Winter 2016 - Seneca Park Zoo

ZOONOOZ
A quarterly publication of the Seneca Park Zoo Society
Winter 2016
Zoo’s in situ conservation
program support is on the rise
Internationally, and in our own backyard,
we play a key role in species survival.
SENECA PARK ZOO IS A
place for serious fun that’s committed
to serious conservation efforts.
Seneca Park Zoo Society
Board of Trustees
Stephen Brown, President
Gavin Brownlie, Vice President
Randall Shepard, Treasurer
Peter Lutz, Secretary
Dwight Battles
Kevin Best
Karla Boyce*
Linda Buttrill
Spencer Cook
Tim DeGrave
Suresh Goel
Mary Ellen Guon
Barbara Kelley
Eileen Kreutter*
Robert Mann
James McElheny, Esq.
Michael Morse
Charlie Pulire
David Riedman
Larry Sorel*
Gary Squires
Lawrence Staub, Jr.*
Keith Wilson
* Ex Officio
Zoo Society Leadership Team
Pamela Reed Sanchez
Chuck Levengood
Sharon Peterson
Bart Roselli
Tom Snyder
County Zoo Leadership Team
Monroe County Executive
Cheryl Dinolfo
Lawrence A. Staub, Jr.
David Rinaldo
Lawrence Sorel
David Hamilton
Kristen Miles-Pavia
Gail Tabone
IN THIS ISSUE ...
A letter from ...
Pamela Reed Sanchez
Executive Director, Seneca Park Zoo Society
Last month, the
Monroe County
legislature voted to
adopt the 2015
Master Plan
Improvements
Update, ushering in a new era for
animals and people at Seneca Park Zoo.
The Master Plan Improvements will
pave the way for your Zoo to become
a major tourist destination, providing
hundreds of thousands of people with
transformational experiences with
wildlife.
We have a new mission statement:
Seneca Park Zoo inspires our
community to connect, care for, and
conserve wildlife and wild places.
Simply put, our mission is to Connect.
Care. Conserve.
Larry Sorel’s column on the adjacent
page shares the philosophy behind the
new habitats and ecosystems planned
for the Seneca Park Zoo, and the vision
for the physical plant improvements is
nothing short of thrilling.
Equally important to the design
of these changes — and a critical
component in the Master Plan planning
process — was the corresponding
creation of a sustainable business model,
Grayce Scott
Learn what’s in store for Seneca
Park Zoo as we plan for our
future.
Pages 4&5
.2.
Take a look at a very welcome
addition to the Zoo, our
education animal holding facility.
Page 6
appropriately projecting growth in
visitation, membership, and earned
revenue opportunities.
The guest experience is paramount in
the Master Plan: visitors in the nottoo-distant future will be able to feed
giraffes, watch orangutans and lemurs
in overhead trail systems, take a people
mover from the front of the Zoo to A
Step Into Africa, and more. New and
improved concessions and retail space,
along with a Conservation Education
Center providing flexible indoor space,
will also provide needed enhancements
for our guests and members.
The Seneca Park Zoo Society is proud
to partner with Monroe County in the
development and implementation of
the Master Plan Improvements. 2016
will be a year of intense planning for
our organizations, as we move from
grand conceptual drawings to detailed
structural and engineering plans.
We look forward to being able to share
all these plans with you as they are
developed, and we are excited to have
you with us on this journey to the future
of Seneca Park Zoo.
Marie Kraus
The Zoo is working to save
wildlife in wild places thanks to
members like you.
Page 7
A letter from ...
Larry Sorel, County Zoo Director, Seneca Park Zoo
What does a Master Plan mean for Seneca
Park Zoo? First and foremost, it allows us
to plan for an orderly removal of the Main
Zoo Building (MZB). Opened in 1931, this
building has far outlived its design life, has
become a challenge to maintain and does not
reflect how we want to exhibit the animals
in our care. While the removal of the MZB
will require extensive consideration for the
species that currently reside there, and will
cause considerable disruption to the front of the Zoo, it also
presents exciting opportunities to reimagine the way exhibits are
organized and how guests experience their visits.
The first element of the plan calls for an extension north of
A Step Into Africa, adding giraffes and a new home for white
rhinos. We will also include other yet-to-be determined species,
fulfilling our intent to have mixed-species exhibits that reflect
natural ecosystems wherever possible to further enrich animals’
lives and enhance guests’ experiences.
Included in this exhibit experience will be two very important
features: an opportunity for guests to feed giraffes in a
managed fashion and appropriate indoor space for the
animals and guests during our winter season. These
features demonstrate the guiding principles behind
many future plans for the Zoo: that animal welfare be the
foremost consideration in exhibit design and that guests
have the opportunity to directly interact with animals
whenever possible.
Along with the animal spaces, a new commissary will be
built to accommodate the food storage and preparation
areas that currently take place in the MZB. A hay barn will
also be constructed.
Once we have completed the extension of A Step Into
Africa, we will be in a position to remove the MZB.
Obviously, this will involve very significant decisions
related to the balance of species that currently reside there.
Several of these decisions remain ahead of us, including
which species will be relocated to another area within the
Zoo, which will no longer be part of the collection and
which will remain part of the collection long term, but will
need to be sent elsewhere during construction.
Planning for the MZB replacement is focused on a
Tropics Complex, which will look at topical forests from
three distinct areas of the globe: the Congo, Borneo and
Madagascar. The anchors of this development will include
a new, world-class home for Bornean orangutans, an
expansion of the lemur collection and space for a new
species, lowland gorillas.
In addition to the goal of creating mixed-species exhibits
wherever possible, we want to show the diversity of
the ecosystems in which these species are naturally found to
illustrate the conservation needs and challenges they face. By
consulting the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species
Survival Plans, evaluating our ability to assist with conservation
efforts in natural ranges, assessing the compatibility of different
species and estimating guest appeal, we hope to accomplish this
goal in the majority of new exhibits. The process also involves
compiling a potential species list and working with designers
to define spaces that reflect a natural environment, addressing
the particular needs of the species groupings and accounting for
guest amenities. It is also crucial that we make all of these factors
work within the space and budget we have available. No simple
task!
The final product we envision will incorporate a diversity of
species large and small, including mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, fish and invertebrates. It will provide wonderfully
enriching, naturalistic, ecosystem-based environments for the
creatures in our care year-round.
Pamela Reed Sanchez
.3.
Preliminary drawings of the new front entrance of the Zoo and Tropics Complex which are scheduled to open in 2020.
Defining the future
of Seneca Park Zoo
GOALS OF THE PLAN:
• Be the conservation leader for the Greater Rochester community
• Deliver exceptional care for our animals while providing habitats that foster enrichment and enhance animal welfare
• Excel in telling compelling stories and providing educational programming at the Zoo and in the community
• Offer an exceptional guest experience
.4.
D
rafting the Master Plan for Seneca Park Zoo was
a comprehensive process that included crafting a campuswide plan for more than just animal exhibits. The year-long
project was a thorough investigation into everything the Zoo
can be, in the near future and 10 years from now. The design
team included SWBR Architects, WDM Architects and Zoo
Advisors.
Today’s 2015 Master Plan builds on the legacy of the 1991
plan, recognizes more than 20 years of exhibit expansion and
offers specific recommendations to honor history, all while
evolving the Zoo’s mission.
Monroe County, with the participation of the Seneca Park
Zoo Society, undertook a strategic approach to updating its
plans for Seneca Park Zoo. The 2015 Strategic Plan & Master
Plan is founded on a renewed mission statement, modified
vision and new strategic goals — all of which advance the
Zoo’s commitment to conservation.
MISSION
Seneca Park Zoo inspires our community to
connect, care for, and conserve
wildlife and wild places.
VISION
Seneca Park Zoo will be a national leader in
education and conservation action for species
survival.
OPERATIONS STRATEGY
As Seneca Park Zoo plans for its future, an analysis of the
business impacts of the proposed plan has been completed.
Before making such a significant investment, it is important
to ensure that these investments are both feasible and
operationally sustainable into the future.
To develop the business plan, the team reviewed and
analyzed a range of background information to first develop
and then confirm our assumptions.
We learned the Rochester market, much like most other
urban areas throughout the nation, has grown steadily since
2000. (See chart above) There is a healthy population of
potential regional visitors, with about 1.65 million residing
within 60 miles of the Zoo.
• Seek and nurture community relationships, as well as collaborative partnerships
• Continue to strengthen and build a dedicated, proud and highly motivated Zoo team
• Ensure fiscal sustainability and implementation of best business practices
• Be a destination choice for Greater Rochester and beyond
.5.
Education Animal Collection
gets a new and improved home
I
n the Fall issue of ZooNooz, we gave you a glimpse of one part of an exciting two-part construction project that was
completed this summer. The second part of this Zoo improvement is the new education animal Ron and Donna Fielding
Education Animal Building, located near the Front Gate of the Zoo.
The education animal holding facility is a very welcome addition, providing specially-designed environments for every species
from hedgehogs to sun conures and giving animal care and education staff more flexibility with animal demonstration schedules.
The new facility makes everything more efficient for our staff, providing the ability to access animals with greater ease. It is
also equipped with custom plumbing and floor drains that will make it easier to provide terrestrial and aquatic features for
amphibians. A generator ensures that all of these animals will be safe and sound should an extended power interruption occur.
The rooms are comprised of several microenvironments tailored to provide quality care for different types of animals:
REPTILE ROOM
BIRD ROOM
Ceci Menchetti
Ceci Menchetti
Provides temperature and humidity controls for
diverse reptilian species
DIETARY KITCHEN
Provides more storage and counter
space for animal diet preparation
Provides tall enclosures in which birds can comfortably rest and
maneuver, as well as specialized UV lighting
MAMMAL ROOM
Provides efficient access to animals
such as hedgehogs and rats, as well as
automatic temperature controls
OUTDOOR AREA
Provides space for owls, ducks,
and other species
“The armadillo will have more space for digging and nest-building due to the increased area and depth of his exhibit,”
notes Assistant Curator John Adamski. “The boa constrictors will also be able to climb higher than in their previous
exhibit and become more arboreal than in the past.”
With more space for the animals, and more space for staff to work, the ability for increased training opportunities has
grown exponentially. Simply put, this new facility is a tremendous asset to the Zoo.
.6.
Marie Kraus
Ceci Menchetti
Mike Martinez
Zoo supports effective
conservation programs,
chooses recipient organizations for 2016
Financial support from members, visitors and docents provides
critical funding for in situ international conservation efforts
that work to save wildlife in wild places. As of press time, nearly
$70,000 had been raised in 2015, a more than 20% increase from
the total funds raised in all of 2014. These donations supported
researchers working with ecosystems in Borneo and Madagascar,
as well as conservation efforts for African elephants, African
penguins and polar bears.
The programs are working: your support is invested and used
wisely in efforts that are producing results. Funds raised for
Madagascar were used for reforestation near Ranomafana National
Park and educational materials, as well as a botanical inventory in
a degraded area of Marojejy National Park.
Our partners at Health in Harmony in Borneo report that
through their One Health approach to ecosystems, illegal logging
in the area in which they work has declined 68%, with family
incomes increased by 64% and infant mortality down significantly.
Orangutans have also been spotted moving back through the
region, using a reforested corridor critical to the continued growth
of the Bornean orangutan population. healthinharmony.org
For 2016, the following organizations have been chosen to be the
recipients of grants provided through your generous support:
SNOW LEOPARD TRUST: Our members will be asked to
consider providing an additional gift with their membership that
will be granted to the Snow Leopard Trust as we work to elevate
the awareness of the Zoo’s snow leopards and their endangered
status in their natural range. snowleopard.org
HEALTH IN HARMONY: Visitors to the ZooShop, who can
watch our orangutans through the shop windows, will be asked to
support Health in Harmony, our partner in Borneo, by rounding
up their purchase amounts. ZooBoo will also support Health in
Harmony, as a portion of each ticket purchased is directed to the
program. healthinharmony.org
INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION: ZooBrew
patrons will support the International Elephant Foundation with
each ticket purchase, as fifty cents from each ZooBrew ticket will
be directed to the International Elephant Foundation’s efforts to
decrease elephant poaching in Africa. elephantconservation.org
INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION: A new
21-and-over event, Cinco de Rhino, will help generate funds for
the International Rhino Foundation’s work to save rhinos from
extinction; a portion of proceeds from birthday parties and
ZooCamps will also support rhino conservation, as will the Zoo
Keepers’ annual Bowling for Rhinos event. lewa.org, rhinos.org
POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL AND SANCCOB:
Visitors paying admission at the Front Gate of the Zoo will be
asked to donate a dollar to support conservation of polar bears
and African penguins, alternating each month.
polarbearsinternational.org, sanccob.co.za
MADAGASCAR EFFORTS: Once again, the Zoo Society’s
Jungle Jog will raise funds to support lemur research and
conservation in Ranomafana National Park, while the
docents’ Party Madagascar event will directly support multiple
organizations working in Madagascar, including the Duke Lemur
Center. lemur.duke.edu, centrevalbio.org
OUR 2016 GOAL
To raise more than $100,000 to support the critical work of those
working in situ with the wild counterparts of our beloved animals.
.7.
Let’s make
2016
a great year
to be a Zoo
member!
Greetings.
I’m Lisa Buda, the Membership Manager here
at Seneca Park Zoo. First and foremost, thank
you for your support of the Zoo. I can assure
you that your support through membership is
helping to further our conservation education
mission. I want to make sure you are getting the
most out of your membership and am happy to
answer any questions you have or listen to any
suggestions. I can be reached by phone at (585)
336-7212 or e-mail at
[email protected].
See you at the Zoo.
Kelli O’Brien
Are you someone who enjoys spending time outdoors exploring the natural world? Perhaps you have children or grandchildren who would enjoy seeing
animals outside of the backyard experience? Do your philanthropic interests include organizations with educational programming about conservation
and saving animals from extinction? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then a membership with Seneca Park Zoo is the right choice for you!
The Zoo is open all year and our memberships are good for one full year from the date of purchase. Your membership card gives you early morning
access beginning at 9:30 a.m. and covers general admission based on the level you select. Save time and money by joining or renewing today! See the
chart below to help select the best option for you.
Level
Prices
This level works for me if…
Individual
$55
I am one adult
Couple
$70
We are a couple with no kids or children in the home
under the age of 3
Grandparent
$95
We have grandchildren between the ages of 3 and 18
Family
$99
We have children between the ages of 3 and 18
Penguin Circle
$170
We want all the benefits of Family or Grandparent with
the ability to bring two extra guests each visit
Otter Circle
$300
We want all the benefits of Penguin Circle plus the option
to sign up for exclusive tours
Add-A-Guest
$40
I would like to add “Plus 1 Guest” to my membership card
Caregiver
$40
I have a nanny that needs a card with his or her name on
it so they can bring the kids (not available for Individual or
Couple levels)
Add-ons for the above levels
Joining or renewing is easy.
Call the Member Office (585) 336-7212
At the Front Gate during regular Zoo hours
Online at senecaparkzoo.org
At your local Wegmans’ service desk
Discounts at other Zoos & Aquariums
Annual policy update
Starting January 1, 2016, our reciprocal agreement extends to facilities accredited by the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) only. Enjoy 50% off general admission at these
locations while traveling with your Seneca Park Zoo membership card. As always, we
suggest you call ahead before traveling to confirm any changes or limitations with the
destination Zoo or Aquarium. Happy travels.
Megan Mullin
Our members will be asked to consider providing an
additional gift with their membership that will be granted to
the Snow Leopard Trust in 2016.
9
One Cubic Foot:
The Genesee River
February 5 through March 13, 2016
Opening Reception
6 to 9 p.m. on February 5
In partnership with Rochester Contemporary Art Center
(RoCo), the Seneca Park Zoo Society presents One Cubic
Foot: The Genesee River, opening February 5 and running
through March 13, 2016.
Come see the incredible images by photographer David
Liittschwager, all captured during his visit to Rochester
in August of 2015. You can own a piece of the One Cubic
Foot project, as all photographs are for sale, with proceeds
benefiting further biodiversity assessments in the Genesee
River, as well as RoCo.
The exhibit features 60 12x12 images from Liittschwager’s
replication of One Cubic Foot in the Genesee River, where
he and the team from the Zoo Society and the Smithsonian
Institution documented more than 150 different species.
Also on view will be video footage and photographic
documentation of the observations of the cube.
Liittschwager will be at RoCo for a special presentation the
evening of February 25.
More information can be found at senecaparkzoo.org/page/
one-cubic-foot-at-rochester-contemporary-art-center or
rochestercontemporary.org.
Underwritten by:
Andrew Stern and Melissa McGrain
Maggie and Charlie Symington
8
When:
February 5 - March 13, 2016
1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays
1 to 9 p.m. Fridays
Admission:
$2. Seneca Park Zoo Society Partners
in Conservation members receive free
admission for this exhibition.
Location:
137 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604
(585) 461-2222
Photos by: David Liittschwager
What’s the environmental
impact of a five-story
balloon sculpture?
Airigami creations are made with latex balloons. Latex is a natural
product derived from trees and is biodegradable. The production of latex
is a natural process of many plants, and tapping of the trees does not
harm them. Latex harvesting discourages deforestation because latexproducing trees are left intact. A tree can produce latex for up to 40
years. Balloons are a great material for creating large scale
temporary artwork to educate, entertain and leave
a very small ecological footprint.
While tens of thousands of balloons will be used
to create the installation, most of the volume of the
sculpture will actually be made of air. All of the balloons
used in this sculpture will be delivered on a single shipping pallet. Likewise,
once popped, the balloons will return to their initial uninflated size. This
waste will then be composted at the gardens of our local YMCAs.
Airigami Balloon Adventure:
Journey on the Genesee
What: This public art project of impressive scale will be constructed entirely of
balloons and will capture the natural essence of the Genesee River and its environs.
Where: The Sibley Building, 228 East Main Street, Rochester NY 14604
When: The installation will be built Monday, January 25 through Thursday, January
28, 2016. It will be on display from Friday, January 29 through Sunday, February 7.
Cost: This free event is sponsored in part by the Seneca Park Zoo Society, whose
conservation efforts in and around the Genesee continue to engage our community.
The YMCA is also a presenting sponsor.
For more information: Visit airigamiadventure.com or senecaparkzoo.org
Important to note: This installation is an artists’ rendering. Some of the animals
shown were found in the Genesee River this past summer when the Zoo Society
teamed with environmentalist and photographer David Liittschwager and
representatives from the Smithsonian Institution to assess the rivers’ biodiversity.
Other creatures can be found in the Genesee Valley region.
7
Join us as we take a
‘Journey on
the Genesee’
During the last decade, Kelly
Cheatle and Larry Moss — the
husband and wife team behind
Airigami — have created six
events under the heading of
Balloon Manor. It has seen
multiple forms, from a 10-room
Halloween haunted mansion to
a beanstalk reaching five stories
into the sky and an undersea
world.
In 2016, Balloon Manor, which now operates
under the name Airigami Balloon Adventure,
will embark on a new adventure, highlighting
the Zoo’s One Cubic Foot project. In August
of 2015, photographer and environmentalist
David Liittschwager and representatives from
the Smithsonian Institution came to Rochester
to partner with the Seneca Park Zoo Society
to assess the biodiversity of the Genesee River.
The team used the same method Liittschwager
has deployed in ecosystems around the world
during the last decade, placing a one-cubicfoot-frame into the environment and recording
every species that passes through it in the
equivalent of a 24-hour period.
This year’s Balloon Adventure is an exploration
of the flora and fauna of the Genesee Valley.
Visitors will see local plant and animal life
depicted in this five-story sculpture made
entirely out of 40,000 to 50,000 balloons.
“Our large projects have always been familyfriendly,” said Moss. “Working with the Seneca
Park Zoo Society and the YMCA this year has
given us the ability to reach even more families
in the Rochester area and beyond.”
Creating a piece this large takes an enormous
amount of planning, said Cheatle. “We’ve been sketching ideas for several months and have now moved on to converting rough
drawings into balloon designs that can be built by the dozens of crew members that will be joining us in January,” she added.
6
Winter Break Camp:
Habitat Explorers!
ZooBrrrew:
Wild Winter Happy Hours
During this week-long camp, your children will discover
many of the different habitats found all around the world,
the aspects that make these places so special and what
people can do to help conserve these habitats. Throughout
the week, we will investigate the rainforest, desert, the
wetlands and more. Campers will meet animal ambassadors
from these awesome places and learn what helps them
survive in their habitats. Each day, we will focus on a
different habitat; the daily schedule will include animal
encounters, animal-related activities, crafts and touring the
Zoo to discover more about animal habitats. So put on your
explorer gear and join us for a week of adventures!
An event so popular, this year
we’ve added an additional
date for our wild winter happy
hour. Join the festivities and
enjoy live music in the Zoo’s
heated pavilion. A cash bar will
offer seasonal beers, wines,
coffee and soda. Your ticket
for this Zoo fundraiser includes
food, Zoo admission and
one ticket to a 2016 summer
ZooBrew. Purchase your
tickets online today; this event sells out!
When: February 15 through February 19
For: Ages 5 to 9 (kindergarten through 3rd grade)
Prices:
Members: $110 per child for half-day session; $190 per child
for full-day session
Non-members: $130 per child for half-day session; $210 per
child for full-day session
Marie Kraus
February 5 & February 6
5:30 to 8 p.m. each night
$35 each for Zoo members $40 each for non-members
Ages 21-and-older only
Registration:
Register by calling (585) 336-7213
or e-mail [email protected]
Looking for details
on our Spring Break
camp, held March 28
through April 1, visit
senecaparkzoo.org
Polar Bear
Awareness Day
Jeff Gerew
Emily Coon-Frisch
February 20
10 a.m. to 3 p.m
Free with Zoo admission
Join Seneca Park Zoo staff, docents
and volunteers in the Rocky Coasts
Gallery to learn about shrinking sea
ice, the plight of polar bears and how
your individual actions can save this
important arctic species.
Leap Day
February 29
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free with Zoo
admission
Sandy Smith
Spend Leap Day learning about frogs and
amphibians. Special programming focuses
on the importance of Seneca Park Zoo’s
amphibian residents and how zoo animals
help save amphibians in their natural range.
One Cubic Foot: The Genesee
River showcases the work of
award-winning photographer
David Liittschwager through more
than 60 images captured in the
Genesee River in August 2015. The
photographs illustrate the rich
diversity found in a small space
during the equivalent of 24 hours,
in what was once one of North
America’s most polluted rivers. Read
more about the show on Page 8.
RoCo Exhibit
5
Make the Zoo part of your day.
Plan ahead. Don’t miss a moment of what the Zoo has to offer.
Follow us on social.
Visit senecaparkzoo.org
ZooClasses for Preschoolers
ZooClass is a great way for your preschooler to foster an appreciation and
understanding of the natural world. Explore adaptations, create wild crafts and
meet animal ambassadors from our Education animal collection. Classes cost just
$11 per child for members and $17 per child for non-members. Register online.
For 2-year-olds:
January 2, 5 or 8: Radical Roosters
February 6, 9 or 12: Hooked on Hedgehogs
March 5, 8 or 11: Sensational Snakes
For 3-year-olds:
January 2, 12 or 15: Animals in Motion
February 6, 23 or 26: Animal Coverings
March 5, 15 or 18: Animal ABCs
For 4- and 5-year-olds:
January 2, 12 or 15: Hug a Bug
February 6, 23 or 26: Critters in the Cold
March 5, 15 or 18: Animal Disguises
Kelli O’Brien
Spring Break
Programs
Ceci Menchetti
Daily talks, discussions and programs
will be featured the entire week of
Spring Break. Learn from our Zoo
experts; interpreters, docents and zoo
keepers will give you and your family
a great Zoo experience.
This public art project of impressive scale
will be constructed entirely of balloons
and will capture the natural essence of
the Genesee River and its environs. Held
January 29-February 7, this free event is
sponsored in part by the Seneca Park Zoo
Society, whose conservation efforts in and
around the Genesee continue to engage
our community.
See Pages
6&7 for more
information.
March 27 - April 3 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. daily during Spring Break week
Free with Zoo admission View the program schedule on our Web site
Book and Beast
sponsored by:
It’s story time at the Zoo! Geared towards preschool-aged kids, this time will be
spent hearing a fun animal story and meeting some of our fascinating Education
Collection animals. Sponsored by Monroe Veterinary Associates.
Kelli O’Brien
4
Every Wednesday
through March 30, 2016
11 a.m. in the Z.O.T. Zone
Free with Zoo admission
Docent
Information Session
Are you interested in
becoming a volunteer
educator at the Zoo?
This session will answer
the questions you may
have and give you the
information you need to
decide if this rewarding
position is right for you.
February 27
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Zoo’s Conference
Center
Ages 21 &
older only
animal comings
& goings
Mexican wolves head downstate
Ceci Menchetti
Sturgeon
Release
On October 16, the Zoo’s Director of
Animal Health and Conservation, Dr.
Jeff Wyatt, gathered with staff from
the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC), Zoo
supporters and members of the media
at the City Boat Launch near Ontario
Beach Park. A small group of those
gathered boarded a boat and awaited
the arrival of their fellow passengers:
sturgeon.
Two trips were made to release 1,000
sturgeon from a specially equipped boat
into the Genesee River at Seth Green
Island. This was the second year in a row
that the Zoo has assisted the NYSDEC
and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in
their annual release program, which
aims to bring the population of lake
sturgeon back to healthy levels after its
steep decline due to over-fishing and
environmental pollution. To date, about
5,000 sturgeon have been reintroduced,
with greater than 95% survival rate,
according to recent findings.
In early November, the Zoo’s three Mexican wolf brothers Chico, Diego and
Durango were transferred to the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) in South
Salem, New York, where they will each live on their own acre of remote,
protected land. The move will ensure that these
endangered animals have limited human contact in
the event that they are selected for future release
into their natural range. On November 1, Zoo visitors
gathered to say goodbye to the trio and learn about
wolf conservation through keeper talks, biofacts and
by writing letters to our congressional delegation
about the importance of protecting this species.
Children also colored pictures of the wolves for a
chance to win a gift certificate to Salena’s Mexican
Restaurant, the corporate sponsor of the Wolf
Exhibit.
Animal care staff helped with the successful transfer, and though they and
Zoo visitors will miss the wolves, they also know this move is an opportunity
to save this very valuable species.
Photos by Marie Kraus
African penguins sent to Hawaii and beyond
In October, four African penguins were sent to Honolulu
Zoo and two were sent to the Turtle Back Zoo in New
Jersey, in continuation of the Zoo’s participation in the
African Penguin Species Survival Plan (SSP). It is likely
Crystal Bratcher
that these penguins will eventually receive breeding
recommendations, helping to sustain the population in
conservation care with their sought-after genetics. The Zoo’s penguin breeding program is one of the
foremost in the nation, with a founding population that was imported directly from South Africa after
the 1997 oil spill there.
A total of 11 penguins were sent to other Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoos
across the country in 2015. General Curator David Hamilton says that the ultimate goal of the Zoo’s
African penguin breeding program is “a long-term sustainable population that can maintain 90%
genetic diversity for 100 years or longer.”
African lionesses move to Milwaukee
As part of a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) African Lion Species
Survival Plan (SSP), female African lionesses Savannah and Amali were moved to the Milwaukee County
Zoo in Wisconsin in December of 2015. Savannah was born at the Zoo in 2013 to Chester and Asha. Because
her parents represent new genes in the North American population of African lions in conservation care, her
genetics are particularly valuable. She will likely receive a future breeding recommendation; currently, there
is no such recommendation for Amali, who was born in 2013 at the Bronx Zoo and has more relatives in the
conservation care population.
Photos by Marie Kraus
While visitors and staff alike will miss the joy Savannah and Amali brought to the Zoo for the last two and a half years, Seneca Park
Zoo Society Executive Director Pamela Reed Sanchez notes that the lions are representatives of larger conservation efforts: “They
have been excellent ambassadors for their species,” she says, “providing thousands of people from all walks of life with a connection
to nature they will never forget.” Adult lions Chester, Asha and Zuri remain at the Zoo.
3
zoo happenings
Catch up on important
events and projects.
Genesee Brew
House
Pam Cowan
sponsored by
More than 5,000 trick-or-treaters and 15,000 total visitors
attended ZooBoo, the Zoo’s annual Halloween fundraiser
sponsored by Walmart, during four weekends in October.
Volunteer positions were filled by more than 400 individuals
who donated their time and ensured a great experience for
each and every guest.
The Conservation Graveyard informed visitors of the
dangers facing the Zoo’s most vulnerable species, while a
Creepy Crawly Zoo at the ECO Center gave them a glimpse
at the interesting adaptations of
reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Photo opportunities at Scarecrow
Village and with mascots at the
Front Gate rounded out the fun.
50 cents of every event ticket
sold was donated to Health in
Harmony, a nonprofit organization
working to save endangered
orangutans in Borneo. This event
raised nearly $40,000 for the
Zoo’s conservation and education
Marie Kraus
efforts.
Rochesterians raised a glass to conservation
during October, November and December
at the Genesee Brew House Pilot Brewery
Tasting Bar, where $2 flights of small-batch
beers benefited the Zoo Society’s One Cubic
Foot Initiative. And on November 17, Rochester
Young Professionals hosted a Community
Development Event to take full advantage of
the opportunity to get involved in this regional
Ceci Menchetti
conservation effort. With live music, door prizes;
and a crowd-sourced “vision” board for the future of the Genesee, guests learned
more about the river while enjoying beers in a friendly networking environment.
Animal Art Expo
On November 14, about 80 Zoo
supporters attended the annual Animal
Art Expo, hosted by Seneca Park Zoo’s
Chapter of the American Association of
Zookeepers (AAZK). This year’s selection
of artworks created by a variety of the
Zoo’s animals was one of the best ever,
Ceci Menchetti
Ceci Menchetti
with unique paintings available
for individual purchase, silent
auction bidding and enter-to-win
prizes. About $9,000 was raised
in a few hours, with proceeds
benefiting conservation efforts,
animal enrichment and professional
development for animal care staff.
Forever Wild Society
On September 10, members of the Forever Wild Society, the Zoo’s planned giving program, gathered
in the Rocky Coasts Gallery to induct the new members for 2015.
Following a welcome from Leonard Bayer, past president of the Seneca Park Zoo Society’s Board of
Trustees, and an update on new happenings at the Zoo from Pamela Reed Sanchez, the Zoo Society’s
Ceci Menchetti
Executive Director, guests enjoyed dinner, drinks and the views of the Sea Lion and Polar Bear
Exhibits. Zoo Keeper Kara Masaschi gave a fascinating presentation about the Zoo’s African penguin breeding program and participation in
international conservation efforts. Planned Giving Committee Chair, Spencer Cook then recognized the Forever Wild Society’s new inductees.
The Zoo Society thanks its more than 50 total Forever Wild Society members for their critical support and generosity.
2
ACCREDITED BY THE
A portion of the printing donated by
SENECA PARK ZOO SOCIETY
2222 St. Paul Street Rochester, NY 14621-1097 | senecaparkzoo.org
Nonprofit Org.
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Rochester, NY
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Cheryl Dinolfo
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ZooNooz is printed on recycled paper.
When you’re finished, please share it with a friend.
Designer: Sarah Pearlman Ventura
Contributing writers:
Lisa Buda, Membership Manager
Ceci Menchetti, Communications Coordinator
Pamela Reed Sanchez, Executive Director
Michele Schepisi-Ritchie, Office and Marketing Assistant
Larry Sorel, County Zoo Director
Internationally, and in our own backyard, Seneca Park Zoo plays a key role in species survival.
Chartered as an educational institution in 1957 by New York State, the Seneca Park Zoo Society
plays an integral role in supporting Monroe County, the owners and operators of the Zoo.
Together, we are working to bring animals back from the brink of extinction.
Follow us socially. Visit senecaparkzoo.org.
The Natural Place
for Families
Winter 2016
ZOONOOZ
A quarterly publication of the Seneca Park Zoo Society