February-March 2004
If you haven’t been to the zoo for a while, check out the new Arctic wolf exhibit. There is a fact sheet available at the education dept.
The Wild Times
GR E ATER VAN CO UVE R ZO O
New policies for volunteers Happy 2004! I hope you had an enjoyable time, and survived all the stress and turkeys of the holiday season. I also hope that one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to spend more time at the zoo, as we love seeing you out here. One of my resolutions is to improve the Volunteer Program. I want to make it even more interesting and fun for you. I think it’s important to keep pushing the boundaries of our program. I certainly welcome any suggestions or comments from you. Remember, this is your program. Arctic wolves If you haven't been to the Zoo for a while, you should definitely check out the new Arctic Wolf exhibit. It was really something to see the wolves gallivanting in the snow during our cold and
snowy week of winter. If you’re interested, there is now a fact sheet available for the Arctic wolf deck through the Education department. New policies There are some new policies in effect for 2004. Volunteer FREE ADMISSION policy. All regular Greater Vancouver Zoo volunteers receive free admission to the Greater Vancouver Zoo and are issued yearly free parking passes. Greater Vancouver Zoo volunteers may also receive free admission for family/ friends in return for each ten (10) hours of voluntary service they work at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. In addition, regular Greater Vancouver Zoo Volunteers may receive one per year free admission for a larger group of people with prior (Continued on page 2)
In this month’s issue: News from the volunteer manager
1, 2
What to expect in this Simian year ...
2
Rare albatross found and released
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Ostriches, the Savannah's sentinels
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More wild volunteer vacations
5
Next issue: April-May 2004
This month’s creature feature: Find out why - or if - ostriches really hide their heads in the sand
See Page 4 for more ...
New policies for volunteers, dates to remember for ’04 (Continued from page 1 )
knowledge and permission from the volunteer manager. *PS: If your parking pass has expired, you will need to see me in order to pick up a new one. Volunteer inactive status policy. Greater Vancouver Zoo Volunteers may claim Inactive Status for six (6) months maximum by prior arrangement with the volunteer manager. At the end of the leave of absence, the volunteer must contact the volunteer manager in order to discuss his/her status, or is assumed to have resigned from the Greater Vancouver Zoo Volunteer Program. At this point, his/her name will be removed from the current Volunteer list and all benefits of the Greater Van-
couver Zoo Volunteer Program will cease. Communication is sometimes an issue. If you do not have email, please try to drop by the zoo and check your mail box on a regular basis. I do attempt to give regular updates and keep in contact, but would really appreciate it if you can contact me for any change in phone numbers, addresses, status, etc. Remember, you can always leave a message on my voice mail: 604-8566825 ext.28. Dates to Remember: Volunteer Monthly Meetings are held on the first Saturday of every month at 10:00 am. so mark your calendars for
the following dates: February 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6, and December 4 Special event dates will be posted as soon as they are confirmed. We always need volunteers, so please consider helping out at some of the special events this year. The first new volunteer orientation training of 2004 took place Saturday, January 31 and February 7. The next session will take place in about six months, so please inform anyone you know who wishes to join the volunteer program. - Alex Brown, volunteer manager
What we can expect during the Year of the Monkey We are well into the New Year, although the Chinese New Year is only a few months old. The year 2004 is the Chinese Year of the Monkey. If you were born in 1908, 1920, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, or 2004, you may have some of the following "monkey" characteristics: Active, agile, independent, intelligent, and quick tempered Like to manipulate circumstances and people Sensitive to flattery, but not interested in the opinions of others Sociable, like new places and faces, and adapt easily to new situations Don't like to be taken for granted Get along well with young children and tend to have large families Do well in advertising, journalism, politics, public relations, selling, and are good at figures The Greater Vancouver Zoo has several species of monkeys and their cousins. Page 2
boon doing P.R., though…. Spider monkeys (Anteles paniscus) come from South America and are probably the most agile of the Zoo's monkeys. Spider monkeys are great "swingers" and use all four limbs plus their tails to swing through the Amazon rainforest. Some of the cutest animals at the Greater Vancouver Zoo (in my opinion) are the squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus), which also originate from South America. These monkeys are active and sociable, and talented in journalism, having appeared on several TV shows such as MTV. The largest are the yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) from Africa. These animals are well known for their intelligence, ability to manipulate and large families. I'm not too sure if I've ever seen a ba-
Other members of the Monkey family living at the Zoo are Geoffroy's Marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi) from Brazil, and Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) from Madagascar. - Alex Brown THE WILD TIMES
Rare Laysan’s albatross found, then released Just after Christmas, a Coquitlam resident found a very rare (especially for the Vancouver area) surprise visitor in her backyard: a Laysan’s Albatross. The Laysan’s Albatross nests on only a few of the Islands in the Hawaiian chain. Only occasionally can they be seen in the waters of the North Pacific and the Gulf of Alaska but it is very uncommon for them to be found in the Pacific Northwest, especially that far inland. They are very large birds and their wingspan can reach to over six feet! They have a black tail and wings with a white head and body with beautiful gray and black markings around and under its eyes, not to mention the ‘famous’ hooked bill. They are monogamous, highly colonial and spend the majority of their time at sea and can cover 100’s of miles a week. The shocked resident contacted the ‘Wildlife Rescue Association’ (WRA) where I volunteer at and the staff found that the bird was medically and physically sound – he was just grounded and lost.
We needed to try and release the Albatross closer to open ocean, so the WRA contacted ‘WildArc’, a wildlife rescue center on Vancouver Island to see if they would be willing to release the Albatross closer to his home. They were thrilled to have this opportunity, but the next challenge was getting the Albatross over to the Island. The WRA tried to send the Albatross via plane; however, with all the snowfall we had at that time a lot of the flights were being cancelled or were too full with paying passengers. So, on New Years day, I offered for my husband and myself to transport the Albatross over via ferry. It was an amazing experience being able to help this little guy out, from assisting with the medical check-up, pre-
paring his food, hearing his vocalizations, transporting him and even getting to experience the release. However the release had a few hurdles as to be expected. Unfortunately the wind currents weren’t strong enough for the Albatross to take off from the cliff “runway” we found near Sooke. He felt the air currents with his wings and half heartedly tried to catch one of the few breaths of wind that came by, but after about an hour of searching he gave up and plopped himself down on a rock to admire the view, so we re-captured him and relocated him to a nearby cove. He instantly jumped into the water and found a current that would lead away from shore and into his domain. As he paddled away we slowly lost sight of him as he made his way towards open water. He did however stop for a snack with some gulls that were feasting. I feel privileged to have had some contribution to this rare event and will never forget this experience. What a great way to start the New Year! - Eve Cozzi
Capturing and relocating African wildlife (Continued from page 5 )
animal sound interpretation. Volunteers also learn the care and feeding of horses used in this safari course. Game Capture and Wildlife Management Project Here, volunteers are involved in a number of different conservation activities in the African bush. However, the main focus is in the game capture and relocation of animals. Where possible, volunteers also hand rear baby animals for eventual release into the wild. Volunteers also learn bush survival and tracking skills in this four-week program.
Baboon Centre The baboon centre is a refuge that works to help rehabilitate injured, abused and traumatized baboons for the eventual release back into the wild. Volunteers assist in the daily running of the centre and in the rehabilitation of the baboons. This may include bottle-feeding and the cuddling of babies.
lunch and dinner are provided. Prices for the projects vary greatly. The Ranger course is only U.S. $210 per week while the Game Capture Project is a bit steep at U.S. $690 per week. All projects can be very rewarding as in all cases they promise the chance for hands on experience with African wildlife.
As well, African Experience has also introduced a volunteer project working with children who carry the aids virus. In all the projects, accommodation and meals are included except the Cheetah Project where only
For all those who have ever wanted to get involved in African wildlife conservation, this is probably one of the best chances. The web site is www.africanexperience.co.za . - Trevor Walden Page 3
Ostriches: the sentinels of the Savannahs Ostrich Class: Aves Order Struthionisformes Family: Struthionidae Scientific Name: Struthio camelus There are four subspecies of ostrich today. There was a fifth, the Syrian Ostrich, but in 1941 the last one was killed. The four remaining subspecies are the: North African Ostrich, Somali Ostrich, East African or Masai Ostrich, commonly called Redneck as they have pinkish red necks and thighs; and South African Ostrich, commonly called Blueneck, having bluish necks and thighs. The females in all subspecies are pinkish gray. At the zoo we have 4 Red necked ostriches, 2 males and 2 females. They are all over 10 years old-but we're not sure of their exact ages. Of the approximate 9,000 bird species that exist today, the ostrich is the largest. It has a long neck, long, powerful legs, small head with a short, flat, broad bill and large eyes as well as thick eyelashes to protect its eyes during sand storms. Their voice is either a loud hiss or a booming roar. Adults usually weigh between 200 to 300 pounds and are 6 to 8 feet (1.75 to 2.4 m) tall. Male ostriches have soft black feathers on its plump body with white primary feathers on its wings and tail. This soft plumage acts as insulation against the harsh temperatures endured by ostriches throughout their arid range. Female birds are slightly smaller than males and have brownish-gray plumage and off-white wings and tails to help camouflage them. Juveniles are grayish-brown. Both males and females have bare necks and legs and they bend their knees backwards compared to us. Did you know that an ostrich's eye is bigger than its
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said to kill young lions with their strong kicks.
brain? Excellent eyesight and acute hearing are the ostrich's most important senses. Like a giraffe the ostrich is an important sentinel for many African grazing mammals such as antelopes, zebras, oryxes and gazelles in which they often live alongside in small, loosely organized flocks of 5 to 50. Another characteristic of ostriches is that they are very fond of water. They frequently take baths when given the opportunity. Ostriches are ratites, birds that cannot fly and do not have keeled sternum (breastbone) like most other birds, but that does not matter since they are so perfectly adapted to high-speed running. Powerful legs, flexible knees and supple, two-toed feet are its adaptations for speed. The ostrich is the only bird with two toes. They can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h (44 mph) for short periods of time and sustain speeds of 30 mph for 15 minutes or more. An ostrich has been seen to pass an antelope in full gallop at 40 miles per hour, a feat that places it among the fastest of all birds, in spite of the fact that it does not fly. They use their small wings to brake and steer, allowing for a great deal of agility. Speed is an important defense for these animals, but that is not its only defense. They have spurs or claws on the end of two of their wing fingers and those strong, long legs are used to deliver powerful blows of up to 500 pounds per square inch. While defending their nests, they have been
Up until 1941 ostriches lived in Syria, Arabia, and Africa. However, presently they have been hunted to extinction in both Syria and Arabia, and now they can only be found in central and southern Africa. They live in arid, open country (from deserts to savannas) and feed on various seeds, grasses, bushes and forage on trees. They supplement this diet with insects, rodents and small reptiles. Stones are also ingested to aid in digestion. They are nomadic, wandering wherever food is most readily available. At the zoo they are fed Ratite pellets, and they graze. At breeding time, the male collects a harem of usually 2 to 5 females. Males intimidate each other often by use of elaborate displays, including hisses and other noises. A communal nest (shallow pit) is scraped in the ground, usually by the male, in which the eggs are laid, over a three-week period. Females can lay every second day, from March to September. Normally they lay between 30 to 50 eggs a year, but cases have been recorded of more than 100 annually. Hens have been known to produce for over 30 years. There may be as many as 40 eggs in the nest, although only about 20 are normally incubated, with the surplus being pushed outside the nest. The male incubates the clutch at night and usually the dominant female incubates during the day. At night the dark feathers of the male ostrich make detection by predators more difficult and likewise, during the day the female's lighter brown feathers blend in with the surrounding grassland colours. Females seem to be able to recognize their own eggs and are careful to not roll those out. Despite the constant watch of the male and female, less than 10 per cent (Continued on page 5)
THE WILD TIMES
African Experience: hands-on chance to work with wildlife Back in July of 2003, I wrote an article about Earthwatch, an organization providing people the chance to spend their vacation to volunteer on field research projects. In this second article, I would like to focus on another organization for which I was lucky enough to actually participate in: African Experience.
teers also assist at the feeding the animals, cleaning cages and other tasks. The centre places particular emphasis on the breeding and maintenance of cheetahs in captivity.. Ranger/Field Guide Training Course This is an actual course for anyone interested in becoming a field guide in an African nature reserve. It includes classroom training as well as field experience in areas such as bird identification, animal behavior, conducting game drives and first aid. The program lasts for six weeks for which students also receive a first aid certificate.
Based out of New Germany, South Africa, African Experience provides people the opportunity to get hands on experience with animals and people that you could only get in Africa. They currently offer 7 different projects in and around South Africa. The Game and Lion Park Volunteers here gain the rewarding experience of hand raising lion cubs. They also participate in general game park management such as bush clearing, alien plant eradication, and erection and repair of game fences. Volunteers also deal with the public but supervising visitors in the lion cub enclosure and assisting in the restaurant
when busy. Cheetah and Endangered Wildlife Conservation Project This is a four-week program where volunteers work at a conservation centre. The main focus is for the volunteer to learn about nature conservation as the program is based on a four-week conservation course. However, volun-
Horse Safari Conservation Course This is a two week program that combines volunteer work with horses as well as learning the fundamentals of field guiding on a game reserve. Students learn things like plant and animal identification, spoor identification, (Continued on page 3)
Myth debunked: Ostriches do not hide heads in the sand (Continued from page 4 )
of the eggs will hatch. If threatened while sitting on the nest the hen presses her long neck flat along the ground, blending with the background. It is this defensive position that led to the incorrect belief that ostriches hide their heads in the sand to avoid detection. The shiny, light cream coloured eggs are the biggest laid by any bird. A single ostrich egg is about 6 inches in diameter, has a shell 2 mm thick and weighs approximately 3 pounds (1.5 kg) which is the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs. The gestation period is 42 days. Newborn chicks are about 1012 inches tall, about 2 lbs, are fawncolored with dark brown spots and a cape of bristly down on the back. Both parents take care of the chicks when they are born. Ostrich chicks have many predators, including the Egyptian Page 5
vulture, the hyena and the jackal. Only 15 percent of chicks make it to their first birthday, despite having protection from their parents. The chick reaches its full height and becomes independent at the age of 1 year. An ostrich reaches its breeding maturity at about three years of age. Their lifespan is about 50 years, although some have live up to 70. For a time in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ostrich plumage was in great demand for its use in decorating hats and clothes and for feather boas. It is estimated that at the height of the feather boom the town in Little Karoo, Oudtshoorn (also called the ostrich feather capital of the world) exported 450,000 kilograms of ostrich feathers per year. By the late 19th century ostriches were on the verge of ex-
tinction because of over hunting. The development of ostrich farms has helped to curb the hunting of wild ostriches and to bring them back from the brink of extinction. Still, preservationists carefully watch the four subspecies of ostrich. There is still a demand for ostrich feathers, but it's on a much smaller scale. The eggshells are used for such things as to carry water or make jewellery from, ostrich oil is used in cosmetics and the hide of the ostrich makes fine leather that can be seen being used in car seats for sports cars to leather clothing. An ostrich will yield 70 to 100 pounds of meat (the meat is red and low in fat), two to four pounds of feathers, and 12 to 15 square feet of leather. - Pia Rasmussen THE WILD TIMES
From the Animal Care Manager
Busy winter, plans for summer The keepers have been working hard keeping all of our animals comfortable during the winter months. G R E A T E R V A N C OU V E R Z O O Greater Vancouver Zoo 5048 - 264th Street, Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada V4W 1N7 Phone: 604 -856-6825 Fax:604 -857 -9008
After almost two weeks of sub-zero temperatures and a lot of snow just after Christmas, we made it through with very few problems. As we enter a new year, the animal care department is looking forward to many new changes. Everyone has great ideas for how we can improve our animal care, and the exhibits at the zoo. We also have a change in our keeper department. Unfortunately Leisha has left us. She is off on a trip to Australia where she plans to spend several months travelling and working.
We’re on the Web! www.greatervancouverzoo.com
The Greater Vancouver Zoo is dedicated to preserving and protecting endangered species, and creating an educational environment that inspires appreciation and concern about wildlife and wild places, while providing a pleasant recreational setting for visitors. For more info about the zoo, contact ... General Manager: John Lee (Ext. 27) Email: jlee@greatervancouverzoo.com Education Manager/Volunteer Coordinator: Alex Brown (Ext. 28) Email: abrown@greatervancouverzoo.com Operation Manager: Tony Guenther (Ext. 30) Animal Care Manager: Jamie Dorgan (Ext. 29) Email: jdorgan@greatervancouverzoo.com Administrative Assistant: Katherine Kehtler (Ext. 25) Email: kkehtler@greatervancouverzoo.com Veterinary Technician: Lorie Owens (Ext. 31) Accounting Manager: Kelly Kim (Ext. 23) Booth A, Ext. 21; Booth B, Ext 22
When she returns Leisha plans to continue her education and become a veterinary technician. We all wish her luck. Replacing Leisha on the animal care staff is Grant Tkachuk. Grant comes to us from the Valley Zoo in
Edmonton, where he had worked more than 10 years. We are looking forward to the experience Grant will bring us to help improve our zoo. Currently we are in the planning stages for several new or improved exhibits. We expect to see a new caiman exhibit under construction very soon. We began building our new hippo barn for Harvey and Gertrude in February. We also hope to construct a Rocky Mountain Goat exhibit in the near future to add to our collection of North American animals. As always, the animal care department is looking for donations of supplies. Anything would be appreciated. And if you have something that is not on this list that you think we can use, ask one of the keepers! We can use: burlap sacks, ropes (all lengths and sizes), scents of any kind, hoses, hot water bottles, leashes, animal crates, any type of toys suitable for any animals. - Jamie Dorgan
Ed. Dept. plans more special events Although I have been back from my maternity leave for a while, I have not yet had a chance to see all of you to say hello. I hope to see some of you more once the weather improves and we move into spring. Spring is definitely on our minds in the education department, as we have to prepare for the onslaught of school children. We already have some bookings through to the end of June!! First, I’ll fill you in on the fall. Phew! There was no time to slowly get back into the swing of things upon my return from maternity leave in the middle of August. As many of you know we were busy mailing out brochures to the teachers in the lower mainland. It took time since there were over 10,000 brochures. Thanks to those of you who stuffed, addressed, sorted, and taped. This year we will have an opportunity to ask for more help as we are planning our mailing further in advance. The Teacher’s Open House brought quite a bit of interest from teachers and Alex and I were busy with programs through the end of November! We were glad to
have so many groups: many of which were the older students, which is new to us. Alex and I are finally getting a chance to catch up on some very necessary office work. Currently we are planning some special events, so keep a look out for some calls for assistance. Our goal is to have at least one special event a month. This consistency should help our members and the public become accustomed to looking at what is going on this month at the zoo. Most importantly, we are finally getting the opportunity to update the programs we currently offer for schools (not to mention new program development). We have lofty goals for a department of two regular full-time people. We are looking forward to the spring, and are receiving calls daily from teachers interested in coming to the zoo. Spring will (hopefully soon) bring changes to the staff/ volunteer rooms and we will also be doing some shuffling around in the offices up by the current volunteer room. So if you are up that way, stop in and say hello-I’d love to see you. - Julie Pender