Page 28 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2018

buzz | tidbits
WHAT’S NEW cont...

WILDLIFE SAFARI WELCOMES

GIRAFFE CALF NUMBER

TWO

WINSTON, OREGON

he was born at a whopping 147 pounds, walked within
Stwo hours, and stood five feet ten inches. On March 4
at 10:19 a.m., Wildlife Safari welcomed its second giraffe
calf born in its newest breeding program. The other giraffes have
readily accepted the daughter of Erin and Mate. Her name is Sally.

The new calf is considered a “common giraffe.” Safari works closely with the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan to make sure animals
born to the park fit an intricate scientific selection process to ensure the survival
of animal species from all over the world. “Our main goal for the giraffe breeding
program is to increase the variation in the genetic pool within the captive population,
as well as increase the overall captive giraffe population. This will ultimately help the wild
population, which is dwindling at an alarming rate due to habitat loss, fragmentation and
poaching,” says Dan Brands, the park’s general curator.
Sally has an important job to do for Wildlife Safari. “We want our animal births to feel like they
belong to, and sort of represent, the community,” says Dan Van Slyke, Safari’s executive director,
“helping them know about the positive, upward trajectory that Wildlife Safari and our tourism
industry have been on for the past few years. This baby girl is going to be a huge asset and ambassador
to the community and to regional tourism by attracting many more out-of-town guests.”

Wildlife Safari invites people to come meet their new resident and see all the other animals.

For hours and special events, see the website.
www.wildlifesafari.net

SCIENCE WORKS

cienceWorks Hands-on Museum, Southern Oregon's science center,
Sproudly announces its newest exhibit, Pterosaurs: Ancient Rulers of
the Sky. Pterosaurs opened in late April and explores the majesty and
wonder of a group of species that lived between Late Triassic through the
Late Cretaceous Periods (228 to 66 million years ago) of the Mesozoic
Era. "ScienceWorks is incredibly proud to have designed and built this
new exhibit in-house. We’re excited to offer it to our visitors," said
Steve Utt, President of ScienceWorks’ Board of Directors. It features
original designs as well as fossil replicas. Eight interactive stations enable
visitors to learn what a pterosaur is, when and where they lived, how
they moved and ate, and about the diversity of the species.

The Pterosaurs exhibit is ideal for learners of all ages, and set to run
through the end of December.
www.scienceworksmuseum.org