For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo 路 A Magazine of Conservation and Education 路 Summer 2014
Sights of Summer Our Favorite Views of Lincoln Park Zoo Annual Report Issue
IN THIS ISSUE Volume 13 Number 2 · For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo
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FEATURES Must-See Summer
It’s the perfect season to see what’s new at the zoo, but where do you start? We share our favorite sights, including growing babies and world-class views.
Peeking Behind the Scenes
Ever wanted to look into the Flamingo Dome or enjoy an inside look at Regenstein Center for African Apes? Here’s your chance.
Announcing—New Arrivals
A tiny takin and little lemur are among the zoo’s newest faces, while baby gorillas Patty and Nayembi continue to grow.
Cool Close-Ups
From scales to sculptures, we zoom in on some of the zoo’s wildest patterns.
Top Shots
Every Friday we share our favorite Photo of the Week online. Here are some of the very best, from roars to snores.
Science Snapshots
This year marks 25 years of science at Lincoln Park Zoo! Get a glimpse at the remarkable work our researchers do all over the globe.
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DEPARTMENTS Perspective
President and CEO Kevin Bell looks back on 38 years of animal memories.
New Sights of Summer
Waterfalls and purple love grass—find out about the latest garden highlights you won’t want to miss.
News of the Zoo
Penguin and polar plans, repopulating the prairie and prepping a home for Japanese macaques.
The Wild File
Farewell to bears and big winter meals…and introducing a new tool-use study.
Calendar
Check out the sights and sounds of summer, including Adults Night Out, Zoovies and Locally Sourced at the Patio.
Membership Matters
Special perks for our strongest supporters, including upcoming tours of Regenstein Macaque Forest.
Continue Your Visit Online Visit www.lpzoo.org for Lincoln Park Zoo photos, videos and up-to-date info on events and animals. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter! We'd Like to Hear from You! Send your feedback on this issue of Lincoln Park Zoo magazine to magazine@lpzoo.org. Cover: An Amur leopard takes a summer stroll at the Kovler Lion House. LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE
QUESTIONS? Contact the Membership Department. Staff are on hand during normal business hours— phone 312-742-2322 or visit us online at www.lpzoo.org.
President and CEO Kevin J. Bell
Editor James Seidler
Art Director Peggy Martin
Communications Specialist Craig Keller
Designer Joann Dzon Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312-742-2000, www.lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is supported through a public/private partnership between the Chicago Park District and The Lincoln Park Zoological Society. The only privately managed free zoo in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo relies on membership, individual, foundation and corporate support as well as earned revenue.
perspective A Letter From President and CEO Kevin J. Bell
The Cycle Continues If you close your eyes and imagine, I’m sure you can conjure up a favorite view of the zoo. It may be from last week, or it might stretch all the way back to your childhood. Maybe it’s a nose-to-nose encounter with baby gorilla Nayembi. Perhaps it involves standing on the Lester E. Fisher Bridge at Nature Boardwalk on a sunny summer day, seeing the whole city open up before you as you hear native wildlife chattering in the surrounding oasis. (If you can’t tell, that’s one of my favorites.) The views that resonate most with us typically say something about the person taking them in. As President and CEO, for instance, I enjoy watching crowds on the zoo’s busiest days, seeing thousands of guests enjoy the grounds and interact with wildlife. The exhibition seating at the Kovler Sea Lion Pool or the Main Mall overlook at Café at Wild Things are great places to get the pulse of the zoo—and see how we’re connecting so many people with wildlife. More recently, a favorite view of mine has been the construction taking place at Regenstein Macaque Forest. It’s a thrill to see this exciting exhibit coming to life before my eyes. Taking in the new building, though, I also see the old Kovler Penguin-Seabird House, which stood at the site for 30 years. That building was close to my heart. When I was curator of birds, it was my first major building project at the zoo, and I put a lot of care into getting the building’s habitats just right for the species that would live there. But while I’ll always appreciate Penguin-Seabird House, I’m much more excited for the new exhibit that’s taking its place. The old view will live on in my memories, but Regenstein Macaque Forest will provide a state-of-the-art home for Japanese snow monkeys—and an immersive wildlife experience for visitors. Its construction highlights how we’re always committed to looking forward and doing what’s best for wildlife. That new view will be added to the zoo’s panorama this fall. But there are dozens of others to appreciate now, everything from playful baby gorillas to growing black rhino King. We’ve collected our favorites here for you to enjoy. But trust me, they’re even better in person.
Kevin J. Bell President and CEO
Kevin's favorite views of the zoo include guests enjoying the natural wonders—and big plans for the future.
SUMMER 2014 1
Must-See Summer A visit to the zoo is undeniably a rite of summer in Chicago. It’s easy to see why. More animals spending time outside soaking up the sunshine. Lush gardens in bloom. And an endless array of upbeat activities from carousel rides to music concerts. Surveying it all is African lion Sahar from the top of his favorite rock at the Kovler Lion House—an iconic sight amid too many others to count. Here are just a few of our favorites.
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Start a List!
Want a summer challenge? Try to spot these birds at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. Black-Capped Chickadee Zoo scientists have built special nest boxes to encourage these cavity nesters to settle in.
Cliff Swallow These insect eaters built mud nests under the Lester E. Fisher Bridge for the first time last year.
Downy Woodpecker This tree-tapping species feeds on insects found beneath the bark of the boardwalk’s trees.
Red-Winged Blackbird Males of this colorful species can be aggressive defending their territory!
Black-Crowned Night Heron Endangered in Illinois, these fish-eaters have established a refuge near Nature Boardwalk and the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo.
Clockwise from top left: What to see at the zoo this summer? See a daily Seal Training and Feeding session, stretch with Yoga at the Zoo Presented by Walgreens, salute Sahar on his rock at the Kovler Lion House, say farewell to Anana at Polar Bear Plaza (see p. 19), take a ride on the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel, check out climbing chimpanzees at Regenstein Center for African Apes and sit in on Locally Sourced at the Patio. SUMMER 2014 3
BY JAMES SEIDLER
Peeking Behind the Scenes
BY JAMES SEIDLER
From the heights of the Treetop Canopy Climbing Adventure to the underwater area at the Kovler Sea Lion Pool, visitors may think they’ve seen every angle at Lincoln Park Zoo. But there’s a whole kaleidoscope of views behind the scenes, representing the hard work that goes into keeping Chicago’s free zoo running.
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Clockwise from top left: Zoological Manager of Primates Michael Brown-Palsgrove peers out from the researchers’ mezzanine at Regenstein Center for African Apes. The rhino room at Regenstein African Journey is piled high with eats and enrichment. Educators learn to hold a ball python for Meet an Animal sessions, and fruits and veggies are arrayed at the Nutrition Center. Chilean flamingos get ready for annual check-up inside the Flamingo Dome and Keeper Brad Krzyzanowski gently places Angus the armadillo into his behind-the-scenes housing. Legendary gorilla Bushman remains a presence at the Helen Brach Primate House, and leaf-cutter ants receive a leafy meal from Assistant Keeper Eva Gaya.
Get an inside look at the amingo physicals at www.lpzoo.org/magazine!
SUMMER 2014
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Announcing New Arrivals BY CRAIG KELLER
Lincoln Park Zoo isn’t a cultural institution that needs to constantly reinvent itself to rekindle public interest. It’s a living, ever-changing community. A gathering of wildly diverse families and individuals at all stages of life. Of course, as in human families, the babies get all the attention. What’s not to love about a tiny lowland gorilla girl sliding down a bamboo pole or a baby black rhino nuzzling up to its mother to nurse? Here are some of the newest arrivals we’ve recently added to the zoo’s family album.
Baby gorilla Nayembi is also thriving! See a video of her journey to recovery at www.lpzoo.org/magazine. 6 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Opposite: Klipspringer Asha, born March 30, received her name in a vote by friends of the zoo. It means "hope" in Swahili. Top: A baby crowned lemur, born April 14, clings to mom at the Helen Brach Primate House. Baby gorilla Patty continues to grow and play at Regenstein Center for African Apes. Tiny takin Kalsang was born April 23—another male for the herd at the Antelope & Zebra Area. Mexican lance-headed rattlesnakes are a new addition to Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House. And, of course, baby rhino King isn't quite so baby-like anymore, tipping the scales at more than 800 pounds. He's still playful, though, following mom Kapuki around the Harris Family Foundation Black Rhinoceros Exhibit and enjoying plenty of mud wallows.
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Cool Close-ups BY CRAIG KELLER
Welcome to Lincoln Park Zoom! On these pages we magnify some magnificent details that often go unnoticed by zoo visitors. From the mosaic texture of reptilian scales to historic architectural ornaments, the closest views are sometimes the most far-out. Look closely. We’re about to change your perspective.
4 1. A head-on look at a black rhino horn. This defensive adaptation is composed of keratin— the same material as our fingernails. 2. The mustache-like tufts of Inca terns signal maturity in males and females. 3. Camouflage patterns help eastern massasauga rattlesnakes blend in as they lay in wait for prey. 4. A feathery flourish on the corner of the McCormick Bird House hints at the flying species within. 5. Pygmy hippos secrete a red substance through their skin. Often thought to be blood, its actual purpose is un- known—it may act as sun block or a natural antibiotic. 6. A shelled detail in the facade hints at Park Place Café’s origin as Chicago’s first aquarium.
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6 7. A tiny leaf-cutter ant carries a bit of greenery to fuel the species’ fungal gardens. 8. Large, hooked claws help Hoffman’s two-toed sloths spend their lives in the rainforest tree tops. 9. Purple sensation blooms at the circle garden at Café Brauer. The color matches this year’s mild lavendar theme for annuals. 10. Long eyelashes may keep Baringo giraffes’ eyes free of dust and debris. 11. This stylized gorilla sculpture stands between Regenstein Center for African Apes and the zebra habitat at Antelope & Zebra Area. Unveiled in 1976, its creator is unknown. 12. A cooky flower unfolds at the circle garden at Café Brauer.
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field note
Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula The dwarf mongoose is Africa’s smallest carnivore. Adults grow to just 10 inches long and barely tip the scale at about 9 ounces. Abandoned termite mounds act like spacious condo towers for groups of up to 30 individuals, who use them as dens and to raise young. Maintaining social order in a dwarf mongoose family is a precise business. Females are dominant. Males leave their natal group when they’re 2 or 3 years old while females usually stay put. Only one breeding pair may produce offspring. And siblings get stuck with babysitting duties when they’re mere pups themselves. When a litter of four pups was born this past January to the dwarf mongoose family at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH), the babies didn’t stay in their nest box for long. They nursed as needed, but it wasn’t long 10 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
before two siblings born just a couple months earlier started shuttling them around the savanna-style exhibit. “The older kids needed a job,” says Curator Diane Mulkerin. “It’s the siblings’ responsibility to carry and care for the pups.” Duties include bringing the littlest ones crickets, mealworms, nutritional chow pellets, produce and grain. Social interaction is so finely calibrated in the species that even brief changes can lead to territorial grudges. It only took 24 hours for the established hierarchy in a previous 16-member dwarf mongoose family at SMRH to fracture when the group was split up to facilitate annual medical checkups. That isn’t the case with the current family, a curious group that gets along like a well-oiled machine and actively explores any enrichment introduced by keepers into the exhibit.
SPRING 2014 9
field note
Green Tree Python Chondropython viridis The green tree python at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House isn’t easy to spot; its rich green skin blends in easily with the foliage of its exhibit. But once the snake does catch your eye, it’s hard not to linger in appreciation. Native to New Guinea and Australia’s Cape York, green tree pythons spend most of their lives in the trees they call home. Reaching up to 7 feet in length, they prey on rodents, reptiles and even bats. Ambush predators, the snakes dangle from their strong, prehensile tails, waiting to snatch and constrict prey that wanders within range. (The zoo’s green tree python feeds on a large mouse every two weeks, a diet matched to his naturally slow metabolism.) The namesake green color provides excellent camouflage, making it hard for prey to detect this predator before it’s too late. The colorful adaptation also hides the snake from larger predators looking to make a meal of it. At hatching, though, green tree pythons come out of the egg with either yellow or red scales accented with white spots. These juvenile markings may help them blend in with the daytime forest-edge habitat where they make their homes as they grow. Later, as the larger snakes shift to a nocturnal life in the forest canopy, they adopt their adult green appearance. At the zoo, the resident green tree python doesn’t need to hide from predators—or lie in wait for prey. But he blends in all the same, showcasing the evolutionary heritage that has helped this species thrive.
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Top Shots
Each Friday we select a favorite snapshot as the Photo of the Week. Shared on www.lpzoo.org and the zoo’s social media outlets, these pictures offer a running look at life at a living institution, capturing everything from infant play to elder relaxation. Here are a few of our favorites, in print for the first time. You can see more at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.
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Top row, left to right: Gorilla Bana snuggles with week-old baby Patty at Regenstein Center for African Apes (RCAA) (10/19/12). A close-up of male African lion Sahar (4/26/13) and a look at female lion Myra against fall foliage (10/26/12). Gorilla Rollie and her baby, Nayembi, soak up some sun together in the outdoor yard at RCAA. (4/11/13) Middle row, left to right: Polar bear Anana enjoys some icy enrichment at Polar Bear Plaza (5/16/14). A Francois’ langur looks down from its perch at the Helen Brach Primate House (3/22/13) and month-old rhino King trots after mom Kapuki at the Harris Family Foundation Black Rhinoceros Exhibit (9/20/13). Bottom row, left to right: A young visitor has a close encounter with a black bear at the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo (10/12/12). Proud papa Quanli nuzzles up to son Xing Fu while his other young son, Mengyao, stands nearby in the Sichuan takin yard at the Antelope & Zebra Area (3/8/13), and a dwarf crocodile peers from its pool at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (1/17/14).
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Science Snapshots
BY JAMES SEIDLER
In 1989, Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed its first full-time scientist, Steve Thompson, Ph.D. His arrival kickstarted what’s now one of the largest zoo-based science programs in the country. Today more than 40 researchers use the zoo as a home base to study everything from great ape tool-use to black rhino pregnancy tests. To celebrate 25 years of science at the zoo, we look back at some milestone moments.
Steve Thompson, Ph.D., is hired. Over 23 years, he establishes the zoo as a research leader in areas ranging from urban wildlife to great ape behavior and population biology.
1989
1993
One of Thompson’s first zoo publications explores “the science of animal management.”
The William C. Bartholomay Center for Conservation and Science opens, providing a permanent home for zoo science. 14 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Lincoln Park Zoo scientists develop guidelines to standardize animal record keeping for zoos and aquariums throughout North America.
1997
1998
The Population Management Center is created in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It continues to make scientific breeding recommendations for zoos throughout North America today.
2000
2001
The Davee Center for Veterinary Epidemiology is established to anchor the zoo’s focus on enhancing animal health. An endocrinology emphasis is added in 2005.
Visualize how zoo scientists have saved species of all sizes with a special anniversary infographic at www.lpzoo.org/magazine!
Zoo scientists team up with the Jane Goodall Institute to study chimpanzee health in Tanzania’s iconic Gombe National Park.
The zoo-led Serengeti Health Initiative vaccinates its 1 millionth dog in Africa, part of an ongoing effort to protect the region’s people, pets and predators.
Population biologist Lisa Faust, Ph.D., is hired as the zoo’s new Vice President of Conservation & Science.
The creation of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes furthers Lincoln Park Zoo’s status as a leader in great ape research. Zoo scientists team with Montana’s Northern Cheyenne Reservation in a community effort to conserve the endangered black-footed ferret.
2004
2006
2008
2011 Zoo scientists join the effort to conserve the Puerto Rican parrot, one of the most endangered birds on Earth.
Lincoln Park Zoo teams with the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project to study wild chimpanzees and gorillas in this untouched region of the Republic of Congo.
2012
2014
The Urban Wildlife Institute’s network of “camera traps” continues to collect hundreds of thousands of photos of Chicago-area wildlife, revealing exciting details about the species that call the city home.
The Urban Wildlife Institute is founded to study urban ecosystems—and develop strategies to minimize conflict between native wildlife and urban development. SUMMER 2014 15
New Sights of Summer
The zoo’s diverse gardens are ever evolving, and this season is no different with plenty of new sights for landscape lovers.
Go with the Flow
The zoo’s garden design is more fluid than ever this year. We’re talking waterfalls. These new scenic water features—installed last fall but now fully landscaped—include waterfalls on the north end of the Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond, on the west side of Wild Things gift shop and just inside the East Gate on the north side of the Main Mall. The first complements previously built limestone-framed waterfalls at the Swan Pond and Waterfowl Lagoon. A new rock-encircled biofilter on the south end of the lagoon uses the increased water current, filters and an enzyme to clean the water. The rocky stream next to Wild Things tumbles down a small hillside populated with dwarf conifers and an American elm. A similar waterfall by the East Gate is flanked by low-growing ornamental plants including daffodils. There’s also a new, kid-friendly, bubbly fountain by the bus drop-off area on the east side of the zoo. “Who doesn’t love the sound of moving water?” asks Director of Horticulture Brian Houck. It’s a rhetorical question, of course. The burbling embellishments enhance the tranquil atmosphere of the zoo’s gardens.
Coming Full Circle
Lavender-hued annuals will bring a cool theme to the main zoo grounds this summer. But the entrance to Café Brauer is just as welcoming. Guests arriving via Stockton Drive at the landmark building for an al fresco cocktail at the Patio may be driven to indulge in another round. The circle garden fronting onto Stockton has undergone a marvelous makeover with support from Trustee and former Board Chairman Dave Bolger.
A low red-brick wall and decorative urns contain ornamental and native plants in the center of the circular driveway. The effect continues on the perimeter where the former lawn beneath the crabapple trees has been transformed into a teeming garden. Several thousand daffodils bloomed this spring, joining pansies in pots and “Ambassador” onion plants with enormous dark-purple flower heads. This expanded “garden room,” as Houck calls it, is more ornamental than nearby Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo but appropriates some of the latter’s prairie-style elements. Little bluestem, autumn moor grass and anise hyssop mingle with lavender hydrangeas, European ginger and lilac shrubs. “It’s an American Landscape-style garden—big, bold mass plantings,” says Houck. “It feels a lot larger and more finished now.”
Booming Boardwalk
The abundant rain last spring fueled giant prairie plants at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. “This summer will be even better,” says Houck. The plants are now well established and will increase in size or number with mature blooms. The long, cold, wet spring and heavy snows were also a plus—not so good for invasives but just fine for native plants. “All that snow helps our plants make it through the winter better,” says Houck. “And they had a nice, long drink when it warmed up.” Horticulturists don’t know exactly how prairies evolve. That’s partly what makes prairie ecosystems like Nature Boardwalk so fascinating. “It’s always a bit of a wonder,“ says Houck. “Plants are figuring out exactly where they wish to grow.” Golden blooms of coreopsis flourished two summers ago. Last year brought ratibida—prairie coneflowers resembling yellow daisies—in abundance. Hopefully, the sunshine will also let the purple love grass grow. “The name does sound hippy-ish,” says Houck of the finely textured grass that features delicate stems and light pink-purple new buds. “When you look at it from a distance you get this purple haze—a fog of purple love.” Excuse us while we kiss the sky.
Left: Potted flowers—some with the year's mild lavendar theme—enliven the new circle garden at Cafe Brauer. Right: The prairie plants at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo are thriving, "Shock Wave" petunias are blooming and new water features tumble at Wild Things Gift Shop and the Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond. 16 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
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news of the zoo
Penguins will return to the zoo in spring/summer 2016, smooth green snakes are being reintroduced to the wild and the 10th annual Science Celebration, hosted by the Women's Board, celebrated a year of research for the zoo's Young Research Collaborative.
Penguin and Polar Plans
The zoo’s next great building project involves a state-of-the-art upgrade for one beloved species and a welcome return for another. The north side of the zoo will be transformed this fall as work begins on a new polar bear and a new penguin habitat. Modeled on the Arctic tundra, the new polar bear habitat will feature immersive shoreline, shrubs and streams. An increase in dry-land habitat reflects the latest research on the species’ preferences—and encourages a full range of wild behaviors. The exhibit will offer several viewing shelters for guests as well as an “ice cave” near the glass for comfy outdoor cooldowns on hot summer days. Most importantly, the exhibit will have the ability to be split in two…a must for hoped-for cubs down the road. Next door, just east of Kovler African Savanna, a new penguin habitat will offer a home for more than a dozen African penguins. This outdoor exhibit will emulate the rocky shores of the species’ native habitat. Nesting boxes behind the scenes will accommodate breeding pairs for this endangered species, which is managed by the African Penguin Species Survival Plan®. Together, the two new exhibits will transform roughly 45,000 square feet of habitat at a projected cost of $22 million. They should begin to thrill visitors in spring/summer 2016.
Make Way for Macaques
The zoo’s other upcoming exhibit, Regenstein Macaque Forest, continues to take shape as a home for Japanese snow monkeys. Construction continues on the outdoor evergreen habitat, which is slated—hot spring and all—to open this fall. Of course, construction is only part of the process of welcoming a new species. Even as population planners navigate the process of bringing the troop to the zoo, educators are planning which macaque adaptations to highlight as scientists prep touch-screen computer stations for the social primates. It’s a careful collaboration, one that should pay big dividends for the macaques themselves—and the visitors who will marvel at the snow monkeys’ cool culture. 18 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Repopulating the Prairie
The Midwest was once covered in grasslands, rolling prairie as far as the eye could see filled with animals adapted to this unique ecosystem. Much of the prairie is gone, lost to agriculture and development. But zoo experts are working with local partners to return native species to restored habitat throughout the region. Ornate box turtles, meadow jumping mice and smooth green snakes will all return to the wild this summer through restoration projects combining zoo expertise in animal husbandry, population planning and reintroductions. Tiny mice, turtles and snakes get a chance to grow safely behind the scenes, a “head start” that helps them thrive in the wild. Scientists monitor their reintroductions, bringing back data that should help the next generation gain a surer foothold. Learn more at www. lpzoo.org/magazine!
Celebrating Science…and Summer
It’s been a busy season for big events. On May 7, the Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo hosted their 10th Annual Science Celebration, welcoming hundreds of students from the zoo’s Young Researchers Collaborative to share their research. The event at Café Brauer was the culmination of a year of work and was generously hosted by Bank of America and Polk Bros. Foundation. On May 17, the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo hosted their stylish spring fundraiser, Zoo-ologie. This fantastic event featured live music, elegant drinks and food from top Chicago restaurants, raising money to keep the zoo free and open to all. Finally, summer began with a spurt of activity—and relaxation. Yoga at the Zoo Presented by Walgreens started stretching June 1, welcoming guests to connect with nature at the beautiful Peoples Gas Education Pavilion at Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. A sold-out United Run for the Zoo laced up at the starting line the same day, recruiting runners to race in support of Chicago’s free zoo.
wild file Bye Bye, Bearline
Moving day is fast approaching for residents of the Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat (a.k.a. “Bearline”). Three bears and two hyenas are relocating to other accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions as Lincoln Park Zoo begins building the state-of-the-art polar bear and African penguin habitats that will debut in spring/summer 2016. As we say goodbye, here are a few favorite memories of each: Manny: 27-year-old male Andean bear. Enjoys cooling off in his pool. Most challenging enrichment: boomer ball smeared with peanut butter. Fong: 19-year-old male Malayan sun bear. Frequently seen laying on his back on a tree trunk, rubbing food on his belly and head before pawing it off for a snack. Thika and Kai: 16- and 5-year-old male spotted hyenas. Hierarchy dictates every social interaction for this species, and in this pairing, the younger Kai is dominant. Scrapping over enrichment is par for the course—even for the heavy-duty balls that can hold up against their incredibly powerful jaws. Anana: 14-year-old female polar bear. We’ll miss watching her swim past the underwater viewing window at Polar Bear Plaza, tossing balls in the air to herself and thumping on barrel-shaped enrichment with her massive forepaws similar to how her wild counterparts smash through ice in pursuit of seals. Be sure to visit Anana and her neighbors soon to bid them your own fond farewell! When you do, share your photo with us on Instagram with #lincolnparkzoo.
Branching Out
Chimpanzees are renowned for tool use—for instance, fraying the ends of thin branches to extract insect snacks from termite mounds. What’s known as “tool set” use, however, is far more rare. The sequential use of differently modified tools to accomplish a task is the goal of a planned study by Lydia Hopper, Ph.D., a research scientist in the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes at Regenstein Center for African Apes (RCAA). Building on past tool-use research at the Fisher Center, Hopper is also collaborating with zoo researchers David Morgan, Ph.D., and adjunct scientist Crickette Sanz, Ph.D., who have documented wild chimpanzees using tool sets in the Republic of Congo’s remote Goualougo Triangle. The apes use thick, sturdy branches to perforate the shells of termite mounds then switch to slender, flexible branches to get the insects inside. (For humans, eating with a knife and fork is roughly analogous.) A simulated termite mound in the chimpanzee exhibit at RCAA is a perfect place for Hopper to try the tool-use task with the zoo’s apes. The work will have to wait until winter though. A spring trial saw individuals from Hank’s chimpanzee troop retrieve a medium-sized branch from a serviceberry tree in their outdoor yard that could both perforate the seal and gather the treats.
Spectacled bear Manny, spotted hyenas Thika and Kai, polar bear Anana and Malayan sun bear Fong will move to new homes in accredited zoos as work proceeds for new polar bear and penguin habitats.
“Which is brilliant in its own right!” says Hopper. “It nicely highlights their flexible problem solving and ability to innovate. But it’s not exactly what we wanted to tap into. They’ve outfoxed us. Now we’re waiting until they can’t go out to get alternate resources.”
Light Bites
The zoo’s African lions aren’t switching to salads for the summer. During warm weather, however, the carnivores’ meaty menu is trimmed by about a quarter. “We cut back on food orders during the summer,” says Laura Franske, manager of the zoo’s Nutrition Center, which designs diets to meet the nutritional needs of all the zoo’s animals. “The outdoor cats need the extra calories in the winter to bulk up, but that’s not necessary in summer.” Male lion Sahar drops from 15 to 11 pounds of meat five days a week. Female Myra’s five-day daily portions decrease from 7 to 5 pounds. They receive 5 and 3 pounds, respectively, plus meaty bones on the other two days of the week. It’s still a full diet—just one that won’t give the lions a head start on that extra winter weight.
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calendar Sights and Sounds of Summer
Lincoln Park Zoo offers fresh sights in every season, but the excitement reaches its peak in summer! That’s when whitecheeked gibbons swing through their outdoor exhibit, red wolves howl and prowl and guests stroll down sunny sidewalks to see their favorite animals. While wildlife is always at the heart of the zoo experience, this summer features plenty of events offering new views of Chicago’s free zoo. For instance, ever wonder what happens after the gates close for the evening? You can see yourself with a Twilight Safari or Adults Night Out! Our monthly Twilight Safari has adult guests tour the zoo after hours with a horticulturist and animal care expert, while the August 8 Adults Night Out offers a fun focus on food and drink, garden talks and animal encounters. Both offer exclusive views of the zoo—and fun! The evening excitement continues with our Zoovies series, which will screen some movie favorites on the South Lawn after dark. “Talladega Nights” (July 24), “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (August 21), “Best in Show” (September 5) and a “Ghostbusters”/ “The Shining” double bill (October 3) are all sponsored by Lagunitas. Lagunitas is also sponsoring Locally Sourced at the Patio, our Wednesday local art and music series at the Patio at Café Brauer. Come by for a drink, dinner, local produce and the perfect pond-side view! If Wednesdays don’t work, we’ll also have music at the Patio Tuesday nights—and an awesome al fresco setting throughout the summer.
Upcoming Events July 5 Sleep Under the Skyscrapers: Outdoor Campout
Outdoor Campout
July 12 Second Saturdays Garden Tour
July 23 WTTW Readers Are Leaders
Zoo Ball: Wild at Heart
July 24 Zoovies: Talladega Nights
July 18 Sleep Under the Skyscrapers:
Summer fun at the zoo includes strolling the zoo after hours, Sleeping Under the Skyscrapers and singing along with Locally Sourced at the Patio.
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July 23 Twilight Safari
July 30 Wine & Wildflowers
See the full summer calendar at www.lpzoo.org/calendar!
membership matters The Forecast Calls for Snow Monkeys
Get ready for snow monkeys! Zoo members will enjoy free previews of Regenstein Macaque Forest when our state-ofthe-art exhibit opens this fall. You’ll be among the first to see the Japanese macaque troop explore this immersive outdoor habitat featuring evergreen trees and a hot spring for warm dips on cool days! Be sure to subscribe to our ZooMail digest at www.lpzoo.org/zoomail for an announcement on this special opportunity.
Early Birds and a Safari Picnic
The south end of the zoo opened early just for members during Members-Only Morning on Saturday, May 3. The exclusive early-bird event included a variety of special activities: Sichuan takin enrichment, drawing temporary doodles and messages on a gorilla exhibit window and participating in a kangaroo joey naming contest. Families also embarked on a safari-themed evening of fun at SuperZooPicnic on Friday, June 13. Members had the zoo to themselves for free carousel and train rides, a pie-eating contest, safari games, dancing to a DJ and more. Thanks again for everything you do to support the zoo.
Don’t Miss It!
Members in the zoo’s Donors’ Circle and Conservators’ Council donor clubs receive elite extras for their generous support. One upcoming perk: Breakfast at the Zoo on Saturday, July 19 with primatologist Lydia Hopper, Ph.D., who’ll talk about the planned research initiatives for Japanese macaques. Look for your invitation or call 312-742-2321 for details.
What Did You Name the Joey?
Thanks to everyone who submitted a name for the joey at our May Members-Only Morning. The winning entry, Jack, was offered by 9-year-old Olivia Holness, as a tribute to the movie “Kangaroo Jack.” Learn more about Olivia—and Jack—at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.
Follow Us Online! Lincoln Park Zoo magazine isn't the only way to stay up to date on the zoo's world of wildlife. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the zoo blogs at www.lpzoo.org. New animal arrivals, special events, field reports by zoo scientists—they all await your discovery online.
Members will enjoy exclusive preview tours of Regenstein Macaque Forest this fall. They also decorated windows—and submitted joey names—at this May's Members-Only Morning.
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Your membership supports everything we do, from animal care to publishing Lincoln Park Zoo magazine.
Patriotic Plumage
Ethan, an American bald eagle at Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit, came to Lincoln Park Zoo in 2006 as a young bird who had been injured in the wild. He’s thrived at the zoo where his daily menu specials include trout, herring, quail, ribs and rodents! Celebrate Independence Day with a salute to this all-American avian ambassador. Our special ADOPT gift package includes a cuddly plush, certificate of ADOPTion, fact sheet and photo. ADOPT a bald eagle—and support the care of every animal at Lincoln Park Zoo. Visit www.lpzoo.org/adopt today!
Wish Them Well
Want to share a special treat with your favorite animal? Chip in for tasty snacks and fun-fueling toys by shopping the zoo’s monthly Wish List. June highlights items for the Farm-in-the-Zoo’s animals while July is strictly for the birds. From pony halters to seafood for storks, the Wish List includes something fun for everyone! Browse the zoo’s Wish List at www.lpzoo.org/wishlist today!
Go Wild Online!
Connect with the Lincoln Park Zoo community on the web. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to get the latest news on baby animals, fun events and unique learning adventures!
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