print version - Sacramento Zoo

pronounced mah-GEE-zoh, meaning the message in Swahili
Volume 50, no. 1
Spring 2011
Conservation means different things to
different people. At home, it may mean
energy efficient light bulbs, reusable
shopping bags, biking more and driving
less, buying organic and locally grown
food, or diligently recycling. At the Zoo,
conservation means all that and more,
with efforts extending to preserving endangered species, safeguarding wildlife
and wild areas, and motivating others to
be responsible stewards of the earth.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) helps endangered species
through the Species Survival Plan® (SSP)
Program—a long-term reproduction and
conservation plan which provides species
with an insurance policy against extinction. The Sacramento Zoo is involved
in 22 SSP programs and successfully
welcomed a newborn Sumatran tiger,
a trio of Red river hog piglets, four
White-faced whistling ducklings, five
Fulvous ducklings and seven Burrowing
owlets within the last year.
The Zoo’s Conservation Committee
supports global and local conservation
projects that sustain the preservation
of wilderness areas and biodiversity,
supporting over two dozen different
projects worldwide. One of the Zoo’s
largest conservation efforts is focused
on protecting Grevy’s zebras in Kenya.
The Grevy’s Zebra Trust raises awareness
of conservation issues in local communities, monitors populations, coordinates
productive partnerships with local
organizations and secures resources for
Grevy’s zebras through holistic management of community rangeland.
In addition to assisting on-going global
projects such as the International Snow
Leopard Trust and funding hornbill nest
continued on next page
The Sacramento Zoological Society is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
by Mary Healy
Sacramento Zoological SociETY
Board of Directors
Starr Walton Hurley – President
James Naify – Vice President
Kimberly C. Oxholm – Secretary
Kevin Barri – Treasurer
Terry Kastanis – Past President
Mary Healy – Zoo Director/CEO
Katharine Ayers Gelber
Barbara Bonebrake
Lisa A. Bruno
Nancy E. Cole
Murray E. Fowler, DVM
Patty French
Judy Gregory
John Kaufman
Gail Lenhart
C. Emmett Mahle
Jeff Raimundo
Adham Sbeih
Elizabeth Stallard
Jill M. Trainer, PhD
Alan Yee, MD
Nancy Zarenda
Zoo Hours
February - October: 9 am - 4 pm
November - January: 10 am - 4 pm
Closed Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day
How to Reach Us:
916-808-5888
saczoo.org
[email protected]
Hotline: 916-808-5885
Membership/Zoo Parents: 916-808-5888
Education: 916-808-5889
Group Events/Catering: 916-808-8561
Volunteers: 916-808-7444
Development: 916-808-8815
Maagizo is published by the Sacramento
Zoological Society. All rights reserved.
Editor: Lauren Kraft
Copy Editor: Pam Williams
Photo Credits: Ed Johnson, Lauren Kraft,
Tom Moisuk
The Sacramento Zoo is accredited by the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
www.aza.org
EYE OF THE TIGER. As zoo professionals, we are fortunate
to have an opportunity to champion and connect with
animals. This past October, I was invited on an excursion
to India hosted by Classic Escapes. The trip promised 14
days of unforgettable experiences.
To be honest, India was not on my “bucket list,” but the
dates worked and the description of the visits to India’s
national parks made the trip too good to pass up. I was
excited about seeing tigers, the flagship species and the focus of conservation in
all three parks on our itinerary.
But, just as death and taxes are certainties in life, travel and wildlife are the opposite.
Rain prevented us from visiting Panna National Park. At Kahna National Park, we had
two game drives seeing numerous long-tailed monkeys called langurs and the massive Indian bison known as gaurs … but no tigers. Bandhavgarh National Park was our
last chance to see the secretive feline. As we headed out for our third and final game
drive, we realized just how rare a tiger sighting actually is. Here we were in the park
with the largest density of Bengal tigers in the world and we might not actually see
one! Time was running out and just as we were about to head back to camp, we heard
the sound of rustling bamboo and then a rumbling roar filled the air followed by a
burst of tiger! It was a brief but powerful experience I will always remember.
While I was fortunate to see a tiger in the wild, I was reminded just how important
zoos are because most people won’t get the opportunity to see a giraffe or a lion
or their favorite animal in the wild. Zoos offer a special experience for a personal
connection with wildlife that can last a lifetime. Come see for yourself what the
Sacramento Zoo has to offer!
B e th e S o l u t i o n
continued from previous page
boxes for the Thailand Hornbill Project, the Conservation Committee supports the local
International Bird Rescue and Research Center in Cordelia, California. The Zoo also
provides veterinary care for injured snakes through the Giant Garter Snake Recovery
Program and assists biologists by surgically implanting radio transmitters in Giant garter
snakes. This enables the researchers to track the snakes’ use of available habitat
throughout the central valley of California.
The Zoo is also proud to partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the Seafood Watch
Program, providing educational materials on sustainable seafood and marine ecosystem
threats. The Seafood Watch guide offers recommendations on which seafood to buy or
avoid, helping consumers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood.
(Free Seafood Watch guides are available at the Member & Visitor Services office; stop
by and pick one up the next time you are visiting.)
Conservation is everywhere at the Sacramento Zoo. Donations to our education department support onsite and outreach programs that inspire conservation-minded awareness
and action in young people as well as adults. With a nudge from our Green Team, Zoo
employees pledge to reduce their environmental impact in personal, meaningful ways.
Conservation messages teach us the importance of treading lightly and protecting our
natural resources for the sake of ourselves today and our world tomorrow.
Printed on 55% recycled content
Be moved. Be active. Be the solution.
C alling all members!
The Sacramento Zoological
Society will hold a meeting for
members on Wednesday, March
9th, at 5:30 pm in the Kampala
conference room.
The SZS Board will discuss topics
of interest and give a preview of
new activities for 2011.
Please RSVP to 916-808-5888 if
you would like to join us.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
10am – 12pm
Kampala Center
This free informative seminar will navigate through a
jungle of estate planning topics presented by local attorney
Mark S. Drobny, California State Bar Certified Legal Specialist
in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Mr. Drobny is widely
regarded as one of the top experts on estate planning,
providing information on a variety of topics in an entertaining
manner that will help you design a plan that fits your needs.
Topics will include, but are not limited to:
• Living Trusts vs. Wills
• Probate – How Can it be Avoided?
• Who Needs Durable Powers of Attorney for Financial
Management and Advance Health Care Directives?
• Charitable Gift Annuities
Seating is limited. Please RSVP to Pam Williams at
[email protected] or 916-808-3713 by Wednesday,
April 6th to guarantee your seat.
Fl amingo Round -Up
As part of the ongoing preventative health
care for the animals, each of the Sacramento Zoo’s 40+ flamingos is given a
complete physical examination and vaccinated against West Nile Virus each year.
The flamingo round-up requires extensive planning, employing the skills of over 20
staff members and lots of shade cloth to create “walls” and visual barriers. After
the flock is corralled, each bird is picked up by a keeper, taken to a medical station
where it is examined and vaccinated, its information recorded, then the bird is
released back into the lake exhibit. This year, all flamingos were given a clean bill of
health from the attending veterinarians. Flamingo round-ups have been happening
each year since 2002, and the Zoo staff has the event perfected to a minimum
amount of time required to alleviate unnecessary stress on the birds.
M o n g o o s e l e m u r s are housed across from the Tall Wonders giraffe
deck. This animal is one that guests might walk by without taking much notice
—brown fuzzy lemurs with either a white or rust-colored chin and throat.
The Sacramento Zoo is one of only a few zoos that house these unique primates
and we are proud that they have been part of the Sacramento Zoo since 1977.
As per the Species Survival Plan recommendation, we have exchanged females
with the Lemur Conservation Foundation in Florida. The Zoo’s new two-year-old
female will be on exhibit shortly–she’s the one with the white chin and throat.
Please stop by and enjoy this new addition.
When the flowers bloom and the trees turn green, animal residents at the Zoo chow
down. That’s right – weeds in the garden and buds on the trees mean delicious
treats for most of the animals. Keepers prune back the blossoming rose bushes to
feed the kangaroos, trim bamboo for the primates, weed the flower beds to fill up
the giraffe, and snip mulberry leaves for the skinks in the reptile house. In the wild,
it’s trees, grasses, shoots and bushes that make up the bulk of many creatures’
diets. To keep them healthy and happy in the Zoo, keepers provide as much plant
matter as possible – what Zoo keepers call “browse.”
It takes a strong stomach to digest all that fiber, but most animals are specially
designed to thrive on tough leaves and even sharp thistles. The porcupines will
gnaw through whole branches while the addax will nibble off just the leaves
(then use what’s left as a sparring partner!)
An important part of working in
the Zoo is learning which plants
are safe and which can be tox ic .
In order to provide all these leafy greens, our horticulture staff works hard to keep
the grounds planted with edible trees and safe plants – and we get donated browse
from tree trimmers, parks and guests. Next time you visit the Zoo, you’ll notice the
grounds are beautifully maintained for your enjoyment ... and the animals’ delight!
Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.
10 T H A N N U A L
El Macero
Country Club
May 23, 2011
Hosted by Sam Shane of CBS 13
11:30 AM
Registration, Lunch, and
Putting Contest
1:30 PM
Shotgun Start
6:30 PM
Dinner and Raffle
Registration/sponsorship
information at:
Proceeds benefit the Sacramento Zoological Society
Otterly Wild for Zoo Camp
Each year as summer approaches, the education depart-
Green Ideas You Can Digest
ment gets ready for another exciting summer camp season.
There are many details in designing and coordinating
over 70 camp classes for 1,000+ eager campers: logistics,
schedules, program content, art projects… and what to
wear! This year, the animal that will be adorning camp
t-shirts is the North American river otter. These inquisitive
Q u e st i o n : W h at ’ s f o r D i n n e r?
Did you know that an average meal travels 1,500 miles to
get to your table? That’s a lot of fuel and storage time for
fresh fruits and vegetables.
and fascinating mammals mirror the campers’ enthusiasm
AN S WER : B u y Lo c a l
as the children explore their natural world and learn about
Why:
the animals at the Zoo.
Campers learn not only facts
about animals, but also about
nature conservation.
Counselors highlight simple things everyone can do to
ensure there are animals in the wild for generations to
come. Effortless activities such as turning down your
air conditioner at home, using a reusable water bottle
and picking up trash can make a difference. Small steps
like these help provide a clean and pollution free
environment for animals like river otters living in the
Sacramento waterways.
You can register for a Family Overnight Safari or a
Sacramento Zoo Camp class at www.saczoo.org
starting March 15th for Zoo members and April 1st
for non-members. We hope to see you at the Zoo for
what should be an “otterly” fantastic summer!
Locally grown produce tends to ripen on the
plant, not in the storage truck, which gives you fresher,
more flavorful foods. Plus, you’re supporting your local
growers and economy!
H o w:
Plan your meal around seasonal fruits and vegetables. Shop farmers’ markets for the freshest, seasonal
produce from your area. At your grocery store, look at
labels, ask where your food comes from and try to buy locally. We are fortunate that California produces everything
from rice and wheat, poultry and beef, to fruits, vegetables
and olive oil.
Quick Bite:
Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) is becoming a big trend in eating locally. You can subscribe to a farm of your choice and pick up a box of assorted fruits and veggies weekly from a convenient drop-off
location. Each box is a surprise of fresh-off-the-farm foods!
Check out www.localharvest.org for more information on
eating locally. Sacramento Zoo Green Team
3930 West Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822-1123
www.saczoo.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Paid Postage
PAID
Sacramento, CA
Permit No. 651
Stinkers of the Forest
Tamanduas are
four times stinkier
than a skunk!
Saturday, March 5
Bloomin’ Crazy - Plant Fest – 9 am to 4 pm
Visit with gardening clubs and plant experts; get inspired
to start your spring garden.
Saturday, April 2
Recycle Rummage Sale – 9 am to 4 pm
Find great bargains on books, housewares, collectables,
jewelry and more at our annual rummage sale.
Saturday, April 2
Earth Fest - It’s a Party for the Planet! – 9 am to 4 pm
Learn how to protect and preserve the earth with environmental, wildlife and conservation organizations. Enjoy the
rummage sale, games, crafts and face painting.
Saturday, April 9
Estate Planning Safari – 10 am to 12 pm
Well-known local attorney and estate planning specialist
Mark S. Drobny will help you navigate through a jungle of
topics in this free, informative seminar.
Sunday, April 10
ZooZoom – 7 am to Noon
Join the stampede as thousands of runners raise funds to
benefit the Zoo. There are options for everyone from 5K
to 10K and the Saucony ‘Run for Good’ Fun Runs for kids.
Mondays, May 2, 9, 16
Senior Tea & Tours – 9:30 am to Noon
Have a pleasant cup of tea and a guided tour of the
Sacramento Zoo! Designed especially for seniors ages
55 and over. Registration 916-808-5889.
Saturday, May 7
California Celebration - Multicultural & Art Day
9 am to 4 pm
Celebrate our rich diversity through cultural groups and live
performances. Art will be on display and for purchase from
local and distinguished artists. Keeper chats and activity
stations will fill the Zoo!
Monday, May 23
Swingin’ Safari Golf Tournament – 11:30 am
Come out swinging for the Zoo at the 10th Annual Golf
Tournament sponsored by Nacht & Lewis Architects at
El Macero Country Club. All proceeds benefit the Zoo.