Como’s Facebook Fans Name Baby Bison

The Name “Bogo” (Buy One Get One) is Top Vote Getter

Como Zoo turned over the naming rights of its baby bison to its 29,000+ Facebook fans. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s volunteers submitted names, zoo staff picked four finalists, and the Facebook fans voted for their favorites. With 56% of the votes cast, “Bogo” was chosen. Bogo (short for “buy one, get one”) was chosen as a humorous comment on the baby bison’s surprise arrival; it was unknown that the bison’s mother, “Aunt Bea”, was pregnant when she came to the zoo last November. The other names fans had opportunity to vote on were Opie (21%), Thundar (13%), & Bruno (10%).

Bogo was born on June 16th at 11:10am as many surprised guests and staff looked on. He was standing and walking within an hour of birth. He weighed 125 lbs and stood three feet tall at birth. Bogo is the first calf born to two year old mom, Aunt Bea. Como’s current herd consists of Aunt Bea, Bogo and one other adult female.

Bison Calf Born at the Zoo

June 16, 2011 – The American Bison area is an exciting place today at the zoo. Around 11 am, one of the bison (named Aunt Bea) gave birth to a calf. The baby was up and walking within an hour of being born and is nursing well already. Mom cleaned up the calf and also seems to be doing well.

Keepers noticed earlier this morning that two year old Aunt Bea was agitated. She was making some unusual noises and keeping her tail in the air. Labor continued for about an hour, holding the attention of hundreds of kids on what turned out to be a very interesting field trip! Seeing the birth and first steps of the calf was definitely a learning experience for many visitors to the zoo today.

The calf is somewhat unique in that it is believed to be melanistic. This means it was born with a black coat. Most American Bison are a cinnamon or reddish color at birth and their coats darken with age. Other than its color, the baby seems to be normal and healthy. The sex and name of the calf have yet to be determined.

The mother bison, Aunt Bea, came to the Como Zoo on November 17th of last year and was pregnant before her arrival. The gestation period for bison is about 270-300 days, not far from that of humans. The other American Bison at the zoo, another female, was unbothered by all the excitement in the exhibit today.

Como Zoo Releases North America’s Most Critically Endangered Amphibian Back into the Wild

As part of Como Zoo’s behind-the-scenes species preservation efforts, 1,353 Wyoming Toad tadpoles were placed in oxygenated water, shipped overnight and released today near the Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge outside Laramie, Wyoming. This 1.5 ounce toad is the most critically endangered amphibian in North America and one of the rarest in the world.

Native to the Laramie Basin in Wyoming, this toad was placed on the endangered species list in 1984, and was feared to be extinct. Researchers located the last surviving toads near Lake Mortenson in the late eighties, and by 1996 began an aggressive species preservation plan to save the toad. Como Zoo has joined forces with eight other zoos as a partner in a captive breeding program that now reintroduces Wyoming tadpoles and toads to the wild every year.

As part of the project, Como received adult Wyoming toads that now live in a specially retrofitted room in Como’s Animal Support Building. “The Wyoming toads play an important part in Como’s mission. Since these projects usually go on behind the scenes, people are often surprised to hear how involved Como Zoo is in species preservation,” says Michelle Furrer, Como Campus Director. “But Como Zoo, along with many other zoos, are really striving to make a difference in conservation.’’

To be eligible to participate in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) each institution must meet certain criteria. The four criteria relevant to preventive medicine husbandry and space allotment include the following:

1) Candidate must isolate Wyoming toads from other amphibians in the collection through designated biosecure housing and quarantine.

2) Candidate must commit space for at least four age cohorts totaling 20-40 toads, breeding transfers and pre-release tadpole holding.

3) Candidate must receive USFWS Endangered Species permit to acquire the federally listed toad prior to participation in the SSP.

4) Candidate must comply with the service and SSP guidelines for the recovery program.

It’s a privilege for an institution to be able to participate in species recovery efforts. It comes with much responsibility, and often an additional investment in resources including additional staff and/or construction of biosecure facilities. A generous grant from the Frog Crossing Foundation allowed Como Friends, the nonprofit partner of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, to provide the retrofitting necessary to give Como Zoo’s new Wyoming toads the optimal environmental controls, a hibernation chamber critical to stimulate the toads’ reproductive cycle, and additional AZA staff training to help ensure the success of this species preservation project.

For more information on the Wyoming Toad visit: http://www.wyomingtoad.org/

Como Zoo takes in three bears from North Dakota zoo

*Article courtesy of Miles Trump at St. Paul Pioneer Press

The polar bears at Como Park Zoo can tell they’ve got company.

They have been sniffing around a lot since last week, smelling their new neighbors from North Dakota: Goldy, a male grizzly, and Sandy and Judy, two female brown bears.

The bears’ original home, Roosevelt Zoo in Minot, N.D., had to be evacuated last month along with other parts of the city because of flooding. Roosevelt Zoo called Como to see if the St. Paul zoo could take the brown bears temporarily, said Matt Reinartz, Como Zoo marketing and public relations manager.

“(Roosevelt Zoo) needed help, and we were able to help,” Reinartz said. He said it’s rare for a zoo to take in animals from another zoo.

A professional animal mover helped escort the bears out of Minot on June 1. They arrived at Como Zoo the next afternoon, said Allison Jungheim, Como Zoo senior keeper and training coordinator, who helped unload them.

“They’re doing really well,” she said. “You can tell that they like to be together. We give them access to each other at all times.”

“They’re curious about their new home, but they’re having fun,” Reinartz said.

The bears are quarantined in a building connected to the zoo’s state-of-the-art Polar Bear Odyssey, which emulates the Hudson Bay ecosystem, according to the zoo’s website. Reinartz said the new facility’s ability to house traditional bears is one of the reasons Roosevelt Zoo chose Como.

“Polar Bear Odyssey is nationally known for being a first-class facility. Our zoo staff is world-renowned,” he said. “They know that we can handle such things if they do come up and that their animals will be treated with first-class service.”

Jungheim said they’ve had to work with the Roosevelt Zoo keepers throughout the week to continue the bears’ diet.

“It’s a lot more produce than what polar bears get,” she said. “Apples, carrots, melons and dog food are a big part of their diet.”

The bears will be quarantined for 30 days to prevent them from bringing in diseases, Reinartz said.

He added that it is not clear how long the bears will stay or if they will be displayed. Como Zoo has not yet discussed compensation for housing the bears.

New Arrival Hanging Around Como Zoo

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Welcomes New Baby Emperor Tamarin

A baby South American Emperor tamarin has been born at the Como Zoo.  The baby arrived on Monday, May 13 and visitors can now see the new infant as it hangs tightly to its brother, Paulie, in the Primate Building at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

After birth it is the male, usually father, who will carry the baby on his back. In this case, the brother is taking on the role because the infant’s father, White Eyes, passed away on February 10, 2011. At the time of White Eyes passing at the age of 22, he was the oldest living Emperor tamarin in North America. The life expectancy of an Emperor tamarin is 18 years old.

This is the 7th baby born to mother, Aries, and the 20th to father White Eyes. Besides Paulie (4 years old), the new baby is welcomed into the family by brother Roger (2 years old). Como Zoo also is home to a bachelor pair of Emperor tamarins, Rocky (2 years old) & John, who at the age of 19 now holds the distinction of being the oldest living Emperor tamarin in North America.

Typically, the gestation period lasts 140-145 days; yielding usually two, sometimes 3 young.  All of the males in the group, father or not, aid the mother during the birth and care for the young long after.

The gender of the baby Emperor tamarin is unknown at this time.  Emperor tamarins are usually between 9-10.5 inches in body length with a tail length of around 15 inches.  They are very light animals weighing only about 500 grams at mature age.  Their most distinct physical feature is their long, white, drooping mustache.

RibbitZibit Now Open!

Behind-the-Scenes Amphibians Leap to the Front of the House in the New Frog Conservation Exhibit

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is leaping with anticipation to unveil “RibbitZibit”, a new frog conservation exhibit which incorporates living animals & plants inside the Leonard Wilkening Children’s Gallery.  Guests can get eye-to-eye with Red-eyed Tree Frogs, leer at the Lemur Tree Frogs, and peer into the Panamanian Golden Frogs habitat. The Poison Dart Frogs are well represented in colors of yellow & black, blue & black, and green & black. There is also a separate window to watch the world of tadpoles as they begin their transformation. With several large, eye-catching interpretive displays within the exhibit, visitors can read interesting facts about each species and learn about the global crisis in amphibian survival.

The exhibit will not only showcase these unique, colorful amphibians, but also teach and inspire guests about one of the greatest and most urgent conservation undertakings ever; the preservation of frogs and amphibians. Why do frogs matter? What most people do not recognize is that frogs are an important part of a healthy environment. They control pest insect populations that damage agriculture and spread diseases. These amazing creatures are sentinel animals and are among the first species to be impacted by contaminants in the environment. Some frog species have been used with great success in the advancements of medicine to help heal the sick.

Experts say nearly half of all the world’s more than 6,000 species of amphibians are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution and pesticides, introduced species, wild animal collection and most urgently, a parasitic fungus called amphibian chytrid, a deadly disease that is rapidly eradicating amphibian species throughout the planet. This represents the greatest species conservation challenge in our history.

Como’s mission is to inspire the public to value the presence of living things in our lives, and a main value is educating on conservation. The frogs and conservation efforts that will be highlighted include:

Panamanian Golden Frog – Due to the global amphibian crisis, Como staff is participating in the management and husbandry of five species of frogs endemic to the Central American country of Panama as part of the Chytrid Fungus Recover Plan. Zookeepers at Como Zoo have successfully bred Panamanian Golden Frogs, Lemur Tree Frogs and Glass Frogs. Some of the resulting offspring have been donated to other AZA institutions.

Poison Dart Frogs – Poison dart frogs, also called poison arrow frogs, are so named because some Amerindian tribes have used their secretions to poison their darts. These frogs are found in Colombia along the western slopes of the Andes. In 1999 a Zoo pathologist published his discovery of a then-mysterious infection that was afflicting and eventually killing poison arrow frogs and white’s tree frogs. Through his effort, cutaneous chytridiomycosis was documented for the first time as a vertebrate parasite. The veterinarians along with keepers and pathologists also developed a treatment for the chytrids. Como Zoo has been working on conservation and breeding programs for the Poison Dart Frog, along with the treatment of this parasite.

Tropical Tree Frog – Due to habitat loss, these small creatures are running the risk of becoming extinct. These animals are the most important part of our ecosystem. For example, they consume large quantities of insects and other prey, and in turn they are consumed by other animals, in endless food webs of rainforests. Just because they are such vital chains in the ecosystems they belong to, and due to their overall sensitivity, frogs are considered an indicator species – the species that can act show environmental change or the change in an ecosystem’s health. The “indication” for us humans to note here is that such environmental change affecting the tropical frogs can also affect many other species of animals including ourselves.

Funding for the new RibbitZibit was provided through the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Association of Zoos & Aquariums Grants Accreditation To Como Zoo

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) announced that the Como Zoo was granted accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission. The President and CEO of AZA, Jim Maddy, will make a special presentation on December 15th at 3:30pm to Mayor Chris Coleman & the City Council in the City Council Chambers to recognize the honor.

“The Como Zoo is one of the best in the world because it has met the highest standards in the world,” said Maddy. “It takes hard work and dedication to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accreditation Standards.”

To be accredited, the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory underwent a thorough investigation to ensure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association.

“Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is the jewel of our City Park’s system, providing residents with a great place to spend the day. There is nothing like seeing the wonder in a child’s eyes as they enter the park, where they are often coming face to face with a polar bear or gorilla for the first time. This accreditation affirms how incredible this Saint Paul Landmark is,” Mayor Chris Coleman said.

“The Como Zoo is a great place for people to connect with the natural world and each other,” Maddy added. “As centers of conservation and education, members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums support their schools and communities with inspirational science-based wildlife programs.”

The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s operation in areas such as animal care; keeper training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial stability; risk management; visitor services; and other areas.  The inspection team prepares an extensive written report for the Accreditation Commission.  Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal Commission hearing, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied.  Any institution that is denied may reapply one year after the Commission’s decision is made. Less than 10% of the 2,600 USDA-licensed wildlife exhibitors are independently accredited by AZA and Minnesota is home to two; Como Zoo & The Minnesota Zoo.

Click HERE for a video of Mayor Chris Coleman’s acceptance of the honor.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.

Exhibit Featuring Ultra Close-up Photography to be Displayed at Como

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory proudly presents ‘A Journey into the World of Insects from their Perspective – Up Close & Personal’, a photo exhibit featuring dramatic close-up images of insects and plants by Minneapolis artist Bill Johnson. The exhibit will open to the public on Saturday, December 11 and run thru Sunday January 23. Over 25 color prints portraying stunning detail not seen by the naked eye will be on display.

Mr. Johnson specializes in plant and insect photography, from full-specimen to ultra-close-up macro photography, but mushrooms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and a number of habitats ranging from deserts to prairies to swamps are also subjects of his photography. His photography travels have taken him to a variety of geographic regions including: Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and internationally, Ontario, Canada, Belize, Central America and Guyana, South America.

Mr. Johnson’s images have appeared in over 700 national and regional publications, including nature magazines, gardening books, field guides, newspapers and even children’s books. In addition, he has had exhibits at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Center, University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Des Moines Botanical Garden and the United States Botanical Garden on the mall in Washington D.C.  Mr. Johnson is a charter member of the North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA) and a member of the Garden Writers Association of America.

Mr. Johnson was recently added as a contributing columnist with Horticulture Magazine, and will be seen regularly, beginning with the February/March 2011 issue, writing a monthly column on insects and their interrelationships with garden plants through pollination and other factors.

Click HERE for a video of the artwork & interview with Bill Johnson

Reacquaint Yourself with a Distant Cousin at Como

Orangutan Awareness Weekend November 13 & 14!

Orangutans are considered one of the closest living relatives to humans, sharing 97 percent of the same DNA, yet experts predict wild orangutans could become extinct as natural populations in ten to twenty years. On November 13 & 14, find out how to help these magnificent animals during Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s Orangutan Awareness Weekend.

Learn about these amazing creatures first hand with a weekend full of special activities. There will be special orangutan training demonstrations, orangutan zoo keeper talks, banana gardener talks, puppet shows, crafts, and games.  Kids can see how they measure up to an orangutan by comparing their arm span against a 7 foot orangutan cut out.

Daily at 10:00am the orangutans will participate in a special enrichment activity.  Enrichment activities enhance zoo environments for animals, stimulating them to investigate and interact with their surroundings. Como Zoo enriches animal environments by making changes to structures in their enclosures, presenting novel objects and smells for them to investigate and explore, and by changing how we present food to them. It encourages them to forage, hunt and handle their food in ways that are natural to them in the wild.

Recycle your cell!  Como has set up a permanent collection point to collect and recycle unwanted cell phones. All cell phones collected will be sent to Eco-Cell and Como will received funds for each phone donated.  The funds raised will go to orangutan conservation projects that help preserve one of the most critically endangered species on earth, the orangutan.

Como Zoo participates in the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP), which carefully manages and oversees all aspects of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) captive population of orangutans. Como Zoo Keeper Megan Elder is the International Orangutan Studbook Keeper for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) & serves as an advisor to the North American Orangutan SSP Steering Committee.

Como Zoo is currently home to four orangutans- Jambu (age 25), Amanda (age 33), Markisa (age 23), and Jaya (who is almost 3 years old).

Historically, orangutans were found throughout Southeast Asia and even as far north as China. But today with the rapid decline of their rainforest homes, orangutans live only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It is estimated that suitable orangutan habitat in Malaysia and Sumatra has declined by more than 80 percent in the last two decades, and the wild population of Sumatran orangutans has dropped by nearly half.

According to a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme in February 2007, the spread of palm oil plantations and illegal logging to the national parks in Indonesia constitutes a conservation emergency for the critically endangered orangutan. Palm oil is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to trans fats, and is found in one of 10 supermarket products, including margarine, baked goods, sweets, detergents and lipsticks. There is also an increasing market for vegetable oil as a renewable fuel (biofuel), in response to the need to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions, and palm oil is currently considered the most productive source of biodiesel fuel. Organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the Indonesian government are working to find economically and environmentally responsible solutions.

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Celebrates 95th Anniversary

Flowers Will Be Given to First 95 Visitors On November 7!

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory opened it doors to the public as the Como Park Conservatory on Sunday, November 7, 1915. Exactly 95 years later, in celebration of the anniversary, the first 95 visitors on Sunday, November 7, 2010 will receive a flower direct from the Conservatory’s Fall Flower Show.

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is the centerpiece of Como Park. Designed and built in 1915, the conservatory was intended to serve two functions, as it still does today. The conservatory is both a show house where visitors can come in all seasons to enjoy tropical & semi-tropical splendors, and a shelter for the many plants the park displays in its indoor and outdoor gardens.

One of the few remaining original Victorian style glasshouses in North America, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory displays five seasonal flowers shows annually in addition to the permanent botanical collections of palms, ferns, economic plants, orchids, bromeliads and select tropical plant species. Along with the behind the scenes horticulture production greenhouses, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory covers approximately 2 acres under ‘glass’.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1974, the conservatory has survived over the years through the efforts of devoted volunteers and donors who recognize it as an endangered species. In 1999 it became the 3rd botanical garden in the United States to receive the HortLandmark Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science. With a large contribution from the Donald McNeely family in 2002, it was renamed the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park in memory of plant lover Marjorie McNeely. The work continues both on and in the building whose future shines brighter than ever.

History of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has been chronicled in the 2009 Afton Press book, “Jewel of Como”, which is available at local bookstores and Garden Safari Gifts in Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s Visitor’s Center

Tune In To The Tundra – LIVE!

The annual polar bear migration is underway in Churchill, Manitoba.  You’re invited to join Polar Bears International LIVE to meet and talk with world-renowned scientists during their exclusive webcasts from the tundra in October and November. Check out Tundra Connections 2010 for the program schedule, viewing information, and complete list of panelists. It’s a line-up guaranteed to knock your paws, er, socks, off!

Click here to learn more: http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/programs/tundra-connections

The Best Fall Colors are at Como – Redeem Your Leaf

Did you find a “Fall Colors” leaf on one of our trees this fall? Redeem yours for the following discounts:

REGISTER TO WIN!

Sign up here for your chance to win the Ultimate Giraffe Feeding Experience!

Membership — A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

Save 50% on a membership (Family level or above) when you become a member before December 31, 2012. Please present your leaf at Garden Safari Gifts to purchase your membership.

Garden Safari Gifts

Bring your leaf into Garden Safari Gifts and receive 15% off your total purchase before December 31, 2012.

Zobota Cafe

Zobota Cafe offers good October 7 – November 7, 2012. Limit one per customer. Not good with any other coupons or discounts.

Bring your leaf into Zobota Cafe in the Visitor Center and redeem for these great offers:

• $1 off any Noodle House Entree
• Buy one regular coffee, get one free

Camps, Classes, and Programs — GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS!

Save 10% on the cost of any camp, class, or program when you sign up before December 31, 2012 (class may occur after December 31). Call 651-487-8272 and say “The best fall colors are at Como” to receive your discount.

Parties & Birthdays at Como

• Save $20 off the cost of a Birthday Party Package when you reserve a party before December 31, 2012 (party may occur after December 31). Call 651-487-8272 and say “The best fall colors are at Como” to receive your discount.
• Save 10% off a room rental when you book your Holiday Party at Como. Call 651-487-0330 and say “The best fall colors are at Como” to receive your discount. Room rental must be used by March 1, 2013.

Artist & Photographer Days, Family Photo Morning

Bring your leaf to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and receive FREE admission for the following Artist & Photographer Days (normally $5 per person):

• October 14, 2012 8:00-10:00am
• November 18, 2012 8:00-10:00am
• December 2, 2012 8:00-10:00am — ALSO FAMILY PHOTO MORNING
• December 9, 2012 8:00-10:00am