For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo 路 A Magazine of Conservation and Education 路 Summer 2013
Social Studies Understanding Connections, Big and Small
in this issue Volume 12 Number 2 · For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo
1 18 19 21 insert
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Introducing Lincoln Park Zoo’s next great exhibit: Regenstein Macaque Forest! This lively habitat will be a hub for zoo research and fun.
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Social Spotlights
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President and CEO Kevin Bell shares how Japanese macaques will amaze zoo visitors—and add to our world-class social setting..
News of the Zoo
A new Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds, a historic bird walk and fun summer events.
Wild File
A recovery update for baby gorilla Nayembi and new arrivals including Hottentot teal ducklings and harbor seals.
Membership Matters
See all the summer fun for members, from the VIP treatment to new Zoo Safari Tours.
Annual Report
The zoo welcomed new faces and new heights in conservation, learning and care last year.
A New Exhibit Goes Social
Great Ape Economics
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Perspective
Features
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Departments
By having chimpanzees trade tokens for treats, zoo scientists can study how the apes learn and respond to different rewards. Each species has its own social structure. Here’s a closer look at red kangaroos, Francois’ langurs and Blyth’s hornbills.
Tallying Social Ties
A new app makes it easier than ever before for animal care experts to keep tabs on wild social lives.
Join the Club
The zoo’s new Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration spurs Chicago teens—and global peers—to join a learning community centered on zoo careers and animal behavior.
Green Team
The 100-plus volunteer gardeners who keep the grounds beautiful make up their own zoo society.
Continue Your Visit Online Visit www.lpzoo.org for Lincoln Park Zoo photos, videos and up-yo-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: The latest zoo research is studying the social ties of animals like chimpanzee Cashew. Left: Baby gorilla Nayembi continues to recover and thrive thanks to expert animal care. LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE President and CEO Kevin J. Bell
Editor James Seidler
Art Director Peggy Martin
Communications Specialist Craig Keller
Designer Joann Dzon
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.
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 Persident and CEO Kevin J. Bell
A Social Hub Lincoln Park Zoo is undeniably social. Every trip I take through zoo grounds confirms it. I see friends and family coming to share time and experience wildlife. I also see packs, troops and herds engaging in playful games of chase or patiently grooming one another. In thinking about zoo social living, most people picture these animal interactions. Now, with our next great exhibit, they’ll have another world-class spot to witness the social lives of wildlife. Opening in fall 2014, Regenstein Macaque Forest will provide a state-of-the-art home for a group of 10–15 Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys. This immersive outdoor exhibit, taking the place of the former Kovler Penguin-Seabird House, will integrate face-to-face encounters and world-class research, much like the award-winning Regenstein Center for African Apes. I can’t wait to see it. From hot spring to treetops, the for-
est will have fun features to engage these playful primates in all four seasons. A built-in research station will let scientists observe the rich behaviors on display—and add data from another species to what’s being learned with projects like the token-exchange studies being conducted with chimpanzees and gorillas at Regenstein Center for African Apes. The natural environment of Regenstein Macaque Forest will let the wild behaviors of Japanese macaques fill the frame. As we continue to plan the zoo’s future, that’s one touchstone we always return to: providing unforgettable spaces where animals can be themselves. While Japanese macaques represent the future of zoo social life, there are lots of amazing groups to appreciate today. The kangaroo mob at Antelope & Zebra Area. The Sichuan takin herd nearby (my favorite). Gorilla groups, red wolf packs, the mixed species sharing Kovler African Savanna… there’s so much to come and enjoy this summer. So align your social life with the zoo’s wild ones. As you do, remember that it’s your support that keeps the zoo free, open and shared—with everyone!
Marking a Milestone 2013 is Kevin’s 20th anniversary as director of Lincoln Park Zoo. See how he—and the zoo he loves—has changed in that time at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.
Kevin J. Bell President and CEO
Zoo societies include today’s Sichuan takin babies and the exciting Japanese macaque group slated to arrive next fall.
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A New Exhibit Goes Social Some animals are solitary. But the species at the
center of the zoo’s next great exhibit are social, delightfully so.
Japanese macaques call, chase, play and groom one another to maintain deep social bonds. These fabled snow monkeys are active in every season, climbing rich green trees and exploring crisp snowdrifts. The exhibit they’ll call home—Regenstein Macaque Forest—will combine the natural and the state of the art. Green vines will camouflage walls, immersing visitors in the forest scene before them. Digital signage and a built-in research station will connect guests with the latest wild information, reinforcing the connection between Lincoln Park Zoo and the grand world of wildlife around us. Look for Regenstein Macaque Forest to open in fall 2014. 2 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Whatʼs Planned? Cooler By the Dozen
The new Japanese macaque troop will instantly be one of the zoo’s signature social groups.
Its 10–15 members will offer a constantly
changing dynamic, full of rich observations— and research.
Open to the Sky The outdoor exhibit will feature open views from ground to treetops, giving these active animals room to chase and climb.
Hot and Heated A central hot spring will offer the snow monkeys a visually stunning winter warm-up similar to the ones the species share in the wild.
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Groundbreaking new studies at Regenstein Center for African Apes are boosting our understanding of how chimpanzees think— and social groups function. 4 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
BY JAMES SEIDLER
Great Ape Economics
The currency in question at Regenstein Center for African Apes is a piece of white PVC tubing, about 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Like any unit of exchange, its worth depends on where you try to trade it. Exchange it right at the point of distribution, and you get a piece of carrot—a tasty treat, sure, but hardly the hot fudge of the chimpanzee world. But walk a little further to hand in your little token, and you get a grape instead, vastly preferred in this area of great ape gastronomy. The tokens are distributed in half-hour sessions planned by Research Scientist Lydia Hopper, Ph.D., and adjunct scientist Kristin Bonnie, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Beloit College. As experiments go, the set-up is easy to grasp, but the results will deepen our understanding of how great ape social groups function. “With Lydia’s work, we can follow along as the zoo’s apes potentially learn that different degrees of effort produce different degrees of reward,” says Steve Ross, Ph.D., director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes. “Well, that’s basic economics.”
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Owl monkeys, on the other hand, live in simple pairs with their offspring. Mom and dad always need to cooperate to successfully rear young; no decisions about partners are necessary. The difference could suggest the inequity response is an adaptation to stave off being exploited by non-kin members of your group. To evaluate that hypothesis, it helps for researchers to study it in as many species as possible. At Regenstein Center for African Apes, that means gorillas as well as chimpanzees. “Scientists know very little about whether gorillas respond to inequity,” says Ross. “Our unique setting here gives us the perfect opportunity to explore some key unanswered questions.”
Self-Guided Learning
Research Scientist Lydia Hopper, Ph.D., poses with the tokens and treats that fuel her new study. Below: Research Assistant Laura Kurtycz stands ready to exchange a grape for a token.
Testing the Tried—and Trend-Setting
Token-exchange studies are a tested method for primate studies. In her previous role with Georgia State University, Hopper used token exchanges to study how species including chimpanzees, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys and rhesus macaques responded to inequity. What does that mean? Basically, scientists gave different animals different rewards for the same task: handing back the token. Some species, such as owl monkeys, don’t react to unequal treatment. But chimpanzees certainly do, as a range of studies have shown. When the unequal treatment crosses a certain threshold, these social animals reject the lesser reward, even if a carrot, in this case, is obviously better than nothing. “It might sound strange, but humans respond in the same way,” says Hopper. “We would rather accept no reward than an unfair outcome.” Data suggests the inequity response may be tied to the species’ social networks. In chimpanzee groups, individuals cooperate with non-family members for day-to-day living. If a chimpanzee is looking for a partner toward some end, it has options to choose from. 6 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
In research settings around the world, chimpanzees have proved adept at trading tokens for treats. At Regenstein Center for African Apes, though, this was a new behavior to learn. The members of Hank’s chimpanzee troop weren’t sure what to do at first with the tokens being distributed through the mesh of their exhibit. The slow start was part of Hopper and Ross’ plan. Researchers elsewhere had given the apes a helping hand by training them how to exchange. But to truly study the social-learning element of the project—how the behavior is transmitted through the group—the Fisher Center scientists wanted the chimpanzees to pick up the exchange on their own. It made for a nerve-wracking first few days, Ross admits. “We were wondering if we might have miscalculated,” he says. The chimpanzees played with the tokens, putting them in their mouths and filling them with water. They pushed other items through the mesh, such as wood chips and sticks. Hopper and Research Assistant Laura Kurtycz stood motionless through it all, avoiding any cues that might influence the group’s behaviors.
Chimpanzee Optimus Prime successfully trades a PVC token for a bit of carrot—the lesser reward in this study of great ape economics. The tokens themselves also provide a bit of play, as seen below.
Then a breakthrough. Chimpanzee Optimus pushed one of the tokens back through the mesh, receiving a carrot piece in exchange. This caught the group’s attention. Female Chuckie figured out the next step not long after, taking the token around the corner for a tasty grape. The trades have since accelerated, with most of the group members—Chuckie, Optimus, Nana, Cashew and Kathy— readily swapping tokens for treats. Now that the basic exchange is established, the researchers plan to start adding wrinkles. “Soon we’re going to move the grape station, placing it farther up in the exhibit and eventually outside,” says Hopper. By scaling up the amount of effort required to get the preferred treat, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of how chimpanzees value it. It’s key information for teasing apart—and tweaking—this system of rewards.
Part of a Spectrum of Studies
The token-exchange project isn’t the only behavioral study taking place at Regenstein Center for African Apes. Scientists still conduct daily monitoring of chimpanzee and gorilla behavior, recording activity patterns on tiny tablets. Indeed, interns record behavioral data during the token-exchange sessions. Their data may help Hopper and her peers better understand the chimpanzee social interactions that facilitate learning. The artificial termite mound in the central exhibit is periodically stocked with treats, offering researchers a controlled environment for studying the apes as they use tools similar to those they wield in the wild. (The treats are different, though; termites in Africa give way to ketchup and mustard at the zoo.) Fisher Center researchers also employ technology that is decidedly not available in the wild. Scientists are studying the ability of chimpanzees and gorillas to sequence objects on a computer touch-screen. Beyond offering insight into ape perception, the puzzles are also a platform for high achievement. Bachelor gorilla Azizi has recently showcased the ability to reproducibly sequence nine objects on the touch-screen. That’s something of a record for gorillas, and it opens him up to new tasks previously only undertaken by chimpanzees.
Advancing Understanding, Treat By Treat
All this research is voluntary. Each successful task is sweetened by little rewards, but every participant always has the option to walk away. Beyond building knowledge for the zoo’s scientists, though, the research projects offer extra enrichment for these complex, curious and social animals. Much like their human counterparts, the apes can show a deep appetite for play…and solving puzzles. “When we first tried the token exchange and the chimpanzees were pushing any object through the mesh, one conclusion could be, ‘Oh, they’re doing it wrong,’” says Hopper. “But another take could be, ‘Oh, they’re trying everything to figure out how this works.’” It’s this rich cognitive framework that makes the chimpanzees and gorillas so rewarding to study. They resemble ourselves, in many ways. Learning how they see the world can also cast light on our own rich interactions.
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Social Spotlights Social interactions assume countless forms throughout nature. Here’s a look at how three animal families at the zoo get along. Red Kangaroos
Red kangaroos live in small groups called mobs. While the term may conjure other connotations, life is pretty mellow for the six-member marsupial mob at the Antelope & Zebra Area. The four males and two females here are mostly sedentary during the day. They become more active as group grazers after dusk—like their wild counterparts on the hot, open plains of central Australia. On sweltering days, you may also spot them coating their limbs with saliva to cool down. Curator Diane Mulkerin isn’t jumping to conclusions, but she hopes there may be another mouth to feed this summer. Last December, a male came here from the Detroit Zoo under a breeding recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Red Kangaroo Species Survival Plan® (SSP). His dominance over the other males ensures there’ll be few of the “boxing” bouts that can mark breeding contests in the wild. If a baby—known as a joey—does arrive soon, visitors won’t know it at first. “Joeys are the size of a lima bean when they’re
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BY CRAIG KELLER
born,” says Mulkerin. After a 33-day pregnancy, they arrive in a near-fetal state and attach themselves to a nipple in their mother’s pouch, where they remain for the next four months.
Francois’ Langurs
Aunts are a big deal in Francois’ langur families. When infants are born to these acrobatic, highly vocal, leaf-eating monkeys—critically endangered in southern and southeast Asia due to habitat destruction—a caregiving behavior called alloparenting takes over. Adult females in the group take turns grooming, carrying and protecting newborns. Researchers theorize this frees up mom for foraging and spreads parenting skills around. Interacting with more adults than just mom also sets up infants for success, ensuring they’ll be socially well adjusted to the group’s dynamics. Chi and Juhong fulfill those aunt roles in the five-member family residing at the Helen Brach Primate House. Although they aren’t related by blood, they’ve helped raise the three offspring of breeding pair Cartman and Pumpkin, including 2-year-old female Orla, born at the zoo in 2010. Francois’ langurs, which stand about 2 feet tall, are generally mellow and live in groups of 3 to 10 with one male. Though Orla’s hair is now black, and she’s begun sporting the distinctive spiked crest and white facial bands that distin-
guish the species, the youngster started out—as all Francois’ langurs do—orange with a black tail. With Orla’s siblings moved to other zoos as part of a population planning strategy, her aunts have also found themselves stepping in as playmates. “She likes to solicit play from the old lady,” says Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy, referring to Juhong, who at 27 is the oldest female in the SSP population managed by the AZA. Primate House lead keeper Bonnie Jacobs serves as the SSP’s vice coordinator.
Blyth’s Hornbills
Trust is a key factor in Blyth’s hornbill relationships. Females of this large-beaked Indonesian bird species remain sealed in nest cavities inside tree trunks for up to four months as they incubate eggs and brood chicks. Each female depends on her male mate to deliver food to her—as well as any chicks that fledge—through a small opening left in the mud wall enclosing her. Samson and Delilah, the monogamous breeding pair who live in the Deep Forest Exhibit at the McCormick Bird House, initiate this process every spring. Throughout the year, though, they feed each other in a social behavior called “courtship feeding” that cements their pair bond, says Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds Sunny Nelson. The hornbills build and seal the nest cavity together using dirt, moss, pine shavings, droppings and scraps of soft fruits and vegetables. Then it’s time for Delilah, who completely molts during the nesting period, to place her delivery orders: a variety of fruits (that also provide the birds’ main source of water), small rodents and insects provided twice daily by keepers. “Samson usually picks out all the good stuff he wants and then brings the rest to her,” says Nelson. “But she’ll throw it back out if she doesn’t want it. If there’s a chick, the little one begins to beg as well, and you’ll see it sticking its head out of the hole.” Offspring, though, don’t stick around long. They’re nearly adult-sized when they emerge from the nest, and although both parents participate in their care, territorial behavior intervenes within a year or so. “Parents push them off to find new territory,” says Nelson. “Otherwise, aggression can arise. If we see the chick start to hop to another branch when they approach, it’s a good sign it’s time to separate them.” It’s just one more example of how the zoo is committed to enabling natural social patterns for the animals in its care.
The kangaroo mob, Francois’ langur troop and Blyth’s hornbill pair each have their own unique social behaviors.
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Tallying Social Ties
How do the zoo’s animals spend their time? As any visitor could tell you, they swim, snack, snuggle…and sleep. But fun as they are, those observations don’t add up to a complete snapshot of animal activities, one that helps curators better manage the species in their care. A new tool, though, will let caregivers see daily activity patterns for species throughout the zoo. Funded with a grant from the Rice Foundation, the ZooMonitor iPad app lets users record data ranging from social spacing to play. Similar to the behavioral monitoring system in place at Regenstein Center for African Apes, ZooMonitor will help caregivers determine what’s “normal” for these animals. “You need a good baseline to notice when something’s out of the ordinary,” says Conservation Programs Manager Katie Gillespie, who’s contributing to the project. Gillespie has been giving the app a trial run with the zoo’s Sichuan takin herd. She and her partners record behavioral, space-use and body condition data for the five-member herd anywhere from one to five times a day. There’s a lot of eating, she reports, but also nuzzling between the two moms and their babies—and the occasional head butt when one of the little ones needs gentle correction.
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The ZooMonitor apps let scientists note everything from animal in teractions to body condition—valuable data for improving care. The Sichuan takins are just the first species to be monitored with the new tool.
Knowledge gained from the takin pilot will be extended through the zoo this summer as three interns begin a robust monitoring program. The budding scientists will complete a daily circuit that could include black rhinos, spotted hyenas, red river hogs, African wild dogs, snowy owls, red pandas, African lions, red wolves and American beavers (whew!). All that info will ensure a solid foundation for researcher Matt Heintz when he starts as the zoo’s first welfare monitoring post-doctoral fellow this July. In the meantime, Gillespie continues to spend time with the takins—and think of ways to improve the app. “How much can we collect?” she says. “How much can we analyze? How often should we share the results? This summer is a bit of an experiment—we look forward to seeing what we find.”
tw
field note
BY JULIE DUKE
Bactrian Camel Camelus bactrianus Every spring, visitors to the Antelope & Zebra area may notice something odd about the Bactrian camels. No, the keepers haven’t given them peculiar haircuts. Unlike the nearby alpaca, who must be sheared to prepare them for summer heat, the camels’ coats fall off naturally as temperatures rise. This results in a rather ragged appearance as the fur falls off in clumps. “They look pretty shabby” during shedding season, admits Curator Diane Mulkerin. This hair loss and regrowth is a handy adaptation for surviving both the extreme heat and cold of the Bactrian camel’s native Gobi Desert—and Chicago’s weather extremes as well. While many zoo animals choose to spend frigid Chicago winters indoors, females Indie, Mira and Nasan and male Scooter venture out year-round. Even during the season of unfortunate hairdos, the zoo’s camels get along swimmingly. The four unrelated individuals are often found cuddled together in “a little camel pile” in the mornings, says Keeper Jason Martin. They range in
age from 3 to 15 years. Indie, the oldest member of the herd, is recognizable by the one floppy hump with which she was born. At 3 years old, male Scooter is only just beginning to approach sexual maturity—between 3 and 5 years of age for this species—although Martin reports he’s “already chasing after the ladies.” Wild Bactrian camels live in herds (also called flocks or caravans) of around 3 to 30 individuals, usually with an adult male leader. Yet nearly all Bactrian camels are domesticated; there are currently fewer than 1,000 camels in the wild. The species is critically endangered in China and Mongolia due to habitat loss and competition with livestock for food and water. Although camels are generally calm, they can have a temper. When agitated, the massive mammals can kick their legs in all directions…and spit. This “spit” is more than just saliva—it includes some stomach contents as well. As Mulkerin, a one-time spittee, attests, “never stand next to an angry camel.” Just to be safe, it’s probably best to avoid mentioning their seasonal “bad hair” also.
Flowery Feast
See the camels enjoy a Mother’s Day treat at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.
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Teens use the Observe to Learn app to record the behavior of a male white-cheeked gibbon—just as zoo scientists would.
Join the Club
The zoo’s new Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration aims to spur Chicago students— and global peers—to join communities of learning centered on animal behavior and zoo careers. One day this past April, educators at Zoologico Santacruz, a zoo located an hour outside Bogota, Colombia, handed iPads to some visiting schoolchildren and asked them to open an app called Observe to Learn. It was the first time many of the kids had seen a tablet computer, yet they quickly figured out how to use the app. It guided them through the process of using an ethogram—a checklist of common animal behaviors—to observe and collect data on the zoo’s animals. Little kids latched onto the ethogram sequence already set up in the app. Older students learned another challenging option as well: how to create their own custom ethograms. The young researchers may not have known it, but they’d just become part of a global community of learning spurred by Lincoln Park Zoo. 12 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Building a Common Language Across Borders
“The technology was our common language,” says Leah Melber, Ph.D., senior director of the Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration, which funded the collaboration and developed the app. Melber traveled to the South American zoo to provide staff training on the high-tech but accessible educational tool. “It was exciting to see everyone so engaged and modify the experience to their expectations and needs,” she says. Growing a dynamic community of science learning across borders—local to global—epitomizes the bold goals of the Hurvis Center. Launched in February with a $3 million leadership gift from the Hurvis Charitable Foundation, the new endeavor resides within the zoo’s Education Department. Its mission: to develop, test and research informal education concepts and provide novel programming that captivates visitors of all ages at cultural institutions, zoos and aquariums. “It’s the new R&D wing of our education efforts,” says Melber. “We’ve been provided the resources and support to take risks using the zoo and partner institutions as learning laboratories.” Her staff hit the ground running. Melber has shared presentations on the center’s Observe to Learn app and other start-up initiatives at the European Zoo Educators Conference in the Netherlands and a science education symposium in California. Education Research Manager Emily Kalnicky, Ph.D., has chatted up social-science researchers at Boston’s Museum of
Science. Education Manager Kyle Soller and Education Coordinator Emma Martell piloted the app at the zoo with the sixth to eighth grade student members of a local education program called It’s So Cool to Be Smart. Nearly 100 local residents also put the ethogram app through its paces during an Observe to Learn Family Day gathering at the zoo in April. “Everyone was very receptive,” says Soller. “We even taught the program to a group having a family reunion.”
Inspiring Future Science Professionals
Uniting Chicago-area high school students with science-based careers is another key Hurvis Center objective. Three new programs offer promising students from diverse backgrounds unique opportunities to achieve those aims. Career Explorers will give seven 11th and 12th grade students an inside look at the zoo’s day-to-day operations. During two-week immersion experiences this summer, they’re gaining insight into professional pursuits ranging from conservation science to fundraising to event planning. The center’s Research Apprenticeship Program offers a similar select group of students a more in-depth experience in conservation research. These four 11th and 12th graders are serving four-week apprenticeships in the zoo’s Animal Care Department and Urban Wildlife Institute (UWI). The first provides insight into career paths for scientists and zoo professionals dedicated to animal care and welfare. The second teams students with zoo scientists researching interactions between urban development and natural ecosystems across the Chicago metro area. These two programs don’t end when summer does. Students will continue to work with Hurvis Center staff throughout the following school year, making connections between school curriculum and zoo work and sharing their expertise with peers. The Partners in Fieldwork program, set to debut this fall, aligns UWI’s field work with local high schools. Over the course of a school year, teachers and students will help researchers monitor local wildlife using data collected from motion-triggered cameras and other observational methods. “As youth prepare for college and early adulthood, they are faced with many choices regarding careers, community involvement and even new uses of recreational time,” says Melber. “We hope these experiences help youth see science and the work of cultural institutions as something relevant and important to them now and in the future.”
The app received a workout at Colombia’s Zoologico Santacruz, a sign of the global reach of the learning tool developed by the new Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration.
Taking Risks Together
For Melber, that spirit of collaboration and openmindedness provides the guiding philosophy for every Hurvis Center initiative—whether close to home or abroad. “As zoo and museum professionals, we may encounter situations requiring knowledge and expertise outside our comfort zones,” she says. “It’s okay to not know all the answers, though. Let’s learn together.”
Download the Observe to Learn App Want to observe animals like zoo scientists do? Download the app at www.lpzoo.org/magazine!
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BY CRAIG KELLER
Green Team “You’ve got two options,” zoo horticulturist Ryan May informs a volunteer gardening crew one morning in early May. “Option one: break through this ground cover and plant daffodils. Or, if you’ve got some aggression to work out, there’s option two: grab the loppers and trim back those honeysuckle bushes.” A knowing chuckle ripples through the group. They know gardening, for all its oft-depicted promise of meditative calm, is a real workout. The zoo’s 100-plus volunteer gardeners make up a tight-knit
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society whose toils from spring through fall achieve epic statistics. Last year, for instance, they put more than 2,000 plants and 20,000 bulbs in the ground, reseeded 4 acres of Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo and collected seed from almost 50 prairie species. By season’s end, they’d logged more than 3,650 service hours. Volunteers also clean up the landscaping inside the zoo’s animal exhibits—naturally, when the animals aren’t in them, although fauna holds less interest than flora for many in their ranks. “We take such pride in working with the zoo’s plants that sometimes we forget the zoo has animals!” says Laurel Breuer, who earned the star-shaped pin commemorating her 10 years
The landmark Carlson Cottage gives the volunteer gardening team a shared space to store tools and plan the day’s pruning.
as a volunteer in 2012. Every morning, volunteers convene for the day’s assignments at Carlson Cottage, a restored, Victorian-style landmark just south of Café Brauer. Labor is divided into three areas: the main zoo grounds, Nature Boardwalk and the Edible Gardens at the Farm-in-the-Zoo (a collaborative effort with volunteer gardeners provided by the Green City Market). Crews can number as many as a dozen, and individuals commit to at least one three-hour shift weekly. “It’s a great mix of people,” says Leo Gorenstein, a retired math teacher who’s been volunteering with his wife at the zoo for 12 years. “We used to take our son here, and it’s nice to give something back.”
Veteran volunteers like Gorenstein and Breuer also provide another benefit: time-tested gardening tips for younger participants who appreciate the informal mentoring. It’s a low-key arrangement that perfectly suits the zoo’s gardening goals. “Gardeners are thoughtful, observant types who enjoy task-oriented work,” says director of horticulture Brian Houck. “They contribute to our efforts here significantly. We wouldn’t be able to maintain such lovely gardens without them.” To learn more about the zoo’s volunteer gardening program, visit www.lpzoo.org/volunteer.
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The Sights of Summer
Every trip to the zoo starts and ends with the animals, but our expert educators also plan special programs to enhance each visit. Mark down your favorite daily activities to make the most of your trip to the zoo. 10 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Cow Milking at the Farm-in-the-Zoo See how a typical family farm combines rural life with modern technology to milk Holstein dairy cows.
10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Feed the Cows at the Farm-in-the-Zoo Step outside the city and into rural farm life by coming nose to nose with Holstein dairy cows.
10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Seal Training and Feeding at the Kovler Sea Lion Pool Looking to connect to the aquatic world? Watch keepers as they train and care for these marine mammals.
11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Meet an Animal at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House From nose to tail, scales to fur, the zoo’s ambassador animals connect you to the natural world.
1:30 p.m.
Great Ape Training Session at Regenstein Center for African Apes Join us at Regenstein Center for African Apes to see how gorillas and chimpanzees participate in their own care. All programs are subject to cancellation due to animal needs or inclement weather. Stop in at Gateway Pavilion to ask about other special activities during your visit. You can also follow @visitlpz on Twitter to receive real-time updates on all the zoo's daily activities!
Remembering One of the Zoo’s Oldest Friends As a little girl, Winifred Hope helped raise fabled zoo gorilla Bushman in Cameroon. In March she stopped in for a last visit to share her memories—and see how zoo care has changed over the decades. Read her story at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.
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field note
Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina concolor While it comes to seal societies, harbor seals tend toward the solitary end of the scale. The images you see of thousands of seals hauled out on the rocks, barking, bouncing and generally having what seems to be a big pinniped party? Those aren’t harbor seals. Harbor seals typically swim alone. They’ll gather in little groups, occasionally sharing a rocky shoreline or iceberg as they splash out of the water for pupping or their seasonal molt. But much of their time is spent in solitary hunts, submerging themselves to hundreds of feet for minutes at a time in search of fish to eat. The three harbor seals that moved into the Kovler Sea Lion Pool in May don’t have to do any hunting in the traditional sense. Animal care experts provide daily nutritious meals of herring and capelin. But many of these scaly snacks are delivered during twice-daily operant-conditioning ses-
sions, meaning the seals are moving for their meals after all. The sessions are voluntary, of course. Even if the seals didn’t participate, they would still receive their full diet. But the public displays, which take place at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, offer the animals some extra enrichment—and a chance to participate in their own care. With a whistle, a target and a fishy reward guiding the action, keepers have the males stretch on the rocks, extend their flippers and roll over for inspection. The close looks help ensure the aquatic animals stay healthy. And it’s fun too. “These guys were new to enrichment sessions when they arrived, so we took it slow to start,” says Curator of Mammals Mark Kamhout. “But they’ve really gotten comfortable with the area and the process. It’s fun to see them participating.”
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news of the zoo
Sunny Nelson was named the new Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds in March. Parents and toddlers started to stretch with Yoga at the Zoo Presented by Walgreens in June.
Leading the Flocks
Lincoln Park Zoo’s birds are a study in diversity. From bald eagles to golden-breasted starlings, diving ducks to plodding ostriches, they represent habitats around the globe and a wealth of adaptations that let them thrive in air, water and land. Each species requires care specially tailored to meet its needs. And all fall under the supervision of the zoo’s new Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds, Sunny Nelson, who was promoted to the position in March. “Our birds are fascinating, and they’re just a fraction of the more than 10,000 bird species on Earth,” she says. “There’s always more to learn about them.” A bird caregiver here since 2010, first as lead keeper, then zoological manager, Nelson began her wildlife career at Zoo Atlanta. An encounter there with a flock of sun conures jumpstarted her avian affection. In the years since, she’s worked with dozens of zoo species while also contributing to the recovery of wild endangered piping plovers in Michigan. The new role will open up further conservation opportunities…as soon as Sunny and her staff make it through bird breeding season.
Flight Patterns
Speaking of birds, enthusiasts have plenty of opinions about the feathered forms passing through Lincoln Park. Are there more red-winged blackbirds than there used to be? Where did all the blue jays go? Are dark-eyed juncos holding steady or falling off? While opinions are plentiful, facts can be hard to come by. But scientists in the zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute are pairing the historic record with daily counts to discover how more than 100 years of urbanization has affected bird populations around the zoo. First, a little history. Around the turn of the last century, a husband-and-wife team conducted regular bird censuses in Lincoln Park, publishing years of sightings in a volume titled, 18 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
“Wild Birds in City Parks.” Reintroduction biologist Allison Sacerdote-Velat, Ph.D., discovered the book in an antique shop, spurring her peers in the Urban Wildlife Institute to ponder how much Lincoln Park’s bird landscape had changed in the intervening century. To find out, scientists Mason Fidino and Kelvin Limbrick conducted bird counts from March–May. Following the same 4.5 mile circuit each day, they tallied nearly 100 species, from American coots to yellow warblers. Some species have departed over the last century (goodbye loggerhead shrikes). Other have arrived (hello Cooper’s hawks). But the bulk have stayed steady, testifying to the value of Lincoln Park—and more recently, Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo—as refuges for local wildlife.
Special Summer Events
The Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo kicked off the fundraising season May 18 with Zoo-ologie 2013: Sumus Animalia. The zoo’s Main Mall was transported to ancient Rome as guests enjoyed gourmet treats and rich libations. Co-chaired by Chris Cook, Lindsay Humphreys and Jennifer Statler, the sumptuous event wasn’t all fun and games; it raised vital funds for the zoo’s global conservation efforts. After the revels of Zoo-ologie, who doesn’t welcome a quiet stretch by the pond? Luckily Yoga at the Zoo Presented by Walgreens filled that niche with classes for adults and parents with toddlers beginning June 1. All those limber limbs were ready to race in United Run for the Zoo on June 2, lacing up their running shoes to benefit Chicago’s free zoo. Finally, the first installment of Zoovies Presented by popchips screened on June 18, sharing the Beverly Hills classic “Clueless” with a packed Main Mall. The free movie series continues July 16 and August 13 with “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Zoolander” respectively.
wild file Animal care staff continue to provide around-the-clock care as Nayembi navigates new milestones—baby teeth, solid foods and plenty of play. The ultimate goal is to reintroduce the infant to her family group. They’re taking it one small, successful step at a time.
A Fuzzy First
Baby gorilla Nayembi continued to meet new recovery milestones, and the Kovler Sea Lion Pool welcomed three male harbor seals.
Baby Steps
Every infant goes through significant changes in the first months of life. That’s especially true for baby gorilla Nayembi, born to Rollie at Regenstein Center for African Apes in November 2012. The little one has received around-the-clock care since being injured by another member of her group in February. In a testament to the dedication and skill of the zoo’s Animal Care experts, she’s thrived in her recovery, first at the zoo’s C.H. “Doc” Searle, M.D. Animal Hospital and now behind the scenes at Regenstein Center for African Apes. Frequent feedings were obviously a priority for the growing gorilla, but caregivers also had to simulate the rich social structure of gorilla family life. The humans embraced their ape side, grunting, moving, eating and playing on the gorillas’ established schedules. “We were the best gorillas we could be,” says Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy. In April, the family group consisting of silverback Kwan and females Susie, Bahati, Rollie, Bana, Kowali and Patty was rearranged to give Nayembi more face time with her own species. Rollie, Bana and Bana’s baby, Patty, were moved to an auxiliary area of the exhibit with the option to head behind the scenes to see Nayembi. While there’s still no physical contact at press time, the gorillas can see and react to one another…and often do. “Rollie has 24-hour access to an area near Nayembi where she can see and smell the baby, and she spends a lot of time there,” says Leahy.
Hottentot teals hatched behind the scenes at the McCormick Bird House on April 13, marking the first time the zoo has welcomed ducklings of this species. Native to Africa, the tiny waddlers represent the world’s smallest dabbling duck species. Meanwhile, another swimming species is back on the nest at the Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond. The trumpeter swan pair there once again has a breeding recommendation. Any cygnets that hatch will spend summer growing on the pond before returning to the wild in fall as part of the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Project.
Swelling the Savanna
The Kovler African Savanna outside Regenstein African Journey evokes the famous grasslands of Africa, giving Baringo giraffes and Grant’s gazelles a natural space to move and graze. This ecosystem in miniature once again includes ostriches as two of the massive flightless birds moved over from the Antelope & Zebra Area in May. What were ostriches doing next to camels? The “Hoofstock” area had an open space for the two females, who arrived at the zoo in November. There they went through the mandatory quarantine period for all new arrivals—and acclimated themselves to moving on and off exhibit. By the time they joined their African neighbors on the savanna, the pair were pros with zoo life.
Harboring a New Pod
The Kovler Sea Lion Pool closed for a few weeks this spring for routine maintenance. When the aquatic exhibit reopened, it featured watertight seams—and a new set of seals! With the geriatric gray seal “retiring” to another zoo during construction, the zoo brought back some familiar faces to fill one of our signature exhibits. Three male harbor seals have splashed into the water. The social species should be an active presence at daily keeper chats as it settles into a care routine.
A Growing Gorilla
See Nayembi explore her exhibit (and a bit of broccoli) at www.lpzoo.org/magazine.
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Upcoming Events July 12 Zoo Ball: Wild at Heart
July 20 Gardens for Butterflies
July 16 Zoovies Presented by popchips—“Raiders of the Lost Ark”
July 25 Salsa at the Zoo presented by MyHabanero.com
July 17 Wine & Wildlife: Vaccinating the Serengeti July 19 Sleep Under the Skyscrapers: Outdoor Campout
July 26 Jammin ̓at the Zoo— Michael Franti & Spearhead July 31 Wine & Wildflowers See the full calendar at www.lpzoo.org/calendar
Live It Up With New Summer Events Lion’s roars and ice cream cones: that combo alone is enough to make Lincoln Park Zoo one of the city’s top summer destinations. But throw in a full slate of special events—concerts, galas, campouts and garden parties—and you have a one-stop shop to enjoy everything the season has to offer. This year, we’ve added some new events to supplement the familiar favorites. Zoovies Presented by popchips gives guests the chance to spread a blanket on the South Lawn to enjoy popcorn and a movie. Two free screenings remain: “Raiders of the 20 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Lost Ark” swings to life July 16, and “Zoolander” struts its stuff August 13. If the warm weather makes it hard for you to sit still, you’ll love stepping out with Salsa at the Zoo Presented by MyHabanero.com. Café at Wild Things will welcome a dance floor and bandstand July 25, August 29 and September 26 as participants learn and hone their steps under the eyes of expert instructors. Each salsa night is $17 for members. See the bands and reserve your tickets online today!
membership matters
After enjoying the fun of SuperZooPicnic, kids can explore the north side of the zoo with our next Members-Only Morning on August 10.
Enjoy the VIP Treatment This Summer
Show off your membership card to receive special perks when you visit the zoo this summer. In addition to front-row access at select keeper chats and a reserved restroom during peak zoo hours, we’re adding members-only lines for Eadie Levy's Landmark Café and the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel! Just another way to ensure friends of the zoo make the most of the season.
Summer Fun at SuperZooPicnic
Members had the run of the zoo on June 14, joining us for their annual—and exclusive—SuperZooPicnic. For the second straight year the fun had a state-fair theme, with the zoo’s strongest supporters enjoying midway games, pie-eating contests, free rides and animals encounters. Thanks again to sponsor Clif Kid!
apes. Adults: learn All About Primates, Old World to New, on July 13, July 21, August 24 or August 25. Sign up today at www.lpzoo.org/calendar!
Waking Up with Wildlife
The heart of the zoo is home to lion’s roars, black bear strolls and the slippery play of North American river otters. On April 20, nearly 300 members saw this vibrant setting come to life by joining us for a free Members-Only Morning. Guests of all ages decorated the black bear window, built beaver dams and urban campgrounds and enjoyed an inside look at zoo conservation and care. It was a great time, showing how much we appreciate our members. Mark your calendar for the next Members-Only Morning, which will feature the north side of the zoo August 10.
Zoo Safari Tours for Adults and Families
Want an expert look at Lincoln Park Zoo’s world of wildlife? Our popular Zoo Safari Tour series pairs Safari-level members and above with a zoo educator to explore fun topics in conservation and care. Families: join us July 14 or July 20 to learn about the zoo’s Conservation Success Stories, from red wolves to great
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.
Our April Members-Only Morning woke up with the heart of the zoo, including black bears at Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo.
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PO Box 14903 Chicago, IL 60614 www.lpzoo.org
Your membership supports everything we do, from animal care to publishing Lincoln Park Zoo magazine. Thank You.
Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Lincoln Park Zoo
What Have You Always Wanted to Know About the Zoo? Tell us! We’re dedicating our fall issue to answering FAQs about Chicago’s free zoo. Do you have something that’s always made you wonder as you walked zoo grounds? Send your question to magazine@lpzoo.org!
Share Summer Fun with the Animals
From boomer balls to playful puzzles, our summer Wish List is packed with items for the animals to chase and chew. Pick the perfect gift to share at www.lpzoo.org/wishlist.
Do You Get the Photo of the Week? Every Friday we share our favorite photo on Facebook, Twitter and the zoo blog. Be sure to follow along to head into the weekend on a wild note.
Snuggle This Summer with a Seal ADOPT
Seals dive deep, but our cuddly harbor seal plush is always ready to surface for a hug. Visit www.lpzoo.org/adopt to take the ADOPT home—and support the care of Lincoln Park Zoo’s amazing animals.
Adop me! t