ZOONOOZ May 2019

ZOONOOZ

®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

MAY 2019

Ostriches Red Pandas Okapi Calves Orchids

Sunday, May 12, 2019 at the Zoo TREETOPS BANQUET ROOM CONTINUOUS SEATING BEGINS AT 11 A.M. Treat mom to brunch in our beautiful rain forestthemed Treetops dining room. Enjoy an omelet bar, or choose from many generous entrée options.

Cost is $49.95 for adults and $19.95 for children (ages 3 to 11), plus tax and gratuity.

Nonmembers add Zoo admission.

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL 619-557-3964. SECURE YOUR RESERVATION WITH A CREDIT CARD.

at the Park HUNTE NAIROBI PAVILION SEATINGS AT 10 A.M. AND 1:30 P.M. Celebrate Mother’s Day at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, with a delicious spring brunch, prepared by Executive Chef Joshua Mireles, at Hunte Nairobi Pavilion. Guests will be seated at their own reserved tables, set according to their guest count.

Cost is $49.95 for adults and $19.95 for children (ages 3 to 11), plus tax and parking. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission.

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL 619-718-3000 OR BOOK ONLINE AT SDZSAFARIPARK.ORG/DINING-EVENTS.

May 2019 VOL. XCII–NO. 03

Graphically Speaking 8 You Wanna Piece of Me? Animals have some downright weird adaptations for staying alive.

BY AMY BLANDFORD AND DONNA PARHAM

Cover Story 10 Panda in Red

The black-and-white version may get a lot of attention, but red pandas are beautiful and interesting in their own right.

BY ESTON ELLIS

Features

14 Flightless Fancy

The ostrich has a long, colorful history associated with humans. It has many intriguing characteristics!

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

18 And Baby Makes...a Team Supporting okapi moms in raising their calves is part of the teamwork for the Zoo’s okapi keepers.

BY DONNA PARHAM

22 Cultivation and Connection A visit to the Zoo’s Orchid House is an exotic adventure of another kind.

BY WENDY PERKINS

More

2 Nooz Notes 26 Support 28 In the Field 29 Member Specials ON THE COVER: Styan’s red panda Ailurus fulgens refulgens (styani) THIS PAGE: Lady slipper orchid PHOTOS BY: Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer

N O OZ N OT E S

WHAT’S IN STORE?

ARE YOU KOALA-FIED?

No need to visit the Land Down Under to find everything you need to show your love for those marvelous marsupials.

Check out shops at the Zoo or the Safari Park, or online at shopzoo.com for shirts, plush, caps, and more— all celebrating your favorite fuzzy tree hugger.

la , koa h s Plu nches 9.

14 i $ 49.9 , t a ll

Plush mom and baby koala, 11 inches tall, $39.99.

e ck wn Cre sweat t la dul koa hirt, a .95. s $ 42 s, s i ze

fied Well Koala ult T-shirt, ad 5. .9 sizes, $ 26 ball Koala base cro el V h it w cap, back, kids .95. sizes, $18 2 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

Plush koala, 12 inches tall, $19.99.

Come dine with us!

SUNSET DINNER AND WALKING TOUR Friday, May 10, 2019 5 p.m. | Kijamii Overlook

Join us for our first Sunset Dinner and Walking Tour event, where guests can enjoy animal greeters, tray-passed appetizers, and a delicious buffet dinner, with live music.

Dinner will be followed by an informative walking tour with a Safari Park tour guide.

Guests will be seated at tables of six. $71 per person, plus tax and parking. Includes Safari Park admission after 4 p.m.

CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH Saturday, May 11, 2019 9 a.m. | Kijamii Overlook

Join us for Champagne Brunch at the Safari Park’s scenic Watering Hole at Kijamii Overlook.

Enjoy spectacular views of wildlife and a delicious brunch, with a variety of mimosas and champagne served to guests.

Guests will be seated at tables of six. $58 per person, plus tax and parking. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission.

FATHER’S DAY BUFFET Sunday, June 16, 2019 11:30 a.m. | Hunte Pavilion

Celebrate Father’s Day at the Safari Park with a bountiful buffet, while enjoying live music. Guests will be seated at their own reserved table, set according to their reservation. $49.95 for adults, $19.95 for children ages 3 to 11, plus tax and parking. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission.

For reservations, call 619-718-3000 or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/ dining-events.

N O OZ N OT E S

MAY 4, 5, 25; JUNE 1, 9 Sunrise Surprise Strolls Stroll the grounds with experienced Zoo educators, learn the “inside secrets,” and hear stories about special animals. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z)

Save the Date What’s happening at the Zoo and Park this month and next (Z) Zoo events (P) Park events MAY 4 Breakfast with Elephants Enjoy exclusive views of our pachyderm herd, with a buffet breakfast. Book online at sdzsafaripark.org or call 619-718-3000. (P) MAY 4 Kids’ Wild Night Out Leave your kids at the Zoo for a wild night out with Dr. Zoolittle and animal friends.

Call 619-718-3000 or book online at sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MAY 4–5 Epiphyllum Show and Sale This tropical “orchid cactus” bursts into bloom in May. (P) MAY 4, 18; JUNE 1, 15 KinderZoo Animal interaction and fun for children ages 3 to 5, with an adult.

Call 619-557-3962 or book online. (Z)

MAY 9, 11, 25, 31; JUNE 7, 14, 15, 20, 22, 29 All Ages Roar & Snore Safari Spend the night at the Safari Park with the whole family! Call 619-718-3000 or book online. (P) MAY 10 Sunset Dinner and Walking Tour For details, see page 3 of this issue. (P) MAY 11 Nativescapes Garden Tour Take a free guided tour, starting at 10 a.m. (P) MAY 11 Champagne Brunch See details on page 3. (P) MAY 12 Mother’s Day Brunch Celebrate Mother’s Day with a festive brunch at the Zoo or Safari Park.

Salute to Summer

M

See inside front cover for details. (P)(Z) MAY 25–SEPTEMBER 1 Summer Safari presented by Groupon Discover special activities each weekend at the Safari Park, including music, street performers, and animal encounters.

New this year is Sundown Summer Safari, on Mondays and Tuesdays June 10 to July 30, with extended hours until 8 p.m., an evening Africa Tram Safari and Cheetah Run, an exciting new animal show, and food specials, magicians, artists, and more. (P)

JUNE 1 Breakfast with Kangaroos Enjoy a buffet breakfast, then watch kangaroos and wallabies start their day. Book online or call 619-718-3000. (P) JUNE 13 Wild Night Out— 21 and Up For event information, see page 21. (Z)

JUNE 16 Father’s Day Buffet See details on page 3. (P)

JUNE 15 R•I•T•Z Gala This year’s Rendezvous in the Zoo (R*I*T*Z) black-tie fund-raiser will benefit the new Sanford Children’s Zoo. Enjoy

JUNE 16 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2 Nighttime Zoo Enjoy a summer full of fun activities, live entertainment, and longer hours at the Zoo. (Z)

PRESIDENT/CEO’S NOTE DOUGLAS G. MYERS

ay and June are busy and exciting months at the Zoo and Safari Park! We have several events taking place, and I hope you can join us for all the festivities. For Mother’s Day on May 12, our chefs at both the Zoo and the Safari Park are cooking up a wonderful buffet brunch to help you celebrate Mom. May 17 is Endangered Species Day, a day of special significance to all of us at San Diego Zoo Global, when we honor the animal and plant species that we and conservation partners around the globe are working to protect. This year, we are paying particular tribute to our rhinos at the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center, a key part of the effort to save the northern white rhino, with a #showusyourheart social media campaign. You can join in by visiting the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park Facebook page. We’re looking forward to our annual R•I•T•Z gala on Saturday, June 15, which will benefit the new Sanford Children’s Zoo. And of course, May and June bring our popular summer events: the Park’s Summer Safari presented by Groupon starts on May 25, and Nighttime Zoo begins June 16. There’s so much fun ahead—and I hope to see you there!

4 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

food and cocktails, live entertainment, dancing, silent and live auctions, and more fun activities.

Visit sandiegozoo.org/ ritz/, email sdzooritz@ gmail.com, or call Marilyn Neumann, reservation chair, at 619-287-5435. (Z)

Let’s Talk Follow us! @sandiegozoo @sdzsafaripark @sdzglobal Share your #SanDiegoZoo & #SDZSafariPark experience on Twitter & Instagram.

SOAR WITH THE BIRDS...

FLIGHTLINE SAFARI AND JUNGLE ROPES SAFARI AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK ARE TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCES FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR EXCITEMENT AND ADVENTURE. Soar as high as 160 feet above the ground with rhinos, antelope, giraffes, deer, and more in the fields below you on your Flightline experience, which also includes gear, an orientation, and a practice session. Or, try your hand (and arms, and legs) at fun—primate style—as you test your “jungle” skills like climbing, balancing, and swinging. Why let the animals have all the fun?

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO FLY OR CLIMB. CALL 619-718-3000 TO BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE.

N O OZ N OT E S

35

How many miles per hour a giraffe can run.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS

Steven G. Tappan, Chairman Javade Chaudhri, Vice Chairman Linda Lowenstine, DVM, Ph.D., Secretary Ryan Sullivan, Ph.D., Treasurer BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Rolf Benirschke Kathleen Cain Richard B. Gulley Clifford W. Hague Robert B. Horsman Steven S. Simpson Judith A. Wheatley TRUSTEES EMERITI

It’s only a number World Giraffe Day is on June 21, 2019, and we are celebrating these towering wonders that day with special presentations and activities at the San Diego Zoo. Join us to discover more about these unique­—and threatened—animals and find out what conservation efforts are underway to help them. You can even become an online citizen scientist to help researchers spot them in Africa!

30

75

The number of minutes a giraffe may sleep during a 24-hour period.

How many pounds of food an adult giraffe eats each day.

ZOONOOZ

®

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926 MAY 2019 | VOL. XCII–NO. 03 MANAGING EDITOR

KAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

PEGGY SCOTT

STAFF WRITERS

WENDY PERKINS KARYL CARMIGNANI DONNA PARHAM COPY EDITOR

ESTON ELLIS DESIGNER

KERRI ABRAMS SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

KEN BOHN TAMMY SPRATT

SR. IMAGING SPECIALIST

TAMMY SPRATT

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

KAMBIZ MEHRAFSHANI KIM TURNER AMY BLANDFORD LISA BISSI JENNIFER MACEWEN

PREPRESS AND PRINTING

QUAD GRAPHICS

6 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

600

18

The number of pounds that a giraffe’s neck weighs. Just the neck is six feet long!

The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in Octo­ber 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation that now does business as San Diego Zoo Global.

The printed ZOONOOZ® magazine (ISSN 0044-5282) is currently published bimonthly, in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Publisher is San Diego Zoo Global, at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, 619-231-1515.

Periodicals postage paid at San Diego, California, USA, and at additional mailing offices.

ADDRESS CHANGES: Please send to Membership Department, P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112.

Copyright© 2019 San Diego Zoo Global. All rights reserved.

“ZOONOOZ” Reg. U.S. Pat. Office. All column and program titles are trademarks of San Diego Zoo Global.

Annual Memberships: Two adults in same household $174; $159 renewal. One adult $112; $102 renewal. Student (must live in and attend school in San Diego County) $95.20, Senior (age 65 and older): two adults in same household $147.90; $155.15 renewal. One senior adult $95.20; $86.70 renewal. Each membership includes unlimited entrance to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Subscription to ZOONOOZ magazine: $25 per year, $65 for 3 years. Foreign, including Canada and Mexico, $30 per year, $81 for 3 years. Contact Membership Department, P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112, for subscription information.

As part of San Diego Zoo Global’s commitment to conservation, ZOONOOZ is printed on recycled paper that is at least 10% post-consumer waste, chlorine free, and is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified.

Height in feet that a male giraffe can reach in size.

SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURS Most days in May and early June: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Most days in mid to late June: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hours vary; please check website sandiegozoo.org for specific hours on each day.

SAFARI PARK HOURS Most days in May: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Most days in June: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Hours vary; please check website sdzsafaripark.org for specific hours on each day.

WEBSITE sandiegozoo.org PHONE 619-231-1515 ZOONOOZ® Online web publication zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org FSC® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper.

Frank C. Alexander Berit N. Durler Thompson Fetter Bill L. Fox Frederick A. Frye, M.D. George L. Gildred Yvonne W. Larsen John M. Thornton A. Eugene Trepte Betty Jo F. Williams James Lauth, General Counsel to the Board Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS

Judith C. Harris, Chair U. Bertram Ellis, Jr., Vice Chair Joye D. Blount, Secretary Susan N. McClellan, Treasurer Mark A. Stuart, President Amy B. Parrott, Vice President Steven G. Tappan, Ex officio Douglas G. Myers, Ex officio BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christine L. Andrews Sophie W. Bryan Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio Chris Eddy Nikita Kahn Ellison Arthur E. Engel Valerie A. Ewell, DVM JJ Fetter Susan Guinn Lynelle Lynch Susan B. Major Susan F. McCarthy Diane McKernan Barry Munitz Joshua A. Pack Maryanne C. Pfister Philip C. Seeger Elizabeth W. Shoemaker Rosa Sinnott Carter Skeath David M. Tehle Kathryn J. Vaughan

Easy as

To find out about these and other animals, plus videos, crafts, stories, games, and more, visit kids.sandiegozoo.org.

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Numbers don’t lie—it’s easy and fun to create your own work of art! Follow the color key below as you go, and you’ll soon have a masterpiece— you can count DID YOU KNOW? on it!

A frog completely sheds its skin about once a week.

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DID YOU KNOW? Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet.

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DID YOU KNOW? Hummingbirds are the only birds known to fly backwards!

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SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 7

G R A P H I C A LLY S P E A K I N G

You Wanna Piece of Me? What lengths would you go to, to avoid becoming somebody else’s lunch? Some animals rely on strength.

Some rely on speed. Here are just a few of the animal world’s more unusual variations on the “fight or flight” theme.

BY DONNA PARHAM | STAFF WRITER ILLUSTRATIONS BY AMY BLANDFORD | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

BE AFRAID— BE VERY AFRAID When it feels threatened, a slow loris assumes the "venom pose" of a cobra— stretching up on its hind legs, swaying from side to side, and hissing.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE Some snake species play dead when they are threatened by a predator, and they can put on an Oscar-worthy performance.

The hog-nosed snake rolls on its back, opens its mouth, and lets its tongue hang out.

R AT TLESNAKE WARNING! An alarmed rattlesnake vibrates its tail, making a distinctive buzzing sound that tells predators— as well as heavy-footed grazers—“back off!”

AF RICAN BOMBARDIE R BE ETLE POISON GAS In a fraction of a second, an African bombardier beetle combines two volatile substances stored in its body. The chemical reaction explodes from the beetle’s abdominal “gun-turret,” blasting predators with a noxious, boiling-hot gas.

8 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

SLOW LORIS AT YOUR PERIL Faced with a predator, a slow loris lifts its arms, links its hands overhead, and licks a goo that oozes from the inside of its elbows. Mixing the oily secretion with saliva creates a potent venom. That makes a slow loris the world’s only venomous primate. Hasta la vista, baby.

STINKY, BUT SAFE Another bird, the green woodhoopoe, has a similar trick. When bothered, it releases a nasty-smelling fluid from its preen gland.

THRE E - BANDE D ARM ADILLO INSTANT ARMOR It’s tough to take a bite out of an armored ball. A threebanded armadillo’s teardrop-shaped head plate seals the opening, so there are no chinks in the armor.

EUROPE AN ROLLE R YUCK A European roller chick disgusts predators by vomiting on itself. When parents return, the foul-smelling vomit warns them that a predator is nearby.

F RILLE D AG AM A BIG, BAD, AND BLUFFING When escape seems impossible, the frilled agama will stand its ground by opening its mouth, standing on hind legs and flaring its foot-wide frilled collar. When all else fails, it darts off on its hind legs to seek safety up the nearest tree.

TAILS, YOU LOSE Geckos, skinks, and some other lizards have a tail that breaks off easily. If a predator catches the tail, the lizard can run for safety. If a predator catches the lizard’s head or neck, the lizard can shake off its own tail, distracting the predator, which may release the lizard.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 9

The Pa Beautiful and endangered, red pandas are the focus of ongoing conservation efforts

BY ESTON ELLIS | STAFF WRITER PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

18 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

nda in Red

W

hen guests see a red panda at the San Diego Zoo, their first reaction is often “what’s that?” What they see is a fiery red-orange and reddish-brown mammal about the size of a large house cat, with a round face, keen eyes, distinctive white and brown markings, a long, fluffy tail, and a fondness for climbing trees. But it’s not a cat. It’s not a fox or a raccoon. And it’s not a bear.

Despite the name, red pandas are only distantly related to giant pandas.

In fact, the western red panda Ailurus fulgens fulgens was first described

by French zoologist Frédéric Cuvier in 1825, 48 years before the giant panda became known to Western science. “Red pandas are the original panda,” said Nicki Boyd, associate curator of behavioral husbandry at the San Diego Zoo, and the Zoo’s red panda Institutional Representative.

The western red panda’s taxon name comes from the Greek words for cat, ailouros, and fire-colored, fulgens. A second red panda subspecies—the slightly larger and more brightly colored Styan’s red panda A. f. refulgens (styani)—was discovered in 1897.

The word “panda” is believed to have been derived from a Nepalese phrase, nigalya ponya, said to mean “bamboo eater” or “bamboo footed.”

Both red pandas and giant pandas can be found in China—although red pandas are also found in mountain forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Both spend

most of each day eating bamboo, although giant pandas eat the stalk or culm along with the leaves, and red pandas only eat the leaves. Like the giant panda, red pandas have a wrist bone called a “false thumb” that allows them to grasp a stalk of bamboo with their paw. But the similarities mostly end there.

Red pandas are members of their own unique family: Ailuridae.

They are considered crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) or nocturnal, but they often forage or bask in filtered sun on tree limbs during the day. Sometimes called a “vegetarian carnivore,” a red panda may occasionally eat eggs or small animals like birds, but they prefer eating bamboo, which makes up more than 80 percent of their diet. Some red pandas also eat fruit, mushrooms, and bark, and red pandas at the Zoo eat leaf-eater biscuits in addition to fresh bamboo leaves.

Red pandas are mostly solitary animals, except during mating season or when mothers are rais-

ing cubs. During mating season, red pandas communicate through a unique series of vocalizations, including bleats, squeals, snorts, and sighs; along with scent marking and head bobbing. At other times, red pandas may make a “huff” sound that means “don’t get too close,” or a snort that means “I just want you to know I’m right here,” said Karen Scott, red panda keeper.

They have claws designed for climbing trees and self defense—and they are excellent climbers, as well as being adept swimmers. While they spend much of their time up in trees, they also spend a lot of time on the ground, eating bamboo. When they climb down from a tree, they go down the trunk headfirst—an unsual skill for a mammal.

Like raccoons, red pandas are known for washing their faces with their paws, and dipping their paws into water to drink. At the Zoo, our red pandas enjoy drinking out of misters, too. While red pandas are not cats, you might think they were when they’re sleeping. “They curl up just like a cat, and use their fluffy tail as a blanket,” Karen said.

HELPING RED PANDAS Red pandas live in high elevations in the Himalayas, in cool, dense forests with abundant bamboo. They are categorized as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

No one knows exactly how many red pandas are left in their native habitats. In 1999, it was estimated

Seeing Red: The colors of a red panda— ranging from fiery orange to warm cinnamon brown and white— inspired their Chinese name: “hun-ho”, which means fire fox.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 11

that fewer than 2,500 still existed; however, most current estimates put their numbers closer to 10,000.

They face many threats as people encroach on their home forests: poaching for their fur or for the illegal pet trade; predation by feral dogs; destruction of their habitat by free-roaming cattle; and deforestation caused by forest fires, agriculture, and harvesting of wood for building, cooking, and heating.

San Diego Zoo Global supports the nonprofit Red Panda Network in its conservation efforts.

Nicki has worked with Red Panda Network since its founding in 2006, and she currently serves as a board member. “The conservation work is focused mostly in Nepal— and this is boots-on-the-ground conservation,” she explained. “We have a group of people there who do community-based conservation, and we’re working hand-inhand with local communities to save a precious resource.”

These efforts include helping to establish protected forests and wildlife corridors, and to conserve existing populations of red pandas in the Himalayas. In areas where the use of wood for heating and cooking has become a major threat to the forests, Red Panda Network is working with community members to replace wood-burning stoves with new, more efficient stoves that burn renewable bio briquettes—and they are training locals to produce their own bio briquettes. “This is a high-altitude area that is very cold, and before bio briquettes, people would spend hours going out and collecting wood,” Nicki explained. “Now they have more time, and they can use it to make crafts to sell, creating a sustainable livelihood.”

12 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

Ecotourism and home stays, in which visiting hikers can stay in the homes of local families, is providing additional income for communities. “We’ve started to build a community conservation center, which will allow researchers, tourists, local communities, and school groups to be educated

about red pandas as they hike into the Himalayas,” Nicki said.

Red Panda Network trains community members to become “forest guardians,” with antipoaching patrols to actively protect red pandas and their habitats. The network has also worked with communities to plant thousands of native trees to replace lost vegetation, restore degraded water sources, and neuter feral dogs. In addition, the Red Panda Network helps locals adopt better livestock husbandry practices, reducing the number of free-roaming cattle; and teaches sustainable organic farming methods, to help prevent further destruction of habitat.

Red Panda Network currently monitors red pandas in the Himalayas and participates in a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA). “We have used trail cameras to monitor red pandas, but they live in wet, rainy forests, and they are so hard to track,” Nicki said. “However, red pandas use a shared latrine or poop spot,

Look Up: Red pandas spend a lot of time in trees. They are sure-footed climbers, with sharp claws and a long tail for balancing on even the shakiest branch—and they climb down the trunk headfirst.

BY THE NUMBERS

8-10

Average lifespan (in years) of red pandas in the wild

24

Age of oldest known western red panda

1-4

Number of red panda cubs born in a litter

55-68

Percentage of wild young red pandas that survive their first year

30

Number of red pandas born at the San Diego Zoo from 1940 to 1954

and through environmental DNA (eDNA) assessment of samples from these sites, we will be able to count and identify individuals that are using those latrines.”

The conservation efforts aimed at saving red pandas are actually having a much broader effect on the forests of the Himalayas, Nicki said.

“The Himalayas provide one fifth of the world’s population with clean air and clean water. Along with providing a home for red pandas, the Himalayas are a habitat for many birds, hundreds of plants, and other remarkable species, like clouded leopards. So, saving this habitat has so much more impact than saving just red pandas.”

In addition to its support of conservation work in the Himalayas, the San Diego Zoo participates in the red panda Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, administered through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The goal of the SSP is to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of this threatened species in managed care. As part of the plan, the Zoo works with the SSP coordinators on potential moves or exchanges of our red pandas in the Zoo’s Asian Passage habitat.

“Our red panda exhibit is currently an educational exhibit, rather than one with a focus on breeding,” Nicki said. “There is a lot going on near there, and there are a lot of people around all the time. For an exhibit to be right for breeding, you need to provide a comfort level for mom, which usually means more private space.” It’s also an area where red pandas can be cared for off exhibit when appropriate. For example, the Zoo’s 16-year-old, non-breeding female—named Hun-E—is in her golden years. Even though she has

arthritis, she enjoys spending most of the day sunbathing in an offexhibit area, with a climbing ramp to help her reach her favorite lounging spot on a tree branch.

DAILY DELIGHTS The red panda keepers plan out a variety of ways to make the animals’ habitat dynamic, so that guests can experience the behaviors of this unusual species. The red pandas have trees to climb and branches to negotiate—a species specialty. Recently, the trees were trimmed to give guests a better view as the red pandas traverse the branches or lounge up high.

However, the pandas still have plenty of leafy places to hide for a little privacy or a nap, Karen said.

The red pandas encounter food and treats on the ground and in the trees, in a variety of continually changing locations, to encourage

them to forage and explore. They are also provided with a wide array of enrichment items, including gourds bearing different scents, and food puzzles to keep daily experiences interesting and unpredictable, as they would be in a wild habitat.

“Our red pandas are also crate trained and target trained,” Karen said. “They will come to a target stick when they are prompted— anywhere in the exhibit—and then get a biscuit treat.”

“Red pandas are unique, in everything they do,” Karen said.

“You can watch a red panda start walking, and then all of a sudden he’ll run like he’s chasing something. They are playful and curious, and a great example of the species diversity in Asian rain forests. And everyone loves seeing them!” How could you not, with an adorable face like that?

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 21

FLIGHTLESS

FANCY Ostriches through Time

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BY KARYL CARMIGNANI | STAFF WRITER PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

o other avian species has the fast, fearless, and flexible rĂŠsumĂŠ of the ostentatious ostrich. Taller than a front door and speedier than a downhill bicycle race, the long-necked ostrich is unmistakable. It is the largest and heaviest living bird species, reaching 320 pounds. It has only held that status for the last 150 years, though, after the elephant bird of Madagascar, which weighed as much as a grand piano, was wiped out by European explorers. The ostrich nearly suffered a similar fate: humans nabbed its eggs for food, jewelry pieces, and storage vessels, and latched onto its feathers for fighting and fashion accessories. For the past 130 years

or so, the common ostrich has been farmed throughout dry regions of the world for its feathers, meat, oil, and skin, which has taken some hunting pressure off wild populations.

14 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

Move It Though its wings cannot support flight, they help the bird maneuver when running.

Living in arid landscapes across Africa, the ostrich has stood tall through its checkered past.

It has been associated with humans for centuries.

Paintings and carvings in the Sahara dating back 10,000 years depict the mighty bird, and ostriches are illustrated in Egyptian hieroglyphs. Bushmen have hunted them for their meat, and adorned themselves with the feathered skins. The ostrich has survived the rise and fall of “feather fortunes,” over-collection of its eggs, and now desertification of its habitat.

Overgrazing by livestock; longer, hotter dry seasons; and the encroachment of humans all impinge on its lifestyle. Discovering the quirks, adaptations, and truths about the ostrich will surely help us preserve this species for another epoch.

PAGEANTRY ON THE PLAINS The ostrich Struthio camelus is a dramatic balance of awkwardness and grace, vulnerability and survival.

It is a plume-carrying member of the ratites, a robust bunch of flightless, leggy birds that includes rheas, cassowaries, and emus, as well as the pint-sized kiwi.

While the ostrich’s 18-vertebrae-long neck and lanky legs may be easy targets for a predator, its gigantic eyes (two inches across!) survey the landscape to avoid danger, and those dinosaur-like legs are formidable weapons. The ostrich is the only two-toed bird (other birds have three or four toes) in the world, and its toe claw can do real damage to any threat.

Its fluffy body is ideally positioned atop the legs, so its center of gravity is perfectly balanced for run-

DID YOU KNOW? The ostrich is one of the few birds to have “eyelashes.”

However, they are not hair, but bristles—short, rudimentary feathers—which likely shield their eyes from the glare of the sun.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 15

DID YOU KNOW? An ostrich’s intestines are about 46 feet long, which is twice as long as an adult human’s.

16 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

ning and outmaneuvering predators. While its wings are not used for flight, they are handy rudders when barreling along at 40 miles per hour trying to ditch a pride of hungry lions.

Ostriches roam in flocks of about 10 animals, and groups may converge to form a flock of up to 100 birds. Alpha males gather a “harem” and mate with the alpha hen (and others). Females lay their large, dimpled, cream-colored eggs in a cooperative “dump nest,” which is a shallow, scratched-out bowl in the soil. This nesting strategy is a survival trade-off, as each gleaming, three-pound egg is a conspicuous potential meal, but the light color of the shell reflects the heat so the developing chicks don’t overheat. A nest may contain up to 60 eggs from various females, and the eggs on the outskirts may be destroyed by the alpha birds to make incubation more manageable.

The dominant male and female incubate the eggs for about 45 days—the male takes the night shift. Baby birds emerge camouflaged by a collection of Morse code dots and dashes on their neck, and a body covered by silky, brown-and-black down. Hatchlings are

about the size of a chicken and can scamper after the adult birds almost immediately. Chicks grow about a foot a month for the first seven to eight months.

It’s an entrenched myth that ostriches “bury their head in the sand.” They do not. The rumor likely took hold from seeing a bird reaching its head down to tend to the nest or laying its head and neck on the ground when it detects a predator—from a distance the giant bird appears to be a rock. Should danger approach closer, adult birds may limp away from a nest as a decoy. There is no time—or reason—to thrust one’s head in the sand!

FEATHER LIGHT What makes ostrich feathers so sought after? Since the ostrich does not fly, its feathers serve to protect it from the fierce rays of the sun (temperature regulation) and incubate eggs. Flighted bird feathers have rigidly barbed veins on either side of the shaft, and mostly lay sleek on the bird. Ostriches, on the other hand, have no such airborne constraints, so their feathers are symmetrical and as light and fluffy as meringue.

Males have contrasting black-and-white plumage, while females sport a mishmash of gray and white “femina” feathers. The long, white plumes of the male play a role in wooing females and staving off rivals.

Ostrich feathers from either sex may be dyed a rainbow of colors for human use. And they are! The ostrich’s fashion contribution goes way back: Egyptian soldiers used ostrich feathers on their helmets, which symbolized fairness, truth, and justice. Royalty and rich people wore ostrich plume headdresses and accessories.

The feather market crashed around the start of World War I, because shipping lanes closed and feathers couldn’t be imported, fashions changed, and cars became popular—wearing an ostrich-plumed hat in a windblown car wasn’t practical. The feather market reawakened after World War II, mostly due to the demand for ostrich leather. These days, ostrich feathers are largely harvested from farm animals. The airy plumage still adds finesse to showgirl attire, home décor, and assorted costumes. Femina feathers are used in household dusters. One Ford plant in Spain even uses giant ostrich feather rollers to remove dust particles on vehicles before they’re painted.

SAFARI PARK STRUT Guests to the Safari Park may see a flock of five female ostriches from the tram in the South African field exhibit. They are named for spices: Cinnamon, Pepper, Chili, Paprika, and Clove. “Chili is the littlest and the pushiest,” said Lauren Cook, senior bird keeper at the Park. “She chases the mammals in the field exhibits, even the gemsbok!” Lauren explained that the birds aren’t aggressive, just very curious. And when a six-foot-tall bird has you in her sights, you take note.

“They come up to our trucks and try to grab anything they can get, like our gloves,” she added.

Ostriches eat mostly roots, leaves, and seeds, but also indulge in insects, lizards, and whatever they can catch. They swallow pebbles, which helps their gizzard grind up food. At the Park, they get a special pellet diet. “When they’re young, they get ‘Ostrich Grower,’ and as adults, ‘Ostrich Breeder,’ which contains more calcium for egg-laying,” said Lauren. In the wild, they get most of their water from the plants they eat. At the Park, they have drinkers to imbibe in. Three ostriches stand wing-to-wing, taking turns bending down to the water where they “poke, grab, and throw it back” in a peculiar yet poetic fashion.

Lauren said they love showers, and when the hose comes out, they shimmy and strut and get the water up in their wings. Perhaps the ostrich’s most charming behavior occurs when they are excited: they spin!

In an avian ballet of sheer exuberance, they twirl and flounce and appear downright giddy. I’m giddy myself, standing among these prehistoric giants who want to grab my pen and inspect my jacket. Lauren expertly herds them back, and soon they bed down. One stretches her neck out on the earth; others sit on watch.

We all keep our heads out of the sand.

Bird BFFs Ostriches are social, flock-living birds that share a “dump nest” for their eggs.

They are the only bird species with two toes on each foot.

Their long legs can give a mighty kick to ward off threats, and they fiercely protect their chicks.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 17

AND BABY MAKES…

A TEAM “Co-parenting” an okapi requires a light touch

BY DONNA PARHAM | STAFF WRITER

This page: A young okapi gets familiar with keeper Jennifer Chapman.

Opposite: Mosi the okapi’s “baby picture.”

Mosi turns two years old in July.

18 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

The relationship between a zoo-born okapi and its keepers is a bit of a balancing act. One objective is to build trust and tractability, in order to provide the best possible care without causing undue stress. But at the same time, keepers strive to keep an animal wild and preserve its natural behaviors. Both goals are important to the well-being of a zoo baby—of any age.

Earlier this year, keepers welcomed a brand-new okapi calf to the Zoo’s Ituri Forest, and like Zoo-born okapis before him, he’s off to a great start. “I like to think of it as a working relationship,” says Jennifer Chapman, senior keeper. While okapi fathers do not participate in raising offspring, Jennifer emphasizes the role of an okapi mom. In the most recent birth, that’s six-year-old Subira, who she says is “doing a stellar job” raising her first-born, a male named Elombe, now nearly four months old. She says, “We work together as a team, and structure our relationship based on their natural behavior.”

For okapi keepers, that means supporting a maternal behavior called “tucking.” For the first six to nine weeks, an okapi mother leaves her baby “home alone” while she forages, hiding it in a forest nest and returning regularly to allow the calf to nurse. At the

Zoo, that nest is a cozy barn with a padded floor and a drinking station. Keepers add a soft layer of hay. Inside the nest, a baby okapi’s job is to rest, grow, and nurse when mom comes home. By the time it’s about two months old, the calf will be ready to follow its mother as she forages.

Unlike a mother okapi, keepers can watch a calf’s every move in the nest, on a high-tech baby monitor: four cameras capture and record the action—or lack of it. “They sleep a lot—like babies are supposed to do,” says Jennifer, pointing out that Elombe sleeps curled in the characteristic tucked position. “In the morning, we view the video from the night before,” she says. “We check the footage to see how long a calf nursed, and to make sure that mom and baby are both getting good rest. Elombe is doing very well; he’s very comfortable.”

Subira’s maternal behavior is right on target, too.

After the 14-month wait, keepers were excited when they noticed Subira holding her tail high, and they spied tiny hoofs emerging. Within two hours, she gave birth to bonny baby Elombe. Keepers and veterinary staff watched with bated breath to see her reaction.

“Sometimes first-time moms can be aggressive,” says Jennifer. “Sometimes they are afraid of the baby and

IN THE FIELD

Conservation in Action The okapi is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG) is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Okapi Species Survival Plan. We exchange animals with other AZAaccredited breeding institutions to maintain genetic diversity in the North American population. Along with other zoos and conservation organizations, SDZG contributes to conservation efforts in the wild by supporting the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a World Heritage Site providing the species with a place removed from most human interference. This reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri Forest and is home to about 5,000 of the estimated 30,000 remaining okapis.

have no idea what to do with it.”

But to everyone’s relief, Subira immediately began licking Elombe with her long, purple, prehensile tongue. Cleaning up the newborn this way is good, Jennifer says.

“It stimulates the baby.” Keepers watched joyfully as Elombe sat up, and then came to his feet for the first time. Within 45 minutes of standing, the new calf was successfully nursing.

When, hours or days after giving birth, an okapi mother tucks her new baby in the nest (the barn) and strolls out for a bite to eat—just as she would in the wild—keepers and veterinary staff move quickly to examine the new arrival. While Elombe was separated from his mother, “We examined him, weighed him, and took blood samples,” says Jennifer.

“Everything looked great, and he did very well. He was calm and didn’t call out.” Mother, however, was not as complacent. “Subira was not very happy,” says Jennifer. But on the bright side, her protective behavior showed she is

20 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

a good mom, and she “got over it quickly”—something that can be attributed to the trust between the first-time mother and her keepers.

Zoo and Park keepers have plenty of experience caring for okapi calves. Okapis first came to the San Diego Zoo in 1956, and

Clockwise from left: Mom M’Baya rubs a spot from Mosi’s face with her nine-inch tongue. An okapi calf begins following its mother at about two months of age. A resemblance to giraffes—the okapi’s closest relatives—is apparent as okapis pull leaves off of overhanging branches.

since then, there have been more than 70 births at the Zoo and Park.

Before Elombe, Mosi was the baby of the bunch; now, he’s nearly two years old. Okapis are shy animals, and keepers observe well-established protocols to keep calves and mothers relaxed and healthy.

The goal is for okapi calves to be comfortable with their human caregivers around. “We talk to them softly, and use little touches to get them used to us,” says Jennifer. Okapis who trust their human caretakers have a soft spot for a good behind-theear scratch, something Jennifer says will eventually be used as a reward. “Once a calf starts eating solid food, we can start to use food as a reward, too.” Such rewards help keepers shape behaviors—like approaching a target or even just holding still—that allow them to provide the best care. For now though, keepers are letting mom Subira and baby Elombe set the pace. Jennifer says, “As far as our next steps go, we’re going off what they want.”

FIVESECOND RULE? It’s been reported that okapi calves don’t defecate for four to nine weeks, but Jennifer clears up that misunderstanding.

“Calves do poop right away, but as long as a calf remains in the nest, mom cleans up the mess, so the smell doesn’t draw predators.”

A mother willing to eat her child’s poop is a good mother indeed.

Once the baby leaves the nest and starts to follow its mom, the pair stay on the move, and such cleanup is no longer necessary.

June 13, 2019, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Have a Wild Night Out to kick off summer at the San Diego Zoo— just for guests ages 21 and up! $40 per person. Tickets available online at zoo.sandiegozoo.org/wild-night-out, by calling 619-718-3000, or at the Zoo entrance.

• Experience a preview of elements from Nighttime Zoo. • Receive a 10% discount on items within our Zootique and Kids Store gift shops (this night only).

• Revel with music and entertainment.

• Meet animal ambassadors and enjoy special keeper presentations.

Tickets for Wild Night Out—21 and Up include admission, entertainment, and one complimentary beverage (beer, wine, soda, or water).

Additional beverages and food available for purchase at select restaurants, including both food and beer & cocktail tasting packages.

Ages 21 and up only. Must show ID/proof of age at entrance. For more information, visit sandiegozoo.org. $20 exclusive donor discount price for members at the Keeper’s Club level and above can be purchased by phone at 619-718-3000, or at the Zoo (this discount is not available online). Valid membership card required at time of purchase.

MAY 25–SEPTEMBER 1

COME PLAY AT THE SAFARI PARK THIS SUMMER!

From May 25 to September 1, the Safari Park will have special activities each weekend, including music, juggling, magicians, street performers, and animal encounters.

New this year is Sundown Summer Safari, happening on Mondays and Tuesdays from June 10 through July 30, with extended hours until 8 p.m. During Sundown Summer Safari, take an evening African Tram Safari, check out a 7 p.m. Cheetah Run, and see our exciting new animal show in Benbough Amphitheater. There will be food specials, including Taco Tuesday, as well as magicians, artists, and more.

Join us for a great way to enjoy your summer!

sdzsafaripark.org/summersafari

The orchid family is the largest group of flowering plants, numbering around 25,000 accepted and recognized species.

This page: Habenaria medusa; opposite page, from top: Paphiopedilum vietnamense, Paphiopedilum micranthum.

22 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

Cultivation and Connection

S

The Zoo’s Orchid Odyssey Continues

BY WENDY PERKINS | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY TAMMY SPRATT | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

quawks, roars, and trumpets; stripes, spots, and brilliant colors; damp earth, the menthol of eucalyptus, and musky mammals—the San Diego Zoo is flush with sounds, sights, and smells. Yet, once a month, another dimension of scent and color adds to the mix, when the Orchid House is open for visitors to experience exotic hues, intoxicating fragrances, and important conservation efforts during an eye-opening orchid adventure.

Our orchid collection began as a spontaneous response to opportunity: plants were donated, and we began caring for them. From this simple beginning, our experience deepened into maintaining and documenting a diverse orchid collection that supports San Diego Zoo Global’s conservation goals. The plant family Orchidaceae is one of the most sought after by fanciers; movies have been made about a plant collector’s escapades to possess the rarest orchids. Unfortunately, these movies are based on fact, not fiction. In 1978, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

established the Plant Rescue Center (PRC) Program in response to the increased poaching of plants (not only orchids) from their native habitat to be sold to collectors.

The collectors of these plants are usually in violation of permit requirements established by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Many types of plants are confiscated in this manner each year, and a large portion of these are orchids.

The threatened extinction of many species of orchids prompted CITES agencies to forbid all trade of plants from wild populations, but before this embargo went into effect, large numbers of wild orchids were collected. What to do with them? The PRC program gave USFWS a solution: creating a way for nonprofit, public entities to assume responsibility for species illegally imported into the US. In April 1988, the San Diego Zoo’s horticulture department applied for and was granted designation as a PRC. Since then, a high percentage of the Zoo’s orchid collection has come to us in this way.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 23

The Orchid House at the Zoo is open to the public the third Friday of each month, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Above left: Orchids are native to Orchids thrive every region of the world in the climateexcept Antarctica. As a controlled greenhouse. designated PRC, we have Above right: The received confiscations gray tendrils of from all over the globe. this Dendrochilum yuccaefolium The Zoo’s orchid collection focuses on cultivating are airborne roots that gather and conserving “species moisture from orchids,” those that occur the air. Below, left to right: in nature. We also have Paphiopedilum some hybrids, which are charlesworthii; an important research Maxillaria tenuifolia; P. and educational tool. emersonii; P. Certain hybrids are kept hirsutissimum. to enhance our guests’ enjoyment of plants, as they are hardy enough to be displayed in trees (such as in Fern Canyon) where more people can appreciate them.

Zoo-wide, our botanical collections beautify the grounds as well as help preserve plant species through managed cultivation. However, orchids are not easily used as landscape plants. This is where our magnificent Orchid House comes in! This impressive facility allows us to attempt to recreate the best conditions for orchids from a range of microclimates: from temperate mountains to tropical and cloud forests, and

24 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

from humid riparian zones and intermedito end extinction, our orchid collection acts as ate forest to plains transitions. a valuable ex situ collection of Paphiopedilum The main greenhouse contains cool, specimens. Our status as a PRC adds another intermediate, and warm rooms, as well as a contribution: since many of the plants came separate tropical redwood house. Outdoor from the wild before they were confiscated and bench structures provide a perch for orchids put into our care, our collection is a source of that can adapt to San Diego’s natural cligenetic variation. That can play an important mate. Our collection contains nearly 3,000 role in preserving species, as wild populations accessioned plants from approximately 200 continue to decline. genera with about 750 species, representThe Zoo’s horticulture department is ing a valuable source of DNA taking part in the conservation of from wild-collected plants. A orchid species through traditional DID YOU large portion of our collecmethods, as well as micropropaKNOW? The Orchid House tion showcases the genus gation of collection specimens. at the Zoo is open Paphiopedilum, commonly We have been able to propagate to the public the third known as the lady slipspecies in our lab, and we hope Friday of each month, per orchid, native to many to continue collaborating with between 10 a.m. regions of Asia. The collecother botanical gardens through and 2 p.m. tion houses 62 of the approxitrading or sharing plants. As we mately 80 species, as well as more continue our efforts to maintain a historical varieties, forms, and hybrids in valuable ex situ collection of orchids, we the genus. The majority of Paphiopedilum will focus on diversifying the number of species are listed as Endangered or Criticalthreatened taxa in our care. ly Endangered on the International Union Orchids can serve as a lure into the for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of realm of plants for many Zoo visitors. It Threatened Species. Habitat destruction and has been said that orchids are the “pandas over-collecting are the main reasons for the of the plant world”—an eye-catching life form that helps people stop and begin to appreciate the population declines. flora that surrounds them.

In keeping with SDZG’s conservation goal

HAPPY HAPPENS

June 16 to September 2, 2019 3 to 5 p.m.

Select $6 cocktails, local craft beers, and California wines; plus $7 appetizers.

After enjoying Happy Happens, savor your summer nights at Albert’s with a dinner prepared by Executive Chef Carissa Giacalone and Albert’s Chef Grant Toraason.

Call 619-685-3200 for reservations at Albert’s. Reservations are not required, but are recommended.

SPIRITS DINNER

June 8, 2019 6 p.m.: Reception with Animal Ambassadors in the Treetops Banquet Room 6:45 p.m.: Dinner at Albert’s Restaurant Join us as our animal care staff shares a memorable and informative presentation. Then enjoy a threecourse meal prepared by Executive Chef Carissa Giacalone and Albert’s Chef Grant Toraason.

Cost is $82 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Make reservations today online at zoo.sandiegozoo.org/dining-events or call 619-718-3000.

S U P P O RT

Zoo Becomes Family Sue Rogowski treasures memories of visits with her parents

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BY MARY SEKULOVICH | SENIOR EDITOR, DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

e have enthusiastic donors who enjoy the Zoo and Safari Park, and then there are those who truly love them. That describes

Sue Rogowski, one of our ZOO 1OO members. Growing up in

Chicago, Sue heard stories from her dad, Chester, about his days in

the military when he was stationed in San Diego and visited the Zoo.

He fell in love with the city, the weather, and the Zoo. So when Sue moved to Los Angeles in her 20s, her dad drove out with her. They followed historic Route 66, then detoured to San Diego first so they could visit the Zoo, where they had a great day walking the canyons.

When her father passed away and her mother, Anne, came out to live near her, they bought a membership and began visiting the Zoo often. At Zoo events, they met staff and learned more about the Zoo’s history. Sue says it made them feel like “insiders” and more connected to the Zoo. They also inquired about a bench opportunity, and decided to fund one in Ituri Forest, with all three of their names on it. As Sue remembers, “I did it all for my parents, because I wanted their story to be part of the Zoo’s.”

Sue is also funding a bench at the new hummingbird house, because her mother loved the little birds. One time they found a hummer chick on the Zoo grounds, and when a keeper came to help, the caring response impressed Anne and Sue. Anne also loved elephants, and even when her memory was failing, she remembered Doug Myers’ talk at an event about how the Safari Park elephant herd came to the Zoo in 2003.

It was one of many positive experiences. Every time Anne and Sue visited, they felt good about the organization, 26 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

like they were part of a family.

After Anne passed away, Sue has continued to visit the Zoo and Safari Park. She always feels strongly that “Mom and Dad are here with me.”

Sue explains that the San Diego Zoo is not a typical zoo: “Here, we are trying to save species, not just exhibit them.” Sue is a member of ZOO 1OO, our endowment program that was

established to ensure the long-term care and brightest possible future for our plants and animals.

Grateful for her parents and proud of her Polish heritage, Sue is dedicated to the Zoo and Safari Park, which helped her heal after the loss of her parents. A plaque at Tiger Trail reads “It’s my time to roar!” And indeed it is!

Anne (left) and Sue loved the Caravan Safaris at the Safari Park, which included meeting giraffes and other wildlife.

It’s a fun, suspenseful game for kids and families!

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Sponsor: PlayMonster LLC, 1400 E. Inman Parkway, Beloit, WI 53511.

IN THE FIELD

San Diego Zoo Global’s mission to end extinction takes place not just at the Zoo, Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, but also through fieldwork in projects around the globe. Each issue, we share an update on these projects.

DEN MOTHER

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

28 / ZOONOOZ / MAY 2019

STAFF WRITER

San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG) is working with Polar Bears International and the Norwegian Polar Institute to better understand the impact of warming temperatures on the snow bears of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago on the Barents Sea. Specialized video cameras with solar- and wind-charged batteries are set up discreetly about 250 meters (820 feet) from polar bear dens to record behavioral data when mother and cub emerge. The goal is to understand if the date of emergence is shifting, and if the cubs are physically and behaviorally more immature when leaving the den, which could jeopardize their survival. Monitored bears have GPS collars with sensors to record light, temperature, and activity levels, and the video data will help verify the accuracy of the sensor data and will aid researchers in extrapolating the mother bear’s activity level. “This ‘conservation surveillance’ provides us critical information about the animals in a noninvasive manner,” Megan said. Discretion is, indeed, the better part of valor, especially in the field.

PHOTOS BY (CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT): COURTESY OF MEGAN OWEN, PHD. (2); JENN BEENING, SDZG

The Arctic is warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the planet. For sea ice-dependent species like walruses, narwhals, and polar bears, winter warmth can spell disaster. Polar bears need sea ice from which to hunt seals, and female bears use secure snow dens to nurture their altricial cubs for several months after birth. A female must pack on fat to sustain herself through the long winter months during pregnancy and nursing her young. Finally emerging from the den, she must find a meal to share with her cub.

Ideally, she uses the protective den as a home base for two to four weeks as the cub rapidly develops. “If she doesn’t have enough fat, or if it’s too warm, and her den becomes unstable, she may have to emerge early, which can mean the cubs can be much less developed when mom says it’s time to leave the den site,” explained Megan Owen, Ph.D., director of San Diego Zoo Global’s Population Sustainability team. “Every day in the den is a day the cub doesn’t have to walk for miles or swim in frigid ocean waters.” But are the bears actually leaving the den earlier?

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MAY-AUGUST MEMBER SPECIALS M AY-A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

$10 OFF ANIMAL ADOPTIONS

Members can enjoy this discount on any online animal adoption package! Visit sandiegozoo.org/adopt to choose from a panda, giraffe, penguin, rhino, and many more species.

All adoptions include a personalized adoption certificate.

Valid May 1-August 31, 2019 Call 619-557-3914 for more information or to purchase your adoption by phone.

To purchase online, simply enter ASZW0519 upon checkout. No limit. Not valid with any other offer, promotion, discount, or at on-grounds adoption booth.

J U LY 2 0 1 9

JUNE 2019

10% OFF HATS

Members receive 10% off all hats at any San Diego Zoo and Safari Park stores.

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

SOFT-SERVE ICE CREAM Purchase a soft-serve ice cream cone at the Safari Park, and get a second one free.

Valid July 1-31, 2019 Available at any Safari Park location where soft-serve ice cream is sold.

Member must provide valid membership card at time of purchase to receive discount. Supporting ID may be required. Not valid with any other offer, promotion, or discount. Coupon not required.

Valid June 1-30, 2019 Member must provide valid membership card at time of purchase to receive discount.

Supporting ID may be required.

Coupon not required. For online purchases, enter promotion code MEMBER10 at checkout. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion, or discount.

No limit while supplies last.

AU G U ST 2 0 1 9

$1 OFF KETTLE CORN Save $1 when you purchase kettle corn at the Zoo. Valid August 1-31, 2019 Available at any Zoo location where kettle corn is sold. Member must provide valid membership card at time of purchase to receive discount. Supporting ID may be required. Not valid with any other offer, promotion, or discount. Coupon not required.

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SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112

SUMMER SAFARI BEGINS MAY 25!

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A LEGACY FOR OTHERS TO

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You can create a better future for San Diego Zoo Global today with a gift that costs nothing in your lifetime: a bequest.

If you are considering a legacy through giving, contact us today to request your FREE wills guide. zoolegacy.org | 619-557-3947 donations@sandiegozoo.org © 2019 San Diego Zoo Global. All rights reserved.