May/June Exzooberance

Bee a Pollinator

A Safe Haven for Rescued Bald Eagles

AquiFur Splash Pad Opening Soon!

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BEE A POLLINATOR

ROAR & POUR RECAP

Pollinators visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot ...

View photos from the recent Roar & Pour TN Whiskey Trail event ...

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A SAFE HAVEN FOR RESCUED BALD EAGLES

AQUIFUR SPLASH PAD OPENING SOON!

The Memphis Zoo has rehabbed eagles since at least 1984 under the USFWS and TWRA Rehabilitation permits. ...

The AquiFUR will be an immersive, zero-depth water play area with slides, dump-buckets, interactive water toys ...

CONTENTS

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Bee a Pollinator facts and guide

What is a pollinator?

Pollinators visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot. Birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and most importantly, bees are pollinators.

Why are pollinators important?

Most flowering plants on the earth need help with pollination. Pollinators assist with pollination by going from one flower to another and carrying pollen to fertilize new plants. Pollinators not only help produce much of the food we eat, but they also What plants are best for pollinators?

Native plant are the best options to build your pollinator garden! Choosing flowering annuals that are native to your region will be best for attracting pollinators of all shapes and sizes. Our favorites are butterfly weed, coneflower, daylilies, lantanas, and zinnias!

What should your pollinator garden consist of?

Your pollinator garden should have different elements to cater to all the needs of the ecosystem.

First your garden needs adult food consisting of a diverse selection of native plants that will offer lots of pollen and nectar and allow for easy foraging by the pollinators.

You also need baby food which are plants that are appropriate for butterfly and moth larvae. A water source, such as muddy spots or small dishes of water, also needs to be in the garden. The habitat itself needs to have nesting materials and protective options, such as hollow stemmed plants, decaying wood, leaves, grass, and bare soil. These all serve as a home for pollinators throughout their life cycles. Lastly, avoid using pesticides or harmful materials in your pollinator garden. By following these steps, you can help develop your own successful pollinator gardens!

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Bee a Pollinator Recap from P4P

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A CONSERVATION PUZZLE: HOW RESEARCH CAN BE USED TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES

BY SINLAN POO

There are many unique and groundbreaking projects happening behind the scenes at the Memphis Zoo. One of those projects is happening inside the Amphibian Lab. To preserve endangered species, scientist often use species that are not endangered to understand what would happen under different future scenarios. One of the key research projects that Memphis Zoo researchers are doing is to use the scientific method of hypothesis testing to ask questions like “how can zoos contribute to wildlife conservation?” and “how can we help save certain endangered species?”

To answer these questions, researchers at the Memphis Zoo have studied the reproduction, behavior, growth, and development of many species. In particular, the research and conservation of amphibians has always been one of the strengths and expertise of scientists at the Memphis Zoo. Researchers in the Memphis Zoo Amphibian Lab (Dr. Sinlan Poo, Senior Research Scientist, Allison Bogisich, Research Technician, and Mariah Mack, Research Intern) and their collaborators from Oregon State University wanted to find out how we could help save endangered frogs and toads that are slowly

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disappearing in the wild. We developed ways to use in vitro fertilization to breed frogs and toads, and even methods that would allow us to use cryopreservation (freezing) of frog sperm to increase breeding success.

We used these methods to breed frogs within the Amphibian Lab at the Memphis Zoo and then followed the tadpoles throughout their development in natural ponds at University of Memphis’s Meeman Biological Station near Shelby Forest. We found that tadpoles and juvenile frogs were smaller if they were bred through cryopreservation as opposed to if they were bred naturally.

We used computer modeling to see how this would affect a wild population 30 years from now and found out how we could increase the success of captive-release programs.

The support people give to the Memphis Zoo also supports research projects and conservation programs that are actively working to increase our knowledge of the natural world and our efforts to protect vulnerable species.

Illustration by Andrea Rosales.

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A A SAFE SAFE HAVEN HAVEN FOR FOR RESCUED RESCUED BALD BALD EAGLES EAGLES The Memphis Zoo has rehabbed eagles since at least 1984 under the USFWS and TWRA Rehabilitation permits. Over the years at the Memphis Zoo, we have taken in over 50 Bald Eagles as well as other birds of prey. The Memphis Zoo plays a vital role in the rehabilitation and release of these rescued birds.

On December 30, 2021, a male bald eagle arrived at the Memphis Zoo animal hospital and diagnosed as being hit by a car. The eagle was rescued by TWRA officers in Dyer County and brought to the zoo for rehabilitation.

When he first arrived, the male eagle could not stand on his own due to a leg injury. He was also very thin, and it was apparent that his injury was inhibiting his ability to hunt. He has been at the Memphis Zoo for over 2 months healing from his injuries under the care of our excellent veterinary staff. We are very proud of his successful journey as he has healed and is hunting and eating the way he should be. Once he was deemed releasable by Dr. Knightly, our senior veterinarian, TWRA was notified and they coordinated a release date. The male eagle was released near where he was initially found. This is important to ensure the bird is familiar with his territory. When released from his kennel, the male eagle hopped around for a minute before taking off. Since he was in a confined area during his rehabilitation, it took time for him to stretch his wings and be ready to soar. However, shortly before our team left, he was flying high into trees and displayed signs of a full recovery.

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The Memphis Zoo is honored to be a safe haven for rescued eagles to come to when they need to be healed and play a part in their recovery. We believe that these wild creatures belong in the wild where they can fly and roam free. This male eagle has been given a second chance at life and will hopefully mate and raise eagles for future generations to come.

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KEEPER FEATURE:

AARON BUCCIANTINI Where are you from originally?

I was born and spent my childhood in Massachusetts before moving to Upstate New York as a teenager.

Where did you work before the Memphis Zoo? I worked primarily with black and white rhinos at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida before coming to Memphis Zoo. I also had to opportunity to work with a large collection of hoofstock at Busch Gardens on their 65-acre Serengeti Plain.

What department do you work in?

I am part of the Cat Country/Zambezi team with my primary animals being in Cat Country. I am the tiger, red panda, capybara, and crested screamer primary keeper.

How long have you been a zookeeper?

I have been a zookeeper for five years and I am very fortunate to have met some amazing people and animals in that time. The relationships and connections that are built within this job are truly special.

Have you always wanted to work with animals?

Outside of working at a car wash during high school, working with animals is all I have ever done. I worked for a large group of veterinary hospitals in Upstate New York for nearly 10 years both as a Veterinary Assistant and as a Licensed Veterinary Technician.

After going back to school where I studied Zoo Animal Technology at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, I was given the opportunity to work at Busch Gardens in Tampa and now at Memphis Zoo. I enjoy the challenges of working with animals and the connections that are made between animals and people. I can’t imagine doing anything else!

What is your favorite species to work with at the zoo?

Working in Cat Country has given me the opportunity to work with a lot of species that I have always wanted to gain experience with. I am of course biased in that I really enjoy working with our two tigers, Gusti and Dari. Working with both our Bengal tigers when they were at the Memphis Zoo and our Sumatran tigers have taught me many lessons on how to be a better keeper. I also really enjoy working with our red pandas, Mars and Lucy, as well as our capybara boys, Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon, with their best buddy Rick the crested screamer. The connections I have with each of them are incredible.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I really enjoy spending time outdoors, whether that be fishing, hiking, or camping. I also really enjoy working on my aquariums at home and I’m learning to play the ukulele (poorly).

Do you have any pets?

I am currently “fostering” three cats (for the past 10 years) and have a corn snake and a saltwater aquarium with coral and a pair of ocellaris clownfish.

What is your advice for anyone that wants to be a zookeeper?

Always be searching to learn something new, whether it be knowledge from a book or a practical skill that will make you more effective as a keeper. Be persistent, the first time I was looking to enter the field as a zookeeper I applied to more positions that I can count before getting an interview. There are numerous paths to become a zookeeper, do your research and stick with it!

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PRESENTED BY

AQUIFUR SPLASH PAD OPENING SOON! The AquiFUR will be an immersive, zero-depth water play area with slides, dump-buckets, interactive water toys, and even a special section just for toddlers. Over the years our visitors have repeatedly demonstrated that they enjoy the few water features at the zoo. We wanted to be a safe place that can be enjoyed by all even during the extremely hot days we experience in Memphis. AquiFUR should provide a great oasis for our younger visitors and their parents to cool off while spending a fun filled day at the zoo.

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The AquiFUR will feature luxury cabanas and party rooms great for families, groups, birthday parties, and other events. The AquiFUR will have concessions available for purchase and lockers to rent to store personal items.

Admission to the AquiFUR splash pad will be $8 for members and $12 for non-members (admission is on top of regular zoo admission). We will have two time slots to reserve in the splash pad: one in the morning from 9:30am to 1:00pm and one in the afternoon from 2:00pm to 5:30pm.

Stay tuned for more details as we near the opening in June 2022!

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Contributions The following friends are gratefully acknowledged for their thoughtful gifts made February 16, 2022 through April 10, 2022

Gifts of $250 and Above Jennifer Johnson Allen Anonymous Dawn Brown David B. Ferraro Mac McAllister Thomas Ratliff

MEMORIALS Gifts Received in Memory of Dorothy Stell Berry Tamala Brightman Patricia Daniel Steve and Dana Dodd Robert and Sharon Dunseath Joellen Evans Mary Gonzales Linda Green Lisa Gross Sandra Harris Paul LeMay Julie Little Beverly McKnight Ron and Dale Moore Dennis and Janet Phillippi Greg and Mallory Renick Monterey and Kim Riddering Rick and Susan Riddering Laurie Tucker William West Thomas Willinham

HONORARIUMS Gift Received in Honor of Ya Ya, Le Le and the Panda Keepers Shirley Quach

Gift Received in Memory of Thomas F. Boggs Wight Boggs Gift Received in Memory of Joan Kausler Rhea Robert and Corinne Adrian Gift Received in Memory of Leslie Landau James and Natalie Jalenak Ron and Deedee Perel Gift Received in Memory of Betty White Van Harris

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