Wild Times - Spring 2023

Dear Members,

You’ve likely heard about the massive progress we are currently making with the Zoo’s reimagination. There’s no doubt that headway is being made on the single largest project to date in BREC’s 75+ year history.

On March 31st, we officially opened the first world-class exhibit in this first phase of construction. Sapo Springs — A West African Expedition — is an amazing representation of an equatorial West Africa with its river and swamp habitats. This exhibit is named for Sapo National Park located within the boundaries of Liberia.

The idea behind the exhibit is to show our visitors the stream worn riverbanks and mud slides where the hippos would leave the water at night to feed in the forests. This exhibit is important, as West Africa is typically forgotten when it comes to cultural exhibits — as most focus primarily on East Africa and Southern Africa. Keep reading to learn even more about the importance of this endangered species in our feature article. As we progress into the spring and summer months, we welcome you to come out and experience this amazing new engaging exhibit for yourself. In addition to pygmy hippos, it also features colobus monkeys, and a variety of endangered and exotic birds.

This is just the beginning. We anticipate future openings in North America, South America, Giraffe exhibit, and of course, our new front entrance and gateway to the New Baton Rouge Zoo. All of these milestones are set to take place in the coming 12 – 18 months.

We appreciate your patience in this process and trust that you’ll agree that it was well worth the wait once you see everything come into full view. Progress is the word of the year and we thank you immensely for being a part of this journey with us. The future is bright!

Yours truly,

Upcoming events*

MAY 6 & 13 ...................................

Breakfast with the Animals

Safari Club & Director's Circle Only

JUNE 2 ..........................................

Dreamnight at the Zoo Invitation only

JULY 1 ............................................

Red, White and Zoo

SEPTEMBER 29

Brew at the Zoo

Special ticketed event

OCTOBER 21 & 22

and 28 & 29

Boo at the Zoo

NOVEMBER 11

Art for Animals Festival

NOVEMBER 18 ...............................

Zoo Run

NOVEMBER 24 –

DECEMBER 30 ...............................

ZooLights

*Dates subject to change

Jim Fleshman ZOO DIRECTOR, Baton Rouge Zoo

Why AZA accreditation matters

At the Zoo, we pride ourselves in creating connections to wild species and wild places for our guests and members. Creating a meaningful, engaging guest experience that is relatable to people from diverse backgrounds and cultures is a key component of our work.

We educate the public about wildlife, wild places and engage them in saving species through our education programming. Finally, we fund effective conservation locally and globally that brings about positive outcomes for wildlife.

Zoos have come a long way from the days as a mere collection of animals. They have grown into dynamic organizations with crucial missions, striving to preserve the species and nature of our planet.

OUR MISSION

The Baton Rouge Zoo connects people with wildlife and the natural world through exceptionally engaging experiences and conservation efforts that impact our world both locally and globally.

Part of this devotion links back to why our accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) matters.

The AZA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA represents more than 235 facilities in the United States and overseas, which collectively draw more than 200 million visitors every year. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums meet the highest standards in animal care and welfare and provide a fun, safe, and educational family experience. In addition, they dedicate millions of dollars annually to support scientific research, conservation, and education programs.

AZA is the independent accrediting organization for the best zoos and the best aquariums in America and the world, assuring the public that when they visit an AZA-accredited facility, it meets the highest standards for animal care and welfare. Less than 10 percent of the 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act meet the more comprehensive standards of AZA accreditation. The highly trained professionals at AZAaccredited zoos and aquariums provide excellent care for more than 800,000 animals, making them the leading experts in animal care and welfare.

Conservation is a priority for AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and a key part of their mission to save species from extinction. Every year, AZA-accredited zoos and

aquariums spend $230 million on field conservation alone, supporting projects benefitting more than 800 species in 130 countries. To date, the AZA Conservation Grants Fund has provided $7.7 million in support for 400+ projects worldwide.

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are also leaders in the protection of threatened and endangered species. Through AZA SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction, the entire AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium community is focusing our conservation science, wildlife expertise, and outreach to millions of annual visitors on saving species in the wild. The AZA Species Survival Plan® (SSP) program is a cooperative animal management, breeding, and conservation effort that works to ensure genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations of more than 500 species of animals.

Our Zoo is very active in conservation programs and fully participates with other zoos around the world in nearly 30 international Species Survival Plans (SSP) for critically endangered species. Three of these SSP animals, the Guam Rail, Arabian Oryx, and Golden Lion Tamarin, have been successfully reintroduced into the wild and represent living proof of our long-term commitment of reintroduction to strengthen and supplement wild populations of endangered and threatened wildlife.

The Baton Rouge Zoo is proud to have been the first zoo in Louisiana to become an AZA accredited institution. In 2018, that distinction was lost due to a lack of investment in infrastructure over the Zoo’s 50-year history. That jolt pushed us to do better and make change. As such, much of the transformation you see throughout the Zoo are part of a global effort to make the necessary upgrades to regain our Zoo’s accreditation and once again be included in the top 10% of zoo’s in the country. We believe in the AZA mission and we know that we will be back in that elite society soon. In fact, the Zoo plans to apply for accreditation in 2023, with a decision being announced in Spring of 2024. We hope that when the time comes for us to celebrate this accomplishment, our fans will better understand the impact we are making and the importance of this distinction. Zoos really do make a difference!

RetIReeS

This quarter we said goodbye and good luck to two of our most upstanding employees at the Zoo as they began their retirement, Nancy Tarver and Cathy Guy. We would like to extend special thank you to these individuals for their years of hard work!

FROM LEFT

Nancy Tarver,, Horticulture and Maintenance Manager Cathy Guy, Assistant Admissions Manager

NeW at the zoo What’S (aND Who’S)

DoNatIoN fRom meRceDeS BeNz

The Baton Rouge Zoo and Zoo Foundation would like to extend a huge thank you to Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge for selecting the Zoo Foundation for a generous $5,000 donation. Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge, LA offered 2021 Baton Rouge Business Report's 40 under 40 winners the opportunity to nominate a charity of each recipient's choice. A huge thank you to Baton Rouge Business Report's 2021 40 under 40 recipient, Andrea Roberts, for nominating the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation for the donation.

Saddlebill Stork from Maryland Zoo Andean Condor from San Diego Zoo Gamble Quail from El Paso Zoo

Emily Wiewiorowski Promoted to Administrative Services Supervisor Administrative Staff

Tyler Junius IT Coordinator Administrative Staff

Robyn Johnson Receptionist Administrative Staff

Dodi Falcon Volunteer coordinator Education

Rhonda Ruffino Sr. Director of Development Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation

Sarah Campbell Special Events Manager Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation

Katie Fontenot Foundation & Donor Relations Coordinator Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation

Zachary Schmiedlin Animal Technician Kids Zoo & Aquarium

Brandy Romig Café

Latrice Johnson Café Shakaylie Weaver Café Abbigail Freeman Café

Lynsey Toney Admissions

Anthony Collins Admissions

Gabby Pizzuto Admissions

Jessica Hinote Admissions

Adult Winners

1st Ashtin McNicoll

2nd Laura Crafton

3rd Celeste Payne

Congratulations to all of the talented artists who entered our Art Gone Wild contest!

Our Grand Prize winner was Ashtin McNicoll with her exciting interpretation of none other than our very own Baton Rouge Zoo! Ashtin incorporated the zoo’s entrance and portraits of 20+ of the zoo animals. Our other first place winners were Olivia Leonardi in the Teenager category, Ryder Pettitt-Wise in the Pre-Teen category, Wyatt Shepardson in the Children category and Luke Allgood in the Beginner category.

Beginner Winners

1st Luke Allgood

2nd Caleb Green

3rd Valentina Hernandez

3RD

Preteen Winners

1st Ryder Pettitt-Wise

2nd Carmen Mueller

3rd Liberty Jones

Children Winners

1st Wyatt Shepardson

2nd Cassidy Normand

3rd Lily Ritchie

Teenager Winners

1st Olivia Leonardi

2nd Lana Grace Overton

3rd Anna Wang

Asian Hornbills SAFE Program

Affectionately known as ‘gardeners of the rainforest’, Asian Hornbills play a huge role in Commercial and illegal logging for largescale plantations of palm oil and rubber are

FUN FACTS

• Weighs between 400-600 pounds

• Gestation period of 6 to 7 months

• Herbivore

• Reclusive and solitary

• Nocturnal

• Stays underwater for 3-4 minutes

Submerges itself with nostrils and ears close to keep water out Emits a pink liquid that protects their skin from sunburn alks underwater, does not swim

HIP NEW HOME FOR OUR HIPPOS - SAPO SPRINGS!

If you’re a long-time member at the zoo, then you know our pygmy hippos, Ginger, age 17 and Spencer, age 28, have been a part of our zoo family for years, yet their previous exhibit was dated and made it difficult to experience them frolicking in the water — which is a large part of their daily activities.

With the new Sapo Springs exhibit, you get the opportunity to come face-to-face with these magnificent creatures. Perhaps the biggest change you’ll notice is the connection you might make with them during your visit. Our hippos are not shy underwater and are known to come right up to the glass for amazing selfies and photographic moments!

But, the exhibit is about more than just Instagram worthy snapshots and family memories — it’s also about exposure to a world that many of us may never get the opportunity to experience. The hope being that making our guests and members aware of the plight of these endangered species will help guide our paths with future decisions that could help save them.

To ensure an educational & culturally

immersive experience, we’ve been working with students from Southern University who call these regions home to help us prepare future cultural signage and artwork for the exhibit. Our goal is to tell a story about how their varied

a Taxonomic display model to a Zoogeographical display model. The goal being to create a small piece of the environment that’s specific to different regions around the world.

Being able to see the animals so closely in their natural environment will hopefully help lead to awareness of the plight that these magnificent creatures currently face.

cultures relate to wild animals, nature and conservation.

Equatorial West African forests and swamp are losing prime habitat due to logging and soil erosion dumping silt into the rivers and waterways. These actions are choking off habitat for many species in these regions.

This exhibit design helps the zoo to continue the process of moving from

Soon colorful African fish called cichlids — an endangered species — will also live in the water with the hippos which will add even more visual interest to the exhibit and help maintain the biological load a healthy water system needs. As well, black and white colobus monkeys, which are historically native to same African region as the hippos, are visible in the trees adding lots of lively movement to the exhibit.

Finally, the adjoining new African aviary features a variety of endangered birds from the region as well. These include Abdim’s Stork, Lappet-Faced Vultures and Sacred Ibis.

We invite you to come out and explore Sapo Springs!

the CHIPANGALI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

One of the newest international conservation organizations that the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation supports is the Chipangali Wildlife Sanctuary. This non-profit located in Zimbabwe, Africa, and is dedicated to the rescue and care of orphaned, injured, abandoned, abused, or confiscated wild animals in southern Africa. This family-run wildlife sanctuary is one of the oldest in Africa and for over four decades has been a place of refuge for animals who could not survive in the wild. The orphanage focuses on animal rehabilitation, veterinary nursing, conservation education, predator research and monitoring of many of Africa’s dominant species. Whenever possible, the sanctuary returns rehabilitated animals into the wild. By rehabilitating the animals, volunteers and researchers can learn a lot more about these wild animals than otherwise possible.

Behind the Scenes: Oso’s 30th Birthday!

This February we celebrated the Dirty Thirty of a resident favorite, Oso the Spectacled Bear! Spectacled Bears live about 35 years in captivity. While Oso is geriatric for his species, he was perfectly alert and excited for his birthday “cake.” His keeper team made his cake of sweet potatoes, bananas, grapes, carrots, kale and more!

Oso is currently acclimating to his newly renovated home in the South American habitat. Soon this year you will be able to watch him enjoy his home as the South American and North American portions of the zoo are set to finish reconstruction this year.

However, if safe release is not possible, the animals are cared for on the property and studied, too. On the sanctuary grounds, you will find lions, leopards, baboons, vervet monkeys, samango monkeys, bush babies, hyenas, and antelopes!

The Chipangali Sanctuary is a top tourist attraction in Zimbabwe that allows guests to explore and learn for a small fee. Thus, the sanctuary plays an important role in educating the Zimbabwe community and tourists about how these animals are important to protect for earth’s ecosystem!

As a research project and care facility with a long history of positive results in wildlife conservation, the Chipangali Wildlife Sanctuary is recognized by the Zimbabwe National Parks Board and globally for its achievements as one of Africa’s largest and most successful wildlife rehabilitation centers.

SPOTLIGHT MEMBERS

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE MEMBERS

Edward Alfortish

Kylie Benge

Alicia Biggs

Kenidee Blake

Ian Blanchard

Brad Boudreaux

Riley Boudreaux

S.Teala Brown

Tabetha Camaille

Tina Clause

Taylor Clause

Sara Daas

Scott Joseph Fin

Jim Fleshman

Phil Frost

Norisha Glover

Brian Hales

Tracie Johnson

Michael Kearns

Kathetine King

David Landacre Jr

Richard Launey

Tyler Lewis

Martha Littlefield

Gary Merrifield

Colby Moore

Ralph Ney

Francis Nezianya

Michael Olinde

Stephanie Powers

Katherine "Sue" Rainer

Christopher Reid

Angela Robinson

Todd Schexnayder

Ken Sherman

Paul Sicard

Joseph Simmons

John Standiford

Amanda Standish

Spring Stanger

Victoria (Vyki) Thompson

John Turner

Paula Varnado-Sullivan

Ashley Ward

SAFARI CLUB MEMBERS

Michele Blackwell

Malaura Blanchard

Richard Boyer

Koren Brockman

Casey Broussard

Monique Cain

Francisca Comeaux

Brandon Cook

Candice Crespo

Natalie, Zane & Parker Davis

Kelly Day

Jessie Depriest

Tim Derouen

Kimberly Drews

Jessica Gaboury

Rebekah Giroir

Cortney Haser

Sarah Henry

Richard Hirsch

Hanh Hoang

Daniel Johnson

Gregory Keehfuss

Mary Keogh

Katherine King

Richard Marshall

Ashtin Mcnicoll

Donald Miller

Terry Lee Moore

Julie Morales

Ellie Noel

Julie Noland

Andrew Orellana

Jami Orgeron

Aubrey Parker

Eric Parnell

Brandy Pendergrass

Debbie Perry

Monica Peters

William Potter

Emily Pozzi

Kevin Raske

Kelli Stevens

Christina Torretta

Joseph Watson

Melissa White

Christa Wilborn

Tony Williams

Whitney Woodson

zoo GeaUxeRS ReWaRDS

Do you enjoy visiting the Baton Rouge Zoo often? Then, you deserve to be rewarded for your loyalty!

We appreciate your ongoing support of our animals and staff here at the Baton Rouge Zoo! To show our appreciation to our members, we are offering special Member Loyalty Rewards…

You can get rewarded for using your membership by visiting the zoo! Here is how it works:

• Visit 8 times within 12 months of signing up or renewing your membership and receive a special member’s only treat from the Flamingo Café.

• Visit 10 times within 12 months of signing up or renewing your membership and receive a special members collector’s item from the Safari Post Gift Shop.

• Visit 12 time within 12 months of signing up or renewing your membership and receive a special animal encounter with a zookeeper. Rewards are only applicable for members of the household. Guests are not eligible to receive rewards. If you achieve a reward tier, the redeemable vouchers will be emailed to you at the end of the month. Valid for one time use only.

Wild Wine Walk was hosted on Friday, April 21. Guests enjoyed samples of wine from a variety of local vendors, along with tasty bites from area restaurants. The early evening event featured a champagne toast for all VIP guests upon entry to the event and also featured the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra playing beautiful music to compliment the relaxing event. Michael Brandt performed more upbeat tunes as the night progressed. The event was a stellar success, raising over $40,000 for the conservation efforts of the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation! We look forward to next year!

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