Zoo News Archives - Page 11 of 12 - Como Zoo Conservatory

Fruits of Decay: Mushrooms of the Midwest now on display through May 7

The exhibit, Fruits of Decay – Mushrooms of the Midwest, is a photographic exhibit highlighting some of the more common mushrooms found in the upper midwest. The exhibit is divided into three categories based on the functions the mushrooms perform in the ecosystem; Mycorrhizal fungi, those forming symbiotic relationships with the rootlets of plants; Parasitic fungi, those that are destructive to their host; and saprophytic fungi which subsist on dead or decaying matter.

Each of the photo labels indicates type (mycorrhizal, parasitic, or saprophytic), edibility, toxicity, and where appropriate, type of toxin, distinctive features, and season of fruiting. In addition to the mushroom photos, three subcatagories each explain a different related topic. “The Fool-Proof Four” encourages neophyte fungal foragers to sample a small portion of this natural gastronomie while instilling confidence in field identification; “Mushrooms in Children’s Books” illustrates references to fungi in mythology; and “The Mushroom Growing Industry” illustrates the origins of mushrooms before they get to the supermarket.

Como Friends completes $18.8 million Campaign for Como

Nonprofit’s first decade caps off $30 million in contributions for Minnesota’s most visited cultural attraction

The Campaign for Como, a four-year community-led fundraising effort, has reached its goal, securing more than $8.5 million in private donations for improvements at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the country’s last completely free metro zoo and botanical garden.

The final gifts, secured in October, will enable Como to break ground on The Japanese Garden Experience, a new wing to the historic Marjorie McNeely Conservatory funded entirely by private contributions. The project will create year-round display space for Como’s nationally regarded Bonsai collection while improving access to The Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden, which is ranked among the country’s best examples of sansui-style gardens.

“Achieving the $8.5 million goal is a true testament to the generosity of Como’s community of supporters and the stewardship of Como Friends,” Mayor Chris Coleman said. “Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is a unique asset to the Twin Cities, and Saint Paul’s culture will be richer when the ground breaks on the Japanese Garden Experience wing.”

“The Japanese Gardens Experience is an improvement our visitors will love, but it’s the kind of project Como couldn’t afford to undertake without the leadership of our nonprofit partner Como Friends,” said Michelle Furrer, Como campus manager. “The stewardship of Como Friends has driven a very steady pace of improvements here that have really transformed the way Como serves this community.”

Carrying on a legacy of philanthropy for Como

Over the last century, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory has benefitted from the advocacy of a long series of charities and philanthropic groups, from the Zoo Emergency Group, which fought for Como Zoo’s survival in the 1960s, to the Friends of the Como Conservatory Gardens, which helped to restore the Conservatory, a 1915 glass dome listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Incorporated in 2000, Como Friends (formerly the Como Zoo Conservatory Society) was, in fact, a merger of several smaller nonprofits and docents groups, all with a shared interest in investing in and improving the historic Zoo and Conservatory, which is operated by the City of Saint Paul’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Since 2001, Como Friends has invested more than $30 million in improvements at Como, including the Visitor Center (opened in 2005), Tropical Encounters (opened in 2006), and Polar Bear Odyssey (opened in 2010). During that time, Como’s education programs have expanded exponentially, reaching more than 500,000 children and adults through summer camps, family classes, and free daily programs such as the Sparky the Sea Lion Show.

“Creating Como Friends was really the first step in the transformation that visitors have seen at Como over the last decade, and it’s a great example of the power of private and public partnerships,” said Como Friends board member Nancy Nelson.

Investment from Como Friends has made it possible to create five seasonal garden shows in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s Sunken Garden, a tradition that has been abandoned at many botanical gardens across the country. Contributions from the nonprofit have also helped to drive Como Zoo’s adoption of more progressive operant conditioning training for many of the animals in its care, positive reinforcement that visitors can now see in action every day during Polar Bear training sessions at Polar Bear Odyssey.

“Como Friends’ most important influence has probably been in pushing Como to be even better,” said Litton Field, who chaired the volunteer campaign steering committee. “Como is one of the cultural assets that really define the character of the Twin Cities, and the community wants Como to be world-class.”

During the design of Polar Bear Odyssey, Como Friends’ pushed for more than a replacement of the polar bears’ obsolete concrete exhibit, advocating for a state-of-the-art habitat by financing such naturalistic features such the exhibit’s saltwater pools through contributions to the Campaign for Como. As a result of that investment, Polar Bear Odyssey became the first such exhibit in the U.S. achieve the strict “Manitoba Standards” set by the Canadian Polar Bear Protection Act. On its public opening in June 2010, Polar Bear Odyssey also received the “three diamond ranking” from the conservation group Polar Bears International, the first such top designation for a U.S. zoo.

A growing audience with growing needs

Como Friends began the $18.8 million capital campaign in 2007, with the goal of matching the $10.35 million in public funding secured for Polar Bear Odyssey and The Japanese Gardens Experience, with $8.45 million in private contributions. The nonprofit recruited and mobilized a 12 member volunteer steering committee, just as the economy was tumbling into recession.

“The fundraising climate was incredibly challenging when we started,” admits Jackie Sticha, President of Como Friends. “But in some ways the economic pressures on our audience of young families and school groups helped us to make the case that Como serves a very important need in this community, providing a safe and affordable place for families to enjoy, and free access to nonformal education opportunities.”

During the campaign, Como saw its audience surge from 1.7 million visitors in 2007 to 2.2 million in 2010, the largest audience for any cultural institution in the state of Minnesota. Visitor surveys suggested that Como’s free admission was a driving force, with 7 in 10 visitors reporting that Como’s accessibility was “important” or “very important” to their ability to come to Como.

Looking forward to Como’s future

With the project’s full $2.8 million construction costs now secured, groundbreaking for The Japanese Gardens Experience will begin in early 2012. The construction of the new wing and seasonal terrace will coincide with that of Gorilla Forest, an $11 million publicly financed expansion to the Primate Building, to be built with the same conservation and design principles as Polar Bear Odyssey.

With the capital campaign complete, Como Friends will concentrate its efforts on broadening its annual fund support for Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, through private contributions from corporations and foundations, as well as more family-oriented efforts such as membership programs and sponsor-an-animal programs.

Como Friends and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory History and Background

1980-90: A $12 million renovation of the Como Park Conservatory takes place with a combination of state funding and private dollars raised through The Saint Paul Foundation.

1991: Mayor Jim Scheibel and Saint Paul’s City Council appoint a task force to study and recommend a concept for a visitor center at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

1994: A project team whose members include Paul Verret, Leonard Wilkening, Jane Clements, Norrine Bohman and Lynne Wolfe develops a work plan to identify issues or barriers to moving forward with a new Visitor Center at Como.

1995: Based on the findings from the project team, Mayor Norm Coleman determines that Como Zoo and Como Park Conservatory will be managed as one campus with one administrative structure. The project team also recommends that one nonprofit organization represent the newly merged zoo and conservatory campus.

1999: The Como Zoo and Conservatory Society is incorporated.

2000: The Como Campus begins operation under one administrative function.

The Como Zoo and Conservatory Society becomes the sole nonprofit supporting the Zoo and Conservatory after the certificate of merger is filed with the Secretary of State.

2000: The Como Zoo and Conservatory Society and City of Saint Paul launch a $32.45 million capital improvement campaign for a new Visitor Center, a new wing of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, a new Tropical Encounters exhibit, a new Animal Support Building, and renovation of the WPA-era Zoological Building.

The Campaign Steering Committee leads the private fund raising campaign. Members include: Bob Bullard (chair), Bob Piram, Tim Ober, Stan Shepard, Barb Bachman, Jo Bailey.

2003: The campaign reaches its $32.45 million goal with $7.91 million secured from the private sector and $24.54 million secured from the public sector.

2005: The Como Visitor Center and the new wing of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory open to the community.

2006: The new Tropical Encounters exhibit opens to the community.

2007: The Como Zoo and Conservatory Society convenes a Study Group to determine community interest in a new capital campaign for a polar bear exhibit and new wing of the Conservatory focused on its Bonsai collection and Japanese Garden.

The Como Zoo and Conservatory Society board approves the findings of the Study Group and agrees to participate in an $18.8 million capital campaign with the City of Saint Paul. $10.35 million is to be raised from the public sector and $$8.45 million is to be raised from the private sector.

The Campaign Steering Committee is recruited and convened to begin work raising the $8.45 million. Committee members include: Litton Field (chair), Jo Bailey, Scott Dongoske, John Huss, Elliot Jaffee, Greg McNeely, Nancy Nelson, Russ Nelson, Tim Ober, Marla Ordway, Kari Rominski and Wendy Rubin.

2008: The Como Zoo and Conservatory Society adopts a new name: “Como Friends.”

2010: Polar Bear Odyssey opens to the community in June.

Capital campaign secures $16.3 million toward $18.8 million goal.

2011: The Campaign for Como reaches goal: $18.80 million secured.

Site work begins on The Japanese Gardens Experience, a new wing to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.

Ground breaks on Gorilla Forest, a new exhibit funded 100 % with money from the state of MN.

2017: Pulling together the resources to reimagine Sparky’s new home has been a statewide effort, made possible by $15 million in public funding approved by the Minnesota State Legislature in May 2017. Como Friends, the nonprofit partner of Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, raised $5 million for the project through gifts from foundations, corporations and individuals.

St. Paul teen (& Como Volunteer) taking her concern over polar bears to the tundra

Click here to follow Clara’s Arctic Adventure on Facebook

Click here to read the Arctic Ambassadors’ Blog Postings

***The article below appears courtesy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Sunday October 9, 2011***

By Frederick Melo fmelo@pioneerpress.com

Clara Stahlmann Roeder believes the Earth is warming. As it does, the icy Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba, will someday get so warm it may not fully freeze over in winter, and the polar bears that walk the Arctic ice to feed on seals will no longer be able to hunt. Bear cubs swimming long distances in search of solid ice will freeze and drown.

Adult bears will go hungry, and their species will begin to die out.

For Clara, a 16-year-old junior at St. Paul Academy, it’s a very real concern she intends to do something about. Today, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s latest “Arctic Ambassador” will ship out for the Manitoba tundra with a dozen students from across the country.

Their aim is to study the bears and the impact of ice melt on the species, a major predator that is otherwise considered the top of the Arctic food chain. The conservation organization Polar Bears International will host the students for a week on the shores of Hudson Bay, where they’ll live in a series of “tundra buggies” – what Clara likens to tour buses equipped for the cold environment – connected to form a small caravan.

It’s “basically a bunch of tundra buggies strung together…right out on the tundra, which is pretty isolated,” she said. “You get to see polar bears traveling right outside your window.”

The Polar Bears International leadership camp is in its eighth year. Last summer’s Arctic Ambassador, Kathryn Razey of Eden Prairie Senior High School, reported 27 bear sightings, including a mother and cub, as well as two males fighting.

“I’m extremely honored to be able to do this,” said Clara, who lives in St. Paul. “I’m very interested in conservation biology. This is what I want to do with my life, so I’m very excited to be able to start so young.”

Two recent studies make her weeklong adventure especially timely. A NASA study published Sunday in the journal Nature found that the ozone layer over the Arctic fell to the lowest levels ever recorded over the winter and spring of this year.

Another recent study shows that the bear young, which have less body fat and buoyancy, are especially vulnerable as ice melts. The study of 68 female polar bears by the U.S. Geological Survey found that 45 percent of bear cubs that went out on long swims lasting 30 miles or more died in search of solid ice, compared with 18 percent of cubs on shorter treks. Clara was selected to participate in the Polar Bears International program after volunteering with the Como Zoo for two summers. She’s shown off snakes and African millipedes to the public at an information desk and learned some basic zookeeping.

She and the other students will be blogging about their experience and posting photos on Polar Bear International’s Facebook page.

Her week in Manitoba will be followed by a yearlong commitment to the zoo to do presentations and media interviews. She hopes to do some environmental advocacy.

“We’ve also got some plans when we get back that we produce at the leadership camp to reduce carbon footprints and educate about climate change,” she said.

Barbara Nielsen, spokeswoman for Polar Bears International in Bozeman, Mont., said the Como Zoo is part of a network of zoos recognized by the nonprofit for their commitment to education and efforts to reduce carbon pollution, a so-called “greenhouse gas” that traps radiation within the Earth’s lower atmosphere.

“Zoos really do play a key role within their communities in conservation,” Nielsen said.

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

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.

Corpse Flower Is Making a Big Stink-Check out the Webcam!

A Rare Bloom of a Corpse Flower Is Happening at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

6/29/11 UPDATE: Click Here For The Time Lapse Video!

6/29/11 UPDATE: It is time!!! BOB,too started to open yesterday afternoon starting about 3pm! Over the course of the next 5 hours, the spathe (the skirt) opened and the tell tale smell of rotten meat started to permeate the parlor! This type of plant tends to open in the mid to late afternoon and send it’s noteworthy aroma out into the world for the next 24-36 hours. When the Conservatory opens at 10am today, we will have already passed the 19 hour mark in the event. The smell at this moment is still strong but will decline as we pass the noon mark. We will stay open until 9:00PM tonight and reopen at 7:00am tomorrow morning just for you fans to view this remarkable flower! By closing time tonight, there is the possibility that the smell will have disappeared and the spathe will have started to close up and again cover the base of the spadix. This is a very short and not sweet event that is not to be missed!

6/28/11 UPDATE: This bud is still growing!! Measurements today showed that there was another height change—we are now looking at a 75″ (6’3″) inflorescence! The girth showed some growth and measured in at 42″ this morning! So this plant is still enlarging and therefore not as inclined to open that spathe right away…..but there were a number of flies buzzing around the spadix (the tall upright structure) this morning!! We have not been able to smell any telltale odors emitting from the structure at this time, but from this point on we will be checking in the Parlor often to take a whiff of the surrounding air!! We know we are close, again the question is how close. The lights are on all night so that any nocturnal events can be seen on the webcam. Hang in there! If this plant continues to progress like other Amorphophallus titanums have progressed at other botanic and public gardens, the wait will be worth it!! Stay tuned!

6/27/11 UPDATE: So, while we wait for this wonderful plant to bloom, we thought it might be of interest to answer some of the most popular questions we have been answering in the Parlor.
*Today, the height measurement is 73″—-that’s 6’1″ and a change of 2 1/2″ (not feet..) since yesterday. The measurement around the widest part of the bud was 40″ today—only an inch change in the last two days.
*The bud has not opened yet. We are hoping it will in the next few days.
*This is our 2nd plant to bloom–our first plant, BOB, bloomed in April 2008 and died shortly therafter…..
*This plant is named BOB,too and it is 18 years old. It has never bloomed to date.
*This plant was started from seed that was collected in Sumatra in 1993.
*This plant will stink a lot when it blooms—but only for 24-36 hours.
*Check out the webcam for up to the minute images!

6/26/11 UPDATE: Another cloudy day here at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory! The cool and cloudy weather has made it easier on staff to manage the environment in the Parlor where the Corpse Flower is on display. But, it seems like our Corpse Flower is just waiting for a nice,warm, sunny day to open!! Measurement today for the height is 70 1/2″ (2 1/2′ gain since yesterday!) and the girth measurement was 39 1/2″ (only 1/2″ gain since yesterday). Slowing down again??? Hard to really tell. Corpse Flowers generally tend to start opening late afternoon to early evenings. So, keep an eye on the webcam as we hope there will be a big change soon!

6/25/11 UPDATE: So, just when we thought we had this Corpse Flower all figured out….. Yesterday,with the addition of the beautiful sunlight and warmer temperatures to an already warm display area, BOB,too’s morning height measurement was 68″! That is another 4″ since yesterday! And the girth measurement was 39″. What happened to the notion that the upward growth was slowing down?? There is definitely more reddish/maroon color on the spathe and the spathe is actually starting to pull away from the spadix a little bit. Could it be that we are really just a few days from the big event? We are definitely getting closer!

6/24/11 UPDATE: Today, there seems to be some change in the way this bud is growing! Measurements of the tall spadix confirmed that there was only a 2″ change in height since yesterday—the bud is now 64″ tall. The height may not change much from this point on. The widest portion of the bud is 36 3/4″ around (yesterday, a 35″ measurement was recorded). This measurement could grow larger for a few more days. So now it is time to watch for the color changes that will occur on the spathe (what looks like the ruffled skirt). Today, there is more of the tell tale maroon color showing on the spathe and there will be more each day. This is difficult to see on the webcam. We are still waiting for those leaf like structures at the base of the bud to fall down and dry up. The first fly was observed sitting on the spadix this morning! Flies are one of the pollinators of this plant! Maybe it has a better idea when this inflorescence will open?! The sun is finally shining today so the burlap surrounding the display area will be kept moist to elevate the humidity levels—this plant loves to grow in a warm and humid environment! The brighter conditions will probably accelerate the development of the bud so…..maybe we will have our opening event early next week???? Stay tuned!

6/23/11 UPDATE: BOB,too is now 62″ (5’2″) tall!! That’s another 3″ of growth since yesterday morning. The girth at the widest point is now at 35″—it was 33″ yesterday. So it is still bulking up for a great show hopefully sometime at the beginning or middle of next week . The upcoming warmer weather may speed the blooming process along a bit faster so that there might have to be an adjustment in the anticipated opening date towards the end of the weekend. And the only smell at this time is that of wet burlap if visitors want to see the bud and not endure the stench of the open inflorescence!

6/22/11 UPDATE: Today “BOB,too” is 59″ tall and 31″ in circumference. There is a slight tinge of red on the edge of the spathe that indicates that the plant is progressing to the next level—where there will be a darkening of all the visible inflorescence parts. Still not sure of the bloom date yet….

6/21/11: An endangered, rare Sumatran plant that has been patiently waiting to bloom for 18 years is developing a flower bud and will soon send a perfume odor of rotting flesh. The Amorphophallus titanum, also known as the Corpse Flower from the smell it emits during peak bloom, will be flowering sometime between June 26 and July 4 at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in Saint Paul, MN.

The corm started to show signs of growth in early May as the new tip began to emerge from the soil. By May 26, the emerging shoot was 6″ tall and has been growing at a rate of one to four inches a day.

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory obtained this plant through Gustavus Adolphus College’s Chemistry Professor Dr. Brian O’Brien from Dr. James Symon. Dr. Symon collected the seed in Sumatra in 1993 while working with David Attenborough on filming the BBC nature documentary ‘ The Private Life of Plants’. Gustavus had a second bloom last summer, from a corm that weighed about 150 pounds. Como’s corm weighs in at 55 pounds. Once the flower reaches full bloom it emits an odor associated with rotting flesh for approximately 36 – 48 hours.

The Titan Arum was first discovered in 1878 by Italian botanist Odoardo Beccari. He sent seeds to England’s Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, where the first bloom of this species in cultivation occurred in 1889. The First U.S. bloom occurred in 1937 at the New York Botanical Gardens and less than 150 plants grown in public institutions world wide have flowered since.

The Corpse Flower is on display for visitors to see and soon smell!

“Roots, Shoots, and Fruits—The Incredible Edible Garden” OPEN NOW!

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is serving up some scrumptious garden fun this summer in its first ever edible garden is now open.

Check out this video of the garden courtesy of KSTP!

“Roots, Shoots, and Fruits—The Incredible Edible Garden” will feature an array of vegetables, small fruits, and tasty herbs cultivated in an imaginative garden display. There will be hanging baskets filled with peppers, tomatoes and cilantro to make salsa, containers of strawberries, nasturtium and lettuce for fresh salads, and garden plots will produce blueberries, beans, corn, broccoli, watermelon and many other edible treats throughout the summer. It is an exhibit for visitors of all ages designed to teach about planting and preparing foods that can be grown at home. Some of the produce will also be used to feed the zoo’s animals.

“We are very excited about this new exhibit, and hope visitors will be inspired to plant their own gardens after seeing the wide variety of edible plants that can be easily grown in Minnesota,” said Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Manager Michelle Furrer. “People will be pleasantly surprised to see it’s not just a row of tomatoes and bush beans!”

The exhibit will open Friday, June 17 and run through September 5. Trained staff will be onsite 10am – 6pm to answer guests questions. At 11 a.m. daily, guest experts will talk about growing techniques, ways to harvest and prepare food from your garden, natural pest control and creative edible landscape design. Activities will be planned during the duration of Roots, Shoots & Fruits including cooking discussions, author talks, hands-on learning opportunities for children, and plant care demonstrations. The garden display covers more than 8,000 square feet and is south of the Visitor Center in the space previously occupied by Blooming Butterflies.

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

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

Zoo News

Fruits of Decay: Mushrooms of the Midwest now on display through May 7

Como Friends completes $18.8 million Campaign for Como

Nonprofit’s first decade caps off $30 million in contributions for Minnesota’s most visited cultural attraction

St. Paul teen (& Como Volunteer) taking her concern over polar bears to the tundra

Como’s Facebook Fans Name Baby Bison

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

Bison Calf Born at the Zoo

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

Como Zoo takes in three bears from North Dakota zoo

Corpse Flower Is Making a Big Stink-Check out the Webcam!

A Rare Bloom of a Corpse Flower Is Happening at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

“Roots, Shoots, and Fruits—The Incredible Edible Garden” OPEN NOW!

New Arrival Hanging Around Como Zoo

RibbitZibit Now Open!

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

Association of Zoos & Aquariums Grants Accreditation To Como Zoo

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

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

Reacquaint Yourself with a Distant Cousin at Como

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Celebrates 95th Anniversary

Tune In To The Tundra – LIVE!

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

HOST AN EVENT

Zoo News

Fruits of Decay: Mushrooms of the Midwest now on display through May 7

Como Friends completes $18.8 million Campaign for Como

Nonprofit’s first decade caps off $30 million in contributions for Minnesota’s most visited cultural attraction

St. Paul teen (& Como Volunteer) taking her concern over polar bears to the tundra

Como’s Facebook Fans Name Baby Bison

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

Bison Calf Born at the Zoo

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

Como Zoo takes in three bears from North Dakota zoo

Corpse Flower Is Making a Big Stink-Check out the Webcam!

A Rare Bloom of a Corpse Flower Is Happening at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory

“Roots, Shoots, and Fruits—The Incredible Edible Garden” OPEN NOW!

New Arrival Hanging Around Como Zoo

RibbitZibit Now Open!

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

Association of Zoos & Aquariums Grants Accreditation To Como Zoo

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

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

Reacquaint Yourself with a Distant Cousin at Como

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Celebrates 95th Anniversary

Tune In To The Tundra – LIVE!

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

HOST AN EVENT

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