Tag archives for zoo news
LA Zoo Hosts a World Class Animal Collection & Receives Celebrity Endorsements from an Eclectic Pair
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on February 29, 2012 I had the good fortune to volunteer in the animal care department at the LA Zoo when I wasn’t focused on my late career as a professional student. As a former zoo animal keeper the opportunity provided me with a chance to brush up on my husbandry skills while working along side zoo professionals at…
An Interview with Red Panda Expert–Dr. Angela Glatston of the Rotterdam Zoo
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on February 28, 2012 Just last week some red panda (Ailurus spp.) cubs debuted at the Perth Zoo and they were a hit. As far as I know they have always drawn crowds, but their voguishness is relative. In contemporary history the popularity of the vibrantly-colored red panda may have been suppressed by common nomenclature. Sharing its colloquial name…
“Savage”–Zoo Miami’s Inaugural Art Exhibition for Animals by Animals
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on February 24, 2012 Although a lot of zoo stories make their way through my email inbox, I do go out hunting for unique zoo-sponsored conservation projects to highlight. This particular art exhibition for animals by animals had me salivating. It was certainly not the first time that zoo animal ambassadors were invited to participate in artistic endeavors for…
“Bear Sanctuary”–A New Book Promoting Captive Bear Welfare Through Designated Sanctuaries
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on February 14, 2012 In a new book entitled “Bear Sanctuary“, my colleague Victor Watkins of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), examines the plight of of the world’s eight species of bears. From a conservation perspective six of the eight species are greatly imperiled and subspecies or certain populations of the remainder are also in…
Oregon Zoo’s New Veterinary Medical Center–Green Certified
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on February 3, 2012 The President of the Green Chamber of Commerce, Elena Christopoulos, recently asked me what the zoo community does to promote green initiatives. I couldn’t think of a better and more recent example than the Veterinary Medical Center at Portland’s Oregon Zoo. The new animal health facility opened last month under budget and on time and features…
Interview with the Director of Detroit Zoological Society’s Center for Zoo Animal Welfare
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on January 3, 2012 Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews the Director of Detroit Zoological Society’s pioneering Center for Zoo Animal Welfare (CZAW), Dr. Cynthia Bennett. Several years ago during a visit to Budapest, Hungary for an international zoo conference I first learned of a partnership between a regional, metropolitan zoo and a wildlife sanctuary. From what I knew…
St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute is Hell-Bent on Saving Hellbenders with the First-Ever Hatching of Ozark Hellbenders
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on December 1, 2011 In 2007, the St. Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute announced that their staff herpetologists, including herpetoculturists, and colleagues had achieved the first-ever laying of Ozark hellbender salamander eggs in captivity using only environmental cycling. Although the eggs were not fertile, this was a monumental achievement for hellbender propagation and conservation. Last month, after a decade of…
Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo Reports on Climate Change Literacy Initiative
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 29, 2011 We were warned! Sixty-three years ago, the National Academy of Sciences published Planet Earth: Mystery with 100,000 Clues. The pioneering publication in the field of science education indicated that industrial societies were “pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a great rate.” The brochure warned that this continued pollution of the atmosphere “would have a…
When Mr. Bovid Meets Mr. Cervid by Accident
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 15, 2011 I wasn’t on campus yesterday when one of our younger bull elk jumped an eight foot perimeter fence surrounding his enclosure. He found himself face to face with a muskox. The muskox was in his own paddock with his caprine herd-mates looking on. Our staff photographer, Doug Lindstrand, was on site to capture footage of…
Alaska and Montana Bear Researchers Bring STEM Program to Anchorage Science Teachers
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on November 14, 2011 Here in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska there are a lot of bears, and a lot of soon-to-be young bear scientists. A pilot program taught by bear biologists was launched in Alaska on Friday at a two-day workshop intended to “teach the teachers” how to conduct bear research and integrate bear biology into the high…
Please Excuse the Tidal Bore
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 30, 2011 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul recalls yesterday’s tide that brought a surge of water to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center campus. It was reminiscent of the great tidal bores that are particularly pronounced during the equinox. My colleagues and I pretty much rowed in to work yesterday as the tide nearly engulfed our campus. A few times…
Black-footed Ferret: The Comeback Kid Celebrates 30 Years of Rediscovery
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 23, 2011 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul interviews black-footed ferret wildlife biologist Heather Branvold of the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Black-footed Ferret Recovery Program is celebrating the 30th anniversary of an effort to restore to the wild what was once the most endangered terrestrial mammal on Earth. What is more emblematic of a conservation icon than…
Cabbage Conundrum: What Do You Do with a 125 lb Cabbage?
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on September 11, 2011 What to do with a giant cabbage? Eat it? Show it? How about feed it to an 800 lb grizzly bear? The 14th Annual Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off at the Alaska State Fair produced some gigantic heads of cabbage. I mean gigantic! When I first moved to Alaska I was aware that the citizens of the Frontier…
Surrogate Ambassador Species: The Lynx as a Case Study
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 21, 2011 Here at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), we are at the forefront of educating people about native Alaskan game species–the only living institution like it in Alaska and the world, for that matter. Likewise, the Alaska SeaLife Center is the only living institution in the world dedicated to conservation, research and education of regional marine life. As we…
Asian Turtle Crisis–A Personal Perspective
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 17, 2011 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul shares a personal experience. As a young hobbyist and private collector of native and exotic herpetiles in the early 90′s he was unaware of the impact the pet turtle trade had and continues to have on aquatic turtle conservation–an unfortunate impact that has led to the current Asian turtle crisis. As a kid I…
How Many People Does it Take to Impregnate an Elephant?
Posted by Brian Handwerk on August 5, 2011 How many humans does it take to impregnate an elephant? Earlier this summer a crowd gathered at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo to help Chai, a 32-year-old Asian elephant, conceive a calf. Specialists from across the country were involved, but Chai’s male mate was noticeably absent. Only the bull’s sperm made the trip to the West Coast, while the potential papa remained hundreds of miles away in New Mexico’s Alburquerque Biological Park Zoo.
The Epic Life of an Iconic Gorilla– “Timmy” Remembered (1959-2011)
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on August 4, 2011 Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul remembers a zoo icon he knew personally. I learned late Tuesday that a gentle giant had passed away at the Louisville Zoo. Timmy was the oldest male gorilla in North America. He was once the subject of controversy, but adored by people across the nation and perhaps around the world. I first…
Wild Zoo Visitors
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on July 27, 2011 Last month Contributing Editor Jordan Schaul reported on the wading birds that nest at a rookery at the St. Augustine Alligator farm in St. Augustine, Florida. Herons and…
USFWS Acting Director Visits the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center’s Wood Bison Handling Facility and Experimental Reintroduction Herd
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on July 8, 2011 On June 29th, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Acting Director, Rowan W. Gould and Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADF&G) endangered species coordinator, Doug Vincent-Lang, and colleagues visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) to see the experimental reintroduction herd of wood bison that will soon be released into the wild. Mike Miller, the…
Jungle Jack Hanna Interview: The Upcoming Film–Zookeeper & the Reality Behind Zoo Animal Husbandry Science
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on July 6, 2011 Contributing Editor, and former zoo keeper, Dr. Jordan Schaul, interviews his idol, iconic wildlife expert and Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Jungle Jack Hanna. Neither have seen the Adam Sandler film, Zookeeper, but they have both seen the trailer in which an animal keeper (played by Kevin…
What’s with the Romantic Comedy, Zookeeper–Interview w/ CNN Relationship Expert & Evolutionary Psychologist, Dr. Wendy Walsh
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on June 24, 2011 Contributing Editor, Jordan Schaul, interviews relationship and psychological expert to CNN and The CBS Early Show, Dr. Wendy Walsh , for his series of articles critiquing the soon-to-be released romantic comedy Zookeeper– a feature film produced by Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore Productions). Dr. Walsh was trained in evolutionary psychology and hosts a blog entitled Dating. Mating. Relating. Both have…
Additional Funds Raised for Research into EEHV & Elephant Sorta Situ Conservation Medicine
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on June 24, 2011 Last week, I posted some great news for sort situ (in situ/ex situ) elephant conservation medicine (see link). The International Elephant Foundation (IEF) and other elephant experts and holding institutions celebrated the accomplishment of Alex Rines and Vinnie Christiano. The two best friends and students at Lindbergh Elementary in Kenmore, NY spearheaded an effort to raise $500…
ZOOKEEPER–The Movie–Pseudo-Review
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on June 21, 2011 I toured Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo during the making of Adam Sandler’s feature film Zookeeper. I was really there to see two gorillas–Okpara and fugitive gorilla, Little Joe. I had the privilege to care for them as a relief animal keeper when they were youngsters at another zoo. And did they do some growing! Remember that we are keepers of the…
Escaped Wolf Dispatched at Minnesota Zoo as a Last Resort–Interview with Tony Fisher
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on June 16, 2011 Last week an endangered Mexican wolf was dispatched at one of the nation’s leading captive conservation centers in Apple Valley, Minnesota. A decision to resort to lethal measures was made expeditiously and according to protocol after a the wolf scaled an 8 foot secondary confinement barrier that typically precludes an animal from entering a public area. …
The International Elephant Foundation, the Houston Zoo, & Some Dedicated Fifth Graders Committed to Elephant Conservation
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of University of Alaska on June 9, 2011 The Houston Zoo is profoundly dedicated to the health and welfare of their collection animals, but they are also renowned for their education and outreach programs. I eagerly jumped on the shuttle over to the zoo while attending the last annual zoo conference which was hosted by the Zoo. I reserved a full day to tour the grounds…
