Fozblog

Elephant Calf Nisha Shows Symptoms of Herpesvirus

Dickerson Park Zoo celebrated the birth of Nisha in July 2006. It is with heavy hearts we announce today that late yesterday afternoon, Nisha began showing symptoms of a typically fatal elephant herpesvirus.

This isn't a new experience for the elephant staff at the zoo. We've seen this virus before. Luckily for one calf - Chandra - the staff developed an experimental treatment that was successful in saving her.

However, other calves with this virus - here at DPZ and at other zoos around the world - haven't been so fortunate.

Dickerson Park Zoo's elephant staff of well-trained professionals is consulting with veterinarians and experts across the country. They are spending 24 hours a day with Nisha. Please keep the keepers and Nisha in your thoughts.

If you would like to send your well-wishes to Nisha and her zookeepers, please click on the comments link below or send an e-mail.

Zoo calendar now available at BORDERS!

As you are out doing your holiday shopping, stop by Borders Books, Music Movies & Cafe at 3300 S. Glenstone in Springfield to pick up a 2008 Zoo Calendar.

Retail price is $10. (Sorry, Borders cannot offer the Friends of the Zoo member discount. Come to the zoo gift shop to use your discount privilege.)

Holiday shopping help from the zoo

"Black Friday" is just two days away now, and Dickerson Park Zoo offers a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of traditional holiday shopping. The annual sale at the Safari Trading Company gift shop kicks off on Friday, Nov. 23, and continues through Dec. 24. The general public will receive a 10 percent discount off gift shop merchandise, and our Friends of the Zoo members receive an additional 10 percent off (total of 20 percent).

The Safari Trading Company gift shop offers a wide variety of wildlife items -- apparel for tots, children and adults; home decor; toys and plush animals; books and puzzles. ZOOKEYS for the audio boxes throughout the zoo make great stocking stuffers.

And, don't miss out on the 2008 Zoo Calendar, a beautiful full-color calendar featuring photographs from throughout the park!

For gifts that give all year -- consider a Friends of the Zoo membership for a family, grandparents and their grandchildren or an adult plus a guest; or ADOPT an animal for the wildlife lover on your list. Call 417-833-1570 to order by phone or visit us in person!

Andy and Julie -- the fine morning folks at KTTS -- chatted with Melinda Arnold, the zoo's public relations director this week. Take a listen to the interview:

Do YOU recycle?

Of all the actions we can take that make a positive impact on the environment, recycling is one of the easiest for everyone - regardless of age - to do. Many trash services provide curb-side pick up of recyclables for a nominal monthly fee. And, municipal collection centers in Springfield and surrounding communities collect items for free.

Today is American Recycles Day! Show your spirit by making a commitment to recycle if you don't or recycle more if you do. Visit the America Recycles Day Web site for more on recycling. And, while you're at the site, take the pledge to do more.

If you don't recycle at home, now is the time to start. If you do recycle, look around - are there other household items you can recycle. Clothing, home decor, working-but-unwanted appliances all can live second (or third, or fourth) lives through resale and charitable stores (who often provide free pick-up service). Home electronics can also -- and should -- be recycled. Check out Springfield's Computer Recycling Center for the list of items they accept.

Here at Dickerson Park Zoo, we recycle paper, aluminum, plastic and cardboard. Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. has provided bins for us to place throughout the zoo for our guests to deposit the 20-ounce soft drink bottles they purchase from the vending machines.

A different twist on recycling is our composting program for herbivore manure. Our elephants alone produce nearly a ton (yes, a TON!) of manure a day. This manure, combined with waste from the hippopotamus, hoofstock, and other animals, is composted and sold in the spring and fall as ZooDoo.

SPOOKTACULAR ends on a high note

Thank you to everyone who made the 24th annual
Halloween SPOOKTACULAR a HUGE success!
We experienced our highest attendance at the event
since 2000, with 26,983 adults and children enjoying
the sights and sounds of Halloween.

SPOOKTACULAR truly is a community event.
Thank you to everyone who contributed time, support and money:

• Grand sponsor Wal-Mart and the great candy this year!
• Event sponsor and advance ticket outlet McDonald's. You've been with us for 23 years!
• Volunteers from high school, university, community organizations and businesses who helped staff the event each night.
• Promotional partners -- the radio stations at Clear Channel Radio (KGBX, Alice 95.5FM, and The Wolf 100.5FM), Journal Broadcast Group (KTTS, Power 96.5) and Midwest Family Broadcast Group (Star 105.1FM, The Cave 104.7, Bass Country 92.9 and Q107); The Kids Directory, Parent & Family, The News-Leader and KOLR10/FOX27, KSPR and KY3/YouNewsTV.
• School teachers, principals and students who carved hundreds of jack-o-lanterns for the event.
• Youth organizations and Scout Troups who created the Festival of Scarecrows.
• Our great zoo staff, docents, zoo ambassadors and community volunteers who put in hundreds of hours developing new ideas, building and painting new props and decorating the zoo grounds.

But, most of all we want to thank YOU, everyone in the community (nearly 27,000 of you!) who came to the event. We couldn't have the event if there weren't people to enjoy this safe, supervised evening event. We'll see you again next year!

Check out the SPOOKTACULAR photo album. You'll find the link to it on the left column.