Fall is one of my favorite seasons at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center. The changing leaves, crisp air and glow of community-favorite events, like Zoo Boo, make this time of year truly special. And it’s not just humans like me who enjoy the call the Zoo home also become more active as the summer heat gives way to cooler days.
In this issue of Habitat, you’ll discover just why fall is such a great time to visit. From festive events and new food and beverage offerings to inspiring stories of animal care and
create meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive.
You’ll read about how our animal care, veterinary and welfare teams help animals thrive well into their golden years. You’ll see how specialized experts keep our water systems healthy, supporting the animals and habitats that depend on them.
member of our chimpanzee troop. And you’ll follow our team as they work to protect endangered species far from home.
All this and more is waiting for you in these pages. I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to seeing you at the Zoo and Nature Center this season to experience all the magic in person!
Dr. Hayley Murphy
AN INTERVIEW WITH MAMMAL ZOOKEEPER STEPHANIE
Stephanie Rasmusivich has been a zookeeper at the Detroit Zoo for five years. Every day, she works with giraffes, kangaroos and wallabies who call the Zoo home.
How did you get involved in the field of animal care?
I started off in wildlife biology, studying deer and elk. Then, I got my first zoo job, and I found that working with the animals was incredibly special. I knew that this is what I wanted to do.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Definitely training and wellness sessions. It’s a great connection, especially when they get to be a part of their own healthcare. When you hit a milestone, like getting X-rays on all four giraffes, it’s incredibly rewarding. Moments like those make some of the harder days worth it.
“ When you hit a milestone, like getting X-rays on all four giraffes, it’s incredibly rewarding. Moments like those make some of the harder days worth it.”
What’s one thing you think would surprise people about what you do?
A lot of the job is cleaning. People think we get to spend all day everyday with the animals, but I would say that a lot of the time, we are cleaning and ensuring the animals’ habitats are well maintained. But it is, of course, worth it.
Do you have a favorite animal to work with?
Probably the favorite species I’ve ever
worked with are ring-tailed lemurs. They are a great introduction to the primates, and they are very unique.
Do you have any advice for young people looking to enter the animal care field? It's a tough field to get into. It’s competitive, and also there are a lot of highs and lows to be prepared for. But when you do have those moments, babies being born, wellness milestones, seeing the animals get enrichment that they love, it’s incredible.
THE GOLDEN YEARS
JZoo team keeping animals healthy, comfortable as they age
By Sarah Culton, Communications Manager
ontinued on page
Left: ookeeper Stephanie Rasmusivich hosts a wellness session with abari, allowing the animal care team to study his hooves.
Above: Mary umbyrd, behavioral husbandry coordinator, studies abari's feet to ensure he is healthy and comfortable.
abari the giraffe’s wellness routine is
(Continued from page 5)
Jabari isn’t the only animal receiving extra attention to help him thrive in his golden years. Thanks to dedicated care, improved technology and advances in veterinary science, animals at the Zoo are living longer than they would in the wild — and longer than ever before in the Zoo’s history. That longevity brings new challenges, as more residents require specialized care and close monitoring with age.
Trixi the chimpanzee manages diabetes with a tailored treatment plan. Suren the camel takes medication to ease arthritis pain. Knick-Knack the miniature donkey and Clover the eland receive regular hoof checks to keep them moving comfortably.
Then there’s Kaska, a 15-year-old wolf. In his later years, joint problems have made mobility more difficult. During his life, Kaska has undergone regular health exams, during which veterinarians draw blood to monitor his overall health and organ function and provide targeted treatments to improve his quality of life. He even receives cutting-edge stem cell therapy, which helps reduce inflammation, lower the risk of infection and keep his joints moving smoothly.
Innovative medical treatments like these are essential to ensure animals thrive at every age, says Dr. Ann Duncan, associate vice president of life sciences.
For many senior animals, medication and pain management are essential to keeping them comfortable — much like the regimens many humans follow as they age. But treatment isn’t limited to medicine alone. Sometimes, it can be as simple as ensuring the camels continue to move and walk to retain mobility. Or there are more inventive treatments. Recently, to help an elderly snake, the Zoo team brought in a specialist to perform acupuncture with promising results.
“We do everything we can to keep the
animals healthy and comfortable, which can mean combining a variety of medications and interventions,” Duncan says. “Every treatment plan is individualized and tailored to the specific needs of each animal. A lot of these animals live for a very long time, and they are very precious to us and to our guests. We owe it to the animals to do our best to ensure they are healthy throughout their entire lives, provide everything they need to thrive and make informed decisions for their health. And that can be hard.”
When an animal ages or develops a chronic health condition, the Zoo’s veterinary, welfare and care teams convene regularly to assess the animal’s quality of life. Using detailed data, they evaluate factors such as mobility, social interactions, behavior and how the animal engages with their habitat.
Despite countless wellness sessions, medical treatments and expert attention, there comes a point when the focus shifts to end-of-life care. These moments are never easy for the staff who have built deep bonds with the animals. Yet, the team finds purpose in ensuring each animal’s final days are marked by comfort, compassion and dignity.
“We never want an animal’s last day to be their worst,” Manfre says. “One of the hardest parts of this job is saying good-
bye, but it’s about what is best for each individual animal and ensuring they have the best quality of life.”
Though caring for animals throughout their golden years can have difficult moments, the team believes that an animal having a long, healthy and comfortable life is always something worth celebrating.
“When we dedicate ourselves to a species, we look at whole-life care to ensure they thrive from birth or hatching into their senior years,” Murray says. “We do that through medical care, training, scientific research and habitat design. When an animal reaches an age of longevity — and that they had an excellent quality of life throughout that time — it’s a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in their care.”
Manfre agrees, adding that moments like watching Jabari make real progress in his wellness routine — progress that has boosted his hoof and joint health — make all the hard work worthwhile.
“Moments like that make you proud of both the team and the animal,” he says. “Our staff works very hard to help older animals thrive. So, the next time you visit the Zoo and see a senior animal, take a moment to appreciate them and know how much care and dedication go into ensuring they live their best life.”
“When we dedicate ourselves to a species, we look at whole-life care to ensure they thrive from birth or hatching into their senior years. We do that through medical care, training, scientific research and habitat design. When an animal reaches an age of longevity — and that they had an excellent quality of life throughout that time — it’s a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in their care.”
— Mike Murray, chief life sciences officer
At left: Dr. Wynona Shellabarger performs a CT scan on Kaska the wolf. At right: Dr. Ann Duncan and Erica Campbell, vet tech, examine Kaska during a routine check up.
CLOVER
Clover is 18 years old and has called the Zoo home since June 2012.
JABARI
Jabari is 17 years old and moved to the Zoo in October 2008.
KASKA
Trixi is 55 years old and has called the Zoo home since July 1989.
Kaska is 15 years old and has lived at the Zoo since March 2015.
KNICK-KNACK
Knick-Knack is 31 years old and has called the Zoo home since December 1994.
LINUS
Linus is 15 years old and moved to the Zoo in January 2011.
TRIXI
Fall is in the air — and so are new adventures at the Detroit Zoo! Our fall event line-up has something for everyone. Whether you are enjoying a family-friendly tradition at Zoo Boo or enjoying some adult fun at Spooky Spirts, you are sure to discover the wild side of fall at the Zoo!
SENSORYFRIENDLY HOURS
Zoo opening – noon second Monday of each month; Free with Zoo admission; Free for members
Throughout 2025, the Zoo is bringing you Sensory-Friendly Hours — a monthly opportunity to experience the Zoo with adjusted lighting and quieter surroundings. These special hours, hosted once a month from opening until noon, are tailored to meet the needs of guests with sensory sensitivities and different sensory needs. During this time, the Zoo and its attractions remain open to all, with thoughtful adjustments to ensure everyone can enjoy a welcoming and accessible experience.
SPOOKY SPIRITS
7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 3; Tickets on sale now
Get ready for the spookiest 21+ night in metro Detroit! Join us for a night of fun and festivities complete with holiday décor that lights up at night, live entertainment, costume contests and so much more. And, of course, you can’t forget the tastings of a topshelf lineup of classic spirits, craft beer, wine, canned cocktails, seltzers, mocktails and nonalcoholic options!
ZOO BOO
4 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 4-5, 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26
Gather your little goblins, bring your reusable bag, enjoy trick-or-treating at the Zoo and get ready for a full lineup of family-friendly entertainment, character meet-andgreets and seasonal fun at every turn. As the sun sets, watch as the Zoo comes alive with glowing “fun-kins,” elaborate, illuminated décor and displays, costumed performers and nonstop fall festivities perfect for the whole family.
WILD LIGHTS
Select evenings in November, December and January; Tickets coming soon
Already thinking of a wild holiday season? Mark your calendars for Wild Lights! Tickets for this annual winter tradition go on sale in September. So, don’t miss your chance to see the Zoo lit up in millions of twinkling lights.
A PARTY WITH A PURPOSE
Thank ou or oining us or an E ening Un er the Canop at Sunset at the Zoo
On June 20, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) hosted its annual Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser, presented by KeyBank and
During this event, guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks, live music, a silent auction, Sunset at the Zoo raised critical funds to further our mission and support great apes
This year’s theme, An Evening Under the Canopy, celebrated chimpanzees, gorillas ticket sold, item auctioned off and dollar raised furthered our mission and helped provide care for the chimps and gorillas who call the Zoo home, protect great apes in their native habitats and contribute to
Thank you to all the incredibly generous sponsors, restaurants, distributors and individuals who donated to make this year’s Sunset at the Zoo ignites positive change for animals and
C.L. Rieckhoff Co., Inc.
DOETSCH
Nearly 2,000 compassionate Zoo lovers supported the great apes at June's Sunset at the Zoo fundraiser.
5 REASONS YOU SHOULD VISIT THE ZOO THIS FALL
The air is crisp, the leaves are turning and a new season of adventure awaits at the Detroit Zoo. all is one o the est times to isit an here are e reasons h ou on’t ant to miss it
ZOO KEYS ARE BACK
If you grew up visiting the Zoo, you might remember the thrill of turning an elephant-shaped key and hearing a
Third, are back and available for $4. Each key unlocks a storytelling box at locations around the Zoo, revealing of them teens from our Zoo Corps Volunteen and Thriving Together programs.
COOLER TEMPS MEAN COOLER ANIMALS
While you might miss the dog days of summer, there’s plenty to love about cooler fall days — just ask the
mean more activity from red pandas, polar bears, tigers and other cold-weather fans. With fewer crowds, it’s the perfect time to visit and catch a glimpse of your favorites in action.
DISCOVERY TRAILS IS TAKING SHAPE
COFFEE BREAKS ARE IN
If you’ve visited the Zoo recently, you know we have exciting construction underway. Opening in 2026, Discovery Trails will be a 7-acre immersive experience — designed to connect you to nature like never before. Curious about what’s coming? Check out the sneak peek spot we’ve added in the construction fence on your next visit! added in the construction fence on
Start your Zoo adventure with a delicious boost! Swing by Coffee Corner, the newest coffee shop located inside the Detroit Zoo Shop, to purchase a cold brew, hot coffee up and warm up during your fall visit to the Detroit Zoo.
PENNIES CAN TURN INTO MEMORIES
one penny at a time! With two locations inside the Zoo, our new penny press machines let you turn spare change into cherished keepsakes. Choose from unique, collectible designs featuring your favorite animals, habitats and iconic Zoo landmarks.
WATER, WATER
EVERYWHERE
Aquatic Life Support Team Keeping Animals and Their Habitats Healthy
By Sarah Culton, Communications Manager
You probably won’t notice them on your next trip to the Detroit Zoo, but their
Left, from clockwise: Ryan Nirganakis demonstrates how different chemicals impact water quality. Michael Puppan prepares a lab sample. Paul Wilbert shows off the team's water quality schedule. Above: From left: Aquatic Life Supervisor Paul Wilbert, Technician Michael Puppan and Technician Ryan Nirganakis.
HAPPY TOADS, HAPPY ENVIRONMENT
Because of environmental threats, the Puerto Rican crested toad is considered a threatened species. Zoos, including the Detroit Zoo, are trying to save them because their survival is key to the island’s biodiversity. Think of the crested toad as the go between, showing not only how healthy the island is in terms of its environment but how well the planet is fairing.
“Their skin is porous, so it’s more susceptible to the environment,” Vassallo says. “They’re like the proverbial canary in the coal mine — if they’re doing well, then the ecosystem is doing well.”
A LEAP OF HOPE
Detroit Zoo team releases critically endangered amphibians to native habitat in Puerto Rico
By Karen Dybis, Contributing Writer
With its big, jewel-like eyes and upturned snout, the Puerto Rican crested toad looks a bit like a cartoon companion to a princess, perhaps helping her save the day or rescue the prince with comic cuteness.
But the Peltophryne lemur serves a loftier purpose in real life. The Puerto Rico native is considered an indicator species, helping experts like Mark Vassallo understand the ecosystem in which it lives. In other words, if the crested toad is thriving, then their environment is as well.
As the Detroit Zoo’s curator of amphibians, Vassallo has the massive task alongside the Detroit Zoological Society’s staff to breed, reintroduce and track the crested toad into Puerto Rico, where the species is considered endangered.
This reintroduction program involves a bit of matchmaking, lots of FedEx boxes and hundreds of hours researching and recording toad behavior, Vassallo says. All this work takes place behind the scenes at the Detroit Zoo’s National Amphibian Conservation Center and at other zoos equally dedicated to the crested toad’s survival.
The Detroit Zoo is part of the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy, a nonprofit organization and a consortium of 17 zoos and other organizations working to ensure the long-term survival of the species.
In June 2025, Vassallo and the Detroit Zoo team sent 6,654 tadpoles raised in Royal Oak to Puerto Rico. And, yes — that is the exact number because Vassallo’s team keeps copious records.
“We counted every last one,” Vassallo says with a laugh. “We've tracked it since we started in 2000 with about 30 in our first year and have had as many as 22,000 to release in 2015. Our grand total is 136,340 tadpoles bred at the Detroit Zoo.”
Vassallo said one of the best parts of his job at the Detroit Zoo is illuminating the careful and considered process.
“A lot of people don’t realize the Detroit Zoo does projects like this, and it’s such an inspiring story,” Vassallo says. “It starts in our bio-secure room where our staff is trained to breed amphibians. Most of our building, in fact, is utilized to breed rare and threatened species.”
It starts with a connection. More specifically, the Detroit Zoo staff looks for two healthy and genetically significant amphibians to mate. The duo is then put into hibernation, which prepares them to breed, Vassallo says. It may seem counterintuitive to cool down the newly matched couple, but it helps them develop the hormones they need. They’re paired up in a specially prepared cooler to mimic seasonality. As the temperature warms up, they are ready.
“If everything goes well, they lay their eggs, and the eggs will develop pretty quickly,” Vassallo says. “In the wild, the eggs are laid in temporary pools that develop after the monsoon rains. Those pools can dry up fast, so the eggs hurry to get to tadpole stage.”
In the Detroit Zoo bio-room, the staff feeds the tadpoles and counts them using a hand clicker. When the time is right, the staff humanely packs them up in oxygenated bags, which are then put into insulated shipping containers and sent via FedEx overnight to Puerto Rico. There, a team on site is ready to receive them.
“I’m just biting my nails all night, watching the tracking of the tadpoles over the ocean. We spend so much time taking care of them and prepping them for the trip,” Vassallo says. “This year, everything went really well.”
In Puerto Rico, the tadpoles from the Detroit Zoo are driven from the airport to the north side of the island, which has a jungle-like environment. There, at its protected biological reserve, the trained staff acclimates the tadpoles in a manmade pool that has netting on it to protect the tadpoles from predators as they mature.
Vassallo has visited this part of the process, and he says many precautions are taken not only to protect the tadpoles once they have arrived and then upon release but also to protect Puerto Rico’s precious environment.
“You don’t want to introduce anything or pass on pathogens that might be harmful to Puerto Rico,” he says.
The long-term goal is to boost the crested toad’s overall population — but that’s a task made more difficult by issues such as global warming and weather incidents.
“It’s daunting,” Vassallo says. “But once you see how many people are involved in this and how dedicated they are, you have hope. All these people are coming together to do such an incredible thing. … One day, we should be able to walk away from this program, and [the toads] should be able to survive on their own.”
“One day, we should be able to walk away from this program, and [the toads] should be able to survive on their own.”
— Mark Vassallo, curator of amphibians, Detroit Zoo
Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles are released into the wild thanks to the conservation efforts of organizations like the Detroit Zoo.
BIG DREAMS, BIG IMPACT
Miami University's Advanced Inquiry Master’s Program at the Detroit Zoo giving students the tools they need to thrive
Imagine exploring the Detroit Zoo as part of a university master's degree, investigating the rhinos, the penguins or the red pandas.
Well, with Miami University's Advanced Inquiry Program, you don't have to imagine.
The Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) is
offered by Miami in collaboration with Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), allowing students to pursue field work and experiential learning at the Detroit Zoo while earning their master’s through Miami University’s online curriculum.
According to DZS Vice President of Education Dr. Claire Lannoye-Hall, the program
was created for working professionals of a variety of backgrounds and career stages and designed to immerse students in collaborative inquiry and action as they champion change and connect with classmates, university faculty, DZS experts and community leaders locally, nationally and globally. What makes the program especially unique is that students can tailor their degree path to fit their interests in a variety of fields — from animal care, conservation and environmental justice to education, green business practices and many more.
“This program is a unique way to pursue your passions, further your education and make a difference,” Lannoye-Hall says.
You don’t just have to take Lannoye-Hall’s word for it. Students in the program can also testify to the program’s impact.
"The Advanced Inquiry Program continues to offer life-changing opportunities for academic, professional and personal growth,” says Taylor Mock, 2023
AIP cohort participant. “Each course has helped me identify conservation gaps in my community and given me the tools to implement solutions. The AIP program has empowered me to be a positive vector for environmental welfare in my community, and I'm so grateful to be a part of it."
"Exploring the unique and wonderful efforts associated with a Master Plan as well as this Advanced Inquiry Program, the outcomes of important work will
be achieved,” adds Katie Bell, 2023 AIP cohort participant.
Are you ready to take the next step in your wild education? Learn more and apply at detroitzoo.org.
Want to earn your master's degree the wild way? Learn more at detroitzoo.org/advanced-inquiryprogram. Applications for the next cohort are open through Feb. 15, 2026.
A B RTHDAY TO CELEBRATE
A baby chimpanzee joins the Detroit Zoo family
By Sarah Culton, Communications Manager
On the Fourth of July, while the rest of the world was lighting up fireworks and celebrating America’s birthday, the Detroit Zoo team was quietly celebrating a milestone of their own — the birth of a healthy baby chimpanzee.
The newest member of the Great Apes of Harambee’s chimpanzee troop arrived at approximately 9 p.m. July 4. Born to 34-year-old first-time mom Nyani, the baby was named Nakili, meaning "to copy" in Swahili — a reference to how the little bundle of joy is a perfect copy of her mother.
“This was a really big moment for us and a really big moment for Nyani,” says Primates Supervisor Matt Stierhof. “We’re all in love with this baby and so excited for Nyani.”
For weeks leading up to the birth, the primate team closely monitored Nyani, doing everything they could to prepare her for the big day. In her case, the preparation required extra thought and care due to her unique history.
Born at the Detroit Zoo in 1991, Nyani entered the world as a twin. At the time, her care team worried her mother wouldn’t be able to raise two infants, so Nyani was handraised by zookeepers. She later moved to another zoo, where she grew up among other apes who were also human-raised. When Nyani returned to Detroit in 2007, she was integrated into the Zoo’s troop — but she first had to learn how to be a chimpanzee.
“When she came back, she had a lot to learn,” says Associate Curator of Mammals Melissa Thueme. “She had to learn how to communicate with the others and chimpanzee behavior. It was a big task for her.”
That hard work — and the team’s preparation — paid off. According to Stierhof, who was there at the time of the baby’s birth,
Nyani immediately embraced motherhood, gently holding and nursing her newborn.
“It came naturally,” he says. “It’s been really rewarding seeing Nyani be a mom and how perfect this baby is and how Nyani looks at her.”
Thueme, who has cared for Nyani since she returned to the Zoo in 2007, says she was overwhelmed when she first saw Nyani successfully caring for her infant.
“It was a full-circle moment for me, and I definitely cried,” she says. “Getting to this point and having her have a baby and be a mom is a huge achievement for her. Now, she is succeeding and doing amazing. It’s incredible to watch.”
Although Nakili is still developing her personality, Thueme and Stierhof say she is meeting every growth milestone with ease. For her first year or so, she will stick close to mom and may choose to be out of sight from guests. But once she becomes more independent, her care team is excited to watch Nakili grow — especially as she will be surrounded by other young chimpanzees, like Jane, Zane and Tai.
“I’ve seen a lot of baby chimpanzees born in my time at the Zoo, and every time it’s a different situation and every time gets your heart racing,” Thueme says. “We are thrilled that everything went so well and that Nyani and the baby are doing great. It gives us a lot to celebrate.”
'OTTERLY'
AMAZING
What animal is “otterly” cool? The southern sea otter! These playful animals live in the ocean and love to swim, float and eat tasty seafood snacks. Learn more about them and connect further with these fun, kid-friendly activities.
QUIZ
BIG EATERS
Sea otters ha e to eat A LOT to keep their bodies warm in the ocean - way more than most animals their size!
1. How many hairs do sea o r i o i square inch?
A. 1,000
B. 10,000
C. 100,000
D. 1 million . r or
A. True B. False
Maryland
California
Maine
Florida
Boat
School
Raft
Canoe
SEA OTTER SPOTTER
TOOL MASTERS
Sea otters use tools like rocks and shells to help them open and eat their food!
FAMILY MATTERS
The Detroit Zoo is home to Monte, Finn and Kit — three rescued sea otters. Kit even helped take care of other baby otters before coming to the Zoo!
AMPLIFYING NATURE
Nature’s megaphone making noise on Belle Isle
Something new is making a lot of noise on Belle Isle. Or more accurately, it’s amplifying noise.
The Belle Isle Nature Center is now home to Nature’s Megaphone, a 7-foot-tall wooden megaphone designed to allow guests to sit inside and better hear the sounds of nature — from the rush of the wind and the rustling of leaves to the chirping of crickets and the singing of birds.
“The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Belle Isle Nature Center are always looking for new ways to help visitors experience nature. The nature megaphone on Belle Isle offers a one-of-a-kind experience that captures and amplifies the sounds of the island’s wetlands, forests, the Detroit River and even the city,” says Amy Greene, director of the Belle Isle Nature Center. “It’s not just a cool structure — it’s a chance to hear nature like never before and take a moment to reflect on the wonders that surround us.”
Now the second Nature’s Megaphone in Michigan, the design is based on the original Nature’s Megaphones found in Estonia. Belle Isle’s version was constructed by young people, ages 18-25, in 2024 as part of the Atlantic Impact’s workforce development program. The project was completed through the collaborative effort of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Atlantic Impact, Michigan Tech, the Belle Isle Nature Center, the Belle Isle Conservancy and the Little Traverse Conservancy.
The megaphone’s innovative design amplifies nearby noises for those who sit quietly within it. And perhaps best of all? Every time you visit it, you will hear something new. The time of year and day will change the noises around you. Whether through the crunch of falling leaves on a fall morning or the croak of frog calls during a spring evening, the megaphone will connect you to animals and nature in a new way.
CONSERVATION CONNECTION
Fly into conservation! Support the conservation of the Great Lakes piping plover by visiting dzoo.org/giveplover
For more than 20 years, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) has worked to protect one of Michigan’s most iconic — and endangered — shorebirds: the Great Lakes piping plover. In partnership with the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the DZS team rescues abandoned eggs, incubates and raises chicks and releases them into the wild to support the species' recovery. In 2025, these efforts led to a record-breaking milestone: 88 breeding pairs and 101 nests were recorded — the highest numbers since the species was listed as endangered in Michigan. In addition, 36 captive-reared chicks were released in the wild, thanks to the DZS's expertise in animal care. These wins are a powerful reminder of what conservation can achieve.
