2016 spring safari

SAFARI The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo • Volume 25 • Issue 1• Spring 2016

A Look Behind the Scenes Safari Magazine • Spring 2016

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SAFARI

The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo Volume 25 • Issue 1 • Spring 2016

OUR MISSION Inspiring others to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world.

Safari is an exclusive benefit to Toledo Zoo members.

Membership also includes free, unlimited, year-round admission and parking during regular Zoo hours; a subscription to Safar-E-mail, the Zoo’s weekly e-newsletter; early access to Summer Concert Series tickets; discounts on Zoo merchandise, classes, programs and more; and discounted admission to 150+ zoos and aquariums nationwide. toledozoo.org/membership

MEMBERSHIP Questions

Email membership questions to membership@ toledozoo.org, or call 419-385-5721, ext. 6002.

2016, a new EXPERIENCE

CONTACT INFORMATION 2 Hippo Way • P.O. Box 140130 Toledo, Ohio 43614-0130

This year is full of excitement at the Toledo Zoo. This summer, visitors will be able to feed our Masai giraffes from a brand-new feeding deck. Visitors can also experience a new high with our ropes challenge course and zip line.

Both of these new projects will be located on the north side of the Zoo in our Africa! exhibit. Both will also offer guests the chance to have a hands-on, one-of-a-kind new experience at the Zoo. More information on these two new offerings will be in the summer edition of Safari magazine. Stay tuned!

419-385-5721 • fax 419-389-8670 Catered Events Development Education Group Sales Library Membership Public Relations Visitor Services Volunteers Zoo PAL Zoo Gift Shop

ext. 6001 ext. 2074 ext. 2042 ext. 6001 ext. 2043 ext. 6002 ext. 2098 ext. 6003 ext. 2045 ext. 2068 ext. 3111

Editor

Kim Haddix

Designer

Teri Reed

Contributors

Kent Bekker Jen Brassil Monica Blackwell Bill Davis Mary Fedderke Emily Gordon Mandy Hansen Keely Lapp Jeff Sailer

Printer

Tana Benford Nancy Bucher Chuck Cerbini Mike Dilley Hannah Gerritsen Wyn Hall Jay Hemdal Josh Minor

Homewood Press

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Contact the editor at 419-385-5721, ext. 2145 or kim.haddix@toledozoo.org

Connect with us!

Until those new experiences are unveiled, we hope that you enjoy this exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of your Zoo. So much work goes into keeping the grounds, exhibits and animal care at the highest quality our visitors have come to know and expect. There are nearly 200 full-time staff members and more than 800 part-time staff (that you will read about on pages seven and eight) working tirelessly every day, in and out of the public eye, to keep the Zoo operating efficiently.

We hope that through this magazine, you get to know and appreciate their efforts. We could not be the number one zoo in the nation without each and every one of them.

We hope this issue will not only tide you over until summer fun, but also pique your interest in the daily activities happening year round at your Zoo. You don’t have to just sit back and wait for the temperatures to rise though, come enjoy all the events, classes and year-round offerings at your Zoo. All my best,

toledozoo.org An accredited member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums | W A Z A United for Conservation

®

Safari is published quarterly by the Toledo Zoo, P.O. Box 140130, Toledo, OH 43614-0130. Second-class postage paid at Toledo, Ohio and at additional mailing offices.

Printed on recycled paper. © 2016 by Toledo Zoo.

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Jeff Sailer executive director

A First in Feline CONSERVATION Dr. Berlinski was part of a three person team studying the mysterious predator in the Sarychat-Ertash Strict Nature Reserve located in the Tien Shan mountain range of eastern Kyrgyzstan. The team, who had been camping in unheated tents in the extreme and remote conditions for a month, received notification of animal capture at 5 a.m. on October 26, 2015. They geared up at base camp in 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures and reached the female snow leopard at 11,000 feet up on the mountain at approximately 7 a.m.

“We immobilized her, I did a full exam, took a blood sample and monitored her while Shannon Kachel, the primary investigator on the project, fitted her with a GPS collar that sends out a data point every five hours.

The female cat looked to be six to seven years old, in excellent health and through accompanying paw prints in the snow, the mother to Snow leopard at the Toledo Zoo. three cubs approximately a year and a half old.” After The so-called “ghost cat” just became the collar was fitted, Dr. a spot less elusive. During recent field Berlinski administered the work with Panthera, a New York-based anesthesia reversal and the group devoted to the conservation of newly named Appak Suyuu, wild cats and their landscapes, Dr. Ric a Kyrgyz word meaning “true Berlinski, senior veterinarian at Toledo love,” disappeared back into Zoo, helped place a GPS collar on a snow the rugged terrain. Since the leopard in Kyrgyzstan. This collar is the collar, Panthera has tracked first ever to be placed on a snow leopard Appak Suyuu’s movements in the former Soviet-block country in and has learned that in one central Asia.

24 hour period, she traveled Appak Suyuu, after being fitted with GPS collar.

Photo: R. Kulenbekov/Panthera/Kaiberen/NCMRD/SAEF/NAS/UW/SU 20 kilometers at 14,000 feet up in the mountains. According to Dr. Berlinski, this collar gives researchers the opportunity to get a true picture of the elusive species in their natural environment, an aspect that has not been a part of previous studies.

Snow leopards are listed as an endangered species due to conflicts arising from humans encroaching on their natural range. Panthera is hoping to place three to five more collars next year and Dr. Berlinski hopes he gets to work on the project again. “Only about 100 people have ever had their hands on a snow leopard in the wild. This was a career-defining moment for me. I was able to be a part of this extraordinary effort because of Toledo Zoo’s commitment to conservation. This project really brings the zoo and wild connection home for me and hopefully for visitors that enjoy the snow leopards on exhibit at the Zoo. Plus, Shannon says I’m his good luck charm!”

Dr. Ric Berlinski (left) and a colleague at base camp in Kyrgystan.

Photo: S. Kachel,/R.Berlinski/Panthera/Kaiberen/NCMRD/SAEF/NAS/UW/SU

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A DAY IN THE LIFE of a Herpetology Zookeeper

By Hannah Gerritsen

9 a.m. – Time to test the snakebite alarm system. Every month we check to make sure that our snakebite alarm is working properly and is audible throughout the building. We make a radio call to let everyone know that it’s just a test, and we get to it. Just like any other profession, safety is our number one priority and we are all trained on proper safety procedures.

Everything worked fine, so we can continue our morning cleaning routine.

Hannah Gerritsen, herpetology keeper, feeding off exhibit snakes.

Zookeeping is an exciting job. We get to work with amazing animals from all over the world, from species that may be found in your homes or pet stores, to those that are extinct in the wild. Each department in the Zoo operates based upon the requirements of the animals in their care. In the Herpetology department, we must clean, feed and maintain the animals’ habitats every single day. Although the keepers have a general routine, no two days are the same. This is a basic template of what my day could be like.

9:30 a.m. – I make a trip down to the Conservatory to check on Emerson, the Galapagos tortoise. He spends winters in the warm Zeims Conservatory. I approach slowly, since he’s usually sleeping when I get in. He lifts his head to see what I am doing and starts creeping toward me in the hopes that I will give him some fresh greens. I clean up after him, make sure he has clean drinking water and fill up his bowl of hay. Then, I spread out some leafy greens for him to munch on. I always sneak in a little bit of hand feeding and neck scratches because he really seems to like the attention.

6:30 a.m. – My alarm goes off. It’s the sound of a rooster crowing. I make sure to get a balanced breakfast that includes protein, carbs, and most importantly, caffeine. I don’t know many keepers who don’t require coffee in the morning.

For most keepers, animal care begins before they even get to work. After breakfast, I check to make sure that my own snakes all have full water bowls and that my cat has food and water as well.

8 a.m. – I clock in, grab my radio, clip it to my belt and load my pockets with the day’s essentials. I make a sweep past my exhibits to make sure everyone is doing well and to see who made a mess. Of course, there is a massive pile of poop in the reticulated python/anaconda exhibit. Reticulated pythons are the longest snakes in the world and they constrict their prey, so for safety we do not work with that animal alone. I call on Pat, another herpetology keeper, to help and we grab our extra-large snake hooks and a trash bucket. The anaconda hangs out in the pool, while the retic isn’t so happy with our intrusion. Pat keeps an eye on her while I get to use salad tongs to clean up the mess. All done! The large snakes only get offered food every 2 weeks, so I actually don’t have to clean up in there as often as some of the other exhibits.

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Emerson loves having his neck scratched.

go a quarantine period before moving into our main collection. We discuss how to set up their exhibit so that I can have it ready to go by the time the frogs exit quarantine.

2 p.m. – John, another herpetology keeper, needs to reconfigure one of his insect exhibits, so I help him carry in various sized tree branches to saw down to fit the exhibits. We are responsible for the layout of the exhibit, making sure that the animals have a suitable home, while also making sure that the animals are visible to the public.

Feeding the baby Galapagos tortoises.

10 a.m. – Break time! I usually use these 15 minutes to grab another cup of coffee and a snack. Then, I check my emails and enter animal information into ZIMS, the Zoological Information Management System. There, I can track things like the development of tadpoles, the weights of the young Galapagos tortoises and what we feed Baru, the big saltwater crocodile.

11 a.m. – Every keeper has their own section to take care of, but for the many dangerous animals in our collection our safety protocols require two people to service these exhibits. Baru is getting fed today and Val, the lead herpetology keeper, asks me to be the backup. Since Baru is 1,500 pounds and 17 feet long with the ability to jump out of the water, it is always safer to have a backup.

Val strings up his jumbo rats on digestible string and lowers them down into his pool using a long pole. I stand outside of the exhibit during the feeding, talking to guests about Baru and answering their questions. He swallows his food within seconds. He truly is an impressive animal!

1 p.m. – After lunch, the herpetology curator calls a staff meeting to discuss departmental topics, such as the new frogs we will be receiving. When we get new animals from other institutions, they must under-

2:30 p.m. – I finally get to work on some of my non-exhibit animal projects. While we do have many animals on display to the public, we also have many more that are behind-thescenes. For the most part, off-display animals are either used in breeding projects or are extras for exhibits. I have an offdisplay Gaboon viper who could use a fresh batch of mulch in his habitat, which means I must pull him out of the enclosure.

Being a herpetology keeper, I do work with dangerous venomous snakes on a daily basis. Gaboon Vipers are incredibly beautiful, heavy-bodied vipers from Africa known for having the longest fangs of any venomous snake in the world, growing up to 2 ¼ inches long. Since these snakes are so dangerous and heavy, they must be handled with two hooks once they reach adult size. Nick, another herpetology keeper, is in the lab testing water quality, so I call him to be my backup. Armed with two hooks and Nick, I gently slide one hook underneath the viper’s belly near his head and the other hook under his back end. He stays fairly still as I lift him up and into a barrel.

I snap on the lid, put a few bricks on top as a precaution and put the animal’s identification card on top of the barrel so that everyone knows what’s in there. After I clear out all of his old substrate and scrub his water bowl, I spread fresh mulch. Then, I again call on Nick to help return the Gaboon back into his home and continue on to the next enclosure.

4:30 p.m. – After finishing everything I need to do in the Reptile House, I again go down to the Ziems Conservatory and “tuck” Emerson in for the night. I turn off his UV lighting, check the temperatures, give him another serving of greens and a final quick neck scratch to say good night. By the time I make it back to the Reptile House, it’s time to take out the trash and complete our lock checks. Each room is visibly scanned by a keeper to make sure locks are locked and the lights are turned off. Then two keepers walk around the building to ensure all padlocks are locked, lights are off and hoses are stowed. We then give a radio call to the Senior Animal Manager on duty to let them know that our building is secured and we are leaving for the evening.

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS:

By Emily Gordon

Ed and Kathy Kitchen

“Living in Columbus now, we can’t vote for the levies, but we can in some way help to keep things running,” Ed says.

“Donating lets us be as involved as possible and supply something the Zoo needs that we can put our stamp on.”

The Kitchens especially like donating items that make the jobs of the staff and keepers easier, safer and more efficient, such as ladders for the commissary. But they also enjoy having their donations go toward enhancing the lives of their favorite animals. “The keepers have come up with neat ideas for donations, like chillers for fish. It provides enrichment for the polar bears by letting them chase around live trout,” Ed says.

A Zoo’s need for items like left-handed surgical tools for the Veterinary Hospital or prescription diving goggles for the Aquarium doesn’t usually cross the minds of visitors. But for Ed and Kathy Kitchen, those needs are at the top of their priority list each year. The northwest Ohio natives have donated these items and others sorely needed ever since they heard about the Zoo’s wish list at the Silverback Society Dinner in 1995.

The couple simply asked what items in particular the Zoo needed and it all grew from there, says Kathy.

For 20 years, the Kitchens’ monetary donations have secured items used throughout the Zoo, from the Arctic Encounter ® to Primate Forest. “We send an email to Tana Benford (assistant director of development and membership) every year and say, ‘It’s time.’ She goes to the heads of each department and asks what they need that isn’t covered by the year’s budget or hasn’t yet been donated and we fund it,” Kathy says.

To date, the Kitchens have donated an incubator brooder for the Bird Department and holding cages for the Aviary Breeding Center, as well as funds toward the Aviary’s restoration. A Doppler anesthesia monitor and endoscope equipment benefitted the Veterinary Hospital, while digital cameras, monitors, wiring and VCR equipment helped out the Mammal and Education Departments. Heaters, fans, refrigerators and thermostats, as well as food processors, diet scales and plenty of enrichment materials have contributed to the happiness and welfare of Zoo animals and keepers.

Our Polar bears enjoy playing with enrichment balls donated by the Kitchens.

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This more “natural” care of the animals, as well as awardwinning environments, make the Toledo Zoo so special and worth supporting, Kathy says. “It was one of the earlier zoos to try and get natural habitats and support the psychological well-being of the animals,” Kathy says. “And they turn out wonderfully. In exhibits like the new Aquarium, Arctic Encounter® and Hippoquarium®, you can get so close you physically feel like you can touch them. It’s all a part of the magical experience.”

“We fell in love with the Toledo Zoo as children, learning about animals from the volunteers at Wonder Valley. The WPA-era buildings are all still there, as are the beautiful gardens and the stone animals,” Kathy says. “It all triggers happy childhood memories.”

With the help their donations, the Kitchens hope children will enjoy and be educated by the Zoo “beyond their biology textbooks” for generations to come, Ed says. “We want kids 50 years from now to have the same excitement and wonder that we had at their age,” Kathy chimed in. “Even at my age, I still feel the wonder and excitement when we go, that’s never changed.”

Part Time and PASSIONATE It’s been said if you pick a job that you truly love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. This expression holds true for those who work at the Toledo Zoo, says Jennifer Greer, human resources recruiting manager.

People from all walks of life, from retirees looking for a little extra income to high school students just breaking into the workforce, apply to work at the Zoo because they love it and want to contribute to its success, she said. The Zoo employs around 800 part time and seasonal employees for the summer season and again in the fall for the Lights Before Christmas.

Many part time and seasonal employees enjoy their work so much they return to the Zoo season after season. “Some may stay for one season and be on their way. Others might return every season for 15 or 20 years,” Greer said. “Those who return are invaluable. They’re good mentors for the new hires, especially high school students for whom this is their first job. We welcome first timers to learn about work ethic and how to work as part of a team.”

By Emily Gordon

seasonal employees in the summer so they can get to know each other and have fun where they work. “The goal is to create a positive on-boarding experience for all employees,” she said. “We want people to come in and be engaged.” The goal seems to be met every season, as even members apply to work at their Zoo. “We hire a lot of members who love their Zoo. There are usually one or two in every orientation class, which is held nearly weekly,” she said. “One employee was a Zoo PAL and decided to work here because she fell in love with the orangutans.”

Employees’ love for and dedication to the Zoo can be seen in excellent guest service to visitors and members, who returning employees often know by name and are happy to see each season, Greer said. Part-time and seasonal employees are trained in customer service and work to understand and spread the spirit of the Zoo’s mission statement: inspiring others to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world. “We were voted best zoo in 2014 for a reason, in part because of our amazing team,” she said. “It’s so nice to see it all come together.”

The Zoo’s recruiting team reaches out to local high schools, public libraries, colleges and universities, community groups and job fairs, as well as online and in local printed ads, to find upbeat, friendly people to work for the Zoo. In 2014, the Zoo’s human resources department received over 2,000 applications for part time and seasonal employment. The small but dedicated recruiting team of four reviewed each and every application. “I didn’t realize how much a part of the community the Zoo is. I love working here because it’s not just a job, it’s a part of your life,” Greer said. “There’s a lot of respect for the Zoo in the community.”

Part time and seasonal positions include those in catering, food service, grounds, horticulture, merchandise, security park operations, visitor services, membership, education, and warehouse.

The recruiting team is responsible for every step of the hiring process, including pre-employee screenings, contacting all of the selected applicants’ references, coordinating and conducting orientations and giving two-hour tours of the Zoo to new employees. The team also plans fun events for part time and

If you’re interested in joining the Zoo team, please visit toledozoo.org/employment_opportunities or pick up an application at the Visitor Services office located at the main entrance off the Anthony Wayne Trail. The office is open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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WHO’S NEW? Sunrise perch

Caprodon schlegelii

Date of Arrival: July 7, 2015 On Exhibit: Aquarium- Twilight Zone This member of the grouper family is found in very deep water and wasn’t discovered by scientists until 1983.

Panamanian golden frog Atelopus zeteki

Date of Arrival: September 23, 2015 Status: Endangered and may be extinct in the wild.

On Exhibit: Reptile House- Cloud Forest A national symbol of Panama that was wiped out by the Chytrid fungus. There is a major captive breeding effort for these animals in the U.S. and Panama.

Blue Swamp crayfish a.k.a. mudbug Procambarus clarkii

Date of Arrival: September 21, 2015 On Exhibit: Crawl Space There are numerous color morphs of this crayfish that is bred in captivity for the pet industry and food consumption.

Nicobar Pigeon

Caloenas nicobarica

Date of Arrival: October 2015 On Exhibit: Australian exhibit - Aviary The Nicobar Pigeon is the closest living relative to the extinct Dodo Bird.

VOLUNTEER Spotlight Our Zoo Ed Volunteer of the Year, Becky Johnson, joined the Zoo Ed program in 1991 and over the course of her long career has donated over 2,900 hours of service to the Toledo Zoo. She is a jack-of-all-trades and willing to step in anywhere.

As a Zoo Educator, she has supported more than her share of programming, both in classrooms, as well as interacting with visitors on Zoo grounds.

However, her dedication extends far beyond the classroom.

In January and February, when education programming slows down, she has answered the call to help the Membership

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department. When we were in a crunch, she stepped in to help make seed sticks for ‘Keet Retreat. She has covered early morning shifts for elephant watches; helped out with development fundraisers, including ZOOtoDO, RockNRoar and Party in the Parking Lot; and shuttled visiting professionals for conferences and meetings.

Perhaps Johnson’s greatest strength is her warm and positive attitude. She is quite simply a genuinely nice person who is generous to the core and kind to everyone. No matter what is going on in her life, she always brings her best to the Zoo. It is our pleasure to thank an individual who brightens a room simply by entering it and shares her warm spirit with everyone who comes near.

CONCERTS

Tidbits and Tips

FLASHBACK

1937

One of the most anticipated events at the Toledo Zoo is our annual summer concert series, as it has been a part of Zoo history for many years.

For your planning purposes, here are a few behind-the-scenes tidbits, director of visitor services, Dennis Schnurbusch wants you to know.

By Emily Gordon

The Toledo Zoo’s beautifully restored Works Progress Administration (WPA) era buildings, including the Aviary, Reptile House and Aquarium, are a testament to the Zoo’s ability to seamlessly bring together its past and present to shape its future.

The Aviary is one of the Zoo’s finest examples of history, ingenuity and community. In the mid-1930’s, workers, architects, Zoo administration members and even neighboring Toledoans worked hard to make it fetching as well as functional. Prudent housewives collected a traveling salesman’s samples of clay tile for workers to incorporate into the design of the outside walls of the bird house. The array of tiles adorning the diamondpatterned Moorish frieze under the eaves of the Aviary can still be seen today.

The Aviary construction was completed in May of 1937, at a cost of $250,000. This amount would equal over $4 million today. More than 650 non-native bird species, enchanting murals and glass blocks providing natural light made the Aviary a must-see addition to the Zoo. A new roof in 1973 and a substantial renovation in 1998 introducing free-flight walk-through exhibits and interpretive areas allowed the building to get bigger and better while maintaining its rich history. The following year, the Aviary won the Exhibit Award for Excellence from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).

1. Live Nation rents the Amphitheatre and chooses the acts based on performers’ touring schedules and pricing.

The Toledo Zoo has no control over which acts are chosen for our venue, so we can’t let you in on future acts or honor requests.

2. The entire production, from crew arrival and sound check through the show and clean up easily encompasses 21 hours and utilizes a team of nearly 100 Zoo staff members.

3. Camera policies, backstage/meet & greet opportunities, stage announcements, opening acts and weather decisions are all handled through Live Nation, not the Zoo. The positive side is that if a show must be cancelled, as a Ticketmaster outlet, Live Nation can issue refunds.

While the Toledo Zoo is not a Ticketmaster outlet, we do have a convenient on-grounds ticket terminal and our minimal service charge goes toward staffing the box office and our Conservation Today fund.

4. Some of the unusual requests we have had from artists include a six-pack of their favorite retro soda pop, a bowl of one specific color of M&M’s (green, if you’re curious,) golf tee-time reservations and laundry services.

5. The Captain’s Room of the newly renovated Aquarium is the perfect venue for pre or post- concert parties.

Guests can enjoy fully customized food and beverage options prepared by our incredible catering staff.

Call group sales at 419-385-5721 ext. 6001 for more details or to make reservations.

In the past few years, several bird-themed exhibits opened for visitors to enjoy in addition to the Aviary: Flamingo Key, ‘Keet Retreat, Pheasantry, Cassowary Crossing and Penguin Beach. A marriage of the old and the new, plus a prime location for birding enthusiasts to flock to during the spring migration, make the Toledo Zoo a bird lover’s dream.

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INCOMING!

By Jay Hemdal, Aquarium curator

Public aquariums acquire their animals through a wide variety of sources, but in the end, the result must be the sustainable and legal acquisition of animals that support the underlying mission of the facility. Some acquisitions are quite routine. For example, 200 small captive raised tetras destined for our South American river exhibit. Others require substantial planning, such as the delivery of pelagic sharks via special transport trucks. As the newly renovated Toledo Zoo Aquarium enters its first year of operation, we are faced with the continuing task of acquiring and quarantining large numbers of animals from a wide variety of sources. Receiving a shipment of animals is like Christmas morning for an aquarist. You open the boxes to find “that present you asked for” or “some wonderful surprise.” Of course, to carry the analogy further; sometimes you open a box to find a purple and orange hand-knitted sweater from your grandmother!

This article outlines one particular acquisition, a shipment of deep water specimens from Japan. This was the third such shipment we have undertaken for the new Aquarium. Because it was a smaller shipment and things were not

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Opening the boxes of deep sea creatures from Japan.

quite as rushed now that the new Aquarium was open, we wanted to document the process for our members – not because you will ever need to follow this process, but rather, to show what goes into a major international acquisition.

The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium already holds a United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) import permit, as well as a port of entry exemption permit to bring shipments in through Detroit, Michigan (not a normal port of entry.)

The first step was to contact our supplier in Japan to see if they could acquire the specimens we were seeking for our collection plan.

Once a tentative list was developed, it was sent to the Zoo’s registrar and director for approval. The supplier then sent us a pro-forma invoice which we used to file a declaration of import with the USFWS. Our import broker was then contacted and the shipment was scheduled. Our broker handled the USFWS and US customs’ clearance and we picked the shipment up at the Delta freight terminal after its 16 hour flight from Tokyo.

Once the shipment cleared USFWS inspection and arrived at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, staff was brought in that night to assist with unpacking and acclimating the specimens. The boxes were moved to a central staging area and opened in dim light. The health of the animals in each box was assessed and an acclimation strategy was determined.

Some crustaceans are shipped damp –

so no acclimation is possible for them. These are given a quick rinse with chilled seawater and placed into the aquarium “head up” to purge any trapped air in their gill chambers. For other animals, water is gradually removed from the shipping bag and replaced with tank water – adjusting them for differences in temperature, pH and salinity.

The care and attention to detail that this particular shipper takes with their shipments was evidenced by the way the animals were packed; no flat or leaking bags, no shipping mortalities and all animals arrived active and alert. The giant spider crabs were shipped with

SILVERBACK SOCIETY Spotlight Dwight Gartz My long time association with the Toledo Zoo started back in the mid 1940s when I was 12 years old. My friend and I would go to the Zoo every Saturday and spend the day watching the animals and talking to their keepers while they fed them.

After getting my civil engineering degree from Toledo University, I was commissioned in the US Army Engineer Corps. After serving active duty and reserve time, I was discharged as a Captain. My 38 year career with Libbey-Owens-Ford then started and I retired as General Supt. of Fabricating at the Rossford plant.

I married my college sweetheart Esther and we had 48 wonderful years of marriage and four great children before her untimely death in 2004. In 1962, we became members of the Zoo and I remain a contributing member today.

Removing rubberbands from the legs of a giant spider crab.

their long legs trussed up with rubber bands, and, close inspection showed that the shipper had even placed bits of plastic tubing on their rostral horns to prevent their damaging the shipping bags. Opening one box showed an eerie green glow. Upon further inspection, the two bags inside containing deep water sea basses had small plastic glow rings attached to the top of the bag. We had not seen this technique before. Upon asking the shipper, they replied that although these fish are from deep water and accustomed to dim light, they tend to go into shock if light levels change suddenly. The glow rings actually acted as a “night light” for the fish when the shipping box was closed up and sent on its journey.

As we have detailed, shipping and receiving animals is quite an involved and collaborative process happening behind-the-scenes here at your Zoo. The next time you visit the Aquarium, we hope you will give some thought to what is required to bring the world beneath the waves into your view!

Wanting to be more a part of the Zoo, I volunteered in the Horticulture department for 12 years working in the Rose Garden, Butterfly Garden and Greenhouse. I met many wonderful members of the Zoo staff during my time there. In 2005, I was greatly honored to be selected Volunteer of the Year.

In my many years of association with the Zoo, my favorite animals have been the gorillas, polar bears, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and fish. I have been very lucky to have been able to take behind-the-scenes tours of many of these exhibits. There have been many events that have special meaning, including Lights Before Christmas, Zoo PAL Night, Contributors’ Breakfast and the Silverback Society dinners.

In the year 2000, my wife Esther and I joined the Silverback Society after hearing about it from Zoo staff and friends. This is a wonderful group of people who have made planned gifts to the Zoo, naming the Zoo as a benificiary in their wills, to insurance policies, IRA’s or annuities to preserve the long-term future of the Zoo and maintain one of the greatest assets of Toledo. My family members in the Silverback Society now number eight and we manage to fill a complete table at the annual dinner party.

For more information on the Silverback Society, please contact Mary Fedderke at 419-385-5721 ext. 2074.

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EDUCATION The Toledo Zoo is much more than just animals. In fact, to help drive home our mission of inspiring others to join us in caring for animals, we are a full-scale education center, complete with living laboratories such as our invertebrate touch tank in the Aquarium and our urban prairies, and, of course, our animals.

The Zoo not only has a top-notch pre-school, but also offers day camps during school breaks and classes for all ages.

TOURS

To registar or for more information visit toledozoo.org/tours

Behind-the-Scenes Tours Ever wondered what all goes into keeping your Zoo running efficiently?

Ever wanted to see your favorite animal up close? Ever wanted to get inside an exhibit to see life from the animal’s perspective? All of this and more is possible with your Zoo’s Behind-the-Scenes Tours! Costs range from $15-55 depending on tour and membership.

CAMPS

CLASSES

President Day Camp

Teddy Bear Tea Party

Bring your child to the Zoo for “United States of Animals,” a special school break day camp. Camp is for ages five -12 and runs 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday, February 15.

On Saturday, March 12, kids ages five to 12 are invited to bring their favorite teddy to a tea party at the Toledo Zoo. Come and enjoy a snack along with games and stories while you learn about some of the Zoo’s favorite bears.

You will also have the opportunity to make enrichment for Zoo animals and watch them enjoy this special treat! There will be two party times, 10 – 11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. and the cost is $16 for members.

To registar; pricing or for more information visit toledozoo.org/camps

Spring Break Camps Need something fun to do for spring break… spend the day at the Zoo! Spring break camps run Tuesday, March 29 through Friday, April 1, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day. Campers are divided into two age groups, five – 10 and 11-12 year-olds and each day has a different theme. Campers are welcome to sign up for one or more days.

Kids’ Night Out Parents, it’s no April Fools. Enjoy a night off on Friday, April 1 while we watch the kids! Drop kids ages five to 12 off at 6 p.m. and pick them up by 9 p.m. While you are away, the kids will enjoy games, crafts and a chance to meet a live Zoo animal. Pizza will be provided.

SNOOZE

To registar or for more information visit toledozoo.org/snooze

Snooze at the Zoo Bring your family, scout group, club or friends and experience your Zoo overnight!

You will not only get to sleep in one of our fantastic animal exhibits, but your group will also enjoy catered meals, making enrichment for our animals, behind-the-scenes tours of the Zoo, meeting animals up close and creating one-of-a kind memories!

Available dates: February 5, 6, 12 (Adult only), 13, 14, 19 (Adult only), 20, 26, 27 March 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 April 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30

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Safari Magazine • Spring 2016

To registar or for more information visit toledozoo.org/classes

Family Zoo Yoga March – June.

Classes are $6 for members and run 10 – 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month.

Join the Zoo for some healthy family fun. All ages are invited to bend like a giraffe, balance like a flamingo and bounce like an otter!

Learn all about some of our favorite Zoo residents while participating in animalinspired yoga poses.

GROWING Year-Round

By Mandy Hansen and Keely Lapp

If you’ve ever been to the Zoo during winter, you might assume there isn’t much for the nine person horticulture staff to do. True, you won’t see them out watering plants, but there are plenty of other things to keep them busy: winter pruning, creating landscape designs and packing and storing the Lights Before Christmas displays, for example. But for horticulturists Dale Sinkovic and Mandy Hansen, watering plants is a year-round endeavor. They are charged with maintaining the Greenhouse attached to the historic Ziems Conservatory where over 70 percent of the annuals you see planted around the Zoo each spring and summer are grown.

Making a List and Checking it Twice Throughout the summer the horticulture staff compiles a list of annuals they wish to grow the following year. These are the plants that are tried and true, particularly interesting in the landscape or hard to buy. By the end of August, this list includes a mix of over 140 unique plants that can be seen all over the Zoo grounds.

In September, Sinkovic and Hansen can be seen roaming the grounds taking cuttings from plants on the wish list. “Taking a cutting” is a method of asexual

propagation where a small portion of the leaves, stems or roots of a plant are forced to grow into a clone of the original. Each of the 140 plants on the list is propagated into six - 10 stock plants that will be grown in the Green- Looking down a greenhouse aisle at a portion of the Zoo’s bromeliad collection, among other tropical plants. house.

Growing, Growing, Gone With the New Year comes the need for new plants! Each of the horticulturists designs a detailed plan of the annuals needed to fill their landscape beds and containers. This is where all of the stock plants propagated in September come into play. By sowing seeds and taking cuttings, Sinkovic and Hansen will propagate and grow nearly 10,000 annuals throughout the winter.

From February through April, the Greenhouse is bustling with activity. A lot of time and energy goes into producing healthy plants. In addition to selective watering, each plant must be potted, fertilized and groomed regularly.

There is also an ever-present need to make sure the plants do not become

infested with any of the various insects, such as the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) or the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch), that often plague greenhouses. By May, there will be hanging baskets growing from the rafters and potted banana plants growing on the floor. But as the Greenhouse empties of plants, the landscapes come alive with color!

Next time you find yourself walking through the Conservatory, take a moment to peek through the Greenhouse doors and appreciate what goes on behind-the-scenes.

A few of the 23 varieties of Coleus grown at the Zoo.

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OH, BABY! What to Expect

When Primates Are Expecting When humans anticipate new additions to their families, they often attend several doctors’ appointments to track the progress of their pregnancies and ensure both mother and baby are healthy. The same can be said for the Zoo’s primates.

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or in this case keepers, to actually see the fetus or baby. This makes an ultrasound beneficial for both diagnostics and treatment. Additional benefits of ultrasounds include: monitoring the baby’s heartbeat, detecting possible abnormalities and alerting keepers to multiple babies. Primate keeper, Koral Stoddard, points out this is especially helpful when assisting pregnant lemurs, as they often have multiple births.

Adult Francois’ langur and baby.

Stoddard explained that ultrasounds are performed on female primates once a month if they have a breeding recommendation and there is a possibility of a pregnancy. Once the pregnancy is confirmed the procedure is repeated every two weeks. The gestation period for primates varies with gibbons being approximately seven months, monkeys about six and a half months and lemurs only about four months. With these short times, Stoddard says it is quite amazing how quickly the babies develop and change from one ultrasound to the next. Each mother and baby’s records are kept on file here at the Zoo to allow keepers to access the medical histories, report to Species Survival Plans and for research purposes.

For many years Toledo Zoo has utilized ultrasounds to monitor primate pregnancies. An ultrasound scan is a safe, painless procedure that monitors both mother’s and baby’s health and tracks the progress of the pregnancy. The procedure uses a transducer, or hand-held wand, placed on the patient’s abdomen. High frequency (between two and 18 megahertz) sound waves travel from the wand, through gel placed on the skin and the soft tissue to bounce off denser surfaces creating an echo that produces an image of internal body parts. This image is known as a sonogram. The sonogram allows doctors,

The obvious question is, how do keepers train the female primates to have an ultrasound performed on them? Stoddard says the process begins with the keepers drawing up a step-by-step plan, including the positive reinforcement techniques and regression plans. Each female primate is encouraged to “station” or sit facing the training gate on a narrow board with their knees splayed outward and their hands above their shoulders. The next step is to get the animals comfortable with the wand. Keepers start by simply showing it to them and then slowly work up to touching and then to the addition of

Safari Magazine • Spring 2016

water or gel. While the training progress can depend on the primate’s personality, how quickly they learn and how much they are willing to participate, Stoddard estimates that it takes approximately three months, training twice a week in five minute sessions.

Stoddard says the keepers and ultrasound technician have learned a few tricks over the years. She indicates that the hardest step is the introduction of the gel, possibly because the consistency and temperature is foreign to the animals. She laughs that just like with humans it helps if the gel is warmed. She also quipped that even if the primates regress in their training, keepers usually don’t have to start all over, they simply need a “better” reinforcement treat. “We usually use grapes as a reward; however, sometimes we need to ‘upgrade’ to peanuts or bananas to obtain the desired response from the animals.”

Some lemurs have attempted to remove the gel that is applied to administer the ultrasound by licking it off, thus hindering the procedure and prompting the lemurs to leave the training session due to the unpleasant taste.

One hope for the future is to try applesauce as an alternative to the gel, Stoddard says.

Conducting ultrasounds on our primates is beneficial for other zoos as well.

Since it’s uncommon for zoos to take ultrasounds, the Toledo Zoo’s records help

Helping

HELLBENDERS

Koral Stoddard training Hue, the female white-cheeked gibbon, to “station.”

other facilities understand more about the health of their female primates, Stoddard says. Keepers across the country contact the Zoo to compare and contrast the status of their primates’ pregnancies and to keep an eye on other conditions that may occur inside the body.

Storing organized and up-to-date medical records helps ensure top-notch care not only for Toledo Zoo’s animals, but their counterparts elsewhere too. Together, we truly can zoo better!

Raising animals is a group effort. The native-to-Ohio hellbender salamander is a prime example. Recently a pod or modular facility was constructed on Zoo grounds to house our ever-growing population of the state endangered species, in conjunction with the Ohio Hellbender Partnership. The pod, which was generously funded by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Williams Company, will be home to over 500 hellbender salamanders. Toledo Zoo staff will manage the new pod and the hellbenders as they have since efforts began in 2012.

To make the pod more visually appealing, Wild Toledo has partnered with Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) to artistically decorate the outside of the building. Five students enrolled in TSA’s summer program worked under the direction of local glass artist, Ann Hymel and social enterprise manager, Leslie Taylor, to paint a naturalistic hellbender habitat, complete with streams, cliffs and woods, on the outside of the modular facility. They also installed handmade, bubble-shaped glass mosaics with animal sculptures.

This new facility will increase the Toledo zoo’s capacity to head-start hellbenders, or as Kent Bekker, Wild Toledo manager, more simply explains it, “raise the hellbenders until they have surpassed the point of everything (predators) being capable of eating them.” It will also serve as a demonstration to other potential partners of how a modular facility can be used to conserve wild animals.

These collaborations are just one more step in advancing our mission of inspiring others to join us in caring about animals and conserving the natural world. According to Bekker, these partnerships help bring classroom lessons and ideas alive while giving students hands- on experience with the natural world around them. Here at Wild Toledo and the Zoo, we do it all… in our own backyards and around the world.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Toledo, OH Permit No. 707

P.O. Box 140130 Toledo, OH 43614-0130 The Toledo Zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. January through April: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Memorial Day to Labor Day: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

May & September: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Weekends, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

October 1 – November 17 (pre-Lights Before Christmas): 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

November 18 – December 31: Daytime hours, 10 a.m. - 2:59 p.m.

Lights Before Christmas hours, Sunday - Thursday: 3 - 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 3 - 9 p.m.

All Lucas County residents receive free Zoo admission every non-holiday Monday 10 a.m. - noon.

(Must show valid proof of residency.)

The Zoo remains open for one additional hour after gates close to allow visitors to complete their visit. However, many animals may be off exhibit during the last hour.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - Spring 2016 FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

13: Vanimal-tine’s Day- Bring your sweetie and watch the animals enjoy their holiday treats!

16: Watch It Grow garden tour

23: Party for the Planet Celebrate Mother Earth and learn all about recycling, reusing and conserving our world through educational displays and fun activities.

13 – 15: Free admission to Lucas County residents 26: Once Upon a Vine presented by TM

Enjoy an elegant evening at the Zoo, complete with an art auction featuring local artists’ work and a five-course dinner with expertly paired wines.

For more information, please visit toledozoo.org/vine.

19: Teddy Bear Care Fair Bring your beloved bear, plush or stuffie for their annual checkup and learn all about the great care our animals receive too!

30: Louie, the African elephant’s 13th birthday celebration

25: Animal Egg Hunt Come see what the Easter Bunny left our animals in their baskets!

25 & 26: Breakfast with the Bunny Please contact Group Sales to make reservations.

29 – April 1: Spring Break Camp See page 15 for more information

For more information on these and all events at the Toledo Zoo, please visit toledozoo.org/events

Coming this summer...

Wine Tasting at the Zoo

Wine-down from your day with a wine tasting on the wild side. Enjoy our dynamic Zoo exhibits and animals while sipping wines from around the globe.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please visit toledozoo.org/wine or call Group Sales at 419-385-5721 ext. 6001.

February 13: Aquarium March 18: Museum of Science Great Hall April 22: Aquarium

SAFARI The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo • Volume 25 • Issue 1• Spring 2016

A Look Behind the Scenes Safari Magazine • Spring 2016

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