Woodland Park Zoo

Gorilla Amanda+baby are doing splendidly. (here's the announcement about that birth a month ago.)
Also, some zoo photos.
The first three rows are within the last month, and the rest go back as far as 1.5 years ago.
I'm a part time animal photographer, but zoo photos are a personal favorite of mine, as I use to feed 1/2 those animals..

I'd love to see any zoo photos you all have, as well. :)

mbuzi (Mod)

Greetings all.
My old journal, scarlt131 has been inactive for a long time now. I started it almost 8 years ago, and decided to move on to a new journal, along with a new phase of my life. I just wanted to let you know that I'm still around, still reading the entries. :) (Just under a different lj name :P )

Quick update: I've been keepin my eye out for a job back at the zoo for myself. I've been gone far too long. (Almost 4 years! Ack!) Got stuck in the dreaded world of retail. :(

I just heard about Hansa, about an hour ago :( I can only imagine how sad and confused Chai is right now. I hope the awesome zoo vets are able to figure out exactly what happened.

I was working the first few days she was out and about for the public to see. Security borrowed a few of us pony leaders (this is before I was a zoo intern) to help with crowd control. As an intern a few years later, I was allowed to help give her some of the pumpkins from the halloween festivities. She always enjoyed that..

If you've got photos of her, please feel free to share em! I'll start a scrapbook on this community soon.
I've got a couple pictures, but I'm at work right now so I can't access them.

*Wave*
-Mbuzi aka mod.

Woodland Park Zoo elephant dies suddenly
Woodland Park Zoo Press Release

I just saw Hansa earlier this week, and once on Mother's Day. Behind the cut is a lovely picture I got of her on May 13, 2007.

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My daughter, who is a volunteer at the zoo, told me about this today, and then I saw it on the news. I remember when Hansa was born, and I made a special point of going to see her on Mother's Day this year. Earlier this week, I took a girl who had never before seen an elephant in person to see Hansa and Chai.

Hansa Memorial Page

Pony Ring/rides have closed officially.
It was down to 5 ponies that could actually handle rides, and they were getting moody.
Not sure on my opinion of this yet. I am glad they are getting good homes, but I do not like
how secretive the whole thing felt to me.

I will miss Scarlet.

Heres the link. (And as a correction to the article, Patches was not in her twenties. She was mid-thirties.)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/loca…

Bonnie passed away. Same symptoms as cherokee.

Here is the article:
SEATTLE - A 9-year-old pony, Bonnie, passed away yesterday at Woodland Park Zoo following a few days of decreased appetite and diarrhea. The pony was under veterinary care at the time of its demise. The exact cause of death is pending results of pathology tests. Nine ponies remain in the zoo’s herd.

Although none of the other ponies appear ill at this time, the herd remains under close observation. “Our highest priority is to provide the best possible animal care. Therefore the Pony Ring will be closed for the rest of this season for the safety and well-being of the herd,” said Nancy Hawkes, the zoo’s general curator. Pony rides would normally be offered on weekends only through September. Trailside Chats, held weekdays, are cancelled as well.

Pony rides and the new Trailside Chats provide an opportunity during the summer for visitors to interact with zoo ponies as well as the large group of well-trained teen volunteers, pony leaders, who assist zoo staff with the care of the ponies and the operation of the Pony Ring. Pony rides, offered at the zoo since 1914, have been a highlight for many generations of zoo visitors and pony leaders alike.

For more information about becoming a pony leader, or for more information about Woodland Park Zoo in general, check out the zoo’s Web site at www.zoo.org.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.


Taken from: http://zoo.org/pressroom/pr/2005/p…

hi! i've started a community specifically for tapirs over here: tapir_time

please post any tapir pictures, stories, funfacts, or anything tapir related at all + join in the tapir fun!
thank you!

to join tapir_time, click here:
http://www.livejournal.com/communi…

I have five days off this week... Friday, sat, sunday, monday and tues. well, I have a mandatory meeting I have to go to for work from 5-10 on sunday, but Im MOSTLY off.


Anyone want to take a field trip to WPZ? I have some 800 speed film that I want to use in the nighthouse... hoooray for bat pictures! Any takers?

All summer, they have suspected that the female Sumatran tiger, Jojo, was pregnant. The test results came back three days after the birth of the two male cubs on September 13th, however!

From the Species Spotlight:

"Woodland Park Zoo was pleased when our 12-year-old mother JoJo and 11-year-old father Rakata (RAH-ka-ta) became the parents of two male cubs on September 13. These cubs, the second litter for this pair, are important for the genetic diversity of all tigers. About 2 pounds when born, they weigh 8.95 pounds each (10/6/04). The cubs will be off exhibit until they are several weeks of age."



They are absolutely adorable- there are more pictures in the volunteer office of the Ed center if anybody's interested.

Congrats to WPZ!

Source:
http://www.zoo.org/pressroom/pr/20…

Major points:
"SEATTLE - A 16-year-old male pony, Cherokee, passed away this week at Woodland Park Zoo following several days of a decreased appetite and diarrhea. The pony was under veterinary care at the time of its death. The exact cause of death is pending pathology test results. Ten ponies remain in the zoo’s herd.

The zoo offers pony rides to children during the summer and weekends only through September. The herd remains under close observation and the Pony Ring will be closed this weekend."

What they did not say:
They don't know what happened. This pony was in perfect health before the herd got sick.
His pathology results were "inconclusive".
The entire herd is sick.

I just joined, I thought I'd introduce myself. I found this community by searching for who else liked African Wild Dogs. Only slightly freaked me out when I found this. :D

Currently I am a volunteer in the Contact Area, but although the CA season is ending I'm still going to be around doing Winter Socializing. I may also do the ponies and Zoo Corps (I'll probably live at the zoo) this coming summer. I know all the ponies already so I'll get a head start! I suppose. I think I am already accepted as Annie bit me. ^-^

Anyways, so hi, it's nice to join here. If you have any questions/comments feel free to email or post, because I have practically no life and am around all the time.