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The Magical World of Composting

by | September 10th, 2010

Here’s something to ponder when you’re sitting there, stuck in traffic. What does the Zoo do with all that animal poop? Do we bury it or ship it overseas? Or do we simply flush it? Hey, there isn’t a toilet big enough for that job! The answer? We make soil out if it! The Oakland Zoo’s on-site composting program, which has been underway for several years now, successfully diverts tons of waste from landfills and provides us with a valuable new resource: organic compost!

The Raw Material

It’s a big job, but here’s how we do it: Manure from elephants, giraffes, zebras and other herbivores, along with straw (soiled animal bedding) is collected daily around the Zoo. Included with this are scraps of fruit and vegetables, eggshells and other items discarded from the animal kitchens. It takes several truck loads.

Inside the Scrapper

Everything would be much simpler if it wasn’t for the straw. It makes up a huge percentage of our compostable material—somewhere in the neighborhood of ninety percent! Early on, this was causing us problems, as we discovered that straw is much slower to decompose than manure. So the Scrapper was brought in to the rescue. The Scrapper is a six-foot long bin with rotating blades that chew up the straw into smaller, more easily digestible bits—sort of like the way your teeth help out your stomach by breaking down the food in your mouth before you swallow it.

The Ag-Bag Machine

Once this is done, the material is ready to be sent to the composting machine. Visualize a giant mechanical sausage-stuffer and you’ll get the idea. Using a small Bobcat tractor, we dump this chopped material into the hopper of the machine (also known as the Ag-Bag.)  Here, it’s mixed with a special liquid to accelerate the breakdown process. Then, a hydraulic compression ram stuffs the mixture into a tube-like plastic bag (imagine a long trash bag open at both ends.) The Ag-Bag machine has wheels which allow it to be pulled slowly along the ground by the Bobcat, as it leaves the filled portion of the bag behind it, like a tail. A plastic hose is attached to the far end of the bag through which air is pumped, providing circulation. Later, the bag is fitted with a series of small vents to release the waste gases that are produced.

Bags Soaking up the Sun

For several weeks, this bag continues to be filled until it reaches a length of about 75 feet. Then, the end is sealed and a new bag is started alongside. These long gray bags sit in the sun, allowing the mixture inside to heat up. When it gets to a temperature of 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit, pathogens are destroyed. During the following months, the material breaks down, gradually becoming less like straw and manure, and more like soil. It’s basically the same process that has created topsoil for the earth for millions of years! After three or four months, the bags are opened.

The finished product is an incredibly rich, 100% organic compound that amends the soil and allows our horticulture department to grow healthy and beautiful plants throughout the zoo grounds.

But don’t think that you have to be a zoo in order to participate in the composting process. Anyone can start their own compost pile right at home. It’s very simple. Just alternate layers of waste produce with dried leaves, cover it up and let the worms do the rest. In fact, I’ve been doing that very thing for years now, using this compost to enrich the vegetable garden in my backyard. It’s good to know that nothing goes to waste—it’s all part of the ongoing cycle of life!

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Calling All Ambassadors!

by | August 5th, 2010

What is it that walks upright on two legs, possesses a profound understanding of other species, and loves to vocalize? I’ll give you another clue. It rhymes with SPAM. Give up? It’s a ZAM, or Zoo Ambassador– the Oakland Zoo’s latest secret weapon in its quest to educate the public about its furry and feathered residents. A popular new trend at zoos nationwide, the ZAM program provides a “fast-track” option for becoming a docent, allowing them to be trained and get out in the field much sooner than ever before.

Docents, as you probably know, are the volunteer “teachers” that interface with the public at museums, zoos and aquariums, libraries, and other institutions. They provide assistance and additional information, helping to make the visitors’ experience more rewarding. If you ever have a question or need to know more about an exhibit than the signage provides, docents are a great resource.

CLASSROOM SESSION

In the past, the training program for Oakland Zoo docents involved a 15-week time commitment. And it was offered only once a year. But in an effort to streamline the process and adapt to people’s busy schedules, we decided to divide the training into three 5-week modules. These modules cover the three major areas of the Zoo: the African Savanna, the Rain Forest and the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo. Prospective ZAMs need only to complete one module to be ready for the field. After they become a ZAM, they can go on to complete the other modules (in whichever order they choose) thus qualifying them to work in any part of the Zoo. In fact, most ZAMs do exactly that, going on to complete all three modules to become full-fledged docents. As a result of its success, the ZAM program has replaced the traditional docent training altogether.

But we did more than just slice up the pie. The ZAM program, which began at the Oakland Zoo four years ago, puts more emphasis on customer service than the prior training did. It’s become increasingly evident that there’s more to zoo education than simply talking about the animals. Since these volunteers are the “Face of the Zoo,” and very often the public’s only contact with Zoo staff, it’s vital that ZAMs be well trained in dealing with a variety of situations with the public. During their training, prospective ZAMs gain further insight by learning directly from veteran docents. After graduation, they are each assigned an official docent mentor, who continues to work closely with them, helping them transition from the training mode to actual service.

AVIARY STATION

So what’s it like to be a ZAM? To satisfy the 5 hour per month time commitment, ZAMs can opt to do “stations” (utilizing a push-cart full of animal artifacts at the elephant exhibit, for example) or they can roam throughout their assigned area of the Zoo, talking to people at a variety of different exhibits. To lead tours or handle animals however, ZAMs need to wait until they’ve achieved full docent status. Yet, that still leaves plenty of opportunity to educate and inspire zoo visitors. And, every day is different here at the Oakland Zoo; there’s always something engaging going on.

ZAM FUN

Where do most ZAMs and docents come from? They don’t just fall out of the sky. According to Volunteer Programs Manager Lisa O’Dwyer, the Oakland Zoo’s website is instrumental in attracting prospective volunteers. By clicking on “Support the Zoo” and then “Volunteer Opportunities” on the home page, you’ll find the ZAM and Docent webpage to help get you get started. So if you’ve got a passion for animals and love interacting with the public, consider joining the Oakland Zoo team by becoming a Zoo Ambassador this year!

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It Takes A Village To Raise A Camp

by | July 2nd, 2010

You might not realize it, but it takes the entire Oakland Zoo to ensure the success of ZooCamp every summer– not just the folks in Conservation & Education. Every single department at the Zoo makes a valuable contribution to this popular kids’ program which has been a summertime tradition here for more than twenty years. After speaking with ZooCamp Director Sarah Cramer, I learned exactly what those contributions were.

1. Getting the word out is crucial to the success of any event. The Marketing department provides the advertising that lets our Zoo visitors know about the program, utilizing local parents’ magazines and websites, billboards, fliers and inserts in the Oakland Zoo visitors’ maps. They also arrange appearances on TV programs such as View from the Bay and KRON 4 Morning News.

2. The Oakland Zoo has a large active membership throughout the East Bay and beyond, providing a valuable resource of potential ZooCamp attendees. Our Membership department provides ZooCamp information in Uproar, the monthly electronic newsletter that reaches up to 24,000 people. The membership department also assists Zoo members who wish to register for camp.

Preparing the Picnic Areas

3. The Maintenance department purchases various materials needed for camp. They also maintain and repair any equipment the camp staff uses.

4. Our Human Resources department helps facilitate the hiring of the seasonal teachers and other help needed to run ZooCamp.

5. Group Services helps by directing inquiries to the ZooCamp registrar. They also help facilitate the use of the auditorium as well as picnic sites, allowing campers to enjoy their lunches outdoors.

6. With a quarter million dollars in revenue, ZooCamp depends on the Accounting department to ensure that the bills are paid and that the revenue is accurately reported.

7. The Operations staff ups the Fun Factor by letting the campers enjoy complimentary rides on the train and the sky ride.

Our Janitorial Staff

8. The Janitorial staff provides additional re-stocking of the restrooms as well as extra clean-up for those “special messes” that kids are so good at producing (such as mud from playing in the creek).

9. Our Development department raises money for the Vicki Kay Memorial Scholarship Fund, through individual and foundation grants.

10. The Grounds department increases the frequency of trash pick-ups, sets out yellow jacket traps, power-washes the Wildlife Theater, and rearranges their schedule for auditorium set-ups and break-downs to accommodate the camp groups that need the facility. They also adjust their lawn mowing schedule to allow the camp kids to use the lawns throughout the day.

11. Taking a break from their ongoing weeding and watering, the Horticulture staff gathers branches, palm fronds and other plant matter to give the kids “fort-building” materials for their survival classes.

12. The Animal Management & Veterinary Care departments help make the vital connection between campers and the Zoo animals, leading behind-the-scenes tours, providing service projects as well as helping to teach some of the classes.

13. Our Public Safety department provides first aid and CPR classes for ZooCamp staff, and manages auto traffic amid the hectic comings and goings each morning and afternoon.

14. And lastly, the Conservation and Education Department:

They teach the classes, lead the tours, organize the crafts and games, lead the songs and bandage the occasional skinned knee. Even the non-teaching staff members help by assisting with Animal Close-ups, dealing with the sick or injured campers, training the seasonal staff and providing administrative support.

Happy Campers

So the next time you see a bunch of smiling ZooCampers in their little matching T-shirts, just remember all the dedicated Zoo employees who help make those smiles possible. And don’t forget to tell your young ones about the cool outdoor fun awaiting them at Oakland ZooCamp every summer!

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Happy Green Day To You

by | June 11th, 2010

Have you heard about the exciting new changes in the Zoo’s Education Birthday Party program? It’s been an ongoing effort to get there, but the Oakland Zoo is now happy to announce the “greening” of these popular events. In an effort to promote more responsible and sustainable use of the earth’s natural resources, the Conservation and Education department now offers these fun educational events that utilize recycled and reusable materials.

Re-usable Party Utensils

Over the years, several “green” improvements have been implemented. For a while,  we tried using compostable “SpudWare” utensils. However, it made more sense to avoid using disposable materials altogether, even if they were biodegradable. So now, when you book your special Education Birthday Party at the Zoo, you’ll be using re-usable table cloths, Corelle dishware, and reusable kid-friendly utensils.

Every Education Birthday Party here at the Zoo features a live animal presentation, in which children have the opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation issues while experiencing animals up close in an intimate and fun setting. Afterwards, the kids work on a fun “enrichment” craft project that they get to watch the Zoo animals enjoy at the end of the party. Even these craft activities use recycled and reusable materials, such as previously used cardboard boxes and even paper towel tubes.

Birthday Gift Bags

The party bags provided for the birthday child are now made out of post-consumer plastic, and feature a fun “Go Green” wildlife message. Gifts inside the bags include:

  • A small plant growing kit, with seeds and soil included to encourage kids to garden at home
  • A cool “Ellie-Pooh” elephant magnet, hand-crafted in Sri Lanka from elephant dung and post-consumer paper
  • Recycled pencils made of bamboo
  • Stickers with the Zoo’s “Go Green” logo
  • Educational Top Trumps trading cards.

One of the new cards will feature the Western Pond Turtle, to educate participants about the Oakland Zoo’s ongoing conservation programs. The birthday child’s party bag also includes a very special plush animal: an Animals Asia “Moon Bear,” along with a tag describing the Zoo’s conservation project in China that works toward the preservation of these endangered animals. Supporting worldwide conservation programs is a major part of the Zoo’s ongoing conservation mission: “The Oakland Zoo is committed to action for improved global health and the preservation of biodiversity.”

So, don’t forget to call the Zoo and schedule your child’s special Education Birthday celebration. And have a Happy Green Day!

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Seeing With New Eyes: Zoo Photo Tips

by | April 22nd, 2010

Have you ever wanted to capture better images of our fascinating zoo creatures?  But do the fences and glass keep getting in the way?  Well, fret no longer– there’s hope in that viewfinder.  As the former photographer for the Oakland Zoo, I discovered a few tricks over the years. Try using the following techniques  and you might find yourself capturing terrific tigers and awesome alligators yourself.

Caging Detracts From Photo

A. CAGE BARS (Bobcat, tiger, chimps, bats, aviaries, etc.)  One thing I’ve learned to do is to “un-cage the animals.” No, it doesn’t mean letting them run loose in the meadow, but rather using simple techniques to make the cage bars or fencing disappear from view.  Try to employ as many of these tips as you can to maximize the effect.  IMPORTANT: Auto-Focus needs to be shut off. Use manual focus or focus-lock to avoid focusing on the caging.

1.  Position the camera as close to the exhibit as safety and zoo rules permit.

2.  Wait until the animal is away from the caging.

Caging Has Vanished!

3.  Use a telephoto lens (or the telephoto setting on the camera.)

4.  Wait for a time when the bars are in shadow, and the animal is in the light.

5.  If your camera allows it, select the widest possible lens opening to limit the depth of field (or depth of focus.)

Reflections Ruin This Shot

B. GLASS (Alligators, anaconda, reptiles, bugs, etc.) With more zoo exhibits utilizing glass instead of bars these days, another important skill to learn is how to photograph through it without getting reflections in your pictures. It’s just a matter of paying more attention.

1. Make yourself aware of the reflections. It’s easy to miss them when you’re busy concentrating on your subject. Once you’ve done this:

2.  Reposition yourself relative to the light BEHIND you, until you’re no longer shooting through a reflection.

3.  If possible, place the lens directly against the glass. Use your hand to shield the side of the lens if you need to shoot at an angle to the glass.

Reflections Are Gone!

4.  Turn OFF the flash, unless you can shoot at an angle to the glass.

5.  If none of these suggestions are possible, wait until later in the day, when the light has changed.

C. MOVING ANIMALS Although many animals (such as lions) like to lie around and take it easy, it’s always frustrating when you’re trying to get a picture of an animal that just won’t sit still (like our gibbons frequently do.) Try these suggestions.

1.  Use a tripod to steady the camera.

2.  Use a wider lens (or zoom out) to make it easier to follow your subject.

3.  If your camera allows it, use a fast shutter speed to avoid blurring the image.

4. Animals moving left or right are more easily photographed than those moving toward or away from the camera, where drastic changes of focus are necessary.

5.  Gibbons and Vervet Monkeys can be especially difficult to follow. Try to notice if the animal has a pattern in its movement, such as a favorite rock or tree branch that it likes to pause at occasionally. By aiming your camera there in advance and waiting for it, you can often get better results than from trying to follow the animal from place to place.

The most important thing to keep in mind is: HAVE PATIENCE.  Some days, the photo opportunities make it easy, such as during an event like our popular Feast For The Beasts, coming up on July 17. But other days, things might be more challenging. Animals are often elusive and unpredictable. But any photo worth taking is worth waiting for. So good luck and see you at Gibbon Island!

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Goats In The Kitchen

by | April 7th, 2010

Kikuyu Hut Exterior

“Is this house made out of poo?” the little kid asked as I stood working near the doorway of the hut.

“No,” I replied. “But it’s supposed to look like it is. It’s actually concrete.” Such was the line of questioning that morning at the latest exhibit in the Oakland Zoo’s African Savanna. Constructed of two-by-fours and plywood with a covering of hand-patted concrete and straw, this thatched-roof structure originally served as an anthropological museum. But only recently was its full potential brought to fruition.  Zoo Director Joel Parrott’s plan was to recreate an authentic traditional woman’s dwelling from the Kikuyu tribe of East Africa, where dried cow dung was extensively utilized as a building material. I was thrilled when he gave the assignment to me. Kikuyu women live separate from their husbands, in their own house along with their daughters. (I’d find female zoo visitors were often envious when I explained this arrangement.) Even the family’s sheep and goats sleep inside with them!

The Stone-Hearth Kitchen

Following the descriptions from a book written by famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, I drew out a floor plan and began gathering the many rustic materials needed for the project: wooden poles and sticks, ecola heather, reed mats, bamboo, straw and dried leaves. Inside the hut, I constructed separate mother’s and daughter’s bedrooms for sleeping, a pen for the animals, a storeroom, a goat fattening pen, and a central kitchen with a stone hearth for cooking. According to long-held tradition, these rooms are laid out in precisely the same manner in every hut, along with a wealth of taboos about conduct and social rituals. For example, if a cooking pot should crack while food is being cooked in it, that food can only be eaten by women past childbearing age. And if an owl hoots near a homestead, or a frog or lizard falls into the fireplace, a house purification ceremony is required.

Working with these rustic materials presented a few challenges. Nothing was straight, flat or uniform. Poles arrived shorter than anticipated, heather mats stubbornly refused to be stapled in place, and before I’d even finished construction, a small family of rodents took up residence under the mom’s leaf-covered bed. But after two months of meticulous work, I had the basic structures complete.

Cooking Pots and Supplies

Then I went shopping. One of the most fun days of my Oakland Zoo career was the one I spent gathering the many unique furnishings for the hut. I went to a pottery yard and found earthen jars and cooking pots. At an import store, I found baskets and wooden plates, along with plastic fruit and vegetables. And I found places that sold cow and goat hides for bedding and hollow gourds that could be used for food and water storage. I even carved a little wooden flute for the mother’s bedroom. But I wanted more than simply things that could be seen and touched. With a friend’s help I put together a multi-track CD of music and sound effects to be played through hidden speakers. And I burned some wood and leaves inside the hut to lend it an authentic smoky smell. With a series of small interpretive signs, the Kikuyu Woman’s Hut was ready to receive its first guests. An opening ceremony, complete with authentic African music and food, introduced the hut to the public, who got to experience how East African women lived 100 years ago. So if you haven’t yet seen the African hut exhibit, stop by for a visit the next time you’re at the Zoo. Just take a left at the zebras!

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