotted frogs released into wild

October 7, 2015, 12:37 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications
Photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

An Oregon spotted frog is released into wetlands.

Nearly 750 Oregon spotted frogs reared at Woodland Park Zoo were released yesterday into marshy wetlands at a protected site in Pierce County.

Gathering the frogs from their behind-the-scenes area at Woodland Park Zoo.

Nearly 750 frogs were packed up for transport. 

The frogs were collected from wetlands as eggs and placed at the zoo for hatching and rearing for approximately seven months in a predator-free home as they transformed from tadpoles to juveniles, increasing their survival by giving them a head start until they were large enough to avoid most predators.

Unloading the containers of frogs at the protected wetlands site.

The protected site provides marshy wetlands habitat for the frogs and future frog generations.

Head starting and releasing the frogs is part of a cooperative program with Woodland Park Zoo, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Sustainability in Prisons Project, and other zoos and state and federal agencies.

The frogs were released into water.

Instinct kicked in.

Washington declared the Oregon spotted frog an endangered species in 1997, and on August 28, 2014, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the frog as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. It historically ranged from southwestern British Columbia to northeastern California. However, scientists have seen populations plummet, driving the frog toward extinction. The native amphibian has lost ground to habitat loss from draining and development, disease and the introduction of invasive species such as the American bullfrog and reed canary grass.

The landscape.

Head starting the Oregon spotted frogs began in 2008. “Woodland Park Zoo has released more than 4,200 frogs since we joined the effort in 2009,” said Jennifer Pramuk, PhD, an animal curator and reptile and amphibian expert at Woodland Park Zoo. “We also have increased survivorship of the tadpoles and frogs at the zoo nearly every year beginning with a 35% survivorship rate in 2009 to over 90% survivorship this year. In total more than 7,000 frogs have been released by all stakeholders combined. The institutions involved should be very proud of the progress we’ve made toward helping to save this species.”

Oregon spotted frogs are highly aquatic. They are found in or near permanent still water, such as lakes, ponds, springs, marshes, and the grassy margins of slow-moving streams.

Both juvenile and adult frogs are carnivores, feeding primarily on insects, spiders, and earthworms.

Yesterday marks the last release of the Oregon spotted frog head start program for the time being. "The Oregon spotted frog in 2014 was federally listed as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act,” explained Fred Koontz, PhD, vice president of Field Conservation at Woodland Park Zoo. “The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is working with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and other stakeholders to implement recovery efforts. Frogs will not be released next year, in order to focus on habitat enhancements and monitoring the success of the last seven years of reintroductions and conservation actions.”

Woodland Park Zoo staff celebrate the success of seven great years for the program.

“This project has gained a lot of ground over the past seven years,” said Pramuk. “That success has allowed us to transition our focus from rearing healthy frogs in institutions and releasing them, to helping them reestablish their population in the wild. The project’s level of success was possible because of the vision and persistence of our entire team. It is very rewarding to know our hard work has paid off, but also bittersweet for many of us who will miss working with this beautiful and unique frog.”

The frogs settled right in.

Conservation is the heart of Woodland Park Zoo’s mission. Zoos are well positioned to reach millions each year with the unique opportunity to connect with nature, learn about conservation issues around the globe, and take action to make a difference for wildlife. Woodland Park Zoo supports projects in the Pacific Northwest through its Living Northwest conservation program, including projects focused on native raptors, turtles, butterflies, frogs and carnivores, and the shrub-steppe, wetlands and forest habitats they depend on to survive.
↧
↧

Baby on the way for first time gorilla mom

October 9, 2015, 2:32 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor with Gigi Allianic, Communications


Nadiri at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo.

At 19 years old, western lowland gorilla Nadiri is pregnant for the first time. We're counting down to the expected birth in early November after an eight- to nine-month gestation period.

This is big news, and since Nadiri is not an experienced mother, we're taking extra precautions to prepare her.

It starts with pre-natal care for the expectant mom. She is currently on a diet created by a nutritionist and receiving supplemental vitamins to help her maintain a healthy weight for a normal delivery.

Keepers will need to be able to perform visual checks on the baby to confirm it is thriving, so the work begins now with training Nadiri to present her "baby"—in this case a stuffed burlap object about the size of a newborn.

Once the baby comes, all eyes are on those first 72 hours after birth, the most critical time for a newborn gorilla. Our keepers will be watching closely to ensure that Nadiri and baby are bonding, proper nursing is taking place and the baby is receiving adequate milk. We want to see Nadiri holding the baby close and keeping it sufficiently warm.

The most recent gorilla birth at Woodland Park Zoo was Uzumma, born to Amanda in 2007. Seen as a baby here, Uzumma will turn 8 years old on October 20.

What we’re hoping to see is that Nadiri delivers a healthy baby and provides strong maternal care. But we are preparing for other scenarios to assure the best for mom and baby.

Gorilla care experts across accredited zoos work together through the Species Survival Plan to manage the cooperative conservation breeding program. Through their work they have learned that it is in the best interest of baby gorillas to be raised by a socially dynamic group of gorillas rather than being hand raised exclusively by humans. In this way, they learn how to be a gorilla from other gorillas, develop the ability to understand social cues and practice the nuances of gorilla etiquette. This sets them up for the best long-term welfare.

If Nadiri rejects her baby or is unable to provide proper maternal care, the zoo will explore options such as partial hand-rearing or identifying a surrogate mother gorilla at another zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Both have proven successful practices.

Vip is the father of the expected baby. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

The father of Nadiri’s expected baby is 36-year-old Vip, who has sired four other gorillas. Nadiri represents a very valuable and underrepresented genetic line to the gorilla Species Survival Plan population, particularly as her father, Congo, has no other known offspring in the population.

Nadiri herself marked a momentous birth 19 years ago at Woodland Park Zoo. The first several weeks of her life got off to a rocky start when her mother, Jumoke, experienced complications during labor. The zoo had to quickly assemble a team of human physicians to assist with the delivery. While the volunteer medical team successfully delivered the baby, Jumoke unfortunately never showed any interest in accepting her infant despite a series of introductions on a daily basis. To compound matters, Nadiri’s father, Congo, passed away two weeks after the birth of his first viable offspring. His death defeated any hope of further introductions between Jumoke and her baby. Without a dominant male, Congo’s group was no longer a stable environment for the baby.

The sad turn of events for Nadiri, essentially orphaned, captured the hearts of the community and garnered mass media attention. Zoo staff and volunteers provided round-the-clock care and loads of love. Through the dedication and countless hours invested by gorilla and animal health staff, Nadiri was eventually introduced successfully to a surrogate family of gorillas at Woodland Park Zoo.

Wild western lowland gorilla in the Mbeli Bai study area. Photo by Kelly Greenway courtesy of Mbeli Bai Study.

We're so excited for Nadiri to have the opportunity to start the next generation of our gorilla family. The animals here are such compelling ambassadors for the critically endangered gorillas in Africa threatened with extinction. Woodland Park Zoo supports conservation efforts for the western lowland gorilla through the Mbeli Bai Study, one of the zoo’s Partners for Wildlife. The study researches the social organization and behaviors of more than 450 lowland gorillas living in the southwest of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. The data collected enables scientists to assess the vulnerability of populations to habitat threats, providing the groundwork for successful conservation strategies.

We're fighting for a world with gorillas in it, and we can't wait to meet Nadiri's baby, a moving reminder of what's at stake.
↧

A sweet duet: siamang pair sings its first song

October 15, 2015, 10:33 am
$
0
0
Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor
Video and photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren

It is music to our ears to hear newly paired siamangs Sam and Briony developing their sweet duet together. We caught a few notes of their very first outdoor song.


Video: Siamang pair sings first duet notes at Woodland Park Zoo.

High in the canopy, this treetop symphony at once strengthens the bond between the pair of siamangs and declares their territory to others in the area. The song can be heard from over a mile away even in our urban environment and, as they develop their tune, the bouts may last up to 20 minutes.


How do they project their voices so far? Those ballooning throat sacs act like a resonating chamber and amplify the sound.


Briony’s tune with her former long-time mate Simon was known by not just zoo visitors, but also neighbors in Phinney Ridge, Fremont and Wallingford, all within earshot of their morning song.



Hearing the treetops come to life in siamang song once again is an encouraging sign of Sam’s and Briony’s growing bond, and a piercing reminder of what’s at stake in a world where siamangs face the threat of extinction in the wild.

The largest of the gibbon species, siamangs are native to forests of Asia that are disappearing at alarming rates as human development and agriculture expand. In this Year of the Gibbon, as declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, our work continues in the field where conservation scientists supported by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Ape Taxon Advisory Group—a Woodland Park Zoo Wildlife Survival Fund project—are empowering local communities to become stewards of gibbon conservation.

Now that’s some beautiful harmony.




↧

First Bali mynah chicks to hatch at zoo in over two decades, a symbol of hope

October 19, 2015, 11:59 am
$
0
0
Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, communications
Photo and Video by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren

On September 17, three tiny white birds hatched in a quiet behind-the-scenes area of Woodland Park Zoo as part of the zoo’s conservation breeding program. The chicks, downy fluff balls with snow-colored plumage, are a big deal: they represent the first successful hatches of the critically endangered Bali mynah here at the zoo in 22 years! They also act as a powerful symbol of hope for their species.

This shy chick gave our photographer a run for his money. The nest box is the perfect hiding spot.
A curious look outside of the nest gives us a better view of a chick.

Endemic to Bali, Indonesia (an island smaller than Rhode Island), Bali mynahs are threatened primarily due to illegal pet collection and trade. Their stunning white feathers and gorgeous cobalt blue patch around the eyes make this beauty especially attractive to bird collectors, despite their endangered status. On top of poaching, their habitat —open lowland forests—is also increasingly compromised due to habitat alteration.

One of the parents keeps an eye on the photographer.

In the wild, their numbers have been reduced drastically since the species discovery in 1912, with reported numbers down to just 6 individuals in poor years. The Bali Starling Project has helped support populations in Bali Barat National Park and Nusa Penida, a small island where a second population has been created through releasing captive-reared birds. However, the wild population is still thought to number fewer than 50 mature individuals.

While the wild Bali mynah population has shown some encouraging signs, it is the job of zoos to keep the genetic population varied in the captive population. In the past decade +, the Bali Mynah Species Survival Plan (SSP) has been focused on maintaining a genetically and demographically healthy population in US Zoos.  


VIDEO: Watch the chick peek out from its nest box.

Woodland Park Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Bali Mynah SSP. This year is the first successful hatch at Woodland Park Zoo since 1993, and we are delighted. 

Behind the scenes at the zoo.
Waiting for a snack, this little chick is eager grab whatever is being delivered by a devoted parent.

At birth, the chicks weigh only a few grams, but they grow quickly and eventually reach an adult weight of 70-115 grams. The chicks are just now beginning to leave the nest, but they still receive a lot of attention and food from their parents.

In the wild, Bali mynahs make their nests in the cavities of trees, and feed on a variety of insects, worms, fruits and small reptiles which they lovingly feed to their young.  At the zoo, our birds are fed a variety of fruits and vegetables, mealworms and crickets. The devoted parents take turns delivering breakfast, lunch and dinner to the new chicks. Bali mynahs are typically monogamous; together the long-term pairs built nests, raise their young and defend territory. 

Their beautiful cobalt blue eye patch and striking white plumage really stand out.

In Bali, the mynah is a beloved symbol. The birds appear on the 200 rupiah coin and is designated the faunal emblem of Bali. The birds are popular subjects in the art and culture of the region. As the Bali mynah’s plight is becoming more understood, local Balinese have helped to slow the possibility of extinction. Villages and community leaders have pledged to stop the illegal capture of the wild birds, but unfortunately poaching is still lucrative in the bird markets.

You can visit these beautiful symbols of hope at the Conservation Aviary. For now, the young chicks will remain off view while they continue to grow. Soon, they will learn to make a famously loud variety of noises –chatters, whistles and squawks—just like their parents.

When you visit, you might hear them make a lot of strange sounds. Bali mynah are known to produce a plethora of noises, from cackles to chirps, whistles to squawks.



↧
↧

Halloween doesn't have to be scary for wildlife

October 26, 2015, 4:14 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Bobbi Miller, Conservation

When we think of October, we think of bright, cool days and brisk nights; early, golden sunsets; things that are scary and go bump in the night; and Halloween with the kids all dressed up and ready to go door to door looking for candy and treats. It’s a time of creepy, spine-tingling excitement for young and old alike.

Your Halloween candy choices can be a treat for wildlife, no trick! Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

But while we’re enjoying those crisp, clear days and chilly evenings, the people and wildlife in Borneo, Indonesia and nearby countries are dealing with thick, choking smoke. People there are wearing masks for a very different reason this Halloween, and it's all related directly to our candy.

Borneo's Gunung Palung National Park shrouded in smoke. Photo courtesy Tim Laman.

Wait, what?

How does our Halloween candy relate to fires halfway around the world?

Simple: most candy includes palm oil, and the bulk of the world’s palm oil comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. In order to produce palm oil (the world’s fastest growing vegetable oil), tropical rain forest and peat lands are being converted to agricultural land. The fastest way to do that is through fire.

A young elephant in an oil palm plantation. Photo courtesy of Hutan Asian Elephant Conservation Project, a Woodland Park Zoo Partner for Wildlife.

Not only do these fires decimate tropical rain forests that house tigers, Asian elephants, hornbills and orangutans, but they also include peat lands that, when drained and lit on fire, can smolder for weeks, releasing hundreds of years of sequestered carbon back into the atmosphere.

NASA satellite image, September 24, 2015, shows smoke from fires burning on islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Photo copyright: Adam Voiland (NASA Earth Observatory) and Jeff Schmaltz (LANCE MODIS Rapid Response).

The thick smoke from these fires has caused people as far away as the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to don surgical masks just to go outside. Flights in the impacted countries have been delayed or canceled due to smoke, and many schools have been closed due to spikes in respiratory illness. But it’s not just people suffering from the smoke that turns day into night; wildlife, including orangutans, are seriously impacted. 

Photo courtesy Tim Laman.

Many die from the fires, or are pushed into human-dominated landscapes where they are susceptible to poaching and hunting. Those that make it through the fires are confined to much smaller forest habitat patches with too many animals competing for too few resources. 

If you come to Woodland Park Zoo you’re accustomed to hearing our siamangs sing, but during times of fires in Indonesia, you don’t hear gibbon songs very often in the forest. Orangutans become more sluggish, waking up later and going to sleep earlier, likely not taking in the calories they need on a daily basis.  

While our Partner for Wildlife Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Project works with local officials to prevent fires and the destruction of peat forests in Borneo, you can take action right here at home.

Take Action

Use our wildlife-friendly Halloween candy list to purchase candy from companies that are committed to sourcing certified sustainable palm oil that is deforestation free. By making informed consumer choices, you can delight trick-or-treaters and save forests and wildlife a world away.

After all, while Halloween is here, the real scare is what’s at stake if we don’t take action.
↧

Tracking wildlife in Malaysia: a forest revealed

October 30, 2015, 4:09 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Bridget Dunn, Communications

In and around Taman Negara National Park in Peninsular Malaysia, we’re working with our field conservation partners Panthera and Rimba to find and protect critically endangered Malayan tigers. This effort was established in 2012 as the WPZ-Panthera Malayan Tiger Conservation Partnership with a $1 million, 10-year commitment to collaborate with Rimba and Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks. One of Rimba’s most important tiger detection tools is a series of remote cameras, known as camera traps, set up around the forest. The traps are motion and heat sensitive, and the images they capture help us understand where tigers are so we can focus our protection efforts in those areas.

One great thing about these cameras is how they are documenting that there are more than tigers to discover in this spectacular jungle!


Camera traps aren’t picky—they’ll snap a photo of any warm-blooded animal that moves within the 20 to 40 foot range, including these playful sun bears.


Are you curious about our work? So are these bushy-crested hornbills.


Sometimes animals unwittingly take family portraits. This baby Asian elephant doesn’t seem at all camera shy.


Tigers have a lot of neighbors, including this leopard and her cub. Animals of many kinds benefit when our researchers’ presence discourages poaching and other illegal human activity.


Sambar deer, an important food source for tigers, wander by the camera trap. Overpoaching of sambar deer makes it harder for tigers to find food for themselves and their young.


Once in a while, we’re lucky enough to have a tiger come by—in this case, two! Notice the sunlight. Our researchers found that tigers at our field site are active at any time of day or night.


Unfortunately for the jungle dwellers, they’re not alone, and tigers aren’t the deadliest hunters. The biggest threat these animals face is humans. Seen here is a poacher, machete in hand, hiding his face from the camera.

Woodland Park Zoo and our partners Panthera and Rimba are working in Malaysia to protect tigers and their habitat. We identify tiger hot spots with the help of camera traps in order to focus protection on those areas. We’re also working with the state and federal governments to increase law enforcement, and reaching out to the local community to engage them with tiger conservation. Combined, these efforts can have a positive impact on the future of tigers and their delicate ecosystem.

What can you do? You can join our Tiger Team to learn more about the plight of tigers in the wild. You can also vote yes on Washington Initiative 1401 on the November 3rd ballot. This initiative will increase penalties for trafficking endangered animal species parts in the state of Washington. The initiative covers 10 endangered animal species groups, including tigers. By decreasing the demand for black market endangered animal species parts, we can discourage the brutal trade elsewhere that supplies it. Make a difference for these animals—vote yes on I-1401.
↧

Washington passes historic citizens' initiative for endangered species

November 3, 2015, 8:57 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Fred Koontz, PhD, Vice President of Field Conservation


On behalf of Woodland Park Zoo Society Board of Directors and staff, I congratulate the citizens  of Washington for passing Initiative 1401, making Washington the first state in the country to help save 10 endangered animal species groups from extinction by a vote of the people.

By creating tough new penalties for trafficking products made from these animals, Washington joins other major port states like California, New York and New Jersey in passing laws that close loopholes allowing the black market to thrive for endangered species products.

As Washingtonians, we should be tremendously proud of what we have achieved. Tuesday’s overwhelming election result shows that when asked, Washington voters will stand up to protect species from the cruelty of poaching and illegal trade. This is a groundbreaking, grassroots effort – especially significant is that passing I-1401 undoubtedly will inspire other states and even foreign countries to take similar actions.

The people of Washington have used their votes on Initiative 1401 to show what they truly value: the figure not the figurine.

Thank you to the Woodland Park Zoo community and friends for your advocacy and “Yes” votes on I-1401. For the past year and a half, our volunteers and staff have talked with thousands of people, including zoo visitors, about the urgent need to strengthen laws and government actions to protect animals like elephants and rhinos from poaching and illegal killing. They report that nearly everyone they spoke with agrees that wildlife trafficking must be stopped. And this shows in the election results – an overwhelming number of voters agreed that we need stronger laws in Washington to help save endangered animals from extinction.

With I-1401, Washington state does its part in the fight to save elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, pangolins, sharks, marine turtles and rays. Starting December 3, parts and products from these animals will be illegal to sell, including ivory trinkets, tiger pelt rugs, and traditional folk medicine made from rhino horn or pangolin scales. Truth is an elephant needs its ivory tusks more than we need an ornament. A tiger needs its fur more than we need a floor covering and a pangolin needs its scales more than we need medicine proven to be ineffective.

Pangolin: Boniface Osujaki/Tarangire Elephant Project, a Woodland Park Zoo Partner for Wildlife. African elephant: Peter Steward via Flickr. Malayan tiger: Razak Abu Bakar via Flickr. Rhino: Jim Frost via Flickr.

I-1401 establishes a model for citizens, legislators and leaders across America – and around the world – to end the demand that fuels the extinction of animals in the wild. Other states now have the opportunity to build upon what Washington has started by achieving victories of their own. In 2016, Oregon voters will be faced with a similar initiative, and when it passes, three major west coast states will have laws banning the sales of endangered species products. With each victory, we’re one step closer to ending extinction.

Thank you, Washington, for joining the coalition to fight for animals. Woodland Park Zoo is delighted to share this victory with you, as well as the Humane Society of the United States, Seattle Aquarium, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Sierra Club, WildAid and Paul Allen.

What’s next? We keep fighting, as there is so much more work to be done. But for just a moment, we celebrate. We just made history, Washington!
↧
Search

Billy Goat Albert

November 5, 2015, 9:23 am
$
0
0
Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications
Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren


There is a new billy goat in town and his name is Albert.

Hey, Albert!
Albert, a young male Rocky Mountain goat, made his debut on the Northern Trail on October 27th. His sure-footedness and intuitive climbing abilities makes him perfectly adapted to his new home on the high rocky outcrop of the exhibit.

We think Albert's woolly coat is quite striking against this mossy backdrop.
Albert was born in May of 2014 at Calgary Zoo where he lived until moving to Seattle. He now joins the ranks with the oldest mountain goat in North America,  our 20 year old female, CK, who was born here at Woodland Park Zoo. At a year and half old, Albert is much younger than his woolly friend, so keepers are refraining from putting them together (think pre-teen and great, great grandmother). While they are not on exhibit together, they have visual and vocal access to each other in the barn and seem to get along quite well. Albert is much more interested in CK than she is in him—although they both tend to keep each other in their sites. 

Albert has also met Lilly, our arctic fox, who sometimes shares the exhibit with CK. Lilly has been spotted running along the fence line when Albert is close—perhaps trying to play or mischievously taunting him a bit—she is a fox after all.

Albert's handsome face.
Albert’s keepers tell us he is a calm and curious goat. He responds to his name and so far has shown no aggression towards his keepers, a sign he is adapting well to his new home. Albert is still growing, but he could weigh 250 to 300 lbs. when he is full grown. His favorite treats at the moment are bamboo browse and grain pellets, but he receives a full spread of apples, carrots, various greens, hay, alfalfa, and a plethora of browse. Albert and CK both have access to grass on their exhibit as well.

Albert surveys his neighbors, the elk and the grizzly bears.
Initially tentative on some of the rocks, Albert now seems much more confident. In fact, his favorite spot is the large round rock nearest to the grizzly bear exhibit!

Rocky Mountain goats naturally range from southern Alaska, Canada, Washington, Idaho and Montana.  Transplanted populations now live in Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, South Dakota and Washington's Olympic Peninsula. In Washington, you can spot these snow-white creatures on the steepest ledges of the Olympic Mountains and the snowy peaks of the Cascades.

Albert has some very fine looking hooves.
Mountain goats live, sleep and eat at elevations of 10,000 feet and up. They are especially adept at hanging out in extremely harsh conditions such as snowy slopes with pitches above 60 degrees, winds up to 100 mph, snow drifts of 30 – 60 feet high and chilly temperatures down to -50 degrees. There is a dad joke in here somewhere about having to walk to school in the snow with bare feet, but we’re pretty sure mountain goats have that old joke beat!

Imagine spending most of your time balancing above snowy windswept cliffs, your hooves perfectly shaped to help grip onto the steep slopes while you graze for lichens, ferns and moss or browse on twigs and shrub leaves. A mountain goat’s incredible adaptations allow it to live high above potential predators such as mountain lions, bears or wolverines. The only predator that lives above the timberline is the golden eagle which might attack a newborn or very young goat.

CK, our female mountain goat, is a bit fluffier and whiter than Albert at the moment. She is the oldest mountain goat in North America, quite the Queen of the Northern Trail.
When it comes to confrontations between goats, it is usually the nannies, the females, who are most aggressive. The nannies hang out in larger groups with a strict hierarchy and most fights occur over feeding resources, salt licks, and rest spots where dominance is based on age and size. These herds, although made up of some tough mama goats, are referred to as nursery bands. The nannies tend to stick together to raise their young in the summer, forming groups of up to 50 individuals. The billies prefer to remain independent and typically form small bachelor groups of two or three goats.

During the fall season, the goats are protected from chilly temperatures by their woolly white double coats. The first layer of fur is made up of a dense wool undercoat while the outer layer is made up of longer, hollow hairs that use thermoregulation to keep the goats toasty on the icy slopes.

At the moment, CK is looking bit woollier, fluffier and whiter than Albert (she’s got a lot of experience in growing a winter coat!), but you can also tell them apart by the blue tag in Albert’s right ear.

Next time you pass by the Northern Trail keep a lookout for young Albert, he’ll be the woolly one on the tip top of the rocks!

Albert on the Northern Trail.


↧
↧

Round the clock birth watch starts for pregnant gorilla

November 6, 2015, 1:00 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor with Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Communications

Nadiri, our 19-year-old, soon-to-be mother, rests on some hay inside the gorilla exhibit. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

And now the watch begins.

Gorilla Nadiri could give birth any day now. Last night kicked off the round-the-clock birth watch so we have eyes on the pregnant gorilla at all hours of the day.

Volunteers Harry, right, and Sue, far left, receive some last-minute guidance and refreshers from keeper Judy, center, before the start of the shift. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

Zoo volunteers head in for their shifts nightly, monitoring the expectant mom overnight via a closed circuit camera. During the shifts, volunteers collect data and look for any telltale signs in her behavior that would indicate the onset of labor. A gorilla keeper is on call each night to respond if Nadiri goes into labor overnight.

A keeper thumbs through paperwork the birth watch volunteers will use to track Nadiri's movements through the night and into the next morning. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.


Sue keeps an eye on the monitor, which can rotate between eight different camera views located inside the dens. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

Earl Grey tea seeps into a cup of hot water as the night begins and volunteers need to keep sharp. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

Sue keeps a close eye on the monitor and settles into a groove as the watch continues through the night. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

The first 72 hours are the most critical for a newborn gorilla and in that time we need to see that the baby is healthy, thriving, and receiving attentive care from first-time mom Nadiri.

Keeper Stephanie shows a model burlap doll—Nadiri has her own to use behind the scenes. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

To prepare the new mother for her first ever experience with a newborn, Nadiri has been training with her keepers behind the scenes. There she interacts with a burlap “baby” with a head, arms and legs that she’s been holding to her chest. She has grown comfortable presenting the “baby” to keepers and allowing them to mock feed with a bottle using a special extension we’ve built to maintain our safe distance. 

The custom-made bottle extension allows keepers to use it for feedings while maintaining their distance. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

The training is going well and is building the foundation for behaviors we want to see in the first-time mom—and we’ll be ready if help is needed.

We can’t wait to meet Nadiri’s baby and usher in the next generation of our gorilla family. The science behind this birth is significant—the baby will continue an underrepresented genetic line within the Species Survival Plan cooperative breeding program across accredited zoos, a boon to the population. But this birth has the power to impact wild populations, too, in the way it touches our hearts and reminds us what’s at stake for critically endangered gorillas. 

Woodland Park Zoo supports conservation efforts for the western lowland gorilla through the Mbeli Bai Study, one of the zoo’s Partners for Wildlife. The study researches the social organization and behaviors of more than 450 lowland gorillas living in the southwest of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. The data collected enables scientists to assess the vulnerability of populations to habitat threats, providing the groundwork for successful conservation strategies.

Gorilla Winona at the Mbeli Bai Study site with twin babies. Photo courtesy of Mbeli Bai Study.

The little one on the way is a powerful reminder—and motivation—to fight for a world with gorillas in it.
↧

Thinking of grad school? Earn your Master's at Woodland Park Zoo

November 7, 2015, 8:00 am
$
0
0
Posted by: Jenny Mears, Education

Advanced Inquiry Program students reflecting on their experience in Northwest Wildlife Conservation, a regional field course in which students traveled to the Oregon coast to meet with stakeholders in the Oregon silverspot butterfly conservation program. 

Interested in pursuing your degree through the Advanced Inquiry Program? Join us for an informational forum on November 17 or January 21.

The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is an exciting Master’s degree offered by Woodland Park Zoo in partnership with Project Dragonfly at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. This program is designed for a broad range of professionals from education, conservation, business, and government settings, and offers a groundbreaking graduate degree focused on inquiry-driven learning as a powerful agent for social and ecological change.

The Advanced Inquiry Program combines graduate courses at the zoo with web-based courses, and provides students with hands-on, real-world experience with conservation education, community engagement, inquiry-based learning, and environmental stewardship. Students may decide to incorporate regional or international field courses as part of their AIP coursework.

Courses can be taken part-time while working, and can be completed in 2.5 to 5 years. Through their various course projects, Advanced Inquiry Program students hone their own focus within the program based on their personal and professional goals. To support involvement by a broad range of educators and conservation professionals by keeping the program affordable, Miami University and Woodland Park Zoo offer significantly reduced tuition and fees for all classes.

Since the program began in 2011, Woodland Park Zoo’s students and graduates have been enacting amazing environmental stewardship and social change in our communities. We’ve collected some of their stories about how the program has positively impacted their personal and professional lives both locally and globally. First up, meet Tracey Byrne, an AIP graduate, learning mentor, and advocate for children (and adults!) spending time in nature:


Want to know more?

Please join us for one of our informational forums about the Advanced Inquiry Program: 

  • Tuesday, November 17, 2015 or Thursday, January 21, 2016, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Woodland Park Zoo Education Center

This informational forum includes snacks and a live animal presentation! 

To RSVP, please call 206.548.2581 or email AIP@zoo.org.
Applications for the Advanced Inquiry Program are accepted until February 28, 2016 for summer enrollment.
↧

Microsoft teams with Woodland Park Zoo on a device to improve conservation research

November 9, 2015, 1:00 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor with Gigi Allianic, Communications

A wolverine is caught on camera as it approaches a noninvasive hair snare designed to snag a hair that can be used for DNA testing. Photo: Robert Long/Woodland Park Zoo.

To study elusive wolverines in the wild, you need to know where they occur. To figure out where they occur, you need wolverines to trigger remote research cameras. To get wolverines to trigger the cameras, you need to attract them with a strong scent, which naturally fades after two to four weeks. To keep that scent refreshed after it fades, you need to hike into backcountry terrain with deep snow and dangerous avalanche conditions in the winter—and that’s where it gets tricky.

Senior conservation fellow Robert Long installs a new device that could revolutionize his wolverine research in the Northwest. Photo: Roger Christophersen.

Extreme winter conditions can make the small but critical task of refreshing scent lures or baits difficult for Woodland Park Zoo senior conservation fellow, Robert Long, PhD, limiting the window during which he can reliably collect data for his wolverine research throughout the year.

Until now.

Microsoft has teamed up with Woodland Park Zoo and Idaho Fish and Game to take noninvasive conservation research methods to the next level with a clever technological solution.

Earlier this year, Robert connected with an engineer at Microsoft Research, and now believes they have the answer to this difficult problem. For six months, Microsoft researcher Mike Sinclair worked with Robert and Joel Sauder, PhD, a wildlife biologist for Idaho Fish and Game, to engineer the missing piece that could dispense scents all winter long without human assistance.

The device programmed to dispense scents on a regular basis. Photo: Robert Long/Woodland Park Zoo.

Mike Sinclair developed an ultra-low power control processor board powered by lithium batteries. Through a miniature peristaltic pump, the device is programmed to release 3 milliliters of liquid scent lure each day for six to nine months in sub-freezing conditions without any maintenance. Mike then worked with high school students in his STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) mentoring group to replicate the board 70 times, which the conservation scientists integrated into metal kits that house the liquid scent pump system. 


The device is now being deployed statewide and beyond, though in the wild it will face one more test: bears. 

A bear-proof box protects the scent dispenser. Photo: Robert Long/Woodland Park Zoo.

Loaded with odors, the device is likely to attract nose-driven bears. Bear-proof boxes cover the dispensers to protect them, and at Woodland Park Zoo, we have two willing testers who were eager to let us know just how reliable those bear-proof boxes may prove to be: grizzly brothers Keema and Denali.

A grizzly bear at Woodland Park Zoo claws at the bear-proof container. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo. 

The two grizzly brothers weigh more than 750 pounds apiece but, despite their strength, they did not succeed in tearing the dispensers from a log or dismantling the boxes during a test trial today. 

Woodland Park Zoo's grizzly bears had no luck breaking into the containers or tearing them from the log. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

This is exactly what we wanted—affirmation that these dispensers are bear proof and rugged enough to work in the backcountry.

As part of a long-term wolverine study through the zoo’s Living Northwest conservation program, 25 of the dispensers have been distributed in Washington state’s North Cascades. Ten more have been deployed to detect multiple carnivore species in Washington, and another 20 are being used in a multi-species forest carnivore project in north-central Idaho. 

Next summer, field teams from Woodland Park Zoo and Idaho Fish and Game will take to their respective mountainous terrain to retrieve the remote cameras and see how well the scent lure dispensers performed. If the dispensers did their job through the harsh winter, these devices could have far-reaching impacts on wildlife research all over the world. 

These modest, yet innovative dispensers may be able to help researchers learn about a variety of species living in difficult to access places such as Canada lynx, fishers and martens. 


Conservation isn’t just the work of conservationists—it’s a responsibility that rests with all of us. Collaborations like this show what can happen when we all join forces.
↧

Thriving with change and continuity

November 10, 2015, 11:40 am
$
0
0
Posted by: Bruce W. Bohmke, Acting President and CEO

November marks a yearly turning point as fall unleashes its contribution to the cycle of life, and along with it the certainty of change.

As we prepare to close out the year and begin anew, I can tell you that we are thriving in the midst of change. Since becoming acting president and CEO in June, I have been impressed by the resolve of our staff and board to continue dreaming big. My focus is to ensure continuity in the delivery of our mission while also evolving the zoo of the future, as guided by six goals in our strategic plan and our Long-Range Physical Development plan.

A Board Search Committee, aided by the executive search firm Spencer Stuart, is scouring the nation for the best, next zoo leader. I’m confident that excellent candidates will find irresistible our large and loyal membership, educational and conservation impact, and reputation as a standard setter in naturalistic exhibit design and animal care. We anticipate selecting and embracing our next leader between April and July 2016.

Until then, our goal is to sustain, innovate and deliver more value to our cherished members, supporters and partners. With Thanksgiving around the corner, YOU top our gratitude list. Let’s honor the renewal and change you make happen by reflecting on some of the year’s highlights and looking ahead to what’s coming.

Making every visit count


We’ve worked hard to make every zoo visit a conservation action. We care about reaching as many people as possible, as often as possible. Thanks to an ever-improving guest experience, this year member visits and repeat visits are up—21 percent higher than three years ago as of September.



And although a few weeks of sizzling summer weather kept some of you at home, by September 30 we had reached 98% of our overall attendance goal. Our grizzly bears simply took to splashing in their river to beat the heat.

For our fourth season of WildLights presented by Sound Credit Union, the zoo’s winter festival beginning November 27, we expect a strong turnout to thrust us past 100% of our overall attendance goal. With improved, all-season programming, the zoo really is Seattle’s best, year-round resource for fun and educational family experiences.

Photo: @momsasaurus via Instagram.

Keeping you satisfied

Even more than visitation, the numbers my staff and I care about relate to guest satisfaction. I’m pleased to report that 96 percent of guests surveyed this summer described their visit as having “met or exceeded their expectations,” and 93 percent agreed that their visit “was worth the time and money.” Consistently high over the last several years, such ratings let us know our investments in customer service, more interactive experiences, and more up-close animal encounters are paying off. We’ve also seen an especially big jump in visitors’ satisfaction with wayfinding, from 78% to 88% since 2008, owing to a new cross-over path, new directional graphics, and simpler, more customer-friendly entry and exit.

Numbers are one thing, but it’s always a pleasure to see this satisfaction on members’ faces. Families frequently send us photos of their “wild time” and their delight reminds me of why I have loved working here since 1999. Every staff member and volunteer works hard to ensure that up-close zoo experiences are dynamic and different every single day. However, sometimes we just can’t prevent them from “going to the birds.”

Visitor photos via Instagram, clockwise from top left: @vedasana, @rain_caster, @ericaxosalhus, @refreshww.

Touching hearts and minds

We completed and opened the much-anticipated Malayan tiger and sloth bear exhibits in the new Banyan Wilds, the largest exhibit transformation here since the Trail of Vines 20 years ago. We brought majestic tigers back to the zoo.

Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

These awe-inspiring wildlife ambassadors warmed your hearts and opened your eyes to a compelling story of how our partnership with Panthera is working on the front lines in Taman Negara National Park and the Kenyir Wildlife Corridor to save the last Malayan tigers. With Malaysian colleagues on the ground, we are scientifically mapping tigers' remaining breeding sites, known as hot spots, and protecting them from criminal poachers. 

I hope you were among the 90% of all zoo visitors who explored the new exhibit; for 40% of you, it was the primary motivation for visiting.

Photo: John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

You got closer than ever to these majestic animals, and you witnessed our staff demonstrating exciting interactions with tigers and bears. It is part of how we’re bringing more of our excellent care procedures out in front of the exhibit, and sharing what it takes to protect these cats in the wild. Already staff members are working hard to bring you more engaging, hands-on exhibit interactives in 2016 and new ways to take conservation action with our Tiger Team. Together we need to Show Our Stripes in Seattle if we are to save these felines in the wild.

A tiger art ambassador from the Show Your Stripes Tour. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.
   
To save tigers, we need to get people talking about them. At the base of the Space Needle, we launched our Show Your Stripes Tour—the unveiling of 10 tiger statues designed by local artists to raise awareness throughout the Puget Sound area of the plight of tigers. Several of the art tigers sold for $20,000 at Jungle Party on July 10, an event which raised more than $2 million this summer for the zoo’s mission.

Keeping your zoo in top (and green) shape

Not all zoo improvements can be as visually stunning and sexy as tigers. To increase the zoo’s value to a growing community, and to steward the 116-year-old park infrastructure that makes great animal experiences possible, requires revitalizing facilities, innovating in naturalistic exhibitry, improving our beautiful grounds, and continuing to model sustainability for our entire community. 

Having lacked a dedicated source for major maintenance funds since 2008, the $1.8 million a year for six years that voters approved through the new parks district levy catapulted many critical projects from the “someday” list to the “right away” list. With those funds and with existing King County Levy monies, in 2015 we targeted upgrades to our electrical, water and other utility systems, replacing aging and energy-draining structures. 

Some projects less obvious to visitors will nonetheless make a big difference. We replaced the roof on the Animal Hospital building, and many other roof structures are in line for replacing. We also installed water-conservation devices to maintain our grounds full of significant horticulture wonders. 

Woodland Park Rose Garden in bloom. Photo: Kirsten Pisto.

Even through a hot summer, facilities and horticultural staff achieved a drop of 12.7 percent in our water use and still kept the place looking beautiful. 

We also completed installation of new solar panels on the Commissary and on the Rain Forest Food Pavilion, as part of our new Community Solar on Phinney Ridge project—the largest community solar project in Washington. The zoo, Phinney Neighborhood Association and Seattle City Light are partners.

Solar panels installed on the roof of the zoo's Rain Forest Food Pavilion. Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The panels turn the pavilion into a sun-loving energy producer. Across the zoo, electrical system upgrades to decrease our energy draw, combined with other new and existing solar projects, move us closer to reaching our sustainability goals. 

Achieving big wins for animals and people

Just last Tuesday, you, the zoo and Washington made history with Initiative 1401, which passed with an overwhelming approval rate. With this groundbreaking, grassroots effort, we’ve established a model for other states and nations to stand up against the illegal trafficking of wildlife parts and products that fuels the extinction economy. 

For the past 18 months, our volunteers and staff have talked with thousands of people at the zoo and in the community about the urgent need to strengthen our state’s laws and government actions to protect animals like elephants and rhinos from poaching and illegal killing. Nearly everyone they spoke with agrees that wildlife trafficking must be stopped. 


Washington voters decided that elephants need their ivory more than we need trinkets, and that the real figure, not the figurine, is what matters to our future. Thank you to our members, donors, volunteers and partners for your advocacy to fight for animals and for joining the coalition of Woodland Park Zoo, the Humane Society of the United States, Seattle Aquarium, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, the Sierra Club, WildAid, and Paul Allen, as well as the Wildlife Conservation Society and the 96 Elephants campaign.

Looking forward

Having brought tigers back to the zoo, we now look forward to bringing back a long-time member and visitor favorite in spring 2016: the Butterfly Garden. Zoo staff are busy designing a seasonal, multisensory marvel to immerse you in these insects’ amazing flight techniques, survival strategies, and in their beauty. It’s a great way to experience the relationship between animals and flowering plants.

Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.
  
Butterflies may even perch on your shoulder as you stroll about and learn ways to foster a pollinator-friendly habitat that invites these fascinating insects to your own backyard.

Near the new exhibit, we’ll celebrate Zoomazium’s 10th anniversary as well as inaugurate a new interpretive stage purpose-built for the unique nature-play space. It’s part of how we’re enhancing programs for early learners and expanding our popular presentation animal program, in which staff engage guests in up-close encounters with smaller animals not typically displayed in landscape exhibits.

Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Another way we’re enhancing zoo experiences is by studying their role in fostering empathy for other species. The art and science of caring speaks to the heart of our mission: to learn, care and act. So, we’re working with other top zoos and aquariums on a national model for fostering empathy, and measuring our collective impact. Of course we all know that kids naturally love animals, but we want to learn how children’s experiences with live animals encourage positive emotions toward them, and expand our sense of justice to include natural systems as well as altruism in social relationships.

Photo: Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

We often think of the zoo’s business as that of animal well-being, or environmental education, or conservation, and it’s all of those. But at the heart of it is the business of caring—for animals and people.

During the holiday season, we tend to think a lot about what and whom we truly care about. Did you know the words caring and charitable share roots? You have many deserving choices for year-end charitable giving. If you haven’t already, please consider making a gift to your zoo.

Together we’ll renew our commitment to helping everyone care about our world’s natural wonders. Thank you!
↧
↧

How to: photograph like a pro during autumn at the zoo

November 12, 2015, 11:40 am
$
0
0
Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications
Photos by: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo


Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren knows a thing or two about patience and perseverance—being the zoo’s official photographer he is well versed in, well, waiting. Waiting for the light to open up, waiting for the lemur to jump, waiting for the rain to stop, and waiting for the crowds to clear. Then the shutter clicks and we all reap the rewards.

But you don’t have to wait for fabulous photography because autumn is here and now is the perfect time to bring your camera to the zoo. With golden orange light cascading from crisp leaves, a rainbow of changing foliage and long, beautiful shadows dancing across zoo grounds, November is an ideal time for photographers of all skill levels to visit the zoo.


Jeremy joined us in his official capacity as staff photographer in August of this year, although he had been a volunteer photographer for three years prior. Here he gives us some pro tips on making the most out of the season’s shifting light and clues us in on a few of his favorite spots to shoot. We also asked him a few questions about his job (since he might have one of the most coveted jobs at the zoo).

..................................

You have a two hour block of free photo time, where is your go-to spot at the zoo?

Tough question…I don’t really have one particular spot. Well, unless the raptors are doing their flight demonstrations. I show up to those as often as I can. Very challenging photography from a technical standpoint, but when you nail it the results can be quite spectacular.

..................................

So far you’ve managed to capture a ring-tailed lemur in midair, a grizzly bear moments before catching a salmon, Oregon spotted frogs literally jumping into the wild, and Malayan tigers plunging into their pool. What advice do you have for folks who are trying to get these iconic animal action shots?

Planning, practice and patience. Have a good idea of what you’d like to capture, and practice how to make that happen. Since our animals are free to choose how they spend their day you might have to wait awhile for that to happen—so be ready to have some patience! A good example was the lemur shot. I knew I wanted a mid-air shot, and that I wanted it with a nice even background. I practiced presetting the focus point and controlling the depth of field alongside the shutter speed so the shot would be technically good. Then it was a matter of waiting for good light and the animal to hit the preset spot. I got lucky on this one and it only took two visits. Other shots took revisiting over the course of weeks and months—some have been years.

..................................


What is the one piece of camera gear you never leave without?

My Canon 70-200 2.8 is my workhorse lens, mostly thanks to its incredible versatility. Short enough for landscapes, long enough for portraits, and fast enough to handle low light and deliver lots of depth in the shots. If I had to keep only one lens, that’d be the one.

..................................

Photos have the ability to stop time, to inspire, to really change people’s minds. What is something you hope to accomplish through your work here at the zoo?

I think you pretty much summed it up! I hope that my work inspires viewers to care more about our world and the animals in it, and even better to act on making a better place for the entirety of creation.

..................................

Can you describe a photograph that you felt really connected your viewers with the animal?


I love the expression in this one; the moment captured in it. It's a reminder of how wild and awesome our animals really are.

..................................

Your background is in aviation photography. Have you seen any correlation between shooting Cessna Titan and, say, a laughing kookaburra?

Oh absolutely. For one, they’re both kinda funny looking with those long noses/beaks that taper quickly to a fine tip point, so that makes photographing both enjoyable in a weird aesthetic way. Both fly pretty slowly compared to other birds too, so they’re a bit easier to track and considerably less maneuverable than, say, a ferruginous hawk (80/mph vs ~20/mph) or an F-22 Raptor (1,498/mph vs 267/mph).

..................................

Thanks, Jeremy! We can't wait to see more of your work!

And now, here are a few tips and tricks for anyone who is exploring a fall photo shoot at the zoo:



Autumn is in the details
Consider getting close to your subject. While traditional landscape shots are an easy fall benchmark, the subtleties you’ll find by tightening your frame are just as magical. Moving closer to your subject allows you to explore the textures and tones, without getting caught up in the bigger picture.


The golden hour
The golden hour is the point at which the sun’s light has to pass through the most atmospheric haze in order to reach Earth, and that creates the magical golden glow we associate with autumn. There are technically two points each day where the sun makes its magic: once right after sunrise and again just before sunset. In Seattle, that time is right around 7:06 a.m. and 3:54 p.m. (This website tells you exactly when the golden hour will hit your neck of the woods.) Take advantage of these hours, and get outside in that soft, red light!


Take advantage of gray skies
If you happen to find yourself on zoo grounds during a gray sky day, don’t worry, gray is sometimes gold! An overcast day doesn’t mean putting away your lens. Take advantage of this natural softbox which provides bright, diffused light. A gray sky is a nice time for wildlife portraits, especially of dark furred beasts, when the light is soft. Just make sure your white balance is correct to avoid colder tones taking over.


Perspective
Whether you are telling the story of a single leaf or a family of ring-tailed lemurs, think about perspective. If you are shooting a leaf, consider getting close to the ground. If you are trying to tell the story of a particular animal, consider getting down to eye level with that creature. This easy maneuver can really change a lot about your framing, opens up your angles and allows your audience to see things from a surprising viewpoint.


Get here earlyEarly risers get the best action shots, because most animals are more active in the morning. It is during this time that many of the larger animals explore the outdoors, looking for their breakfast or just checking things out. You’ll have the opportunity to get positioned in the right spot with fewer visitors during the mornings as well.




Remember to tag #woodlandparkzoo when you share your photos with us!
↧

The definitive guide to making hippo kisses

November 18, 2015, 3:28 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Editor

If "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is your holiday jam, brace yourself: this is as close as it gets!

This Fri., Nov. 20, head to the Zookeepers' Holiday Silent Auction to bid on a chance to go behind the scenes with 15-year-old female hippo Guadalupe to create your very own hippo-kiss painting.



Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

With a mouth that can open to a massive 150 degrees and lips that are 2 feet wide, a hippo's kiss is unforgettable. As you can imagine, it's not always easy to make a hippo-kiss painting. But don't worry, we've got a how-to guide for that:



The silent auction is held by the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. Along with the hippo kiss painting experience, this year’s auction will feature extraordinary experiences found only at the zoo, including opportunities to paint behind the scenes with a colony of Humboldt penguins, meet the zoo’s snow leopards up close and learn about the adaptations that allow them to live high in the mountains, and enjoy a private keeper talk and enrichment program with the zoo’s Komodo dragon.

Zookeepers' Holiday Silent Auction

  • Friday, November 20, 2015
  • 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - Bake/lunch sale, auction preview and guaranteed bids 
  • 4:00-7:30 p.m. - Silent auction and bake/dinner sale
  • Woodland Park Zoo Education Center, located adjacent to the South Entrance at N. 50th St. and Fremont Ave. N. Free parking available after 4:00 p.m. in the south parking lot at N. 50th St. and Fremont Ave. N. (located next to the Rose Garden). Entrance to the auction is free; access to the zoo is not included. 

Proceeds help support animal and habitat conservation projects around the world, the advancement of the zookeeping profession and education outreach. The Puget Sound American Association of Zoo Keepers (PS-AAZK) is a nonprofit volunteer organization made up of professional zookeepers and other interested persons dedicated to professional animal care and conservation. The PS-AAZK chapter aims to provide excellence in animal care by providing grants and scholarships for members to attend workshops, conferences and training seminars. The organization supports conservation efforts for bees, lions, vultures, tree kangaroos, iguanas and many more.  It has created an emergency fund to respond quickly when other facilities have emergent situations, such as the confiscation and follow-up care of over 3,800 critically endangered Philippine forest turtles by the Turtle Survival Alliance facility earlier this year.
↧
Search

First-time gorilla mom Nadiri gives birth

November 20, 2015, 2:43 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications

An image taken from a closed circuit keeper camera showing Nadiri during labor in her den this morning. Photo: Woodland Park Zoo.

Curator Martin Ramirez monitors Nadiri via closed circuit camera during labor. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo.

After a night of restless tossing and turning, we knew pregnant gorilla Nadiri was close. Then the contractions started around 8:00 a.m. today and just about 4 hours later at 11:30 a.m. it finally happened—Nadiri brought her first offspring into the world.

Within moments of giving birth, Nadiri moved a few feet away from the baby and walked to the other side of her den. Keepers watching closely could see the infant was moving, though still wrapped in the amniotic sac. We made the call for the safety of the baby: it was time to intervene.

Curator Martin Ramirez explained that while we hoped Nadiri would immediately hold and care for her baby, we stepped in for the safety of the newborn and made the decision to let the new mom rest. All along, we’ve been preparing for all outcomes to ensure the health and well-being of the infant is the top priority.

Stepping in and removing the baby allowed the zoo’s animal health team to perform a neonatal examination on the baby.

It’s a girl!

Lead zookeeper Hugh Bailey and zoo veterinarian Dr. Darin Collins take a close look at the newborn girl behind the scenes at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo: Woodland Park Zoo.

According to Dr. Darin Collins, Woodland Park Zoo’s director of animal health, the average weight for a gorilla at birth is 4 pounds. “Our new baby weighs a healthy 5 pounds. Her vital signs look good and she is physically normal,” said Collins.

Following the exam, staff placed the baby in close proximity to Nadiri to evaluate her interest. Unfortunately, Nadiri didn’t approach her baby or show any interest. At this time, a bedroom adjacent to Nadiri’s den is being set up so she can see and hear her baby. Our goal is to methodically expose Nadiri to her baby and help kick in that maternal instinct. She remains within visual contact and has content vocalized toward her baby, so she’s showing some interest. We’ll continue these efforts as long as we see positive interactions.

The first 72 hours are the most critical for a newborn gorilla. “The baby has successfully taken her first bottle, and we are prepared to bottle feed and provide round-the-clock care until Nadiri shows signs she wants her baby,” said Ramirez. The new mom and baby will remain off view in the sleeping dens where it is a hushed, comfortable environment and staff can keep a close 24-hour watch.

The newborn marks the first gorilla born at the zoo in eight years and the thirteenth gorilla birth at the zoo.

The father of the newborn is 36-year-old Vip, who has sired six other offspring with three different females at the zoo.

“It’s very enriching for a gorilla to give birth and raise a baby, and natural overall for gorillas to have babies in their groups,” said Ramirez. “Despite hitting this road bump, we have had high hopes for Nadiri to get pregnant and have her own baby, so this is a very happy day for us!”

Because Nadiri was partially hand-raised as an infant and is an inexperienced mom, the zoo’s gorilla keeper staff took extra measures to prepare her for raising a baby. Through daily sessions, Nadiri was trained to pick up a burlap “baby” to present to the keepers in case supplemental feedings are needed for her baby. On cue, she presented the burlap baby to the keepers to allow them to feed through the mesh, using a custom-made bottle extension and to closely inspect the burlap baby.

The zoo’s goal is to allow Nadiri to raise her baby on her own. As long as Nadiri continues to provide solid maternal care, the gorilla’s human caretakers will remain hands off. We want to assure a healthy future for the little one.

Wrapped up in this new bundle of joy is a touching reminder of what's at stake in a world where gorillas face extinction in the wild. She carries very valuable genes underrepresented in the gorilla population, which is managed together across conservation zoos through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan.

In Africa, Woodland Park Zoo supports conservation efforts for the critically endangered western lowland gorilla through the Mbeli Bai Study, one of the zoo’s Partners for Wildlife. The study researches the social organization and behaviors of more than 450 lowland gorillas living in the southwest of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. The data collected enables scientists to assess the vulnerability of populations to habitat threats and predict their ability to recover from decline.

That research is an investment in a future with gorillas in it, a future we fight for everyday thanks to your support.
↧

Baby gorilla thrives, introduction sessions between mom and baby continue

November 23, 2015, 3:21 pm
$
0
0
Posted by Gigi Allianic, Communications

Baby girl, cozy and in the care of her attentive keepers.

As you may have heard, a female baby gorilla was born on Friday, November 20, to first time mom, Nadiri. First, let us thank you all for your congratulatory notes and kind words for keepers and staff. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support for this special new girl who has stolen our hearts.

The baby is thriving. Under special care of keepers and veterinary staff, the western lowland gorilla is receiving round-the-clock care and is currently off public view. She is being bottle-fed human infant formula.

Just so sleepy after her birth journey.

Although Nadiri gave birth naturally, without intervention by staff, she did not show appropriate maternal behaviors. After giving birth, she walked away to the other side of the den and staff had to step in for the safety and welfare of the baby and to let the new mom rest. Because Nadiri was partially hand-raised and does not have experience with motherhood, zoo staff prepared for different eventualities.

Attempts over the weekend to introduce Nadiri to her baby have not been successful. According to Martin Ramirez, the zoo’s mammal curator, Nadiri’s interactions are positive but minimal. “She keeps her baby within line of sight and we hear content grunting, but she has not shown any interest beyond this and has not made a move to pick up her baby. While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we remain optimistic that her maternal behaviors will kick in,” said Ramirez. “The best thing for a baby gorilla, or any animal, is to have its mom take care of it."

Staff is caring for the baby in a bedroom next to Nadiri’s den where the mom and other two gorillas in her group can see the little one.

Wrapped snug in a fleece blanket, this little one is getting lots of love from keepers and vet staff who are caring for her in a room next to mom, Nadiri. Mom and baby can see each other as keepers provide human infant formula.

“The good news is that the baby is flourishing. We’re very pleased with the baby’s first 72 hours, a critical period for newborn gorillas. She’s feeding sufficiently and maintaining her body temperature,” explained Ramirez. “Our focus over the next several days is to ensure this baby remains healthy and to keep moving forward with attempts to unite Nadiri with her baby. We just need to be patient.”

We would like to thank our dedicated keepers and veterinary team who have stepped in to ensure this precious baby girl gets the utmost care and the best chance at reuniting with her mom. Updates on Nadiri and the baby will be posted here just as soon as we have more news to share.

Thank you for your patience and your warm thoughts; we are grateful to have such an amazing zoo family.

There is nothing sweeter than this little girl.
↧
↧

Zoo’s conservation program receives $2.6 million grant to strengthen biodiversity protection around the globe

November 24, 2015, 12:54 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Alissa Wolken, Communications

We have some very wonderful news to share! Woodland Park Zoo's international field conservation initiative, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program(TKCP), will receive $2.6 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support its efforts to protect endangered species and improve the livelihoods of the indigenous people in the Pacific island country of Papua New Guinea.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

Woodland Park Zoo plays a major role in protecting wildlife and biodiversity through its many field conservation projects that span the globe; one, in particular, being the zoo’s collaboration with the national government of Papua New Guinea through its Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) and UNDP under its long-term partnership with the award-winning Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program.

“We are incredibly grateful to the GEF, UNDP and CEPA for awarding this significant grant and recognizing the importance of our work,” said Lisa Dabek, Woodland Park Zoo’s senior conservation scientist and TKCP founder and Program Director. Dabek, who has a PhD in animal behavior and conservation biology, said, “The grant will allow us to enhance the management of the 180,000-acre Yopno-Uruwa-Som (YUS) Conservation Area, which protects the endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo and a wide range of other endemic rare and endangered species.” Created by indigenous communities with the support of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, the YUS Conservation Area is PNG’s first and only nationally-recognized conservation area. “Based on our model, we hope to see the PNG government establish more conservation areas by the end of this five-year project.”

 Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

TKCP received the grant from GEF. Established in 1992, the GEF has become a widely admired international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions and civil society organizations working together to address global environmental issues. The grant supports a national five-year project titled “Strengthening Management Effectiveness of the National System of Protected Areas” and will be implemented by CEPA in collaboration with UNDP, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program through Woodland Park Zoo and Tenkile Conservation Alliance. 

TKCP’s portion of the project will focus on strengthening the capacity of local communities to manage the YUS Conservation Area and will support sustainable livelihoods throughout 50 remote villages nearby. “Through this project, the YUS Conservation Area will officially serve as the model for community-based conservation in the country,” said Dabek. “Building on our work over the past 20 years, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and Woodland Park Zoo are playing a major, unprecedented role in protecting wildlife and biodiversity at the national level in Papua New Guinea.” TKCP’s lessons and insights gained in YUS will guide the development of national policies for managing protected areas, to be applied throughout PNG – one of the most biodiverse countries on earth.

Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo

TKCP was created by Dabek and TKCP team in 1996 to study the endangered Matschie’s tree kangaroo and find ways to conserve the species in partnership with the local people. Over the past 20 years, the program has grown and evolved into a holistic program supporting habitat protection for a wide range of threatened species, as well as initiatives to enhance local community livelihoods and access to government services. Such initiatives include: training the country’s first Conservation Rangers to patrol protected areas and monitor wildlife in the area; partnering with Seattle’s Caffé Vita to help farmers produce and export high-quality, conservation-friendly coffee beans; providing scholarships to help YUS students earn teaching certificates and return to teach in village schools; and partnering with health professionals to provide basic health training and supplies for preventive care, sanitation, nutrition and reproductive health.

TKCP is a leader in taking a multidisciplinary approach to conservation and has received several accolades including the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ (AZA) International Conservation Award in 2002 and 2014 and the United Nations Equator Prize in 2014. In addition, Dabek has recently been nominated for the prestigious Indianapolis Prize in recognition of her groundbreaking wildlife conservation efforts through the program.

Cheers to TKCP and the wonderful work its staff and volunteers are doing to protect the diverse landscapes of Papua New Guinea!

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo
↧

Apple-loving porcupine predicts Apple Cup winner

November 24, 2015, 5:23 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications

The porcupine made a clear choice for her pick to win! Photo: John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

With the Apple Cup upon us, we asked apple-loving porcupine Skyáana to try her hand at predicting the winner of the big game. Faced with a choice of apples overflowing from a Husky and a Cougar snack helmet, the 1.5-year-old prickly predictor picked the WSU Cougars for the win!



Here’s the play-by-play: The keeper calls the audible. Skyáana makes a rush down the field. She drops out of the pocket and runs a naked bootleg! She’s down to the 40, the 30, the 20, across the 10 yard line, into the Cougars end zone! Touchdown, Cougars!!!! Are you kidding me??!! Holy apples, I don’t believe it!!

Photo: John Loughlin/Woodland Park Zoo.

As she went for a second apple from the Cougars helmet, Skyáana made it perfectly clear that she is confident in her choice. But here's the deal: this is Skyáana’s first pick for a game. She has no track record, so we’ll have to see how she does after Friday’s game!

The prescient porcupine currently weighs 19 pounds and was born to parents Molly and Oliver who live in the zoo’s award-winning Northern Trail exhibit. Skyáana, whose Haida name means “to be awake,” is off public exhibit and will be featured in next summer’s new presentation programs on zoo grounds.
↧

A beastly guide to giving thanks

November 25, 2015, 12:53 pm
$
0
0
Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications

Each Thanksgiving season we try our best to put into words just how grateful we are for your friendship and support. With your passion for saving wildlife and wild spaces, with your generous support in providing the most nutritious diets and state-of-the-art animal health care, and most of all your love for each and every creature here at the zoo—we are incredibly lucky to call you our zoo family.

If we could invite you all to a Thanksgiving feast we would, but unfortunately the animals might get grumpy if we start sharing their grub. Instead, here is a little Thanksgiving-inspired fun to share with your loved ones. This holiday, know we are thinking of you and sending you love from the zoo. Stay cozy and enjoy your pie!

Here are 10 ways to give thanks (like an animal):


Whether it is a tasty fish or a pumpkin pie, give thanks for a full belly.


Be thankful for family, young and old (and everyone in between).


Show your appreciation by being polite. This goes way beyond the dinner table.


The earth provides us with nutrient-rich soil to literally grow our food. It doesn't get much better than that! Remember to thank the earth (the worms, the rain and the dirt!).


Competition breeds creativity. Show your peers you appreciate them by offering a simple compliment. They will be grateful!


Be yourself, let loose. Give yourself gratitude for what makes you, you!


Show your family and friends you care by taking the time to ask them questions. And really listen. Those quirky stories make your family special!


Life is hard work. Give props to those who have helped you out in difficult times or were just there to get you out of a pickle.


One of the simplest ways to show thanks is feeding others. Consider volunteering at a local food bank or donating items to a food drive at your grocery store.


Appreciate the simple comforts in your life. Best buddies and a cozy place to sleep off that Thanksgiving meal are a good place to start.
↧
Viewing all 1016 articles
Browse latest View live
Search