ZOONOOZ March 2020

ZOONOOZ

®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

MARCH 2020

Safari Park Platypuses Walkabout Australia Ambassadors Lions at the Zoo Thick-billed Parrot Conservation

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A r e v r ’ i y v e e h

Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner Friday, March 20, 2020 | 5 p.m. | Mombasa Pavilion See the amazing Butterfly Jungle presented by Wheelhouse Credit Union before it officially opens to the public, followed by a delectable four-course, spring-inspired dinner prepared

by Executive Chef Joshua Mireles, and a presentation by a Safari Park keeper.

Guests will be seated at tables of eight. Cost is $69.95 per person, plus tax and parking.

Butterfly Jungle Breakfast Sunday, March 29, 2020 | 7:30 a.m. | Mombasa Pavilion Join us for early-morning viewing of our beautiful butterflies at Butterfly Jungle, followed by a delicious breakfast buffet in the lovely Mombasa Pavilion.

Guests will be seated at tables of eight. Cost is $54 per person. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission, plus tax and parking.

For reservations

Call 619-718-3000 or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/dining-events.

March 2020 VOL. XCIII–NO. 02

Graphically Speaking 8

Leafing Out From big and broad to small and scale-like, plus nearly every shape imaginable, leaves have a plethora of forms and functions.

BY WENDY PERKINS

Cover Story 10

Oz-some Friends Meet some of the animal ambassadors from Down Under that are delighting Safari Park visitors.

BY DONNA PARHAM

Features 15

From a Land Down Under Say “G’day” and get to know the Safari Park’s newest wonders: platypuses Birrarung and Eve.

BY PEGGY SCOTT

18 Saving the Pine Cone Parrot

A binational, collaborative project is tagging and tracking thick-billed parrots in Mexico to illuminate their seasonal habits.

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

22 Learn Your Lions

Get to know siblings Ernest and Miss Ellen, the new generation at the Zoo.

BY ESTON ELLIS

More

2 Nooz Notes 7 SDZ Kids Page 26 Support 28 In the Field

ON THE COVER: Tawny frogmouth Podargus strigoides THIS PAGE: Red-tailed black cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii PHOTOS BY: Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer

N O OZ N OT E S

Magnets, assorted sizes and colors, $3.95 each.

WHAT’S IN STORE?

Fashionably All Aflutter

Ready for spring? So is our collection of cheery butterfly items.

From the pastel colors to the whimsical winged wonders that adorn the tote, drinkware, and apparel, these items offer a fun vibe to welcome the season. Visit shops at the Zoo or Safari Park, or shop online at shopzoo.com.

Wind chime, made of hand-cut iron, glass beads, and a hand-tuned nana bell, $24.95.

Not available on shopzoo.com.

Henna print mug, $12.95; shot glass, $8.95.

Henna print tote bag, $14.95.

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Ladies’ henna print V-neck T-shirt, $21.95.

Mark your calendar for the muchanticipated and popular annual celebration of butterflies. Step inside Butterfly Jungle and marvel at the range of sizes, patterns, and colors of thousands of butterflies. See how many species you can spot!

Wear bright colors, and the winged wonders might land on you.

N O OZ N OT E S

Save the Date What’s happening at the Zoo and Park this month and next (Z) Zoo events (P) Park events MARCH 7, 21; APRIL 4, 18 KinderZoo Animal interaction and fun for kids ages 3 to 5 with an adult.

For reservations, call 619-557-3962 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MARCH 7 Plant Workshop Enjoy a special evening with one of our horticulturists. Plant succulents in colorful pottery while taking in the lagoon views, sipping signature cocktails, and savoring treats. (P) MARCH 7, 8, 28; APRIL 4, 5, 25 Sunrise Surprise Stroll Explore the Zoo before it opens with experienced educators, learn “inside secrets,” and hear stories about special animals. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z)

MARCH 14, APRIL 11 Kids’ Wild Night Out Leave your kids at the Zoo for a wild night out with Dr. Zoolittle and animal friends. Sorry, no grown-ups allowed! For reservations, call 619718-3000, or book online at sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MARCH 20 Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner Enjoy a gourmet meal and get a first look at the remarkable butterflies at Hidden Jungle. Call 619718-3000 or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/ dining-events. (P) MARCH 21–MAY 10 Butterfly Jungle presented by Wheelhouse Credit Union Experience thousands of colorful butterflies fluttering around you at Hidden Jungle—and then enjoy butterfly-themed activities and events

MARCH 14 Breakfast with Elephants See how our elephants are cared for at the Zoo and enjoy a fascinating talk, an animal presentation, and a buffet breakfast with a view of our elephants. Call 619-718-3000 or book online. (Z)

throughout the Safari Park. (P) MARCH 27, 28; APRIL 2, 3, 15, 17; MAY 1 All Ages Roar & Snore with Butterfly Jungle Sleep over at the Safari Park, experience up-close animal encounters, and enjoy Butterfly Jungle. For details and reservations, call 619-718-3000. (P)

MARCH 28–APRIL 12 Spring Break Celebrate spring at the Zoo with 16 days of activities and discoveries about some of our amazing animals!

See page 21. (Z) MARCH 29 Butterfly Jungle Breakfast Visit butterflies at Hidden Jungle and enjoy a hearty breakfast. Call 619-7183000 or book online at

Celebrating and Protecting Wildlife

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APRIL 12 Easter Brunch Enjoy a festive Easter Brunch at the Zoo or the Safari Park. See page 5.

(Z) (P) APRIL 22 Earth Day Celebration Join us at the Zoo to celebrate wildlife and nature with special activities for everyone. (Z)

PRESIDENT/CEO’S NOTE PAUL A. BARIBAULT

wo notable days are coming up that celebrate the wonders of wildlife and the planet’s amazing diversity of species and environments: World Wildlife Day on March 3 and Earth Day on April 22.

They speak directly to San Diego Zoo Global’s mission of conservation and saving species, and I hope you will join us as we observe Earth Day with special activities at the Zoo, as a conclusion to the Zoo’s spring break events.

Speaking of conservation, members of our leadership team and I traveled to Kenya in January to meet with conservation partners, including Northern Rangelands Trust, Save the Elephants, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. We gained insights about ways to support our collective work and share the stories, in order to inspire a greater understanding of the importance of community-based conservation efforts. Just one of these stories is the study we are participating in to determine the composition of elephant milk and develop a formula that will improve care for orphaned elephants, like those at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. We are proud to be part of the collaborative efforts taking place in northern Kenya, and it was an absolute honor to spend time with such an incredible group of conservation leaders. Working together in ongoing partnerships like these, we will continue to save species from the brink of extinction.

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sdzsafaripark.org/ dining-events. (P)

Let’s Talk Follow @sandiegozoo & @sdzsafaripark.

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

C E L E B R AT E E A ST E R AT T H E Z O O A N D PA R K Easter Brunch at the San Diego Zoo Sunday, April 12, 2020 | Treetops Banquet Room Continuous seating begins at 11 a.m.

Enjoy this special day at the Zoo with family and friends, and savor a bountiful and delicious buffet brunch prepared by Executive Chef Carissa Giacalone and Albert’s Chef Grant Toraason.

Cost is $52.95 for adults and $20.95 for children ages 3 to 11, plus tax and gratuity. Membership or purchase of Zoo admission ticket required.

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL 619-557-3964.

SECURE YOUR RESERVATION WITH A CREDIT CARD.

Easter Brunch at the Safari Park Sunday, April 12, 2020 | Hunte Nairobi Pavilion Brunch begins at 11 a.m.

Hop on over to the Safari Park for a wild Easter brunch buffet prepared by Executive Chef Joshua Mireles!

Enjoy gourmet specialties, Easter favorites, and plenty for those with a sweet tooth.

Cost is $52.95 for adults and $20.95 for children ages 3 to 11. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission, plus tax and parking.

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

N O OZ N OT E S

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 No animals display a more dazzling assortment of colors and patterns than butterflies. But there’s more to these delightful insects than first meets the eye. From March 21 through May 10, visit Butterfly Jungle at the Safari Park to find out more about these fragile and beautiful symbols of spring.

12 The wingspan in inches of the world’s largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra’s birdwing.

ZOONOOZ

®

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926 MARCH 2020 | VOL. XCIII–NO. 02 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 AMY BLANDFORD LISA BISSI JENNIFER MACEWEN

PREPRESS AND PRINTING

QUAD GRAPHICS

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6,000

40

750

The number of lenses that make up one butterfly eye.

Percent of the world’s butterfly species that live in the Amazon rain forest and Andes cloud forests.

The number of butterfly species found in the US.

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© 2020 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 Membership: Two adults in the same household $160 early bird renewal; $170 lapsed; $185 new. One adult $97 early bird renewal; $102 lapsed; $112 new. Seniors (age 65 and older) receive a 15% discount off Annual Pass Memberships. Keeper’s Club (BEST VALUE!): two adults in the same household, or one adult plus one accompanying guest each visit $224 early bird renewal; $239 lapsed; $254 new. Each membership includes unlimited entrance to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Please visit our website zoomember.org for a complete list of membership benefits.

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.

SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURS March 1–6: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 7–27 and April 13–30: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

March 28–April 12: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

SAFARI PARK HOURS March 1–20 and April 20–30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 21–April 19: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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.

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 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 David C. Wu, 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 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

Two of a kind

Each of the butterflies below has its perfect twin—except for one!

Match the pairs and color them in, until you find the one that really stands out on its own. Get those crayons, markers, and pencils flying!

Visit the San Diego Zoo Kids website to find out about these and other animals, plus videos, crafts, stories, games, and more! kids.sandiegozoo.org

DID YOU KNOW?

The average life span for an adult butterfly is three to four weeks.

FUN FACT

The monarch butterfly is the only insect known to travel over 2,500 miles each winter.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 7

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

Leafing Out As spring creeps closer, trees and shrubs are preparing to burst forth in green, leafy glory. And for good reason!

Each leaf is a vital organ of the plant. They are the primary gas-exchanging, energy-gathering apparatus. While all leaves have basically the same function, there is a virtual forest of forms they take, having developed different patterns to maximize efficiency. Let your eyes flutter among these examples and gather food for thought!

SCHEFFLERA PUECKLERI A fan-like arrangement of leaves creates a broad array of solar collectors on one stem.

Vein

BY WENDY PERKINS | STAFF WRITER

LEAF LINGO Specific terms are used to describe each part of a leaf.

Tip

PACHYPODIUM NAMAQUANUM The minute hairs that give these leaves a fuzzy feel also reflect sunlight and help retain moisture.

Petiole

Margin

Midrib

SANCHEZIA NOBILIS Leaves with white, yellow, or red spots or stripes are said to be variegated. A mutation causes the disruption; the non-green parts don't photosynthesize.

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Blade (the body of the leaf)

WIDDRINGTONIA SCHWARZII Small, needle-like leaves aid in reducing moisture loss from their surface area— a boon in harsh environments.

FICUS BENGHALENSIS Most banyan tree leaves are flat and oval in shape (left), but in a variation (right) known as “Krishna's buttercup,” the blade curls into a funnel at the petiole junction. According to Hindu legend, Lord Krishna altered them to hold butter.

CASUARINA SP. What look like long, thin leaves are actually "branchlets," which easily snap off at the joint. The actual leaves of these plants are tiny scales on each branchlet.

MICROLEPIA SP. The lace fern’s delicate appearance comes from its divided and crisply edged blades, a bipinnate leaf form.

ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS These leaves came from the same type of tree. In its youth, the leaves of an Artocarpus are multi-lobed.

As the plant matures, the new leaves are a simple, oval shape.

WOLLEMIA NOBILIS Flat, linear leaves are tough and slightly waxy; the arrangement allows for powerful winds to move through without damaging the vital photosynthesizing structures.

ANTHURIUM SP. What looks like a large, single petal on this Anthurium is a spathe—a modified leaf. The actual flowers are small bumps on the white spadix.

MONSTERA DELICIOSA “Fenestrate” is the term used to describe leaves with naturally occurring holes in the surface.

It may help increase water uptake and reduce wind damage.

EUPHORBIA PULCHERRIMA A poinsettia’s red leaf bracts look like lush petals, but they primarily draw pollinators’ attention to the actual flowers in the center of the cluster.

FICUS RELIGIOSA The long, pointed ends, or drip tips, of Ficus religiosa leaves help quickly channel rain off the blade surface, reducing fungus and bacterial growth.

CEREUS SP. The spines on a cactus are modified leaves, which make a point of protecting the thick green stem that does the photosynthesizing.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 9

Say G’day

to some Oz-some animals

Friends from Down Under delight and enlighten Safari Park visitors

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BY DONNA PARHAM | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

ou hear the infectious “laughter” before you see where it’s coming from. Steve the kookaburra is delighting a cluster of visitors at the Safari Park’s animal ambassador stage in Safari Base Camp. When he ends his long, trilling call with a loud “ha-ha-ha-ha,” human giggles erupt.

Steve is one of several Australian ambassador animals that visit the stage with a Wildlife Workshop trainer. They are all part of an interactive program that brings Park guests face to face with affable animals.

As the animal stars demonstrate natural behaviors, their trainers share insights about the animals, their habitats,

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and conservation. Wildlife Workshop is part of the Park’s safari experiences team (the same group that guides guests on Caravan Safaris, Cart Safaris, Behind-the-Scenes Safaris, and Ultimate Safaris). Perched on a peaceful hillside tucked behind the scenes, 25 team members tend to 68 extraordinary animals that are ambassadors for conservation. “Closeup, personal interactions with ambassador animals lead to greater empathy and understanding,” says Travis Hughes, director of safari experiences at the Park. “We share with people the challenges the species are facing, which inspires guests to explore actions they can take to help animals in the wild.”

With the opening of Walkabout Australia in 2018 and the arrival of the platypuses last year, Park guests have been eager to learn about Australian species. Wildlife Workshop ambassador animals include 19 Australian natives that you’ll find popping up with their trainers in Safari Base Camp, Nairobi Village, and Walkabout Australia. Another way to see them is by taking a Platypus and Friends or Roos and Mates Behind-the-Scenes Safari, where you may find yourself face to face with a kangaroo, a cockatoo, a sugar glider, Opposite page: Jack the shingleback skink surprises guests a blue-tongued skink, with his smarts; trainer Kaitlyn Downing has been teaching and more—every tour the Australian lizard to follow a colored target when he’s in is different. the mood for guest interaction. This page: A sugar glider springs into the air. By spreading the loose skin that extends On a Roos and between their limbs, these little marsupials can glide through Mates tour, we make the the Australian forest for 20 feet or more. Below: A Safari Park acquaintance of an invisitor meets a tawny frogmouth at Walkabout Australia. quisitive (and adorable!) red-necked wallaby named Bea. Her reluctance to sit still gives senior trainer Donna Kent the opportunity to explain the unique way macropods (kangaroos and wallabies) walk.

We watch as Bea leans forward to support her full weight on her impossibly tiny front limbs, then lifts both hind feet and pulls them forward at the same time. As Bea busily explores, nose aquiver, Donna hands us some pelleted wallaby food. It’s a thrill when Bea hops over, nuzzles us to take a few pellets, and allows us to softly stroke her thick fur. While populations of this species are stable, Donna tells us that habitat fragmentation, drought, and bushfires, like those that happened this past December and January, threaten many of Australia’s marsupials and other species.

Next, we meet Cliff, an impressive bird that looks vaguely familiar, but proves difficult to identify. Some people on the tour suppose he’s an owl. Others suggest maybe he’s a hawk—until senior trainer Laura Spann calls SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 11

our attention to the fact that Cliff has no talons for catching prey. It turns out that the owl-like bird is a tawny frogmouth—a common backyard bird in Australia that is, for the most part, an ambush predator.

The inside of his mouth is bright yellow, and his tongue looks like the center of a flower. Laura points out his wide beak—responsible for the species’ common Addie, a red kangaroo, name. “He can sit in a tree, wows visitors at Wildlife with his mouth wide open, Workshop as she responds to trainer Kara Walsh’s and insects conveniently fly request to demonstrate her right in,” Laura says. powerful hop.

The spiky animal that greets the tour next is named Chindi. He is a mammal—albeit an egglaying one. The short-beaked echidna belongs to an unusual group of mammals known as the monotremes, which also includes three species of long-beaked echidnas (all found on the island of New Guinea), and Australia’s most mysterious mammal, the platypus. “Thankfully, short-beaked echidnas like Chindi aren’t endangered,” says Chindi’s trainer, Samantha Passovoy. “But their long-beaked relatives are.” In New Guinea, echidna habitat is destroyed when it is converted for

Meet some of the mates

Bea, a red-necked wallaby.

As a nine-month-old, Bea liked to snuggle into a cloth pouch worn by her trainer.

Today, she greets guests on her own four—or sometimes two—unique feet.

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Bobby, a red-tailed black cockatoo. When Bobby gets excited, she raises her crest feathers. She looks forward to her flight training and loves interacting with her trainers and guests.

agriculture, and while people in New Guinea have traditionally hunted echidnas for subsistence, firearms and the use of hunting dogs are making hunting a bigger threat now.

One danger to all four echidna species is habitat fragmentation. Highways and roads crisscrossing echidna habitat are a physical hazard, and when suitable habitat becomes separated into chunks, different populations can’t meet up to breed, and genetic viability can suffer.

Fun facts about some of the Australian

Cliff, a tawny frogmouth.

You may get a chance to meet nearly-30-yearold Cliff or his younger lookalike, Kermit, during one of the presentations at Walkabout Australia.

Daku, a woma, also known as a sand python. Womas are largely terrestrial and live in sub-deserts and grasslands of Australia.

Appropriately, Daku’s name translates to “sand.”

In addition to providing in-Park presentations and behind-the-scenes safaris, the Wildlife Workshop team also introduces people to ambassador animals at special events and at television studios. “Ambassador animals like Chindi go with us go to children’s hospitals, local news stations, education assemblies—anywhere we can share the conservation message,” Samantha says. And that’s the whole point of the Wildlife Workshop program, says Travis. “Our mission is to inspire people to make a difference for wildlife and wild places, through fun, exciting, and life-changing experiences.”

SAFARI EXPRESS

Of all the Wildlife Workshop programs, the one closest to staff members’ hearts is the grant- and donor-funded Safari Express, which takes ambassador animals to senior care facilities and at-risk youth centers.

Exposure to animals like Steve, Chindi, and Cliff may especially benefit those who otherwise tend to isolate themselves. Care workers at senior facilities note that even residents who normally decline group activities come out of their rooms to see a Wildlife Workshop presentation and meet the animals. During one visit, a memory care, hospice patient attended the presentation. To the pleasant surprise of her family, the otherwise non-communicative woman spoke enthusiastically about the animals for a week. After she passed away, the family wrote a thank-you letter to the Wildlife Workshop team, to let them know how much joy it gave them to see their relative so happy and animated.

Nice to meet you. Trainer Donna Kent introduces Chindi the echidna to a new friend at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Hospital visits like this lift the spirits of the patients and their families, and give them a chance to meet and learn about animals.

San Diego Zoo Global is grateful for the individuals, corporations, and foundations that enable us to provide the Safari Express program to those in the community who may not be able to visit the Zoo or Park on their own.

ambassador animals at Wildlife Workshop

Goldie, a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Goldie (short for Goldilocks—although he’s a male) loves mimicking other animal noises; he does imitations of a dog, a hawk, and a chicken.

Steve, a laughing kookaburra. Ever sociable, Steve often responds to guests who roll their Rs, sometimes launching into a raucous, full-fledged kookaburra laugh.

Wali, a blue-tongued skink.

In the wild, that bright blue tongue startles would-be predators. As for prey, Wali likes animals slower than she is. Trainers say she’ll do anything for a snail.

Thelma, a galah. Like a sentry, Thelma never fails to sound the alarm—at the sight of a broom! Guests might remember Thelma from her days in the Park’s Frequent Flyers bird show.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 13

LOOKING FOR THE BEST SEAT?

Let an experienced guide introduce you to our incredible wildlife during one of our special tours: a Discovery Cart Tour or Inside Look Tour at the Zoo, or a Cart Safari Tour or Behind-the-Scenes Tour at the Safari Park. Sit back in the comfort of our expedition cart as your guide shares fun stories and you visit select spots for great photo opportunities. Find out how our conservation research work helps wildlife, and how little things we can all do make a big difference for animals.

It’s an experience you won’t soon forget!

BOOK ONLINE OR CALL 619-718-3000 TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY! Animal interactions, including feeding opportunities, are subject to change.

Camps & Programs SPRING & SUMMER 2020

Classic Camp summer adventures at the Zoo

Explore the wonderful world of animals through our Classic Camp adventures, which include animal experiences, exclusive exhibit visits, a bus tour, games, and crafts. Each camp is a five-day adventure from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (except for our half-day Pre-K camp, from 9 a.m. to noon). Classic Camp prices start at $318 for members; $353 for nonmembers. Grade 9–12 full-week adventure prices start at $368 for members; $403 for nonmembers. Pre-K camp prices start at $159 for members and $194 for nonmembers. (Extended fun available for an additional fee.)

Please select the grade your child will be entering in fall 2020. Call 619-718-3000, or visit sandiegozoo.org for online booking and more detailed descriptions of each camp. No Summer Camp June 29–July 3.

Pre-K

(ages 4–5) A SENSE of Adventure!

June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Wild Child!

June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Kindergarten

NEW! Step into the Wild June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 NEW! It’s a Zoo in Here!

June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Amazing Animal Discoveries June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Animal Moves and Grooves June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Grade 1

Furry Friends June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Mad About Mammals June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Grade 2

Hangin’ with the Critters June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3-7 Groovin’ with the Ground Dwellers June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Grade 3

Nature’s Secret Superheroes June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Animal Outlaws June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Grades 4–5

Creature Features June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Where the Wild Things Live June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27-31; August 10–14

Grades 5–6

Insider View at the Zoo June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Going Global at the Zoo June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Grades 6–8

Animals Ain’t Misbehavin’ June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Wildlife Groupies June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Grades 9–12

Become a Hero for Wildlife: Career Exploration for Teens June 15–19; July 6–10 Monday: Animal Health Tuesday: Zoo Collection Caretakers Wednesday: Science of Sustainability* Thursday: Local and Global Partnerships Friday: Field Conservation *Wednesday’s program takes place at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and participants will travel with staff from the Zoo to the Safari Park for their special experience with San Diego Zoo Global professionals.

Extended Fun at the Zoo

Adventures in Art at the Zoo

Little Artists

Grades 1–3; 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $338 per week for members; $373 for nonmembers. (Extended Fun available for additional fee. No Summer Camp June 29–July 3.)

A professional art teacher guides young artists during these fiveday summer camp adventures for children entering grades 1–3 in the fall. Each day includes animal encounters and fun art-making experiences.

Colorful Critters June 15–19; July 6–10; July 20–24; August 3–7 Wild Side of Design June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 10–14

Adventures in Art

Grade 4–12, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $338 per week for members; $373 for nonmembers. (Extended Fun available for additional fee. No Summer Camp June 29–July 3.)

Our art teachers can help inspire your camper’s creativity. All levels are welcome. Sessions include group and individual instruction.

All art materials are included.

3-D Animal Art: June 15–19; July 20–24 Sketching Baby Animals: June 22–26; July 27–31 Predators in Mixed Media: July 6–10; August 3–7 Wild Animals in Wild Colors: July 13–17; August 10–14

Our Extended Fun options let your camper stay at the Zoo longer—with morning hours from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m., and afternoon hours from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The Extended Fun team is staffed by Zoo professionals, just like Camp. In Extended Fun, campers get to choose their own adventure. They can explore discovery stations, play a quiet game, watch a movie, or have some outdoor fun.

Extended Fun options start at $50 per week for Pre-K (morning only); $100 per week for Classic Camp, Little Artists, and Adventures in Art; and $25 per day for grades 9–12 only.

More adventures at the Zoo KINDERZOO

Children ages 3–5 and their favorite adult 8:30–10 a.m. on first and third Saturday of each month, January–May and September–December. $16 per person for members; $19 for nonmembers.

Admission must be purchased separately.

Price includes up-close animal encounters, a takehome craft, and access to the Zoo before regular guests!

Book online or call 619-557-3962.

KIDS’ WILD NIGHT OUT Grades K–5 6–10 p.m. on select Saturdays: March 14, April 11, May 9 (dates to resume in September). $40 per person.

Kids! It’s the evening you’ve been waiting for! Join us at the Zoo for a wild night out with Dr. Zoolittle and animal friends. Hang with us for a few hours, and we will meet some amazing animals, create cool Zoo crafts, play games, enjoy a snack, and much more. Sorry, no grown-ups allowed!

FOR TEENS Zoo Corps

Teens ages 13–17 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on select Saturdays and Sundays, August–May. $180 per session.

“Inspiring change for a better tomorrow” is the motto for Zoo Corps teens, who teach Zoo guests about animal care at the Zoo, wildlife conservation, local San Diego habitats, and saving species. To receive an application, candidates must attend one of the following mandatory information meetings at the Zoo’s Dickinson Family Center for Lifelong Learning with a parent or guardian: Saturday, May 2, 9–10 a.m. or Thursday, May 7, 7–8 p.m. Reservations are not necessary for information meetings. If accepted, Zoo Corps members must be available to attend mandatory training on Saturday, August 29, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. A limited number of applicants are selected for each session.

For more information, email sbarnard@sandiegozoo.org.

Zoo InternQuest High school juniors and seniors This career exploration program gives high school juniors and seniors the rare opportunity to job shadow and learn from experts.

Explore work areas from labs to field enclosures with professionals who work at the Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research. Students share their experiences, along with photos, by posting weekly blogs on the San Diego Zoo website. The fall session is from October through November 2020; the winter session is from February through March 2021. Limited spaces are available. Applications are available online at the Zoo InternQuest web page and are due to the San Diego Zoo Education Office by 4 p.m. on May 28, 2020. Applicant group interviews are scheduled for the week of June 1. For more information, email sbarnard@sandiegozoo.org.

Safari Park Summer Camp

Get ready for an adventure like no other at the Safari Park’s Summer Camp! There may be many types of summer camp for kids, but few will have campers connecting with creatures the way the Safari Park’s will.

This is hands-on, join-in, be-a-part-of-it fun! If your children love animals, the Safari Park is the place for them this summer. Camp prices for ages 2–3 and 2–5 start at $175 for members; $205 for nonmembers; $105 for a second child. Pre-K–K camp prices start at $175 for members; $205 for nonmembers. Full-day camp prices for grades 1–8 start at $295 for members; $325 for nonmembers. Grade 9–12 camp prices start at $340 for members; $370 for nonmembers.

Please select the grade your child will be entering in the fall.

Call 619-718-3000, or visit sdzsafaripark.org for online booking.

FIVE-DAY CAMPS Growin’ Up

Ages 2–3, along with their favorite grownup 9–11 a.m.

June 15–19; July 20–24 Calling all toddlers! Learn what it is like to be a young, growing animal at the Safari Park. Through play and interactive learning, mini Park tours, up-close animal encounters, storybooks, and lots of hands-on activities, tots will experience a fun introduction to Summer Camp at the Safari Park.

Family Camp: One Herd

Ages 2–5, along with their favorite grownup 9–11 a.m.

August 3–7 This specialty camp is geared toward families with multiple campers (maximum two kids per adult).

Through family bonding, storytelling,

hands-on activities, and animal encounters, campers will learn that our young animals are a lot like them.

Story Safari

Pre-K–Kindergarten 9 a.m.–noon June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31 Take a journey inspired by some of our favorite animal stories. Counselors will read each day’s stories to the group, then campers will encounter different stars of the tales, including animals and habitats. Every half-day of camp includes visits from animal ambassadors, Park walks, stories, crafts, songs, and games.

Animal Olympics

Kindergarten–Grade 1 9 a.m.–noon July 6–10 Campers will explore our talented animals, and find out who is going to win the big race. See who runs the fastest, who can lift the most weight, and who works best on a team.

Each half-day of camp includes visits from animal ambassadors, Park walks, stories, crafts, songs, and games.

Wild About Adaptations

Grades 1–2 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

June 22–26; June 29–July 3; July 20–24; July 27–31 Some animals are built to fly, some to climb, and some to run. Campers will get a chance to discover what makes animals unique while touring the Safari Park, visiting animal ambassadors, singing camp songs, playing games, and creating crafts.

Safari Park Conservation Corps

Conservation Corps is a hands-on program for high school students interested in conservation, science, public speaking, and community service.

Participants spend two Saturdays a month teaching Safari Park guests about animals and conservation, and participating in conservation projects around the county. Interested applicants must attend a mandatory information meeting in May 2020 with a parent/ guardian. If accepted, Conservation Corps members must be available to attend a mandatory three-day training program.

The fall session is from August to December 2020.

For additional details, visit sdzsafaripark.org/ education/conservation-corps.

Safari Park Summer Camp (continued) Animal Care Fact or Fiction?

Grades 3–4 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

June 22–26; July 13–17; July 27–31; August 3–7 Elephants never forget.

Bats are blind. Touching a toad will give you warts... right? Campers will sleuth out some truths and bust some myths about the Animal Kingdom. Animal ambassador visits, Safari Park strolls, and tours of behind-the-scenes venues will give campers the opportunity to view different animals up close while finding out what is animal fact—or fiction.

Phenomenal Phenomena

Grades 5–6 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

June 29–July 3; July 6–10; August 3–7 From 1,000-mile migrations to carnivorous plants and caterpillars that dissolve and reform into butterflies, nature is full of mysterious phenomena.

Investigation-themed games and activities, behind-the-scenes visits, campers-only presentations with animal ambassadors, hands-on activities and more await campers this summer.

in Action

Grades 7–8 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

July 6–10; July 13–17 Get the inside scoop on animal care and conservation around the world, straight from the experts. Campers will visit with Safari Park staff and go behind the scenes to see what it takes to work with exotic animals. Get up close to animal ambassadors, trek across the treetops on our Jungle Ropes Safari, visit our state-of-the-art hospital to see veterinary medicine in action, and find out what it’s like to work as a field biologist.

Ending Extinction

Grades 9–12 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

June 29–July 3; July 20–24 Explore what it takes to lead the fight against extinction. Through breakout sessions, behind-the-scenes visits, scheduled demonstrations, hands-on activities, a private Caravan Safari, and encounters with animal ambassadors, campers gain an inside look at how San Diego Zoo Global uses its expertise in animal and plant care, both at the Safari Park and abroad.

Roar & Snore sleepovers

Pack your “trunk” for a sleepover adventure at the Safari Park!

All sleepovers include camp activities, an after-hours look at the wild life of our animals, guided walks, a campfire program, dinner, an evening snack, and breakfast the following morning. Each Roar & Snore starts at 4:15 p.m. and concludes at 9:30 a.m. the next day. A variety of tent accommodations are available, from classic camping to premium glamping!

For family programs, children 17 and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. For reservations, and all the Roar & Snore options and pricing, call 619-718-3000; or visit sdzsafaripark.org.

Adults Only Roar & Snore with Butterfly Jungle

Father’s Day BBQ Roar & Snore

All Ages Roar & Snore with Butterfly Jungle

Adults Only Roar & Snore

Girl Scouts Roar & Snore with Butterfly Jungle

School Safari Roar & Snore

Ages 21 and older March 21; April 24; May 2

March 27, 28; April 2, 3, 15, 17; May 1

Girl Scout troops, minimum age 5 May 8

Happy Hoppers Roar & Snore—scheduled with Butterfly Jungle All ages April 10, 11

All Ages Roar & Snore

March 7, 20; May 16, 23, 24, 28, 29; June 5, 13, 18, 25, 28; July 3, 4, 11, 12, 16, 18, 23, 24, 30; August 2, 6, 14, 15, 28, 29

Mother’s Day Safari Roar & Snore with Butterfly Jungle All ages May 9

All ages June 19, 20

Ages 21 and older March 6; May 22; June 6, 26; July 10, 17, 25; August 1, 8, 21

School groups, in grades 3–12 April 16, 23, 30; May 14, 21

Girl Scouts Roar & Snore

Girl Scout troops, minimum age 5 May 15, 30; June 12, 27; July 2, 31; August 7, 22

The water’s fine.

Platypuses hunt in shallow water running over rocks, and the Park’s habitat mimics that environment.

Meet the Safari Park’s Platypuses

From a Land Down Under

BY PEGGY SCOTT | ASSOCIATE EDITOR PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Who can it be now? One look at two of the Safari Park’s newest residents—from their ducklike bills to their short legs, webbed feet, and otter-like tails—and it’s clear there is only one thing they can possibly be: platypuses Ornithorynchus anatinus.

Since their debut in November 2019, this species is becoming more familiar to our visitors, and now it’s time to get to know the delightful duo, Birrarung (“Birra,” for short) and Eve.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 15

ANIMALS OF A DIFFERENT… EVERYTHING For diminutive animals—platypuses top out at about 2 feet long, including bill and tail—8-year-old Birra and 15-year-old Eve are making quite a splash. “People are surprised at how small they are,” says Lori Hieber, a lead mammal keeper at the Safari Park. “But there’s a lot of personality there, and they are fun to watch.” Luis Ochoa, senior keeper, counts himself as one of the platypuses’ biggest fans. He spent three months at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, training in platypus husbandry and care. “They are fascinating animals,” Luis says. “I love to watch them hunt and eat their prey. They’re like little vacuums, except they roll like alligators. It’s amazing.”

Birra and Eve’s arrival here is amazing, as well.

It’s the first time in 50 years that platypuses have been seen outside of Australia, and Safari Park animal care staff wanted to make sure the relocation process went off without a hitch. Lori has gotten to know her new charges pretty well, as she also spent several weeks at Taronga Zoo prior to their trip here, learning husbandry practices particular to the

YOU CAN HELP You can make a difference for platypuses and other Australian animals that have been devastated by the bushfires by making a donation at EndExtinction. org/Help.

Setting the “table.” Keepers release live food—such as crayfish—into the exhibit’s pools for the platypuses to catch and eat.

16 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2020

species. “It’s part of the protocol to get to know each individual animal,” she says. “I was surprised at how different these two are from each other. We focused on getting to know them.”

Once the animals arrived at the Safari Park, it was time to see if all the hard work paid off. It didn’t take long to find out. “They acclimated so quickly,” Lori says. “They might have spent two hours or so in the nesting boxes, and then it was right into the pool.” Luis adds, “They hunted right away,” noting what a good sign that was. “And they started grooming. It was so rewarding.”

RISE AND SHINE, OR FIVE MORE MINUTES? From their first days in Walkabout Australia’s new Nelson A. Millsberg Platypus Habitat, it was easy to tell the two animals apart by their behavior alone. “Birra’s more relaxed with his keepers, but more active,” Lori says. Luis agrees, adding that while the male is a “sleep on top of the covers guy” who’s ready to go as soon as he sees his keepers at 6 a.m., “Eve likes to sleep in, all cozy,” he says. “As long as it’s on her time.” Eve is also more chatty than Birra, greeting her keepers with hissy-growl vocalizations when they check on her in her nest box.

Along with snug nest boxes, the platypus habitat was designed with their comfort and specific needs in mind.

They have three pools to choose from, naturalistic river banks, and extensive tunnels. Because platypuses are most active during dusk and nighttime hours, the lighting cycle in their habitat has been reversed, with evening light during the day and daylight at night.

SWIM FOR YOUR SUPPER Like their wild relatives, Birra and Eve depend on water for finding food, and the animal care staff do their best to mimic the platypuses’ diet in the wild. Birra and Eve dine on crayfish, mealworms, earthworms, fly pupae, and fly larvae, in what

Right: Platypuses are good climbers, and Birra and Eve have been checking out every nook and cranny.

Below: The back areas of the habitat include a segmented transfer tunnel for the animals to move from place to place, and a choice of cozy nest boxes where they can curl up for a snooze. The staff keeps an eye on them via monitors or by opening the tunnel or nest box lids.

Lori calls “a mix of their favorite foods.”

Luis notes that we had to find a reliable crayfish supplier in order to make sure Birra and Eve would have food to hunt.

“While they’re still sleeping, we put on chest-high waders and get to work,” Luis says.

The keepers clean the platypuses’ pool, and it’s up to them to serve “dinner.” The crayfish and other live prey are released into the pool, and the hunters go to work. “Platypuses are swift and impressive hunters in the water,” Luis says. “When they dive, they close their eyes and ears, and hold their breath. They rely on sensitive electroreceptors in their bill to find their food. And when they catch something, they smash it against the rocks to kill it.”

Birra and Eve are apparently quite skilled at snapping up what’s offered. A wellness exam in early December 2019 found them to be “doing exceptionally well.” Veterinarian Dr.

Meredith Clancy notes that Eve’s TVI—tail volume index— revealed that her fat storage and weight maintenance are right on target. Platypuses store fat for energy in their tails.

WATER LOGGED Birra and Eve are here to represent their species and help people learn about their lifestyle and aquatic habitat. As part of discovering more about this unique animal, San Diego Zoo Global supports a cutting-edge conservation effort in southeastern Australia that benefits six endemic species, including the platypus. A collaborative team is using a new technology called environmental DNA (eDNA) to map the distribution of and threats to five fish species and the platypus. The goal is to secure populations in at least three natural catchment areas, and gather information that will help guide protection efforts to ensure that platypuses will be swimming in their ecosystems for generations to come. Birra and Eve are ready to do their part—just don’t ask Eve to pitch in too early.

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Saving the Pine

S

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI | STAFF WRITER

hamrock-green with scarlet highlights on its head and wings, the raucous thick-billed parrot, also called cotorra serrana (“mountain parrot”) in Spanish, is one of the last surviving parrot species native to North America. Once roaming across mountainous “sky islands” from the American Southwest into Venezuela, this bold parrot can tolerate cold weather, but migrates south when the snow flies. The parrots forage for energy-rich pinecone seeds in forests up to 9,000 feet in elevation. Their numbers have dropped significantly since the 1900s, and it is estimated that there are fewer than 1,000 breeding pairs, now restricted to temperate forests in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of northern Mexico. The thick-billed parrot is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), BirdLife International, Mexico, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The thick-billed parrots’ boisterous calls can be heard nearly a mile away, which made them easy targets for hunters and illegal pet trade collectors in the past. Today, the pressing concerns are loss of nest sites due to

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logging, forest fires, and pine beetle infestations. Additionally, newly hatched chicks may face tiny bloodsucking parasites that infest the nest. It is thought that the increase in parasitic fly larvae that feed on defenseless chicks may be

due to climate change and the resulting warmer temperatures and increased rainfall. Fortunately, San Diego Zoo Safari Park veterinary staff, along with international partners, have developed and applied effective, environmentally friendly treatments for some infested birds and their nest cavities, to improve survival of youngsters. “The small size of the remaining parrot populations, combined with the low number of breeding pairs in the forests in Mexico, have made thick-billed parrots particularly vulnerable to catastrophic events,” said James Sheppard, Ph.D., senior scientist, Recovery Ecology, San Diego Zoo Global (SDZG).

NESTING INSTINCT Persistent timber harvesting across Mexico has led to only about 1 percent of historic old growth forests still standing, which is key habitat for thick-billed parrots. To increase nesting opportunities, researchers have added artificial nest boxes for the parrots to occupy. Installed high in trees, some have field cameras mounted nearby, to monitor activity.

Cone Parrot This revealed a surprising new nocturnal threat to the sleeping parrots in both natural and artificial nests: bobcats!

Nighttime images show the stealthy cat climbing a tree trunk and reaching into the nest box, drawing out a bird, and climbing back down with it in its mouth. One image even shows an adult bobcat showing her kitten how it’s done.

This has led to discussion about how to redesign nest boxes to better protect the parrots from bobcats.

COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION These gregarious, long-lived parrots feed and roost in flocks, often flying in a V formation, similar to geese, between feeding sites. They also migrate seasonally from their summer breeding grounds in Chihuahua, Mexico to wintering areas farther south. “In October, adult birds start flying in circles, swirling together in a whirlpool of green, before heading out,” said Yvette Kemp, senior hospital keeper, SDZG. Being fluent in Spanish, with ample animal expertise, she was

an asset to the binational conservation team that traveled to Chihuahua last fall to attach GPS transmitters on 10 thick-billed parrots. SDZG, which has been involved with thick-billed parrot conservation for over a decade, partnered with the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Department, Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, and the conservation NGO Organización Vida Silvestre A.C. (OVIS) on this project, to “gain a clearer understanding of parrot migratory patterns, resource selection, and habitat use,” explained James. It was challenging, exciting, and rewarding.

The group consisted of nine people from conservation organizations in the US and Mexico, including two agile tree climbers. The goal was to collect two parrots (an adult male and the largest chick) from the nest at five different sites, conduct a quick health check, document their weight and measurements, and carefully attach a nine-gram, $3,000 solar-powered transmitter to each bird. “We attach these small, lightweight transmitters

to the parrots using a Measured Moments: backpack harness that Researchers does not interfere with carefully noted the bird’s flight, behavsizes and weights iors, or survival,” said of the parrots before fitting James. The transmitthem with ters, which were fundsolar-powered ed by SDZG’s Wildlife transmitters Conservancy, send a to track their seasonal signal to a network movements. of satellites every five Flashing is put minutes, every other around the trunk of some nesting day, allowing the team trees to deter to track the parrots’ (some) predators movements, along from accessing with the altitude, temthe nests. perature, and location.

The team camped, getting permission from ranchers to pitch tents on their property. And it rained.

A lot. They caught the adult parrots at midnight, gently lowering the birds to the ground in a backpack, then secured them in a crate for the night. They returned at sunrise to collect the chick.

“Adult birds fly and forage all day, then sleep at night, so that’s when we can get them,” explained Yvette. “We catch the

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 19

nearly fledged chicks in the morning, with the parents nearby, and it’s less stressful for them.” Yvette brought heavy-duty gloves to wear while handling the parrots, but the birds were so calm and docile she didn’t need them.

Some of the trees have flashing around the trunk a few feet below the nest box, to discourage predators. One of the courageous

tree climbers was installing a sheet of flashing in the rain, and it slipped, slicing his finger to the bone. Being hours away from medical care, Yvette’s hospital keeper skills once again came into play, as she utilized everything in the first aid kit to bandage the wound and stabilize the patient for the long, bumpy “ambulance” ride to town.

Working in the field can be challenging, but happily, the team was able to deploy transmitters on four fully grown chicks and six adult birds in one week. Preliminary data show a single male parrot flying over 35 miles to an area researchers didn’t know the parrots frequented. Some parrots have flown an astonishing 430 miles in 2 months! “That’s the distance between San Diego and San Francisco,” said James. “Not bad for a pine-nut-munching parrot!” The high-quality data reveal tagged parrots moving south, and show the migratory routes they are taking. Understanding the spatial behavior of thick-billed parrots will help land managers protect the best year-round habitat, so the parrots’ raucous calls will echo across the sky islands for a long time to come.

DID YOU KNOW? Each bird’s solar-powered transmitter costs $600 per year for the data download. Your donations (visit EndExtinction. org) are deeply appreciated!

St. Patrick’s Day Brew Festival at t h e s a fa r i pa r k

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020 | 2 TO 5 P.M. | KIJAMII OVERLOOK Join us at the Safari Park for a brew festival featuring beers from local craft breweries, a bountiful St. Patrick’s Day-inspired buffet, music, and animal ambassadors.

Representatives from the breweries will talk about the various selections.

Advance ticket price is $55 (plus tax) per person for food and beer; $30 (plus tax) for food only. Purchase advance tickets online. Same-day tickets will be available at the Safari Park for $75 perSAN person, depending on availability.

DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 13 Parking fee is not included; nonmembers add admission. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.

SAN SAN DIEGO DIEGO ZOO ZOO GLOBAL GLOBAL // SANDIEGOZOO.ORG SANDIEGOZOO.ORG // 13 17 Make reservations online at sdzsafaripark.org/dining-events, or call 619-718-3000.

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the April 12 Banish winter blues

and experience the wonders of wildlife with us! New surprises await you at the Zoo this spring, as you discover the unique characteristics and behaviors of different animal species, meet wildlife care experts, and enjoy special presentations and activities—plus, stay late for the Party on the Plaza from 6 to 8 p.m. Join us during these 16 days of family fun under the sun.The adventure then culminates on April 22, when we celebrate Earth Day!

LEARN YOUR

LIONS Meet the New Generation at the Zoo: Siblings Ernest and Miss Ellen

A

BY ESTON ELLIS | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

fter the memorable 10-year “reign” of M’bari and Etosha at the Zoo’s Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey lion habitat, there are now 2 new kids on the block: 5-year-old brother and sister Ernest and Miss Ellen. The young lions are the niece and nephew of Etosha—and their father is Izu, the longtime patriarch of his pride at the Safari Park.

When M’bari died in May 2019, at age 15 from health conditions related to old age, Etosha was by herself in the Zoo’s lion exhibit. It was decided to return her to the Safari Park, where she had lived prior to 2009 and could have company, and

22 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2020

to bring Miss Ellen and Ernest from the Park to the Zoo. “Etosha had an exam here at the Zoo and then moved to the Safari Park the same day,” explained Kimberly Hyde, senior keeper at the Zoo. “While she was up at the hospital, the Safari Park keepers came and delivered Ernest and Miss Ellen to us—then picked up Etosha, after she was awake.” At the Safari Park, keepers rein-

troduced Etosha to Izu, who is her brother, and it didn’t take long for her to adjust, get comfortable, and settle in. Etosha and Izu are now living together at the Safari Park, and females Mina and Oshana have formed their own second pride there.

At the Zoo, Ernest and Miss Ellen were exploring brand-new territory. “When Miss Ellen and Ernest first arrived, it was a whole new world for them,” said Pete O’Neill, senior keeper at the Zoo. “They were born at the Safari Park in 2014, and they had never been anywhere else.” To help them get comfortable, keepers who worked with them at the Safari Park came to the Zoo and were there to feed them on the first day. The Park keepers also helped introduce the young lions to the Zoo’s keepers, who were still new to the siblings. “We had to earn their trust over time,” Pete said.

TAKING THE CHANGES IN STRIDE The surroundings at the Zoo were new and different, and the sounds, sights, and smells were different, too—and exciting. There

DID YOU KNOW? Fewer than 10,000 lions Panthera leo remain in Africa— their population has declined about 43 percent over the past 21 years.

SDZG works with communities in Kenya to help reduce conflicts between humans and lions, and supports community-based organizations working to increase protected areas for lions, including the Northern Rangelands Trust and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

were elephants within view of their habitat, and that was something Ernest would eventually find absolutely fascinating. But during his first week at the Zoo, Ernest decided to leave the initial exploration to his sister, staying behind the scenes in the new bedroom he picked out. “Miss Ellen was a little quicker to explore,” Kimberly said. “She would be out most of the time, and then she would come back to check on Ernest. After about a week, Ernest finally began exploring outside, and he started getting more comfortable.”

Ernest and Miss Ellen have different personalities, Kimberly explained. “Miss Ellen is very curious—she’s interested in enrichment, and in interacting with keepers.

Ernest is a little more laid-back, takes a little more time to get interested in new things.

But being a male lion, he always acts like he’s in charge.” Pete added, “Miss Ellen is definitely more eager to explore. When we first gave them access to more of the exhibit, she wanted to see everything. Ernest was more like, ‘You go find out if it’s safe, and I’ll come out later.’”

Opposite page: After moving from the Safari Park to the Zoo, Ernest (left) became very interested in watching the nearby elephants, and Miss Ellen (right) enjoys catching fish.

This page: Zoo guests can hear Ernest roar.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 23

The Young Lions: Five-year-old siblings Ernest and Miss Ellen have brought a new dynamic to the Zoo’s lion habitat.

A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC

BY THE NUMBERS

3 Distance in miles that a lion’s roar can be heard.

119 Number of lions born at the San Diego Zoo since 1916.

140 Pounds of meat that a male lion can eat in one sitting— about one quarter of his body weight.

33 Speed in miles per hour that a female lion can achieve during a sprint.

Ernest and Miss Ellen are non-breeding lions. Both were neutered, because their genes are already well represented in the lion population, Kimberly said. “They are from a litter of 4—and those youngsters were the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th cubs in that family—so, they won’t be paired with mates for breeding.” Miss Ellen and Ernest’s sibling relationship has a different dynamic than a mated pair. “They like to be around each other, but because of that long sibling relationship, sometimes Miss Ellen feels comfortable pushing Ernest around a little—and that’s something that would never have happened with Etosha and M’bari,” Pete said.

Ernest and Miss Ellen have different types of structures to climb on in their Zoo habitat, such as the elevated platform where Ernest now often reclines. “It took Ernest a while to get used to climbing,” Pete said.

Ernest was also a little shaky when he first attempted to reach large food items like cow femurs, which keepers sometimes hang from a post as enrichment.

“Now, he’s getting a lot more confident.” Keepers are currently coming up with designs for a new climbing structure to take advantage of the vertical space, to further encourage the lions’ climbing behavior, Pete said. Funding for the project will be provided by donors and grant programs.

ENRICHING ENCOUNTERS Enrichment experiences that give the big cats opportunities to use natural behaviors are presented randomly, so there is no predictable routine. The lions get to encounter each new discovery as a surprise, similar

24 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2020

to what would happen in wild habitats. One of the siblings’ favorite enrichment experiences is discovering a whole lamb carcass in the exhibit, Pete said. “That’s awesome for them, because it is the most natural way for them to feed. It takes some time to process that. They gorge for a while, after they rip it down from wherever it’s hanging. Last time, Miss Ellen dragged it down and then cached it—a natural behavior—to feed on it later.”

Other enrichment experiences Ernest and Miss Ellen enjoy include exploring used bedding from prey species, which is full of exciting scents; and elephant feces, which they enjoy rolling in for the same reason. “Both of them love batting things, and picking things up,” Kimberly said. “They have access to a pool, and we sometimes put live fish in it—and Miss Ellen loves that. Ernest isn’t really interested, so she doesn’t have to compete with him.”

As the siblings have become more comfortable in their new home, they have also resumed husbandry training, so they can participate in their health care routines. While Miss Ellen has always been an eager participant, Ernest is joining in now, voluntarily allowing blood draws in his tail in exchange for a reward. “It is going extremely well,” Kimberly said.

SETTLING INTO THEIR REIGN While the young lions’ relationship and approaches may be different from that of the previous residents, some things remain the same at Elephant Odyssey. In past years, M’bari had a reputation for spraying urine on people who got too close, a behavior that males use in marking territory. “Although we haven’t seen Ernest spraying people, he is marking territory in the exhibit,” Pete said. Guests who miss M’bari’s loud, deep roar will be happy to know that Ernest has now started to roar, too—although not yet as loudly or as regularly as M’bari. “At first, Ernest didn’t roar,” Pete said. “At the Safari Park, he was probably suppressed, because his father was ‘the king.’ But here, he’s the only male lion— and now, Ernest is starting to roar every day.”

To see—and hear—what’s new with lions Ernest and Miss Ellen, come visit them at the Zoo’s Elephant Odyssey.

The doctor’s office has finally changed its spots Say goodbye to sloth-like waits and cheetah-fast exams. We’ve designed every aspect of our primary care practice to fit your life — from same-day appointments that start on time to 24/7 video visits to doctors who listen.

Downtown San Diego

|

La Jolla

|

Carlsbad

S U P P O RT

Australian Wildfire Relief

Joining Together to Save Iconic Wildlife

T

he crisis in Australia

is far from over.

For now, wildlife care specialists and conservationists are providing food and ongoing

medical treatment for animals

that were rescued from the fires. But the challenges will continue long after the fires are out. When the animals in care recover and regain their strength, they’ll be returned to a changed landscape. They’ll have to find new homes and battle threats like starvation, dehydration, and exposure.

Australia’s wildlife still needs our help.

26 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2020

A CRISIS OF UNPRECEDENTED SCALE Many species native to Australia are found nowhere else on Earth. As conservationists, we are deeply concerned that many rare and endangered species may go extinct because of this disaster.

Scientists estimate that 1.25 billion wild animals have been killed by the fires. This conservative calculation does not include fish, frogs, bats, and insects.

The number could actually be much higher.

UNMEASURED LOSSES All across Australia, the landscape has been devastated. More than 11 million hectares of land— 43,000 square miles, or 27.2 million acres—have burned. Entire ecosystems have been destroyed.

No one knows exactly how much of Australia’s plant life has been lost to the wildfires, but some of the consequences of this widespread disaster are already visible. When fires destroy trees and plants, dozens of wildlife species lose shelter and food sources. Without brush to hide under or trees to escape into, smaller animals like quokka become especially vulnerable to predators like foxes and feral cats.

And when the rainy season arrives later in the year, debris from the fires will be washed into waterways. Water-dwelling animals like platypuses will be affected by contamination and pollution, as their homes become inundated with soot, ash, charred wreckage, and fire-dousing chemicals.

PHOTOS BY: (OPPOSITE PAGE) KEN BOHN/SDZG PHOTOGRPHER; (THIS PAGE) KIM EDWARDS.

WHAT WE’RE DOING We are dedicated to helping give Australia’s remaining wildlife the best possible chance at survival.

Our field experts on the ground will continue building and distributing food and water stations for animals left in the wild. This is a long-term commitment, as water stations need to be cleaned and refilled and food drops need to be replenished every week.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

Smudge is a specially trained koala detection dog.

As soon as burnt areas are safe to enter, Smudge and his team start looking for wildlife survivors.

DID YOU KNOW? Scientists estimate that Australia’s devastating wildfires have killed more than 1.25 billion animals.

Estimates suggest that nearly a third of koalas in New South Wales alone may have been killed in the fires, and a third of their habitat within the state has been destroyed.

Nearly 250 species of mammals are found only in Australia.

You can help

Your donation will be put to work immediately. Your generous gift will provide critical access to food and water for survivors in Australia.

Your gift of $50 could purchase five small water stations that can be installed in trees.

Your gift of $150 could provide food for wildlife, including special pellets for kangaroos and wallabies.

Your gift of $300 could buy a large water station that supports many species of wildlife.

The smoke from the Australian wildfires is visible from space. It’s also appeared in New Zealand, more than 2,500 miles away.

Your gift of $1,800 could fund Smudge, the koala detection dog, and his team for a day.

In early January 2020, there were more than 200 fires burning across the country.

For gifts of $1,200 or more, your name (or that of a loved one) will be listed on the San Diego Zoo Global Annual Conservation Recognition Plaques, displayed at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park from Spring 2021 to Spring 2022.

Meet Smudge, an essential member of our search and rescue team. He’s a specially trained koala detection dog. For conservationists, finding a koala hiding in a tree is nearly impossible—but not for Smudge! He uses his nose to track through the forest, searching for koalas, and alerts his handlers when he finds a survivor.

Smudge’s team includes expert climbers, who bravely ascend 200 feet into swaying eucalyptus trees. Using special equipment, they bring the koalas down to safety. This dedicated group even managed to find and rescue a number of koalas before the fires reached their trees!

Your gift of $3,600 could buy a trailer, water tank, and pump to refill large water stations for vast areas every week.

To donate online, visit endextinction.org/australia.

Thank you for joining us as we come together to save species.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 27

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.

COUNTING SHEEP Conducting an aerial survey of Peninsular bighorn sheep from an open-air helicopter a few hundred feet above the rocky landscape is not for the faint of heart. But in our rapidly changing world, it’s important to assess the population status and connectivity of this species. This distinct population segment is listed as Endangered. Distributed along the rugged Peninsular Ranges, from Southern California to the tip of Baja California Sur, habitat fragmentation poses significant threats to bighorn sheep. The survey last November documented how many sheep were spotted each hour (to standardize observations) as well as the age class, sex, and number of yearlings. But finding the camouflaged sheep below with wind-whipped eyes was a challenge. “It’s like standing and looking down for an ant,” said Mathias Tobler, Ph.D., associate director, Population Sustainability, San Diego Zoo Global. “They are so small from the helicopter that you only see them if they run.”

28 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2020

Bighorn sheep associate in ewe groups, made up of females and their offspring, while rams roam between groups, joining ewes only for the breeding season (July– December). Mature males have big, curled horns—the size and wear patterns illustrate their age class. Surveys are conducted in the fall, after the lambing period and during suitable weather, to minimize disturbance to the sheep and maximize detectability. Happily, researchers noted a record number of sheep in the Sierra Cucapah region and an overall higher number of sheep observed per hour. “We almost lost them,” said Lisa Nordstrom, Ph.D., associate director, Recovery Ecology, SDZG. “They were threatened in the 1970s, then crashed in the ‘90s. Both US and Mexican collaborators are helping to carry out this conservation effort, and it is paying off.” With adequate funding, further genetic studies and tracking projects will expand our understanding of this iconic species.

PHOTO BY: RAY LEE

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI | STAFF WRITER

Attention all Flappers and Fellas!

R·I·T·Z Co-Chair Michelle Forsythe

R·I·T·Z Co-Chair Kristi Pieper

San Diego Zoo Global Presents

Rendezvous In The Zoo (R·I·T·Z)

Saturday, June 20, 2020 6:30 p.m. – Midnight at the San Diego Zoo Come raise your glass to progress and prosperity as we toast the San Diego Zoo with an extraordinary event.

This year’s R·I·T·Z gala is unlike any other—full of top-secret speakeasies, animal encounters, and swell dancing under Rex’s statue. Plus, there will be sumptuous dining stations, decadent desserts, and there’s no cap on giggle water. Come on down where fashion sits—right here at the Zoo, puttin’ on the R·I·T·Z!

Benefiting the new Denny Sanford Children’s Zoo at the San Diego Zoo MaximFesenko/iStock/Bartender, Mordolff/iStock/Dancers, ysbrandcosijn/iStock/Musician

Reservations are going faster than moonshine during Prohibition!

Make yours today by visiting ritz.sandiegozoo.org or contact Marilyn Neumann: 619-287-5435 | sdzooritz@gmail.com

ZOONOOZ

®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112

SPRING FUN AT THE ZOO AND SAFARI PARK

Did you hear?

Gift Annuity Rates Are Up!

Would you like more income and financial security?

Do you own assets that produce little or no income?

Consider a charitable gift annuity with the San Diego Zoo today!

• You can make a gift that costs nothing during your lifetime.

• You can give appreciated stock or property and bypass some capital gains tax.

• You can get a monthly check for life in return for your gift.

Updated San Diego Zoo CGA Rates ONE LIFE

T WO L I V E S

AG E

R AT E

AG ES

R AT E

71 75 80 85

6.31% 6.72% 7.49% 8.74%

71 & 73 75 & 78 80 & 82 85 & 87

6.20% 6.62% 7.28% 8.33%

This table includes only a few selected ages and the corresponding annuity rates effective October 1, 2018.

Minimum gift requirement is $25,000.

Visit ZooLegacy.org or call 619-557-3947 today to request your FREE personalized gift illustration.

No legal or financial advice is provided herein.

Individuals should seek the advice of their own professional advisors. © 2020 San Diego Zoo Global. All rights reserved.