annual report 2010 - Lee Richardson Zoo

ANNUAL
REPORT
2010
LEE
RICHARDSON
ZOO
CITY OF GARDEN CITY
ZOO DEPARTMENT
2010 ANNUAL REPORT
The Lee Richardson Zoo continues to amaze, educate and entertain visitors from around
the globe. An informal survey by a Kansas zoo colleague placed the Lee Richardson Zoo second
statewide in attendance for family tourism destinations. Sedgwick County Zoo ranked number
one while the Topeka Zoo, Exploration Place, Botanica and Great Plains Nature Center in
Wichita took the next four spots behind LRZ.
Our facility attracted local residents, regional visitors, and tourists from forty of the fifty
states, Mexico, Canada and England. First time visitors often express delight and astonishment
at the quality of exhibits and beauty of our zoo, the close proximity of animals on display, the
value for their admission dollar, and the friendliness of the staff.
Our staff is dedicated to providing the best care for our animals and a safe environment
for animals and guests. They are also dedicated to advancing our conservation goals, providing
an enjoyable and memorable experience for visitors, all while promoting conservation and
education with our guests to help them better appreciate the natural wonders of our planet.
We continue to build a highly professional staff and improve our facilities to better our
community, contribute to our profession, and further conservation efforts worldwide. Whether
we are caring for animals that are healthy, geriatric, dangerous or uncooperative, repairing aging
facilities, or facing staff shortages, we take pride in our continued accomplishments, as well as in
the pride the community takes in their zoo.
As an encore to Cat Tales, a second theater production to benefit Cat Canyon was a
roaring success, and kept this project in the public eye while generating great publicity and funds
for FOLRZ. Animal Crackers In My Zoop, created and produced by Doral “Skip” Mancini
attracted hundreds of fans from all over Southwest Kansas. Thanks to publicity resulting from
Animal Crackers, the Pepsi Challenge, several special events, and the efforts of new FOLRZ
Executive Director Mary Palmer, Cat Canyon funding finished the year with a total of $703,034.
A goal for completion of fundraising was set for November 2011.
A Denver based videography company filmed at the zoo for a children’s video entitled
“My Visit To A Zoo.” This video will be released in early 2011 and exclusively features the Lee
Richardson Zoo. It will be sold nationwide, and in the zoo’s gift shop.
The completion of three building projects this year included a tremendous new addition
to the Finnup Center for Conservation Education featuring the Katherine Hart Conference Room,
a distance learning studio equipped with all new HD equipment, larger and improved holding
rooms for our animal ambassadors, and additional storage space. The new conference room has
quickly become a favorite location for community meetings, training sessions, events and other
activities.
The second building was a much needed replacement for our South American Pampas
barn, which now enjoys natural and electric lights, in-floor heat, drains and sewer system,
running water, and separate stalls to accommodate six South American species, including the
much loved anteater and the new Maned wolves.
A third project, the expansion of our Siamang holding barn, provides greatly improved
facilities for this endangered species. Expanding our holding from one tiny area housing two
animals to multiple larger holding stalls will enable us to acquire a new breeding male to
reproduce and conserve this appealing ape.
We also enhanced the lion exhibit, increasing fence height and adding new secondary
containment yard gates to facilitate access for maintenance. A future connecting chute between
the yards will allow the lion pride to utilize both yards and will provide a venue for zoo staff to
conduct daily training sessions with the lions in public view.
Kristi Newland highlights significant events in our Animal Division, but of special note
was the debut of Maned wolves, a new species in our South American Pampas display, the
hatching of a critically endangered Bali Mynah chick, the birth of three threatened Pygmy Slow
lorises and an endangered Bactrian camel, and the hatching of a Temminck’s tragopan chick.
We celebrated the first birthdays of our very popular and rambunctious lion cubs, and then bid
them farewell as they transferred to other zoos. Our Dromedary camels also left for a new
facility, in preparation for a future Masterplan project that will relocate the entrance road through
their yard. An opportunity to keep them together and place them in a good home was too good
to pass up, however the Bactrian camels remain on display just across the street.
The Education Division continues to provide excellent formal and informal educational
opportunities to eager learners in Garden City and around the world. With a total of 749 formal
and informal contacts reaching 31,762 individuals, the division inspires animal appreciation,
assists teachers by providing supplementary support for their lessons, stimulates young minds,
and hopefully encourages a caring ethic for the environment with their engaging and professional
presentations. Our Distance Learning programs connected with nearly 7,000 people from Kansas
to Great Britain, Canada, and Mexico. Our trained and dedicated Docent volunteers continue to
support the zoo by expanding the reach of the education division with their knowledge and
enthusiasm.
Our talented Maintenance Division works tirelessly to ensure that our exhibits, buildings
and grounds are in good repair and safe for staff, visitors, and animals. They are involved in the
planning and implementation of construction projects of all sizes, and provide assistance to hired
contractors working in the zoo as well. They are responsible for a multitude of diverse repairs,
event prep and support, and grounds care. They take great pride in the zoo, and the zoo’s
appearance and reputation is a testament to their dedication and talent. Projects of note for 2010
included the installation of sail shades at the Kansas Waters exhibit and Triangle playground;
getting the aging, hand-me-down generator for the aviary, elephant and giraffe barns operational;
connecting new power to the siamang, leopard, crane barns and new street lights in Wild Asia;
major lighting and electrical renovations at the Safari Shoppe with the assistance of the Electric
Department; extensive underground fence installation in the South American Pampas exhibit;
and assisting with the tending and sale of compost.
The zoo greatly appreciates the support and assistance of other city departments including
all of the Public Works departments. Loans of special equipment and accompanying personnel
from the Street, Electric, Water, Wastewater, and Parks Departments is invaluable in helping us
accomplish tasks that we couldn’t do on our own.
General visitation and special events at the zoo this year attracted many guests. Events
included the Annual FOLRZ Membership dinner, Animal Attractions (Valentine dinner), the
Members’ Behind the Scenes tour, A Wild Affair, Earth Day, summer zoo camps, BOO! At The
Zoo!, and Animal Crackers in My Zoop. We supported the efforts of other community events
including the Tumbleweed Festival, Federal Junior Duck Stamp display, the July 4th Municipal
Band concert, swim meets, and numerous runs, walks and triathlons. The zoo enjoys the support
of a host of volunteers ranging from trained Docents serving the education division to the
FOLRZ Board of Directors and the city’s Zoo Advisory Board. Volunteers make possible many
programs and events that would not be possible solely with paid staff.
In conclusion, 2010 was a productive year with many large and small improvements that
will be valuable as we anticipate our accreditation inspection. The Lee Richardson Zoo is a
wonderful community and regional asset, and recognition and appreciation of this fact becomes
more well known with each passing year.
Kathy Sexson
Director
Zoo Attendance
300,000
262,651
249,986
250,000
223,085
217,711
218,665
211,542
209,785
200,000
200,003
198,036
195,842
198,731
190,530
182,137
# of People
181,559
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
year
This chart illustrates our attendance from 1997 to 2010. Years with higher visitation
generally reflect the opening of a new, major exhibit, such as in 1998 when Wild Asia opened
and 2005 which was the first season for the Kansas Waters Exhibit.
Attendance in 2010 was down about 8%, possibly due to increased gas costs and economic
challenges across the nation.
To instill appreciation and encourage stewardship of
the Earth's natural treasures through the exhibition,
conservation and interpretation of wildlife.
Animals in
Collection
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Invertebrates
Total
Conservation
Contributions
Membership
Households
Education
Formal Onsite
Distance Learning
Formal Offsite
Informal Programs
Loans
Total
Attendance
Total Attendance
Free Admissions
New Exhibits
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Species/
Specimens
46/119
58/133
17/23
5/11
4/50
130/336
Species/
Specimens
39/109
49/112
15/21
5/9
3/25
111/276
Species/
Specimens
49/115
51/109
15/20
4/8
3/33
122/285
Species/
Specimens
47/112
49/106
14/21
5/10
4/16
119/265
Species/
Specimens
42/95
48/112
14/20
5/8
5/30
114/265
$2,278.00
$2,017.00
$2,223.00
$2,855.00
$2,800.00
1400
1283
1325
1212
1290
Participants/
Programs
6,011/317
9,313/297
4,324/147
5,958/102
3,760/152
29,366/1,015
Participants/
Programs
6,674/372
9,207/249
5,026/169
5,247/112
1,715/14
27,869/916
Participants/
Programs
7,606/364
6,779/221
7,279/218
7,622/74
610/19
29,896/896
Participants/
Programs
7166/410
11,997/372
4,177/132
11,001/246
791/44
35,132/1,204
Participants/
Programs
5,862/274
6,892/187
7,564/235
10,919/29
525/24
31,762/749
200,003
162,805
190,530
151,310
181,559
154,508
198,731
168,438
182,137
149,906
Elephant Barn
Renovation
New Bridge at
Duckpond
Strategic
Plan
Completed
Giant
Anteater
SA Pampas
bldg & maned
wolf exhibit
Tire Mulch at
Playground
Zoo's 80th
Birthday
Cell Phone
Tour Initiated
Wetland at
Duckpond
Lion fence
enhancements
Sloth
Bears/Red
Ruffed
Lemurs
Construction
begun at
FCCE, SAP,
siamang
Siamang barn
Finnup Center
addition
Rubber Floor
in Elephant
Barn
Pygmy slow
loris
Sail shades
installed
2010 Education Division Highlights
•
•
•
•
•
•
Programs
The Division of three full time staff, one part time intern, and dozens of Docent
volunteers reached 31,504 people through 728 programs and 24 material loans
Docent training was updated and added three new volunteers to our roster.
Conducted five sessions of Summer Zoo Camp.
Participated in GEMS (Girls/Guys in Engineering, Math and Science) and Ark River
Water Festival for students in 5th through 7th grades.
Fees for Distance Learning programs were instituted smoothly in January, with little
change in the number of programs.
Zoomobiles reached an all time high and many schools have requested monthly
zoomobile programs to supplement curricula.
2009/2010 Comparison
Programs
Formal (education center)
Distance Learning
Zoomobiles
Informal programs & special events
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total Programs
-40
-183
+94
-5
Total People
-820
-5045
+3162
+1266
Events
Hosted Earth Day “Party for the Planet” event in conjunction with nationwide AZA
effort, with an attendance of 1400 students and teachers
Lion Cub birthday party attracted 1200 guests.
Third annual Valentine’s event “Animal Attractions” drew an attendance of 52 people
Hosted Project Wet and Wild workshops in conjunction with Kansas Association for
Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) for local educators
Ribbon cutting and Grand opening celebration for the new addition to the Finnup
Center for Conservation Education, featuring:
Hart Conference Room
New Distance Learning studio outfitted with new HD equipment and mobile cart.
Two individually climate controlled animal rooms
Docent lounge
Additional storage space and garage
Assisted with annual Behind The Scenes tour for FOLRZ
Staff and Docents provided Discovery Carts at Tumbleweed Festival and BOO!, and
facilitated animal ambassador appearances at A Wild Affair.
Collaborated with Girl Scouts and other Kansas zoos for a Girl Scout recruitment
event in August
Projects
Graphics completed include new vehicle gate signage, updated zoo maps, Maned
wolf signs, painted animal cut outs for donation tank, Pygmy slow loris backlit
graphics, and a redesign of cell phone tour poster and signs.
•
•
•
Junior Duck Stamp Art Display featured in Finnup Center lobby July - August
Received grant from Sam’s Club for Cell Phone Tour
Docent Continuing Education trip was taken to Oklahoma
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Staff
All staff cross trained in Distance Learning
Docents contributed 1017 hours during 2010.
Curator of Education left in October and division was reorganized in November
Previously 2 Coordinators and 1 Curator
New Organization consists of 3 equal positions, eliminating curator position
Manager of Distance Learning and Technology
Manager of Educational Outreach and Camps
Manager of Onsite Programs and Special Events
Education Coordinator became Manager of Educational Outreach
Distance Learning Coordinator became Manager of Onsite Programs
Manager of Distance Learning hired in December to start January 2011
Participation Reached in Education Programs 1992-2010
40,000
35,132
35,000
30,421
29,896
29,366
27,869
25,811
25,000
20,000
10,000
13,013
11,07511,737
24,691
19,721
18,09717,89418,814
16,864
15,697
15,000
13,098
8,006
5,000
0
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Year
Comparison of Program Types by Year
14,000
11,997
12,000
11,00110,919
10,000
Number of People
Number of People
30,000
31,762
8,000
6,000
7,606
7,166
6,779
6,892
7,279
7,564
7,622
2009
5,862
2010
4,177
4,000
2,000
0
Formal On Site
2008
Distance Learning
Formal Off Site
Informal Programs
Animal Division
Many things beyond our little corner of the world were at work during 2010. ISIS, the
database management company zoos use for integrated animal records implemented a completely
new program this year. Because of our excellent linkage rate for records, LRZ was a beta level
site, or one of the second set of users to begin using the program. There have been a lot of
challenges with speed and quite a few bugs to work out, but our registrar is making steady
progress, and the benefits of the new program are predicted to be high. For over ten years, captive
elephants have been tested for tuberculosis yearly. During 2010 all holding facilities were required
to perform two tests instead of one, and both had to be observed by a federal USDA veterinarian.
Both tests for Missy and Kimba showed negative responses. AZA’s SSP program, which has been
in existence since the 1980’s, underwent significant change. Sustainability and conservation are
still the mainstays of the program but the application of breeding programs and the subsequent
effect on collection makeup will be different than before.
Focusing on the homefront, the animals used by the Education staff during many of their
programs were moved to new quarters in the Finnup Center addition. The two rooms provide
significantly more space and better climate control, allowing fine tuning of our animal care. Some
species prefer a warmer climate while others do well in one that is cooler. Now we can meet that
preference without an extensive web of cords, heat lamps and heat pads. The new South American
Pampas barn was put into full use by the keepers, alpacas, cavy, tapir, rheas, giant anteater and our
new maned wolves. While quite shy upon arrival, the wolves have settled in well and are regularly
seen strolling around their exhibit. The Siamangs have a new home that is at least six times larger
than their previous quarters. It comes complete with high benches, heat, air and even a kitchen
sink, as well as a view of the leopard exhibit. Not to be left out, the tropical birds also had a newly
remodeled facility to go to for the winter. The holding cages were completely redone in-house with
some assistance from volunteers, including a staff member of Sedgwick County Zoo. The winter
bird holding area now offers more options (separate cages or multiple cages connected by flythrough doors) and easier upkeep.
As can be expected when working with living beings, the year was marked with the passing
of some friends within the collection, but our staff honors their memory by providing the best care
we can for the other animals and continuing to share the message of conservation.
Our three lion cubs that were a highlight of 2009 celebrated their first birthdays at Lee
Richardson Zoo before moving on to other AZA facilities in 2010. With a recommendation from
the Lion SSP to breed Razi and Amali again, we hope to have more cubs in the near future. The
dromedary camels moved to a new facility making way for modifications to the main zoo road in
the future. The bearded barbets produced an egg but no chick, but it was still progress that we
hope to build upon in 2011. The successful births/hatchings of two superb starlings, a Bali mynah,
a Temminck’s tragopan, a Bactrian camel, two alpacas, a number of red kangaroos and three
pygmy lorises provided bright moments during the year.
Kristi Newland
General Curator
Animal Inventory, December 31, 2010
1.2.3 = 1 male, 2 female, 3 unknown
Common Name
REPTILES &
AMPHIBIANS
Common emperor
scorpion
Texas tan
tarantula
Black widow
spider
Madagascar
hissing
cockroach
Sonoran centipede
Millipede
Barred tiger
salamander
Woodhouse’s
toad
White’s tree frog
Plains spadefoot
toad
Northern leopard
frog
Ornate box turtle
African spurred
tortoise
Desert tortoise
Bearded dragon
Guichenot’s giant
gecko
Great plains skink
Boa constrictor
Rosy boa
Racer
Western hognose
snake
California
kingsnake
Milksnake
Bullsnake
Plains gartersnake
Beginning
Status
Births
0.0.1
Acquisitions
Deaths
0.0.2
0.0.2
0.1.0
Dispositions
0.0.1
0.1.0
0.0.1
0.0.13
Ending
Status
0.0.16
0.0.1
0.0.4
0.0.15
0.0.18
0.0.10
0.0.1
0.0.2
0.0.1
0.0.9
0.0.2
0.0.2
0.0.2
0.0.1
0.0.2
0.0.2
0.0.2
0.0.3
0.0.1
0.0.2
0.0.2
0.0.2
1.0.1
1.1.0
1.0.1
1.1.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
0.0.1
0.0.1
0.0.1
1.1.1
0.0.1
0.0.1
0.1.1
0.0.1
1.1.1
0.0.1
0.0.1
0.1.1
0.1.0
0.1.0
0.0.1
0.0.2
1.0.0
0.0.1
0.0.1
0.0.1
1.0.0
Common Name
BIRDS
Greater rhea
Emu
Temminck’s
tragopan
Japanese silkie
chicken
Golden pheasant
Bar-headed goose
Trumpeter swan
Mandarin duck
Ruddy duck
Chilean flamingo
Abdim’s stork
White stork
Little blue heron
Hamerkop
Turkey vulture
Red-tailed hawk
Northern bald
eagle
Mississippi Kite
East African greycrowned crane
Indian sarus crane
Hooded crane
Demoiselle crane
Stanley crane
Nicobar pigeon
Speckled pigeon
Bleeding-heart
dove
Crested quail
dove
Ringed turtle
dove
Scarlet-chested
parrot
Fischer’s lovebird
Peach-faced
lovebird
Guira cuckoo
Roadrunner
Guinea turaco
Lady Ross’ turaco
Beginning
Status
2.1.0
1.3.0
1.1.0
0.2.0
Births
Acquisitions
Deaths
1.1.0
1.3.0
1.2.0
0.1.0
1.2.3
0.0.1
1.1.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
4.1.0
5.1.0
0.4.0
1.0.0
2.2.0
1.1.0
1.0.1
0.0.1
0.1.0
0.1.0
3.0.0
0.1.0
1.1.0
Ending
Status
1.0.0
0.1.0
1.1.3
Dispositions
0.1.0
0.0.1
1.1.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
4.0.0
8.1.0
0.4.0
1.0.0
2.2.0
1.1.0
1.0.1
0.0.1
0.1.0
0.1.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
0.1.0
1.2.0
3.4.0
0.2.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
0.1.0
1.2.0
3.4.0
0.2.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
0.1.1
0.1.1
1.1.0
1.0.0
0.1.0
1.0.0
0.2.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
1.0.0
0.2.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
0.4.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
Common Name
Short-eared owl
Burrowing owl
Eastern screech
owl
Laughing
kookaburra
Bearded barbet
Blue-faced
honeyeater
Red-billed blue
magpie
Collared Finchbilled bulbul
Fairy bluebird
Violet-backed
starling
Emerald starling
Bali mynah
Superb starling
Taveta golden
weaver
Yellow-billed
cardinal
MAMMALS
Red kangaroo
African elephant
Giant anteater
Red ruffed lemur
Pygmy slow loris
Goeldi’s monkey
Spider monkey
Lion-tailed
macaque
Siamang
Ord’s kangaroo
rat
Chinchilla
Patagonian cavy
Hedgehog
Bobcat
Puma
African lion
Jaguar
Amur leopard
Snow leopard
Beginning
Status
1.0.0
0.1.0
0.0.1
Births
Acquisitions
Deaths
Dispositions
1.0.0
Ending
Status
1.0.0
1.1.0
0.0.1
1.1.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
0.3.0
1.1.0
0.3.0
0.2.0
0.2.0
3.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
3.1.0
2.1.0
2.0.0
2.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
0.1.1
1.1.1
0.0.1
0.1.1
1.0.0
0.1.0
6.15.0
0.2.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
2.0.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
0.0.3
0.0.2
3.8.0
0.3.0
0.2.0
0.1.0
0.3.0
2.0.0
2.0.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
3.3.0
0.2.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
2.2.0
3.1.0
2.0.0
3.7.1
0.2.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
1.4.0
2.0.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
0.2.0
0.1.0
1.0.0
2.1.0
0.3.0
1.0.0
2.0.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
1.2.0
0.2.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
Common Name
Maned wolf
Swift fox
Sloth bear
North American
river otter
Black-footed ferret
Red panda
Baird’s tapir
Black rhinoceros
Bactrian camel
Dromedary camel
Alpaca
Spotted deer
Red deer
American elk
Nelson’s elk
Chinese muntjac
Pere David’s deer
Pronghorn
Reticulated
giraffe
Prairie bison
Gaur
Domestic yak
Central Chinese
goral
Karakul sheep
Addax
TOTAL
Beginning
Status
Births
Acquisitions
Deaths
Dispositions
2.0.0
1.1.0
2.0.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
0.2.0
5.5.0
0.1.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
5.1.0
1.2.0
1.5.0
2.1.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
1.0.0
2.1.0
0.1.0
1.0.0
1.1.1
0.2.0
0.1.0
1.1.0
1.0.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
3.1.0
109.121.38
1.0.0
0.1.1
0.1.0
0.1.0
1.0.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
0.2.0
0.2.0
4.2.0
2.3.0
0.2.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
4.1.0
1.1.0
1.5.0
1.0.0
1.1.0
1.1.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
0.1.0
3.10.22
8.6.24
Ending
Status
2.0.0
1.1.0
2.0.0
1.1.0
8.13.26
1.0.0
12.15.1
0.1.0
2.1.0
100.109.57
Maintenance Division
Major Projects
The Maintenance Division helped facilitate construction on the three new buildings
before, during, and after construction.
•
Finnup Center Addition
Maintenance removed the sprinkler systems that would be covered by the building
and moved valves and heads. After construction, new zones were reinstalled for the new
areas. Sod was laid, grass planted and numerous shrubs planted around the finished addition.
Maintenance prepared and installed a new street light pole and wired in two others that were
disconnected during construction. Staff helped the Public Works Concrete crew form
additional turning space to provide a more functional driveway. We repainted the old trellis,
installed locks in door knobs, and ran cable for networking and computers. The crew helped
move the animal room equipment to the new addition, assisted office staff with dismantling
of the old technology in the Distance Learning studio, and then assisted with moving heavy
furniture and some lighting upgrades for the new FOLRZ office.
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South American Pampas Barn
Underground fence was installed in the new wolf and anteater yards as a dig barrier,
and then planted grass or sod over the disturbed areas. Ornamental grass and trees were also
added in the area. With assistance from Public Works, we demolished the old barn after
salvaging materials. Work was done on yard gates to improve security and prevent animal
escapes. The crew installed dividers and HDPE panels inside the barn for all of the holding
stalls, and outfitted the facility with doors and locks. A guillotine door for the wolves was
built and installed, and numerous pulley systems were constructed for remote operation of
gates in the wolf holding area (from the hallway). A house sensor was wired in and installed
for monitoring of environmental conditions and security. Work on the electrical service was
completed to divide and reduce loads on outlets, and to prepare for installing supplementary
heating units. A secondary containment fence and gate was rebuilt on the north end of the
service area after the removal of construction fences. Sweeps and wind baffles were added to
all sliding animal doors for improved weatherproofing.
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Siamang Barn Asia
Dirt work and tree removal was done before the contractors started. Finished off
barn construction by adding locks, knobs and lock sets, animal benches, guillotine door
pulley mechanisms and doors not installed by contractor, and added fencing over windows
for additional animal security. We graded dirt and rebuilt the fence along public sidewalk at
construction access, including installation of a man-gate.
Miscellaneous Projects
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Safari Shoppe - Removed the security gate in front of the shop and added lights on the
outside of the building to help light up that area at night. Helped with the shop’s
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renovation by doing a lot of the electrical work inside (with assistance of Electric
Department). Replaced gutters after roof work to improve drainage.
The Electric Department replaced the line going into the Cats of the Americas from the
round top in the park, and installed a new electrical panel box on the south outer wall of
the lion barn.
Sun shades put up at the otter yard and the zoo playground at the triangle.
Removed south section of block walls in lion den and began replacing with welded metal
fencing.
Participated in annual Mourning Dove banding study with KDWP.
Installed an additional aerator fountain in the duck pond to reduce ice cover in the winter
and improve aeration in the summer.
Painted and filled in seams in winter bird holding building as new caging was being
installed.
Replaced rope fence in Asia, aviary, both sides of the road at camels, gaur, and bison.
Installed new back-lit graphics at Pygmy Slow Loris exhibit in Wild Asia.
Updated zoo maps were put up.
The zoo’s meters were automated this year by the Water Department so they can be read
remotely. The Water Department also relocated several fire hydrants to more functional
locations after joint emergency drills and consultation with Fire Department
The west green well and the pumps at the duck pond waterfall were pulled and repaired.
Northern Natural Gas closed their Holcomb plant and donated many items to the zoo.
The maintenance staff spent much time picking up and transporting items to the zoo.
Ongoing work on the generator (that will power the elephant and giraffe barns and aviary
in the event of an extended power outage) to get it operational.
Ongoing Maintenance
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Otter ozone and filtration system, omitting leaks, improving operation effectiveness and
safety. Brought in a consultant to advise on system problems and have implemented
some of their recommendations as feasible, and continue to fix others.
Generator at elephant service area was made operational, and is ready to connect to the area
buildings.
Tree and shrub pruning throughout the zoo. Areas of special attention included lion yard
around fencing, to prepare for heightening project; west green evergreens, over zoo roads
through the zoo, from the office to Main Street. This includes dead tree removal.
Sprinkler systems throughout the zoo repairs and some installation.
Vehicle maintenance oil changes and repairs (with assistance from fleet maintenance).
The gun team this year had three range sessions, as well as a training meeting, along with
gun safety classes for all employees.
Two sewer lines in the zoo with very poor drainage due to tree roots were treated chemically
for roots, and then mechanically by the Wastewater Department. This will be repeated
until a permanent solution can be implemented. Lines were from the elephant barn to the
bubble, and the line going north from the lion restroom.
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Zoo grounds, mowing, trimming, and fertilizing, as well as pest (chigger and mosquito)
control in specific areas, and aerating in high traffic areas, (Asia moon gate, spots on the
west green, the office, between the giraffe and gold fish pond).
The crew helped prepare for and clean up after A Wild Affair, Boo! at the Zoo, Animal
Crackers in My Zoop, Tumbleweed Festival, Earth Day, the Museum flea market, and
Girl Scout and Boy Scout campouts
Training and classes
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Back safety, electrical safety, blood borne path, trenching and open hole safety, PPE, mower
and weed eater safety, OSHA, fire extinguisher use, pepper spray training, firearms
safety, and chain saw safety, as well as standard annual training for working in heat or
cold, mower and weedeater safety, zoonosis, etc. I completed a ten hour OSHA class
along with four supervisor training classes.
Hiram Thoman
Maintenance Foreman