Habitat Summer 2025

Page 1


JUNGLE JOURNEY

Protecting the Amazon through local connection and education

INSIDE:

Meet Haley the polar bear, the Zoo’s coolest new resident

At the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), we believe education is a powerful tool that drives conservation.

That’s why, for the past 26 years, we’ve partnered with a Peruvian nonprofi t organization to provide school supplies and environmental education to children in remote communities along the Amazon and Napo rivers. This longstanding collaboration is rooted in the understanding that protecting the rainforest — one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems — benefi ts all of us.

We’re incredibly proud of what this program has accomplished, and I’m thrilled to share more with all our readers in the pages ahead.

In this Habitat edition, you’ll journey with us from the depths of the Amazon rainforest to classrooms in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, demonstrating that conservation education is essential no matter where a student lives. Back at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, explore stories that showcase our commitment to animal well-being — from tiny insects to mighty polar bears. You’ll also fi nd kid-friendly activities, meet some of our passionate animal care professionals, get a sneak peek of upcoming events and so much more.

Once you’ve fi nished reading, we invite you to keep learning. Visit us at the Zoo or Nature Center to connect further with your favorite animals, dive deeper into conservation and ignite positive change at home and around the world.

We can’t wait to welcome you soon!

Dr. Hayley Murphy

and CEO

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN

Crain's Content Studio

Habitat is produced quarterly for members of the Detroit Zoological Society. 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 WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award. Habitat magazine is an Award of Excellence winner for the Communicator Awards.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Sarah Culton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Karen Dybis CONTACT

Detroit Zoological Society 8450 W. 10 Mile Road Royal Oak, MI 48067

Phone: (248) 541-5717 www.detroitzoo.org

For questions about membership, please contact: info@dzs.org

AN INTERVIEW WITH BIRD SUPERVISOR LINDSAY

Lindsay Ireland is a supervisor in the Detroit Zoo bird

department For the past 19 years, she has spent her days caring for the Zoo’s feathered residents — especially her favorite species, penguins

What do you do at the Detroit Zoo?

I oversee the husbandry and the care of the animals in our department and ensure our zookeepers have everything they need to provide excellent care to the birds who call the Zoo home and ensure everything is running smoothly.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Before I became supervisor, it was going into the habitats, watching the birds and observing their behavior — they are so complex and intense sometimes, in ways

that I don’t think many people realize. By watching and working with them, I could understand their thinking and why they behaved a certain way. Now, I get to help zookeepers grow those skills, which I love.

Do you have a favorite animal to work with?

Penguins are my ultimate favorite. My second favorite is trumpeter swans. It’s amazing how big they are, and their courtship behaviors are cool to watch.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at the Detroit Zoo?

A lot of my favorite memories have to do with raising penguin chicks. Of course, they are adorable. It’s amazing to see them hatch, grow and develop. I’ve helped hand-raise chicks, which is incredible and something that even most zookeepers never experience, so some of my fondest memories are there.

How did you get into animal care?

Growing up, I always had pets and loved animals, but I didn’t know animal care was an option until college. At the time, I was undecided but leaning toward a criminal justice degree. I had a friend in the zoology program, and after chatting with him, I decided to sign up for a zoology class — and that was it. I switched my major, did an internship and fell in love with this field. It was a big change, but I don’t regret it at all.

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

I always recommend that young students become interested in understanding animal behaviors, whether through bird watching or spending time at a zoo. Volunteer if there is a humane society or somewhere you can get hands-on experience. While I love my job, some tasks are not glamorous or fun, so you need to learn at a young age if this is what you want to do.

“(Birds) are so complex and intense sometimes, in ways that I don't think many people realize. By watching and working with them, I could understand their thinking and why they behaved a certain way.”

JUNGLE JOURNEY

DZS team working in Peru to promote education and protect the Amazon Rainforest

More than 3,000 miles from Detroit, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) is making a lasting impact on conservation, education and local communities along the Amazon River.

For more than two decades, the DZS has partnered with CONAPAC, a Peruvian nonprofit, to support remote villages along the Amazon and Napo rivers. Through initiatives such as the Adopt-A-School program, the collaboration provides school supplies, environmental education and

community support to nearly 50 communities and more than 2,000 students in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest, who share the land and river with dolphins, monkeys, amphibians and other animals who make up the biodiversity of the Amazon.

“This is one of our flagship conservation programs — and that’s because we work with people and local communities along the river,” says Dr. David Dimitrie, director of conservation for the DZS. “You might expect a zoo to only work with animals,

but this partnership proves you can’t protect wildlife without also supporting the people who share their home.”

A LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP

The seeds of the program were planted 31 years ago when Pam Bucur, now president of CONAPAC’s board, visited a village classroom in the Peruvian Amazon with a group of American teachers. Inside, they found a teacher, a group of students and a blackboard — but little else. There were no indi-

vidual books or notebooks for each student, and even pencils were hard to come by.

“How can you teach someone to read if you don’t have anything written?” Bucur says, recalling the memory. “At the time, it was difficult to get books to these villages — especially books about the Amazon that could help students understand where they live. There was a real need.”

It was a need she felt compelled to meet. Soon after, CONAPAC launched the Adopt-

Far left: Students in General Merino, Peru plant fruit trees provided by CONAPAC. Above: Residents of General Merino, Peru take a conservation pledge and make their mark on a community poster. Bottom from left: Volunteer Karen takes an excursion on an elevated canopy walkway. A young student paints a fence in his village alongside DZS and CONAPAC volunteers. Volunteer Lacey plants a fruit tree with a local student.

A-School program, raising funds to purchase and deliver school supplies to remote communities along the Amazon and Napo rivers. The goal was simple — to ensure children in the rainforest had access to basic education without forcing families to sell natural resources — like timber — to afford books and materials. By equipping students with the tools they needed to learn, the program supported their education and nurtured a new generation of rainforest stewards.

In its first years, the program reached about

10 villages. Bucur knew it could reach more — but to grow, CONAPAC needed a trusted U.S.-based partner to help with visibility and facilitate tax-deductible donations.

That is where the DZS steps in. Around the same time, DZS staff visited the Amazon to conduct wildlife research, staying at Explorama Lodges — the same ecotourism company that founded CONAPAC. The organizations were introduced, and a long-standing partnership began.

(Continued on page 7)

WANT TO SUPPORT THE DZS’S WORK TO PROTECT THE RAINFOREST? HERE ARE TWO WAYS!

Join the DZS team on a Peruvian adventure! Our volunteer trips take you to the heart of the Amazon, where you’ll spend your days helping communities through school supply deliveries, tree plantings and community service projects. Plus, you’ll explore and make lasting memories with several fun excursions!

Can’t make it to the rainforest? You can still show your support by donating online! All donations are thoughtfully used to support this vital conservation program.

Learn more about our travel programs and donate today at detroitzoo.org/ ways-to-support/amazon-travelprogram

(Continued from page 5)

Over the past 26 years, the partnership between the DZS and CONAPAC has grown into a far-reaching and impactful initiative. Today, the Adopt-A-School program supports approximately 2,000 students in nearly 50 villages along the Amazon and Napo rivers. In addition, the program hosts teacher workshops on rainforest ecology each year, offering educators practical, engaging strategies to bring environmental education into their classrooms. The workshops emphasize how everyday actions — both locally and globally — influence the health of the rainforest.

The DZS also organizes three annual volunteer trips to Peru, where participants help deliver school supplies, plant native trees and work side-by-side with residents on community service projects. These projects range from building communal meeting spaces to painting fences — projects that meet immediate needs and strengthen long-term ties between communities and conservation work.

“We are stronger now than ever,” Bucur says. “Seeing a child receive something we take for granted — a pencil, a notebook — and understand the potential of the school supplies is a memory that sticks with me every time. I don’t have one favorite memory from my time with Adopt-A-School. I have thousands.”

EDUCATION IS CONSERVATION

For the past 18 years, Dr. Claire LannoyeHall, the DZS’s director of education, has traveled to Peru annually as part of the CONAPAC partnership. Each day of the trip begins before sunrise, with Lannoye-Hall pulling on rubber boots and boarding a boat — and sometimes trekking miles on foot — to reach communities along the Amazon. The work often comes with bug bites, blisters and long days in the heat, but for Lannoye-Hall, it’s more than worth it.

“Being able to participate in the Adopt-ASchool program is one of the most important parts of my job here at the Zoo,” she says. “I recognize the incredible privilege of traveling to this beautiful place and supporting some amazing work that is really making a difference in the world. Knowing that makes it worth all the extra hours, the time away from family and friends, and the long trips down and back.”

For the DZS team, the true value of the partnership lies in its ability to connect education with conservation. Both Lannoye-Hall and Dimitrie agree that education is essential to protecting wildlife and wild places — whether at the Zoo or Belle Isle Nature Center, in Detroit or deep in the rainforest.

“You can’t protect and create a sense of awe, wonder and appreciation around wildlife unless you know more about it,” Lannoye-Hall says. “Education leads to informed decision making on how to allocate natural resources that will have a long-term impact.”

Dimitrie agrees, adding that the program has seen as much success as it has because it deeply involves the local partner communities through collaboration.

“Conservation starts with people, starts with communities,” he says. “The Amazon Rainforest is a vital resource to everyone globally, and it is home to so much incredible biodiversity. To protect it, it’s important that we work with those local communities to build relationships, define conservation priorities and build strategies that work for those living in these communities.”

LEAVING A LEGACY

You don’t have to take the DZS team’s word for it — the success of the Adopt-A-

School program is written in the stories of the people it’s touched.

Take, for example, Andrea Asipali Apintuy. She grew up in the small community of Palmeras II Zona and began receiving school supplies from the program in first grade. Those supplies, she says, gave her the chance to focus on learning, discover the world through books and imagine new possibilities for her future.

Now 27, Asipali Apintuy is a teacher in Iquitos, a major city in Peru. She attended college, spent time studying in Michigan and is currently pursuing a master’s degree.

“It changed my life,” she says. “Adopt-ASchool is more than just an opportunity for me. It’s an opportunity for other young girls to keep studying and look forward to a better future.”

Stories like Asipali Apintuy’s fuel the DZS and CONAPAC partnership. Seeing that long-term impact pushes the team to continue — and to expand.

“We’re starting to see the program’s legacy,” Bucur says. “I’m meeting parents who once received Adopt-A-School supplies who now have children receiving Adopt-a-School supplies. We now have a full generation of educated parents. That leads to better ecological decisions for the communities and the rainforest.”

From left: A General Merino resident gets her nails painted by Ruth, a CONAPAC volunteer. Volunteer Yelena gets her hands dirty planting trees in the village of General Merino.

DRAGON FOREST EVENTS AT THE ZOO

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 7; Tickets available onsite

Dragons, faeries and wyverns, oh my!

Step into a realm of wonder and imagination along the Dragon Forest trail, presented by Michigan First Credit Union. This summer, you can embark on a journey where fantasy meets reality. Wander through a winding, 3-acre trail filled with fantastical sculptures, including animatronics, of dragons and mythical creatures. See a phoenix rise from the ashes, listen for the hiss of a basilisk slithering through the trees and climb atop interactive sculptures of mythical legends. And keep your eyes peeled for dragons lurking around every corner. As a bonus, you’ll learn all about how these legendary creatures were inspired and influenced by all your favorite real-world animals – some of whom call the Zoo home!

Dragon Forest is the perfect addition to your summer Zoo visit — so what are you waiting for? This special exhibition is here for a limited time, so don’t miss your chance to explore a world where magic comes to life.

WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

You can add a Dragon Pass to your existing Detroit Zoo membership for unlimited access to Dragon Forest all summer long! Visit dzoo.org/membership for details.

The animatronic sculptures featured in Dragon Forest were produced by Dino Don Incorporated.The mythical creature sculptures are a collaboration between Little Ray’s Exhibitions and Fort Worth Botanical Garden.

Greenfest

EVENTS

New season, new adventures. Whether you are exploring a mythical world along the Dragon Forest trail or dancing the night away at Sunset at the Zoo, there are so many ways to make new memories, make a difference and experience new adventures at the Zoo this summer! With fun for all ages, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. See all our events at detroitzoo.org/events.

SUNSET AT THE ZOO

7 to 11 p.m. June 20; Tickets on sale now Party with a purpose during the Zoo’s annual fundraising event. Savor delicious eats from metro Detroit’s finest restaurants, sip on summer cocktails, dance the night away and so much more — all while raising funds for a cause to support great apes at the Zoo and in the wild.

SENSORY FRIENDLY HOURS

Zoo opening to noon second Monday of each month; Free with Zoo admission; Free for members

Throughout 2025, we’re 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.

WILD SUMMER NIGHTS

6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays in July and August; Free with Zoo admission; Free for members

Beginning July 9, join the fun at our Wild Summer Nights Concert Series! Experience an unforgettable evening of live music, engaging Zookeeper Chats and so much more. With a lineup of local artists playing a mix of genres, there’s something for every music lover to enjoy. Don’t miss out on the perfect summer night at the Zoo!

Summer Sips
Summer Sips
Wild Summer Nights
Sunset at the Zoo

YOGA AT THE ZO0

Select dates in July and August; Tickets on sale now

Go Zen, enjoy the great outdoors and get ready to strike a pose at an all-levels yoga session surrounded by your favorite animals.

SUMMER SIPS

7 to 10 p.m. July 18; Tickets on sale now

Experience a summer like no other with our exclusive 21+ tasting event! Stroll our 125 acres, taste

a delicious selection of craft beverages, including non-alcoholic offerings, and see why summer is sweeter at the Zoo.

SENIOR DAY

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10; Free for tri-county residents 62 and older

HOMESCHOOL DAYS

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sept. 15-19; Tickets on sale now

RUN WILD

8 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 7; Registration open now

On your mark. Get set. Go! Run for a cause with the Detroit Zoo’s annual 5K race and 1-mile fun walk.

PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY

Seniors living in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, along with one adult guest, are invited to enjoy free admission, parking, live entertainment, special activities.

Explore the wild side of learning with Homeschool Days! Take your learning to the next level, surrounded by the animals who call the Zoo home. These immersive, education-focused days allow students to delve into the world of animals, engage in creative activities and discover the wonders of wildlife.

Senior Day Run Wild

A BUG'S LIFE

Meet the zookeeper who raises the insects that feed the Zoo

With millions of mouths to feed and care for, Zookeeper Emily Rycerz’s job is one of the biggest at the Detroit Zoo — and in some ways, one of the tiniest.

Tucked inside a small room in the Zoo’s commissary building, Rycerz tends to colonies of crickets and cockroaches.

Though not the flashiest or freshestsmelling assignment, Rycerz’s job is vital. The bugs in her care go on to be food for the animals who call the Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center home — from the smallest amphibians to the biggest bears.

“Bugs are an important part of a lot of animals’ diet,” Rycerz says. “Amphibians, for example, need live enrichment and live food. It’s really cool to be a part of their well-being by raising their food.”

When Rycerz started her zookeeping career, she came with a love and passion for amphibians — but she never imagined it would lead to her spending her days surrounded by the constant hum of crickets. Now, she calls that chirping her soundtrack, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’ve definitely grown a bigger appreciation for bugs’ place in the food web —

WHO’S

AT THE BUG BUFFET?

Animals across the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center dine on the delights raised in the commissary’s bug room. Meet three:

Puerto Rican crested toads’ (above) favorite treats are crickets.

Taveta golden weavers have been known to snack on a crunchy insect.

Grizzly bears Boo and Thor enjoy crickets as a form of enrichment and play.

especially for amphibians who won’t recognize something as food unless it moves,” she says. “A lot of work goes into this job, but it’s worth it.”

The commissary’s “bug room” is carefully organized with rows of tubs containing bugs at various stages in their life cycles. Whether it’s a freshly hatched cricket the size of a speck of dust or a cockroach the length of a finger, Rycerz checks their health and progress and cleans their habitats daily.

Though the crickets and cockroaches will eventually become food for other animals, Rycerz still provides them with top-quality care, ensuring they have everything they need to be comfortable and healthy. After all, the healthier the bug, the healthier the animal who eats it.

“The bugs really need a lot of consistency,” Rycerz says. “They need to be clean and

"I dreamed about being a zookeeper, but I never thought about how the animals were fed, especially frogs and lizards."
— Emily Rycerz, Zookeeper

dry to be at their best. We give them fresh produce and this mix called ‘bug burger’ to give them as much nutrition as possible. We give them nutritious food so those vitamins are in their bellies — just like the bugs animals eat in the wild.”

After the bugs are successfully raised, they are distributed to animals all across the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center, even in places they might not be expected. Amphibians, birds and reptiles are the main diners at the bug buffet, but even mammals enjoy the occasional taste.

“Even I was surprised to learn how many mammals get bugs and crickets,” Rycerz says. “Some eat them as part of their regular diet, but the grizzly bears and polar bears sometimes get them for enrichment and play. I heard one of the female polar bears picks the crickets up like popcorn with her paw.”

Though amphibians will always be her favorite, Rycerz takes pride in knowing that so many different animals benefit from the bugs — and the role she plays. Even after clocking out, her mind often stays in the bug room, brainstorming new and better ways to keep the colonies thriving so the animals who depend on them can, too.

“When I was younger, I dreamed about being a zookeeper, but I never thought about how the animals were fed, especially frogs and lizards,” she says. “So much goes into it, but it’s really fun and rewarding.”

A CHILL NEW HOME

Haley ’s habitat relocation opens new doors for the Detroit Zoo’s commitment to conservation

Chill. Curious. Confident. These are all words mammal experts and Detroit Zoo staffers use to describe Haley, a 22-yearold polar bear who quickly won over her new caregivers at the Detroit Zoo with her intelligence and personality.

Those traits also are why Haley is adapting well to the Detroit Zoo and the Arctic Ring of Life habitat at the Detroit Zoo. She takes long swims in the saltwater pool, naps in the sunshine, enjoys sniffs of interesting scents and happily watches her companions in her habitat, Zoo staff members say. “She has a 360-degree view,” says Flo Yates, mammal department supervisor for the Zoo’s large carnivores. “She can see the chimpanzees across the pathway. She can see the ducks in Pierson Lake. She can smell the grizzly bears down the way. She has so many opportunities for visual and olfactory explorations.”

Haley arrived at the Detroit Zoo in March from the Memphis Zoo, where she had lived since she was 4 years old. The Zoo’s appreciation of Haley and her transition to Royal Oak comes in part because of how important her move is for her, the Zoo’s other polar bears and the future of polar bears nationally, explains Dr. Wynona Shellabarger.

Shellabarger is an associate veterinarian at the Detroit Zoo who looks after the Zoo’s polar bears, including a 20-yearold male named Nuka and a 12-year-old female named Suka.

“Right away, you could see she started exploring and smelling things in a casual, curious way. She seemed like she took everything in stride.”
— Dr. Wynona Shellabarger

Haley’s move is part of a larger effort by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse and sustainable polar bear population in human care, Shellabarger says. The AZA and the Detroit Zoo hope Haley not only has a long, healthy life but that she also may have an opportunity to become a mom if the conditions are just right.

Detroit Zoo officials, including Tami Brightrall, curator of mammals, were prepared even before Haley arrived to give her everything she needed to be comfortable. Haley’s Memphis caregivers had let the Detroit team know what her favorite toys and meals were, so those items were set up for her as she saw her new home for the first time, Brightrall says.

“She ate snacks on the road, and when she got here, she seemed to feel at home right away. You could see her sniffing the air, smelling the other polar bears.”

Shellabarger agrees. “She came right out, started investigating her stall, fluffed up her bedding, laid down and took a rest,” she adds. “Right away, you could see she started exploring and smelling things in a casual, curious way. She seemed like she took everything in stride.”

The Detroit Zoo’s Arctic Ring of Life is one of the largest polar bear habitats in North America. It features four acres of state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor spaces tailored to a polar bear’s physical and intellectual needs. Whether it is a cool blast of air conditioning in the ice cave, a swim in the fresh or saltwater pools or a pass through the 70-foot-long glass tunnel, Haley, Nuka and Suka have room to explore and play.

And if there’s one thing Haley likes to do, it is play, Yates and Brightrall agree. Haley likes her puzzle feeders, and she loves to swim. She especially likes when she can see her closest neighbors: Finn, Kit and Monte, three southern sea otters who were all found stranded at different times along California’s coast, rescued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and relocated to the Detroit Zoo.

“She also likes to engage with different sorts of substrate. She scratches at the grasses and bites them, acting so goofy,” Brightrall says. “You can see her rolling around, stretching out and taking naps out on the tundra side of the habitat. If you didn’t know better, you would think she lived here for a long time already.”

The Zoo team can't wait for guests to meet Haley. All the polar bears have the choice of where to spend their time in their expansive habitat. On hot summer days, Haley may choose to spend her time in the shade, in her cold pool — or she may choose to take a break in her air-conditioned indoor habitat out of public view. No matter where she is in the habitat, Haley's caretakers say she is enjoying her "chill" new home.

BRING THE ZOO TO YOU

Detroit Zoo Community Connect brings conservation education on the road

Imagine transforming your local library, schoolyard or park into a conservation field site filled with discovery, excitement for local Michigan species and hands-on scientific exploration. The Detroit Zoo’s Community Connect program delivers mobile learning experiences to tri-county residents that bring the wonder of the Zoo to you; inspiring curiosity, sparking conservation action and connecting participants to animals and nature with no field trip required.

ACCESSIBLE AND ADJUSTABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES

Community Connect programs serve up to 35 participants at one time and are designed with elementary and middle school students in mind. These 45- to 60minute immersive outdoor lessons led by Detroit Zoo educators guide participants through activities that build science skills and foster a deep connection to Michigan wildlife. Although no live animals travel off Zoo grounds, the curriculum is based on real conservation projects the Detroit Zoo is involved in and is packed with opportunities to explore tools, analyze biofacts and move through real-world scientific challenges.

Ask your favorite community hub to bring Detroit Zoo Community Connect to your neighborhood. With three lessons below to choose from, your library or recreational center can transform to the wildest place in town all summer long.

PIPING PLOVER PROTECTION

Piping plovers are small shorebirds that need to overcome some big challenges before they can hatch, grow and migrate. To understand the plover's plight, learn about the everyday actions that place piping plovers in danger, identify at-risk nesting sites, and discover how ecologists help populations through captive-rearing techniques, bird banding and nest security.

MUDPUPPY MISSION

Not a puppy, but a salamander! Mudpuppies, a freshwater species that lives in our very own Detroit River, are of special concern in Michigan. Learn about “bioindication” and how mudpuppies are water quality indicators. Discover how different “sites” around metro Detroit serve as habitats by collecting mudpuppy data. Explore why these hard-to-find amphibians are so important to our freshwater ecosystems.

MASSASAUGA RATTLESNAKES

Slither into the world of rattlesnakes! Act

as a reptile conservationist and practice conducting field surveys on Massasaugas, Michigan’s only venomous snake. Participants will learn about the Massasauga rattlesnake’s natural habitat as they attempt to find hidden snakes and conduct surveying techniques. Participants will synthesize data on their findings as they embody how scientists’ study these “ssssuper” specimens.

Visit dzoo.org or email Education@dzs.org to book your experience or learn more about this program.

Community Connect brings the Zoo to the community through immersive learning programs. In one program, participants use a bright light and simulated piping plover eggs to observe internal details, mimicking the process of egg candling.

ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

At the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS), accessibility is part of our commitment to creating spaces where every guest and community member feels supported and welcomed. Here are five ways we’re putting that commitment into action — helping people of all abilities make meaningful connections and lasting memories.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY SUPPORT

Our team is trained by KultureCity to better support guests with sensory sensitivities, autism and diverse learning needs. We also offer KultureCity sensory bags at the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center — complete with noisecanceling headphones, fidget tools and more, available anytime upon request.

TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT LOW VISION GUESTS

All Zoo and Nature Center guests get free access on our campuses to ReBokeh — an app that enhances live camera feeds with adjustable filters for contrast, color, zoom and lighting. This innovative app gives low-vision guests a better view, right in the palm of their hands. Fun fact — we are the first Zoo in the country to partner with ReBokeh!

A NETWORK FOR GUESTS WITH HIDDEN DISABILITIES

The DZS was the first cultural institution in the Midwest to join the global Sunflower Disabilities Program, which offers support for people with hidden disabilities. If you have a non-visible disability, you can discreetly signal the need for assistance during your next visit by wearing official Sunflower Program items, available upon request.

SUPPORT FOR EVERY STAGE OF LIFE

We understand that some guests need a little extra care. That’s why we’ve added an electronic universal changing table in the Zoo’s Coney Corner restroom. With easyto-use controls to adjust height for both the user and caregiver, it's one more way we're making the Zoo welcoming for everyone.

A TEAM THAT CARES

Our team and volunteers bring our values of care and innovation to life every day — offering assistance, thoughtful descriptions and support wherever it’s needed. If there's an accessibility feature we don’t yet offer, we’re actively exploring the best solutions. It’s all part of our commitment to making the Zoo welcoming and barrier-free for everyone.

A GREAT HOME FOR THE GREAT APES

Chimpanzees, gorillas enjoy newly renovated habitat

For the great apes who call the Detroit Zoo home, life just got a little greater.

Over the last year, the Great Apes of Harambee habitat, which has been home to gorillas and chimpanzees for decades, underwent a major renovation. The 4-acre habitat has been transformed with brand-new, 21-foot-tall climbing structures that give the animals elevated, enriching areas to explore, climb and play. The revitalization also includes improvements to the building and guest viewing areas to elevate both animal well-being and guest experience.

“While this habitat has always provided incredible opportunities for primates to thrive, we are always looking for ways to improve all the habitats here at the Zoo,” says Dr. Hayley Murphy, executive director and CEO. “This complex, enriching habitat will allow the gorillas and chimpanzees to play, climb and rest for years to come — promoting their natural behaviors while ensuring their long-term well-being.”

The Great Apes of Harambee houses troops of chimpanzees and gorillas — including one of the Zoo’s youngest residents, Motema. Born in August 2024, Motema made history as the first gorilla ever born at the Detroit Zoo. She shares the habitat with her parents, Bandia and Mshindi, as well as two “aunties,” Tulivu and Nayembi. The habitat is also split with a troop of 12 chimpanzees — all of whom can be seen exploring their habitat on warm and sunny days.

The newly renovated habitat and climbers were made possible through the generosity of Zoo supporters, Barbara and Steven Kohler and Chris Lezotte and Alan Kalter. Additional support came in by way of the Zoo’s annual Giving Zoo Day campaign, which saw 145 donors make gifts. Contributions from the campaign helped fund the construction of new climbing structures designed to enhance the animals’

environment and overall well-being.

“Helping to create an environment that replicates life in the apes’ natural habitat and stimulates them in a healthy and enjoyable manner presented an opportunity we just could not resist,” Kalter and Lezotte say. “Of course, watching the apes climbing and socializing on the structure is fun, educational and memorable for everyone watching.”

In addition to the gorilla and chimpanzee climbers, many other key improvements to the habitat were made. These include significant improvements to the building’s facade, animal viewing areas and directional signage, which create a better guest experience, encouraging curiosity about these animals while helping to foster connections to the natural world. These were supported through Barbara and Steven Kohler and their two sons, Jay and Ian, and their families. The Kohlers made their contribution in loving memory of Barbara's parents, Aaron and Dolly Friedman.

“I thought this would be a good donation made in remembrance of my family,” Barbara Kohler says. “I love animals, and I grew up going to the Zoo. I think the great apes are such interesting animals. They are really fun to sit and watch, and when they look at you, they almost look human.”

The entire Zoo team is deeply appreciative of everyone who contributed to support the great apes — though perhaps no one feels that gratitude more than the animal care team members who work closely with the chimpanzees and gorillas each day.

“It’s exciting to watch the great apes explore and use every part of their habitat," says Melissa Thueme, associate curator of mammals. "It’s also exciting for the guests to see and connect with the animals better. It’s great all the way around.”

Go out on a limb with nature’s most patterned primates! Ring-tailed lemurs are known for their long, black-and-white striped tails. Learn more about them and connect further with these fun, kid-friendly activities.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

Lemurs talk with their faces! An open mouth means “Watch out!” A pouty face means “Hi” or “Help!”

RING-TAIL RELAYCut

How to play:

1. Cut out the rings on the side.

2. Take turns adding one or two stripes to the lemur’s tail.

3. Try to be the one who adds the last stripe to win!

4. Ready, set, stripe!

JUMPING MACHINES!

Ring-tailed lemurs can leap more than 10 feet (3 meters) from tree to tree — that’s like jumping over a car!

TREE REBELS

Most lemurs stay in trees, but ring-tailed lemurs are special — they spend lots of time on the ground!

QUIZ

1. Lemurs are only found in one area on Earth. Where is it?

A. Antarctica

B. India

C. Madagascar and the Comoro Islands

D. Argentina and the Falkland Islands

2. True or False: Lemurs' tails are longer than their bodies?

A. True

B. False

Cut out the below pieces for the Ring-tail relay game

3. How many lemur species are there?

A. 12

B. 50

C. 76

D. More than 100

4. What do you call a group of lemurs?

A. A troop

B. A mob

C. A conspiracy

D. All of the above

EXPLORATION MEETS EDUCATION

Explore the Nature Play Space at the Belle Isle Nature Center!

With new water cascade tables, discovery tables, wheelbarrows, balance beams and loose parts to play with, the Belle Isle Nature Center provides a place for families to make a mess they do not have to clean up! Made possible with generous support from the Beatrice and Reymont Paul Foundation, the space introduces the concept that play in the natural world does not have to be complicated to be effective. We are delighted to provide a community place to find not only the health and educational benefits of nature play but also joy and belonging.

Nature play offers substantial health and educational benefits for young children. Pretend play with loose parts, such as rocks, leaves and branches, fosters creativity and imagination. Children create their own games and narratives, which support cognitive flexibility and executive function skills. This type of play also promotes social skills, as children negotiate roles, share resources and collaborate on common goals. Engaging with natural elements helps children develop fine and gross motor skills through physical activity, such as running, jumping and balancing. This active play supports cardiovascular health and muscle development. Water play enhances sensory experiences and encourages problem-solving skills as children explore concepts of volume, buoyancy and flow. It is truly a delight to watch as young learners at Belle Isle Nature Center, from toddlers to pre-teen nature campers, explore the textures, movement and features of nature.

Playing outside in nature – with nature –can help children gain confidence in their environment and better understand their own place in it, reinforcing connections between people, animals and the environment so all can thrive.

Each year, approximately 100,000 visitors come through the Nature Center, and those with children stay and play in our Nature Play Space during all four seasons.

We hope the Nature Play Space will help families find the inspiration to explore while at the Nature Center — and long after they return home.

New Belle Isle Nature Center feature gives children a place to play

MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR MUDPUPPIES

CONSERVATION CONNECTION

Since 2006, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) has been helping keep a Michigan-native salamander on track to a thriving population. The DZS monitors mudpuppies in the Detroit River to track and better understand the local mudpuppy population and its health. The aquatic salamanders are measured, weighed and implanted with a humane transponder for future identification. Along with water chemistry data collected from the Detroit River, these data provide a valuable baseline for monitoring not only the health of the mudpuppy population, but also the Detroit River ecosystem.

Support the care and conservation of Michigan mudpuppies by visiting detroitzoo.org/donate — then visit these slithering salamanders in person at the Belle Isle Nature Center!

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.