Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Wonderfully Wild Wednesday: Waxy frogs

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Introducing Wonderfully Wild Wednesday, where we’ll feature some fascinating wildlife adaptation each week. Let’s kick it off with one of the zoo’s newest residents—the waxy monkey frog.

I don’t need to tell you that the waxy monkey frog is awesome. You can see that for yourself…

But I will tell you that this frog—newly arrived to Woodland Park Zoo—is certainly unique among its amphibian brethren.

Most frogs have moist skin that is susceptible to drying out when exposed to direct sun for too long. But the South American waxy monkey frog is uniquely adapted to take in rays, allowing it to make a niche for itself in the hot, dry environment of its native habitat in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.

So how does the waxy monkey frog do it? It’s in the name (well, the waxy part of the name, not the monkey part. We’ll get to the monkey part later).

The waxy monkey frog comes complete with built-in sunblock, a waxy secretion that comes from its neck that it can then rub all over its body. The wax prevents it from drying out under the sun by sealing in its natural moisture.

At the zoo you’ll find these arboreal frogs spending much of their time perched on tree limbs in their exhibit. And that’s where the other part of their name comes in. The waxy monkey frog gets its monkey title from the way it moves around in the trees, walking rather than hopping like other frogs.

Look for the waxy monkey frogs hanging out on limbs, munching on insects in the zoo’s Day Exhibit where most of our amphibian and reptile species reside.

Photos by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Happy 1st birthday, Evita!

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications
How do you celebrate an ocelot’s 1st birthday? With a turkey cake and mouse candle, of course!

Our little Evita is not quite so little anymore. To celebrate her turning 1 year old last week, Evita’s keepers prepared a lovely birthday surprise including some wrapped presents (boomer balls generously bought for Evita from our animal enrichment wishlist), a papier mache ball with a mouse inside, and a heart-shaped frozen cake made from ground turkey, turkey breast and prepared feline diet with a “candle” that I hope to never see on any cake I eat—a mouse with its tail sticking up like a wick!

Evita was slow to investigate her treats until keepers added an unexpected twist—a fresh pile of snow picked from just outside the Tropical Rain Forest exhibit. Evita’s exhibit is near 80 degrees year round, so the snow brought out her curiosity. She rubbed her head in the snow and batted at it with her paws before moving on to the other treats.

The mouse candle was first to go—Evita plucked it right out of the cake to munch on. Then one by one she inspected and tore into her other treats like any birthday girl would.

In the wild, an ocelot kitten will begin to hunt on its own by around 18-24 months of age and by that time is ready to leave its mother’s side. As Evita is now reaching that age, we expect to find a new Association of Zoos & Aquariums accredited zoo home for her soon so she can establish her own territory away from her parents and find her own mate.

Photos by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Snow day - Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:27:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

The zoo was closed to the public again today due to the snow and ice conditions. Here's a look at what was happening on grounds:

We'll post to www.zoo.org first thing in the morning tomorrow on whether we'll finally be able to open again. Until then, stay safe!

Photos by Ryan Hawk and Carol Roll/Woodland Park Zoo.

Snow day at the zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

The zoo may be closed today due to “Snowpocalypse,” but many of the animals are still out and about. Some animals retreat indoors or look for a warm spot to tuck themselves into to get out of the snow, while others—like our residents of the Northern Trail exhibit—are in their element.
The first animals you encounter in the Northern Trail are the pack of four sister wolves—Doba, Shila, Aponi and Kaya.

When we first approached the wolves this morning, they were beautiful to behold in their white fur coated in snow, an elk lounging in the background.

But it wasn’t long before one of the wolves interrupted the still, idyllic portrait with a piercing howl.

Then the wolves all began to vocalize together and play.

They chased.

And chased.

Then took a break to nibble at the snow.

We pulled ourselves away from the scene just long enough to see one of our grizzly bears shaking himself free of the snow piling onto his fur.

Then we were off to see the Steller’s sea eagles, whose bright orange beaks seemed so bright and bold against the white backdrop, and the elk who were fairly active.

While there wasn't as much action in other parts of the zoo, there were still a few other beautiful scenes worth sharing, including this emu...

...and these penguins.

We’re keeping an eye on weather conditions and our keepers are making sure all of the animals are warm, safe and comfortable. We hope to be able to open as usual tomorrow, and will post the latest status tomorrow morning to the homepage of www.zoo.org.

Be safe out there, everyone!

Photos: Grizzly bear photo by Kirsten Pisto/WPZ, all other photos by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

CONTEST: Guess the weight of our hippos!

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:19:00 +0000

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications

Lupe practicing on the scale. Photo by Ric Brewer/WPZ.

Was losing weight your New Year's resolution? Well, for our hippos, it’s time to get on the scale!

Lily (left) and Lupe (right) in the African Savanna. Photo by Dennis Dow/WPZ.

We carefully monitor the weight of our animals and now that we have acquired a new scale to weigh our hippos, we’re holding a contest to see who can guess the combined weight of our graceful 33-year-old Water Lily and the lovely 12-year-old Guadalupe. The winner gets to go behind the scenes to meet the hippos up close!

Guadalupe with a snack. Photo by Dennis Dow/WPZ.

Beginning today, Washington state residents are invited to guess the COMBINED WEIGHT of both hippos by entering online at www.zoo.org/hippocontest through midnight, January 27, 2012. The winning entry will be the closest to the combined weight (if more than one person gets it right, we’ll draw one random winner from those finalists). Complete rules and entry form at the contest site.

What’s the prize?

Meet ‘n’ greet with the zoo’s hippos behind the scenes in the hippo barn
4-gallon bucket of Zoo Doo
Six single-day passes to the zoo
ZooParent hippo adoption with a hippo plush toy.

A weight-monitoring program is important to help ensure the health of the animals at Woodland Park Zoo and is a part of the zoo’s exemplary animal care program. The new scale at our hippo barn will help us get an accurate weight on these giant pachyderms so we can modify their diets if necessary. Keepers have been working diligently to train the girls to step on the scale and hold still (the hard part!) to get a solid reading of their weight.

Water Lily. Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ

We’ll announce the winner in February and share photos of the girls getting their official weigh in.

Good luck!

Ultra awesome: Ultraviolet eyesight in animals

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:45:00 +0000

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications

Roses are red, violets are blue…unless you’re a tetrachromat, it’s true. Apologies for the obvious segue to a post about color, but I couldn’t resist!

A blue bellied roller and a brightly colored orchid show us examples of some of the beautiful colors here at Woodland Park Zoo. Photos by Ryan Hawk and Kirsten Pisto/WPZ.

Throughout the animal kingdom, there is enormous diversity in the structure and faculty of eyesight. Oftentimes, we relate our own human eyesight to the visual capabilities of animals, but most evidence points to the contrary: in fact, humans might be an underdog in visual perception.

A rainbow sits over the North Meadow. Red has the longest wavelength and blue has the shortest. Photo by Dennis Conner/WPZ.

The human eye sees a wide range of what we call visual color, that is, measurable wavelengths in the range of about 390–700 nanometers. Our eyeballs have a ton of tiny little cones and rods in the retina, which are super sensitive photoreceptors. Cones determine which colors are perceived, rods determine light perception. Most people are trichromats, have three types of cone receptors; red, blue and green, and can see in what is referred to as 3-dimensional color.

So many colors can be found here at Woodland Park Zoo! All photos WPZ.

But guess what? Even humans can’t actually see all of the colors we perceive! Take magenta for example. Because magenta, or hot pink, is a mixture of multiple wavelengths, our eyes cannot actually distinguish it as a color; instead, our brain fills in the gaps with what we perceive to be the color magenta. Weird, huh? That’s a pretty cool trick, but a lot of animals have an even more extreme adaptation of their visual senses, much beyond the limits of human perception.

This color spectrum shows us visible light, that is, colors most humans can perceive. Ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths. Via Science Blogs.

If you were to walk past violet on the color spectrum, you would get to ultraviolet rays in the range of 10 – 400 nm. As trichromats, (with red, blue and green cones) our eyes aren’t built to see this level of color, but animals with an ultraviolet cone receptor can!

So, which animals actually have UV vision?

Monochromats (many undersea animals and nocturnal animals), have only one type of color receptor cone. In fact, many bats, nocturnal snakes and lizards have no cones at all, sacrificing the ability to distinguish color for increased absolute sensitivity. Some monochromats might see in ultraviolet, but it’s sort of an unknown.
Some dichromats (animals that have only two types of color receptors), such as scorpions, can see UV color. Their cones are built to perceive ultraviolet and green/yellow colors, but they cannot see blue, green or red. Most mammals, however, are dichromats, with only red and green receptor cones.
As far as trichromats (humans and some other primates, marsupials, and honeybees) go, bees have the upper hand in UV vision. They have three receptor types, although unlike humans they are sensitive to ultraviolet light, with loss of sensitivity at the red end of the spectrum. Because color perception is a mixture of receptor types, this means that bees do not simply see additional UV colors, but will perceive even human-visible spectra in different hues to those which humans experience.

Tetrachromacy is suspected among some arachnids, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Photos by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

Tetrachromats (animals with four types of cone receptors such as some birds, turtles and fish), can see UV wavelengths perfectly well because they have 4-dimensional color vision and the ability to see in ultraviolet. That means they can see all the colors we see (red, blue, green) plus an additional color, which of course is ultraviolet.
Pentachromats (butterflies and some birds), actually have five different color receptors and maybe more! Just imagine the colors we are missing out on!

It is well known that many bees and birds follow UV-reflecting nectar guides on flowers which lead them to the most nectar-rich part of the plant. These animals depend on UV colors to guide them to their food source, yet research done within the last few years has revealed that many animals use UV colors for much more than just finding the sweetest spot on a flower.

On the left is a daisy under a UV light lens. You can see the nectar pattern on the petals, although we still can’t actually see the correct UV color because, well, we are only human. On the right is what the flowers look like to us in visual color—no pattern! UV photo by Leonard Less, butterfly photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ

For example, it is thought that desert iguanas might mark their paths with UV-absorbing urine, leaving behind territorial signals against the sand. Scorpions glow or appear yellow and green under UV illumination, keeping camouflaged to mammalian eyes, but standing out to each other.

Woodland Park Zoo hosts a wide variety of colored feathers, but just imagine if we could see these birds with ultraviolet vision! Photos by Dennis Dow/WPZ.

Many birds and butterflies have patterns in their plumage and wings that are invisible to human color vision but observable in ultraviolet. Recent research suggests that birds and butterflies might see about 10 billion colors, whereas humans can only see 10 million! This assists them in finding the correct mating species. The next time you look at a little brown bird such as the common sparrow and think, how drab, think again—to the bird world that little guy might have some majorly flamboyant feathers!

To us, this peacock resembles the painted pipes behind him, but would he stand out if we had ultraviolet vision? Photo by Ryan Hawk/ WPZ.

In May 2010, researchers at the University College London tested the electrical response of the retina of anaesthetized reindeer to UV light. What they found is that a reindeer’s retina responded to near UV, about 320 – 420 nm. That’s not up to par with a hummingbird or honeybee’s UV sight, but its pretty impressive for a mammal!

Could our arctic residents have an ultraviolet secret? Photo by Ryan Hawk/WPZ.

The research suggests that reindeer, an arctic animal that often experience white-out conditions, might use their UV eyesight to forage for food or even detect predators. UV rays are actually absorbed up by things like lichen, a plant which reindeer munch on, and the fur of a wolf’s coat, which reindeer would like very much to avoid. The UV rays appear darker to the reindeer, very helpful against a snowy landscape.

Researchers predict that other arctic mammals may also share this ultraviolet vision. One clue, arctic foxes, polar bears and seals are not known to suffer from snow blindness, pointing to their ability to see in extreme white out conditions. Of course, their sense of smell could be another reason these creatures outmaneuver people when it comes to blizzards. (Polar bears can smell their prey up to 20 miles away!). So, until more research is done on these individual species, it’s sort of an arctic mystery!

Imagine being able to see an entirely new color! What would our world look like if we had the ability to see in ultraviolet? Photo by Mat Hayward/WPZ.

Ultraviolet vision is still sort of a new science. Advances in access to tools such as the fiber-optic spectrophotometer allow researchers to measure ultraviolet color in different environments leading to a better understanding of how animals might use their UV vision. When you come to the zoo, you must use your imagination, because even though we can measure UV light, we still have no idea what it really looks like!

Resources:

http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Animals/Archives/2002/Seeing-Colors-in-a-New-Light.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_vision

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1105/11052502

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110622224455.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-473897/A-bees-eye-view-How-insects-flowers-differently-us.html

Holiday wishes

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Posted by: Staff of Woodland Park Zoo

Happy holidays from the Woodland Park Zoo family to your family!

We hope you’ll spread the holiday cheer and pass this video or a zoo holiday eCard along to your loved ones.

Stay warm, safe and jolly!

Video produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Flood happy

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Posted by: Kirsten Pisto, Communications

Unless you’ve been on a tropical getaway for the past month, you probably noticed that the Pacific Northwest welcomed in the coming winter season with regular drenchings of heavy rain. This is the time of year when leaves clog drainpipes, and puddles emerge on the streets, sometimes as big as ponds. Well, if you were a West African dwarf crocodile you would be very pleased!

Woodland Park Zoo’s male dwarf crocodile almost fully submerged on exhibit. Photo by Alex Monopolis.

Dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis) are a special type of small crocodile species found in the tropical rivers and swamps of sub-Saharan West Africa and West Central Africa. They thrive in swamps and rainforest rivers, but have also been found in Savannah flood zones where they soak up the extra moisture during the wet season, and dig burrows in heavy mud to aestivate during the subsequent dry season.

Dwarf crocodile camouflaged on exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo’s Day Exhibit. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

The dwarf crocodile is itself divided into two subspecies: The Congo dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis osborni) and the West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis tetraspis). Our West African dwarf crocodiles have a knob on their snouts which distinguish them from their Congolese cousins.

Woodland Park Zoo houses two beautiful West African dwarf crocodiles—a pair, male and female. Staying true to their timid behavior, our dwarf crocs have not revealed their names to us. In fact, their toothy grins seem to be hiding more than a few secrets. Did you know that a crocodile can go through about 3,000 teeth in its lifetime? Crocs use their chompers to catch and bite their prey, so they can’t afford to have any toothy mishaps. Instead of simply falling out, each tooth is hollow, and allows a new tooth to grow inside the older tooth. This way, when one tooth gets pulled out, there is a brand new tooth ready to go where the old one was lost. And that famous crocodile smile? It’s due to the fact that most of their teeth sit outside their mouth.

Woodland Park Zoo’s female dwarf crocodile shows her teeth. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Most of the time, our crocs take it easy. These ancient creatures rest most of the day, but their senses are always on cue. One really cool thing about crocodiles is their sensory organs. Both upper and lower jaws are covered with sensory pits, which appear as tiny, black speckles on the skin. These pigmented nodules hold bundles of nerve fibers that respond to the slightest disturbance in surface water, detecting vibrations and small pressure changes in water. These organs are known as dermal pressure receptors. While alligators and caimans only have them on their jaws, crocodiles have similar organs on almost every scale on their body! These organs make it possible for crocodiles to snap at prey, catch dinner, sense mates, and dodge dangers such as predators and other crocs even in total darkness.

Close up of male dwarf crocodile. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

So, since our crocodiles won’t disclose their names, and both share toothy smiles and croc like reflexes, how do we tell them apart? Easy. Our female is pretty tiny and weighs only 40 pounds, compared to her mate who weighs 175 pounds! Typically, female dwarf crocodiles are about 3-4 feet long and males are usually 4-5 feet long, but our male is an exception at 6.3 feet! Because of their sizable difference; the two can easily be identified.

The male dwarf crocodile, seen here, is considerably larger than the female on exhibit. Photo by Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo.

Our crocodiles have produced 14 babies since they came to Woodland Park Zoo as young adults in 1973. Surviving offspring have been sent to zoos as far away as South Africa. In the wild, West African dwarf crocodiles eat mainly fish, but also frogs, birds and small mammals. Here at the zoo, our crocs are fed mice, rats, chicks and quail for variety, but their favorite snack is… all of the above!

A dwarf crocodile tail. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Keeper Peter Miller lets us in on something really cool to look out for when visiting our dwarf crocs—the male vocalizing to the female. The male lets out a really low growl, typically with his throat submerged in the water. This causes the water to vibrate vigorously, and water droplets begin to dance on the surface.

Like most of the 23 species of crocodiles, both dwarf crocodile subspecies are endangered due to overhunting, persecution and habitat deconstruction. Learn more about these incredible reptiles and how you can help protect them.

Dwarf crocodile in water. Photo by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo.

Our dwarf crocs can be seen in the Day Exhibit, along with the majority of our reptiles and amphibians. The best time to visit them is early morning or late afternoon, and especially on Sundays, which is feeding day!

The next time your rain gauge overflows and the puddles begin to take over the streets, head over to our Day Exhibit (where it is always nice and warm!) and say hello to our resident crocs. They will be waiting for you!

The panda of the lizard world

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Posted by: Diane Yoshimi, Zookeeper, with Linda Uyeda, Zookeeper

Recently born Chinese crocodile lizard. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Woodland Park Zoo recently had two female Chinese crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) give birth to two litters of 11 babies in total. The crocodile lizard is an unusual reptile that gives birth to young after 9 to12 months of gestation. The newborn babies, weighing approximately 4 to 6 grams, are independent at birth and litter size ranges from 1 to 9. Since WPZ acquired a pair in 1993, there have been 70 crocodile lizard offspring born at the zoo. In December 2010 there were 115 individuals living in 22 North American institutions held in a managed program, meaning a studbook keeper recommends which individuals should be bred in order to maintain genetic diversity in the captive population.

Adult Chinese crocodile lizard (left) in a tank next to a baby Shinisaurus (right). Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The Chinese crocodile lizard is an endangered lizard found in the Guanxi province in Southern China and in 2002 previously unknown populations were discovered in northern Vietnam. This species is semi-aquatic and lives in creeks between 200–700m in altitude surrounded by broadleaf trees and conifers. This lizard has become severely endangered due to collection for the pet trade and for food, and from habitat destruction. The total population of Shinisaurus in China declined from 6,000 in 1978 to 950 in 2008 and now are listed as a CITES Appendix II animal (vulnerable) granted protection as a category I species under the Wild Animal Protection Law in China.

Chinese crocodile habitat. Photo by Jin Li Wei.

Zookeeper Linda Uyeda and I recently attended the Daguishan International Symposium on the Protection and Breeding of Shinisaurus in Hezhou, China. It was a rare opportunity for us to share data from our breeding program with other scientists in one of the range countries of this species. The aim of the symposium was to increase habitat protection and public awareness, and to promote the breeding and eventual re-introduction of Shinisaurus into the wild. We learned from Shinisaurus researcher Dr. Zheng-Jun Wu that there are several striking differences between the breeding behaviors of the lizards at Woodland Park Zoo and the husbandry parameters we maintain in comparison with the crocodile lizard program in China. For example, our lizards are kept solely indoors so the time of year at which they breed and the growth rate of the young are significantly different from that of Shinisaurus living outdoors in China. Our lizards also reach sexual maturity much earlier, as early as 13 months, due to the rapid growth of the young.

Symposium attendees viewing Chinese crocodile lizard breeding enclosures. Photo by Linda Uyeda/Woodland Park Zoo.

Attending this conference gave us the opportunity to learn about conservation efforts in China and—the highlight of the trip—to see Shinisaurus habitat at the Daguishan Crocodile Lizard Nature Reserve and to see lizards at the Beilou Crocodile Lizard breeding station. We learned a great deal about their status in the wild, the husbandry and breeding of Shinisaurus in China, and the additional steps the Chinese government would like to take to protect this species. This gathering of Chinese scientists and government officials underscores the serious threats to this species which we heard referred to as the reptile equivalent of the giant panda!

Adult Shinisaurus at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The conference was also attended by Michael Zollweg of the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations in Germany, who had visited the research station earlier this year. He shared information on the status of Shinisaurus in Europe and we spent much time comparing notes on our experiences with this species. A particularly interesting item in his presentation was that a 48-million-year-old lizard fossil from Wyoming, Bahndwivici ammoskius, was found to be nearly identical anatomically to Shinisaurus, emphasizing the ancient nature of this fascinating lizard. Michael was a source of not only valuable husbandry and natural history information on Shinisaurus, but also of useful sight-seeing information. We saw many remarkable things during our stay in China but the hospitality of our hosts and their dedication to this species are the things we’ll remember most.

Close up of baby Shinisaurus born at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The eleven baby Shinisaurus born at Woodland Park Zoo this year are currently not on view but will be placed on display when they are a little larger (at present they are each only about 5 grams). You can see the two female Shinisaurus mothers on exhibit in the zoo’s indoor Day Exhibit.

Holidoo: the gift they won’t forget

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:13:00 +0000

Posted by: Gigi Allianic, Communications

Holidoo is available now in ZooStores. Photo by Woodland Park Zoo.

The zoo’s very own Dr. Doo has been hard at work specially crafting a limited edition blend of Holidoo for the holiday season. Unlike the typical Zoo Doo compost featuring manures of nearly two dozen zoo herbivore species, the All Elephant Poo Holidoo is made up exclusively of the “end products” of the zoo’s elephants’ manure and bedding—the biggest and richest composting materials at the zoo.

ZooDoo—a work in progress. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Got a gardening enthusiast in your life? Holidoo makes the ideal present. Or that person who seems to have everything? Bet they don’t have Holidoo!

Holidoo's source. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

The festively packaged Holidoo product is available exclusively during the holiday season only at the ZooStore in jumbo-sized, 4-gallon containers ($20). Traditional Zoo Doo compost is also available in 2-gallon buckets ($12.95) or pints ($4.95) for stocking stuffers. Holidoo and Zoo Doo purchases help support the zoo’s animal care, education programs and conservation efforts all over the world. Hurry, supplies are limited.

Gifts galore at ZooStore. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

While shopping for Holidoo, be sure to check out the loads of eco-friendly items and conservation commerce also available at the ZooStore, open daily 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). To make shopping more convenient for you during the busy holiday season, we’ve expanded ZooStore hours at our West Entrance store. The ZooStore West will be open 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the first four Thursdays of December. Parking in zoo lots is free during expanded hours.

Five dollars from every ZooParent adoption directly supports the zoo's conservation efforts at the zoo and around the world. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Prefer to shop online? Pick up zoo gift memberships and gift cards here or browse the ZooParent adoption deals.

Happy holidays!

New sloth bear undergoes quarantine exam

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Posted by: Martin Ramirez, Mammal Curator

A month after arriving to Woodland Park Zoo via FedEx from Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas, 7-year-old, female sloth bear, Tasha, underwent her quarantine exam on Tuesday. At Woodland Park Zoo, the quarantine exam is the last major step in the process to clear a newly arrived animal out of standard 30-day quarantine and prepare them to move into their exhibit.

Dr. Darin Collins, the zoo’s director of Animal Health, inspects Tasha's teeth. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Tasha received a full physical examination by our expert Animal Health staff that included blood work, radiographs and weight—essential baseline data that we keep on file to reference as we track an animal’s health over their lifetime.

Close up of Tasha's claws. Sloth bears dig out insect mounds with their long, sharp claws. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Weighing in at 215 pounds, Tasha received a clean bill of health and has been approved to begin introductions to her exhibit and her new mate, Randy, the zoo’s 14-year-old male sloth bear.

The zoo's Animal Health team completes Tasha's quarantine exam. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Tasha was relocated here under a breeding recommendation by the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for sloth bears. SSPs, administered by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), are cooperative breeding programs to help ensure genetic diversity and demographic stability of endangered species in North American zoos and aquariums. Tasha has never had any offspring so her genetics are particularly valuable to keeping the sloth bear gene pool diverse.

Woodland Park Zoo last had sloth bear cubs in 2004. They have since moved to other AZA-accredited zoos. Photo by Dale Unruh/Woodland Park Zoo.

While keepers will have their hands full introducing Tasha to Randy and getting the bears acquainted and comfortable together, another big project is in the works for sloth bears at the zoo. Woodland Park Zoo is currently designing a new, naturalistic exhibit complex for sloth bears, Malayan tigers, Asian small-clawed otters and tropical birds. The $19.6 million exhibit project, part of the zoo’s $80 million More Wonder More Wild Campaign, will replace the 60-year-old infrastructure that critically endangered tigers and Asian bears currently inhabit at the zoo.

Sloth bear at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

With the new exhibit design, we’ll bring visitors closer than ever to these bears, while also providing the bears with more than twice the space to accommodate multiple generations and to give the bears novel enrichment opportunities that bring out their fascinating adaptations and natural behaviors. In the new exhibit, sloth bears will use their sense of smell and dexterity to retrieve food hidden in digging pits. They will eat marrow from bones they break open in a specially designed bone-breaking pit, slurp grubs out of logs and put their vacuum-like eating style to work at a keeper-assisted feeding demonstration.

Sloth bear foraging. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

A new home for sloth bears that engages and inspires zoo visitors is especially important as Woodland Park Zoo’s sloth bears are ambassadors for their endangered counterparts in the wild, native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Their survival is challenged by fragmented populations, deforestation and the bear parts trade. Sloth bears are very rare in zoos, with fewer than 50 currently living in North American zoos.

Draft artist’s concept rendering. Courtesy of Studio Hanson/Roberts.

We hope to unveil more of the plans for the new tiger and sloth bear exhibit project early next year. Stay tuned here for updates and learn how to get involved in the project at http://www.morewonder.org/.

Snow Leopard Trust wins BBC World Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:18:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Big news: Your votes have made a difference for wildlife!

We are proud to announce our conservation partner, Snow Leopard Trust, has won 1st place in the BBC World Challenge! Thanks to your votes, they will receive $20,000 to help protect wild snow leopards and will have their story told on the BBC's international news outlets to spread the word about big cat conservation.

Congrats to the Snow Leopard Trust and our many, many thanks to you all for voting throughout October and November and helping them win this incredible global honor.

Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

New feathers on the block

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Meet the new feathers on the block: the newest group of birds that now call Woodland Park Zoo home.

Lola is a 3-year-old, female Aplomado falcon. She is currently at the Raptor Center being trained by her keepers to become part of the free-flight raptor program and will make her debut in the show this December.

Olga, a female Steller’s sea eagle, is now on view at Northern Trail where she lives with the zoo’s male Steller’s sea eagle.

This male falcated duck can be found in the Temperate Forest marsh.

A male and two female fulvous whistling ducks can be found in the Temperate Forest marsh.

A female brown booby has joined the Humboldt penguin colony. For now, she is outdoors when weather is permitting but she will become more visible as the weather warms.

Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

From the Tour Guide’s Side of the Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Posted by: Jennifer Larsen, Real Close Tour Guide and Tourism Marketing Coordinator

I joined Woodland Park Zoo’s marketing team in late March, and 8+ months later it still is such a thrill to call this my place of employment! Having grown up in the Seattle area, I’ve been coming to Woodland Park Zoo since I was a toddler, and it has been an amazing experience to develop a tour program to share that sense of wonder with both visitors to Seattle, as well as zoo members and more frequent guests.

Putting together the itinerary and content for our Real Close tour program which launched this year, I had the chance to meet people from all across the zoo’s departments including Animal Management, Education, Admissions, Horticulture, Animal Health, and Guest Services. Thanks to all of them, I am able to weave together stories, facts and anecdotes that entertain and inform our guests as I lead them around our award-winning exhibits.

This past summer marked our first season of Real Close tours, which included a loop through our award-winning African Savanna before going behind the scenes to operations central where guests could see the constant flow of activity at the zoo’s commissary where all the food for the animals comes through and the Zoo Doo yard (where much of the food ends up!).

I loved seeing the smiles on guests’ faces when I pulled out my keys so we can go through the locked gates; it’s one of the best feelings to show guests something they would not have had the chance to see without taking a tour. (And I have to admit, every time I use my keys to go somewhere in the zoo where an “Authorized Personnel Only” or “Employees Only” sign is hanging, it gives me a thrill!)

I’ve had tour guests who have visited Woodland Park Zoo hundreds of times, as well as guests who have never visited a zoo in their lives! From 5-year-olds to 85-year-olds, the zoo is a place where everyone can learn something new.

With the summer season over, I have developed a new tour itinerary for our winter season going on now. During these winter Real Close tours, I take our guests around our award-winning Humboldt penguin exhibit, including a look behind the gate at the mechanics that power the sustainable features of the exhibit. Then we head over to the Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, including jaguars, lemurs, colobus monkeys, and a behind-the-scenes look at the zookeepers’ prep kitchen once we’re inside the exhibit building. This itinerary showcases the diversity of our exhibits, including the amazing role that our horticulture, exhibits, and animal management teams play in creating and maintaining such fantastic displays.

If you want to try a Real Close tour for yourself or book one as a holiday surprise for the animal lover in your life, you’ll find available dates and ticket info at Real Close Tours. I hope to show you my side of the zoo sometime soon!

Photos: Bottom photo (Jaguar) by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo, all other photos by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Chai picks Cougs to win Apple Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:25:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

For the second year in a row, Asian elephant Chai made her prediction for who will win the Apple Cup. Last year her pick of University of Washington proved accurate when the Huskies won. This year she picked the Washington State University Cougars to win. Do you think her prediction will prove true or will Chai have broken her perfect record of one?

The wind and rain this morning didn’t stop a food-seeking Chai from bounding onto the field toward the identical Husky and Cougar treat piles made up of hay, apples, bamboo, football-shaped icepops, papier-mache team helmets and oversized papier-mache apples stuffed with biscuits and more apples. Ignoring the boos from the Husky fans in the crowd, Chai went straight to the Cougar pile first—the action that made her pick of the Cougs official. She munched through much of the Cougar goodies before turning to the Husky pile and snacking on those treats too.

Those of us watching tried to find meaning in the littlest things. Did Chai intentionally squash the Husky football icepop? Did she reveal her true leanings when she tossed the Coug flag into the pool?

In the end, Chai thoroughly enjoyed apples from both the Coug and Husky piles, so maybe she’s just rooting for a good game.

Today’s pachyderm prediction is a part of the zoo’s admission discount in celebration of the game. Now through Nov. 27, Husky and Cougar fans receive half off zoo admission by sporting any garb from University of Washington or Washington State University, such as a jersey, sweatshirt, hat or gloves, or showing a valid student ID from either university. The admission discount applies only to the child or adult wearing the university sportswear and is not to be combined with other discounts or promotions.
Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo. Video by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Saving Washington Wolves

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Posted by: Fred Koontz, Field Conservation; Sue Andersen, Zookeeper

Since their arrival last April, Woodland Park Zoo's new gray wolves have been delighting visitors with their majestic appearance and playful behavior. The four canids, all female, are an important way for the zoo to help tell the story about this important and endangered species from the Northwest. It also very timely, as the state Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering a state-wide wolf conservation and management plan—a proposal that Woodland Park Zoo supports.

Why Conserve Wolves?
Gray wolves, also called timber wolves, historically were found throughout North America, but they were relentlessly pursued and killed so that by the mid-1930s wolves were on the verge of extinction in the lower 48 states. Following their 1973 listing as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, wildlife management efforts have enabled wolves to make a comeback in the Great Lakes and northern Rockies. Biologists estimate that today the lower 48 states support a wolf population of about 5,000 animals; a number that is only 3% of the pre-European-settler population of 190,000 wolves.

Conservation biologists are encouraged by the ongoing recovery of gray wolves in the Great Lakes and northern Rockies, but also seek to strengthen wolf populations across a wider geographic range, including the Pacific Northwest. There are both value-based and practical reasons for sharing our lands with wolves. Many outdoor enthusiasts, for example, support wolf conservation because they believe in preserving these living symbols of wilderness and because wolves create a deeper experience for people when recreating in backcountry areas. Scientists increasingly are focusing on the roles wolves play in ecosystem health, based on recent discoveries of the ecological and economic benefits that top predators like wolves provide.

It is widely recognized that wolves, as a top predator, directly influence populations of elk, deer, moose and other prey animals. But it has only been in the last 15 years that scientists have unraveled the full extent of wolves' impacts on local fauna and flora. The recolonization of wolves in the Northern Rockies, made possible by a reintroduction program in Yellowstone National Park begun in 1994, has allowed for extensive study of how the absence or presence of wolves affects ecosystems. These wolf studies, along with other research on other predators like cougars, sea otters and sharks, have fundamentally changed our understanding of ecology and are revising conservation strategies and priorities around the world. We now know that conserving top predators is essential for building a sustainable and healthy world for people and all species.

Yellowstone research showed that when wolves were absent, over browsing by elk and moose on plants like cottonwoods, willows and aspens caused degradation of habitat and altered forest health. In areas where wolves have returned, ungulates are reduced by predation and consume less browse. In addition, in wolf-occupied areas, their prey is more vigilant and active, which further reduces browsing levels. The result is that habitat improves, animal diversity increases, and important ecosystem functions improve, such as better floodplain protection, river channel stabilization, and water quality.

Wolf presence also affects many non-prey animal species that share the same habitat. For example, increased availability of wolf-killed carcasses helps scavenging animals, such as bears, wolverines, foxes, mink, ravens, jays, eagles and vultures, especially during winter when other foods become scarce. Wolves also reduce coyote populations, thereby boosting pronghorn antelope, sage grouse, and other small animal populations. Without the presence of the top-down benefits exerted by predators such as wolves, natural areas become simplified, less diverse, and less healthy.

Wolves in Washington State
The gray wolf is an endangered species throughout Washington under state law and is endangered under federal law in the western two-thirds of the state. Wolves are a part of Washington’s wildlife heritage and were once found throughout the state, but great numbers were killed during the expansion of ranching and farming between 1850 and 1900. By the 1930s, wolves were eliminated as a breeding species in the state.

In the last decade, reports of wolves in Washington have increased, probably due to their recent population increases in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Since 2008, state biologists have documented that Washington has at least five wolf packs, totaling 20-30 animals. A few solitary wolves also are likely to occur. The five resident wolf packs, including the Teanaway Pack living only 90 miles east of Seattle, signal the possibility of population recovery for the species in Washington. State and federal wildlife authorities are monitoring the activity of these new resident wolves to learn about their habitat use, reproductive potential and emerging conflicts with people.

Zoo Supports the Proposed Wolf Conservation and Management Plan
A Wolf Conservation and Management Plan for Washington—created by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife through a four-year public process—is to be considered next month by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The primary goals of the plan are:
1. Restore the wolf population in Washington to a self-sustaining size and a geographic distribution that will result in wolves having a high probability of persisting in the state through the foreseeable future. The plan aims for wolf recovery defined by Washington as having 15 breeding pairs of wolves and their packs, totaling about 100-350 wolves, for three years and distributed across three recovery regions. (By way of comparison, there are an estimated 2,000 cougars and 25,000 black bears living today in Washington.)
2. Manage wolf/livestock conflicts in a way that minimizes livestock losses, while at the same time not negatively impacting the recovery of the wolf population.
3. Maintain healthy and robust ungulate populations in Washington that provide abundant prey for wolves and other predators as well as ample harvest opportunities for hunters.
4. Develop public understanding of the conservation and management needs of wolves in Washington, thereby promoting the public's coexistence with this predator species.

The Woodland Park Zoological Society supports the proposed Washington State Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. While it is true that wolves are naturally returning to Washington state after a 70-year absence, their recovery is far from certain. We see the plan as an important step toward building a scientifically-based, adaptive management process that will help wolves return to sustainable numbers in Washington. The issue is not only about wolves, but a myriad of other species, because it is now clear that the ecological health of many plants and animals depends on the survival of top predators. The zoo also supports the conservation of other top predators around the world, like tigers, lions and jaguars. You can learn more about the proposed Wolf Conservation and Management Plan here.

We invite you to visit the zoo to learn more about our wolves and what you can do to support wolf conservation here in Washington state and beyond.

Photos (from top): Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo; Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo; Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo; Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo; Brittney Bollay/Woodland Park Zoo; Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo; Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Bid on zoo experiences at holiday auction

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Despite the fact that I’m still munching on leftover Halloween candy, I know the holiday season has arrived now that our Enrichment Giving Trees for the animals are going up and our zookeepers’ annual holiday gift auction is coming this Fri., Nov. 18.

Holiday Auction
If you are looking for an extraordinary gift that you can’t buy online or from a mall, check out Woodland Park Zoo’s Holiday Silent Auction this Friday to bid on a host of cool gifts including behind-the-scenes animal tours. You’ll get to pick from unforgettable experiences like going behind the scenes to watch an elephant bath, taking a photo with a raptor, or meeting an orangutan up close.

The silent auction is put on by the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (PS-AAZK) and will take place inside the zoo’s Education Center (near the South Entrance) on Fri., Nov. 18. Guaranteed bidding will be from noon to 2:00 p.m., and the silent auction continues from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Proceeds help support animal and habitat conservation projects around the world, the advancement of the zoo keeping profession and education outreach.

Holiday Enrichment Giving Trees
Want to treat your favorite zoo animals with their favorite treats and toys? Zookeepers with PS-AAZK have also put together a wish list of items for our zoo animals to enrich their lives and encourage their natural behaviors—everything from rope toys for raptors, to puzzle feeders for monkeys, to boomer balls for big cats (like lion Adia in the photo above). Each item on the wish list is represented by an ornament that will be displayed on one of our two Holiday Enrichment Giving Trees, found in Zoomazium and the zoo’s Education Center starting Fri., Nov. 18. Visitors can browse the wish list here or come to the zoo and choose an ornament off the tree. Place your present for the animals under one of the trees before the end of the year and the animals will get to enjoy them this winter and beyond.

Thanks to you all for your continued support and generosity!

Photos (from top): Grizzly by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Orangutan by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo, Lion by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Black and white and fishy all over

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Have you ever wanted to feed a penguin just like our keepers get to do every day?

Here’s your chance to feed our tuxedo-clad birds!

Our Humboldt penguin feeding opportunity kicked off this month and is now available daily through April 1.

Each day from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (or until daily fish supply is depleted), visitors will have the opportunity to add a penguin feeding experience to their zoo visit. For $5, you’ll get to feed the zoo’s charismatic Humboldt penguins a handful of tasty fish and experience these endangered birds hand to beak.

You can pre-purchase your feeding opportunity at the West Entrance when you arrive (located at Phinney Ave. N. between N. 55th and N. 56th streets) or head over to the penguin exhibit and purchase the upgraded experience while you are there (cash only when purchasing at the exhibit).

We have received wonderful feedback from our visitors who have had the unforgettable experience of feeding giraffes and elephants—two opportunities we make available in the summer—and we’re excited to here what you all think of this winter season feeding opportunity with some of the most magnetic birds you’ll encounter. Please share your photos and experiences with us if you get a chance to enjoy a penguin feeding this winter!

Photos by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Being 5: Snow leopard edition

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Posted by: Nora Venne, Education

Our look at the life of 5-year-olds continues in honor of Zoomazium’s big 5th birthday. In this post, zookeepers shed some light on what life is like for a 5-year-old snow leopard.

Q: Human children at age 5 are still very young and completely dependent on their families for care. Give us a brief description of what life looks like for a snow leopard. Is age 5 young or older for this animal?

A: At 3 years of age, our male snow leopard Tom had all ready consummated a relationship and at 4 years of age he was a father of two! Next year at age 5 he will once again hopefully father more children. Cats mature very quickly. In captivity snow leopards can live to be 18, although some live longer and a very few live to 21. Scientists are still researching how long snow leopards live in the wild but a domestic housecat would be considered in its upper 30s in human years when it was 5.

Q: For humans, kindergarten is just starting at age 5. Sometimes we go to school away from our parents and start being independent during the day. When do snow leopards start becoming independent from their families and how do they learn to do so?

A: Since snow leopards are so elusive in the wild, it is hard to study them. As a result, scientists don't know for sure exactly when wild snow leopards become independent, but the current thinking is that it is most likely between 2 and 3 years. In those first few years, cubs are busy learning from their mother, watching her and replicating her behavior, preparing them with the skills they need to be on their own soon after.

Q: Although we are beginning to be more independent at age 5, we still must be able to tell familiar people from strangers and know where home is. How does a snow leopard know its family and friends from others?

A: Snow leopards are thought to be largely loners though recent information seems to suggest a more active social calendar. Snow leopards use smell and sound to keep track of each other, more often in order to avoid each other than to see one another. They spray urine that conveys lots of information such as who they are and reproductive status.

Q: Kindergarten is also a time of learning. We learn our numbers, letters and other useful skills for life (like how to tie our shoes). What kind of skills do snow leopards need to learn for life and when and how do they begin learning?

A: Snow leopards need to learn how to hunt other living things and they begin learning as soon as they can walk and follow mom and watch her do it. They also learn social etiquette that should keep them out of trouble.

Q: An important step in Kindergarten is learning to share and make friends. How do snow leopards make friends and interact with each other?

A: Unless they are related snow leopards probably do not interact with other snow leopards unless they are spreading genetic material. But there is just too much we do not know about these elusive cats, so it is possible that snow leopards may socialize outside of the breeding season or even share a kill depending on how well they get along.

Whether you are a human, a snow leopard or a penguin, being 5 is an exciting time. Celebrate Zoomazium’s 5th birthday with us this weekend with enrichment treats for the zoo’s notable 5-year-old animals!

Photos (from top): Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo, Dale Unruh/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Video produced by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Being 5: Penguin Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:17:00 +0000

Posted by: Nora Venne, Education

Happy 5th birthday, Zoomazium! We’re celebrating 5 years of child’s play in Zoomazium with a look this week at what it means to be 5 for humans and different animals. Then the party continues this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6, with cupcakes, live entertainment and birthday-themed activities at Zoomazium including enrichment treats for some of the zoo’s notable 5-year-old residents.

In this blog post, we spoke with penguin keepers at Woodland Park Zoo to learn more about what it is like to be 5 years old for a Humboldt penguin.

Q: Human children at age 5 are still very young and completely dependent on their families for care. Give us a brief description of what life looks like for a penguin. Is age 5 young or older for this animal?

A: Humboldt penguins are much further along in their maturity by age 5 than humans are. That’s because the average life span of a Humboldt penguin is around 20 – 25 years in the wild; 25 – 30 years in captivity. Penguins grow incredibly fast. A Humboldt penguin chick at age 40 – 60 days (when it is still on the nest) already weighs as much as its parents—about 7 pounds! At 1 year of age, young penguins lose their juvenile feathers and get in their full adult plumage complete with stripes and spots. They reach reproductive age at 2 – 3 years.

Q: For humans, kindergarten is just starting at age 5. Sometimes we go to school away from our parents and start being independent during the day. When do penguins start becoming independent from their families and how do they learn to do so?

A: Penguins begin to become independent at 70 – 90 days when a fledgling leaves the nest and is no longer dependent on its parents for food. In the wild, penguins typically spend their lifetime in the colony, however, once they are fledged and eating on their own, there is little interaction between parents and chicks.

Q: Although we are beginning to be more independent at age 5, we still must be able to tell familiar people from strangers and know where home is. How does a penguin know its family and friends from others?

A: As these birds are a social species and can live in colonies numbering in the hundreds and thousands, penguins use a few methods to identify each other. Humboldt penguins each have a series of spots and stripe patterns on their ventral side and under their flippers. Each pattern is unique to each individual, much like fingerprints on humans. Penguins also use vocalizations to communicate. It is believed that each individual penguin has its own voice unique to itself. This is another way penguin parents can distinguish their young in a crowd and vice versa.

Q: Kindergarten is also a time of learning. We learn our numbers, letters and other useful skills for life (like how to tie our shoes). What kind of skills do penguins need to learn for life and when and how do they begin learning?

A: Upon fledging (at around 70-90 days), Humboldt penguin young are led to the water where parents and members of the colony introduce them to the fundamentals of survival. These fledgling juveniles quickly learn to swim and hunt for fish such as anchovies and sardines. Though swimming and fishing are innate behaviors to penguins, exposure, practice, and repetition of these activities when they are young will be of continuing benefit to the colony as they grow older. The sooner individuals can develop these important skills, the sooner they can participate in foraging and hunting strategies and contribute to the colony. Practice makes perfect!

Q: An important step in Kindergarten is learning to share and make friends. How do penguins make friends and interact with each other?

A: Penguins, in general, are highly social creatures that typically live in groups of hundreds and even thousands. A social structure within a group develops over time and often dominant individuals are at the forefront. Competition is the name of the game when it comes to penguin survival. Adapting highly acute senses like eyesight, hearing, touch, and vocalizations (called braying) help penguins to distinguish and express who is friend or foe. Body posturing (using head, flippers, bill), though not easily interpreted by humans, is something penguins seem to use a lot to communicate. Penguins also bill fence when fighting, and a mate will tend to their partner's feathers or preen them when comfortable and relaxed.

Clearly, being 5 means different things for different animals. We’ll explore what it means to be 5 for the snow leopards of Central Asia in the next update.

And don’t miss out on celebrating Zoomazium’s 5th with us this weekend! Hope to see you there!

Photos (from top): Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Hannah Letinich/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Hannah Letinich/Woodland Park Zoo, Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Seattle Sounders FC recruits zoo animal kickers

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:17:00 +0000

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications

Scarves up! Woodland Park Zoo’s animals put their soccer skills to work today as we rallied for the Seattle Sounders FC’s run for the MLS Cup playoffs.

The soccer ball kicking exhibition started with Rico, a 4-year-old Sicilian miniature donkey who recently joined the zoo’s Family Farm. Donning a Sounders scarf, Rico skillfully pushed his Sounders soccer ball all around his exhibit using his nose.

He used his mouth to get the ball out of the gutter and back onto the playing field. The ref is still out on whether that’s a legal move.

Next up was our frisky 2-year-old lion Adia who chased her ball all around the exhibit and even went after it when it splashed into the moat filled with water.

It didn’t take long for Adia to crush the ball with her bite and drag it back with her to her rock for safe keeping.

Five-year-old snow leopard Tom spent a good 5 minutes first rubbing his fur all over his soccer ball, enticed by the new scent it presented to his exhibit. Then he playfully tossed the ball in the air and romped up and down the hills of his exhibit in pursuit of the rolling ball.

Grizzly brothers Keema and Denali, both 17 years old, knew something good was coming their way when a keeper went up to the roof of their exhibit ready to toss in a treat. As the soccer balls went flying into the exhibit, one bear went after the ball that plopped onto land and the other bear dove into the pool to chase after the ball that went into the water.

This one turned out to be less of a soccer playing exhibition and more of a massive jaw and teeth exhibition as the bears bit into the balls and deflated them with no effort, then tore them to shreds.

Last up was our pack of four 1-year-old gray wolves, sisters Doba, Shila, Aponi and Kaya. A mini Sounders soccer ball was placed out for each of them, and they broke into their usual pack dynamics with the alpha wolf getting first bite and the rest of the pack approaching after.

The wolves chased the soccer balls down the hill of the exhibit, then grabbed the soccer balls with their mouths and brought them back up to the top. There they’d roll around on the soccer balls, checking out the new scent and spreading their own.

Soccer balls for the animals are part of the zoo’s excellent animal care program to help enrich the lives of the zoo’s animals, promote natural animal behavior, keep animals mentally stimulated and engage zoo visitors.

It was a thrill to see the repertoire of behavior with different natural instincts from each species coming out when presented with the soccer balls—from chasing, to scent marking and even tearing them apart. That’s all part of the game, right?

Photos (from top): Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Sarah Lovrien/Woodland Park Zoo, Sarah Lovrien/Woodland Park Zoo, Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Earn your Master's the wild way

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Posted by: Jenny Mears, Education

Are you an educator interested in earning your Master’s degree with Woodland Park Zoo as your campus? Would you like to join formal and informal educators from around Puget Sound and the world in building a strong foundation in ecological literacy, inquiry-based learning and field investigation?

Instructors learn through observation at Woodland Park Zoo's award-winning Humboldt penguin exhibit. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

If so, Woodland Park Zoo and Project Dragonfly from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio are thrilled to introduce you to the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP), an exciting new Master’s program for educators. Co-delivered by Woodland Park Zoo professional education staff and faculty at Miami University, the AIP combines graduate courses at the zoo with web-based learning communities that connect you to a broad network of educators and community leaders.

Foundations of Inquiry students test whether the water strider they created will use surface tension to stay on top of the water. Photo by Katie Remine/Woodland Park Zoo.

The first cohort of 21 Master’s students began their graduate career with Foundations of Inquiry, a course that took place on zoo grounds this summer. For five days, these formal and informal educators learned about the process of inquiry-based learning and its use as a tool for participatory education and conservation action through hands-on activities, tours of zoo animals in their exhibit habitats, presentations by zoo staff, and participation in group inquiry projects.

Educators stuff peanuts into an enrichment ball for the zoo’s Asian bears. Photo by Katie Remine/Woodland Park Zoo.

Foundations of Inquiry students also had the opportunity to fill enrichment balls and tubes with fruit and nuts for the zoo’s sun and sloth bears. They made predictions about how the bears would access their food and then were able to observe the animals finding the enrichment items they created while hearing a talk about these bears by zookeepers.

One of the zoo’s sloth bears sucking the fruit and nuts out of an enrichment tube. Photo by Katie Remine/Woodland Park Zoo.

The Advanced Inquiry Program graduate students also had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and hear about the zoo’s Oregon spotted frog conservation program from the zookeeper who cares for these endangered amphibians. They learned firsthand how the zoo gives Oregon spotted frogs a headstart by raising them in captivity until they have completed metamorphosis from tadpole to frog, giving them a better chance to escape predators.

A young Oregon spotted frog in its behind-the-scenes pond. Photo by Katie Remine/Woodland Park Zoo.

After their first course, AIP students came away with renewed inspiration and new ideas for teaching their audiences about inquiry-based learning and the natural world, as evidenced by their positive reflections on their experience:

“It's so different from any other learning opportunity that I know of, offering fresh and challenging material and interactivity with other educators.”

“I must say to you how WELL crafted the AIP is! I am completely impressed with the quality of content, professional collaboration, and academic rigor! I am learning so much, feel a little bit overwhelmed, but also feel completely supported in the process. A good place to be, at this point in the process.”

“[This program] has enriched my work life…It's kept my brain alive - reading and exchanging ideas with other, often very different, educators. And probably most important, has given me hope for the world and strategies to use when I go out to work with different populations.”

Want to know more about the Advanced Inquiry Program? Join us at our informational forum in November! We will give a presentation about the program as well as a Q&A session. This informational forum includes snacks and a live animal presentation!
When: Tuesday, November 8th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Woodland Park Zoo's Education Center
To RSVP, please call 206.548.2581 or email AIP@zoo.org

Applications for the Advanced Inquiry Program are accepted until February 28, 2012 for spring enrollment. Please see the Advanced Inquiry Program page on the zoo’s website for more information.

Endangered snakes hatch, set out for release

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Posted by: Peter S. Miller, Zookeeper

“Is it safe to come out yet? Not yet, maybe tomorrow.” These are the thoughts that might arise in the brain of a Louisiana pine snake hatchling. It is a chance decision that could mean your life or death in the wild.

Such is the beginning of life for an endangered Louisiana pine snake. Next thoughts: hide or eat. When your serpentine undulations would signal a nearby predator that a tasty meal has just emerged from a clutch of eggs under the soil, stealth is critical…but so is breakfast! As the old adage goes, “eat or be eaten.”

The Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis ruthveni, is a species under threat from habitat alteration of its native longleaf pine forest in the southeastern United States. This species has just increased its numbers on planet Earth by two, thanks to hatchlings that emerged late this summer at Woodland Park Zoo’s Day Exhibit. This accomplishment might not sound like much, but when your species is rare in the wild and is represented by fewer than a hundred snakes in about 18 Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited zoos nationwide, every bit helps.

Woodland Park Zoo’s role in the Species Survival Plan for this snake was simple: pair up our male and female, individuals recommended for breeding by the population manager for Louisiana pine snakes, and hope for egg-laying in early spring.

In early June, our female came through and laid a clutch of eggs! Interestingly, the eggs of this species are relatively quite large (approximately 4 inches long). To care for the eggs, zookeepers at the Day Exhibit made their own nursery: a plastic shoe box with a mixture of vermiculite (think fancy potting soil) and water. The eggs were carefully nestled into the bedding, and placed in the incubator at a comfy 80 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius). The eggs were allowed to incubate for 65 days during which the embryos developed slowly into approximately 18-inch-long snakelets.

Two and a half months later, during their routine checks, zookeepers lifted the lid of the shoe box. The first snake to pip or emerge from its egg was periscoping from its shell, getting its first look at its new world, but then quickly retreated back into the egg. The following day, two fully emerged juveniles were pressed tightly around the edges of the incubation box. After their first shed, which normally takes about a week, zookeepers offered these snakes their first sustenance: baby mice.

Within two weeks after hatching, our two baby snakes were sent to Memphis Zoo, where they will be part of their reintroduction program for this species. As a part of that program, our babies will soon be on their own, released into the wilds of Louisiana, fending for themselves as they help rebuild the wild population of this endangered species. We wish them luck in facing the significant challenges ahead!

Photos by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo.

Meet the zoo’s wolf pack

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:47:00 +0000

Posted by: Fred Koontz, Field Conservation; Sue Andersen and Amy Brandt, Zookeepers

For Wolf Awareness Week, we’re giving you a glimpse into the fascinating dynamics within the zoo’s pack of wolves living in our award-winning Northern Trail exhibit.

Did you know Woodland Park Zoo has had wolves in its collection for more than 60 years? The zoo’s wolves serve a critical role as ambassadors for their wild counterparts.

The current pack consists of four female litter mates born at New York State Zoo in April 2010. They have four distinct personalities. When you next visit the zoo, see if you can identify them from their pack behavior:

Doba is the pack's "alpha" or most dominant wolf. She is often visible in the front and center of the exhibit, where she can keep track of the other wolves. If you see a wolf gathering bones or toys that is likely to be Doba!

Shila is the pack's most submissive member. She spends most of her time lying a bit distant from the pack or in the far north end of the exhibit along the perimeter. Shila is usually hesitant to feed with the pack, but will wait until the others are finished eating then forage for the leftovers.

Aponi and Kaya are in the middle of the pack and at different times will take on the “beta” position. Aponi has a very playful disposition and frequently will be seen jumping up and down with her crooked tail held high. Kaya acts a bit more wary around keeper staff. During feeding times, Aponi will feed closer to Doba. It seems that only the wolves know for sure the correct dominance order of their pack!

The wolves can be heard occasionally howling in the early morning and late afternoon and sometimes when sirens go by the zoo, but not in response to visitors.

Our pack helps visitors connect with the challenges wild wolves face. You can learn more about those challenges and meet our wolves in person Oct. 22–23 with a weekend of special Wolf Awareness activities, part of our Autumn Fest celebrations. See you there!

Photos by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo.

Attention all college students...

noreply@blogger.com (Woodland Park Zoo) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:50:00 +0000

Posted by: Stephanie Squires, Membership

Whether you’re a Falcon, a Husky, or maybe a Redhawk, there is one thing that all college students in Seattle can agree on: Woodland Park Zoo isn’t just for kids! In the spirit of the autumn season and going back to school, Woodland Park Zoo is happy to announce an exclusive discount on our Annual Pass membership for college students. We are proud to offer college students an adult membership for only $25 (just bring your valid student ID to sign up at either zoo entrance; not available online). Regularly this membership is $42 per adult for a year of unlimited admission.

You can use your membership to enjoy Woodland Park Zoo in a variety of ways. For example, a trip to the zoo makes a great date! What is more romantic than holding your significant other close while watching a pair of lions together? Not to mention that our 92 acres make for great exercise and a unique study break!

Woodland Park Zoo is also host to many exciting events throughout the year. From BECU ZooTunes presented by Carter Subaru, our popular summer concert series, to various wine and beer tastings, there is adventure around every corner.

While there is plenty of fun to be had at Woodland Park Zoo, we are also a valuable academic resource. From Environmental Studies majors to Early Childhood Education majors, there is something for everyone to study here. There are endless research paper topics around every corner, and observation study opportunities abound.

What are you waiting for? Come to Woodland Park Zoo today and pick up a student membership.

Photos (from top): School mascots, clockwise from top right: Falcon by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo, Wolf by Dennis Dow/Woodland Park Zoo, Hawk by Mat Hayward/Woodland Park Zoo; Lions by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo; Dave Matthews and Brandi Carlile at BECU ZooTunes by Romy Brock/Woodland Park Zoo; Seattle University student with corn snake by Trileigh Tucker.