Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)

Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Originally uploaded by ucumari

"Such a sweet bear!!", says ucumari of this Miami MetroZoo sun bear.

She captures the best zoo bear portraits! Notice the claws!

Snow Forecast: NC Zoo - Aug. 9, 10

"Forecasters are calling for a snow storm at the North American bridge (with the help of non-toxic evaporative snow machines)! This will be a continuous snow fall throughout both days," the NC Zoo marketing office reports, adding: "Ice treats prepared by zoo keepers and the commissary will be given to many of the animals throughout the day[s]", August 9 & 10.

ZooCool Schedule 2008

Ice treats for the animals and "Meet the Keeper" talks

Black Bear 10am
Cougars 10:30am
Polar Bears 11am
Bobcats 11am
Red River Hogs 1pm
Gorillas 1:15pm
Baboons 1:30pm
Grizzly Bears 2:00pm
Sonora Desert 2:00pm
Chimpanzees 2:00pm
Meerkats 2:15pm

Pamlico Joe will perform in the Junction Plaza at noon & 2pm. A few Durham Bulls players will be signing autographs in the Explorer Gift Shop from 11am – noon on Saturday.

Stay Tuned

The little NC Zoo black bears do not appear to have made it on exhibit by the end of the month as I had hoped to report.

Stay tuned. Shouldn't be too long now.

Exotic animal introductions (to each other, as well as to exhibits) can take quite some time. (These bears were already introduced to each other.)

Zoo Restaurant Photos

As I ate lunch with a tour group yesterday in the Junction Restaurant at the NC Zoo, I noticed many handsome new photos from Africa.

My assistant, Lisa Smith, pointed out that they had just been put up that morning.

This morning in the management staff meeting, Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis reported that the photos were of Cameroonians by a couple of "professional photographers".

Mike noted that some of the people shown were of the tribe (which he has worked with in his elephant collaring efforts in that country) which believe that after death they become elephants.

More descriptive information will be put up with the photos soon, Mike added. I hope to return for a closer look now that I know more about the photos' origins.

Nekhanda Out & Back

Nekhanda, the African elephant who came to the NC Zoo from Edmonton, Alberta, as Samantha, has successfully been introduced to longtime NC Zoo elephant cows Rafiki and Little Diamond and been on exhibit and back to "the barn" (the new one, with heated floor, trunk-activated shower, community room and nursery).

The introductions are going "reasonably well", Dr. Rich Bergl, of the Zoo's animal division reported to management staff this a.m.

Vogelpark Walsrode

Vogelpark Walsrode
Originally uploaded by go_nils

It appears go_nils took this photo at Vogelpark Walsrode.

I like it!

"Catching Some Z's"

"Catching Some Z's"
Originally uploaded by beachbum1616

"Kendall looks so peaceful napping in this shot. I just had to share it!"

Uploaded by beachbum1616 (his title and quote too) on 24 Jul 08.

At Long Last?!

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pittsburgh Zoo's recent African elephant birth came "at long last" because it followed a perhaps-record-setting 23-month pregnancy, but "at long last" appears a bit incongruous (or even greedy) given the fact that the Pittsburgh Zoo also had an African elephant baby born just a couple weeks prior to this one!

Red Dirt Girl at Zoo

Emmylou Harris plays Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle.

Wouldn't it be cool if the Red Dirt Girl came to the NC Zoo and met our red dirt elephants on the red dirt of the Watani Grasslands?!

Toddler Two

A second baby African elephant was born today at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Just about two weeks after her step-sister became the first Zoo baby elephant in eight years.

Good "side-bar" videos and photos with this article.

Gas (& Environment) Saved

The NC Zoo Society company car (2004 Toyota Prius hybrid purchased in late 2003) passed 150,000 miles today.

It consistently averages over 50 mpg and is doing 52.3 mpg through 395 miles on this tank of gas. (Mpg's and more are constantly monitored by this mid-sized computer on wheels).

At these mpg's and with average gas expense of $3.00 (and factoring in some "time-value-of-money" going back up to five years), the real savings on gasoline only, so far, is about $10,000, when compared to a car which gets a normal 24 mpg.

At today's gas rates the savings would be over $12,000. And the savings at future gas rates over these next five years would be ???

This car has only needed a few dollars worth of replacement filters, besides tires, oil and gas over these 150,000 miles.

Better than fuel efficiency is its ability to put very little gunk into our atmosphere. Four times less than that Honda two-seater (hybrid Insight) does, I understand, even though that other hybrid is awarded the "ultra low emission vehicle" rating.

The NC Zoo Society company car - "Saving a Piece of the World for Its Wildlife".

Gorillas & Greens

Those promised gorilla feedings at the NC Zoo are set to occur daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. now.

It was found that gorillas benefit from four feedings a day and much fresh fiber and leafy greens ("eats shoots and leaves").

The Zoo's big chimpanzee troop is fed daily and publicly at 2 p.m.

Baby marmoset

Baby marmoset
Originally uploaded by floridapfe

Floridapfe photo of young marmoset. Everland Zoo. Korea.

Slight overbite!

Slight overbite!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Photo and title by ucumari. Taken July 2, uploaded July 20.

Gold Going...Gone?

The summer issue of the Cleveland Zoo Society magazine also has an article about Panamanian golden frogs (you can find some of these frogs in one of two small amphibian exhibits in the entrance foyer of the R.J.Reynolds Forest Aviary at the NC Zoo):

"After five days of searching the streams of the rain forest in Panama, Kathy Krynak, a keeper at the Zoo, could barely accept the harsh reality - the frogs were gone.

"Just one year earlier, she was astonished by the abundance of amphibians; now there was nothing. Chytrid fungus...is on a relentless march across Central America, decimating amphibian populations in its path."

"Fortunately, on day six...she and her team succeeded in finding six pairs of golden frogs...She prophylactically treated the frogs for any hidden infection and then carefully escorted them on the long journey to Cleveland."

The hope is to breed chytrid resistant offspring for later return to the wild.

Q. What Do You Call a Bunch of Hogs?

A. A sounder.

Also learned from the summer issue of the Cleveland Zoo Society magazine, a sounder is a "large group of wild pigs". Looking a bit farther into the matter, it appears that the typical sounder is made up of adult females and younger hogs of both sexes. Like adult male elephants, the older male wild pigs are off on their own.

Found the wild pig equivalent of a "crash" of rhinos in a Society story about red river hogs (which you will also find at the NC Zoo). It points out that red river hogs and bush pigs have prospered in close proximity to humans. However, large sounders of "wild pigs can wreak havoc on farm land, rooting up crops with their strong snouts."

Singing Dog

The Cleveland Zoo added two New Guinea singing dogs to its Australian Adventure region this summer.

The Cleveland Zoo Society magazine reports that they resemble, but are smaller than, the Australian dingo, with a reddish-tan coats and white markings.

"Singers" have the "unique ability to howl in a wolf-like manner, but unlike wolves, ... can modulate the pitch."

They are difficult to keep in a zoo because they "are very agile, and can climb, burrow and jump easily..."

Growing Old at the Zoo

Yes, I am. (But its not all about me.)

Today's News & Record (Greensboro, NC) has a story on aging zoo animals, with multiple quotes from NC Zoo management services officer Mary Joan Pugh.

Mary Joan implies that the better zoos of today have a responsibility to care for and exhibit the animals which are attaining greater longevity, while providing visitors with a mix of younger (with the older) animals. This requires investments in larger exhibits and larger holding facilities.

The NC Zoo's long, successful preventative medicine program for its collection animals has resulted in animals which are among the oldest in North American zoos. A giraffe which died here recently and another, still on exhibit, are two examples. (Dr. Mike Loomis should be proud.)

Meet Kendall!

Meet Kendall!
Originally uploaded by beachbum1616

"Kendall was on exhibit today, a welcome and exciting treat to all of those who visited the chimpanzee exhibit."

NC Zoo portrait, title and quote by zoo regular beachbum1616.

Seen, Heard & Felt on Trail

On Lake Townsend (Greensboro, NC) Trail today:
.tiny cottony tail bounding away
.rustling feet of other little creatures
.snapping turtle
.many mushrooms of many kinds
.scolding kingfisher
.songbirds and frogs
.occasional welcome breeze
.waves slapping shore
.2 or 3 recreational boaters
.many gray squirrels
.large ground (wolf?) spider web
.2 circular camp fires (out)
.several foot bridges at wet spots (thank you, volunteers!)
.welcome light rain, late in the return half hour

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis (Eastern Hellbender)

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis (Eastern Hellbender)
Originally uploaded by indianaherp

Indianaherp offers the title info and the 2006 photo of a Washington County, IN hellbender.

Malformed Frogs Mean Trouble?

This book review on "Malformed Frogs - The Collapse of Aquatic Ecosystems" includes this warning to humans about "chromosomal damage":

"The lead scientist of the Love Canal report noted: "The [controversy over the] cytogenetic study of the Love Canal population is totally overshadowed by the outcome of the last 18 pregnancies among the residents: two births were normal: nine children had birth defects: there were four spontaneous abortions and three stillbirths.""

Heads or tails?

Heads or tails?
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Ucumari photo and fun title.

Lazy 5 Ranch.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'eisvogel'

Hydrangea macrophylla 'eisvogel'
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

Whoa!

Begianchocolate uploaded and titled it yesterday.

Jardin botanique national de Belgique.

Sympathy for Riverbanks Zoo

Our sympathy to the good staff and friends of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, SC.

One of their first animals, a hippo named Monty, was just euthanized after a lengthy illness.

A white-faced saki monkey and a flamingo are Riverbanks' remaining original animals.

The Point Is

There is never a good time to put a sea turtle back in the water. That's what I get from this Field Trip Earth posting from North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Hellbender Count Continues

There has been another hellbender survey conducted recently, part of NC Zoo Curator of Reptiles & Amphibians John Grove's partnership with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. This survey, part of a larger, ongoing count of hellbenders funded by the Conservation Endowment Fund of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, located up to 10 illusive and rare hellbenders in a segment of the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina.

While water quality there had improved, there was concern that water temperature had risen - to a "warm" 71 degrees. Hellbenders (like trout) like cool, clear, clean water.

Groves and his team count hellbenders once or twice a month.

Little Black Bears

The NC Zoo's new, young black bears have successfully completed quarantine and will be moved to the Black Bear exhibit holding area very soon.

Hope to be able to tell you that they are ready to go on public exhibit before the end of the month.

That 'Gator

The alligator found near Asheboro and brought to the NC Zoo June 16 is on its way to southern Florida (Homestead).

Elephant Intros

The African elephant introductions are still going well at the NC Zoo. Even of the Canadian cow to others.

Farewell, Young Lions

The NC Zoo's three young lions left for Fort Wayne (IN) Children's Zoo July 8.

One will stay there. One will go on to Peoria (IL) Zoo and the other to Potter Park Zoological Gardens, Lansing, Michigan, after some weeks together in Indiana, while the other two zoos finalize preparations to accept them into their collections.

Beachbum has pix of the lion family of five from late 2006.

What One Gets Used To

My experience with little green herons is approaching them in some remote spot by canoe. They are easily chased off. (If you approach very unaggressively and slowly, they may just slip inland a bit and hide behind the foliage.)

So, as I drove to work this morning, crossing the fairly new Randleman Lake, at 69 mph, I was surprised (and pleased) to see three on naked branches very near the rushing traffic.

Welcome (Soon) 100,000th Visitor

Expect the 100,000th visitor to this blog shortly. Your visitation through recent years to the 3856 prior posts stands at 99,995 after 94 visitors (164 page views) so far today. (Oop, make that 99,996; someone from Vienna just arrived.)

Thanks for your interest!

Sorry. No prize.

UPDATE: #100,000 was from Charlotte, at about 5:40. That's about all I know. (Was that you, Bob S.?)

No Straws Here

Came across this in the New York Times. It says there is there is a zoo myth that some animals will ingest straws.

I disagree! Spoke with NC Zoo Curator - Reptiles & Amphibians John Groves who says we ask that no straws or drink tops be offered visitors because some Zoo animals will ingest them.

Please don't toss, and ask others not to toss, coins and other non-digestibles into the exhibits!

John tells of an alligator who needed keeper help here recently to not mistakenly ingest a plastic bottle.

I have heard long lists of non-digestible items removed from the stomachs of zoo (and wild) animals.

Zoo (and wild) animals need our help in not putting something in front of them which they mistake for a food item or which they otherwise can't handle.

Elusive bear!

Elusive bear!
Originally uploaded by ucumari

"It seems ironic (to me) that the bear that is the least endangered is the one I can never seem to capture in a photo! Well I don't know if it was the lighting, the model, or just dumb luck, but I think I FINALLY got a decent photo of her [at the NC Zoo]!
New cubs (6 months - one year) due out soon - not hers!!"

Uploaded by ucumari on 9 Jul 08, 8.41AM EDT. Title and quote are hers too.

I'm a Sucker For...

zebra
Originally uploaded by belgianchocolate

...zebra photos...and belgianchocolate zoo photos. Zoo Antwerp.

Toddler

Pittsburgh Zoo's new baby African elephant tries to master legs and trunk.

Zoo Visitors Captured

37 captive Bronx Zoo visitors Wednesday night.

The Zoo would be shut down if it kept other large primates that long in a 4'x5' cage.

2 Hands, 5 Hedgehogs

Two human hands hold five baby African hedgehogs in this San Diego Zoo photo.

Polar Switch Tee

169825
Originally uploaded by russlings

Check out the front and back of this T-shirt.

Cross River Gorilla

Most folks know about the very different western lowland and mountain gorillas. The most rare of the four gorilla subspecies is the Cross River Gorilla, I learned from an NC Zoo "Lunch Encounter" Tuesday, from Dr. Rich Bergl, the Zoo's Curator of Conservation and Research, who has studied them in the wild.

Rich also recently posted his efforts to survey wildlife in Nigeria on Field trip Earth.

"We were so intent watching the pottos that we didn't realize we were standing in the middle of a column of soldier ants. These ants are very aggressive and deliver a painful bite." [15 January 2008]

(Note: the fourth subspecies is the eastern lowland gorilla. There is some thinking that there are two species with two subspecies each: western gorilla - western lowland gorilla and Cross River gorilla, plus eastern gorilla - eastern lowland gorilla and mountain gorilla.)

Baby Elephant!

A photo of an hours-old baby African elephant is included in this story about the Pittsburgh Zoo's happy event yesterday.

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Originally uploaded by ucumari

ucumari has captured a real favorite of mine!

The green herons are not green, but offer some good, almost-close viewing when I have approached them in my canoe. They don't fly off. Just retreat "in-land" a little bit, offering glimpses through the foliage as I slowly paddle along.

Book by Vets w/ NC Zoo Ties

THE RHINO WITH GLUE-ON SHOES, AND OTHER SURPRISING TRUE STORIES OF ZOO VETS AND THEIR PATIENTS. Edited by Lucy H. Spelman and Ted Y. Mashima. Delacorte Press. 336 pages. $22.

Lucy was the first resident through the North Carolina Zoo veterinary residency program. Ted was in it too.

There is a section in the book by past NC Zoo veterinarian Dr. Barb Wolf about her treatment of, and relationship with, Hondo, the NC Zoo chimpanzee troop's long-time alpha male, according to lead Zoo vet Dr. Mike Loomis.

Dr. Michael Stoskopf, who is one of the NC State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, exotic veterinary residency instructors, with Dr. Loomis, also writes some of the book.

Scops Owl

Scops owl
Originally uploaded by floridapfe

Since floridapfe took down his photo of three scops owls at Everland Zoo, Korea, let's try this one.

Clipping Coupons?

Columbus (Ohio) Zoo grocery bill rises about 10 percent to $1/2 million.

"The cuddly koalas get the priciest cuisine: eucalyptus leaves, flown in twice a week from Arizona. The zoo's three adults and two joeys need 180 pounds a week at a cost of more than $40,000 a year."

10 Months Down, Year to Go

Memphis Zoo's African elephant Asali is 10 months pregnant. The blessed event is just 12 months ahead now.

If the 22-month pregnancy goes to plan, the Zoo will have its first elephant birth in its 102-year history.

Fed Grass Carp

Well, I have now joined all those who have fed the NC Zoo grass carp. Paid my quarter. Did my thing.

As reported, the Zoo visitors are very interested. Actively involved and enthusiastic about this opportunity to feed a Zoo animal.

Wait until they have the chance to feed giraffes!

The carp gradually came over to where I was tossing food. Eating slowly, unaggressively. Probably had had their fill during the long July 4 weekend.

Scops Owl

Scops owl
Originally uploaded by floridapfe

Rare little owls from Everland Zoo, Korea, by floridapfe.

"They prefer areas which contain old trees with hollows; these are home to their prey which includes insects, reptiles, small mammals such as bats and mice and other small birds. The owls will also eat earthworms, amphibians and aquatic invertebrates." [Wikipedia]

"The Odd Couple"

Quite the story of red wolves and a hound dog from "Field Trip Earth", the NC Zoo Society sponsored educational website, by Ryan Nordsven, biological technician, Red Wolf Recovery Program, Allligator River National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina.

"We didn’t really know what to think. Here we had a sick wolf’s signal seeming to come from inside or underneath this old, broken-down trailer—and now there’s a dog inside?"

Zoo Parkway Deer

Was on my way back to the office after lunch today and reached the low spot on Zoo Parkway when I saw the doe just off the right side of the car.

She turned elegantly away from the road and into a run. Her fawns, speckled and handsome, on either side, reacted to her lead and also headed for a safer place.

As I continued toward the zoo and cars passed me, headed toward where I had seen them, I flashed my headlights (in case the deer had turned back toward the road) not caring if the drivers (who did brake some in respect of my warning) were left to wonder (when they saw no police cruiser or, probably, any other reason for my actions) about my sanity.

Drive carefully.

Important Class

The Veterinary Section at the North Carolina Zoo has developed a class on zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted between humans and animals). All work sections of the Zoo are invited to participate.

Not just zookeepers need to be concerned about disease transmission between exotic animals and themselves. Zoo horticulturists, design and construction staff and others also come in close proximity to the living "collection".

Counting Hellbenders

The NC Zoo is currently in its second year of "conducting a major "Hellbender" survey in the western part of the state with the Wildlife Resources Commission. Initial results suggest significant declines in the population, probably from the siltation of previously pristine creeks," according to notes from the Zoo's Wednesday morning management staff meeting.

Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles John Groves reports that they are finding hellbenders, but not "the populations" found in the past.

Q: What Does a 400-Pound Gorilla Eat?

Gorilla diets are being changed at the North Carolina Zoo in the light of new recommendations for reducing the risk of heart disease in the species.

Two public feedings will soon be conducted with gorillas on a daily basis. Times will be posted.

A: Veggies (herbivore). (And the occasional insect still attached to the fruits, leaves (foliovore) and shoots they prefer.)

Animal Acupuncture

The North Carolina Zoo is trying out acupuncture, especially in an attempt to "extend the lives of older animals", according to the Zoo's Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles, John D. Groves, in this morning's management staff meeting.

The Zoo veterinary department and Duke University have been analyzing the effectiveness of the treatments on resident Patas and Colobus monkeys.

Groves and NC Zoo lead veterinarian Dr. Mike Loomis noted that locomotion studies, before and after treatment, were utilized in the analysis. A Duke researcher makes use of a "library of normal locomotion" for the various primate species, Loomis added.

Future uses of acupuncture here might include polar bear, Bateleur eagle, African elephant and tortoises, according to Loomis and Groves.

Reflected 'Gator

Originally uploaded by ucumari

Taken at the NC Zoo by ucumari yesterday.

30 Acres - Multiple Species

Six spur winged geese are on the African Plains at the NC Zoo, along with nine southern white rhinos, dozens of antelope of various species, ostriches and more. Today, that "more" still included many, many Canada geese.

The hope is that the Zoo's tough, new geese will shoo off the "volunteer", non-African residents.

"And May I Introduce?"

Elephant keepers report that the introduction of longtime, NC Zoo females Rafiki and Diamond to Canadian newcomer Nekhanda is "going well".

Perhaps, one day in the not-too-distant future, we'll see all seven of the North Carolina Zoo's African elephants on the "Watani Grasslands"

Alive! Alive-O!

Freshwater mussels have arrived at the Streamside exhibit at the NC Zoo.

Snake Eggs Due to Hatch

Cypress Swamp keepers at the NC Zoo say: "pine snake eggs possibly hatching beginning of July."

Soon-to be Trained Seals

The keepers at the NC Zoo Rocky Coast exhibit report that training of the two new harbor seals there is going "great".