ZOONOOZ July 2020

ZOONOOZ

®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

JULY 2020

Reteti Elephant Sanctuary Raising a Koala Joey Lappet-faced Vulture Chick Cocha Cashu Field Station

July 2020 VOL. XCIII–NO. 4

Features 6

Small but Mighty Omeo the koala had a difficult start in life.

But with help from veterinarians and wildlife care specialists, plus his own determination, he is going strong.

BY KAREN E. WORLEY

10

Vulture Chick Wins Hearts and...Mice The recent hatching of a lappet-faced vulture chick was a boost to San Diego Zoo Global’s conservation of this endangered species.

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

Conservation 14

Hope Prevails At the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya, orphaned elephant calves are given a chance for a bright future.

BY MEGAN OWEN, PH.D.

18

Wonder and Discovery Cocha Cashu, San Diego Zoo Global’s field station in Peru, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. What has it seen over the years, and what does its future hold?

BY RON SWAISGOOD, PH.D.

22

Many Legs, Many Needs From stick insects to spiders, and butterflies to ants, invertebrates are vital to our planet, and they need conservation help, too.

BY PAIGE HOWORTH

More

26 Graphically Speaking 28 San Diego Zoo Kids ON THE COVER:

Queensland koala Phascolarctos cinereus adustus THIS PAGE:

Lady slipper orchid Paphiopedilum tranlienianum PHOTOS BY: Tammy Spratt, SDZG Photographer

By the Numbers

19 Burrowing owl chicks hatched last year in the Burrowing Owl Recovery Program.

San Diego Zoo Global’s field conservation programs help provide a future for more than 100 rare and endangered species on 6 continents. Every year, the impact of these programs and our partnerships with other organizations continues to expand.

400

6

Partnerships that San Diego Zoo Global participates in to extend the worldwide reach of conservaton work.

Orphaned elephant calves returned to their habitat after being rescued by the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Kenya.

125

800

Alala chicks hatched and raised in our Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program to date.

Seed collections in our Native Plant Seed Bank, used for propagation and habitat restoration.

ZOONOOZ

®

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926 JULY 2020 | VOL. XCIII–NO. 04 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

KIM TURNER ALLISON BRITTAIN LISA BISSI JENNIFER MACEWEN

PREPRESS AND PRINTING

QUAD GRAPHICS

2 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

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.

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Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

SAFARI PARK HOURS July 1–August 16: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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A

Looking to the Future

PRESIDENT/CEO’S NOTE PAUL A. BARIBAULT

t San Diego Zoo Global, each of us deeply understands that the conservation of wildlife is, at its heart, a human issue. As we work to build and encourage greater respect for wildlife, we know a first step is that we must respect and value each other. Conservation of wildlife depends on working in close partnership with people with different backgrounds and ethnicities from all over the world, including right here at home. That diversity is what makes conservation work so impactful.

This collaborative impact was one of the reasons I was drawn to wildlife conservation over my career—I could see how people with different backgrounds and life experiences could work together to achieve things they could not achieve alone. As a valued supporter of ours, you make it possible for us to work with these partners worldwide, whether in Kenya, Australia, Peru, Hawaii, the Arctic, here at home, or in countless other efforts around the globe. Your support made it possible

for us to rapidly respond to the critical needs of our Australian conservation partners when the massive wildfires caused so much destruction to wildlife and wild habitats earlier this year. And, when our parks were closed, you helped make it possible for us to continue to support the wildlife in our care and continue our mission.

San Diego Zoo Global is an organization devoted to saving wildlife. This is an important responsibility, and we could not do it without your help. San

Let’s Talk

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 Joye D. Blount Kathleen Cain Richard B. Gulley Clifford W. Hague Robert B. Horsman Steven S. Simpson Judith A. Wheatley TRUSTEES EMERITI

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

Follow @sandiegozoo & @sdzsafaripark.

Share your #SanDiegoZoo & #SDZSafariPark memories on Twitter & Instagram.

GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE BOARD

James Lauth

Diego Zoo Global is looking toward the future, and we need all of you, as we continue to bring a global community together to save species. We are in this together. Thank you.

Paul A. Baribault, President/CEO Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO Emeritus Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS

Joye D. Blount, Chair U. Bertram Ellis, Jr., Vice Chair Barry Munitz, Secretary Susan N. McClellan, Treasurer Kea C. Spurrier, President Amy B. Parrott, Vice President Paul A. Baribault, Ex officio Steven G. Tappan, Ex officio BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Todd Beck Sophie W. Bryan David Crane Berit N. Durler Chris L. Eddy Nikita Kahn Ellison Arthur E. Engel JJ Fetter Susan Guinn Murray Hutchison Lynelle Lynch Susan B. Major Susan F. McCarthy Diane McKernan Joshua A. Pack Maryanne C. Pfister Philip C. Seeger Elizabeth W. Shoemaker Rosa Sinnott Carter Skeath David M. Tehle Kathryn J. Vaughan, Esq. Tony Yousif

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 3

NOW OPEN

A visit to the Zoo this summer is just the change of scene your mind and soul have been waiting for.

Lively music welcomes you on Front Street, and then you’re off to rediscover wonders along familiar paths.

Spend time with favorite animals, say hello to new animal babies, and take in all the sights and sounds.

Make your summer a “zooper” one—and welcome back!

Welcome

Back To wonder.

These are “wild” times, and we’re finding tasty new ways to

party on!

Stay up to date at ZooFoodAndWine.com.

NOW OPEN

Welcome

Back To

THE WILD.

Presented by

We are so excited to invite you back to the Safari Park!

Stretch your legs on scenic paths and give your senses a vacation. Enjoy strolling to see lounging lions and wading flamingos, hear the chirps, chatters, and squawks of colorful birds, and revel in the magnificent views of our wildlife habitats.

You never know what you’ll experience—each visit is different and memorable. Make the Safari Park part of your summer fun!

Small but

6 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

Mighty

Omeo the koala has shown remarkable resilience, despite what seemed like insurmountable odds against his survival.

BY KAREN E. WORLEY | MANAGING EDITOR

PHOTOS BY TAMMY SPRATT | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Discovering that one of the Zoo’s koalas has a new joey in her pouch is always good news, and the koala team was happy to find out that was the case for female koala Beejay in July 2019. The situation took a concerning turn, however, when Beejay was diagnosed with lymphoma. Hoping not to lose them both, the veterinarians and animal care team wanted to give Beejay’s joey every chance, and provided Beejay with expert palliative care to give the joey time to develop.

In the end, however, the little male joey was only five and a half months old when he lost his mother. “We had never raised a koala this young,” said Becky Kier, lead neonate care expert. “In those first few weeks, we almost lost him twice. But during intensive care, he showed us he was a fighter.”

DEFYING THE ODDS At first, the little joey only weighed 5.46 ounces, and he needed round-theclock care, including feeding every few hours from a bottle with a specially designed nipple to fit his small mouth.

The koala team consulted with experts in Australia on techniques to care for a joey this young and implemented their suggestions; but even their Australian colleagues were skeptical about the joey’s chances.

Nonetheless, under the dedicated care of the wildlife care specialists and veterinarian Cora Singleton, DVM, the little koala rallied. He stayed in a warm and humid incubator, containing a suspended faux pouch that he could nestle into, and continued to gain strength. The team was pleased to see that he was growing, and each new encouraging weight and developmental milestone they recorded buoyed their spirits.

Despite the odds, this little fellow was going to make it. In honor of his

uphill battle, he was named Omeo, an Australian Aboriginal word meaning “mountains” or “hills,” which also pays tribute to the koalas of Australia’s Blue Mountains that survived the bushfires of 2019-2020 (see sidebar).

STEPPING OUT

Give it a nibble. Kim Weibel offers Omeo a few tender eucalyptus leaves to smell and taste, to get him acquainted with solid food.

At seven months old, Omeo reached the stage in which a koala joey would ordinarily start venturing out of the pouch to explore. To simulate this experience, the team began taking the faux pouch out of the incubator, and placing it next to a plush koala toy sitting in a customdesigned eucalyptus “tree.” When Omeo woke from a nap, he crawled out of the pouch and up onto the back of the toy.

“It is important we mimic as many natural situations for Omeo as he would receive with his mother,” said Kim Weibel, senior neonate care expert. “We groomed him, held him snug in his faux pouch, encouraged him to grasp onto his plush ‘stand-in mom,’ and provided him SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 7

I can do it! Despite his difficult start and the physical catching up he needed to do, Omeo took new challenges, like climbing and investigating, in stride.

with eucalyptus, so he could further develop his hand-eye coordination and learn to feed himself.”

By March 2020, at eight months of age, Omeo’s strength, grasping and climbing abilities, and balance were all developing. “Omeo had come a long way,” said Kim. “In the beginning, he was so compromised and so underdeveloped. However, his endurance increased, he started mouthing eucalyptus, and he finally developed nice, thick fur. A next big step will be meeting other koalas, and learning how to socialize—doing all the great things koalas do.”

A BIGGER WORLD AWAITS After the snug environment of the incubator, going outside might have seemed a bit daunting. But not for 8 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

intrepid Omeo—he was up to the challenge. The care team started taking him out for “walks,” bundling him in a carrying wrap, then giving him opportunities to crawl out, climb some branches, get some sun—which is important for vitamin D production to support bone growth in koalas—and even see and smell the adult koalas nearby.

His explorations were somewhat wobbly at first, but that didn’t stop Omeo from trying every new thing that came his way. Additionally, his hand-eye coordination was improving.

“He was grabbing leaves and teething on the stems,” said Becky. “His brain was ready for eucalyptus, but his teeth were not, just yet—he was still behind in physical development.”

Saving Koalas in Australia In late 2019 and early 2020, the world watched in dismay as mega-fires raged in Australia, burning more than 2.5 million acres of habitat, and devastating wildlife.

One area that was heavily damaged was the Blue Mountains World Heritage Region in New South Wales, which is home to the most genetically diverse population of koalas in the world. “During the massive fires, as 80 percent of the World Heritage area burned, we were at risk of losing the entire koala population at this site,” said Kellie Leigh, Ph.D., executive director of Science for Wildlife. San Diego Zoo Global has partnered with Science for Wildlife in the Blue Mountains Koala Project since 2015, supporting conservation studies of the koala populations in the area.

In the face of such devastating loss, Kellie and her team were able to locate and rescue a number of koalas, which were then cared for at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney until they were able to return to the Blue Mountains in April. “While they coped well in care, we were delighted to finally send our koalas home,” said Kellie. “We assessed the burned area that we rescued them from, to establish when the conditions improved enough that the trees could support them again. We continue to radio-track them and keep a close eye on them.”

To help during the crisis, San Diego Zoo Global raised more than a million dollars from generous donors, members, and supporters, funds that were used to support the rescue and relocation of animals, and provide water stations that gave animals critical access to water in burned areas. The reintroduction of the rescued koalas is just the next stage in what conservationists know will be a longterm effort to recover koala populations in the area. “There is still a lot of work to be done, to assess what is left of koalas in this region and plan for population recovery,” said Jen Tobey, Population Sustainability researcher, San Diego Zoo Global. “We are dedicated to continuing to support this critical work to conserve a significant koala population.”

Expert health care. Clockwise: Veterinarian Cora Singleton reviews Omeo’s radiographs to check the health of his organs; getting the x-rays of the tiny joey required some creative techniques by Marianne Zeitz, senior registered veterinary technician; even though he would probably always be small, Omeo got a clean bill of health.

PASSING THE TEST

JOINING THE COLONY

Because his mother was ill when he was born, and may not have been able to provide him with the complete nutrition he required, it’s likely that Omeo will always be smaller than other koalas.

His veterinary checkup in May, at nine months of age, was promising for his overall health, though.

The veterinarians took radiograph images to examine his lungs, heart, and other organs, which showed no signs of abnormalities. They took a blood sample, and the results showed that his levels were within normal parameters. A body condition examination and checks of his eyes, ears, and nose did not reveal concerns. And his teeth were coming along nicely, as well. All indications pointed to a healthy—if small-statured—koala.

Omeo’s next milestone will be to meet other koalas. The animal care team will gradually introduce him to the adult females, which all share one large habitat. “We hope that eventually one of the females might ‘adopt’ him,” said Becky. “The goal is that he’ll have a family to hang with so he can learn all about being a koala.”

Because the males are territorial, they each have their own space—as Omeo will too, someday. For now, he spends most of his time in the back area, since he still has growing to do.

Omeo has overcome so much. Seeing him at home among the eucalyptus branches will be a triumph for everyone who worked with such care and dedication to save his life.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 9

Vulture Chick Wins The Park hatches a thriving lappet-faced chick for the first time

T

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

alk about a good egg…. On January 27, 2020, wildlife care staff at the Safari Park were tickled pink when they discovered that a bonded pair of lappet-faced vultures Torgos tracheliotos had laid an egg.

It was the first fertile egg for this pair. Given how crucial to the endangered species this egg was, the precious orb was taken to a secure area to be artificially incubated and closely monitored, and a substitute egg was given to the parents to practice incubating. “Lappet-faced vultures have one of the longest incubation periods—about 56 days—which is a long time for first-time parents to manage,” said Kristina Heston, wildlife care supervisor at the Safari Park. About six days later, wildlife care specialists used a technique called candling—shining a bright light through the egg—to detect

fertility. Happily, a chick was developing within. On March 25, the pipping process began—and 48 hours later, a tiny chick, clad in matted, white down with a gray neck and head, emerged from its shell.

The chick was moved to the Safari Park’s condor breeding facility to be hand raised by wildlife care experts. Like any healthy newborn, the chick had a ravenous appetite and slept a great deal, sometimes with its little beak open. Initially, the chick was fed tiny mice five times a day; a vulture-looking puppet was used to prevent the bird from imprinting on humans. Meanwhile, the chick’s eggshell was analyzed to reveal the sex—it’s a girl! She was named Teengo, a Swahili word meaning “rainbow.” “Like all baby birds, vultures grow incredibly fast, and Teengo is no exception,” said Debbie Marlow, lead wildlife care specialist at the Park, who manages the chick’s day-to-day care. “I hardly recognize her when I return from my weekend!”

At hatch, she weighed a slight 5.5 ounces, about

10 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

the same as a billiard ball; and 36 days later, she was at 6.2 pounds, similar to the heft of a brick. In June, her pin feathers started coming in, and she became much more aware of her surroundings.

“Teengo is in a special habitat where she can see other birds outside,” added Debbie. Her appetite has grown with her size—she is being puppet-fed six mice, one-eighth pound of spleen, and one-eighth pound of ground meat, twice a day. As an adult bird, she will have a pink face with fleshy folds of skin on either side, living up to the name lappetfaced. “Raising a new species is both exciting and challenging,” said Debbie. “We’re using our expertise with other vulture species like the California condor to guide us in raising Teengo.”

Back at the nest, Teengo’s parents “double clutched” and laid another egg, which also successfully hatched. This second chick

Hearts and…Mice

Proud First-time Parents. The Safari Park has a long history of successfully breeding endangered vulture species.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 11

is a male, and both chicks are mostwelcome additions to the population of this imperiled species.

VULTURE CULTURE While things are looking up at the Safari Park for lappet-faced vultures, the status of this species (and its soaring brethren) in the wild is dire. Vultures in Africa have declined by about 80 percent in the past 30 years; a conservative estimate of their global decline is about 58 percent. Lappet-faced vultures were Growing fast!

The chick has a not even on the conservation radar screen until voracious appetite, 2000. They rapidly declined on the Internadevouring meat at tional Union for Conservation of Nature’s frequent intervals.

It is the first (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, successful hatch moving from Vulnerable to Endangered by of this species at 2016. Today, there are about 8,000 in Africa the Safari Park.

(Photo: Debbie and around 500 remaining in the Middle Marlow, SDZG) East; they have vanished from much of their historic range.

Like many scavenging avian species, risks to their survival are many. Lappet-faced vultures may get tangled in power lines, and they can be persecuted by farmers who mistake them for livestock predators. The anti-inflammatory medicine diclofenac that farmers use on livestock is highly toxic to vultures, causing kidney failure, so when the birds feast on dead farm animals, the toxic meat can take down several vultures. Fortunately, alternatives are being sought to avoid these poisonings.

A more sinister threat to these scavengers is the deliberate poisonings by poachers, who taint the carcasses of animals they have killed—they don’t want a large number of circling vultures in the sky to reveal to rangers where their latest illegal activity has taken place. Once poison is added to the food chain, the results are far reaching and devastating. Vultures have a unique digestive system that can dissolve and metabolize toxins in the environment, like anthrax, botulism, and cholera bacteria—but they are no match for strychnine, carbofuran (a highly toxic pesticide), and other manmade poisons. Vultures clean the environment and protect humans from countless diseases, so poisoning them—intentionally or not—makes little sense.

Fortunately, there are outreach programs underway. BirdLife International distributes posters to schools and libraries, and provides curriculum to teachers about the biological importance of vultures. In partnership with the Peregrine Fund, San Diego Zoo Global has developed community-based education programs in Kenya to share the benefits and vital role of of vultures, and also rescue and rehabilitate vultures that have been poisoned. Anti-poisoning teams are being deployed to hard-hit areas to curb persecution of vultures. Even Eskom, an electricity company in South Africa, is changing to a more vulture-friendly infrastructure. Meanwhile, Teengo and her brother are thriving at the Safari Park, bringing much-needed joy and hope for the future.

12 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

In the Pink. These birds develop dramatic folds of skin around the head, earning the name lappetfaced vulture. Their beak is sharp and strong, and ready to dive into carrion.

BY THE NUMBERS

8.5

Wingspan in feet of the lappet-faced vulture.

94

Number of vultures that died in 2017 at one poached elephant carcass in Zimbabwe that was laced with poison.

50

Years a lappet-faced vulture can live.

20

Number of minutes it takes for lappetfaced vultures to strip a small antelope carcass down to the bone.

PHOTO BY (TOP, RIGHT): ANDRÉ BOTHA

11

Number of vulture species in Africa, which clean up to 70 percent of the carrion and rid the landscape of countless diseases.

SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 13

Hope Prevails

Creating a future for orphaned elephants in northern Kenya

BY MEGAN OWEN, PH.D. | DIRECTOR OF POPULATION SUSTAINABILITY, SDZG PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

N

estled in the foothills of northern Kenya’s remote Matthews Range, the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary provides a second chance for young elephant calves that have been abandoned or orphaned by poaching, conflict, or drought.

For elephant calves that are rescued and brought back to health, it is hoped that they will one day be reintroduced back into the wild, where they will spend the majority of their long lives roaming the rangelands of northern Kenya along with other wild elephants. This is a lofty goal, but the first steps toward this end are

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already being realized, through a cooperative effort led by Reteti and supported by the expertise of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Northern Rangelands Trust, Save the Elephants, leaders in technological innovation such as Vulcan Productions, and San Diego Zoo Global. Together, we are supporting the vision of the local Samburu community.

NO SIMPLE TASK It might be tempting to think that reintroducing rescued wildlife is straightforward: rescue, rehabilitate, release. However, while the complexities of such an endeavor can be immense with just about any species, there are few contexts

that match the challenges associated with the reintroduction of rescued African elephants into rangelands that are also important to human communities. Elephants are highly intelligent, long-lived, exquisitely social, and potentially dangerous—even lethal—to people. Add to these challenges that young elephants learn critical life skills from their mothers and family members over the course of years, and that there are limited data on the success or failure of previous efforts, and you have

BABY BOTTLES Elephant calves require a lot of calories—and formula. An elephant mother’s milk is about 20 percent fat—a concentration that’s about 5 times as high as the fat concentration of human mother’s milk or whole cow’s milk.

LIFE SKILLS FOR ELEPHANTS

Feeding Time at Reteti.

Proper nutrition—and plenty of it—is important for the growing calves.

yourself one heck of a challenge.

However, breaking the process down into stages, building partnerships, and capitalizing on what we know about the species through long-term monitoring provides a means to start cautiously moving toward meaningful progress.

At Reteti, the wildlife care staff—all from the local pastoralist community—provide critical care to these young elephants, ensuring that they regain their health, and thrive after rescue. Important to this endeavor, however, is that

working alongside the wildlife care staff is the research staff—also from the local community. These researchers are tasked with collecting systematic data on the behavior and social interactions of the orphans each day. These data not only allow us to track individual behavioral development, but also allow us to analyze the social relationships among the calves in a quantitatively rigorous way. From these analyses, the research team can make informed, evidence-based recommendations to the management

team as to the readiness of individuals for release, and regarding which elephants have strong social bonds, reflecting the formation of a resilient, cohesive social group.

SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE The dedication of the wildlife care and research staff to the goals of the program, and to each elephant individually, is evident when it’s time to make the move from Reteti to the first stage of reintroduction at the Sera Wildlife Conservancy.

Of particular importance to the ongoing partnership with Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is the continued development of adaptable animal care techniques, and integrated approaches to caring for wildlife that is soon to be independent of human influence. Our team of dedicated professionals works hand in hand with the Reteti team to modify techniques developed at San Diego Zoo Global, in order to match the facilities and unique demands of preparing elephants to thrive once they are returned to the wild. It is through these partnerships that we are able to provide and glean insight into what milestones are important to the continued survival of the species.

—Greg Vicino, Head of Applied Animal Welfare, San Diego Zoo Global

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 15

Protected Contact. The role of an elephant care specialist changes as calves grow and develop. Here, a natural barrier at feeding time is an early step in independence, and part of the process of teaching the elephants to maintain distance from humans—something that will be important for the safety of people and elephants.

It is clearly hard for the staff to say goodbye to their charges, but there is also tremendous excitement. These young elephants—rescued from wells or other traumatic circumstances—cared for over long months, through thick and thin, are about to step out into the wild without their human caregivers. This is an enormous transition, and tracking the elephants’ progress as they adjust to their new lives requires an intensive, coordinated effort.

HIGH-TECH MONITORING The Sera Conservancy is a protected home to a range of endangered species. This 272-acre habitat is “Step 1” of the elephant calves’ free-ranging lives. Once here, a whole different chapter of research monitoring kicks into gear. Satellite tracking—led by Save the Elephants—and strategically placed trail cameras enable the entire team to follow the movements of the orphans on a near-realtime basis. Thanks to longterm collaborations between Northern Rangelands Trust, Save the Elephants, and Vulcan, tracking data are integrated into an app-based system that allows us to follow the movements of the orphans and other elephants in the Conservancy from our smartphones. These data provide us with critical Amidst a global pandemic, orphaned insights into their movements and group cohesion. The trail elephants still need human care. The cameras are managed by the research team at the release site, dedicated staff at Reteti are essential and from these images and video recordings, we can assess workers and continue to look after 20 the body condition of the calves and measure their social elephant calves around the clock. Wildlife interactions with wild elephants. It is truly mesmerizing data care specialists, rangers, and veterinarians to observe, and has given us critical insights into how each of feed, protect, and provide medical care for the calves are doing. these animals. Orphaned calves often need specialized care when they are first rescued.

Successful reintroduction is about more than immediReteti staff recently mobilized to rescue two ate survival. The shared goal of the Reteti initiative is to new orphaned calves—both with wounds ensure that these young elephants ultimately lead a life as that required immediate medical treatment. full as that of an elephant raised with its family. It will be Veterinarians and veterinary technicians years before we know whether the released orphans truly rushed to provide the help these animals have the skills needed to thrive as they roam about the needed to begin their road to recovery—and rangelands of northern Kenya, but the Reteti team is comultimately, their return to the wild. mitted to continue science-based monitoring, so that we –Patricia Gaffney, DVM, Ph.D., San Diego Zoo Global can maximize what is learned and share it with others.

Essential Elephant Care

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All in a Day’s Work. (clockwise from upper right): the hard-working team at Reteti—members of the Samburu community in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy; a Reteti animal care specialist bottlefeeds a hungry calf; making formula at Reteti draws on information gleaned from analyses of African elephant mother’s milk at the SDZ Safari Park; long walks in the bush help prepare the young Reteti herd for eventual re-wilding; Reteti’s small lab is a critical resource in the treatment and rehabilitation of orphaned calves; a very young calf gets some exercise in the rain; Safari Park elephant care specialists traveled to Kenya to share techniques developed at SDZG with the Reteti team; Reteti veterinary staff examine a rescued orphan.

Forest Home. For researchers, Cocha Cashu provides invaluable experiences and incredible insights into the complex workings of a rain forest. Below: Ron Swaisgood (left) reviews mapping locations with a colleague.

WONDER AND DISCOVERY Fifty Years of Adventure in the Peruvian Amazon

W

BY RON SWAISGOOD, PH.D. | DIRECTOR, RECOVERY ECOLOGY

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PHOTOS BY: KEN BOHN/SDZG.

hen you turn 50, you tend to do a lot of navelgazing, contemplating who you are, what you have done with your life, and what you have yet to do. Biological stations are no different, it would seem. At the Cocha Cashu Biological Station, we celebrated our 50th in 2019, which spurred us to do some deep thinking. Why are we here? What have we accomplished? What can we do better? What does the future hold? How can we grab that future and make it ours?

NEOTROPICAL WONDERS Fifty years ago, I was playing in the woods, and did not know that someday, I would have the honor and the responsibility of supervising a field station in one of the greatest stretches of forest on the planet. The Cocha Cashu Biological Station is located in Manu National Park in the Peruvian Amazon, which harbors the most diverse portfolio of plant and animal life anywhere. In a single hectare, you may find well over 100 species of trees. I am drawn to the aweinspiring dipterocarps, with their sprawling buttresses, and the fig trees, with their cathedral-like qualities and the incredibly important role they play in feeding the animals of the rain forest.

Cocha Cashu and its surroundings hold the world record for the most species of birds sighted in a single day; more than 1,000 species live in Manu National Park. Spend a day walking the trails, and you

Hoatzin birds share one trait with cows, goats, and sheep: they are ruminators, digesting their food with the help of bacterial fermentation.

are likely to see more than a halfdozen monkey species, up to 13 species with a little effort and luck.

My favorites are the spider monkey—which has amazing acrobatic skills—and the pygmy marmoset, whose small size and monogamous habits are endearing. When we set up a trail camera overnight, we can’t wait to see what we’ll find: jaguars, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundis, tapirs, anteaters, and so much more.

PHOTOS BY: (TOP) JESSICA GROENENDIJK; (BOTTOM) DANO GRAYSON

The South American tapir is the largest terrestrial mammal in the Amazon.

ADVENTURES IN A BIGGER WORLD Teeming with biological diversity, Cocha Cashu has a lot going for it.

There is a price to be paid, however.

The main one is access: you must spend a day on a dirt road and a couple more days on a riverboat to get there. But the journey is spectacular. You may also get more than a few bug bites. I once acquired a rapidly growing fungus on my foot that had me sidelined with infection in a matter of hours. This experience led me to propose a tagline for the station: “Cocha Cashu: where biology grows on you.”

However, this expression really speaks more to the role the

BY THE NUMBERS

32.3 Miles of trails

>70

Mammal species

>60

Fish species

75

Average annual temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius)

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station plays in changing people’s lives—and life trajectories—than the possibility of parasites or disease, which are a fairly low risk. Scientific investigators and students come to Cashu and fall in love with tropical nature. There is no better place to see it up close and personal. I love what one of our “Cashu nuts”—what we affectionately call our alumni—said: “I’ve never seen a bigger world than from a little tent at Cashu.”

GROWTH OF COCHA CASHU Contemplating our past, we have much to be proud of. We’ve managed the station for nearly 10 years, and we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Even before Manu became a UNESCO international biosphere reserve, adventurous investigators made their way along this arduous journey—I can only imagine what it would have been like in the late 1960s—to establish a beachhead on the shores of the oxbow lake known as Cocha Cashu, named after the cashew nut, which it resembles in shape.

John Terborgh, now a professor emeritus at Duke University, was among the first to arrive, and the one who saw the long-term potential of the location. Tents cropped up, followed by a small kitchen and a few outbuildings, and it eventually evolved into a research station.

What a debt of gratitude we owe him for these efforts!

Over the years, John and his colleagues began publishing, and the word got out. Attracted by the surreal beauty, the sheer remoteness, or the plethora of unique research questions that can be addressed here, an increasing variety of scientists began showing up on Cashu’s doorstep. As of 2020, 20 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

we are approaching 800 publications, a phenomenal contribution to science from what amounts to a tented camp. As proud as we are of this accomplishment, we are even more proud of relatively new developments focused on Peruvians.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Our programs for Peruvians center around four communities: local, mostly indigenous peoples; college students; professional scientists; and park authorities. We do not want our field station to be

just a playground for “gringo scientists,” and we are working to make it integral to many facets of Peruvian society. We travel up and down the rivers and tributaries surrounding the station, visiting schools and communities. We let them know what we are doing. (“No, we are not growing marijuana.”) We ask them about their use of and relations with their natural heritage, and we provide some environmental education.

We also invite groups of students and teachers to visit the station overnight, so they can

All About Balance.

Top: Giant otters are fish eaters that can grow up to six feet in length. They live in boisterous family groups.

Left: Spider monkeys are one of several primate species inhabiting Manu National Park.

Right: Researchers sort and document the cornucopia of rain forest fruits that grow in Cocha Cashu and support the diversity of wildlife.

PHOTOS BY (THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT): KARLA RAMIREZ CAPETILLO; FORTUNATO RAYAN PEREZ; BENJAMIN DRUMMOND. (OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP): JESSICA GROENENDIJK; ANDRÉ BAERTSCHI; KEN BOHN, SDZG.

GOING GREENER Since early 2018, Cocha Cashu has been an ally of the Regenera program of Nature Services Peru, through which we compensate the carbon emissions of our basic operations—arising from boat and road transport of supplies and staff, plus electricity consumption in our head office in Cusco—with carbon reserves generated by forest custodians in the buffer area of Manu National Park. The offset funds help the local communities protect and steward their forest resources, thus providing habitat for people and wildlife alike, as well as important corridors connecting one reserve to another.

The next step is to help visitors offset their own research footprints, including their travel to and within Peru, which is by far the station’s biggest source of indirect emissions.

experience the plant, animal, and cultural life of Cashu. For the past six years, we have held an annual field course, training about a dozen of Peru’s brightest and most passionate college students in the techniques and applications of field ecology and conservation. They will go on to become the conservation practitioners, government authorities, and professors who help define conservation in the coming generations. Our efforts to embrace Peruvian academia and park staff have also paid off, as we have better communication and collaboration, and an increasing number of visits from these groups. Our vision for these crucial outreach programs is to keep them going, and build on the foundation we have laid.

aquatic ecosystem research. We purchased, for example, cuttingedge sensors and devices for monitoring water quality, and a robotic “mini-submarine” fitted with devices to map the underwater terrain at high resolution. We also sought the advice of leading researchers from across numerous disciplines, inviting them to attend a three-day workshop at the station (Cocha Cashu Vision 2050: Charting a 21st-century Agenda for a Premier Tropical Research Station). We left loaded with ideas that could help us transform Cashu into a new kind of research station that promotes far more than just traditional field ecology.

Resting on our laurels just a bit is understandable, but this rightful pride must be matched with ambition to go beyond what has already been done. With help from our “Cashu nuts” and other friends and supporters, we are attempting to reinvent the field station. By remaining current and looking to the future, we hope to continue transforming lives and setting visitors off on new and better life trajectories. Each time I visit Cashu, I feel revitalized by nature and inspired by the people working so hard to discover its secrets. I hope we have at least another 50 years where people can come to Cashu and “see a bigger world.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Going forward, we realize that how we approach science and conservation is changing. There are challenging global trends, and we need a dynamic station that can rise to meet them. While not ignoring our legacy as the best place in the neotropics to study the behavior and ecology of primates, we need to move beyond these traditional approaches, and embrace molecular biology, hydro-ecology, soil science, plant physiology, microbiology, new “biologging” technologies (miniaturized devices that record animals’ movements and activities), and climate change biology.

We also need to move beyond the forest and into the lakes, rivers, and streams. To that end, Cocha Cashu was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to upgrade infrastructure and support

Many Faces. Above, left: Peruvian students get the opportunity to experience the mysteries of Cocha Cashu. Right: Capybaras are the largest rodent species in the world. Bottom: A scientist measures and documents a tree’s circumference.

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Many Legs, Secrets of the Invertebrate Propagation Center

“O

BY PAIGE HOWORTH | MCKINNEY FAMILY DIRECTOR OF INVERTEBRATE CARE AND CONSERVATION PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

pen and Close Door Gently.” This sign adorns an otherwise unassuming door in the McKinney Family Invertebrate Propagation Center (IPC) at the San Diego Zoo. Although the rest of the 4,000-square-foot space has multiple habitats housed together in a large management area, this entry leads to something special.

As you step through mosquito netting and into the studio-apartment-sized

room, you see them. Webs. Lots of webs! And not the kind you brush out of

corners with a broom, either. Made from one of the world’s strongest natural fibers,

these two- to three-foot-diameter webs command your immediate attention—that is, until you see the architects. The golden silk orb weaver Nephila clavipes hangs out here, free ranging, in a

cutting-edge facility designed with giant spiders in mind.

22 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

Many Needs The “Spider Room” is one of many features of our new facility, which was developed as a place where best practices for invertebrate animal care and welfare are honed. These practices further inform the habitats we are creating for the two-story invertebrate experience in the new Denny Sanford Children’s Zoo, The McKinney Family Spineless Marvels, opening in 2021.

With a two-year head start, we have made breakthroughs in how we can best present these incredibly important animals, while maximizing their opportunities to thrive.

A GATHERING OF GIANTS Take the goliath stick insect Eurycnema goliath. Found in tropical south Queensland, Australia, this impressive insect has been part of our entomological population since 2016, when I brought a group of their eggs back from our partners at Melbourne Zoo. With nine-inchlong females resplendent with striped green bodies and bright pink hindwings, they bring covert glamour to

the camouflage that keeps them safe from predators.

Although they do most of their feeding and other activities at night, during the day, we often find these huge insects clustered under the light of one of dozens of UV-transmissible skylights (a notable feature of the IPC facility). The benefits of ultraviolet light and thermoregulation are well studied in several animal groups, and proper UV exposure regulates many biological processes and behaviors. While far less comprehensively studied in invertebrates, adequate UV provision and natural photoperiods were important to include in our management area, since it is a baseline input for many terrestrial arthropod species.

Choice and control are hallmarks of quality animal care, and invertebrates are no exception. When we see the goliath stick insects choosing to aggregate in the sunlight in the IPC, it could be a sign that they know something that we don’t—at least not yet. Ultraviolet light absorption is important for some insects, and basking for thermoregulation is critical for many

From left to right: Giant Asian mantis Hierodula membranacea; pink-toed tarantulas Avicularia avicularia have black toes when they hatch; nymph stage of the dragonheaded katydid Lesina intermedia; special housing for leafcutter ant colonies inside the IPC; question mark roaches Therea olegrandjeani; hatchling Lord Howe Island stick insect Dryococelus australis; IPC entrance.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 23

Rescued. The flame-kneed tarantula is protected by international treaty from overcollection. This one was part of a large confiscation the Zoo provided sanctuary for in 2010.

others. It may similarly assist these stick insects in effective regulation of their biological processes, including egg development.

That’s a good thing— the San Diego Zoo is one of only two US institutions to manage this impressive species long term.

DID YOU KNOW? The San Diego Zoo is one of a handful of safe havens for invertebrate animals rescued from wildlife trafficking by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I’LL HAVE ONE OF EVERYTHING Unlike the goliaths, who feed exclusively on a few species of plants, many invertebrates take a broader approach. It can be easy to underestimate just how broad when working with animals that lack significant research on the relationship between diet and welfare. Like most mysteries, each discovery is a bridge to the next.

Recently, we have discovered just-hatched millipedes after a years-long successful effort to sustainably rear the impressive giant African millipede

24 / ZOONOOZ / JULY 2020

Archispirostreptus gigas. This species can grow to lengths of up to 12 inches and live for several years.

Yet, creating sustainable populations has long been a challenge.

Luckily, our invertebrate care specialists have the skill set to crack the code, and a facility to offer the best support possible.

These millipedes—which, incidentally, also show up for the occasional sunbath—are important mechanical decomposers in their tropical East African ecosystems, consuming a variety of plant and animal matter. Their role in breaking down this organic matter further exposes it to microbial and fungal action, resulting in rich soil to support plant life.

At the IPC, we provide organic produce and decaying wood and leaves, which we supplement with calcium and chitin, the polysaccharide building block found in insect exoskeletons.

Based on the success of this diet in raising the first generation of millipedes (now breeding adults), we have stretched the possibilities further. In their native habitat, millipedes have been observed in association with decomposing mammal carcasses. Our goal in the IPC is to align with natural presentations and foraging opportunities as much as possible, so we’ve begun offering periodic carnivorous items like thawed, small mice, which they consume in short order.

ARE YOU STILL THINKING ABOUT THE SPIDER ROOM? I thought so! Here’s how it works. In the tropical ecosystems where orb weavers in the genus Nephila are found, they make webs across trees, within the undergrowth, and even between power lines. Sometimes, many immature spiders live semi-communally in a section of suitable habitat; other times they find a perfect solitary spot of their own. I once bounced back from a huge web that was strung across a foot bridge in Maroansetra, Madagascar—the spider was not in the web at the time, and I just walked right into it, clueless. And I am not kidding about the bounce. The webs are incredibly strong! The silk, with a toughness rating greater than that of steel or Kevlar, has, in the past, been used in fishing nets, scope crosshairs, pantyhose, and more.

In the IPC’s Spider Room, each adult spider is given access to a large, three-foot-wide hexagon or other geometric-shaped wire frame to start. The frame materials have varied—including metal, jute rope, and twigs—as we have experimented with the best options for the spiders. We landed on textured black steel frames, and suspended them from the ceiling with fishing line. We also provided a stick “forest” for the younger spiders to grow up on, and this matrix offers choice to the adults as well.

This predator is definitely not one for sudden moves that don’t involve prey. They expend so much

energy constructing their large webs that they are considerably more interested in hanging out and waiting to reap the benefits of whatever might fly into their trap. The size and range of the habitat for the spiders is important, as sustainability in this species depends on multiple animals and diversity in age classes.

Within this space, fly pupae are scattered, and there are numerous fruit feeding outposts, so that the prey items can sustain themselves. Invertebrate care specialists also feed the individual spiders crickets, by tossing them directly into their webs, and we supplement with dead bees from our managed hives and other insect prey items, when available.

The result is a thriving group of spiders that are largely unmotivated to move outside their individual territories—as long as food is abundant. This “homebody” behavior will make their habitat in the new Children’s Zoo even more exciting to see, as it also features Hitching a Ride. a free-ranging spider An adult male residence. golden orb weaver gets a ride on an The Invertebrate adult female.

Propagation CenFemales are ter—along with our much larger than males.

Butterfly Conservation Lab—has elevated our organization’s commitment to invertebrates, and holds a promising future for saving species. An additional dedicated IPC quarantine room, completely isolated from the main area, will allow us to securely maintain endangered species such as the Lord Howe Island stick insect separately, while developing best practices for others that will be visible to the public. These include leafcutter ants, dragon-headed katydids, and question mark roaches, to name a few.

Invertebrates comprise 99 percent of all animal biodiversity and are well represented at the Zoo, thanks to the incredible capacity of the McKinney Family Invertebrate Propagation Center and upcoming Spineless Marvels experience. At a time when the conservation of invertebrates could not be more important, we are stepping up to meet the challenges of optimal invertebrate welfare and public engagement—one web at a time!

BY THE NUMBERS

99

The percentage of all known animals that are invertebrates.

10

The number of years the Zoo has been an invertebrate rescue facility; we’ve taken in about 100 animals in that time.

3

Number of butterfly species we’re helping save at our Butterfly Conservation Lab: Quino checkerspot, western monarch, and Laguna Mountains skipper.

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

Family Matters

From a single infant and a litter of cubs to clutches of eggs and groups of larvae, animals come into this world in fascinatingly different ways—and following varying spans of time. Once offspring arrive, they are raised in an array of parenting styles. Here's a look at what creates these family ties.

BY PEGGY SCOTT | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALLISON BRITTAIN | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

It Takes a Village For some species, bringing up baby is a team effort.

With multiple adults and older siblings all taking part in their upbringing, youngsters raised in group settings benefit from additional safety and nutritional resources.

8–100 ELEPHANTS

Herd size varies greatly among elephants.

Within those herds, females will nurse any hungry calf— not just their own. Calves nurse for up to three years.

15

LIONS

The average pride includes about 15 members. Many of the females will give birth around the same time, and the lionesses care for and feed each other’s young.

15–150 CHIMPANZEES

30

MEERKATS A mob of meerkats can include up to 30 members.

When the breeding pair's pups emerge from the burrow at three to four weeks of age, babysitters look after them while the mother forages.

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Although a chimpanzee infant is raised mainly by its mother, other female relatives and older siblings will take over that role should something happen to the mother.

Troops can number up to 100 individuals.

Some vipers Virginia opossum

When Are You Due? With a gestation of only 13 days, the Virginia opossum wins the reproduction race among mammals.

With avian eggs, some small passerines are the early birds, incubating a mere 11 days. Here’s a look at how long it takes some other animals to produce offspring.

Lion Porcupine Hippo Gorilla Human

WALK THIS WAY

Black rhino

How quickly a baby learns to walk often determines its mother’s parenting style.

Elephant

0

100

200

DAYS

Are You My Mother?

Not exactly “mini-mes,” these baby animals bear little resemblance to their moms. But give them a little time, and they'll grow into looking like the rest of the family.

300

400 1 YEAR

500

600

700 2 YEARS

LADYBIRD BEETLE Spiny and black with bright spots, ladybird beetle larvae emerge from yellow eggs and take two weeks to transform into the aphid-eating insects we know as ladybugs.

BABY GIRAFFES take their first adorably wobbly steps 30 to 60 minutes after making their big debut, enabling them to keep up with the herd pretty quickly.

ANTELOPE species such as the kudu “tuck” their babies into rocky outcroppings to help hide them until they are old enough to run.

WILDEBEEST babies are on their feet only six minutes after being born.

Twinning

FLAMINGOS Starting out covered in downy gray-white fuzz, flamingo chicks won’t develop their adult color for about a year. Those bright pink or orange hues come from the carotenoid pigments in the birds' natural food sources.

Amazingly, one animal out there consistently has identical babies: the armadillo. Most members of the genus Dasypus, including the ninebanded armadillo, give birth to four offspring that develop from a single fertilized egg.

TAPIR Pefect for blending with the dappled sunlight in a forest, a tapir calf’s striped and dotted markings fade as it grows, and are gone by six months of age.

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home sweet home

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

Animal habitats have a few things in common with our homes: location, location, location. Our ideal environment needs to offer shelter, protection, and proximity to necessities like food.

See if you can match the animals with their digs.

1

3

2

burrowing owl

lion

Arctic fox

6

7

Andean bear

a

tundra

Gila monster

lagoon

g ocean

10

c

b

f

snow leopard

9 flamingo

forest

5 sea lion

8 orangutan

savanna

4

e

d desert

h rain forest

African penguin

grasslands

j

i beaches

mountains

ANSWERS: 1. E; 2. F; 3. A; 4. G; 5. J; 6. B; 7. H; 8. C; 9. D; 10. I.

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Save the Date

Upcoming Events at the Zoo and Safari Park (Z) Zoo events (P) Park events

Please note that all events and activities are subject to change due to COVID-19 regulations. For updates and the latest information, please visit sandiegozoo.org/ reopen, as well as the Zoo and Safari Park websites.

July JULY 1-AUGUST 14 Summer Camp Summer Camp programs continue at the Zoo and Safari Park, with options for kids of different age groups. Visit our websites to pick a camp for your kids! (Z) (P) JULY 1AUGUST 16 Welcome Back to the Wild, presented by Wheelhouse Credit Union Visit the Safari Park until 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to experience the joys of connecting with wildlife. (P)

AUGUST 13-16 Kenya Days The Safari Park will highlight the conservation initiatives that are making a difference for wildlife in Kenya with special activities. (P)

JULY 1SEPTEMBER 7 Welcome Back to Wonder Visit the Zoo until 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to stroll the grounds and say hello to your favorite animals. (Z) JULY 26 Breakfast with Elephants Enjoy breakfast at the Safari Park’s outdoor Elephant Viewing Patio, with exclusive

viewing of our dynamic pachyderms, followed by a presentation by an animal care specialist. Call 619-718-3000 for reservations, or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/ dining. (P)

August AUGUST 22 Animal Ambassador Dinner Enjoy a gourmet meal and a special visit from the Park’s charismatic animal ambassadors. Call 619-7183000 for reservations, or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/ dining. (P)

September SEPTEMBER 12 R•I•T•Z We welcome you to this year’s Rendezvous In The Zoo (R•I•T•Z), our annual fundraising gala! Proceeds will benefit the San Diego Zoo Global critical needs campaign.

For information about how you can join us, visit our website at sandiegozoo.org/ritz. (Z) SEPTEMBER 26 Food, Wine & Brew Celebration We may not be able to gather together quite the same as in years past, but there are some exciting and wild options awaiting you at this year’s Celebration!

For information, visit our website at sandiegozoo.org/ celebration. (Z)

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We remain committed to our mission and to saving species worldwide—but we can’t do this without you.

Your support is more crucial now than ever. Your most generous gift makes a difference for wildlife in our care and around the globe, and your continued support offers hope and reassurance for the future.

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