Posts Tagged ‘Conservation’
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The Launch of a Zoo Evolution: Quarters for Conservation!

by | August 18th, 2011

Visiting the Oakland Zoo may bring you a number of positive feelings. The feeling of connection when you spend time with family and friends, the feeling of awe when you learn about animals and their amazing adaptations, or the feeling of wonder when you gaze at a gorgeous elephant or tiger, but starting on August 19th, a new feeling should come over all our visitors: pride.

That is because of our new initiative, Quarters for Conservation. Each time a guest now visits the zoo, a twenty five cent conservation donation will be contributed in support of several Oakland Zoo conservation projects. With thousands of visitors each year, these quarters add up to a significant increase in the zoos capacity to support animals and habitats in the wild. Our slogan, “Saving Wildlife with Each Visit” about sums it up.

Guests will even determine where the funding goes. When you enter the zoo, you will be given a token. This token can be taken to the conservation voting station in Flamingo Plaza and used to “vote for” a conservation project that inspires you. Quarters are also accepted.

This year, you can vote to:

Help protect chimpanzees in Uganda through the Budongo Snare Removal Project. This project provides a solution to poaching by sponsoring forest guards, snare removers and educators, and by offering nanny goats to ex- poachers as an alternative source of food and income.

Help conserve African elephants in Kenya, through the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. This renowned program is aimed at increasing our knowledge of African elephants and ensuring their long-term conservation. Through their efforts, every elephant in Amboseli National Park has been identified, named, and studied.

Help keep the California condor alive and in the wild through the Ventana Wildlife Society Condor Project. This innovative project collects thin-shelled eggs laid by ill condors, and replaces them with viable captive-bred eggs, treats lead-poisoned birds, and monitors the safety and health of each condor through radio telemetry.

These projects will be featured until summer 2012, when three new projects will be chosen

As a community, we have a great power to not only enjoy the zoo and learn from the animals, but to genuinely help their plight in the wild. Quarters for Conservation represents a true shift in the ways zoos see themselves, and the way the public is beginning to view zoos; as true institutions for conservation action. Engaging you, the zoo visitor, in this evolution is very exciting.

Ready to change the world?

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Posted in Animal Welfare, Conservation, Education Programs, Events, Family Fun No Comments »

Packing for Africa

by | July 1st, 2011

I am excitedly packing for Africa, the lush fertile countries of Uganda and Rwanda to be specific. I have a headlamp and hiking shoes, camera and sunscreen. In goes malaria pills and bug spray, wildlife guides and a sunhat. It is a true honor to co-lead this Oakland Zoo Conservation Expedition to visit the conservation projects that the Oakland Zoo Conservation Fund supports. We have been planning and learning through monthly meetings and workshops since January, and are now ready to go.

amygotliffe.jpg

Next, I am packing the important things: Thirteen adult participants, full of adventure, compassion and a genuine reverence for wildlife and conservation, and one Oakland Zoo veterinarian co-leader, Dr. Andrea Goodnight. On the packing list are three laptops, two cameras, children’s books, and hats and t-shirts for our guides and friends. The items will be donated to Pearl Eco-Safaris (www.ugandaecosafaris.net), The Kibale Fuel Wood Project (www.newnaturefoundation.org) and the Budongo Snare Removal Project (www.budongo.org).

A primate net will somehow be hauled on board for the Uganda Conservation Wildlife Education Center so they can ensure a safe capture for their rescued wildlife. Three veterinary medicinal formula books will join us as a gift to the Mountain Gorilla Vet Project (www.gorilladoctors.org), as well as an immobilization unit for darting gorillas in need of medical care.

Packed in our bags will be letters of appreciation for the Budongo Snare Removal Team. Thank you notes will also be given to the Women’s Community Action Project who creates the gorgeous Kibale Bead jewelry sold at the Oakland Zoo gift shop, and the Virunga Artisans (www.virungaart.com) artists, whose weavings and carvings are also featured at our gift shop.

To the pastoral community near Queen Elizabeth Park who saved a female leopard from poisoning and assisted lion expert Dr. Ludwig Siefert in the rescue operation, we bring a framed certificate of recognition and appreciation.

Last goes in some stories and songs, and the willingness to share all of ourselves. With full bags, we depart on July 1. We will report back upon return, with much more received than we could ever pack in our bags and offer.

The Oakland Zoo Conservation Expedition is in partnership with Intrepid Travel. Contact amy@oaklandzoo.org for future Conservation Expedition information, such as Borneo in 2012!

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Turtle University

by | June 28th, 2011

Newly hatched western pond turtle

Its turtling season at the Oakland Zoo again! Each summer our zookeepers team up with biologists and students from Sonoma State University to study the western pond turtle. Turtle nesting season is in full swing and California’s only native aquatic freshwater turtle has been an enigma to researchers for years. This is the fourth consecutive year that zookeepers have spent in Lake County and our knowledge of this species of special concern has increased exponentially. Here is just a short run down of a few of the things we have learned about western pond turtles through our collaborative research:
First, we were surprised to discover just how dry the nests were. Aquatic turtles are usually expected to have very moist nests, but not our western pond turtles. Based on our observations at the site, we created a very dry vermiculite mixture in which to incubate the eggs we collected. Several experts expressed concern about the lack of moisture in the mixture, but our guess was correct and we had a 90% hatch rate the first year.
One little known fact about many reptile species, western pond turtles included, is that the sex of the hatchling is determined by the temperature at which the egg is incubated. Along with our dry vermiculite mixture, we also set up five separate incubators at five different temperatures. The hatchlings were carefully marked with numbered dots so we knew exactly which clutch and incubator they came from. The hatchlings were then raised here at the zoo for about ten months, until they were big enough for a small endoscopic surgery to determine their sex. This data was then correlated with the incubation data and we now know the exact temperatures that produce male turtles versus female turtles.

Dr. Andrea Goodnight uses an endoscope to identify a turtle's sex.

As time went on, our project expanded and we also began to incubate nests in the field. This requires careful placement of high tech temperature and humidity sensors inside the nests and then covering the nests to secure them against predators. The wide range of temperatures in even a single day took us by surprise. Who would have guessed a difference of up to fifty degrees in one twenty-four hour period.
This is a project that is near and dear to our hearts, not only because it is a native species, but also because it is a project that zookeepers can be directly involved in. Just days ago, two keepers went to the lake to use telemetry equipment to track nesting females while other keepers were here at the zoo caring for last year’s hatchlings, who will be released at the end of this month. As we continue to progress in this conservation project, we hope to learn even more about this special animal.

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Happy Red Panda Day

by | November 19th, 2010

The holidays are likely on your mind right now, but did you know that a major holiday was just celebrated this past weekend? Just after Halloween and before Thanksgiving falls International Red Panda Day, which the Oakland Zoo celebrated in style with the help of our good friends from the Red Panda Network.

What’s a red panda, you ask? These small, raccoon-like mammals live in the forests surrounding the Himalayas, in China, India and Nepal, and are also known as the “firefox”. They subsist almost entirely on bamboo, eating up to 200,000 bamboo leaves in one day! Besides being charismatic and biologically unique, the red panda can also lay claim to being the original panda. The word “panda” is derived from the Nepalese word “poonya”, which means “eater of bamboo” and refers to the red panda. When scientists discovered the larger, black and white, bamboo-eating animal in the mountains of China, they assumed the two animals to be related, and dubbed the now more famous one the Giant Panda. Now, however, we know that red pandas and giant pandas aren’t closely related at all. In fact, though red pandas share similarities with raccoons, weasels and bears, they have been classified in their own family, Ailuridae, biologically distinct and unique from other species.

TWG Hannah Horowitz shows her red panda spirit!

The actual number of red pandas in the wild is unknown. Like many animals, they face threats from habitat loss and climate change which damages the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Though their range is geographically large, in practice the pandas are restricted to small patches of forests which support the bamboo plants they so rely on. And yet, while their larger namesake has become a symbol for conservation worldwide, few people have even heard of a red panda, let alone know about the challenges they face. The Red Panda Network, which is dedicated to preserving the species through education, research and conservation in Nepal, decided to raise awareness by holding the 1st annual International Red Panda Day on November 13, with the help of zoos, schools and clubs across the country. When they asked if we’d be willing to join in to teach people about this amazing animal, we readily agreed!

And so, this past Saturday, November 13, we celebrated this special species. The Teen Wild Guides operated tables with red panda facts and activities. Visitors spent the day coloring red panda masks, making red panda origami, and having their faces painted. All activities were free, with donations accepted. When all was said and done, we raised $215 to be donated to the Red Panda Network, which they’ll use to further their excellent conservation work with local people in Nepal.

A young visitor shows off his red panda mask.

An event like Red Panda Day is a great chance to reflect on the little things we can all do to benefit conservation. Here at the zoo, our conservation programs run the gamut from fundraising to composting, but nothing is more important than education. Just by learning about a new animal or habitat, we have taken the first step to making a difference for them. As the great Senegalese conservationist Baba Dioum said; “In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.” And so, to everyone who came out to the zoo on Red Panda day, colored a mask, and maybe dropped a dollar or two in our donation box, our sincere thanks for doing your part, and for helping us support a hardworking organization. Now we all know which panda truly reigns supreme!

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20 New Frogs Arrive

by | October 14th, 2010

Panamanian Golden Frog

I received a call on Friday, October 8th that went something like this, “Hi Nicky, we just came back from the airport. The frogs are here.” I thought to myself, well, that’s pretty cool.  I’ve never seen frogs get unpacked.  This would be a chance to get away from my desk and see something rare. So, I grabbed a camera and headed down to the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo to check out our new Panamanian Golden frogs.

As I walked in behind-the-scenes of the RAD Room (Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Room), I was delighted to see Keeper Adam Fink eager to unpack TWENTY brightly colored little frogs.

Keeper Adam unpacks frogs

The yellow and black amphibians reminded me of those little plastic frogs you see in gum ball machines, except these were very jumpy.  There were ten containers that resembled something you would see at a deli counter. Each container held two frogs…and yes, each container had breathing holes. As soon as I arrived, Adam jumped into action to unpack each frog carefully, weigh it, photograph it, and place it into a special aquarium. These tasks took patience and persistence because the frogs are fast and slippery!

Frogs in containers

The twenty Panamanian Golden Frogs were born at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, MD. The frogs are extinct in the wild and several zoos in the US are breeding them for release into the wild in the future.  The Oakland Zoo does not breed them, but instead we are holding individuals for the breeding program and to help educate the public about the Panamanian Golden Frogs.  They are the national symbol of Panama.  So, to Panamanians, this would equate to the Bald Eagle being gone in the US.  They are one of the poster-frogs for the global amphibian crisis, which is being caused by climate change, the chytrid fungus, pollution, and other things that has caused one-third of the amphibian species in the world to decline and become endangered or extinct.

Panamanian Golden Frog

The frogs were packed into the cargo area of a Delta flight bound for Oakland and arrived the morning of October 8, 2010.  This frog shipment was the second shipment the Oakland Zoo has received in the past six years. They were born in December, 2009, so they are almost one year old. They are now off exhibit for a thirty day quarantine, which is part of the Oakland Zoo’s regulations with acquiring new animals. We monitor new animals and test them for diseases to ensure they do not have anything that can spread to our animal collection. Currently, we have nine Panamanian Golden frogs on exhibit in the RAD room, so when the new ones are added, we’ll have a total of twenty-nine.

I asked Adam if they make any ribbit sounds and I was told no, but they do make little wheezing sounds.  I tried to listen closely while they were being unpacked, but didn’t hear a peep. Adam also mentioned that these frogs are not big swimmers; they are more of a waters edge species, meaning they like to be around water but not necessarily in it. The black and gold patterns on their backs also change each year, so it’s hard to name and distinguish each frog. But, the Oakland Zoo weighs and photographs each frog every three months. As for food, these frogs feast on tiny crickets and fruit flies.

So, the next time you are at the Oakland Zoo, stop by the RAD Room and see if you can spot a Panamanian Golden Frog.

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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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