Keepin' it Wild July - September 2019

Keepin’ it Wild!

July-September 2019

A digital publication of Zoo Miami Foundation and Zoo Miami.

OUR MISSION: The Zoo Miami Foundation fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: - Baby Rhino Makes History - Top 4 Ways to Beat the Heat - Pygmy Hippo Undergoes Surgery

Keepin’ it Wild

is a quarterly digital publication of Zoo Miami Foundation that provides information for the

LETTER FROM THE CEO

friends, supporters and Members of Zoo Miami.

Summer is in full swing at Zoo Miami and the only thing rivaling the Miami heat is our baby rhino fever! This past April, we celebrated the birth of an endangered Greater One Horned Rhino, who has since stolen both headlines and our hearts. While every birth is special, this one was truly historic, as she was the first successful birth of this species to be the result of induced ovulation and artificial insemination. This is a remarkable achievement that is the result of careful planning, hard work and the dedication of our Zoo Miami staff!

For more information, please contact: Zoo Miami Foundation 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177 (305) 255-5551 / www.zoomiami.org Zoo Miami Foundation’s Mission Zoo Miami Foundation fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo.

Zoo Miami Foundation Board of Directors: Chair: Jose C. Romano Chair-Elect: Eric Eikenberg Treasurer: Kathy McDonald Secretary: Armando Fernandez Past Chair: Jim Kushlan, PhD. Alan Atkinson Mary Barley Dr. Jose Francisco Barros Sandy Batchelor Jacey Birch Luis E. Boué, CPA John V. Chibbaro Jose Felix Diaz Diane Dickut Larry Feldman, PhD Diana L. Fitzgerald, Esq. Robert Furniss-Roe Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez Michael Heithaus, PhD.

Kimberly Kalkus Jim Kushlan, PhD. George Leser Daniel J. Licciardi Sharon MacIvor, DVM Maria I. Nardí Marc A. Osheroff Ann Pope Aliette D. Rodz, Esq. Dr. Michael Rosenberg Patricia Siles, CPA Eric J. Stephens Merrett R. Stierheim Peter “Chip” Vanderburg, Jr.

EMERITI DIRECTORS Rodney L. Barreto Vincent L. Berkeley Jennifer Boin Getz Roger Carlton Harlan S. Chiron, MD Ambassador Sue Cobb Linda Coll Ron Esserman William J. Gallwey, III, Esq. Robert W. Hudson, Esq.

Sherrill W. Hudson Bernard Klepach David Konfino Jack Lowell Manny J. Rodriguez, P.E. Edward Soto Lawrence O. Turner, Jr. Diana Udel Ana VeigaMilton, Esq. Andrew H. Weinstein, Esq.

President/CEO: William W. Moore Zoo Director: Carol Kruse Zoo Admission Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily Last ticket sold at 4 p.m.

Editor: Rashielle Teape Contributors: Janelle Budell, Natalie Canelas, Samantha Capparelli, Cindy Castelblanco, Sarah Chapman, Patricia Fernandez, Sara Greene, Yvette Jones, Ron Magill, Bill Moore, Andrea Obregon, Edith Pearson, Jessica Parks, Bonnie Rionda, Carlos Simoes, Ron Stayton, and Katy Wilhelm Layout & Design: Parrot Fish Studio

Photography: Ron Magill

Special thanks to Ana VeigaMilton and the Zoo Miami staff, for without these people, this publication would not be possible.

FOLLOW US

Of course, every summer we get to look forward to exciting events like $10 Days, this year held July 1 -5. The event doubles as a celebration of our nation’s independence, as well as Zoo Miami’s anniversary – this year we are 39! Guests are invited to join us for five days of discounted admission, giveaways and goodies from our sponsors, music, and of course, tons of wildlife.

In the midst of our stampede of summer campers, we are also reminded of the importance of education for our future generations. We are endlessly fortunate to have the support of incredible sponsors that help us continue and build upon our education programs throughout the year.

Thanks to sponsors like Brighthouse Financial, Peacock Foundation, the Kirk Foundation, and Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, and MercedesBenz of Cutler Bay, we are able to expand our reach and impact through programs like Zoo Camp, the Animal Fun Factory, Zoo to You, Conservation Teen Scientists and more.

Through other sponsors and supporters, we have also been able to bring improvements to the zoo both on park walkways and behind-the-scenes.

Thanks to the Gail S. Posner Trust and Sanford J. Schlesigner, Trustee, we’ve been able to expand and renovate the new Posner Australian Center. AAA – the Auto Club has partnered with us to become the official sponsor of our Safari Cycles, and will be celebrating with giveaways on August 10 and December 7! And of course, our incredible community of supporters has helped us purchase a much needed dental x-ray machine for Bella the orangutan and her animal friends at Zoo Miami.

We are thankful to have such a strong foundation of support here at Zoo Miami and Zoo Miami Foundation, and proud of all of the work we’ve been able to accomplish because of it!

You can help support the zoo as we continue to grow!

BILL MOORE ZMF CEO/ President 2

DONATE NOW!

Inside This Issue 4

Summer Deals

5

Top 4 Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

6

Tree Kangaroo Joey Makes Appearance

8

Zoo Miami’s Baby Rhino Makes History

Wild advice from our very own animal residents on how to beat the heat

Welcome the first baby rhino born from artificial insemination

10

Adventures in Learning

12

New Names for our Painted Dog Puppies Plus, we address the unfortunate passing of a puppy

13

Camels & Cocktails

8

Learn more about the Wild Bunch and their work with Zoo Miami Foundation

14

Notes for Members

16

Zoo Miami Foundation Quarterly Donors

17

Pygmy Hippo Aubergine Undergoes Surgery

20

What’s in Bloom

21

Ron Magill Makes a Wish Come True

22

Balela Salad Recipe by West Kendall Baptist Hospital

12

$10

DAYS JULY 1 - 5

Celebrate our nation’s birthday with $10 Days at Zoo Miami!

4

Tickets at shop.ZooMiami.org

1 HUG A TREE

Tree trunks are good for more than just a nap.

Koalas can be found hugging cool trees in hot weather to reduce their body temperature!

Top 4

2 FAN YOURSELF

When it gets too hot, it helps to keep a fan handy. Elephants have big floppy ears built in that they can flap to cool themselves down! They can also take a dip in water, or use their trunks to hose themselves down.

Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

Is it just us, or is it getting hot in here? Summers in Miami can be pretty brutal, but we’ve gathered some of the best advice from our animal residents to help you stay cool!

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3 TAKE IT OFF

In the middle of summer, less is more. Camels can be seen molting or shedding their thick coats when it gets hot.

TAKE A DIP

There’s nothing like a dip in the pool for some instant relief. Hippos spend most of their time submerged in water to keep themselves cool and moisturized.

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Tree Kangaroo Joey Makes Mother’s Day Appearance!

Over this past Mother’s Day weekend at Zoo Miami, our endangered Matchie’s tree kangaroo “Zayna” got to show off her new baby! Although the joey was actually born on October 14, 2018, it’s just began to expose itself on a regular basis.

As with most marsupials, tree kangaroos are born in an almost embryonic state. Newborns are about the size of a jelly bean and slowly crawl into the mom’s pouch, where most of its development takes place. It takes several months before they pop their heads out to greet the world! This little baby is still confined to its mom’s pouch and will continue developing there for several months before eventually venturing away from her. The sex of the joey has not yet been determined, but it will eventually become part of an international captive breeding program.

Zayna is nine years old and was born at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas. The father, Bayon, is 11 years old and was born at the Bronx Zoo in New York. Zoo Miami has been a long-time contributor to Matchie’s tree kangaroo conservation efforts in New Guinea.

This Is Zayna’s third baby, and the ninth one born at Zoo Miami!

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RUN @ WILD! OCTOBER 5, 2019

BENEFITING

General Registration

Race Day

Participants get a race shirt, finisher medal, access to complimentary food and beverages at the Finish Festival and free zoo admission on race day.

Discounted Registration

Register early for reduced pricing!

7/1-31

8/1-10/4

10/5

$30

$40

$50

It’s a 5K for cheetahs, tortoises and every speed in between.

$15

$20

$25

REGISTER TODAY:

ZooMiami.org/run

Let your kids run wild at Zoo Miami in this fun race for kids ages 2-9.

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IC R O T S I H

Rhino Birth I

IAM M O O AT Z

On April 23, 2019, Zoo Miami welcomed a Greater One Horned Indian rhino calf!

As the second successful birth of this rare species in the zoo’s history, there was already reason to celebrate. However, what made this a truly remarkable event is that it is the first successful birth of this species anywhere in recorded history to be the result of induced ovulation and artificial insemination!

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This is the first baby for seven-year-old mom “Akuti,” whose pregnancy lasted over 15 months. The calf’s dad, “Suru,” is 18 years old.

After several attempts at natural breeding with no success, a special team from the South East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction and Conservation (SEZARC), along with Dr. Monica Stoops from the Cincinnati Zoo met at Zoo Miami. The team collected semen from Suru, and then artificially inseminated Akuti on January 9, 2018. Once we were able to confirm Akuti had conceived, she was trained to receive regular ultrasound exams to closely monitor the fetus’ development.

Once the calf was born, both Akuti and her calf spent over a month in seclusion to bond properly and ensure their health and safety. Of course, this birth was cause for a huge celebration, and the news was covered by media outlets across the country as a tremendous achievement! On June 7, 2019, mother and calf made their exhibit debut, and the Zoo Miami team threw a gender reveal party!

During the general reveal, Suru was welcomed onto the exhibit to open a special enrichment box – revealing that the special calf is a girl! This news kicked off Baby Rhino Weekend on June 8 and 9, where Zoo staff and fans celebrated with a banner signing, gender reveal themed items, a baby registry and more!

It’s a girl!

Akuti and her yet-to-be-named baby girl can now be seen in their home at Zoo Miami.

Support the needs of our baby rhino and contribute to her baby registry

HERE!

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Adventures IN LEARNING

SPONSORED BY

Sign your child up to have an amazing summer zoo adventure! Campers will enjoy animal encounters, science experiments, games, activities and more!

Register now before our spots fill up!

Wild Night Adventures 7 PM – 9 PM $24/ Zoo Member; $30/ non-Member

Join us for a two-hour night adventure at Zoo Miami! Our guided walking tours explore our night-loving animals in action.

Now through August 16, 2019

UPCOMING DA TES:

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Ages 4 – 12 $180/ Zoo Member child; $225/ non-Member child

July 13 – Everglades Escapade August 10 – Eat or Be Eaten September 14 – Amazon Trek

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Roars, S’mores, and Snores Campout Halloween Edition!

October 12 – 13, 2019 6 PM – 9:30 AM $60/ Zoo Member; $75/ non-Member

Bring your own tent and don’t miss out on this Spooktacular night at Zoo Miami! Enjoy spooky stories by the campfire, trick or treating, a special night tour, and more! A light breakfast and Zoo admission on Sunday are included.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 10

Volunteer & Join the Zoo Family!

WE NEED ADULT

VOLUNTEERS!

Volunteers are an essential part of the daily running of the zoo. If you care about wildlife and conservation, then this opportunity is for you! Volunteer opportunities include guest engagement, animal encounters, administration, and the Animal Nutrition Center.

Applications due July 15, 2019

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Fishing Derby Come out to Zoo Miami and help us clean our lakes of invasive fish species! You’ll be helping us improve habitat quality and create room for native fish and wildlife.

We provide the rods and bait, you reel ‘em in! Full-day Zoo admission and breakfast included with registration.

Upcoming Date:

August 25, 2019 7 AM – 10 AM

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

$40/ Zoo Member; $50/ non-Member

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New Names for Two African Painted Dog Puppies We are excited to announce that two of our African painted dog puppies have officially been named!

Wazi Aries “Wazimu” or “Wazi” for short, means “mad-

“Aries” was named by the Gleit family, loyal

ness” in Swahili. Wazi is a powerfully ambitious

supporters of Zoo Miami. Brothers Paul and

little girl, constantly playing with the other pup-

Eric Gleit share a birthday a few years apart and

pies and trying to keep up with mom. During

decided to name the only male pup in the lit-

feeding times, she is always one of the first

ter after their shared horoscope sign. Aries is

puppies to approach the keepers for food and is

a timid yet playful pup. He has taken on a role

always playing keep away with her diet items!

of uniting and defending the girls, as any good

Wazi’s donor wishes to remain anonymous, but

brother would! He can always be seen match-

we are so thankful for their support!

ing strides with his mom “Little Foot”. Although he enjoys playing with his sisters, they often choose to gang up and dog pile on him!

Equipment Failure Leads to Painted Dog Death In much more unfortunate and sad news, Zoo Miami was devastated to announce the tragic loss of one of the juvenile African painted dogs. On May 20, equipment failure led to a door collapsing on the animal, killing it instantly. The juvenile was a female, and one of the five puppies born on January 23.

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On May 18, Zoo Miami Foundation’s Wild Bunch hosted their inaugural Signature Project Unveiling event,

Camels & Cocktails!

The event was in honor of a Wild Bunch-funded habitat restoration project to improve an unused area in the Children’s Zoo – the old Humpy’s Camel Ride area. It took more than six months and required a zoo-wide collaboration, but the old space was demolished and revitalized to serve as an expanded area for the camels and other Wacky Barn residents! Unofficially named “Camel-Lot”, this new space is multi-functional and will provide an opportunity for future up-close animal encounters to connect our community with nature!

About the Wild Bunch The Wild Bunch is a philanthropic service group of like-minded professionals and community ambassadors, who invest their time, talent and/or resources to increase awareness, revenue and advocacy for Zoo Miami Foundation.

Revenue generated by Wild Bunch funds Zoo Keeper proposed impact projects to improve the lives of the animal residents at Zoo Miami.

Join today to protect our tomorrow alongside Miami’s philanthropic servant leaders!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WILD BUNCH 13

NOTES for Members Celebrate the Fourth by Starting a Year-Long Adventure!

Add a new pin to your collection!

Now through July 7*, enjoy these special prices when you buy or renew your Zoo Miami Membership.

Through the month of July, Zoo Miami Members can get their hands on the newest collectible pin. Just stop by Membership Services with your Member ID! Limited to one pin per Membership household.

Family Membership - $169 $100 Dual Membership - $89 $50 Individual Membership - $69 $40

Available only while supplies last.

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*Offer is valid in-park only at Membership Services! Cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.

Show your patriotism this Independence Day with a commemorative brick at Zoo Miami!

4 th of July Brick SALE

Get 10% off on July 4, 2019!

CLICK HERE to Buy a Brick

Become a Premier Member to play a critical role in sustaining Zoo Miami Foundation’s worldwide conservation efforts, innovative education programs, and the care and enrichment of our 3,000+ animals from all over the world!

In addition to standard Zoo Membership benefits, Premier Members receive insider access to Zoo Miami, including behind-the-scenes tours, private animal encounters, opportunities to meet with keepers and learn about their work with animals, exclusive invitations to donor events and programs, and more.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

ADOPT A RHINO Help support our local Zoo Miami AAZK Chapter by purchasing an Adopt a Rhino Keeper Package!

Each purchase through July 25th will include a $5 donation to our AAZK Chapter for their support of global rhino conservation efforts.

Click Here to Adopt 15

We would like to recognize and thank those who contributed to Zoo Miami Foundation between March 21, 2019 and June 20, 2019.

Your generosity helps us fulfill our mission of wildlife education and conservation, and we are truly grateful for your support.* INDIVIDUALS $5,000 +

Fay P. Aronson Shelley B. Daniel Rutherford & Larry Rutherford Eric D. Gleit Arlene L. & Albert Kahn Anna K. Rentz Pat & Chip Vandenberg and Lauren Manley

$2,500 - $4,999

Lisa & David Desmond

$1,000 - $2,499 Diane Dickhut Michael M. Gleit Paul J. Gleit

$500 - $999

Robin & I. Barry Blaxberg David M. Cohn Katrina Daniel Rosen & Michael Rosen Diane & Dennis MacInnes Michael Muskat Mariana A. Rosales-Reid Francine & Herbert Tobin Melissa & David Wetzel

$100 - $499

Sandra M. & Herbert E. Allenson Eric L. Amar Ruby M. Bacardi Helen Torres & José Francisco Barros Brittnie Bassant Sandy Batchelor Rebecca Berton Kayla Blake Kevin V. Blakely Michael J. Broderick Martha L. Sesin & Emmanuel C. Ceyte Patricia & Sherwin Chang Lisa & Christopher Coots Therese & Jose Felix Diaz Amanda Douglas Avis & Lawrence Feldman Diana L. Fitzgerald Jeanette A. Fousek Ana Maria & Santiago Freire Tina & Robert Furniss-Roe Gina D. Garrett-Jackson & Joseph E. Jackson, Sr. Donna Gerken Richard Gilbert Ashley Gill Richard R. Glass

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Anne & Jon Goldman Jessica L. Grant Sara N. Greene & Carlos Lungu Michael J. Harder Cathy & George Harvey Oscar Herrera Laurie Hoffman David A. Horne Amal Kabbani Kimberly & Olen Kalkus James A. Kushlan & Kirsten N. Hines Gail Y. Lenoble Sharon & Daniel Licciardi Sharon A. MacIvor & Joe DeMaria Ronald Mayer Lana & James McNamara Roger G. Misleh Marianne Morrison & James B. Morrison Aisha Subhani & Rehan Naqui Nathalie Pastor José Peña Rose A. Perez-Rubi Gloria F. Plastow Aleta & Thomas Pratt Kristen J. Ranges Carolyn Read Edilia M. Alzugaray & Juan Francisco Rodriguez Aliette & Adrian Rodz Patricia & German Siles Kathleen & Don Sokolik Carol L. Troendle & Harold S. Sussman Rita Suarez-Twigg & David K. Twigg Mary & Gabriel Vidal Betty & Ward Bower Whitten Lisa Bragunier Wilson Marilyn Zuniga

$500 - $999

CORPORATE PARTNERS

GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

$10,000 - $24,999

$250,000 +

$5,000 - $9,999

*We are deeply grateful to our donors for their support.

If your name has been accidentally omitted or listed incorrectly, please contact the Development department at 305-255-5551.

Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Florida Power & Light Qtego Main Street Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics, LLC Wells Fargo Private Bank, N.A.

$1,000 - $4,999

Assurant, Inc. EventBrite, Inc. Samson & Surrey USA, LLC SkyScanner, Inc.

AAA The Auto Club Group AT&T Employee Giving/YourCause Benefit Car Shows Corporation David M. Rogero, P.A. L&C Miami Services, LLC Sunshine Corvette Club, Inc. Tropical Anglers Club, Inc. United Property Management, Inc.

$100 - $499

Bet Shira Congregation, Inc. Boy Scouts of America Troop 10 Easter Seals South Florida, Inc. Giancarlo Designs, Inc. Maranatha Ministries of Faith, Inc. Service Systems Associates (SSA) Sofia’s Hope, Inc.

FOUNDATION PARTNERS $10,000 +

Anonymous Foundation The Batchelor Foundation, Inc. Mary Grace Kujawski Living Trust Todd A. Stuart Foundation

$5,000 - $9 ,999

Dr. Moses & Beatrice Goodman Fund Wells Fargo Foundation The Windhover Foundation, Inc.

$1,000 - $4,999

Coral Gables Community Foundation

$100 - $999

AmazonSmile Foundation

Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs

Bella Gets a New Dental Machine!

Our six-year-old orangutan Bella needed our help and with the support of our community, we answered her call! When she was three years old, at her previous zoo, Bella got stuck between the bars of her enclosure and suffered a compound jaw fracture. Since then, she’s needed nine dental procedures and has been trained for voluntary dental x-rays.

Through generous donations from our community of supporters, we have been able to purchase a much-needed dental x-ray machine and will be able to monitor Bella for years to come!

This machine can also be used to help all of Bella’s beloved animal friends at Zoo Miami.

Zoo Miami Foundation and our extraordinary veterinary team at Zoo Miami are incredibly grateful to all of those who helped make this purchase possible.

From our Zoo Family to yours, Thank you!

Pygmy Hippo Undergoes Surgery On May 24th, pygmy hippo “Aubergine” underwent critical surgery to repair a birth defect that had the potential of becoming a life-threatening condition!

A prestigious team of physicians and veterinarians pooled their skills to repair a secondary palate defect in Aubergine where his soft palate was abnormally short, allowing food to enter the nasal cavity when he swallowed.

Dr. Brandon Rein, a Board Certified human anesthesiologist, worked with Zoo Miami veterinarians, Dr. Gwen Myers, Dr. Gaby Flacke, Dr. Jimmy Johnson, and Dr. Marisa Bezjian, to manage Aubergine’s anesthesia while also collecting blood, inserting catheters, and clearing the nasal passages. Human plastic surgeon, Dr. Miguel Medina of the Miami Cancer Institute, teamed up with Dr. Raul Cortes of the Miami Hand Center and veterinary surgeon, Dr. Brianna Danie lson, and her team to surgically extend Aubergine’s soft palate in hopes of preventing the intrusion of food into the nasal cavities which could lead to serious respiratory complications.

The entire procedure took approximately three hours and following the surgery, Aubergine was safely returned to his barn where he was reunited with his mother and has since recovered well!

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A Big, Special Thank You to…

Brighthouse Financial

for their generous sponsorship of Summer Camp 2019! We are especially grateful to Brighthouse Financial Executive Vice President Myles Lambert and Coastal Wealth Managing Partner Alejandro Mendieta for making this gift possible. This partnership will help us spread our environmental conservation and stewardship messages to the next generation of decision-makers in our Zoo Camp.

The Gail S. Posner Trust and Sanford J. Schlesinger, Trustee

Peacock Foundation, Inc. for support-

The Kirk Foundation for supporting the

ing an entirely new program, offered to 100 juniors at Title I schools to assist with career training and development. Students received first-hand knowledge and experiences with Zoo staff from different departments.

Their support also helped continue the success of our award-winning Conservation Teen Scientist program, now in its 8th year!

for supporting the renovation and expansion of the new Posner Australian Center, now nearly complete!

With the renovations, Zoo Miami is now home to a breeding pair of koalas, a breeding pair of Matchie’s Tree Kangaroos who now have a joey, a new wallaby and our wonderful new wombat. We look forward to seeing you at the Posner Australia Center!

Animal Fun Factory and helping us launch an art & science program for Miami Dade public and private schools! From October 2018-May 2019 the Fun Factory opened its doors to K-12 students, impacting 3,970 students and 5,593 weekend zoo patrons. 49 schools learned about the importance of animal enrichment and helped us keep our animals healthy, happy and engaged through the creation of amazing interactive enrichment devices.

Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay and Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables for granting us $30,000 for the lease of an educational outreach Mercedes-Benz Metris van! The custom-wrapped van will assist in delivering the “Zoo to You” education outreach program to the school community in the tricounty area. These programs bring ambassador animals to raise awareness of the threats their species face in the wild today and conservation initiatives for habitats and endangered species.

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Did you know?

AAA is now the official sponsor of Zoo Miami’s Safari Cycles! AAA Memberships now include bicycle service, making this a perfect connection.

Come out and help us celebrate our new partnership on August 10 & December 7, 2019 The first 500 Zoo Miami guests to visit the AAA booth on these days will receive a special gift!

Get ready because this summer, it pays to be late at Zoo Miami! Come visit us July 13 and August 10 for our Summer Extended Hours Days where you can enjoy a late afternoon stroll through Zoo Miami for a discounted price. Take advantage of the additional sunlight hours and stay until 7 PM.

Beginning at 4 PM, tickets will be available for only $10 + tax (all ages included) and monorail will be free after 4:30 PM!

Tickets at shop.ZooMiami.org 19

WHAT’S IN Bloom ?

Common Name:

Yellow Poinciana

Queen Crape Myrtle

Botanical Name: Lagerstroemia speciose

Find it in the Africa lobe by the Greater Kudu exhibit!

Find it in the Asia lobe in front of the Hyena exhibit!

Common Name:

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Common Name:

Botanical Name: Delonix regia var. flavida

Ylang Ylang

Common Name:

Bromeliad

Botanical Name: Canaga odarata

Botanical Name: Billbergia vittata

Find it by the amphitheatre

Find it in the Amazon & Beyond Plaza

M a k i n g a W i s h Com e T r u e

On June 9th, I was privileged to give a special tour on behalf of the Make-a-Wish Foundation for a young lady who flew in from Aurora, Colorado with her grandparents. Her name is Samantha and she has battled a horrible cancer for much of her young life, already losing close family members to the same disease.

I do a lot of these tours throughout the year and each is very special. However, this one was extra special because this young lady, apart from her cancer battles, has had many challenges.

But when I met her, she had a smile that would make you think she was the happiest girl in the world. When she got to meet some of the animals that we are privileged to work with each day, the tears in her eyes conveyed a joy that is indescribable.

After returning to Colorado, she sent me a note:

“Today was the best day of my life! I don’t remember the last time I smiled like that or the last time I felt this genuinely happy. Days like this are what make it all worth it. Thank you so much – I will never forget this day.”

There is an old saying which states, “One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…….but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

I want to thank the Zoo Miami staff for being part of the team that makes this all possible. I especially want to convey my profound gratitude to the Animal Science staff members who allow me such special access to their animals and who have for many years trusted me so that I can connect their animals with these special people whose lives have been so positively impacted by getting to meet them.

Ron Magill 21

Balela Salad Serves: 8

Ingredients:

Preparation:

• 2 cups cooked garbanzo beans

1. Heat oil in tilt skillet. When oil is hot, add onion, garlic & jalapeño. Sauté 3 – 5 minutes

(drained and rinsed)

• 1 red bell pepper – diced • 1 yellow bell pepper – diced • 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes – halved • ½ cup sundried tomatoes – diced • 1 cup cucumber – diced • ¼ cup red onion – diced • 10 olives – chopped • 5 green onions – sliced thinly • 1 garlic clove – minced • 2 cups baby arugula • 8 tablespoons fresh mint – chopped • ½ cup fresh parsley – chopped • ½8 cup olive oil • Zest of one lemon • Juice of one lemon • ¼ teaspoon of salt • ¼ teaspoon chili flakes • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano 22

2. Add carrot & celery. Sauté 3 -5 minutes.

3. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, and salt. Stir well.

4. Add beans, crushes tomatoes, corn, broth, and quinoa. Stir well.

5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.

Cook for 30 minutes, taste and adjust flavor.

Serve with cauliflower rice and 2 corn tortillas.

Nutritional Information (per serving): Calories 127.6, Total Fat 4.5g, Cholesterol 0.0mg, Sodium 258.0mg, Total Carbohydrate 19.8g, Dietary Fiber 4.2g, Sugars 2.2g, Protein 4.0g.