Thank you to all our members and guests for a fantastic 2009! We look forward to seeing you in 2010!
December 31, 2009
December 28, 2009
Panama Travel Journal II - Day 5
Day 5, December 12, 2009
Today Roberto and I went to the infamous second stream. To be honest, I did not want to go, but Roberto wanted to see it during the day as he did not experience that on the last trip. As for me, I had bad memories and was not at all excited.
The trip started out good enough. Very good in fact. We found a species we had not seen on this trip or on the last. It was on the knoll between our home creek and the second. It is a small frog called Dendrobatidae minutus. About the size of your thumbnail, it has yellow at the crooks of each leg, and a beautiful blue patterned belly. Its like many birds I see, “brown.” But upon closer inspection it is full of color and wonderful. We found several. Edgardo will be happy. He wants some for El Valle. The stream however was a different story, or in fact, the same old story. We found two frogs and that was it. Those were found right at the top when we first dropped in. Even Roberto was visibly disgusted. He reverted to the same behavior Edgardo had exhibited last trip. Taking pictures and notes and light readings. I guess when scientists get befuddled they revert to what they know. Data.
The day was not a loss though. Jeff and I went out a little before dark and between 6:00-6:40 p.m. we caught about eight frogs. I also found a Limosus! That is only the third one on this trip and the first two Jeff found in amplexis. Jeff also found a Hemiphractus, the frog that looks just like a leaf and is a marsupial frog like the Gastrotheca. I first saw it at El Valle as well and instantly fell in love. It was a great find.
I went to bed early, at about 10:30 p.m. My plan was to get up and hunt early as nobody does. I hoped to catch some Limosus by going early. Time for Limosus is running out.
Today Roberto and I went to the infamous second stream. To be honest, I did not want to go, but Roberto wanted to see it during the day as he did not experience that on the last trip. As for me, I had bad memories and was not at all excited.
The trip started out good enough. Very good in fact. We found a species we had not seen on this trip or on the last. It was on the knoll between our home creek and the second. It is a small frog called Dendrobatidae minutus. About the size of your thumbnail, it has yellow at the crooks of each leg, and a beautiful blue patterned belly. Its like many birds I see, “brown.” But upon closer inspection it is full of color and wonderful. We found several. Edgardo will be happy. He wants some for El Valle. The stream however was a different story, or in fact, the same old story. We found two frogs and that was it. Those were found right at the top when we first dropped in. Even Roberto was visibly disgusted. He reverted to the same behavior Edgardo had exhibited last trip. Taking pictures and notes and light readings. I guess when scientists get befuddled they revert to what they know. Data.
The day was not a loss though. Jeff and I went out a little before dark and between 6:00-6:40 p.m. we caught about eight frogs. I also found a Limosus! That is only the third one on this trip and the first two Jeff found in amplexis. Jeff also found a Hemiphractus, the frog that looks just like a leaf and is a marsupial frog like the Gastrotheca. I first saw it at El Valle as well and instantly fell in love. It was a great find.
I went to bed early, at about 10:30 p.m. My plan was to get up and hunt early as nobody does. I hoped to catch some Limosus by going early. Time for Limosus is running out.
December 27, 2009
Panama Travel Journal II - Day 4
Day 4, December 11, 2009
This morning started around 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. for most of the group. It was a slow morning after a long day. I brought pancake mix for the group with walnuts and Mountain House raspberry crumble sauce for syrup. By 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. we were all working. I was building shelves for the frogs. Della, Roberto and Edgardo were processing and treating frogs with an anti-fungicide called Itroconazole. Jeff and Adrian were lining coolers with cardboard for the ride home. We finished chores around 1:30 p.m. and headed out. Jeff went out first and me next. Jeff and I did manage to find a pair of Antelopus in amplexis. As Della said, that female could be the future of the species. All the females from the first collection trip died and one female is not a lot. Especially when there is only one in captivity in the world.
The afternoon ended with me alone at the edge of a water hole, waiting for a Strabomanis bufoniformis to stick its head back out of the water. I missed it. It would be the first of our trip, and would be a good find. On the way back to camp I found a Centrolene ilex and H. colymba. C. ilex are a wonderful green leaf sitting frog. They have crazy white eyes and have left an impression on me since I saw them at El Valle a year and a half ago. The eyes bulge out and have lines through the whites. Nice! H. colymba, of course, is a target species, so that was a good find.
The night ended after a search with Edgardo, Roberto, Adrian and I. As the night went on, Roberto and I split up and headed back at the waterfall, as Edgardo took Adrian to find the prized Gastrotheca. The last thing I said to him was “Find my bufoniformis” and he did, too! Along with a male Gastrotheca. I went to bed (aka my hammock) between 12:00 and 1:00 a.m. and Della, Roberto, Adrian and Edgardo were up talking and winding down the night.
This morning started around 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. for most of the group. It was a slow morning after a long day. I brought pancake mix for the group with walnuts and Mountain House raspberry crumble sauce for syrup. By 9:30 – 10:00 a.m. we were all working. I was building shelves for the frogs. Della, Roberto and Edgardo were processing and treating frogs with an anti-fungicide called Itroconazole. Jeff and Adrian were lining coolers with cardboard for the ride home. We finished chores around 1:30 p.m. and headed out. Jeff went out first and me next. Jeff and I did manage to find a pair of Antelopus in amplexis. As Della said, that female could be the future of the species. All the females from the first collection trip died and one female is not a lot. Especially when there is only one in captivity in the world.
The afternoon ended with me alone at the edge of a water hole, waiting for a Strabomanis bufoniformis to stick its head back out of the water. I missed it. It would be the first of our trip, and would be a good find. On the way back to camp I found a Centrolene ilex and H. colymba. C. ilex are a wonderful green leaf sitting frog. They have crazy white eyes and have left an impression on me since I saw them at El Valle a year and a half ago. The eyes bulge out and have lines through the whites. Nice! H. colymba, of course, is a target species, so that was a good find.
The night ended after a search with Edgardo, Roberto, Adrian and I. As the night went on, Roberto and I split up and headed back at the waterfall, as Edgardo took Adrian to find the prized Gastrotheca. The last thing I said to him was “Find my bufoniformis” and he did, too! Along with a male Gastrotheca. I went to bed (aka my hammock) between 12:00 and 1:00 a.m. and Della, Roberto, Adrian and Edgardo were up talking and winding down the night.
December 26, 2009
Panama Travel Journal II - Day 3
After fixing our flat tire, we made the 1.5 hour drive to Chagres National Park. It was somewhat dryer this time, so we drove to the trail head. We got stuck twice and had to be pulled out by Edgardo. His SUV is much better suited to this terrain than the small STRI trucks with highway tires. The horses were at the trail head waiting for us by our 11:30 a.m. arrival. It takes a long time to load the gear of six people on horse back. We let part of the group start off sooner and Edgardo, Adrian and I stayed back. Soon after, I left, then Adrian, then Edgardo. Somehow he always gets (has to) leave last. I made the trip in about four hours this time with the last person making it in about six hours. It was still an epic journey of hill after hill after hill; but the drier conditions and shorter walk allowed most members to cut between two and four hours off the trip.
I asked Della, once on the walk, what she was thinking about, and the answer was typical Della. Frogs. Packing frogs, protocol for washing frogs, treatments for frogs, etc. For me, it was typical Bob. I thought about life; two things in particular. As much as the last trip was a pain, it was a bigger blessing and not because of the work, because of the unknown. With the language barrier and other communication issues we knew very little about the trip, the walk, the conditions, etc. Think about that for a second. In this day and age, in America, how many times does it happen that we don’t walk to the corner store without checking the weather on our Blackberry? In fact, we don’t walk to the corner store at all, we drive in a nicely maintained car. To have an unknown adventure is a true gift.
The second thing I thought about was time and the passing of time. I thought how different this trip was. How already, things are becoming familiar. Less fresh, more scripted. Sure, we still have the Panamanian time delay for everything. Sure, we get up at 4:30 a.m. only to have a flat tire, but much of the adventure is gone. I thought about how hard it is to keep life fresh; and more importantly, how little we try. If we were truthful, we like routine. Starbucks coffee in the morning with this but not too much of that, or iced tea with ½ water since I like my tea weak. The list goes on and on. I think about my kids and how we think when they are raised our job is done. The trouble with this thinking is when there is an end you tend to focus on it and miss the creamy, sweet inner bits. As I am encouraging myself now, I will encourage you. Slow down, look around, enjoy the bits in between the end points in life. The drive to work, the kids’ basketball game, the meeting at work, the bad lunch. You never know what you might find.
“The average man looks at extraordinary things and says ‘wow.’ The wise man looks as the ordinary things and is inspired.”
We finished the night with a two-hour collection trip. Della, Jeff and I found a frog early on. Della ended up finding about three more throughout the night with one Colymba in the group. As a target species, it was a good find. We did find a very sick Rana. It barely jumped at all. Last time they were crazy in the bag. This time, nothing. It was a long day but good as we went to bed around 11 p.m.
I asked Della, once on the walk, what she was thinking about, and the answer was typical Della. Frogs. Packing frogs, protocol for washing frogs, treatments for frogs, etc. For me, it was typical Bob. I thought about life; two things in particular. As much as the last trip was a pain, it was a bigger blessing and not because of the work, because of the unknown. With the language barrier and other communication issues we knew very little about the trip, the walk, the conditions, etc. Think about that for a second. In this day and age, in America, how many times does it happen that we don’t walk to the corner store without checking the weather on our Blackberry? In fact, we don’t walk to the corner store at all, we drive in a nicely maintained car. To have an unknown adventure is a true gift.
The second thing I thought about was time and the passing of time. I thought how different this trip was. How already, things are becoming familiar. Less fresh, more scripted. Sure, we still have the Panamanian time delay for everything. Sure, we get up at 4:30 a.m. only to have a flat tire, but much of the adventure is gone. I thought about how hard it is to keep life fresh; and more importantly, how little we try. If we were truthful, we like routine. Starbucks coffee in the morning with this but not too much of that, or iced tea with ½ water since I like my tea weak. The list goes on and on. I think about my kids and how we think when they are raised our job is done. The trouble with this thinking is when there is an end you tend to focus on it and miss the creamy, sweet inner bits. As I am encouraging myself now, I will encourage you. Slow down, look around, enjoy the bits in between the end points in life. The drive to work, the kids’ basketball game, the meeting at work, the bad lunch. You never know what you might find.
“The average man looks at extraordinary things and says ‘wow.’ The wise man looks as the ordinary things and is inspired.”
We finished the night with a two-hour collection trip. Della, Jeff and I found a frog early on. Della ended up finding about three more throughout the night with one Colymba in the group. As a target species, it was a good find. We did find a very sick Rana. It barely jumped at all. Last time they were crazy in the bag. This time, nothing. It was a long day but good as we went to bed around 11 p.m.
December 24, 2009
Reindeer in Training
Every reindeer would like to be chosen to join Santa at the North Pole. Older reindeer tell wonderful stories about the places they visited when they flew around the world as part of Santa’s Sleigh Team.
Reindeer, you see, only fly with Santa for two or three Christmases before they return to their herds. The Christmas Eve journey is utterly exhausting, so Santa sends them home with his love and thanks for a job well done. The elves throw a huge party before a reindeer leaves, and another to welcome the new team member. The new reindeer is officially given his or her team name: Dasher, Vixen, Prancer, Dancer, Donnner, Blitzen, Comet, or Cupid. The names are like titles that are passed on from one reindeer to another. The new team member will be similar in size, strength, and temperament to the one he or she is replacing so the sleigh will be perfectly balanced.
For most new arrivals at the North Pole, however, the honor of actually joining the Sleigh Team is still a long way off. When they first arrive, they have a long period of training to look forward to. But first, Santa offers them a warm welcome, showing them to the cozy stables for the new arrivals.
- Adapted from Santa’s Reindeer by Rod Green
Meet two very special “Reindeer in Training” at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo this holiday season. Santa's "Reindeer in Training" will be at the Zoo until January 3, 2010.
All of us at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season filled with all the magic that is Christmas!
December 18, 2009
Go Green for the Holidays
‘Tis the season for decking the halls, giving gifts, and getting together with family and friends. Celebrate an eco-friendly holiday season with these tips:
1. Traveling out of town to visit family? Share the ride with others going your way to reduce CO2 emissions and save money. Connect with people at www.erideshare.com
2. Put those cereal boxes to use! If you package your gifts, reuse empty boxes instead of buying new boxes. This saves trees and money!
3. Forget the boxes and bows and give experiences, such as tickets to a ball game or the Zoo! For example, ADOPT an animal at the Zoo in your child’s name!
4. Use energy-saving LED holiday lights instead of traditional light bulbs, as well as a time that automatically turns them off at night in case you forget to do it before going to bed.
5. Trim a tree for wildlife instead of cutting down a tree. Decorate a live tree in your yard with strings of popcorn and cranberries for wildlife to eat.
6. Consider getting a live tree from an organic tree farm. When it’s time to take out the tree, have it mulched to use in your spring garden instead of adding to the 10 million Christmas trees that end up in landfills every year.
7. Cut down on paper waste by emailing your holiday wishes or making your own cards out of recycled materials.
8. Recycle old maps, newspapers, and paper bags as gift wrap. If every family did this instead of using wrapping paper for just three presents, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
9. Light your candles with beeswax or soy candles which burn cleaner than traditional candles.
10. Go organic for holiday dinners that are healthy for you and the environment
1. Traveling out of town to visit family? Share the ride with others going your way to reduce CO2 emissions and save money. Connect with people at www.erideshare.com
2. Put those cereal boxes to use! If you package your gifts, reuse empty boxes instead of buying new boxes. This saves trees and money!
3. Forget the boxes and bows and give experiences, such as tickets to a ball game or the Zoo! For example, ADOPT an animal at the Zoo in your child’s name!
4. Use energy-saving LED holiday lights instead of traditional light bulbs, as well as a time that automatically turns them off at night in case you forget to do it before going to bed.
5. Trim a tree for wildlife instead of cutting down a tree. Decorate a live tree in your yard with strings of popcorn and cranberries for wildlife to eat.
6. Consider getting a live tree from an organic tree farm. When it’s time to take out the tree, have it mulched to use in your spring garden instead of adding to the 10 million Christmas trees that end up in landfills every year.
7. Cut down on paper waste by emailing your holiday wishes or making your own cards out of recycled materials.
8. Recycle old maps, newspapers, and paper bags as gift wrap. If every family did this instead of using wrapping paper for just three presents, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
9. Light your candles with beeswax or soy candles which burn cleaner than traditional candles.
10. Go organic for holiday dinners that are healthy for you and the environment
December 15, 2009
Breakfast with Santa
Thank you to all those who attended Saturday’s Santa Breakfast! The food was fantastic and all our guests enjoyed spreading holiday cheer!
After Saturday morning’s breakfast, Santa told a poignant story: Something remarkable took place when a little girl, not more than six years old, presented Santa with the gift of a tiny snow globe…This wasn’t just any snow globe, however. This snow globe had been given to the girl by her parents the day she was born. Rather than the usual “asking”, this little girl had her heart set on giving as she joyfully presented her treasure to Santa.
Obviously moved by this sincere expression of love and joy, Santa told this story to all of us who were working on Saturday. This story will stay with me this holiday season- A story that truly represents love, unselfishness and everything Christmas.
We hope you will join us for our next Breakfast with Santa event Saturday, December 19 at 9:30 am.
December 10, 2009
Panama Travel Journal II - Day 1
Glass Frog with eggs
December 8, 2009
-By Bob Chastain
Tuesday - It’s funny how life can turn on a dime. One second the world is piling up around you and the next second your Dad is having open heart surgery and nothing else matters. The call you MUST make matters little as you rear end the car in front of you. Panama is the same.
We left my house at 4:04 this morning to make an 8:30 a.m. flight. The snow and subzero weather made us worry. Turns out we made it to the airport with two hours to spare. Loading went well, and it seemed we would be on our way, except for that darned engine #1. Engine #2 worked just fine, but engine #1 did not want to start. Switch this, bang on that and still nothing. Then some brilliant person thought it must be cold. Two hours later and an external heater, we are off. We are scheduled to land at 2:15 p.m. and the flight to Panama and the three life lines that we are sending to the frogs there are nowhere to be found.
When we land in Houston the captain comes on and says, “The flight to Panama has already left. Please go to customer service.” Then a lady comes on and says, "They are holding the Panama flight. You will have to run if you want to catch your flight." Run we did. Houston is a big city airport with multiple terminals. The run had us sweaty and tired when we reached the gate and they say, “We were never told to hold the flight and it left seven minutes ago.” The airport turns “Matrix” and time stops. What was a huge rush 30 seconds ago has now turned into timelessness. Everything is slow motion now. We are told there are no more flights to Panama and given a hotel in Houston. The world returns to normal.
It’s funny how people react to things like this. Some are angry. Very angry. Some frustrated. Some crushed. Me? I am calculated. I think to myself, “Does getting angry at the lady behind the desk help, or does niceness help?” I try to use the best strategy to get the result I need. In this case, we have frogs to save, but they will have to wait one day. They will have to fight Chytrid in the wild for one more day. They will wait, as we wait.
For a solution to the problem at hand, we get booked into a hotel; make about a half of a billion phone calls to cancel horses at the Panamanian trail head. They were to meet us tomorrow after a 5:00 a.m. departure. The project director will now have a day to make final preparations in-country and the other expedition members will have to put hope on hold. We make the second half of a billion phone calls to check in at work, deal with the latest problems, rebook hotels in Panama that are now full, and look for something to eat.
Modern airports are like small cities with plastic knives. Since we are in Houston, near the coast, we decide on a seafood place and a three hour lunch. We miss the 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. buffet by 20 minutes. Just our luck, since now the expensive dinner menu starts our 3:20 p.m. lunch. But I have to admit, the service was nice and the food was good. We talked to the lady at the restaurant about why all their nice meals come with plastic knifes. You guessed it. National Security. We discussed why people don’t care about forks. They seem dangerous. We talked about how the whole world takes off their shoes in airport security because of one man. Strange place we live in…..
I have stopped taking Malarone, my malaria medicine, because my Achilles tendon is hurting. The one known side effect with Malarone is that your Achilles tendon can just rip and detach for no reason. I am more than a little worried about the walk tomorrow. I have iced it and taken ibuprofen, so we will see what happens. I am sure, right now, you and I are in the same boat. Too many things to think about and not enough time to control all the variables. Who knows how life would turn out if there were no variables? If left to our own designs, I am afraid we would sit wrapped in our version of our “perfect world” with little left to live for. Nobody hates discomfort and “unconvinced” more than me. Without it though, the desire to learn and grow would be lost. Relationships would have no passion. That to me would be the tragedy I would never want to face.
December 9, 2009
Winter WildLand
Meet Jack Frost!
Winter WildLand begins Friday December 11th, when everything at the Zoo is transformed into a winter vision of light and celebration!
Make it a tradition for your whole family and ring in the season with thousands of lights, holiday characters, and the opportunity to make gifts and accompany Santa as he delivers presents to the animals. You can even see two special “reindeer in training”!
Winter WildLand opens the weekend of Friday, 12/11, 12/12 and 12/13 then runs nightly from December 18 – January 3 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Ticket prices and detailed information.
It will be a "Wildly Festive Experience"!
December 7, 2009
Winter Camp Registration is open!
Register your wild ones for Winter Camp at the Zoo!
Snow Survival
Dec. 21-23, 9am-3pm
Cost: $100 for Zoo members, $130 for non-members
Ages: 6-12
It’s cold outside. You’d freeze without your coat and hat. So how do wild animals manage to survive the winter when it is especially chilly? We will discuss survival strategies, special adaptations and how you can track their movement in the winter months.
Amazing Adaptations
Dec 28-30, 9 am-3pm
Cost: $100 for Zoo members, $130 for non-members
Ages: 6-12
Why do giraffes have such long tongues? Why do leopards have spots? We’ll talk about amazing animal adaptations including camouflage and behavior.
Snow Survival
Dec. 21-23, 9am-3pm
Cost: $100 for Zoo members, $130 for non-members
Ages: 6-12
It’s cold outside. You’d freeze without your coat and hat. So how do wild animals manage to survive the winter when it is especially chilly? We will discuss survival strategies, special adaptations and how you can track their movement in the winter months.
Amazing Adaptations
Dec 28-30, 9 am-3pm
Cost: $100 for Zoo members, $130 for non-members
Ages: 6-12
Why do giraffes have such long tongues? Why do leopards have spots? We’ll talk about amazing animal adaptations including camouflage and behavior.
December 4, 2009
Amphibian Conservation and Rescue Program
Amphibian Conservation and Rescue Program
-Panamá East-
Bd Immediate Response Plan:
Collaborative project among all partners to secure enough founder individuals to support a long range captive assurance breeding program designed to save the top priority amphibian species in Panamá.
Immediate meeting and conference calls to identify needs.
Expedite a second collection trip to Panama’s Chagres National Park in early December 2009. Collect at least 20 (10.10 – male/female) – preferably 40 (20.20) of each of the top priority species.
Identify and outfit area to receive additional rescued amphibians quickly. Additional pods not arriving till January. Remodel a room at Summit Zoo ASAP- to include adding plumbing, water filtration, water outflow treatment, A/C, lighting, racks, tanks, veterinary supplies etc.
Develop a volunteer program for the next six months + to supply 1 to 2 extra staff a day, (keepers, veterinary support), for Summit Municipal Park animals- and EVACC, if needed.
Solicit Panamanian volunteers, staff from partner institutions and from other zoos or aquariums.
Get insect breeding collection population (crickets, fruit flies) up to numbers needed to feed additional amphibians. Will need to import insects at first. Permits need to be expedited.
-Panamá East-
Bd Immediate Response Plan:
Collaborative project among all partners to secure enough founder individuals to support a long range captive assurance breeding program designed to save the top priority amphibian species in Panamá.
Immediate meeting and conference calls to identify needs.
Expedite a second collection trip to Panama’s Chagres National Park in early December 2009. Collect at least 20 (10.10 – male/female) – preferably 40 (20.20) of each of the top priority species.
Identify and outfit area to receive additional rescued amphibians quickly. Additional pods not arriving till January. Remodel a room at Summit Zoo ASAP- to include adding plumbing, water filtration, water outflow treatment, A/C, lighting, racks, tanks, veterinary supplies etc.
Develop a volunteer program for the next six months + to supply 1 to 2 extra staff a day, (keepers, veterinary support), for Summit Municipal Park animals- and EVACC, if needed.
Solicit Panamanian volunteers, staff from partner institutions and from other zoos or aquariums.
Get insect breeding collection population (crickets, fruit flies) up to numbers needed to feed additional amphibians. Will need to import insects at first. Permits need to be expedited.
Chytrid Fungus
Panama amphibian rescue tainted by chytrid fungus
In the aftermath of the first expedition to Panama for the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation (PARC) Project, there is now confirmation that the very fungus the Project team was rushing to rescue frogs from in Panama had already arrived in the area. The purpose of this first expedition was to collect living specimens of frogs not yet affected by chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), the disease that has devastated nearly 100 frog species worldwide. It has now been discovered, through testing on frogs from the expedition’s collection, that chytrid fungus has now begun to attack amphibians well east of the Panama Canal Zone.
The rescue group, made up of representatives from the member organizations of the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, began their week-long expedition in the Panamanian cloud forest in mid-November. The Project team, led by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Smithsonian, collected approximately twenty harlequin frogs (Atelopus limosus) and twenty tree frogs (Hyloscirtus colymba) from Cerro Brewster in Panama’s Chagres National Park.
These two species were brought back to the Summit Municipal Park in Panama while other rescued species were taken to the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC). The EVACC was established several years ago by the Houston Zoo, a PARC project founder, after massive amphibian declines were witnessed in Western Panama several years ago by researchers and visiting scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
When screened for disease back in the rescue facility, most of the frogs tested positive for the chytrid fungus. Chytrid attacks the keratin cells in an amphibian's skin. Since amphibians need their skin for respiration, electrolyte balance and protection, changes in their skin chemistry and function is fatal. It is now thought that the electrolyte
imbalance causes death due to cardiac arrest. The fungus also damages the nervous system, affecting the frog's behavior.
“Nearly every specimen collected showed signs of the disease, and they are now being treated with anti-fungal baths,” said Eric Baitchman, head veterinarian of Zoo New England.
This discovery of amphibian chytrid on the frogs at this site means that time has now run out for at least four species of frogs that do not live further East than Cerro Brewster and have been extirpated at all their other known sites.
“If we want to save these species, we will have ramp up capacity a lot faster than anticipated,” said Brian Gratwicke of the National Zoological Park. “We thought we had some breathing space, but in fact, we may already be too late for some species.”
This discovery of chytrid on the frogs collected during the recent expedition now calls for different and immediate response from the Project team. Time is of the essence to go back into the area of the Panamanian jungle where the first collection occurred and to quickly collect the still living specimens that are in harm’s way. Once collected in the field, the rescue team will transport the frogs to safety at a recently outfitted isolation unit at the Summit Municipal Park in Panama, where they can be treated for the fungus and kept as an assurance population. But the team has very little time, as the fungus is known to infect and kill in a matter of weeks.
Work has now begun at the various Project institutions to recruit crews of husbandry professionals and veterinary staff who will travel to Panama in the coming weeks and months to begin care for the rescued population which could number in the hundreds of animals. This new urgent situation requires the Project members to focus on saving the remaining amphibians and to ramp up capacity for creating a sustainable safe harbor for them in a much shorter timeframe than originally envisioned.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo President/CEO Bob Chastain, who led the first Panama expedition in November, states it this way, “Here is the sum of the situation. Right now we can find over 100 frogs in three days. What happens when we only can find two a day? I heard the chair of the AZA board speaking to a group of 1200 conservationist and say, ‘we need to be faster, more nimble and quicker in our actions to save wildlife.’ That is what we need now. Fast, quick, nimble!”
The founding partners of the Project are Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Zoo New England, Houston Zoo, Africam Safari in Mexico, the Summit Municipal Park in Panama, Defenders of Wildlife and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. These various conservation organizations came together earlier in the year and pledged their cooperation and funding to combat the amphibian crisis.
Responding to the expedition’s news, the Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM), Panama’s National Environmental Authority, announced it would join the Project, pledging $150,000 in support.
“Amphibians are an important part of the cultural and biodiversity heritage of Panama, said Javier Arias, director of ANAM. “We are pleased to announce our financial and logistical support as full partners in the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project to build Panamanian capacity to respond to the global amphibian decline crisis.”
The Project partners are collectively working to establish an amphibian conservation breeding center in Panama to house and facilitate study on 15-20 species that are in jeopardy of being eradicated by the chytrid fungus.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has challenged all AZA accredited Zoos and Aquariums to take a leadership role during this amphibian crisis. If this effort fails, one-third to one-half of the world’s amphibians could go extinct.
For more information and to learn about ways to help visit Amphibian Rescue.
In the aftermath of the first expedition to Panama for the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation (PARC) Project, there is now confirmation that the very fungus the Project team was rushing to rescue frogs from in Panama had already arrived in the area. The purpose of this first expedition was to collect living specimens of frogs not yet affected by chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), the disease that has devastated nearly 100 frog species worldwide. It has now been discovered, through testing on frogs from the expedition’s collection, that chytrid fungus has now begun to attack amphibians well east of the Panama Canal Zone.
The rescue group, made up of representatives from the member organizations of the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, began their week-long expedition in the Panamanian cloud forest in mid-November. The Project team, led by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Smithsonian, collected approximately twenty harlequin frogs (Atelopus limosus) and twenty tree frogs (Hyloscirtus colymba) from Cerro Brewster in Panama’s Chagres National Park.
These two species were brought back to the Summit Municipal Park in Panama while other rescued species were taken to the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC). The EVACC was established several years ago by the Houston Zoo, a PARC project founder, after massive amphibian declines were witnessed in Western Panama several years ago by researchers and visiting scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
When screened for disease back in the rescue facility, most of the frogs tested positive for the chytrid fungus. Chytrid attacks the keratin cells in an amphibian's skin. Since amphibians need their skin for respiration, electrolyte balance and protection, changes in their skin chemistry and function is fatal. It is now thought that the electrolyte
imbalance causes death due to cardiac arrest. The fungus also damages the nervous system, affecting the frog's behavior.
“Nearly every specimen collected showed signs of the disease, and they are now being treated with anti-fungal baths,” said Eric Baitchman, head veterinarian of Zoo New England.
This discovery of amphibian chytrid on the frogs at this site means that time has now run out for at least four species of frogs that do not live further East than Cerro Brewster and have been extirpated at all their other known sites.
“If we want to save these species, we will have ramp up capacity a lot faster than anticipated,” said Brian Gratwicke of the National Zoological Park. “We thought we had some breathing space, but in fact, we may already be too late for some species.”
This discovery of chytrid on the frogs collected during the recent expedition now calls for different and immediate response from the Project team. Time is of the essence to go back into the area of the Panamanian jungle where the first collection occurred and to quickly collect the still living specimens that are in harm’s way. Once collected in the field, the rescue team will transport the frogs to safety at a recently outfitted isolation unit at the Summit Municipal Park in Panama, where they can be treated for the fungus and kept as an assurance population. But the team has very little time, as the fungus is known to infect and kill in a matter of weeks.
Work has now begun at the various Project institutions to recruit crews of husbandry professionals and veterinary staff who will travel to Panama in the coming weeks and months to begin care for the rescued population which could number in the hundreds of animals. This new urgent situation requires the Project members to focus on saving the remaining amphibians and to ramp up capacity for creating a sustainable safe harbor for them in a much shorter timeframe than originally envisioned.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo President/CEO Bob Chastain, who led the first Panama expedition in November, states it this way, “Here is the sum of the situation. Right now we can find over 100 frogs in three days. What happens when we only can find two a day? I heard the chair of the AZA board speaking to a group of 1200 conservationist and say, ‘we need to be faster, more nimble and quicker in our actions to save wildlife.’ That is what we need now. Fast, quick, nimble!”
The founding partners of the Project are Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Zoo New England, Houston Zoo, Africam Safari in Mexico, the Summit Municipal Park in Panama, Defenders of Wildlife and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. These various conservation organizations came together earlier in the year and pledged their cooperation and funding to combat the amphibian crisis.
Responding to the expedition’s news, the Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM), Panama’s National Environmental Authority, announced it would join the Project, pledging $150,000 in support.
“Amphibians are an important part of the cultural and biodiversity heritage of Panama, said Javier Arias, director of ANAM. “We are pleased to announce our financial and logistical support as full partners in the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project to build Panamanian capacity to respond to the global amphibian decline crisis.”
The Project partners are collectively working to establish an amphibian conservation breeding center in Panama to house and facilitate study on 15-20 species that are in jeopardy of being eradicated by the chytrid fungus.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has challenged all AZA accredited Zoos and Aquariums to take a leadership role during this amphibian crisis. If this effort fails, one-third to one-half of the world’s amphibians could go extinct.
For more information and to learn about ways to help visit Amphibian Rescue.
December 3, 2009
You are invited to the CMZ Orangutan ART Holiday Sale!
WHEN:
December 13th, Sunday
11am-1:00pm
WHERE:
Primate World
COST:
3”x5” $12
5”x7” $18
8”x10” $25
Each piece of art comes with a certificate of authenticity and orangutan conservation information. All art is matted and comes in a protective sleeve. 50% of the proceeds from each painting goes to orangutan conservation! Please bring cash or credit card to pay for your art when you buy.
Visit our website to purchase an orangutan painting on-line any time, or to learn about the artists.
December 1, 2009
Collector's Edition Animal Ornaments
Purchase your very own collector's edition animal ornaments while they last and help a great organization in the process!
This year our scratch resistant animal ornaments feature either our youngest orangutan addition, "Godek," or our grizzly bear boy, "Emmett." On the ornament back is written "Collector's Edition," and 2009, along with the CMZoo and AAZK logos.
Ornaments are approximately 1/8" thick and 2.5" in diameter. All proceeds from these ornaments go to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo AAZK Chapter to help fund the many conservation efforts that they support.
Cost: $10 each
Find these ornaments in our gift shop or click for purchase information.
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