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International experts call for polar bear emergency plans

Although the world's largest land carnivore is capable of devouring nearly anything it encounters — from whales to lemmings — it cannot survive indefinitely without seals. To hunt seals, polar bears depend on sea-ice. But as climate change keeps the Arctic ice-free for increasingly longer periods, the predators are struggling to find enough prey, and data shows that a single year of prolonged warmth could spell disaster for entire sub-populations of the species. Now, an international team of experts is urging wildlife managers to devise game plans for dealing with the inevitable: a mass polar bear starvation event.

Zoo condors Ojai, Malibu and Squapuni lay first eggs of season

California condors are laying the groundwork for species recovery one egg at a time. The first three eggs of the 2013 breeding season arrived at the Oregon Zoo's Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation over the past week. Malibu laid the first egg Feb. 14, Ojai laid the second yesterday afternoon, and Squapuni laid the third this morning.

He's got game: Sea otter keeps fit by shooting hoops

Trail Blazers' rookie Damian Lillard isn't the only local hoops star to make a splash this season. Oregon Zoo marine life keepers say Eddie the sea otter can dunk with the best of them and just might have the highest shooting percentage in town.

Zoo's spring break camp helps kids connect with nature

Northwest campers this spring are advised to be on the lookout for bears. And elephants. And flamingos. Well, if you're an Oregon Zoo Nature Ranger, that is. The zoo's popular Nature Rangers spring break camps return March 25-29, with programs for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Oregon Zoo welcomes new male baby river otter

Look out, Lily: A 12-ounce newcomer is eyeing your title as the Oregon Zoo's most adorable baby. Or at least he will be, once he opens his eyes. Tilly, one of the zoo's two North American river otters, gave birth to a male pup Jan. 28 — the first river otter to be born at the Oregon Zoo. The new arrival weighed just over 4 ounces at birth and has already tripled that due to his mother's naturally high-fat milk. Keepers have yet to decide on a name for the pup, though it is likely he will be named after a local river or waterway.

Pair of penguin 'lovebirds' makes Valentine's Day debut

A smartly dressed young couple has moved in at the Oregon Zoo just in time for Valentine's Day. Two young Humboldt penguins, Luna and Milo, arrived last month from the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I., and have now joined the 16 other penguins in the zoo's penguinarium.

Zoo experts hope rabbit romance sparks panda passion

Coaxing endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits into "breeding like rabbits" has never been simple. But a recent breakthrough at the Oregon Zoo suggests the secret to rabbit chemistry lies in the right matchmaking service. Now, the mate-compatibility research may prove beneficial for another unlucky-in-love endangered species: the giant panda.

"The panda is the world ambassador for all endangered species," said Meghan Martin, the Oregon Zoo research associate who led the study. "If our research with pandas shows similar findings to what we've seen in pygmy rabbits, it will be a very big deal for the zoo breeding world."

Love is in the air, treats in store for zoo animals on V-Day

Roses are nice, chocolates are too, but animals crave other treats at the Oregon Zoo. Keepers will spread the love Thursday, Feb. 14, delivering some nontraditional Valentine's Day gifts to the zoo's primates, marine mammals and cougars.

Has trunk, won't travel: Lily belongs to Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo has it in writing: Lily the elephant is here to stay. In an agreement finalized today, the zoo assumed legal ownership of Rose-Tu's new calf from Have Trunk Will Travel, the California-based company that had previously held rights to the young elephant.
"Lily's living arrangements were never in question," said Kim Smith, zoo director. "But this makes it official: Lily will live her life with her family herd, the way elephants should."

Oregon Zoo hedgehog forecasts six more weeks of winter

It might be nice outside now, but don't pack those snow tires and chains away just yet. Jabari, the Oregon Zoo's African pygmy hedgehog, saw his shadow today, indicating six more weeks of winter could be in store. Or not.

"Last year, Jabari predicted an early spring, which was not all that accurate here in the Northwest," Smith said. "But our hedgehog does have about the same success rate as Punxsutawney Phil."

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