Oregon Zoo's New Exhibit Features African Predators of All Kinds

By Bill LaMarche

Portland, OR - From the mighty lion to the slithering rock python, the Oregon Zoo's new exhibit features African predators of all kinds. The 2.5-acre Predators of the Serengeti exhibit celebrates its grand opening Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13.

"Although much excitement surrounds the lions, these other African predators are equally fascinating," said Mike Keele, interim zoo director.

The exhibit, which is home to some of Africa's largest carnivores - lions, cheetahs and African wild dogs - is also home to some of the planet's smallest predators. Red-billed hornbills, African bullfrogs, Mombassa golden starburst tarantulas and an emperor scorpion are among the pint-sized predators inhabiting the exhibit.

Bob, the zoo's 12-foot-long, 20-year-old African rock python, moved into his larger living space today. He has been a zoo resident since 1996, when he arrived from the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Mich. The rock python is the largest snake species in Africa and can reach up to 30 feet in length.

Beyond Bob's dwelling is the home of the colorful red-billed hornbill, which may be seen foraging for food among the undergrowth. This unique bird has long eyelashes, stubby legs and a large, curved beak, used primarily for digging. Fun facts abound at the hornbill's exhibit, where visitors can read about the bird's bizarre nesting activities.

"Male hornbills use food, droppings and mud to seal the female inside a tree, providing her with meals through a tiny hole for eight weeks while she sits on the nest," noted Keele. "This unique ritual helps protect the chicks until they're old enough to fly and forage on their own."

Elsewhere in the exhibit are some fierce African invertebrates - spiders and scorpions - that would be as dangerous as lions, if it weren't for size.

"As you look at these fascinating creatures, you realize that predators come in all sizes, from the mighty lion to the venomous tarantula," Keele said.

Predators of the Serengeti, designed and built by the zoo's in-house exhibits team, contains innovative constructs that keep both humans and animals mentally engaged. The exhibit brings visitors nose to nose with dozens of impressive predators through glass walls and mesh screens, providing wide-ranging views of the animals' spacious enclosures from a variety of observation points.

"We found a good balance between giving visitors up-close encounters with the predators -- you can look at the lions from a foot away -- and providing the animals with large, naturalistic living space," said Brent Shelby, the zoo's exhibit and interpretive design manager.

The Oregon Zoo Foundation raised $6.4 million for Predators of the Serengeti. Supporters who contributed $50,000 or more to Predators include: Banfield, The Pet Hospital; the estate of Marjorie H. Black; the Clark Family (Mike & Tracey Clark, Clark/Lewis Family Foundation, Brittney Clark & Christopher Brooks); The Collins Foundation; the estate of Melvin F. Dersham; Institute of Museum and Library Services; Metro Regional Center; Meyer Memorial Trust; M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; The Oregon Zoo Foundation; Oregon Zoo Volunteers; Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation and Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation; the Jay and Diane Zidell Charitable Foundation; Zoolala 2007; Zoolala 2008; Mary Clark; Clear Channel; Columbia Sportswear Co.; Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund; Michele Mass and Jim Edwards; Don Frisbee; Elizabeth Lilley; Jim and Jennifer Mark; James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation; Portland General Electric; Spirit Mountain Casino; The Standard; Edson and Gayle Whitehurst; and three anonymous donors.

For more information about Predators of the Serengeti, visit www.oregonzoo.org/Exhibits/PredatorsOfSerengeti/index.htm.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Visitors who ride MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $10.50 (12-64), seniors $9 (65+), children $7.50 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.

Photo caption 1: Oregon Zoo educator Matt Crouse comes face to face with a female lion, at the Oregon Zoo's Predators of the Serengeti exhibit. The zoo celebrates the grand opening of this state-of-the-art exhibit, Sept. 12-13. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.

Photo caption 2: An African red-billed hornbill perches on a branch at the Oregon Zoo's Predators of the Serengeti exhibit. The zoo celebrates the grand opening of the state-of-the-art exhibit, Sept. 12-13. Photo by Michael Durham, courtesy of the Oregon Zoo.

Oregon Zoo 4001 SW Canyon Rd. Portland, Oregon 97221 503-226-1561

To view Oregon Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-382-Oregon_Zoo