Monday, May 19, 2008
Maribeth Ponders her Upcoming Opportunity with PBI
Last week, I was lucky enough to meet two very inspirational people: Robert Buchanan, president of Polar Bears International, and his wife, Carolyn Buchanan, the foundation's director of development. After spending only two minutes with them, we were already joking together, and bonding over our common Italian/ Irish ancestry. Oh yes; the Buchanan's are my kind of people!
However, our time spent together wasn't all fun and games. Mr. Buchanan got down to business. He presented an informational, moving, but alarming power point on polar bears, and how they are rapidly being pushed to extinction because of global climate change.
I will never forget something he said, "This [global warming] is not a left- wing or right- wing issue; this is an issue that effects all of humanity. Who cares if Man caused global warming or not? It's up to Man to stop it."
http://www.clemetzoo.com/zblog/default.asp?Display=126
Plant Protection the Focus at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Special activities and plant sale planned for May
Join Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in celebrating the importance of plants to people and the planet. Talk with experts, tour the Zoo and even get your hands dirty -- all on Plant Conservation Day at the Zoo. The green scene takes place Sunday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The day begins with an invitation to participate in an invasive plant pull. Invasive plant species threaten native biodiversity and should be removed when possible. Volunteers can help in this effort from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Brookside Reservation. Participants will receive free admission to the Zoo. Those interested should pre-register by calling (216) 635-2526.
For something less physical, a guided ZooTram tour of some of the Zoo's specialty gardens takes place at 11:30 a.m. Don Krock, the Zoo's Manager of Horticulture, will lead the tour and point out conservation features of some of the Zoo's 24 gardens.
The day continues with talks by local plant experts. All talks takes place in the Zoo Administration Building and are free with regular Zoo admission.
http://www.clemetzoo.com/pressroom/index.asp?action=details&pressrelease_id=1305
Vets Determine Why Tiger Rejected Newborn Cub At Pittsburgh Zoo (Video)
POSTED: 8:34 am EDT May 15, 2008
UPDATED: 9:20 am EDT May 15, 2008
PITTSBURGH -- Veterinarians at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium think they know why a tiger may have rejected her newborn cub.
A shortage of milk may be to blame.
'Toma' gave birth Sunday. Zookeepers said the tiger stopped caring for the cub that night.
Veterinarians gave Toma a complete examination on Wednesday.
Dr. Barbara Baker said, “What we're doing right now is we’ll put her back in her enclosure and we are going to hit her with a drug and inject her with a drug that will hopefully, that will initiate the nursing behavior, the maternal behavior we want to see."
For now, the cub will stay in the zoo's hospital where he will be fed by zoo staff every three hours.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/16271687/detail.html
Pittsburgh zoo staff to raise shunned Amur tiger cub
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - The staff at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will take over mothering duties of an Amur tiger cub who has been shunned by his mother.
The cub was born Sunday, but his mother, Toma, has refused to nurse him.
Zoo officials gave the mother a drug to stimulate milk production, thinking that might jump-start her maternal instincts. But that hasn't happened.
Instead, the cub will be bottle-fed and the zoo will try to find a companion for the animal until he can be weaned.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums says it helps to put a dog or another abandoned cub with a cub that is being raised by hand.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20080516_ap_pittsburghzoostafftoraiseshunnedamurtigercub.html
Zoo tax mulled
By CHARLES CRUMM
Journal Register News Service
Oakland County commissioners have taken the first step towards creating an authority to operate and fund the Detroit Zoo.
Advertisement
In a special meeting Wednesday, commissioners voted to establish an authority, clearing the way for a campaign for a one-tenth mill property tax question to appear on the Aug. 5 ballot.
Commissioners voted 18-5, with some no votes wanting to have a property tax question appear on the November ballot and others simply in opposition to a tax to support the zoo.
"I'm voting no because it creates a taxing authority," said Commissioner Robert Gosselin, R-Troy. "I think the zoo is worth it but not from a taxing standpoint. I would hope you find another way to fund it."
http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/051508/loc_localn08.shtml
Calls to stop zoo's panda plans
Politicians north and south of the border have called on Edinburgh Zoo to reconsider its plans for a giant panda breeding programme.
Scottish Green MSP Robin Harper has tabled a motion at Holyrood expressing concerns at plans by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
It has been proposed that a breeding pair should be loaned from China.
The RZSS said work in zoos was integral to preserving the species and helped conservationists in China.
Animal campaigners claim no captive-bred panda has ever been released into the wild and conservation groups say the best way to ensure their future is to protect their natural habitat.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7403323.stm
New York Researcher Wins The Indianapolis Prize
By Devon Scott and AP reports
5/14/2008
A world-renowned field biologist is getting a local honor - The Indianapolis Prize from the Zoo.
Dr. George Schaller is known for saving endangered animals across the planet and helping start a number of wildlife refuges.
Indianapolis Zoo CEO Mike Crowther says Schaller has done amazing things for the environment.
Schaller gets $100,000. He says he plans to use it as seed money to encourage students to get into field biology and to start several new wildlife sanctuaries.
Schaller is based in New York City where he is Vice President for Science and Exploration at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Schaller has trekked 1,000 miles across a rugged reserve in Tibet to study the endangered Tibetan antelope, or chiru, and is also working to save Marco Polo sheep and snow leopards.
Schaller has inspired many field biologists and has helped establish more than 15 wildlife reserves throughout the world.
http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=91177
What is The Indianapolis Prize?
Star report
Posted: May 13, 2008
Background: The Indianapolis Prize is the world’s largest cash award given to an individual animal conservationist who has made significant achievements in advancing the sustainability of a species or group. It was established in 2004 by the Indianapolis Zoo.
Amount: $100,000, funded by Eli Lilly and Co. in 2006 and 2008.
Frequency: Award given every two years.
2006 winner: George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, credited with contributing significantly to the preservation of the world’s 15 surviving species of cranes, including the whooping crane in North America.
2008 field: Twenty-nine animal conservationists were nominated.
Award presentation: Indianapolis Prize Gala, presented by AES Corp., parent company of Indianapolis Power and Light, will be Sept. 27 at the Marriott Downtown.
2010 Prize: Nominations will open June 1 and close Nov. 30. Six finalists will be announced in August 2009.
On the Web: www.indianapolisprize.org.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS/80513057
Zoo's escaped ape attacks keeper
How the orang-utan escaped its enclosure is a mystery
A Blackpool Zoo keeper was taken to hospital for treatment after being bitten by an orang-utan.
The woman suffered injuries to her arm and foot when she was attacked by the female orang-utan in the staff access corridor to the Ape House.
An investigation into the incident is under way, but it is not yet known how the animal got into the corridor.
Zoo bosses described it as an isolated incident and said no members of the public were put in danger.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/7403216.stm
Orangutans escape enclosures at two different zoos
Associated Press - May 18, 2008 12:03 PM ET
TAMPA (AP) - Two orangutans are safely back in their cages after escaping from enclosures at two different zoos across the country.
At Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, part of a new exhibit is closed after a 10-year-old female orangutan escaped yesterday by climbing the exhibit's windows. Caretakers had to coax it into a back area using apples, carrots and vanilla ice cream for about an hour.
Meanwhile, 3,000 visitors at the Los Angeles Zoo were forced to head for the exit yesterday when a 29-year-old orangutan named Bruno punched a hole through mesh that surrounds his habitat. Authorities say he was free for about 20 minutes until a handler saw him in a holding area behind the cage. Keepers quickly approached the orangutan and sedated him.
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=8342864&nav=menu505_2
Your News: Celebrate Endangered Species Day at Naples Zoo
Submitted by Tim Tetzlaff
Thursday, May 15, 2008
NAPLES — On Friday, May 16, 2008 Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens and the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge are celebrating the country’s third annual Endangered Species Day.
Designated as a national celebration of America’s commitment to protecting and recovering our nation’s endangered species, the goal of Endangered Species Day is simple—to educate Americans about the importance of protecting our rare, threatened, and endangered plant and animal species – and, most importantly, what they can do to help.
http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/15/your-news-celebrate-endangered-species-day-naples-/
May 15, 2008, 6:38PM
Get the bear facts at the Houston Zoo
Black bears are on the rebound in Louisiana and have been spotted in East Texas.
Campers and others who want to be bear-aware should check out the Houston Zoo's Bear Awareness Day Saturday.
Zookeepers will offer tips on how to keep your campsite bear-proof and how to share the outdoors with the animals.
Representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Big Thicket National Preserve will answer questions about the role bears play in nature and the importance of biological diversity.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pets/5783941.html
Dallas Zoo's surviving elephant back on display
05:52 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By DAVID SCHECHTER / WFAA-TV
Video
David Schechter reports
May 14, 2008
DALLAS -- The Dallas Zoo has reopened its elephant exhibit two days after Keke the elephant died. Despite concern about an intestinal ailment, an exam shows the elephant died from heart failure.
It took 35 animal experts to perform the autopsy for the 8,000 pound animal. The result? KeKe's heart was not effectively pumping blood.
Jenny, the Zoo's surviving elephant, was back on display today. Officials say she's upset-- but responding well-- and ready to greet the public.
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa080514_jh_elephants.fe53d97e.html
Family of tiger victim files claim against S.F.
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, May 16, 2008
(05-15) 15:26 PDT San Francisco - -- The parents of a 17-year-old San Jose boy who was fatally mauled by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo filed a claim against the city Thursday in the latest legal salvo over the Christmas Day attack.
The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, accuses the city of being negligent and failing to properly enclose a 243-pound Siberian tiger named Tatiana. The escaped tiger killed Carlos Sousa on Dec. 25 and mauled two San Jose brothers before it was shot and killed by San Francisco police.
"The tiger's enclosure was insufficient to protect patrons and the tiger," says the claim filed by Walnut Creek attorney Michael Cardoza on behalf of the boy's parents, Carlos and Marilza Sousa.
The city "knew that the tiger's enclosure was insufficient and thereby knowingly exposed zoo patrons to extremely dangerous, wild animals," it said.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/16/BA9G10N58H.DTL
Detroit Zoological Society Announces Gift From The Chrysler Foundation
May 15, 2008, 9:48 pm
Filed under: In The News
Detroit Zoo Names Main Train Station, Unveils Newly Refurbished Trains
ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 8, 2008 – The Detroit Zoological Society today announced a $250,000 grant from The Chrysler Foundation to help refurbish the Detroit Zoo’s historic Tauber Family Railroad. In recognition of the gift, the Society named the main train station the Chrysler Main Station.
“The Chrysler Foundation’s generous gift helps us to preserve a symbol of the Zoo’s rich heritage and enables millions of future Zoo visitors to enjoy the railroad for many years to come,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. The railroad has served over 40 million Zoo guests who have ridden the rails since the train was introduced in 1931.
“Chrysler is very proud to play a continuing role for more than half a century in supporting one of the Detroit Zoo’s favorite attractions,” said Brian Glowiak, Vice President, The Chrysler Foundation. “This historic commitment began with our original donation of three trains nearly 60 years ago, followed by recurring donations to upgrade and maintain their operations. We are pleased that future generations will continue to experience this timeless treasure.”
http://dzoovoleric.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/detroit-zoological-society-announces-gift-from-the-chrysler-foundation/
And the Winner is...Zahara
Name Chosen for Detroit Zoo’s Zebra Foal
ROYAL OAK, Mich., March 3, 2008 – The people have spoken and the Detroit Zoo’s zebra foal has a name.
With 994 votes cast in the Zoo’s online poll, Zahara won by a landslide with 439 votes. Bella was a distant second with 250 votes, followed by Chloe with 139 votes and Holly with 109 votes. Noel was the favorite of only 57 voters.
Zahara is an Arabic word meaning “flower.”
The Zoo received over 2,000 name suggestions and narrowed the field to five. The finalists were posted on the Zoo’s Web site where the public had until midnight February 29 to vote for the winning name.
The Grevy’s zebra foal was born December 26 and is the daughter of 15-year-old Elvira and 6-year-old ZZ. She currently is kept indoors at the zebra habitat most days due to cold weather, but can be seen outdoors near her mother on milder days.
http://www.detroitzoo.org/Newsflashes/2008_Press_Releases/And_the_Winner_is...Zahara/
$8m zoo fund shortfall
MICHAEL OWEN, POLITICAL REPORTER
May 20, 2008 11:15pm
ADELAIDE Zoo has a funding shortfall of up to $8 million for its major refurbishment, despite a $19 million pledge from the State Government.
Premier Mike Rann, who is on the U.S. leg of a 15-day trade mission, said today the Government would provide $19 million for the zoo's biggest facelift in its 125-year history.
As reported by The Advertiser in March, an upgraded entrance, a giant panda forest and a new perimeter fence will be part of the major refurbishment.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23726400-5006301,00.html
PETA asks Dallas Zoo to close elephant exhibit
07:14 PM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008
By KIMBERLY DURNAN / The Dallas Morning News
kdurnan@dallasnews.com
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals gathered at the Dallas Zoo on Friday to ask zoo officials to close its elephant exhibit and send the zoo's only elephant, Jenny, to a sanctuary in Tennessee or California.
PETA members protest Dallas Zoo elephant exhibit (DMN - Video/editing: Richard Michael Pruitt)
PETA officials say that elephants need to be with other elephants and need room to roam.
Margaret Morin spoke for the group of 10 protestors.
"We are here to educate the public on Jenny's plight," Ms. Morin said. "She has served her time and now deserves to live the rest of her life at a sanctuary. The zoo is not a humane environment to an elephant."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/051708dnmetelephant.107b8c007.html
Zoo opens stingray exhibit, public interaction restricted
Deaths at Calgary Zoo prompt change in exhibit policy
May 16, 2008 01:57 PM
Due to the unexplained deaths of 39 stingrays at a Calgary Zoo, a Toronto Zoo stingray exhibit is going ahead with one major change: the public will no longer be able to touch the sea creatures.
The exhibit, which opened to the public Friday, May 16 was being billed as Stingray Bay - A Touching Experience with visitors granted the opportunity to interact with rays in a large pool for an admission fee of $3. For the time being , visitors will not be able to touch or feed them and admission has been reduced to $1.
"In light of recent events at the Calgary Zoo's Singray Exhibit, the Toronto Zoo will, in the short-term, limit access to the stingrays and only provide controlled feedings," the zoo said in a press release.
http://www.insidetoronto.com/News/Scarborough/article/48246
San Diego Zoo targets global warming
5:03 PM, May 16, 2008
The San Diego Zoo, known for its pioneering work in preservation of endangered species, is throwing its resources and reputation behind the fight against global-warming.
As part of the National Endangered Species Day on Friday, the zoo declared that greenhouse gases are a major threat to wildlife -- not just polar bears, but other large carnivores, birds, reptiles and even coral reefs. "All ecosystems on the planet are being altered by climate change but perhaps none quite as dramatically as coral reefs," said Stuart Sandin from the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the speakers at the all-day seminar.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/05/the-san-diego-1.html
Butterfly Pavilion Opens Saturday
POSTED: 11:07 am CDT May 16, 2008
UPDATED: 11:27 am CDT May 16, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. -- A new butterfly and insect pavilion at the Henry Doorly Zoo open on Saturday after a year of construction.
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the $10.5 million project opens to the public.
Hundreds of species of butterflies and moths fly free inside the pavilion. Visitors get a close look at flying insects from around the world. Butterfly farms in Peru, Panama and Costa Rica, among others, will sell the cocoons needed to fill the pavilion. The cost for an average chrysalis is between $1 and $20 depending on species.
Copyright 2008 by KETV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.ketv.com/entertainment/16294878/detail.html
Prague zoo sets out to save Indian gharial
2 days ago
PRAGUE (AFP) — Prague zoo has launched a programme aimed at saving the gharial, an Indian fish-eating crocodile, from extinction with a million-dollar pavilion where keepers hope the creatures will reproduce.
There are only 150-200 of the species, the Gavialis gangeticus also known as the gavial, living in the wild along India's rivers today. Another 20 or so are in captivity in India, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States, according to figures from the Prague zoo.
"All of the conservation plans launched in the world have failed up until now. The gharial is one of the most threatened species on the planet," said Petr Veselsky, in charge of reptiles at the zoo.
The new gharial pavilion -- the first such programme in Europe -- houses three males and four females from a park in Madras in southern India.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gnIm2sYkrAYzgnTAhdjS2xNOEtHA
Look, but don't touch
Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, May 17, 2008
Re: "Zoo loses another cownose ray," May 14.
I was dumbfounded to hear that the Calgary Zoo's cownose ray exhibit was designed to allow the public to touch these gentle creatures. Has the zoo lost its marbles? For years, I have taught scuba divers to avoid direct contact with sea life for their protection and for the protection of the marine life. Look, yes, touch, no! I have also taught scores of divers first aid response to hazardous marine life injuries. Having been encouraged to touch, will the young child recognize the difference between a gentle cownose ray and a stingray he or she comes across in shallow waters? I doubt it. I have seen the result of the slash and tear of a stingray's spin and tail.
Encouraging children to touch sea life has enormous negative potential consequences. Why the zoo would encourage such behaviour is beyond me. I can only assume there are no scuba divers on the Calgary Zoo staff. If there are, it might be a good time to review those notes on why we don't touch the sea life.
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/letters/story.html?id=c9b4b348-6fd1-4e05-841f-59b501b99d68
2 Pittsburgh Zoo Elephants Expected To Give Birth Soon
POSTED: 3:57 pm EDT May 16, 2008
UPDATED: 7:12 pm EDT May 16, 2008
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is beginning to resemble a maternity ward. Days after the birth of a baby tiger, the zoo is just weeks away from the arrival of not one but two baby elephants.
This is the first time that two of the zoo's elephants will deliver within a month of each other.
The first one could come as early as May 28. After 22 months gestation, it has been a long wait, zoo officials said.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/16299963/detail.html
San Diego Zoo, Prison Merge
Quote:
SAN DIEGO—Plagued by a lack of funding and growing staff shortages, the San Diego Zoo and Ironwood State Prison were combined earlier this week, bringing local inmates and wildlife together for the first time under the same roof.
The new state-of-the-art facility—which will house 12 separate cell blocks, a reptile house, two weight rooms, and a primate sanctuary—is expected to save the state of California up to $5 million in operation costs over the next year.
"It is with great pride that I announce the opening of the San Diego Maximum Security Zoological & Convict Reserve," director David Hennessey said at an opening ceremony Tuesday. "From southern white rhinos to repeat offenders serving 20 years for drug trafficking—you'll find them all here at our amazing new facility."
Construction on the resource-sharing project concluded last Wednesday, after which felons and fauna were carefully transferred to their new joint living space. According to Hennessey, the 40-acre facility features one of the largest collections of migratory birds, hoofed mammals, and hardened inmates in all of North America.
http://www.alldeaf.com/jokes-funny-stories/52441-san-diego-zoo-prison-merge.html
Zoo launches $10M campaign; Gifts to fund improvements before tax vote
Crain’s Detroit Business
May 17, 2008, 8:43 pm
This is a very good article to see how the zoo gets its funding, why the need it, and some of the things they will do if the mileage passes.
Zoo launches $10M campaign; Gifts to fund improvements before tax vote
By Sherri Begin
Plans at the zoo
What: The Detroit Zoological Society last month officially launched a $10 million campaign to fund capital improvements at the zoo.
Projects planned: An animal carousel, an upgrade to the Tauber Family Railroad, a corporate pavilion, new signs and enhancements to the Ford Education Center and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.
Saving for the future: About $3 million of the campaign total will bolster the zoo’s $8 million endowment.
http://dzoovoleric.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/zoo-launches-10m-campaign-gifts-to-fund-improvements-before-tax-vote-crains-detroit-business/
Heritage Park Zoo celebrates 20th anniversary
By Doug Cook, The Daily Courier
Saturday, May 17, 2008
PRESCOTT - The Heritage Park Zoo has blossomed since its humble beginnings in May 1988, transforming itself from a tiny complex that cared for just a few animals into a full-fledged wildlife refuge.
On Saturday, the non-profit Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, as it's now dubbed, celebrated its 20th anniversary, offering free admission and hot dogs, as well as animal shows and docent tours, to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About 700 people attended the event, which went off without a hitch under warm, sunny skies and a light breeze.
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=55461
Acquiring 'Blatt site opens new zoo worlds
BY C. DAVID KOTOK
COPYRIGHT 2008 OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
Baseball players, fans and umps would give way to polar bears, seals and walruses as part of a planned $100 million expansion of the Henry Doorly Zoo.
$100 million expansion
• Rosenblatt: Razed for 950 parking spaces
• Madagascar: Walk among bushy-tail lemurs
• Arctic Center: See polar bears, seals and otters
• Elephants: New home for up to a dozen more
• Pandas: Not yet, but still on the wish list
The Omaha Zoo Foundation board has signed off on an agreement with the city to obtain the Rosenblatt Stadium property for the nearly $12 million the city still owes on past stadium improvements. The foundation plans to raze the stadium to replace parking that will be lost to a major new exhibit and to add even more spaces.
Dr. Lee Simmons, the zoo's executive director, said the Rosenblatt property will give the zoo the elbow room to build a blockbuster new attraction. The Arctic Center, featuring animals typical of Alaska, is planned west of the zoo's Desert Dome in what is now the parking area along 10th Street.
The Arctic Center would become a visitor's first stop after entering the zoo and provide another enclosed attraction accessible during the cold months, Simmons told The World-Herald.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10337683
For economy, zoo gets lion's share of credit
BY KAREN SLOAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
When it comes to Omaha's economy, the Henry Doorly Zoo is no bear cub.
It's a full-grown grizzly.
A new study of Nebraska's top tourist attraction found that its overall economic impact on Omaha in 2007 was $86.34 million.
That figure takes into account several ways that the zoo strengthens the city's overall economy.
It factors in money spent at the zoo, spending by zoo visitors at businesses, wages of zoo employees and other workers, zoo construction projects and the retention of Omahans who would otherwise travel elsewhere for entertainment.
"Any major attraction like this has a multiplier effect, and people throughout the economy feel the impact," said Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Omaha Zoological Foundation hired Thompson to study the zoo's impact on Omaha and Nebraska, and he analyzed attendance and spending data from the past 10 years.
Zoo spending translates into tax revenue for the city and state.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10337682
continued...
Last week, I was lucky enough to meet two very inspirational people: Robert Buchanan, president of Polar Bears International, and his wife, Carolyn Buchanan, the foundation's director of development. After spending only two minutes with them, we were already joking together, and bonding over our common Italian/ Irish ancestry. Oh yes; the Buchanan's are my kind of people!
However, our time spent together wasn't all fun and games. Mr. Buchanan got down to business. He presented an informational, moving, but alarming power point on polar bears, and how they are rapidly being pushed to extinction because of global climate change.
I will never forget something he said, "This [global warming] is not a left- wing or right- wing issue; this is an issue that effects all of humanity. Who cares if Man caused global warming or not? It's up to Man to stop it."
http://www.clemetzoo.com/zblog/default.asp?Display=126
Plant Protection the Focus at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Special activities and plant sale planned for May
Join Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in celebrating the importance of plants to people and the planet. Talk with experts, tour the Zoo and even get your hands dirty -- all on Plant Conservation Day at the Zoo. The green scene takes place Sunday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The day begins with an invitation to participate in an invasive plant pull. Invasive plant species threaten native biodiversity and should be removed when possible. Volunteers can help in this effort from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Brookside Reservation. Participants will receive free admission to the Zoo. Those interested should pre-register by calling (216) 635-2526.
For something less physical, a guided ZooTram tour of some of the Zoo's specialty gardens takes place at 11:30 a.m. Don Krock, the Zoo's Manager of Horticulture, will lead the tour and point out conservation features of some of the Zoo's 24 gardens.
The day continues with talks by local plant experts. All talks takes place in the Zoo Administration Building and are free with regular Zoo admission.
http://www.clemetzoo.com/pressroom/index.asp?action=details&pressrelease_id=1305
Vets Determine Why Tiger Rejected Newborn Cub At Pittsburgh Zoo (Video)
POSTED: 8:34 am EDT May 15, 2008
UPDATED: 9:20 am EDT May 15, 2008
PITTSBURGH -- Veterinarians at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium think they know why a tiger may have rejected her newborn cub.
A shortage of milk may be to blame.
'Toma' gave birth Sunday. Zookeepers said the tiger stopped caring for the cub that night.
Veterinarians gave Toma a complete examination on Wednesday.
Dr. Barbara Baker said, “What we're doing right now is we’ll put her back in her enclosure and we are going to hit her with a drug and inject her with a drug that will hopefully, that will initiate the nursing behavior, the maternal behavior we want to see."
For now, the cub will stay in the zoo's hospital where he will be fed by zoo staff every three hours.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/16271687/detail.html
Pittsburgh zoo staff to raise shunned Amur tiger cub
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - The staff at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will take over mothering duties of an Amur tiger cub who has been shunned by his mother.
The cub was born Sunday, but his mother, Toma, has refused to nurse him.
Zoo officials gave the mother a drug to stimulate milk production, thinking that might jump-start her maternal instincts. But that hasn't happened.
Instead, the cub will be bottle-fed and the zoo will try to find a companion for the animal until he can be weaned.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums says it helps to put a dog or another abandoned cub with a cub that is being raised by hand.
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20080516_ap_pittsburghzoostafftoraiseshunnedamurtigercub.html
Zoo tax mulled
By CHARLES CRUMM
Journal Register News Service
Oakland County commissioners have taken the first step towards creating an authority to operate and fund the Detroit Zoo.
Advertisement
In a special meeting Wednesday, commissioners voted to establish an authority, clearing the way for a campaign for a one-tenth mill property tax question to appear on the Aug. 5 ballot.
Commissioners voted 18-5, with some no votes wanting to have a property tax question appear on the November ballot and others simply in opposition to a tax to support the zoo.
"I'm voting no because it creates a taxing authority," said Commissioner Robert Gosselin, R-Troy. "I think the zoo is worth it but not from a taxing standpoint. I would hope you find another way to fund it."
http://www.dailytribune.com/stories/051508/loc_localn08.shtml
Calls to stop zoo's panda plans
Politicians north and south of the border have called on Edinburgh Zoo to reconsider its plans for a giant panda breeding programme.
Scottish Green MSP Robin Harper has tabled a motion at Holyrood expressing concerns at plans by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
It has been proposed that a breeding pair should be loaned from China.
The RZSS said work in zoos was integral to preserving the species and helped conservationists in China.
Animal campaigners claim no captive-bred panda has ever been released into the wild and conservation groups say the best way to ensure their future is to protect their natural habitat.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7403323.stm
New York Researcher Wins The Indianapolis Prize
By Devon Scott and AP reports
5/14/2008
A world-renowned field biologist is getting a local honor - The Indianapolis Prize from the Zoo.
Dr. George Schaller is known for saving endangered animals across the planet and helping start a number of wildlife refuges.
Indianapolis Zoo CEO Mike Crowther says Schaller has done amazing things for the environment.
Schaller gets $100,000. He says he plans to use it as seed money to encourage students to get into field biology and to start several new wildlife sanctuaries.
Schaller is based in New York City where he is Vice President for Science and Exploration at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Schaller has trekked 1,000 miles across a rugged reserve in Tibet to study the endangered Tibetan antelope, or chiru, and is also working to save Marco Polo sheep and snow leopards.
Schaller has inspired many field biologists and has helped establish more than 15 wildlife reserves throughout the world.
http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=91177
What is The Indianapolis Prize?
Star report
Posted: May 13, 2008
Background: The Indianapolis Prize is the world’s largest cash award given to an individual animal conservationist who has made significant achievements in advancing the sustainability of a species or group. It was established in 2004 by the Indianapolis Zoo.
Amount: $100,000, funded by Eli Lilly and Co. in 2006 and 2008.
Frequency: Award given every two years.
2006 winner: George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, credited with contributing significantly to the preservation of the world’s 15 surviving species of cranes, including the whooping crane in North America.
2008 field: Twenty-nine animal conservationists were nominated.
Award presentation: Indianapolis Prize Gala, presented by AES Corp., parent company of Indianapolis Power and Light, will be Sept. 27 at the Marriott Downtown.
2010 Prize: Nominations will open June 1 and close Nov. 30. Six finalists will be announced in August 2009.
On the Web: www.indianapolisprize.org.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS/80513057
Zoo's escaped ape attacks keeper
How the orang-utan escaped its enclosure is a mystery
A Blackpool Zoo keeper was taken to hospital for treatment after being bitten by an orang-utan.
The woman suffered injuries to her arm and foot when she was attacked by the female orang-utan in the staff access corridor to the Ape House.
An investigation into the incident is under way, but it is not yet known how the animal got into the corridor.
Zoo bosses described it as an isolated incident and said no members of the public were put in danger.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/7403216.stm
Orangutans escape enclosures at two different zoos
Associated Press - May 18, 2008 12:03 PM ET
TAMPA (AP) - Two orangutans are safely back in their cages after escaping from enclosures at two different zoos across the country.
At Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, part of a new exhibit is closed after a 10-year-old female orangutan escaped yesterday by climbing the exhibit's windows. Caretakers had to coax it into a back area using apples, carrots and vanilla ice cream for about an hour.
Meanwhile, 3,000 visitors at the Los Angeles Zoo were forced to head for the exit yesterday when a 29-year-old orangutan named Bruno punched a hole through mesh that surrounds his habitat. Authorities say he was free for about 20 minutes until a handler saw him in a holding area behind the cage. Keepers quickly approached the orangutan and sedated him.
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=8342864&nav=menu505_2
Your News: Celebrate Endangered Species Day at Naples Zoo
Submitted by Tim Tetzlaff
Thursday, May 15, 2008
NAPLES — On Friday, May 16, 2008 Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens and the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge are celebrating the country’s third annual Endangered Species Day.
Designated as a national celebration of America’s commitment to protecting and recovering our nation’s endangered species, the goal of Endangered Species Day is simple—to educate Americans about the importance of protecting our rare, threatened, and endangered plant and animal species – and, most importantly, what they can do to help.
http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/15/your-news-celebrate-endangered-species-day-naples-/
May 15, 2008, 6:38PM
Get the bear facts at the Houston Zoo
Black bears are on the rebound in Louisiana and have been spotted in East Texas.
Campers and others who want to be bear-aware should check out the Houston Zoo's Bear Awareness Day Saturday.
Zookeepers will offer tips on how to keep your campsite bear-proof and how to share the outdoors with the animals.
Representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Big Thicket National Preserve will answer questions about the role bears play in nature and the importance of biological diversity.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/pets/5783941.html
Dallas Zoo's surviving elephant back on display
05:52 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By DAVID SCHECHTER / WFAA-TV
Video
David Schechter reports
May 14, 2008
DALLAS -- The Dallas Zoo has reopened its elephant exhibit two days after Keke the elephant died. Despite concern about an intestinal ailment, an exam shows the elephant died from heart failure.
It took 35 animal experts to perform the autopsy for the 8,000 pound animal. The result? KeKe's heart was not effectively pumping blood.
Jenny, the Zoo's surviving elephant, was back on display today. Officials say she's upset-- but responding well-- and ready to greet the public.
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa080514_jh_elephants.fe53d97e.html
Family of tiger victim files claim against S.F.
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, May 16, 2008
(05-15) 15:26 PDT San Francisco - -- The parents of a 17-year-old San Jose boy who was fatally mauled by a tiger at the San Francisco Zoo filed a claim against the city Thursday in the latest legal salvo over the Christmas Day attack.
The claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, accuses the city of being negligent and failing to properly enclose a 243-pound Siberian tiger named Tatiana. The escaped tiger killed Carlos Sousa on Dec. 25 and mauled two San Jose brothers before it was shot and killed by San Francisco police.
"The tiger's enclosure was insufficient to protect patrons and the tiger," says the claim filed by Walnut Creek attorney Michael Cardoza on behalf of the boy's parents, Carlos and Marilza Sousa.
The city "knew that the tiger's enclosure was insufficient and thereby knowingly exposed zoo patrons to extremely dangerous, wild animals," it said.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/16/BA9G10N58H.DTL
Detroit Zoological Society Announces Gift From The Chrysler Foundation
May 15, 2008, 9:48 pm
Filed under: In The News
Detroit Zoo Names Main Train Station, Unveils Newly Refurbished Trains
ROYAL OAK, Mich., May 8, 2008 – The Detroit Zoological Society today announced a $250,000 grant from The Chrysler Foundation to help refurbish the Detroit Zoo’s historic Tauber Family Railroad. In recognition of the gift, the Society named the main train station the Chrysler Main Station.
“The Chrysler Foundation’s generous gift helps us to preserve a symbol of the Zoo’s rich heritage and enables millions of future Zoo visitors to enjoy the railroad for many years to come,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan. The railroad has served over 40 million Zoo guests who have ridden the rails since the train was introduced in 1931.
“Chrysler is very proud to play a continuing role for more than half a century in supporting one of the Detroit Zoo’s favorite attractions,” said Brian Glowiak, Vice President, The Chrysler Foundation. “This historic commitment began with our original donation of three trains nearly 60 years ago, followed by recurring donations to upgrade and maintain their operations. We are pleased that future generations will continue to experience this timeless treasure.”
http://dzoovoleric.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/detroit-zoological-society-announces-gift-from-the-chrysler-foundation/
And the Winner is...Zahara
Name Chosen for Detroit Zoo’s Zebra Foal
ROYAL OAK, Mich., March 3, 2008 – The people have spoken and the Detroit Zoo’s zebra foal has a name.
With 994 votes cast in the Zoo’s online poll, Zahara won by a landslide with 439 votes. Bella was a distant second with 250 votes, followed by Chloe with 139 votes and Holly with 109 votes. Noel was the favorite of only 57 voters.
Zahara is an Arabic word meaning “flower.”
The Zoo received over 2,000 name suggestions and narrowed the field to five. The finalists were posted on the Zoo’s Web site where the public had until midnight February 29 to vote for the winning name.
The Grevy’s zebra foal was born December 26 and is the daughter of 15-year-old Elvira and 6-year-old ZZ. She currently is kept indoors at the zebra habitat most days due to cold weather, but can be seen outdoors near her mother on milder days.
http://www.detroitzoo.org/Newsflashes/2008_Press_Releases/And_the_Winner_is...Zahara/
$8m zoo fund shortfall
MICHAEL OWEN, POLITICAL REPORTER
May 20, 2008 11:15pm
ADELAIDE Zoo has a funding shortfall of up to $8 million for its major refurbishment, despite a $19 million pledge from the State Government.
Premier Mike Rann, who is on the U.S. leg of a 15-day trade mission, said today the Government would provide $19 million for the zoo's biggest facelift in its 125-year history.
As reported by The Advertiser in March, an upgraded entrance, a giant panda forest and a new perimeter fence will be part of the major refurbishment.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23726400-5006301,00.html
PETA asks Dallas Zoo to close elephant exhibit
07:14 PM CDT on Friday, May 16, 2008
By KIMBERLY DURNAN / The Dallas Morning News
kdurnan@dallasnews.com
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals gathered at the Dallas Zoo on Friday to ask zoo officials to close its elephant exhibit and send the zoo's only elephant, Jenny, to a sanctuary in Tennessee or California.
PETA members protest Dallas Zoo elephant exhibit (DMN - Video/editing: Richard Michael Pruitt)
PETA officials say that elephants need to be with other elephants and need room to roam.
Margaret Morin spoke for the group of 10 protestors.
"We are here to educate the public on Jenny's plight," Ms. Morin said. "She has served her time and now deserves to live the rest of her life at a sanctuary. The zoo is not a humane environment to an elephant."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/051708dnmetelephant.107b8c007.html
Zoo opens stingray exhibit, public interaction restricted
Deaths at Calgary Zoo prompt change in exhibit policy
May 16, 2008 01:57 PM
Due to the unexplained deaths of 39 stingrays at a Calgary Zoo, a Toronto Zoo stingray exhibit is going ahead with one major change: the public will no longer be able to touch the sea creatures.
The exhibit, which opened to the public Friday, May 16 was being billed as Stingray Bay - A Touching Experience with visitors granted the opportunity to interact with rays in a large pool for an admission fee of $3. For the time being , visitors will not be able to touch or feed them and admission has been reduced to $1.
"In light of recent events at the Calgary Zoo's Singray Exhibit, the Toronto Zoo will, in the short-term, limit access to the stingrays and only provide controlled feedings," the zoo said in a press release.
http://www.insidetoronto.com/News/Scarborough/article/48246
San Diego Zoo targets global warming
5:03 PM, May 16, 2008
The San Diego Zoo, known for its pioneering work in preservation of endangered species, is throwing its resources and reputation behind the fight against global-warming.
As part of the National Endangered Species Day on Friday, the zoo declared that greenhouse gases are a major threat to wildlife -- not just polar bears, but other large carnivores, birds, reptiles and even coral reefs. "All ecosystems on the planet are being altered by climate change but perhaps none quite as dramatically as coral reefs," said Stuart Sandin from the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the speakers at the all-day seminar.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/05/the-san-diego-1.html
Butterfly Pavilion Opens Saturday
POSTED: 11:07 am CDT May 16, 2008
UPDATED: 11:27 am CDT May 16, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. -- A new butterfly and insect pavilion at the Henry Doorly Zoo open on Saturday after a year of construction.
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the $10.5 million project opens to the public.
Hundreds of species of butterflies and moths fly free inside the pavilion. Visitors get a close look at flying insects from around the world. Butterfly farms in Peru, Panama and Costa Rica, among others, will sell the cocoons needed to fill the pavilion. The cost for an average chrysalis is between $1 and $20 depending on species.
Copyright 2008 by KETV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.ketv.com/entertainment/16294878/detail.html
Prague zoo sets out to save Indian gharial
2 days ago
PRAGUE (AFP) — Prague zoo has launched a programme aimed at saving the gharial, an Indian fish-eating crocodile, from extinction with a million-dollar pavilion where keepers hope the creatures will reproduce.
There are only 150-200 of the species, the Gavialis gangeticus also known as the gavial, living in the wild along India's rivers today. Another 20 or so are in captivity in India, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the United States, according to figures from the Prague zoo.
"All of the conservation plans launched in the world have failed up until now. The gharial is one of the most threatened species on the planet," said Petr Veselsky, in charge of reptiles at the zoo.
The new gharial pavilion -- the first such programme in Europe -- houses three males and four females from a park in Madras in southern India.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gnIm2sYkrAYzgnTAhdjS2xNOEtHA
Look, but don't touch
Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, May 17, 2008
Re: "Zoo loses another cownose ray," May 14.
I was dumbfounded to hear that the Calgary Zoo's cownose ray exhibit was designed to allow the public to touch these gentle creatures. Has the zoo lost its marbles? For years, I have taught scuba divers to avoid direct contact with sea life for their protection and for the protection of the marine life. Look, yes, touch, no! I have also taught scores of divers first aid response to hazardous marine life injuries. Having been encouraged to touch, will the young child recognize the difference between a gentle cownose ray and a stingray he or she comes across in shallow waters? I doubt it. I have seen the result of the slash and tear of a stingray's spin and tail.
Encouraging children to touch sea life has enormous negative potential consequences. Why the zoo would encourage such behaviour is beyond me. I can only assume there are no scuba divers on the Calgary Zoo staff. If there are, it might be a good time to review those notes on why we don't touch the sea life.
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/letters/story.html?id=c9b4b348-6fd1-4e05-841f-59b501b99d68
2 Pittsburgh Zoo Elephants Expected To Give Birth Soon
POSTED: 3:57 pm EDT May 16, 2008
UPDATED: 7:12 pm EDT May 16, 2008
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is beginning to resemble a maternity ward. Days after the birth of a baby tiger, the zoo is just weeks away from the arrival of not one but two baby elephants.
This is the first time that two of the zoo's elephants will deliver within a month of each other.
The first one could come as early as May 28. After 22 months gestation, it has been a long wait, zoo officials said.
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/16299963/detail.html
San Diego Zoo, Prison Merge
Quote:
SAN DIEGO—Plagued by a lack of funding and growing staff shortages, the San Diego Zoo and Ironwood State Prison were combined earlier this week, bringing local inmates and wildlife together for the first time under the same roof.
The new state-of-the-art facility—which will house 12 separate cell blocks, a reptile house, two weight rooms, and a primate sanctuary—is expected to save the state of California up to $5 million in operation costs over the next year.
"It is with great pride that I announce the opening of the San Diego Maximum Security Zoological & Convict Reserve," director David Hennessey said at an opening ceremony Tuesday. "From southern white rhinos to repeat offenders serving 20 years for drug trafficking—you'll find them all here at our amazing new facility."
Construction on the resource-sharing project concluded last Wednesday, after which felons and fauna were carefully transferred to their new joint living space. According to Hennessey, the 40-acre facility features one of the largest collections of migratory birds, hoofed mammals, and hardened inmates in all of North America.
http://www.alldeaf.com/jokes-funny-stories/52441-san-diego-zoo-prison-merge.html
Zoo launches $10M campaign; Gifts to fund improvements before tax vote
Crain’s Detroit Business
May 17, 2008, 8:43 pm
This is a very good article to see how the zoo gets its funding, why the need it, and some of the things they will do if the mileage passes.
Zoo launches $10M campaign; Gifts to fund improvements before tax vote
By Sherri Begin
Plans at the zoo
What: The Detroit Zoological Society last month officially launched a $10 million campaign to fund capital improvements at the zoo.
Projects planned: An animal carousel, an upgrade to the Tauber Family Railroad, a corporate pavilion, new signs and enhancements to the Ford Education Center and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.
Saving for the future: About $3 million of the campaign total will bolster the zoo’s $8 million endowment.
http://dzoovoleric.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/zoo-launches-10m-campaign-gifts-to-fund-improvements-before-tax-vote-crains-detroit-business/
Heritage Park Zoo celebrates 20th anniversary
By Doug Cook, The Daily Courier
Saturday, May 17, 2008
PRESCOTT - The Heritage Park Zoo has blossomed since its humble beginnings in May 1988, transforming itself from a tiny complex that cared for just a few animals into a full-fledged wildlife refuge.
On Saturday, the non-profit Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, as it's now dubbed, celebrated its 20th anniversary, offering free admission and hot dogs, as well as animal shows and docent tours, to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About 700 people attended the event, which went off without a hitch under warm, sunny skies and a light breeze.
http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=1&articleID=55461
Acquiring 'Blatt site opens new zoo worlds
BY C. DAVID KOTOK
COPYRIGHT 2008 OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
Baseball players, fans and umps would give way to polar bears, seals and walruses as part of a planned $100 million expansion of the Henry Doorly Zoo.
$100 million expansion
• Rosenblatt: Razed for 950 parking spaces
• Madagascar: Walk among bushy-tail lemurs
• Arctic Center: See polar bears, seals and otters
• Elephants: New home for up to a dozen more
• Pandas: Not yet, but still on the wish list
The Omaha Zoo Foundation board has signed off on an agreement with the city to obtain the Rosenblatt Stadium property for the nearly $12 million the city still owes on past stadium improvements. The foundation plans to raze the stadium to replace parking that will be lost to a major new exhibit and to add even more spaces.
Dr. Lee Simmons, the zoo's executive director, said the Rosenblatt property will give the zoo the elbow room to build a blockbuster new attraction. The Arctic Center, featuring animals typical of Alaska, is planned west of the zoo's Desert Dome in what is now the parking area along 10th Street.
The Arctic Center would become a visitor's first stop after entering the zoo and provide another enclosed attraction accessible during the cold months, Simmons told The World-Herald.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10337683
For economy, zoo gets lion's share of credit
BY KAREN SLOAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
When it comes to Omaha's economy, the Henry Doorly Zoo is no bear cub.
It's a full-grown grizzly.
A new study of Nebraska's top tourist attraction found that its overall economic impact on Omaha in 2007 was $86.34 million.
That figure takes into account several ways that the zoo strengthens the city's overall economy.
It factors in money spent at the zoo, spending by zoo visitors at businesses, wages of zoo employees and other workers, zoo construction projects and the retention of Omahans who would otherwise travel elsewhere for entertainment.
"Any major attraction like this has a multiplier effect, and people throughout the economy feel the impact," said Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Omaha Zoological Foundation hired Thompson to study the zoo's impact on Omaha and Nebraska, and he analyzed attendance and spending data from the past 10 years.
Zoo spending translates into tax revenue for the city and state.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10337682
continued...
How do scientists tell the public that the lower troposphere is drying out and unable to support hurricanes?
I'll put together a 'Saturday Night' about this topic. It is important. The 'Katrina' Season wasn't the worst of all hurricanes in the future, but, it was the last 'traditional' season. Every hurricane season since the "Katrina" Season has been atypical and I'll discuss that.
Storm warning
They then used two versions of the model, one assuming climate warming of 2.8ºC by 2100, and one without warming, to estimate whether hurricane activity will continue to increase in the region as a result of human-induced climate change.
References
Knutson, T. R. et al. Nature Geosci. doi:10.1038/ngeo202 (2008).
Increasing frequency of storms in past 25 years may not continue, although average severity may grow.
Olive Heffernan
Olive Heffernan
Hurricanes may become rarer in the Atlantic throughout the 21st century if the world continues to warm, suggests a new study.
The research is the latest to address the question of how — and whether — global warming will affect the intensity and frequency of hurricanes.
Globally, the number of major hurricanes has shot up by 75% since 1970. And although rising ocean temperatures are generally accepted as the key culprit — hurricanes can only form where sea surface temperatures exceed 26ºC — the link to global warming has remained a contentious issue.
In the new study, published today in Nature Geoscience 1, Thomas Knutson of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and colleagues used a regional climate model of the Atlantic basin to simulate the observed increase in hurricane activity between 1980 and 2006, on the basis of observed sea-surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions.
“The study does not support the notion that rising greenhouse gases are causing an increase in tropical storm frequency,” says Knutson.
The research is the latest to address the question of how — and whether — global warming will affect the intensity and frequency of hurricanes.
Globally, the number of major hurricanes has shot up by 75% since 1970. And although rising ocean temperatures are generally accepted as the key culprit — hurricanes can only form where sea surface temperatures exceed 26ºC — the link to global warming has remained a contentious issue.
In the new study, published today in Nature Geoscience 1, Thomas Knutson of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and colleagues used a regional climate model of the Atlantic basin to simulate the observed increase in hurricane activity between 1980 and 2006, on the basis of observed sea-surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions.
“The study does not support the notion that rising greenhouse gases are causing an increase in tropical storm frequency,” says Knutson.
Storm warning
They then used two versions of the model, one assuming climate warming of 2.8ºC by 2100, and one without warming, to estimate whether hurricane activity will continue to increase in the region as a result of human-induced climate change.
Overall, the number of hurricanes will decrease, with weaker storms feeling the greatest impacts. Knutson and his team predict a 27% drop in tropical storms, 18% fewer hurricanes and 8% fewer 'major hurricanes'.
So, despite the fact that hurricane activity has increased dramatically in the Atlantic over the past 25 years, this trend will not continue until the end of the century under warmer conditions. “We can’t simply extrapolate the trend from the past 25 years into the future,” says co-author Issac Held, also at NOAA.
The study focused primarily on changes in the number of hurricanes, but also projected a shift towards more intense storms and heavier rainfall events. This largely concurs with recent work by Kerry Emanuel, a hurricane expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Using a different type of model, Emanuel projected that global warming will result in fewer hurricanes globally, but that they will become more intense in some locations.
The study focused primarily on changes in the number of hurricanes, but also projected a shift towards more intense storms and heavier rainfall events. This largely concurs with recent work by Kerry Emanuel, a hurricane expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. Using a different type of model, Emanuel projected that global warming will result in fewer hurricanes globally, but that they will become more intense in some locations.
Size matters
Kevin Trenberth, a climatologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, who was not involved in the study, agrees to an extent with the findings. “The results suggest fewer tropical storms in the Atlantic, and this seems reasonable given everything else we know”.
But he cautions that the authors may have underestimated increases in hurricanes and really severe storms, owing to the fact that their model was fairly low-resolution and could not account for changes in some of the largest of these events.
“In this business it is not the numbers that matter, it is also the intensity, duration and size,” he says.
Kevin Trenberth, a climatologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, who was not involved in the study, agrees to an extent with the findings. “The results suggest fewer tropical storms in the Atlantic, and this seems reasonable given everything else we know”.
But he cautions that the authors may have underestimated increases in hurricanes and really severe storms, owing to the fact that their model was fairly low-resolution and could not account for changes in some of the largest of these events.
“In this business it is not the numbers that matter, it is also the intensity, duration and size,” he says.
References
Knutson, T. R. et al. Nature Geosci. doi:10.1038/ngeo202 (2008).
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