A third California condor has joined the exhibit. http://m.1190kex.com/articles/portland-local-news-123543/third-condor-moves-into-oregon-zoo-12281920
Both the zoo director and the chief veterinarian left today. Whether they resigned or were fired is unclear from numerous articles. This article states there has been a high turnover rate at the zoo. Oregon Zoo director, veterinarian leave | OregonLive.com Does anyone in the northwest know what is going on at this zoo?
Oregon Zoo's turnover rate, especially of established veteran workers, has been quite surprising. The plot thickens: Oregon Zoo senior veterinarian says he was fired without explanation, former colleague praises him | OregonLive.com
Article about the death of Kutai, the Orang utan : Metro leaders say Oregon Zoo dismissals tied to January death of orangutan | OregonLive.com
More Oregon Zoo controversy: Oregon Zoo whistleblower: 'They were caught with their pants down' | KATU Investigators | KATU.com - Portland News, Sports, Traffic Weather and Breaking News - Portland, Oregon
Now you just know there must be more to his firing than his high minded justifications indicate. I have yet to meet a disgruntled employee who didn't try to insist they were fired because they were too righteous and management was too corrupt
Would not be too sure. I think / feel a council led zoo that hires in principle does so almost clueless to what is needed to be a zoo person management or otherwise. Imagine, a Giuliani would seek to hire a botanist for the Bronx zoo …. (goodness forbid that …).
Good luck finding a new director and head vet to work there under these circumstances. Firings illustrate vast cultural gap between the Oregon Zoo and Metro, veteran keeper says | OregonLive.com
Other staff are protesting the head vets firing and asking he be reinstated. Oregon Zoo employees protest veterinarian's firing, say he was 'a father figure' | OregonLive.com
On the bright side, a new Sea Otter has joined the zoo's collection. Playful pup Juno to join two elderly otters at Steller Cove | Oregon Zoo
The link below has a colourful map that highlights 6 major projects that have already been funded and will be completed by 2020. The huge Elephant Lands complex, that is costing $57 million, takes up a large footprint within the zoo. Condors of the Columbia opens next week. A new zoo | Oregon Zoo
Condors of the Columbia is basically open now, there are three males on display in a large, impressive aviary. They were feeding on a calf carcass this morning. The viewing areas are blocked off, but all the signs can be read and the enclosure is fully visible. Its a great addition to the Zoo's excellent Great Northwest exhibit. The elephant area does appear to be huge, but I'm not sure if they actually removed much for it, or is this new land? The new polar bear exhibit is urgently needed. The penguin exhibit is also fairly new, but was a pretty disappointing development.
Thanks for the updates, and Condors of the Columbia looks to be a terrific addition to a zoo that receives a massive 1.6 million annual visitors. Elephant Lands is utilizing an area that used to be home to elk and wolves, as well as adjacent land to the current exhibit. The Penguinarium is not new and in fact it opened in 1959! There was a major remodeling job in the early 1980's and it recently closed for two years for a new water-filtration installation as well as repairs to the heating and air-conditioning units. The actual exhibit space has basically remained the same for more than 30 years and it pales in comparison to the Humboldt Penguin exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo just 2.5 hours to the north.
More has been released regarding the firings of the head vet and director. Apparently not disciplining people for stupid mistakes is grounds for firing. If thats the case then why havent those who made the mistakes been fired as well. I would think a mistake leading to the death of an endangered animal is worse then not punishing the person responsible for the death. I dont see why they werent punished themselves with something less severe than a firing, especially when the individuals actually responsible for the death have been allowed to keep their jobs. Still sounds weird to me. Oregon Zoo firings: 'Sloppy' mistakes preceding Kutai's death weren't followed by review, discipline | OregonLive.com
Six cotton top tamarins died in quarantine. Six tamarin monkeys die at Oregon Zoo shortly after arrival, cause unknown | OregonLive.com
It is a sad - and admittedly rather disastrous - episode. Where the primates on import (intercontinental)? Whether there is a connection ... or not (not sure)?! However, I bet my money on this would not have happened if the (sacked) zoo director and chief vet had been in office!
