Zoo News

Como Zoo Welcomes Not One, But Two Baby Zebras!

In the overnight hours of Saturday and Sunday, a baby zebra was born at Como Zoo. When the zookeepers arrived Sunday morning they discovered the foal up, walking strong and closely shadowing his mother, Thelma.

The birth of the foal was not a surprise. “Thelma was getting very big, we knew it was a matter of days before her baby would make its appearance” said Allison Jungheim, Senior Zookeeper at Como Zoo. “There were no complications and mother and baby appear to be doing great.”

Baby zebras are something Como Zoo has experience caring for. Just 42 days earlier, on July 27^th, another of Como’s zebras named Minnie gave birth to a female named Melee.

Mothers and babies can be seen by the public in the outdoor Zebra and Kudu exhibit daily 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.

Father, Ulysses, sired both newborns.

Sponsor the Baby Zebras!

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 zebras, at Como Zoo. To purchase, visit Garden Safari Gifts at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory or call 651-487-8229.

Como Accepts the #IceBucketChallenge!

The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory and Como Friends happily accepted the #ALSIceBucketChallenge nomination from our zoo pals at the Minnesota Zoo and we would like to nominate our friends at the Lake Superior Zoo, the Henry Vilas Zoo, and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

The Minnesota Zoo challenged us to the #IceBucketChallenge!

Challenge Accepted! Check out our video!

The Lake Superior Zoo was quick to respond!

… As was the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

 To learn more about the ALS Foundation, visit their website here – http://www.alsa.org/

Como Zoo Unveils Plans for Sparky – A Minnesota Tradition Since 1956

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory unveiled plans for an extreme makeover of Sparky the sea lion’s home at Como Zoo. The new, world-class habitat will provide a unique and immersive northwest coastal visitor experience and a year-round indoor and outdoor use that will meet or exceed all regulatory and collection management requirements. Due to changing federal regulatory requirements for marine mammals, habitat preservation of the seals and sea lion exhibit is needed to keep these animals at Como for future generations.

The seal and sea lion exhibit at Como Zoo has been a fixture for over 50 years. The “Sparky Show”, which began in 1956, has become one of Como’s most popular attractions, sharing fun, educational messages to thousands of visitors each day. Every year nearly 500,000 students from across the region visit to learn about nature, conservation, and animal care straight from Como’s beloved ambassador, Sparky.

Currently the seals and sea lions are displayed in a variety of locations at Como. The outdoor exhibit was originally called Monkey Island when it was built during the WPA in the 1930s, but was modified in the early 1980s is now called Seal Island. During the winter months the animals are moved inside the Marine Mammal Building where Sparky, an iconic Minnesota figure, is housed year-round in a separate pool from other seals and sea lions. Both the island and the indoor pools lack adequate collection management requirements.

The concept for the project features two saltwater pools with above and below water viewing, along with an improved amphitheater experience for guests. One of the most important features of the new habitat focuses on the training of the animals. With the new habitat, opportunities for operant conditioning training of the pinnipeds will increase and offer better views for our visitors to experience the training. There will be opportunities for individual attention, as well as opportunities to work on advanced husbandry behaviors to further the animal welfare for the collection.

“As with recent renovations at Como, it’s not about getting bigger it’s about doing what we do better,” explains Michelle Furrer, Como’s Campus Manager. “We want to ensure that, for generations to come, Sparky will be an ambassador for conservation and education. In order to do this updates are needed.”

Baby Giraffe Makes Public Debut!

It took over an hour of coaxing from her mother, Clover, but the baby giraffe born at Como Zoo stepped out from her bedroom and into the outdoor yard for the first time to the cheers of visitors and zoo staff on September 8th. With her mother always near, the baby giraffe is busy running and exploring all corners of her home. Born Sunday, September 1st standing 5 foot 8 inches and 130 pounds, she has already grown a few inches and gained a few pounds in one week.

She is the 5^th calf born to mom, Clover and the 17th giraffe birth at Como in the last 20 years. Como’s current herd consists of Clover, Daisy, Skeeter (father) and the yet-to-be-named 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 it height and can be 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.

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.

Marjorie McNeely Conservatory Seeks “All-America” Status

~Como Competes in All-America Selection Landscape Design Contest~

For the second year in a row, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is competing in the All-America Selections Landscape Design Contest. The Conservatory is proud to participate in a contest that highlights various plants that are developed, grown, tested, and appreciated in the United States.

Como’s Display Garden, which is located around the “Welcome” sign near the Visitor Center entrance, contains several All-America Selection wining pants including Zinnia ‘Double Zahara Cherry’, Salvia ‘Summer Jewel Red’, Kale ‘Glamor Red’, and Vinca ‘Jams and Jellies’.

The Conservatory’s garden entry in 2012 earned the third place spot for gardens with over 100,000 annual visitors.

All-America Selections (AAS) created the Landscape Design Contest in 2012 to provide an opportunity for certified AAS Display Gardens to use their creativity and garden space to feature AAS winning plants which are chosen based on their performance, novelty, and aesthetics. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is one of approximately two hundred AAS Display Gardens in the United States and Canada.

More information about All-American Selection Display Gardens and winning plants can be found at http://www.all-americaselections.org/

Gorilla Forest NOW OPEN!

Gorilla Forest is now open at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory! This $11 million exhibit redesign and overhaul features seven gorillas, six of whom are new to Como Zoo, and the largest all-mesh gorilla enclosure in North America.

The Gorilla Forest construction included the addition of a major outdoor exhibit and significant improvements and expansions to the existing indoor facilities. All changes to the exhibit exceed the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements for holding, exhibiting and managing great apes. The 13,000 square foot outdoor space, almost three times larger than the previous space, was designed to give the gorillas ample room to play, climb, forage and display their extraordinary family and social dynamics to the public while minimizing stress on the gorillas and creating up close and personal views of the gorillas for visitors.

The  indoor facilities, including the behind-the-scenes areas, were enlarged and could make mating these endangered species a possibility for Como. The new gorilla holding building provides plenty of natural light and two stories for the animals with view windows and perches so the gorillas can see out. Improvements to existing rockwork and trees provide more horizontal space for gorillas and planned family groups. Better ventilation, lighting, drainage and a new rainforest mural on the dayroom wall create an improved environment for the animals and viewing experience for the public.

While designing Gorilla Forest, Como emphasized the necessity of creating an enriching experience for guests as well as improving conditions for the animals. A recent study from the Institute for Learning Innovation found that children and adults who visit Como Zoo and similar facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums “leave the zoo thinking differently about their role in environmental problems.” Researchers noted that a zoo visit makes visitors feel they can make difference in solving environmental challenges, with significant increases in visitors who agree with the statements “There is a lot I can do to conserve” and “I am a part of the solution to nature’s problems.” Armed with this knowledge, Como designed this exhibit with the goal of informing and empowering the public, while maintaining a pleasing aesthetic experience.

The Ordway Gardens Now Open!

$2.8 million improvement funded entirely by private contributions to Como Friends

The Ordway Gardens, a new wing to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is now open!   This $2.8 million building and landscape addition features the Conservatory’s Bonsai collection and Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden as a year-round experience.

The Ordway Gardens includes 2,267 square feet of glass-enclosed interpretative exhibit and display space, and a 2,850 square foot outdoor terrace.  The new wing enables the Conservatory’s nationally-acclaimed Bonsai collection to be exhibited year-round. Both the pavilion and terrace provide year-round views into the Japanese Garden.

Extended Hours Begin Monday, April 1 – No Foolin’!

Celebrate Summer Hours:  Sponsor the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden!

On April 1, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will resume extended hours, opening every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To celebrate, Como Friends is featuring a special $40 sponsorship package in honor of the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden.

This historic sansui garden, a gift from St. Paul’s sister city of Nagasaki, Japan, has been beautifully restored during the past year to better reflect the original intentions of its acclaimed designer, the late Masami Matsuda, a ninth generation Nagasaki landscape gardener. Click here to help Como’s beloved Japanese Garden grow! Support from people like you makes it possible to invest in world-class improvements like this, training for our talented professional horticulturists, and best practice care for all Como’s beautiful exterior gardens. Each sponsorship package comes complete with a tea cup and tea, perfect for giving to your favorite garden devotee.

Night Creatures – Insects After Dark’ – Photo Exhibit on Display February 4 – April 28

We are excited to present ‘Night Creatures – Insects After Dark’, a stunning photo exhibit by Minneapolis artist Bill Johnson on display in Como’s Exhibit Gallery February 4th through April 28.  Over 30 extreme close-up images will highlight the amazing colors, shapes, and diversity of the insect world rarely seen during the day.

Mr. Johnson specializes in plant and insect photography, from full-specimen to ultra-close-up macro photography.  For the striking photos in this exhibit, Mr. Johnson used a technique called “Blacklighting” which incorporates ultraviolet light to attract and photograph insects at night.

Mr. Johnson’s images have appeared in over 900 national and regional publications, including nature magazines, gardening books, field guides, and most recently a children’s book to be published in April entitled Minnesota Bug Hunt which explore insects, friendly and fierce, that live as close as our own backyard. His photography travels have taken him to a variety of geographic regions nationally and internationally.

**Media Availability: More images, as well as high resolution images, & additional information about the artwork & artist are available for all television, radio and print requests. Please call 651-487-8294 or e-mail: matt.reinartz@ci.stpaul.mn.us .