Habitat Summer 2024

SUMMER 2024 I S S U E 74

MEET KIT, THE NEWEST OTTER AT THE ZOO INSIDE:

The Detroit Zoological Society rebrands with a new look and a new vision

There’s a whole lot new at the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS).

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If you have driven down Woodward Avenue near I-696 lately, you probably already know that the iconic water tower has a new look.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Our organization has embraced a new brand identity, which includes new logos and websites for the DZS, Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, fresh signage and colors, a new photo opportunity and so much more. Beyond that, our new brand identity includes our refreshed purpose, vision, mission, values and key commitments. These serve as a compass, guiding everything we do as an organization and ensuring our actions ignite positive change for animals and nature.

In this Habitat edition, you’ll read all about everything new at the Zoo — from our brand identity to a new sea otter who is settling in swimmingly. I can’t wait for you to explore how we are fulfilling our mission to create meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive.

PHOTOGRAPHER Christina Ross CONTRIBUTING WRITER Katie Merx

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Ask the Expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 A New Look & New Vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 A Great Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Saving the Piping Plovers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Events at the Zoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Canine Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Connecting Through Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 A Golden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Kids Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Conservation Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Habitat is produced quarterly for members of the Detroit Zoological Society.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sarah Culton

Inside

Something BIG on Belle Isle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Hayley Murphy Executive Director and CEO

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN Crain's Content Studio

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CONTACT Detroit Zoological Society 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067 Phone: (248) 541-5717 www.detroitzoo.org For questions aboutmembership, please contact: info@dzs.org

Copyright © 2024 Detroit Zoological Society. All rights reserved.

The Detroit Zoological Society — a renowned leader in humane education, wildlife conservation, animal welfare and environmental sustainability — operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. The Detroit Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Recipient of the 2020 Environmental Sustainability Award

FIND THE DZS ONLINE

Printed in the USA

ASK THE EXPERT

SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

AN INTERVIEW WITH

ZOOKEEPER TOM BROWN

Tom Brown has been a zookeeper with the Detroit Zoological Society for nearly 29 years. He often works out of the Zoo’s commissary, preparing healthy and nutritious meals for the animals who call the Zoo home.

What do you do at the Detroit Zoo? I’ve been in animal care my entire time at the Zoo. Right now, I’m assigned to the commissary, so I do a lot of food prep and delivery. I prep the produce as it arrives and package up all the frozen meat and fish. All of us in the commissary work together to deliver the food and ensure it gets to the animals who call the Zoo home. I also do certain animal feedings. I do giraffe feeds, some food-based sea otter training and things like that.

How did you get involved in animal care?

I think I’ve pretty much always wanted to be a zookeeper. When I was a kid, my mom and dad took us to see relatives with animals, so we fed chickens and cows a lot. In later years, that translated to going to Michigan State University and studying biology.

After I graduated, I ended up here at the Zoo, and I’ve been here ever since.

What is your favorite part of your job?

It’s all interesting. The variety, I would say, is my favorite thing. Whenever you are working with animals, there is a tremendous variety in your job because you are not just working with people’s personalities — you are also working with animals’ personalities. My job always changes from day to day.

Do you have a favorite animal to work with?

Whoever is cooperating the most — and that changes from moment to moment. Good behavior is a good friend.

Do you have any advice for young people hoping to enter the animal care field?

Everyone in zookeeping wants to work with animals, but many other skills come into play when working with animals. You have to understand how machines work, how heating and cooling work, and how to work with other people — animal care is a team sport. Keep an open mind and be ready to learn all kinds of skills.

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HABITAT | A NEW LOOK & NEW VISION

A NEW LOOK & NEW VISION

The Detroit Zoological Society’s new logos and branding embrace a sense of color, wonder, playfulness and purpose By Katie Merx Towering high above one of metro Detroit’s busiest highway interchanges and visible for miles around, the iconic water tower has long been a beacon of adventure, attracting guests to the Detroit Zoo -- and serving as a beloved symbol of the joy that the Zoo brings to the community.

“Our new brand is designed to tell stories in new and meaningful ways, keeping us relevant into the next century,” says Murphy, who has been with the Zoo since 2021.

It’s not surprising that when the water tower went under wraps last spring, for the first time in almost 30 years, there was much buzz about what was going to be unveiled.

DZS leadership felt that a new visual identity could better reflect the organization’s mission and become a portal for storytelling. The result conveys a DZS that is welcoming, inclusive and approachable, says Kim Waatti, DZS senior director of marketing and communications. There is a playfulness and openness, as well as a sense of purpose around the mission of caring for and protecting animals and nature.

The fresh look, revealed in May after receiving 515 gallons of paint and a 30-foot-hight vinyl wrap, aims to reflect visitors’ excitement and sense of wonder when they spot the tower. Marking a significant transformation, the new water tower design is part of an overall re-branding effort for the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, and is designed to resonate with contemporary audiences while underscoring the DZS's commitment to science, conservation, education and community.

The re-branding includes updated logos, colors and fonts on everything from the tower and signage to online presence and materials like brochures and maps. The DZS sought to achieve a dynamic visual identity that would elevate the organization’s mission and purpose, says Hayley Murphy, executive director and CEO of the DZS. The classic but modern logos, engaging color palette and digital-friendly design are all aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and storytelling, ensuring the Zoo remains a dynamic institution for years to come.

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THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

“We knew we needed to elevate our storytelling capabilities. Our former visual identity wasn’t scalable or nimble enough to adequately serve everything from signage to social media,” Waatti says. “We wanted this visual language to serve as a portal for connections between people, animals and nature. Conservation is at the heart of everything we do, and our new brand identity is the perfect canvas to showcase those efforts.”

(Continued on page 6)

BEHIND THE BRAND The Detroit Zoological Society, which operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, has identified the following as its purpose and mission.

This has informed the approach to the new brand guidelines.

PURPOSE To ignite positive change for animals and nature.

MISSION To create meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive.

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KEY COMMITMENTS The Detroit Zoological Society identified key areas where the organization is committed.

ANIMALS Our commitment to the well-being of animals is grounded in evidence-based care and research. We use science to ensure that animals thrive wherever they live.

PEOPLE We are committed to cultivating an equitable and inclusive culture by providing engaging experiences that educate and inspire meaningful connections among our community, guests and team members.

ENVIRONMENT We create an understanding of the complex relationships between the natural systems of the living world to support environmental resilience, biodiversity and universal healing.

"Our new brand is designed to

RESOURCES Our foundation is built upon demonstrating stewardship of the resources entrusted to us through responsible management and transparent oversight.

tell stories in new and meaningful ways, keeping us relevant into the next century."

Hayley Murphy, Executive director and CEO, Detroit Zoological Society 5

HABITAT | A NEW LOOK & NEW VISION

From left: An all-new app helps guests plan their visit to the Zoo; Guests can snap a photo inside a larger-than-life photo op.

COMING TO LIFE

"Conservation is at the heart of everything we do, and our new brand identity is the perfect canvas to showcase those efforts."

Kim Waatti, senior director of marketing and communications, Detroit Zoological Society

The updated website was right there at the top of the list for the new look.

“We needed to ensure that our websites truly served our community and our guests,” Waatti says, “The brand work has included full redesigns for the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, as well as a new website for the Detroit Zoological Society. This is something we hadn’t had previously, and it will allow us to really highlight our science-based research, conservation work and community impact. You can start learning all about the DZS in our Strategic Plan, which is available on our website and gives an overview of our new mission, vision and purpose and outlines the commitments we are making going forward.”

With the digital-first approach, the DZS also launched an all-new mobile app available for Apple and Android devices. Through the app, guests can explore the new brand, purchase tickets, plan their visit and so much more.

“With the websites and app, we will have so many more opportunities to tell stories through more video and animated content,” Waatti says.

IN LIVING COLOR In addition to a bold color palette, within the Detroit Zoo’s new logo, the two large Os of the word “ZOO” are pushed together like binoculars. In some uses, the logo will feature animals looking back out through the Os. “The Os invite you into a world for storytelling,” Waatti says. “We use them as 6

a container, or a canvas, to create meaningful connections between animals and people. So, whether we are inviting you to look into a tiger’s eyes in the Os, or a giraffe is popping its head and neck into the viewer’s world through the Os, there is a place for you in that interaction.”

The element brings the animals of the Zoo into the picture, as they are the focus of everything at the Zoo. “We are really loving the storytelling capabilities and the symbolism of the connection between people and animals,” Waatti says.

DEEPER STORIES FOSTER DEEPER CONNECTIONS The brand all ties together through storytelling, whether in person, in social media, on the organizations’ redesigned websites – or even on the new water tower.

The timing was right for the water tower to change, as the wrapping bearing the animal-parade design had reached the

ABOUT THE NEW LOGOS Here are some examples of the new logo treatments you’ll see in play every day from the website and social media to various creative assets on site at the Zoo and Nature Center.

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end of its lifespan, and the tower needed significant repair.

For the Detroit Zoo, the circles that make up the Os in the word “ZOO” in the logo were purposefully designed to act as both a canvas and a portal. Inside, catch a glimpse of a world where animals and humans thrive together. The result is an engaging and inviting versatile “frame” that can showcase an endless array of imagery.

Seizing the opportunity to create a playful storytelling moment, the Zoo team launched an augmented-reality feature on the tower. Visitors can now scan a QR code near the water tower with their Snapchat app and see a giraffe munching on leaves, a tiger taking a morning stretch and a blue butterfly soaring above – all enticing them into the Zoo to see these very animals.

The animated animals will pop out and come to life through your phone’s screen.

“You can wear a piece of the Zoo’s history, while you are also part of supporting its future, including our commitment to sustainability,” Waatti says.

It’s all part of creating a visual ecosystem that reflects what the Zoo does and why it matters to visitors.

“This new design will continue to spark that joy for years to come,” Murphy says.

“So many people have a connection to the Zoo, and in these spaces, that’s what we are all about — building and creating more connections between people and the natural world around them.”

Want a piece of the old water tower?

Detroit jewelry-maker Rebel Nell is reusing parts of the old water tower in a new jewelry line.

The feature is a unique, fun element, meant to add some delight to visitors.

“This is one-of-a-kind! I don't know of any other water tower that has an augmented reality feature,” Waatti says.

And if the old water tower design really captured your heart, you can still wear a piece of it with you. The Detroit Zoo team worked with Detroit-based jewelry designers at Rebel Nell, a woman-owned business in the city, to craft pieces with remnants of the former water tower design.

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HABITAT | A GREAT GALA

A GREAT

GALA

Thank you for connecting at Sunset at the Zoo 2024 On June 21, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) hosted its annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser, presented by KeyBank and chaired by Kelly and Clifford Houseman.

During this event, guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks, live music, a silent auction, dancing and much more. More than that, Sunset at the Zoo raised critical funds to support our mission of creating meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive.

This year’s theme was Where Life Connects — our tagline and way of life. From inspiring a child who visits the Zoo to support wildlife at home to planting trees throughout metro Detroit to saving endangered species in the wild, the connections fostered through the DZS ignite positive change far and wide. Every dollar raised during this year’s Sunset ensures that our staff, community and guests can continue to create these incredible connections.

Thank you to all the incredibly generous sponsors, restaurants, distributors and individuals who donated their time, talents and resources to make this year’s Sunset at the Zoo a success. You bring our mission to life.

Guests enjoyed drinks, food, dancing and more during Sunset at the Zoo 2024.

Guests fed Neo the cassowary grapes under zookeeper supervision to help raise funds for the DZS. 8

SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

THANK YOU, SPONSORS

The Cotton Family

C.L. Rieckhoff Co., Inc.

AAA – The Auto Club | ACCESS | Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. | American Fence and Supply Co., Inc. | Blake’s Hard Cider Co. BrightView Landscape Services | CAPTRUST | Complete Interactive Tech. Inc. | Dolley & Sons | Doner | EHIM | fleurdetroit The Forbes Company | Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC | G.H. Forbes Associates Architects with Peter Basso Associates Henry Ford Health | Lear Corporation | Lee Contracting, Inc. | Limbach Co. LLC | The Old Village Landscaper, Inc. Operating Engineers 324 | Protective Coatings Epoxy Systems | R&R Facilities Solutions | Roncelli | Signal Restoration Services Thermeq | Vericast | Vesco Oil Corporation | Wayne State University | WJE 9

HABITAT | SAVING THE PIPING PLOVERS

Want to help?

To make a gift, please visit detroitzoo.org/support/give or contact Andrea Richards at (248) 336-5729.

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SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

SAVING THE PIPING PLOVERS Conservation program keeping Great Lakes birds from extinction

By Anthony Zick, Grants Coordinator

Conservation is at the core of what the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) does.

The connections our guests make at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center inspire them to protect animals and the natural world. Beyond our campuses, we partake in evidencebased conservation work to protect wildlife facing potential extinction. One such activity is the recovery of Great Lakes piping plovers.

Each spring, these tiny birds nest on the beaches of the Great Lakes region.

Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong.

Parents flee their nests when they feel threatened by predators, humans or high water levels. Plover nesting space has also been lost due to development.

In 1986, piping plovers were added to the State of Michigan’s endangered species list.

In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched the Piping Plover Recovery Initiative. Every year since, the DZS’s bird care team has played a critical role in the initiative’s captiverearing program. The program involves incubating abandoned piping plover eggs until they hatch and rearing the chicks until they can be released to join wild plovers. The Piping Plover Recovery Initiative has helped grow the number of nesting pairs from just 17 to an amazing 80 pairs in the latest census.

By August, a new group of captivereared plovers will be ready to fledge and begin their first journey south for the winter. Because of donors like you, the recovery of species such as the piping plover is taking flight. Together, we are making a real difference in the fight to protect endangered species.

Your thoughtful gift of any size will help ignite positive change for animals and nature – both at the Zoo and around the globe.

The Detroit Zoo works with a federal recovery program to incubate abandoned piping plover eggs, rear the chicks and release them into the wild. Photo credits: Jessica Egerer and the Detroit Zoological Society.

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HABITAT | EVENTS AT THE ZOO

There is so much to see and do at the Zoo! From family-friendly festivities to adults-only happenings, our summer events lineup is sure to have you celebrating wildlife all season long. Explore all our events at detroitzoo.org/events.

DINOSAURIA OPEN THROUGH SEPT. 8 TICKETS ON SALE NOW Step back in time! Get ready for an immersive walk-through experience that takes you along a trail teeming with lifelike, animatronic dinosaurs. From a towering Brachiosaurus to a massive T. rex, Dinosauria, presented by Michigan First Credit Union, promises thrills at every twist and turn.

PRESENTED BY

SUMMER NIGHTS AT THE ZOO

SUMMER SIPS 6 TO 10 P.M. JULY 19 TICKETS ON SALE NOW Sip and save wildlife at Summer Sips: Booze Cruise, presented by KeyBank!

During this wild 21-and-older event, you’ll connect with your favorite animals, make incredible memories and support wildlife conservation while exploring the Zoo with a cocktail — or two.

PRESENTED BY

MEMBER ONLY EVENINGS 5 TO 8 P.M. JULY 31, AUG. 14, AUG. 28, FREE FOR MEMBERS Members will have the exclusive opportunity to visit the Zoo after hours with access to all 125 acres to explore. Skip the crowd and mark your calendars — members of all ages and membership levels are welcome during Member Only Evenings.

WILD SUMMER NIGHTS 6 TO 7:30 P.M. JULY 24, AUG. 7, AUG. 21, FREE WITH ZOO ADMISSION I FREE FOR MEMBERS

BIKE SAFARI

Get your groove on at the Zoo! During Wild Summer Nights, presented by Fifth Third, you’ll enjoy a variety of music from local bands, Zookeeper Chats and so much more.

6 TO 9 P.M. AUG. 1, TICKETS ON SALE NOW

PRESENTED BY

Enjoy an exclusive opportunity to ride your bicycle through the Detroit Zoo and enjoy an after-hours look at your favorite animals. Bike Safari is for guests of all ages!

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SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

YOGA AT THE ZOO SELECT MORNINGS AND EVENINGS IN JULY AND AUGUST, TICKETS ON SALE NOW Go Zen at the Zoo. Grab your mat, fill your reusable water bottle and get ready to master a variety of poses at yoga sessions led by certified instructors. With the animals who call the Zoo home as your backdrop, you will relax in an environment like no other.

RUN WILD

SENIOR DAY

TONS OF TRUCKS

8 A.M. TO NOON SEPT. 8 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. SEPT. 11 FREE FOR TRI-COUNTY SENIORS

10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. SEPT. 14 TICKETS COMING SOON

Join thousands of runners and walkers on Sunday, Sept. 8 for Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo, presented by Michigan First Credit Union. During this annual event, you can compete in a 5K run or enjoy a stroll through the Zoo with our non-competitive Fun Walk.

Calling the young at heart! During Senior Day, presented by Blue Care Network, persons 62 and older residing in Oakland, Wayne or Macomb counties and one adult guest receive free admission and parking.

Explore vehicles of all shapes and sizes.

At Tons of Trucks, presented by Public Service Credit Union, you’ll touch and climb trucks, lifts and carts used by Detroit Zoo staff, and see vehicles from local police and fire departments, construction companies and more.

PRESENTED BY

PRESENTED BY

PRESENTED BY

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HABITAT | CANINE CONSERVATION

GET TO KNOW GRAY WOLVES Can’t make it to Isle Royale to observe gray wolves in their natural habitat? Visit Kaska and Renner at the Detroit Zoo to see these magnificent mammals up close and learn how you can support their wild counterparts.

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SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

CANINE CONSERVATION Zoo-Park Partnership helping wolves on Isle Royale

By Sarah Culton, communications manager

After walking up to 10 miles a day for a week through Isle Royale National Park in northern Michigan, Dr. Ann Duncan came home with her feet blistered and her body exhausted.

“I slept for 12 hours the day after I got back. I couldn’t believe it,” Duncan laughs, sitting in her office at the Detroit Zoo, where she serves as associate vice president of life sciences. “I’ve been back for a few days and still haven’t fully recovered.”

The miles Duncan put on her hiking shoes were worth it, she says, as they supported conservation research that could help wolves on Isle Royale thrive.

Duncan’s visit was part of a ZooPark Partnership (ZPP) for America’s Keystone Wildlife with Isle Royale National Park to support the recovery of wolves and their relationship with moose on this island in the middle of Lake Superior. With assistance from university researchers, trail cameras, installed strategically throughout the island, help the National Park Service document wolf and moose interactions, document the numbers of animals and allow for estimates of abundance for other wildlife species on the island.

The partnership also tracks the genetic health of the wolf population, as well as other statistics.

This work is vital as Isle Royale’s wildlife is coming back from the brink of a crisis. In 2018, it was reported that the island’s wolf population had been reduced to one pair of closely related canines. In response, the National Park Service, along with states, tribal and Canadian partners, worked to reintroduce wolves from surrounding areas to the island. Their efforts were successful, leading to an increase in reproduction over two years.

But there was still more work to be done.

In recent years, the DZS has advanced its commitment to the ZPP by helping coordinate onsite meetings at the Detroit Zoo and on Isle Royale.

Dr. Ann Duncan partnered with a team of researchers to collect data on wolves on Isle Royale.

These meetings revealed shared goals and offered opportunities for continued collaboration – including a genome project supported by the DZS that studies the impact of overall wolf population health.

During her most recent visit to the island, Duncan assisted with the project at large and helped collect samples important to ongoing research. Her work will positively contribute to the conservation of wild gray wolves.

“Isle Royale is truly a magical place, and it feels wonderful that I can help contribute to conservation there,” she says. “For me, the success of this project would be finding evidence that the wolf population is maintaining good genetic diversity and is as healthy as it can be for a wild population.”

To the DZS’s conservation director, Dr. David Dimitrie, the ZPP is helping conservationists near and far better understand Isle Royale and how to preserve essential ecosystems.

“It’s awesome to be a part of this

project at Michigan’s national park,” he says. “The wolf population is an important part of the ecosystem up there, and this work is helping us all understand the biology of this species and the island’s ecosystem. It’s important to understand how factors like climate change are having an impact and what we can do to ensure Isle Royale thrives.”

Both Duncan and Dimitrie believe the program is having a positive impact and are excited to share its successes with the community. Knowing that the average Detroit Zoo guest can’t make it to Isle Royale to participate in conservation fieldwork, the doctors said community members can still support the conservation of their favorite canines by seeking out more information and supporting the DZS and other like-minded organizations.

“Gray wolves are such beautiful animals, but they are often misunderstood,” Duncan says. “Learning more about them and understanding that they deserve our protection is a great place to start.”

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HABITAT | CONNECTING THROUGH EDUCATION

CONNECTING THROUGH

EDUCATION

The Detroit Zoological Society’s (DZS) education team inspires and prepares the next generation of conservation leaders through a variety of teen programs. Through internships, after-school clubs and volunteering opportunities, teens in metro Detroit explore their interests and develop the skills they need to champion change. By Zahraa Aljebori, Curator of Education

Volunteer Program Getting connected to the Zoo as a teen is easy through a variety of volunteer programs designed to engage teenagers in meaningful volunteer work while fostering a love for wildlife and conservation. These programs provide teens with hands-on experiences, educational opportunities and the chance to contribute to the Zoo's mission of creating meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive. As a Volunteen, teens gain valuable experience working with a professional team to make guests’ experiences memorable and educational. With three different programs to choose from, Zoo Corps, Summer Zoo Corps and Counselor-In-Training, there is an opportunity for all teens to participate in a program that works for them.

Visit the teens on grounds all summer long to participate in their ed-zoo-cation stations!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS Visit detroitzoo.org/learn.

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Conservation Student Internships (CSI) Driven by an interest in increasing representation in conservation, the DZS received funding from a donor to develop an internship experience for high schoolers. The CSI program is a four-year commitment to metro Detroit youth that focuses on building skills in conservation science and providing teens with the tools and experiences they need to pursue their interests into adulthood. The CSI program enables students to shadow professionals in various conservation fields, building relationships with experts at the Detroit Zoo and in their communities. These experiences are instrumental in preparing students to incorporate their newfound knowledge into designing, implementing and sharing research projects.

Teen Conference Summit

Environmental Teen Alliance In 2022, the DZS received grant funding from the United Way to provide programming to Oakland County teens in an afterschool setting. The Environmental Teen Alliance (ETA) provides weekly programming to six high schools and has engaged 250 students. Students explore the environmental impacts of pollutants on water quality and air quality in their communities. They learned how to use climate advocacy to positively impact their communities and address the local concerns of climate change.

Through the program, students designed and implemented service projects in their schools and neighborhoods. They presented to elementary students the benefits of native plants for bees and other pollinators and created gardening kits to share with their neighbors. At Hazel Park, students hosted a recycled art fair to raise interest and awareness of the impacts of plastic pollution on Michigan’s lakes and rivers.

This fall, the DZS is excited to create a space for teens to inspire their peers by sharing their work in an inaugural Teen Conference Summit, a conference designed for teens, by teens. Set to take place on Nov. 9, the summit will bring together young environmental enthusiasts from across the region to engage in interactive workshops, inspiring keynote speeches and collaborative projects focused on conservation and sustainability. The conference will feature hands-on sessions led by young activists and experts, covering topics such as wildlife conservation, climate change mitigation, sustainable practices and advocacy techniques. Talks from renowned young environmental leaders and influencers who have made significant impacts in their communities and beyond. Sessions are designed to connect participants with like-minded peers, mentors and representatives from environmental organizations. The summit is ideal for teenagers who are passionate about the environment, interested in sustainability and eager to make a difference. Whether they are a seasoned activist or just beginning their journey in conservation, this summit will provide teens with valuable experiences and the knowledge to fuel their passion.

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HABITAT | A GOLDEN GIRL

A FANTASTIC FOSTER MOM!

Before coming to the Detroit Zoo, Kit participated in Monterey Bay Aquarium’s sea otter surrogacy program. In her lifetime, she helped raise 10 rescued sea otter pups, teaching them all the skills they needed to thrive. Learn more about the program at montereybayaquarium.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters don’t have fat under the skin for insulation. They instead rely on a unique hair coat and high metabolic rate.

They have the thickest hair coat of any mammal — more than a million hairs per square inch!

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SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

A GOLDEN GIRL 14-year-old sea otter finds home at the Detroit Zoo

By Sarah Culton, communications manager

A s the sun beats down on a blisteringly hot Michigan summer day, the Detroit Zoo’s newest resident is nothing but cool as she splashes around her new, perfectly chilled aquatic habitat.

The Zoo recently welcomed Kit, a 14-year-old southern sea otter, to the raft that calls the Arctic Ring of Life home.

After arriving in early June, Kit has settled in swimmingly to her new home, making fast friends with fellow Zoo residents, 4-year-old Monte and 2-year-old Finn.

“We have been waiting in great anticipation for her arrival,” says Betsie Meister, associate curator of mammals for the Detroit Zoological Society. “Our staff is overjoyed that she is joining us and that we get to treat her like the queen she is.”

Kit’s life began along the California coast, where she was found stranded and alone in January 2010 at just 5 weeks old. After being rescued from Morro Bay Harbor, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined she could not return to the wild.

Kit spent most of her life at Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she thrived. Not only did she become the youngest sea otter to be visible to the public in the Aquarium’s

history at 11 weeks old, but she was also an active participant in the Aquarium’s surrogacy program. This program has non-releasable female sea otters act as “foster moms” to pups found stranded in the wild, teaching them all the skills they need to potentially be released back into the wild. The program, enriching to

“She raised pups, so she knows how to handle them. She will be a good motherly figure to Finn and Monte and show them a thing or two.”

- Betsie Meister, associate curator of mammals for the Detroit Zoological Society.

foster moms and pups alike, has helped rear more than 70 orphaned pups and positively impacted the conservation of endangered southern sea otters.

Kit was extremely successful in the program, rearing 10 pups throughout her time at the Aquarium. Due to her age and in recognition of her many contributions to the surrogacy program, she moved to the Detroit Zoo to live out her golden years with a smaller raft of otters.

Within her first few days at the Zoo, Kit made herself right at home and could be seen playing and swimming with the younger Monte and Finn.

“She is going to be a great influence on the two boys,” Meister says. “She raised pups, so she knows how to handle them.

She will be a good motherly figure to Finn and Monte and show them a thing or two.”

Though 14.5 is the median lifespan for a southern sea otter, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Meister says Kit is the definition of young at heart. Meister and the rest of the Detroit Zoo animal care team can’t wait to work with Kit and get to know her for a long time to come.

“She acts about 10 years younger than her age,” Meister says with a laugh. “She is so smart, playful and curious. She is going to fit right in here.”

SEE SEA OTTERS SWIM

You can check in with Kit, Finn and Monte every day by watching our sea otter live cam on detroitzoo.org.

From left on opposite page: Kit, a 14-year-old sea otter, has moved to the Detroit Zoo; Kit splashes around with Monte, a 4-year-old sea otter; Kit enjoys a treat in her new habitat.

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HABITAT | KIDS CORNER

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Polar bears are super cool! These large, Arctic mammals are known for their white coats and ability to thrive in frigid temperatures.

Learn more about them and connect further through these fun, kid-friendly activities!

Two polar bears call the Detroit Zoo home — male Nuka and female Suka. Can you tell them apart?

A NUKA

B

C

• has a shorter muzzle.

• has a noticeable lip curl.

• has larger ears that are further apart

E D SUKA

• is about half the size of Nuka.

• has a longer muzzle.

• has smaller ears that are further apart.

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ANSWER KEY: A: SUKA, B: NUKA, C: NUKA, D: SUKA, E: NUKA

ACTIVITY

SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

Polar Bear Iceberg Popsicles Polar bears live in the Arctic, where it is really cold for much of the year. They rely on ice cover to hunt for seals. Ice is formed when heat is removed from water. For freshwater, the temperature needs to drop below 32 F. This activity looks at how water changes properties as heat is removed, turning from a liquid, to a solid.

Tools Coffee mug 1-2 cups of flour Plastic bag, sandwich size or larger Fruit juice Popsicle stick Freezer One or more people Directions • Fill a coffee mug three-fourths full of flour.

• Push a plastic bag into the flour using your index finger. Try to get one corner of the bag as far down into the flour as possible.

• Roll the edges of the plastic bag over the top of the mug. Fill the plastic bag with juice.

• Put a popsicle stick in the center of the juice.

• Place in the freezer overnight.

• Remove the plastic bag with the frozen juice inside of it from the mug.

• Carefully peel the plastic bag away from the frozen juice.

• Enjoy your iceberg popsicle!

Notes - You could also make iceberg ice cubes — just use regular water instead of fruit juice. They’d make a great addition to your favorite drink or a fun way to decorate a punch bowl. You don’t need a popsicle stick if you choose to make iceberg ice cubes.

If you’re careful when pouring the juice and your bag doesn’t leak, you can reuse the flour when cooking or baking!

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HABITAT | SOMETHING BIG ON BELLE ISLE

SOMETHING BIG ON BELLE ISLE

Program connects Detroit students to nature There’s something BIG going on at the Belle Isle Nature Center.

The Nature Center, operated by the Detroit Zoological Society, is one of several organizations on the island to give back to Detroit youth through the Big Belle Isle Lesson, which brings students and teachers to the island, connects them to nature-based education and gives them a full school week immersed in place-based learning.

The Big Lesson was created by former Michigan Teacher of the Year Margaret Holtschlag in 1999. The program, which featured immersive, nature-based and place-based field trips throughout mid-Michigan, served three purposes: • To be a professional development model for immersion learning • To be a study trip for students, parents and teachers • To foster partnerships between community resources and Michigan schools.

Since that first lesson, many similar projects have come about — including the Big Belle Isle Lesson. The first seed of the Big Belle Isle Lesson was planted last summer when the Belle Isle Nature Center partnered with Dr. June Teisan, the Belle Isle Aquarium and Bunche Academy to offer elementary students, teachers and parents an entire week of immersive, nature-based learning. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students from Bunche Academy explored Belle Isle, engaging in water quality testing, animal observation and journaling. Teachers and translators tailored the experience, fostering deep connections with nature. The program’s success led to monthly classroom visits, reinforcing lessons and expanding its reach, nurturing a growing garden of knowledge and community.

Belle Isle Nature Center Director Amy Greene says the program has been a “big” success, and she can’t wait to see it expand to more classrooms and schools.

“The Big Belle Isle Lesson doesn’t end when the field trip does,” she says. “The Lesson is the first step in a year-long learning process and connection with science and nature.

It’s a fantastic program that makes a big difference.”

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The mission of BIG Belle Isle Lesson is to immerse children, teachers and parents in the beauty and wonder of the natural world; to engage them in authentic scientific investigations by observing the local ecology, drawing, and writing; to nurture citizens who value and protect natural resources; and to build schoolcommunity partnerships that inspire responsible environmental stewardship.

The Belle Isle Nature Center connected Detroit students to nature-based education through the Big Belle Isle Lesson.

SUMMER 2024 | HABITAT

CONSERVATION CONNECTION The Detroit Zoological Society engages in conservation work on all seven continents to ignite positive change for animals and nature. We protect some amazing amphibians by participating in a collaborative, captive breeding program that is the last hope for Panamanian golden frogs’ survival. The Zoo maintains a captive “assurance population” of this critically endangered species, which ensures against extinction with the hope that they can survive in the wild again someday. Since 2015, the DZS team has made several trips to Panama to help set up research and breeding centers and facilitate future reintroductions of Panamanian golden frogs.

Give to the Golden Frogs Want to help Panamanian golden frogs survive and thrive?

Donate to the DZS to support their care and conservation at detroitzoo.org/donate.

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