PlatyPress_4clr2 5/24/12 3:35 PM Page 1
Benefit Spotlight: VIP Tours of the Zoo
P I V s r u To
May 2012
Please remember the Zoological Society in your will or estate plan.
From left to right: Cherie Johnson, Jim Redding; Raymond Kirkpatrick, Andrew Nordquist, Sydney Weisman, and Kurt Weisman.
Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Development Department 1005 W. Blue Mound Road Milwaukee, WI 53226 (414) 258-2333
How does an elephant get a pedicure? Do vampire bats really drink blood? What kind of treats do penguins like? Who takes care of all the trees, plants and flowers on Zoo grounds? Which animals like the smell of cinnamon? The Milwaukee County Zoo is a serene home to more than 2,283 mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles, with more than 333 species represented. The Zoo welcomes about 1.3 million visitors a year who wander our grounds and check out the many creatures who call this their home. As a member of the Platypus Circle, you have a special opportunity to participate in a Platypus Circle behind-the-scenes tour! Tours are led by experienced (and entertaining!) tour guides who will escort you around animal exhibit areas and zookeeper work areas in selected parts of the Zoo. Jim Redding, a retired schoolteacher, joined Zoo Pride, the ZSM volunteer auxiliary, in 1997 and began hosting behind-the-scenes tours a few years later. As part of his training, he shadowed other tour guides and recalls being in absolute awe. “In the Small Mammals Building, the keepers let us touch a real bat and showed us how the bats will ring a small bell in order to get a grape as a treat,” he mused. He could not believe the access that the tours provide. Redding got a sly grin on his face when he said that he “had never before been so close to a lion”! One tour really doesn’t cover the whole Zoo, and different guides tend to offer different perspectives. Redding likes to begin his tours in the Commissary, where guests can see the variety of foods our animals eat and just how much they go through in a typical day. Many people don’t realize that our Zoo has an entire barn underground, called Winter Quarters, which houses some animals during the winter season and provides off-exhibit space for others. “It’s really a special treat to meet our warthog, Boris, and to see the tapir and kudu.”
The tour guides usually gather information about their group ahead of time, to see what their interests might be. Because tours are best suited for guests aged 10 and over, guides check on the age range of their party. Younger friends may not be allowed in all areas for their safety, but fun accommodations can be made to keep their experience special. Have you ever been nose to nose with a moose or a reindeer? Perhaps your interest leans toward the medical care side and you’d like to see the Animal Health Center? Sometimes, simple timing allows for special experiences. “I was taking one group to learn more about the orangutans, and we happened to be by just in time to catch MJ, the female, getting her teeth cleaned,” said Redding. A favorite wrap-up point for most tours is the Aquatic & Reptile Center, where you have a special opportunity to climb above the display and give a few treats to both the pacu and to Onassis, the giant sea turtle and our oldest resident. As the 2012 Zoo season gets under way, we are pleased to roll out a new menu of tour possibilities. In addition to the Platypus Circle behind-the-scenes tours, we’ve created specialized tours that focus on certain interest areas to allow for an even more in-depth experience. Depending on your Platypus level, you have up to eight different tour topics from which to choose. Do you know the answers to the questions posed at the beginning of the article? Contact Melissa by phone at 414-258-2333 x306 or by email at development@zoosociety.org to book your tour today and find out those and much, much more!
The PlatyPress is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Circle. The Platypus Circle is composed of individuals, corporations and foundations who share our passion for supporting the Milwaukee County Zoo, conserving endangered animal species, and teaching the importance of preserving wildlife and its natural environment. The PlatyPress is published two to four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM), 10005 W. Blue Mound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226. www.zoosociety.org
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Thom Brown Dr. Robert Davis Mary Ellen Enea Karen Peck Katz Maria Gonzalez Knavel Joe Kresl (chairman) Jack McKeithan Allen Martin Deborah Musante Jill Pelisek Tricia Shinners Judy Holz Stathas Dave Strelitz Jane Bush Wierzba Ray Wilson DEVELOPMENT STAFF Karen Von Rueden, Vice President of Development Melissa Rankin, Development coordinator NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS Lisa Weisman, Writer Richard Brodzeller, Photographer (unless otherwise noted)
Our Next 30 Years The Platypus Society celebrated its 30-year anniversary throughout 2011. We spent a bit of time reflecting on our founding, our history and our dreams for the future. We recognized 28 members who have been supportive of the Zoological Society for more than a quarter-century, and we welcomed 34 new members. In this issue, we introduce our next 30 years and, in doing so, present a new name – the Platypus Circle. Webster’s Dictionary defines a circle as, among other things, an “area of action or influence” as well as a “group of persons sharing a common interest or revolving about a common center.” The mission of the Zoological Society – to conserve wildlife and endangered species, educate people about the importance of wildlife and the environment, and to support the Milwaukee County Zoo – is absolutely our “common center.”
On the Web For back issues of Platy Press dating to September 2006, go to www.zoosociety.org/pubs/platypress.
May 24 Platypus Circle/VIP premiere of the Zoo’s special exhibit, Adventure Dinosaur!, sponsored by Sendik’s Food Markets, 6 p.m. at the Zoo. June 23 Zoo Ball, sponsored by American Airlines.* July 10 Platypus Circle Family Picnic, 5:15 p.m. at the Zoo.
The Platypus Circle takes us into our next 30 years, and with it comes an enhanced membership program that better acknowledges you, our donors, and offers a variety of benefits and levels of support. The Platypus Circle embraces the accomplishments of the Platypus Society and its legacy. In moving forward, the Platypus Circle plans to increase its impact through fundraising and support of the ZSM mission.
July 23 MillerCoors Birdies and Eagles Golf Tournament at Ozaukee Country Club. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m.* September 27 Platypus Circle Dinner, 6 p.m. at the Zoo.
As we move into our next 30 years, Dr. Robert Davis, the ZSM’s President and CEO, feels strongly that the mission of the Zoological Society is even more relevant and important. “As more species become endangered,” he tells us, “conservation
October 16 Simba Circle Dinner, 6 p.m. at the Zoo; by invitation only.
*For more information, call (414) 258-2333 or go online at www.zoosociety.org.
printed on recycled paper
will become top of mind for many, and the Zoological Society is poised to educate people about the importance of conservation.” He points out that the ZSM is a leader in protecting the endangered bonobo species. “Through programs like the Bonobo & Congo Biodiversity Initiative in Africa and through ongoing research on ape heart disease here in Milwaukee,” he notes, “we are combining conservation and animal management at the Zoo with veterinary medicine to benefit bonobos. I see us expanding similar programs in the future for elephants, gorillas and other endangered animals.”
5240D12
Top: Dr. Bert Davis speaks with children at the lion exhibit. Middle: Laura the bonobo and baby Right: Dr. Bert Davis
Dr. Davis also looks to the ZSM’s commitment to education as being a key strategy in advancing the mission of our organization. “When it comes to education, it’s key to start young. It will be necessary in the future to make zoos and aquariums an extension of the classroom so that children will grow up caring about the amazing animals they encounter,” he notes. “As for our educational offerings, we always say the best way to understand animals is to study them in the classroom and then see them in person at our Zoo.” This groundwork laid by the Platypus founders has put us on the right path. Our future relies on the continued support of our Platypus members. As we move into our next 30 years, we look forward to celebrating this year’s 25-year members and welcoming our new members. With the energy of both veteran members and those who have newly joined, the Platypus Circle will make great progress in achieving our mission.