Conservation

WHAT DO GORILLAS AND CELL PHONES HAVE IN COMMON?

A critical component of cell phones and other small electronics is a substance called coltan. One of the few places in the world where coltan is found is the forests of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo—right in the middle of gorilla habitat. As a result of mining for coltan, critical habitat has been destroyed and gorillas have been displaced or even killed by poachers. Recycling old phones/electronics raises money to directly support conservation initiatives through Como Friends’ Conservation Champions Program. Gorillas are on the line. Join us to answer the call to help save gorillas in the wild!

While you can recycle your old devices throughout the year, Gorillas on the Line … Answer the Call is an annual global mobile phone recycling challenge organized by the Gorilla SAFE engagement team with participants from across the country and around the globe. Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is partnering with the Gorillas on the Line Campaign to collect cell phones and other small electronic devices that will be shipped back to ECO-CELL to be recycled.

How to get involved!

Join Como Zoo in saving gorillas:

• Look around your home—you might have one or two outdated devices laying around!
• Spread the word—Reach out to your family and friends and see if they have any old devices that can be recycled.
• Visit Como Zoo and bring your old devices in!

Bring your phones to Como Zoo to recycle

ANY kind of cell phone will be accepted – even the big, heavy ones from years ago that wouldn’t come close to fitting in your pocket now. Along with cell phones, we are also accepting iPads, iPods, tablets, apple watches, adapters, chargers, mp3 players, handheld gaming systems, and headphones. For each cell phone received, a donation will be made to Como Friends, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory’s partner in conservation.

You can drop your cell phone off with any member of the Como Team or deposit it in the collection bin in the Visitor Center.

Cell Phone & Small Handheld Electronic Recycling
Como has been set up as a permanent collection point to collect and recycle unwanted cell phones and small handheld electronics. All items collected will be sent to Eco-Cell and Como will received funds for each donated item. The funds raised will go to Orangutan conservation projects that help preserve one of the most critically endangered species on earth, the orangutan.

In addition to aiding endangered orangutans, recycling these items at Como prevents toxic batteries from harming our earth when land-filled and helps to reduce the need to mine coltan, a product used in making cell phones & small handheld electronics that is often illegally mined in an area of Africa that is home to endangered gorillas.

Drop off your unwanted cell phone or item from the list below in the collection box located in the Visitor Center.

In addition to cell phones, we also accept:

• cell phone accessories
• iPods and MP3 players
• handheld game systems
• handheld GPS units
• e-readers
• portable hard drives

Laptops and computers can be recycled for free at Tech Dump.

Important Note: It is the responsibility of the donating party to cancel or switch service on the phone and to delete any data such as phone numbers, text messages, emails or documents that might be on the cell phone.

Personal devices can be dropped off in the Visitor Center located at:
1225 Estabrook Drive
St. Paul, MN 55103

For more information on the Como recycling program call 651-487-8272. Collections from recycling drives can be mailed directly to Eco-cell.  Please contact ComoEducation@ci.stpaul.mn.us to receive shipping labels.

To learn more about orangutans and what else you can do to help save their habitat visit The Orangutan Conservancy web site.

Ink Jet Recycling
Recycle your ink jet and toner cartridges at St Paul’s Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Proceeds from the cartridge recycling program will help fund conservation projects on the Como Campus. A donation box is located in the lobby of the Visitor Center.

Holiday Lights
Have old or broken holiday lights?  Don’t throw them away, recycle them! Many cities provide holiday light recycling services throughout the holiday season, be sure to check to find a location nearest you. You can also visit the Recycling Association of Minnesota  for a list of year-round drop sites for holiday lights.

Remember to buy LED lights when you replace your broken holiday lights. They use a fraction of the energy of traditional lights and last longer too!

Other Recycling
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory has partnered with Eureka Recycling to create a model for public recycling. Eureka Recycling has received a grant from the EPA and MN PCA to create this model for “away from home” recycling. Few examples of large public space recycling programs exist. Como will assist in determining best practices, including how to assess the need and design of public space recycling in the community

Species Survival Plan (SSP) (46 total species)

SSP Animals at Como. AZA has reorganized its SSP programs and created new categories.  In doing so Como now has over 40 species that are a part of the Species Survival Program. There are now two types of SSP Program designation: Green and Yellow (which we’ll represent as orange here in order to view it better).

Cooperatively managed populations that can retain 90% gene diversity for at least 100 years, or 10 generations, are Green SSP Programs.Green SSP Programs must adhere to the AZA Policy for Full Participation and all non-AZA member partners must be approved by the Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee (WCMC).

Cooperatively managed populations of at least 50 individuals that cannot retain 90% gene diversity for 100 years or 10 generations are Yellow SSP Programs.  Participation in Yellow SSP Programs is voluntary, and non-AZA member partners do not need to be approved by the WCMC.

A third category – Red Programs are recommended by their associated Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) for cooperative management among AZA, but their populations are too small, fewer than 50 individuals, to qualify as a Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program.  Red Programs maintain an AZA Regional Studbook. Red Programs do not have the same population planning requirements of SSP Programs. However, Red Programs are encouraged to work with their TAG on defining their Animal Program goals and objectives, which will impact the subsequent Animal Program management strategies, as these will differ between Red Programs. Some start-up efforts will be designated as Red Programs. There are some “old” SSP’s that have not yet been designated one of the new categories.

Primates:

Western Lowland Gorilla
Sumatran Orangutan
Golden Headed Lion Tamarin
White Faced Saki
Blue eyed Black Lemur (Eulemur flavifrons SSP) – not yet designated
Bearded Emperor Tamarin (saguinus imperator subgrisescens)
Black Handed Spider Monkey

Tropical Encounters:

Hoffman’s Two Toed Sloth
Silver-beaked tanager
Turquoise tanager
Blue-grey tanager
Sunbittern
Yellow Spotted River Turtle
Freshwater stingray (motoro and leopoldi)

Aquatics:

Harbor Seal
California Sea Lion
Tufted Puffin
Lake Victoria Cichlids
Polar Bear
African Penguin
Lined Seahorse

Cats:

Amur Tiger
Snow Leopard
African Lion we will have lions again and they do have an SSP

Hoofed Stock:

Reticulated Giraffe
Lesser Kudu
Grant’s Zebra (plain’s zebra subspecies)

Bird Yard:

Chilean Flamingo
Galapagos Tortoise
Red Breasted Geese
Common Shelduck

Behind The Scenes & Animals Used in Education Programs:

Radiated Tortoise
Wyoming Toad
Panamanian Golden Frog- not yet designated
Straw Colored Fruit Bat
Southern Three Banded Armadillo
African Pancake Tortoise
Wood Turtle
Blanding’s Turtle
Emerald Tree Boa

Como Zoo’s First Studbook: The Crowned Lemur (Eulemur coronatus)

Como Zoo Primate Keeper, Megan Elder, is the newly appointed North American regional studbook keeper for the Crowned lemur (Eulemur coronatus)- a species managed under the Eulemur Species Survival Plan (SSP). Crowned lemurs are found only on the northern tip of the island of Madagascar. Duke University’s Primate Center estimates only 1,000-10,000 individuals left in the wild. Threats to this species include human encroachment, “slash & burn” agriculture, and fragmented habitats. To qualify for this position, Megan underwent special training and completed two Population Management courses offered through the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s (AZA) professional development program. As studbook keeper, Megan is responsible for tracking all Crowned lemurs held in North American institutions and tracing them back to the wild. In doing so, a database is created that is used to perform genetic analyses for making breeding recommendations. Studbooks are important conservation tools that ensure genetically diverse, healthy captive population similar to those in the wild.

Blanding’s Turtle Research

The Blanding’s turtle is listed as a threatened species in Minnesota. Como Zoo staff is involved in tracking the Blanding’s in Saint Paul Parks. The ongoing research locates the areas where this rare species is found and provides critical information to help protect its habitat in our city.

Butterfly Conservation Initiative (BFCI)

Como recently joined a coalition of AZA accredited zoos and aquariums, non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies – working together to aid the conservation of threatened, endangered and vulnerable North American Butterflies and the habitats that sustain them. This initiative focuses on recovery, research and education. At Como we demonstrate butterfly gardening with the Enchanted Garden, which is located across from the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Last spring, our on-site butterfly habitats were expanded to include space in the Bird yard around the Old Mill House. Como is also working with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project at the University of Minnesota to collect data on monarch butterflies in Como’s gardens.

Seafood Watch

Como has established a Seafood Watch Partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to raise awareness with our visitors about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. The 3″ x 2″ foldable guide is updated twice a year and lists which types of fish make the best options for sustainable dining. This small handout is the perfect size to keep in your purse and pull out when you visit the grocery store! Visitors can pick up a Seafood Watch guide at the Visitor Center or in the Aquatics building. Not able to get to the zoo? You can also print the pocket guide or download the app for iPhone or android! Click HERE to get the pocket guide or app.

Amphibian Recovery and Conservation Coalition Project in Panama

It is believed that 50% of nearly 6000 species of amphibians are in serious danger of becoming extinct in the near future. The goal of the Amphibian Recovery and Conservation Coalition (ARCC) is to treat sick amphibians in the wild and establish healthy captive colonies here in the United States. Como is helping to breed five species of endangered Panamanian frogs for the coalition including the national symbol of Panama, the Golden Frog.

Shade Grown Coffee

The education department has created a ‘coffee card’ that explains to Como visitors why they should purchase shade grown coffee. Coffee cards are available for interpreters to give out to visitors, who can then show the card in Garden Safari Gifts to receive a 10% discount on shade grown coffee.

The shade grown label on coffee means that the beans were grown on a plantation that provides a rainforest home for birds and animals. Over the last 20 years, many large coffee plantations have switched to full sun production, and in doing so eliminated the forest that serves as a critical habitat to many species of migratory birds. Approximately 200 species of birds are known as neo-tropical migrants, breeding in North America and migrating south to Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean islands for the winter.

Plant Rescue Center

Many plants are under severe threat of extinction from over-collection and destruction of their native habitats. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has been designated as a Plant Rescue Center by the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This program was created to salvage plants seized through the enforcement of regulations put in place by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It was established to curb the illegal collection, documentation and trade of plants and to ensure their survival after confiscation.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that utilizes regular monitoring to determine if and when treatments are needed. It then employs physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and educational tactics to keep pest numbers low enough to prevent unacceptable damage or annoyance. Treatments are made only when and where monitoring has indicated that the pests will cause unacceptable economic, medical or aesthetic damage. Treatments are chosen and timed to be most effective and least hazardous to non-target organisms and the general environment. As part of the IPM program beneficial insects are released in the glasshouses to prey on pest insects – particularly in the MMC’s public areas where pesticide use is extremely limited. In 2005, over 1 million beneficial insects were released.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International

In an effort to capture information around plant diversity, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory plant accessions are uploaded to the Botanic Gardens Conservation International database.

The Green Team

The Green Team at Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is a group comprised of staff members that meet monthly to monitor Como’s environmental efforts and maintain a sustainable workplace

GREEN TEAM MISSION STATEMENT: To make Como Campus an Environmental Ambassador for its visitors, staff and volunteers by enhancing, fostering, inspiring green practices such as recycling, waste reduction, conservation, and education.

Green Design
Green Design is an important feature of the Visitor Center at Como Park. The interior walls are made of a recycled wood product. Photovoltaic cells help provide shade over the new Fern Room and offer a source of renewable energy. The photovoltaic project was funded as a demonstration project by Xcel Energy.

Water is collected and reused throughout the new facility. Accumulated runoff goes through a series of pools and streams and ends up in an underground cistern. This water will eventually be used to irrigate the building’s exhibit plantings.

Como’s volunteer team interprets the photovoltaic cells and other environmentally friendly aspects of the Visitor Center to the public.

The Conservation Parking Meter

Money collected in the meter goes to the Center for Ecosystem Survival for the purchase of rainforest land in Central America and the Adopt an Acre program.

Watch the video about our Conservation Champions initiative, which is supported through funding provided by Como Friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxjNQZcDHeo