Touch Grass: Oregon Zoo
Photo courtesy of pelican
The Oregon Zoo is not only a home for wildlife from around the world, but also a center for local conservation efforts. The Oregon Zoo is “a hub for science, conservation, education and animal well-being delivering the highest quality of care to 165 species and subspecies,” with the mission statement of “Together for Wildlife,” according to its website. The zoo also states it inspires “guests and community members of all ages, abilities and backgrounds by creating safe, welcoming spaces. …Our community’s support helps us protect more than 20 endangered and threatened species —from California condors to Oregon silverspot butterflies.” Visitors can see many of these species during their time at the zoo, including the elephants, which are currently viral on the internet.
On February 1, a new elephant calf named Tula-Tu was born in the zoo, who can usually be seen with the rest of her herd from around 10:00am to 2:00pm daily inside the Zoo’s Forest Hall. She can also be seen across social media, including on YouTube. A record of 13 California condor chicks also hatched recently, bringing great news for conservation efforts. The condors will “stay with their parents for at least eight months before moving to pre-release pens for about a year. Eventually, they will travel to a wild release site to join free-flying condors in California and Arizona,” according to the zoo’s website, which also states there are currently only 560 condors in the world, emphasizing how important these conservation efforts are for the species. The zoo’s website contains a “News” section including more information on the California condor chicks and other things happening at the zoo.
The Oregon Zoo emphasizes conservation in its mission, including a section on its website titled “Small Actions” with information on how readers can help with conservation efforts for specific species. For salmon, a local Pacific Northwest species of concern, the website recommends using Seafood Watch, and using nontoxic products in yards and at home so as not to pollute water. Another way to get involved is to join the zoo’s Cascades Pika Watch as a volunteer. Pikas are an indicator species, meaning ecologists believe observing their condition can reveal changes in general environmental conditions. According to the zoo’s website, “volunteers conduct 1-2 monthly sitting surveys to track and log pika presence in the Gorge and across the region” after receiving training before they can choose survey sites along public hiking trails, “where they will scan the boulders for signs of movement while listening for the pika’s calls.” Donations to the zoo and other conservation groups are also always an option for those with the means.
The Oregon Zoo is located on 64 forested acres in Washington Park, covered in Touch Grass on November 22, 2024. The zoo is open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm, and admission is $26.00 for adults. Reserving tickets in advance through their website is recommended, especially as the busy season begins this spring. The zoo is around a half-hour drive from Reed, depending on traffic, and the trip would take roughly an hour on public transit, including some walking periods. Parking around Washington Park generally costs $2.40 an hour, though there are some free spots farther away. So, go out and touch grass in the Oregon Zoo!