Oregon Zoo
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| Oregon Zoo | |
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 The Oregon Zoo has the world's most successful elephant breeding program
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| Date opened | 1887 |
| Location | Washington Park, Portland, Oregon, USA |
| Land area | 64 acres |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Number of animals | 1029[1] |
| Number of species | 200[1] |
| Memberships | AZA |
| Major exhibits | The Great Northwest, Africa Savanna, Africa Rainforest, Stellar Cove |
| Website | |
The Oregon Zoo, formerly the Washington Park Zoo,[2] is a zoo two miles (3 km) west southwest of downtown Portland, Oregon in Portland's Washington Park. It is Oregon's largest paid attraction, with more than 1.4 million visitors yearly.
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[edit] History
The Oregon Zoo was founded in 1887, making it the oldest North American zoo west of the Mississippi. It began with the donation of an animal attraction that outgrew its place in a vacant lot beside a pharmacy in downtown Portland.[3] The first zoo site was near where the reservoirs in Washington Park are now. The collection grew quickly—by 1894 there were over 300 animals. In 1925, the zoo moved to the site of the present Portland Japanese Garden, and moved again in 1959 to its current site. At this time, Washington Park and Zoo Railway was constructed to connect the zoo to its former site, and the other attractions in Washington Park. A few years after the move, management was given to Metro, which continues expansion projects, aided by donors, sponsors and volunteers, to the present.
Shortly after the zoo first began, the city park keeper (also the zoo keeper then) dug a bear pit, possibly the earliest sunken, barless bear exhibit in the world. Today, the zoo continues the tradition: most animal exhibits are spacious natural or semi-natural environments for the inhabitants—not the cages of many other zoos. For example, a bird exhibit is a high open air aviary for humans to walk through. (An "airlock" sequential door arrangement keeps the residents at home.)
The zoo became world famous in 1962 when the Asian elephant "Packy" was born. He was the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in 44 years and is (as of 2006) the largest Asian elephant in the United States at 10.5 ft (3.2 m) tall and 13,500 lbs (6,100 kg). A total of 28 more calves have been born at the Oregon Zoo, including 7 sired by Packy, making it the most successful zoo elephant breeding program in the world.[4]
The zoo has over a thousand specimens representing two hundred species, 21 of which are endangered. In 2003 the zoo began participation in a California condor recovery program started by San Diego Wild Animal Park and Los Angeles Zoo. The program is designed to increase the number of the condor that is near extinction.[5]
[edit] Exhibits
[edit] African Rainforest (1.3 acres)
Rodriguez Fruit Bats, Straw-Colored Fruit Bats, Egyptian Fruit Bats, Colobus Monkey, Allen's Swamp Monkey, Red Flanked Duiker, Hadada Ibis, Saddle-billed Stork, White-Faced Whistling Ducks, African Rock Python, Slender-snouted Crocodile, Nile Monitor Lizard, Tilapia, Lungfish, Cichlids, Meerkats
[edit] African Savanna (4+ acres)
Black Rhinoceros, De Brazza's Monkey, Hippopotamus, Naked Mole-Rat, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Egyptian Spiny Mouse, Damara Zebra, Speke's Gazelle, Southern Ground Hornbill, Weaver Birds, Marabou Storks, Cape Thick-Knee, Red-crested Turaco, Hamerkop, Buffalo Weaver, African Hooded Vulture, Hingeback Tortoise
[edit] Predators of the Serengeti (1.5+ acres)
This new exhibit is currently under construction. It will be located on the site of the former Alaska Tundra exhibit, which is in the process of being dismantled. Some animals of the Alaska exhibit have moved to other locations inside the zoo, as is the case with the new wolf exhibit. Others, such as the musk oxen, have been relocated away from the zoo entirely. The Predators of the Serengeti is scheduled to open summer in 2009.
Lions, Cheetahs, African Wild Dogs, Caracals, Scorpions, Chameleons, Nile crocodiles, Mongoose, red-billed hornbill and Aye-Ayes.
[edit] Amazon Flooded Forest
Ocelot, Agouti, Black Howler Monkey, Three-toed Sloth, Pale-Faced Saki Monkey, Pygmy Marmoset, Brazilian Cockroach, Swainson's Toucan, Arrau Turtle, Blue Poison Dart Frog, Dwarf Caiman, Emerald Tree Boa, Yellow-banded Poison Dart, Cardinal Tetra, Heckle Discus, Orange Spot Freshwater stingray, Pacu, Arawana, Plecostomus, Raphael Catfish
[edit] Asian Elephants (2+ acres)
Three female and three male Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are displayed at the popular elephant exhibit, including the famous Packy. There is a swimming hole in which up to ten elephants can simultaneously completely submerge [1], sandy ground for comfortable walking and a scratcher, which the elephants can choose to scratch their head, sides, belly, etc.
Located next to the elephant exhibit is the Elephant Museum, a collection of historical, religious, and sociological artifacts including some on long term loan from the Smithsonian. [2] An 8 foot (2.4 m) tall mastodon skeleton is present. This museum was the first one of its kind in the world.
[edit] Bears
There are 8 bears in 3 exhibits: Three Polar Bears, two Sun bears and three American Black bears.
The Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) exhibit simulates the environment around Churchill, Manitoba near Hudson Bay, Canada. Two females named Tasul and Yugyan, and a male named Conrad, are easily viewed.
There are two Malaysian sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) in a tropical forest environment simulated in part with heat producing artificial trees. Both bears are females, named Vivian and Jody.
There are three black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Pacific northwest exhibit called, "Black Bear Ridge". The exhibit is built with a bridge above it, in order to get a better view into the environment. The black bears were introduced in mid-March 2007. There are two males, Homer and Pete, and one female, Gerry.
[edit] Pacific Shores (1.2+ acres)
Humboldt penguins, Inca terns, Lories and Lorikeets, Amur Leopards, Amur Tigers and Insect Zoo Hut.
[edit] Stellar Cove
A typical Oregon Pacific ocean setting includes a tide pool and kelp forest populated with Steller Sea Lions, (Eumetopias jubatus), Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris), Sea Anemones, Chiton, Limpet, Snail, Mussel, Crab, Sea Cucumber, Urchin, Sea Star, Sculpin, Goby, painted greenling and Gunnel.
[edit] Primates
Chimpanzees, Orangutans, White-Cheeked Gibbons, Siamangs, Mandrills, Francois Langurs, Red-Handed Tamarins, Tree Shrews
[edit] Great Northwest (new)
[edit] Cascade Stream and Marsh
Beavers, North American river otters, ringtails, egrets, and herons.
[edit] Eagle Canyon
Bald eagles, sturgeon, rainbow trout, minnows, and kokane salmon
[edit] Cascade Crest
A realistic Cascade mountain-like exhibit made mostly of basalt features a snow cave, cirque lake and twisted alpine trees. It is home to a small herd of mountain goats.
[edit] Trillium Creek Family Farm
A variety of domestic animals, such as Shetland sheep, Pygora Goats, Araucana chickens and Muscovy ducks are presented by high school students who also explain local farm historical trends, technology and demonstrate related activities such as composting, shearing and agriculture. The Trillium Creek Family Farm is operated entirely by teenage volunteers.
[edit] Cascade Canyon
Mountain lions, American Black Bears, Bobcats
[edit] The Great Northwest Tree Top Suspension Bridge
With a view of Cascade Canyon
[edit] Other attractions
- Wildlife Live! Summer Shows - (Weather permitting)
- Simulator Thrill Ride - Movie changes a few times per year, depending on the season. (Weather permitting)
- Zoolights - December - Holiday light display open in the evenings
- Dinosaurs - "An experience like you never seen before!"
- Washington Park and Zoo Railway
[edit] Nearby attractions
The zoo is located at the southern boundary of Washington Park and is nearby the Portland Children's Museum, World Forestry Center, Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Hoyt Arboretum. An adjacent trail system connects the zoo to the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden, and Forest Park.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Zoo Facts". Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ The zoo was named the Portland Zoological Gardens in 1959. In 1976, a naming contest selected Washington Park Zoo as the winner. It has been named the Oregon Zoo since 1998. "Oregon Zoo History". Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ PortlandOnline
- ^ Willamette Week
- ^ CNN: Condor egg could herald return of giant, 04/03/07
[edit] External links
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