Zoo News

Join Us Sunday Afternoons For Music Under Glass!

Join us in the tropical gardens, and beat the “winter-blahs” as live, local musicians play blues, bluegrass and ballads from 4:30-6:30pm. This is a free event and beer and wine will be available to purchase.

2020 DATES:

January 5 – Fellow Pynins – Contemporary folk duo

January 12 – Miss Myra Duo – Swingin’ mix of vintage jazz and blues

January 19 – The Fattenin’ Frogs Trio – Electric Country Blues

February 2 – The UkuLadies – Ukuleles accompanied by sweet harmonies

February 9 – Cafe Accordion Orchestra – Swing, Ballads, Tango, Cha-Cha, & Rumbas

February 16 – The Jorgensens – Americana Soul

February 23 – Annie Mack – Roots, Soul, Acoustic, Blues

March 1 – Ian George – Fanciful folk troubadour with a rhythmic flow

A PolarPalooza Weekend! February 15, 16 & 17

Como’s the cool place to be this Presidents’ Day weekend for “PolarPalooza”, 10am – 4pm February 15, 16, & 17.

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Poinsettias Galore! Holiday Flower Show Now Open!

The Holiday Flower Show is now open in the Sunken Garden of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. It is a visual sensation to behold featuring hundreds of poinsettias. This year’s Holiday Show will feature the Ice Punch poinsettia which entered the commercial market in 2009 and has been the top rated novelty cultivar throughout North America every year since. To add to the cool cranberry red color and icy theme, Eucalyptus was chosen with its wonderful cool fragrance and silver blue foliage. Persian shield is added as a nice purple complement to the cool red and silver blue tones, along with the star power of Cher Kalanchoe. 

Admission to the Holiday Flower Show is free, and is open everyday 10am – 4pm from December 6, 2019 to January 12, 2020.

On December 7th, 8th, and 15th from 8am-10am, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory will be open for individuals and families to use the beautiful setting of any of the indoor gardens as a backdrop for photos before opening to the public. For $5.00 per person, guests are welcome to bring in their own camera and find the perfect spot for their holiday photo.

The Holiday Flower Show tradition began in 1925 and continues to be the most anticipated and visited flower attraction at the Conservatory today. 

To inquire about reserving a garden in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory for anything from a wedding proposal to a corporate holiday party please call 651-487-8250. 

Chloe The Sloth on The Jason Show!

November & December Activities & Adventures For All Ages At Como!

“Go Ape!” Weekend Sponsored by Xcel Energy
November 9-10
Swing in to Como this weekend to celebrate Como’s primates!  It will be a weekend of fun, games and crafts all while learning how you can make a difference for great apes in the wild. We will also feature special Storytime & Zookeeper talks!

Fall Flower Show
Now – December 1
While many Minnesota gardens are winding down for the winter season, the Sunken Garden at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory will be in full bloom! The Fall Flower Show features a variety of chrysanthemums. The colors for the show are red,maroon, gold, yellow and purple. Swiss chard and chilly chili peppers will serve to accentuate the red and yellow chrysanthemums.

Ikebana Show
Now – Sunday, November 10 
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. These unique flower arrangements that utilize the flowers, foliage and berries of autumn will be created by artists from Ikebana International’s Minneapolis St Paul Chapter which celebrates its 50^th Anniversary in 2019!  Ikebana is more than simply putting flowers in a container. It is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. It is steeped in the philosophy of developing closeness with nature.

Holiday Flower Show
December 7 – January 12, 2020
The Holiday Flower Show tradition began in 1925 and continues to be the most anticipated and visited flower attraction at the Conservatory today. The Holiday Show will feature Ice Punch Poinsettia along with Kalanchoe Cher, Eucalyptus and Persian Shield.

Breakfast Under Glass & Behind-The-Scenes Tour
December 13 Two Seatings: 7AM & 8:30AM
Leave the cool weather outside and delight in a hearty, plated breakfast in the beautiful, lush, warm North Garden inside the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Guests will also be treated to a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the Conservatory. Tickets $40 per person. Space is limited and reservations are required. 651-487-8250.

Artist, Photographer & Family Photo Mornings
November 17 and December 7, 8, & 15  8AM – 10AM $5 per person
Whether you choose the lush greenery of the North Garden or the flowers in the Sunken Garden, this is the perfect opportunity to use the beautiful setting of the many gardens inside the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory as a backdrop for holiday family photos. Guests are welcome to bring in their own camera and find the perfect spot for their photo. This is also a great opportunity for artists and photographers to bring in their easels and tripods before hours.

Noon Year’s Confetti Dance Party
December 31 and January 1  10:00AM-1:00PM
A family event to ring in the “Zoo” year that is so fun, we’re doing it twice! On December 31 and January 1 Como Park Zoo & Conservatory will be filled with dancing, games, special animal enrichment, a DJ, and a countdown to noon when we rain down from above hundreds of thousands of pieces of colorful biodegradable confetti.

Classes & Programs for All!

Family Adventures: Enrichment: From Penguins to Pugs! November 17, 9:30- 11:30AM
Enrichment brings out the wild side in zoo animals as well as your pets! Meet a few of Como’s animal ambassadors, design and build enrichment items, and watch as they interact with your creations. Leave with new ideas on how to build enrichment for your animal friends at home.

Child & Adult Adventure:Fancy Feet! December 18, 9:30 -10:45AM
Whether you have two feet, four feet, more feet, or happy feet, there’s a lot to learn about animal feet! We will see climbing feet, sticky feet, swimming feet, and feet with thumbs as we explore the zoo in search of neat feet.

Adventures just for Adults: Como: An Insider’s Look December 14, 8:30-10AM
Unlock a bit of mystery as we tour the greenhouse, gardens, and a zoo exhibit without the crowds. Chat with a zookeeper and gardener as they work to get ready for guests, and meet a few of Como’s education animals. You’ll discover what makes Como such a magical place!

Legacy Amendment Programs
The following free programs are funded in part or in whole with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage.

Senior Strolls, and introducing Sunset Senior Strolls!
November 12, November 26, 4pm – 5pm in the Conservatory
November 19, December 3, December 17 9am – 10am in the Conservatory
Senior Strolls take place on select Tuesdays throughout the year. This is a special time set aside just for our 55-and-up aged friends.  Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll before or after the crowds. as well as special activities and guests.  This event is a great opportunity for Seniors to enjoy a free event that encourages being active and social…with some adult learning to spice it up!

Sensory Friendly Mornings
November 10 and 13 December 8 and 11
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is an energetic, colorful place full of sensory stimuli, and we know this environment can be overwhelming for some guests. Join us from 9-10 a.m. on select dates for an inclusive experience at Como created in collaboration with the Autism Society of Minnesota. Spend time exploring exhibits, and activities designed for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Use the “social narrative” and the “create your own visual schedule” to help prepare you for your Autism Friendly Early Entry day.

S.A.F.E. Sundays
Sundays from 1:00-3:00PM
Saving Animals From Extinction. Chat with Jessie, a 2019 Minnesota Association for Environmental Education award winner, about the endangered and threatened animals we have at Como, and what people can do to help them thrive in the wild. Each week will feature a different animal.

American Sign Language Interpretive Day
December 1  11AM – 2PM
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is excited to present our new American Sign Language Interpretive Days. The first Sunday of every month Como will have an American Sign Language interpreter on-site interpreting our public Zoo and Conservatory talks. These ten-minute talks will be interpreted between the hours of 11:00am-2pm!

And for those looking for unique gifts this upcoming Holiday Season….

Holiday Shopping in Garden Safari Gifts  
Como’s Garden Safari Gifts is open 365 days a year and combines the best of both the zoo and conservatory by featuring botanical soaps and lotions, distinctive jewelry, adorable stuffed animals, fun interactive children’s gifts, live plants, bonsai, apparel items and more! Buy that perfect holiday gift for that someone special.

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Meet Sota, Como Zoo’s Baby Giraffe

Como Zoo’s baby giraffe now has a name: Sota. Over the MEA weekend guests visiting from International Falls to Magnolia, Minnesota had the opportunity to stop at ballot boxes placed around the zoo to cast their vote for one of three names: Elliott, Fonzie, and Sota. With over 2,300 ballots cast, Sota was the winner with 43% of the vote, followed by Elliott with 37% and Fonzie with 20% of the votes.

Sota is a nod to the great state of Minnesota, and that the baby giraffe is likely the only 6’ 4”, 160lbs baby ever to be born in Minnesota.

The new baby male, born Tuesday, September 10th, is the 8th calf born to Clover and the 23rd giraffe birth at Como Zoo in the last 25 years. Sota weighed 160 pounds at birth (Clover’s largest to date) and stands 6’ 4” tall. Como’s current herd currently consists of Clover, Daisy, Skeeter (father), Penelope, and Sota. This is Skeeter’s 7th offspring, 5 of which have been female.

The giraffe is the tallest of all land-living animal species. They can be as tall as 18 feet tall and have a prehensile (used for grasping) tongue as long as 18 inches. During the first two years of a giraffe’s life, it doubles in height, often standing over 12-feet tall. Giraffe gestation lasts between 14 and 15 months, after which a single calf is born. Like human fingerprints, the markings or spots of a giraffe’s coat are unique to each individual. Reticulated giraffes are native to the dry savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.

Como Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA is America’s leading accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums, and accredits only those institutions that have achieved rigorous, professional standards for animal welfare and management, veterinary care, wildlife conservation and research, education, safety, staffing and more. With only 200 accredited members, AZA is building North America’s largest wildlife conservation movement and is your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

The giraffe is available for sponsorship. Sponsoring an animal is a unique way to help Como Zoo with its wildlife conservation efforts. Donations support enhanced habitats and efforts to maintain the best care possible for the animals at Como Zoo. For more information visit: https://comofriends.org/give/sponsor-an-animal/

Como Zoo Welcomes *gulp* 6′ 4″ Baby Giraffe!

Como Zoo is excited to welcome a new baby giraffe to its herd. Coming into the world at over six feet, the baby is standing tall with mother Clover shadowing over him.

The new baby male, born Tuesday, September 10th at 7:30pm, is the 8th calf born to Clover and the 23rd giraffe birth at Como Zoo in the last 25 years. The yet-to-be named male weighs 160 pounds (Clover’s largest to date) and stands 6’ 4” tall. Como’s current herd currently consists of Clover, Daisy, Skeeter (father), Penelope, and the new male. This is Skeeter’s 7th offspring, 5 of which have been female.

The photo of Clover giving birth was quite the social media sensation as many visitors gathered around the exhibit late in the afternoon on September 10th snapping photos of the hoofs starting to emerge from Clover. A few hours later, with Clover inside her bedroom, she gave birth onto a special straw bed that zookeepers prepared for the birth.

The baby will likely make his public debut next week, allowing time for Clover and her baby to bond behind-the-scenes.

The giraffe is the tallest of all land-living animal species. They can be as tall as 18 feet tall and have a prehensile (used for grasping) tongue as long as 18 inches. During the first two years of a giraffe’s life, it doubles in height, often standing over 12-feet tall. Giraffe gestation lasts between 14 and 15 months, after which a single calf is born. Like human fingerprints, the markings or spots of a giraffe’s coat are unique to each individual. Reticulated giraffes are native to the dry savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.

Como Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA is America’s leading accrediting organization for zoos and aquariums, and accredits only those institutions that have achieved rigorous, professional standards for animal welfare and management, veterinary care, wildlife conservation and research, education, safety, staffing and more. With only 200 accredited members, AZA is building North America’s largest wildlife conservation movement and is your link to helping animals in their native habitats.

A First For Como!

Como Zoo welcomes a baby puffin, the first ever tufted puffin chick to hatch in Como’s history of exhibiting puffins that dates back to 1987. The yet unnamed puffin chick was born to first time parents Bug and Rocky, hatching from an egg on July 31. The sex of the puffin is still unknown.

At the time of his birth the chick weighed 57 grams and is quickly growing, now weighing 171 grams thanks to a steady diet of smelt and tiny herring.

The baby puffin is burrowing off exhibit, as it would in the wild, for 5-6 weeks before making a public debut.

Como’s passion for the puffin runs deep. Como zookeeper Melanie recently traveled to Matinicus Rock, Maine to participate in conservation work with Project Puffin, through the National Audubon Society. Read about her conservation work HERE

Sponsor the baby puffin! Sponsoring an animal makes a great gift – that keeps giving back. Animal sponsorships are a unique way to help Como Park Zoo and Conservatory with its wildlife conservation efforts. They support enhanced habitats and efforts to maintain the best care possible for the animals, including the puffin, at Como Zoo. To purchase, visit Garden Safari Gifts at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, call 651-487-8229 or go online to comofriends.org.

Snow Leopard Cub Now Has A Name!

Significant, Successful Breeding Plan Achieved

Como Zoo’s snow leopard cub now has a name: Asha! Asha, which means hope in Sanskrit and other Himalayan region languages, was selected by the family of winning bidder, Mr. Scott Dongoske, at Sunset Affair, Como Friends large fundraising gala. The naming generated a lot of interest and helped the auction top a record-breaking $100,000 this year! The funds raised support continued improvements and operations of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, and its education and conservation programs.

Mr. Scott Dongoske has generously supported Como Park Zoo & Conservatory for decades and has been a Como Friends Board Member for many of those years. He and his family are no strangers to naming Como’s animals. In the past he and his family have been top bidders for naming a sea lion, reindeer, artic fox and more. “I have a passion for animals and a deep interest in conservation and exotic animals” said Mr. Dongoske. “Naming the animals is a fun, family event for us. Everyone gets a vote”.

Asha, born April 30th, is the first snow leopard birth at Como Zoo since 2007. Asha is the first cub to four-year-old mother, Alya, and six-year-old father, Moutig, Como Zoo’s adult snow leopards who arrived from Europe in 2017.

Alya and Asha are being housed in an off-exhibit maternity den where they can bond and which allows for proper nursing and care in a quiet space. They are both being closely monitored over a closed-circuit video system. Veterinary and zookeeper staff have observed that Alya is exhibiting exceptional care of Asha and displaying positive maternal behaviors. Newborn cubs are entirely dependent on their mothers and in the wild do not leave the protection of their dens until about three months of age. Alya and her cub are off exhibit until later this summer when the cub would be routinely leaving the nest area and coordinated enough to navigate the habitat.

The snow leopard pair, Moutig from France, and Alya from Germany, came to Como Zoo in 2017. With genetic lines not well represented outside of Europe, the pair was selected for placement in North America through a rigorous selection process that attracted applications from zoos around the country. Como Zoo was eventually chosen to receive the breeding pair. Minnesota’s cold climate played a part in the selection, as did Como Zoo’s 60+ year history of raising and breeding these acutely threatened big cats.

This breeding was carefully planned and recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA) Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP). Como Zoo is a longtime participant in the Snow Leopard SSP, which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the AZA. SSPs help to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered, and enhance conservation of these species in the wild.

Snow leopards are no longer classified as an endangered species, but its population in the wild is still at risk (classified as “vulnerable”) due to poaching, loss of prey, and the fragmentation of habitat. Como Zoo is committed to the preservation of this species, and is a longstanding member of the Snow Leopard Trust contributing funds to support research and programs aimed at protecting snow leopards and their natural habitat.

With their thick, cream-colored coats and gray-black spots, snow leopards camouflage so well within their rocky habitat high in the Himalayas that they are known as the “ghosts of the mountains.” With the ability to leap down heights of 60 feet, snow leopards are said to be the most agile of the “big cats.”

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With a heavy heart, we say goodbye to Denali

We have some sad news to pass along. This morning, August 5th, Denali, the male eastern timber wolf, was euthanized due to failing health and age related issues. Denali came to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in May 2005. Before coming to Como he was at the Wild Life Science Center in Minnesota.

Denali was 16 years old. Life expectancy in the wild is 4 to 8 years.

Como currently has a female wolf, Shy-Anne, also 16.

Both Denali and Shy-Anne were born on April 5, 2003. They have the same father, but different mothers. They are the first wolves born in Minnesota through artificial insemination.

Our deepest condolences to the zookeepers and all who loved Denali.

Fish, Fish and More Fish!

Hey readers! This month I’ve been continuing my volunteer efforts as an AIS Detector through MAIRSC (Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center) for my Conservation Champions project funded by Como Friends. I need to complete a minimum of 25 hours this year and as of this month I’ve done 10.5 hours!

This month I’ve been participating in two different projects that both happen to be focused on fish. As an AIS Detector, I can see what opportunities are available through our online portal and via email. I wanted to work on projects that don’t require me to buy things (i.e. waders) and are nearby (i.e. in the Twin Cities). The two projects that met those requirements are angler surveys and carp research.

Angler Surveys

The first project that I’ve been helping with is a research project through MAISRC entitled “What’s in YOUR Bucket? Quantifying AIS Introduction Risk from Baitfish”. I was specifically recruited to help with the Angler Survey portion of the research project. The details can be seen below:

I’m this part right here….

What that means is that got a schnazzy UMN hat, a lanyard ID, a clipboard with instructions, and a giant stack of surveys to administer. Through email communication I received information on how to administer my 100 surveys to people out fishing on public docks. From there, I choose which days and which public lakes in the metro area to distribute my surveys. Here I am ready to go in my new gear:

In general, this project has been easy for me because I survey visitors as a part of my regular job at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The only challenging part has been to find people out fishing! I’ve been out for a couple of hours so far and I’ve only distributed 19 out of my 100 surveys. However, everyone has been really friendly and been willing to do the survey once I ask them. Yay for Minnesota Nice! I’m enjoying this project. It’s not a bad way to enjoy a view like the one below on a summer night while contributing to AIS research.

Carp Research

The second project I’ve started working on is common carp biocontrol research through MAIRSC. MAISRC has a great video that explains the project and its importance:

One part of the project is to catch fish from Minnesota lakes to bring back to the lab and remove certain organs to test for different things related to koi herpes virus (KHV). Last week the research team caught around 160 fish and put them in coolers on ice to bring back to the UMN campus lab. They needed to dissect all of them quickly, which is where I came in!

Preface: I have NEVER dissected a fish before in my life. My previous related experience included frog dissection in high school biology and fishing a few times as a young child. So, I’ve held a fish before in my hands maybe like 15 years ago, but I’ve definitely never cut one open and identified anything. Below I’ll go more in depth on what it was like and include some dissection photos – so WARNING if you don’t want to see bloody fish pieces.

I helped Isaiah (shown in the MAIRSC video) and other volunteers dissect fish to remove the desired organs. We had big plastic trays to contain the blood and guts, tools for dissection like saws and tweezers, and gloves and lab coats to stay relatively clean. Step 1 is to pick up a giant dead carp, wipe the ice off it, and put it on your tray. Next, we recorded the weight and length of the fish as seen below.

Now the fun part! After watching Isaiah do it and with his constant support during the process, we cut the fish open and removed the kidney and spleen. Most of the time that part was not too bad. Occasionally the spleen was difficult to find in the middle of all the other organs, but the kidney was usually really easy because it’s right at the top of the fish. Then, we removed a piece of the gill which was also pretty straightforward. Next was to saw the fish’s head off which was a little gross and honestly exhausting! From there we dissected inside the head to remove the brain. The hardest part was last in which we tried to gently remove these tiny ear bones called otoliths. They are tiny white bones that are smaller than my pinky fingernail which can be used to age the fish! The removed organs and pieces were put into labeled bags and put back on ice as seen below. From left to right this picture shows fish brains, gills, and kidneys/spleens.

Overall this project was AWESOME. I’ve never dissected a fish before, and I loved it. I got to work in the actual lab with Isaiah and talk to him about the project. I also felt the importance of my contribution. There were 160 fish they needed to dissect. There were six people dissecting in the lab that day and we only got through about 30 fish in two hours. They really appreciated my extra help and I had a lot of fun doing it!

Summary

These are just two of the projects that the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center is currently working on. I’ve felt so fortunate to be a part of these projects and contribute to this important work going on right here in Minnesota. It takes a lot of time and effort to get the data we need to make decisions regarding AIS management. I joined the AIS Detectors program to show that anyone from any background can contribute, and this month I really have been able to do that. I’m so thankful for this opportunity and can’t wait for what’s next.

There are some upcoming opportunities that you can participate in as well:

• StarryTrek
  • If you’ve been reading my blog and are interested in getting outside and contributing to AIS research, sign up to participate in StarryTrek through MAIRSC! On Saturday August 17^th from 8:30AM – 1:00PM there will be different sites around the state of MN where you can help search for starry stonewort (AIS). Read more at https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/get-involved/starrytrek and register online!
• Minnesota State Fair!
  • Come by and chat about AIS at the Minnesota State Fair! There will be volunteers in the DNR building every day including a few hours by me!

Learn More:

• More about carp biocontrol research:

• Angler Survey research:  https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/sites/maisrc.umn.edu/files/whats_in_your_bucket.pdf
• https://www.maisrc.umn.edu/baitfish-risk

– Alexa, Learning Experiences Specialist

Como Zoo Welcomes (ANOTHER) Baby Zebra!

Second Baby Zebra Born In Less Than Two Months

Como Zoo is happy to announce the birth of its second Grant’s zebra (Equus quagga boehmi) foal in less than two months, this one born to “Thelma.” Mom and the male baby are both doing well. The baby zebra was born sometime during the early morning hours of Friday, July 19. When the zookeepers arrived this morning, they discovered the foal up, walking strong, and closely shadowing his mother, Thelma. This is Thelma’s third offspring.

This is the second baby zebra born in the last 2 months at Como Zoo. The yet-to-be named male foal joins 2 month old Lydia, Lydia’s mother Minnie, and Ulysses, the father to both young offspring.

The birth wasn’t a surprise. Como Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and had received a breeding recommendation as part of the AZA’s Species Survival Plan (SSP) for zebras. “After Lydia was born, we knew it was just a matter of time before Thelma would have her baby too. She was getting pretty big” said Jo Kelly, Senior Zookeeper at Como Zoo. “There were no complications and mother and baby appear to be doing great”

Thelma, her baby foal, and the rest of the zeal of zebra can be seen by the public in the outdoor Zebra and Kudu exhibit daily from 10am-6pm.

The gestation period for zebras ranges from 10-12 months. A newborn zebra’s stripes will turn from brown to black sometime between the first 9-18 months of life. Como is home to Grant’s Zebras, which are commonly found in the grassy plains of eastern Africa including the countries of Kenya and Ethiopia.

Sponsor the Baby Zebra! Sponsoring an animal makes a great gift – that keeps giving back. Animal sponsorships are a unique way to help Como Park Zoo and Conservatory with its wildlife conservation efforts. They support enhanced habitats and efforts to maintain the best care possible for the animals, including the zebra, at Como Zoo. To purchase, visit Garden Safari Gifts at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, call 651-487-8229 or go online to comofriends.org.

To keep tabs on the baby’s progress and the rest of our growing animal family at Como Zoo, be sure to follow @comozoo and @comofriends on Twitter.

Awwww….New Pictures of Baby Snow Leopard!

Significant, Successful Breeding Plan Achieved

Taken July 9

Como Zoo has a new resident – a snow leopard cub. This was the first pregnancy for the cub’s four-year-old mother, Alya, and six-year-old father, Moutig, and the first snow leopard birth at Como Zoo since 2007.

Alya gave birth to the cub on April 30th. While the gender of the cub is still unknown, mother and cub are being closely monitored over a closed-circuit video system. Veterinary and zookeeper staff have observed that Alya is exhibiting exceptional care of her cub and displaying positive maternal behaviors at this stage.

Mother and cub are being housed in an off-exhibit maternity den where they can bond and allows for proper nursing and care in a quiet space. Newborn cubs are entirely dependent on their mothers and in the wild do not leave the protection of their dens until about three months of age. Alya and her cub will remain off exhibit until later this summer when the cub would be routinely leaving the nest area and coordinated enough to navigate the habitat. Como Zoo will continue to provide updates on the progress of the zoo’s newest resident.

The snow leopard pair, Moutig from France, and Alya from Germany, came to Como Zoo in 2017. With genetic lines not well represented outside of Europe, the pair was selected for placement in North America through a rigorous selection process that attracted applications from zoos around the country. Como Zoo was eventually chosen to receive the breeding pair. Minnesota’s cold climate played a part in the selection, as did Como Zoo’s 60+ year history of raising and breeding these acutely threatened big cats.

This breeding was carefully planned and recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s (AZA) Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP). Como Zoo is a longtime participant in the Snow Leopard SSP, which is a cooperative, inter-zoo program coordinated nationally through the AZA. SSPs help to ensure the survival of selected species in zoos and aquariums, most of which are threatened or endangered, and enhance conservation of these species in the wild.

Snow leopards are no longer classified as an endangered species, but its population in the wild is still at risk (classified as “vulnerable”) due to to poaching, loss of prey, and the fragmentation of habitat. Como Zoo is committed to the preservation of this species, and is a longstanding member of the Snow Leopard Trust contributing funds to support research and programs aimed at protecting snow leopards and their natural habitat.

With their thick, cream-colored coats and gray-black spots, snow leopards camouflage so well within their rocky habitat high in the Himalayas that they are known as the “ghosts of the mountains.” With the ability to leap down heights of 60 feet, snow leopards are said to be the most agile of the “big cats.”

The naming rights for the snow leopard cub will be auctioned off as part of Como Friends annual Sunset Affair Gala. All proceeds support continued improvements and operations of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, and its education and conservation programs.

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Zookeeper Julie Returns to California to Save Sea Lions

In May of 2018 I volunteered at Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute (CIMWI) for 11 days. CIMWI is a part of the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program under the direction of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.  They are dedicated to positively impacting conservation through marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, research and education to promote ocean and human health.  You may remember reading about my experience last year assisting with the care of about 30 rescued sea lions and elephant seals.  This year in May CIMWI rescued 62 starving California sea lion pups and they were in a crisis situation providing medical and rehabilitation care for these animals. I was contacted to see if Como Zoo could help!  So within a few weeks, with the support of Como Friends, I was able to return to CIMWI for a week to help them with this increase of sea lions.  I again assisted with the feeding, medical treatments, and cleaning.

This time however I also got to help with rescue calls.  When people see an animal on the beach which they feel needs help they can call the CIMWI hotline.  CIMWI will then contact a volunteer to check on this call.  The first two calls I went on appeared to be two adult females not far from each other on the beach.  Both appeared to be circling and not coherent, but no signs of trauma or wounds.  It was suspected that both were suffering from domoic acid poisoning.

The week I was volunteering, CIMWI received many reports of sea lions showing signs of domoic acid toxicosis. Although the production of this neurotoxin found in algae is naturally occurring, extreme growth of this marine algae can be harmful. The marine biotoxin is passed up the food chain and thus marine mammals suffer from  Domoic Acid toxicosis.

There is no known cure for Domoic Acid (DA). Symptoms of acute DA typically subside after 72 hours as the toxin is eliminated from the body through the kidneys and excreted in the urine. Marine mammals with DA have been known to recover and successfully forage and survive in the wild. When CIMWI responds to these calls they provide signage to educate beachgoers of the situation as well as continually monitor the animal.  While putting up signage I was able to talk to several people about DA, CIMWI, Como Zoo, and sea lions.

Seeing the animals display DA symptoms was a sobering experience.  However, I feel this experience has made me better educated and aware of the reality these animals are facing. Each time I am at CIMWI I am grateful I helped an outstanding organization with their mission.

If you would like to read more about CIMWI, or follow their rescues, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CIMWI/

– Zookeeper Julie

Como Zoo’s western lowland gorilla family gets ready to meet the public

On Wednesday, June 26th, Como Zoo’s tight-knit family troop of western lowland gorillas made their first public appearance in Como Zoo’s public habitats in more than a year, following treatment of a complicated medical condition that’s kept the six-member family troop in a habitat space located behind-the-scenes of Gorilla Forest.

For more than a year, gorilla Alice, who turned 17 in June, has been coping with a number of medical challenges, including a complex skin picking disorder that has opened large and unsightly wounds in her skin. Similar to a condition in humans known as “excoriation disease” or “dermatillomania,” it can be a difficult condition to treat. And it’s even more complicated to cure in a young gorilla who is still nursing a 20-month-old infant, and whose complex family structure nearly defines the word “co-dependent.”

“This has been the most complicated case I’ve ever had here at Como Zoo because it involves multiple problems that have different needs for treatment, a baby that is impacted by what we do, and a family that has to be involved and accounted for every step of the way,” says Dr. Micky Trent, a large animal veterinarian and associate professor at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine, which has a long-standing partnership at Como Zoo. “Treating a gorilla is not like taking care of a human. You have to consider the impact of every move you make on the outcome for the entire troop, and that’s made this very complex.”

While the condition has not been cured, Alice’s keepers and veterinarians have decided it’s time to allow the female gorilla and her family troop access to the public habitats of Gorilla Forest.

“Alice’s health concerns have been challenging, not only for her gorilla family, but also for our zoo keepers, and the wider community of gorilla health and behavior experts who are committed to caring for her,” says Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Director Michelle Furrer. “While we’ve been sharing details about the gorilla family with visitors who’ve asked about Alice and her Nyati, we also want the wider public to know about all the diagnostic care and professional collaboration that’s gone into understanding Alice’s condition.

“She may not look very pretty right now, but we’re very pleased with the progress she’s made,” Furrer adds. “The two things that we really want the public to appreciate are that Alice is doing a great job of being a gorilla, and she’s turned out to be a terrific mother.”

Diagnosing A Multifactorial Medical Problem
Como Zoo is home to nine western lowland gorillas, including a six-member family troop that includes Schroeder, the 33-year-old male silverback, Nne, a 31-year-old female, 16-year-old Dara and her daughter Arlene, born in February 2015. The top ranking female in the group is Alice, 17, who was born at the Miami Zoo and moved to Como in 2013 at the recommendation of the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, a conservation panel of gorilla keepers and other professionals that manage the health and well-being of gorillas in 51 zoos across the United States .

Recommended as a breeding partner for Schroeder, a long-time bachelor at Como Zoo, Alice delivered her first baby in 2014, an infant that died within days due to apparent feeding complications. By 2017, Alice was pregnant again, giving birth to a female that Como Zoo visitors voted to name Nyati, a Swahili word for “Unicorn.” This time, the 17-year-old female exhibited strong maternal instincts and successful nursing behavior.

Though the baby’s delivery was not complicated, Alice encountered other medical challenges just before and after delivery. While pregnant, she injured the gastrocnemius muscle located in her right calf, and still favors the leg by walking on the side of her foot. Her skin picking behavior surfaced around this time, and worsened a few months post-partum when she also suffered from a pneumothorax—free air in the chest that interferes with inflation of the lung—which required treatment by aspiration of the air while under anesthesia. During the height of her skin picking problem, Alice had opened or enlarged several large and unsightly wounds on her legs and abdomen.

“One thing that’s important to understand is that skin picking is a normal gorilla behavior,” says Hugh Bailey, lead gorilla keeper at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and a member of the Gorilla Species Survival Plan called in to consult on the case. “Gorillas can get some nasty wounds from fights, or just from being injured in their environments, and picking wounds helps to keep the injury clean. That’s why, even with really bad wounds, we often don’t treat gorillas with antibiotics because the injuries will heal on their own.”

As Como Zoo visitors may notice this summer, some of Alice’s wounds appear to be scabbed over, while others may be open and bleeding.

“You might ask, ‘Why not put a Band-Aid on her?’ and the answer is she would eat it,” says Dr. Trent. Even topical medications such as sprays and ointments pose a problem, since baby Nyati could put the medicine in her mouth as well. In fact, the close connection between Como’s gorilla mothers and babies has limited many of the treatment options available to veterinarians and keepers.

“We’ve got two babies in that troop, so whatever we do to Alice, we do to the young ones, which has been part of our rationale for the selection of drugs we use,” Trent says. “Every medicine we’ve chosen has had low penetrance into breast milk or low risk to infants if eaten. We want baby Nyati to mature normally, too, we don’t want her to be exposed to anything that would deter her neurologic development.”

To better understand both the causes and potential cures for Alice’s condition, Como Zoo turned to other gorilla keepers and facilities that are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, sharing Alice’s symptoms with members of a gorilla keeper listserv, and providing regular progress reports to the Gorilla Species Survival Plan.
As Trent explains, “The first step with any of these picking disorders is to determine if there a trigger. Our initial approach was to look for anything that might make her skin feel odd.” Tests soon ruled out allergies, skin funguses, and other viruses that could be causing the skin irritation.

The zoo also sought help from psychology and neurology consultants at the University of Minnesota, looking for advice from professionals who had had success treating similar skin picking problems in humans. In May, Como Zoo also invited the Woodland Zoo’s Hugh Bailey , and Dr. Tom Meehan, vice president for veterinary services at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo and veterinary adviser to the Gorilla SSP to observe the gorilla troop and make recommendations for moving forward.

After spending more than a week in Gorilla Forest’s behind-the-scenes animal care areas observing Alice and her interactions within the troop, Bailey and Meehan concluded that Alice’s skin picking is not due to a social or psychological problem but is instead a manifestation of various physical problems.

“This problem that she has with picking doesn’t interfere with her normal day or her ability to be a gorilla,” says Bailey. “She has a normal activity budget. She moves around fine. She eats well. She forages normally. She interacts with everyone else normally, and she takes care of her infant. None of this has been impacted by her medical condition, and it tells me that it’s not due to depression or anxiety.”

Troop Dynamics and Treatment
Visitors who have heard about Alice’s health problems often ask why the gorilla hasn’t simply been separated from the other members of her troop until she’s healed.

“But that’s just not how gorillas work,” explains Como Zoo senior keeper Allison Jungheim. “Schroeder’s job as the dominant male is to protect his troop of females and if you try and split them up, that causes a lot of stress on everyone, not just for him. If Alice were to be separated, that could also cause negative dynamic issues when you put them back together. The gorilla’s social dynamics have been a large part of our considerations all along.”

The positive bonds observed between Como Zoo’s gorillas have also reassured gorilla behavior experts that staying close to her family troop is the best medicine for Alice. While primates can experience anxiety or depression, or get picked on by higher ranking animals, Bailey says, “We just don’t see any of that with Alice. She’s part of a great group of gorillas that get along very well. They have a silverback who is very mellow and even-handed, he and the other females are great with the kids, and they settle disputes in a normal gorilla way, without a lot of aggression. The best place for Alice to recover is right here.”

In humans, skin picking disorders are usually treated with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy—an approach that’s hard to recreate for a great ape. “In people, the first line of defense is behavioral modification, and coming up with different things that a person can do when they feel the need to pick, like clenching their fists,” says Dr. Trent. Since Alice tends to pick during “down time” when she’s not eating, exploring, or engaged with her baby, keepers have created a daily schedule that includes more frequent enrichment and interaction with the gorillas, in hopes of redirecting her focus during those intervals. She is also being treated with a drug that is labeled as an anti-depressant in humans—in this case, it is being used to break a psychological feedback loop that may be giving Alice positive reinforcement from picking.

After a period of major improvement in April, Alice’s condition has remained fairly constant since May—a trend that her caregivers hope will continue when the troop returns to spending time in Gorilla Forest’s outdoor spaces this summer. “This is a very challenging disorder to overcome and Alice may never be fully cured,” says Dr. Trent. “But we know that UV light and sunshine and activity are good for many skin disorders, so we’re hopeful that she will continue to improve over time.”

For the short term, some of the interior viewing areas of Gorilla Forest will be covered to give the gorilla troop time to readjust to their outdoors before they encounter crowds of onlookers. Como Zoo’s daily gorilla training sessions at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. will also include occasional updates about how Alice and her family troop are faring. “The main thing we want the public to recognize is that although Alice has a condition that doesn’t look good, it is not detracting from her ability to function as a gorilla and to take good care of her baby, and to enjoy food, and to do all the things gorillas do,” says Dr. Trent.