Spring 2011 Edition

Keepin’ it wild!
SPRING 2011
A publication of the Zoological Society of Florida and Zoo Miami
EXPERIENCE
THE WONDERS OF OUR
Inside:
Giant River Otters Born
Around The Bend
Conserving Our Cats
Pine Rocklands
What’s Happening
@ The Zoo
What’s Blooming

CATS
GIANT
River Otters
Born At Zoo Miami!
Story by Ron Magill
Keepin’ It Wild is a quarterly Zoological Society of
Florida publication that provides information for the
friends and members of Zoo Miami.
For comments and donations send mail to:
Zoological Society of Florida,
12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177,
call (305) 255-5551 or visit www.zsf.org.
Zoological Society of Florida’s Mission
To encourage an appreciation for the
world’s wildlife and help conserve it for
future generations.
Zoological Society of Florida Board of Directors:
Chairman Robert W. Hudson
Norma Jean Abraham
Minnie Bandel
Harlan Chiron
Jorge De La Torre
Pedro A. Fernandez
William J. Gallwey
Carlos F. Garcia
Grizzel M. Gonzalez
Manuel Gonzalez
Robert W. Hudson
Juliet Johansson
Gordon M. Joost
Susan M. Kahn
Michael E. Kavoukjian
Bernard Klepach
Filemon Lopez
Irene Korge
Daniel J. Licciardi
Sharon MacIvor, DVM
Katharine McDonald
Lee Middleton
Harve A. Mogul
Brian P. Mormile
Marc A. Osheroff
Flora R. Perez
Willie C. Robinson, PhD
Ailette D. Rodz
Merrett R. Stierheim
Diana Udel
Ana VeigaMilton
Andrew H. Weinstein, Esq.
President/CEO Benjamin H. Pingree
Zoo Director Eric Stephens
Zoo Admission Hours
Open 365 days a year from 9:30 a.m.-5:30p.m.
(ticket booths close at 4 p.m.).
Credits
Editor:
Penelope Suarez
Co-Editor:
Eric Katz
Layout & Design:
Eddie Lorenzo Photography:
Ron Magill, Penelope Suarez
Contributors:
Cindy Eisaman, Cindy Castelblanco, Danny
Elfenbein, Jessica Casinelli, Susana Cortázar,
Tedor Whitman, Bob Beck
We also give a “special thanks” to Ana Veiga-Milton
(board member), Manny Rodriguez (FPL), and Zoo Miami
for without them this publication wouldn’t be possible.
In what could prove to be our most
significant birth in years, Zoo Miami is
ecstatic to announce that our pair of
endangered Giant River Otters has
produced a litter in a special den
box at their “Amazon and Beyond”
exhibit! Being one of only six U.S.
zoos to house this incredible animal,
Zoo Miami is only the second zoo, after
the Philadelphia Zoo, to successfully reproduce them in the country.
Though the litter was actually born on January 31st, the parents
and their pups were left alone, off exhibit, in
seclusion, because of how sensitive they can
be to any external activity. After giving the
parents and pups several weeks alone to bond and
establish themselves, they were quickly separated
so that the staff veterinarian could perform a
neonatal exam on the newborns. This was our first
chance to truly examine the babies to assess their
condition. There are two pups, one male and one
female, each weighing between 2 and 3 pounds.
Neither of the pups has opened their eyes yet but
all indications from the quick exam are that they
appear to be healthy and strong.
The first-time mother’s name is “Kara,” and she was captive born
at the Philadelphia Zoo in March of 2005 and
arrived at Zoo Miami on June 4th, 2008. She is
on loan to us from the Brazilian Institute of the
Environment and Natural Resources in Brazil.
The first time father’s name is “Witoto,” and he is
on loan from the Cali Zoo in Cali, Colombia where
he was born in April of 2004. This is truly an
international collaboration in an effort to preserve this extremely rare
animal! The pair has been a visitor favorite at “Amazon and Beyond”
since the exhibit’s opening in 2008.
Giant Otters are the longest of the world’s 13 otter species with
males reaching a length of 6 ft. and a weight of approximately 75
lbs. Commonly called “River Wolves” in their native habitat, Giant
Otters are found in isolated and remote areas within some freshwater
lakes, rivers, creeks, and reservoirs of tropical South America. Their
numbers have been drastically reduced due to fur hunting and habitat
destruction.
In the wild they feed mainly on fish, but have also
been known to eat caiman and snakes. They are highly social and
can be found in family groups of 10 – 20 animals with a lifespan of
approximately 12 years in the wild and up to 21 years in captivity.
It will be several weeks before the pups and
their parents are given access to the exhibit
area where the parents will teach each pup
individually how to swim. When the date
is decided, it will be announced so that
the public can come enjoy what is sure to
be a wonderful adventure for these very
special babies!
2
Around the Bend - @ The Children’s Z00
Wacky Barn
The Wacky Barn is on its
way. As you can see from
the pics the structure is up.
We also have some of its
new tenants already waiting
to enter their new home.
Rusty, our Shetland Pony,
Skyflier, our miniature horse,
Dwarf Nigerian Goats, Anglo
Nubian goats, Sheep and a
Vietnamese Pot Bellied PIG!!!
We are really excited to have all the animals
move into their new homes, sometime
this summer.
MEMBERS ONLY
FOR KIDS
Members get the best value! And now, there
are even more reasons to be a member with
the Member Fun Card. Enjoy your favorite
zoo activities for less than 50% of the price
with the new Member Fun Card available
through June 30, 2011! Call 305-255-5551.
All of this for JUST $10
✓✓ Unlimited use of monorail
✓✓ 1 Giraffe Feediing
Our Wild for Kids initiative is a unique opportunity
to enhance the enrichment and nurturing of Zoo
Miami’s animals, while greatly impacting the lives
of local youth. An extension of Zoo Miami’s Adoptan-Animal program, Wild for Kids serves to connect
our family of wildlife enthusiasts with organizations
that serve our communities children. Zoo Miami
supporters will now be able to personally help spread
the conservation message and present adoption kits,
as gifts, to a group of children at the charity of their
choice, chosen from the ZSF affiliate list. At levels
ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, donors can design
their own adoption experience.
✓✓ 1 Rhino Encounter
✓✓ 1 Camel Ride
✓✓ 50% off Safari Cycle rental
✓✓ Free small soda when you buy a food
basket at Carousel Café
Get your Fun Card now, and get
$40 of Zoo activities for just $10!
3
visit us at www.zoomiami.org
CONSERVING
OUR CATS
began working with the jaguar SSP to find a suitable replacement. A
male, living at Cameron Park Zoo, was identified as the replacement.
Then came the medical testing, the Federal and State endangered
species permits, moving, transporting, and holding permits, and
the arrangements for transportation. After SSP identification and
recommendation, a 15 month moving process and $1,000 one-way
airline ticket should have our new male on grounds in February 2011
Large or small, cats are graceful, specialized, and powerful animals.
From the 3-pound rusty-spotted cat to the 600-pound Amur tiger,
cats of all sizes are found over much of the world. The cats at Zoo
Miami are one of the Zoo’s great prides. They are their own best
ambassadors for their wild relatives and are a most eloquent voice for
conservation. Unfortunately, we have never needed their voices in
the conservation choir as much as we do today. Tigers, lions, and
all the other cats, whom, even if not great in size, are still great with
astonishing adaptations. Yet, they are among the most endangered
animals due to habitat loss and poaching.
The breeding of cats in a zoo is such a highly controlled process that
there are recommendations on how to write newsletter articles such
as this one. Our final message is you, the Zoo Miami member, can
contribute to the conservation of wild cats by visiting AZA accredited
institutions and supporting their research and conservation efforts.
Always remember wild cats are not appropriate pets. It is unsafe to
keep any type of wild cat as a pet; all species are extremely powerful
and exhibit behaviors that are dangerous or lethal, even when handreared and cared for by people their entire lives. Few people have the
expertise and resources necessary to provide for adequate welfare of a
wild cat kept as a pet, including its needs for sufficient space, exercise,
nutrition, veterinary care, and enrichment. Instead of considering
a wild cat as a pet, visit your local animal shelter and adopt a
domestic cat.
Zoo Miami, due to its size and commitment to conservation, is one
of the few zoos that can be involved in breeding multiple cats. Most
zoos’ space constraints allow them to be involved in only one or two
cat breeding programs. Zoo Miami is a participant in 4 feline Species
Survival Plans (SSPs). SSPs are cooperative population management
and conservation programs for selected animal species in North
American zoos and aquariums. One aspect of SSPs is as a computer
“dating service” for animals. The SSP Coordinators and Committees
track the genetic backgrounds of the animal species so they can make
intelligent decisions on how to match animals to maintain a healthy
and genetically diverse captive population.
We hope to see you soon at your Zoo Miami.
Conceptually, SSPs are easy to design, but the realities of participating
in the program can be daunting, time consuming, and expensive. Zoo
Miami’s male jaguar died in late 2009. Zoo curators immediately
4
For full story please be sure to check out www.zoomiami.org
and click on Keepin’ it Wild
SAVING Pine Rockland
Zoo Miami is, at heart, a
conservation driven organization. One
of the most cherished missions of the Zoo
is to galvanise regional communities to
commit to the conservation of wildlife and wild
places. We achieve our conservation mission
best when we, the Zoo, connect the community
to the environment in such a way that not only
does the community understand the issues; there
is a community desire and obligation to act in an
informed manner. As Zoo Miami moves towards the
opening of its new Florida Exhibit, Florida: Mission
Everglades, the Zoo will also be bringing to the forefront
one of its most important charges; the protection and
management of its 200 plus acres of pine rockland. The
pine rocklands is perhaps the Zoo’s single most, for lack of a
better word, important exhibit.
Pine rockland is a savannah-like forest often found in association
with rockland hammock and freshwater wetland communities. In the
1800 and 1900‘s, pine rocklands flourished from what is now North Miami
down to the southern part of the Everglades. There were 185,000 acres before
settlers began to build. The dominant tree is the South Florida slash pine, which may
grow to nearly 70’ tall, and is the only canopy species in the pineland. Very tall pine trees often
have only a few branches, way up at the top of the tree, and none on the lower half. This is due to
the fires that flare up during thunderstorms. The lower the branches grow on the tree trunk, the
more likely the tree will catch on fire; therefore slash pines usually recover well after a fire. After
a fire, many plants flower, grow fruit, spread seeds and increase in size, producing a fresh diet
for many animals in the pinelands.
Only about 17% of the original 185,000 acres remain today. Obviously, the more areas that
include pinelands, the better off we are. Pine rocklands benefits are numerous; they provide
shade; they are homes for animals; they help to control soil erosion; they assist with
water conservation. But pine rocklands are an endangered habitat. One of the larger
remaining natural stands in Miami-Dade County exists on Zoo Miami grounds, and
when joined with the Richmond lands component the area totals about 1,063
acres. Zoo Miami has a foot print of about 740 acres. 340 of those areas
are developed for the Zoo’s animal collection. Much of the remainder of
the property is a wildlife reserve set aside for the protection of a special
Spring Bloomers:
habitat and its dependent inhabitants.
What’s Blooming
As Zoo Miami’s Florida: Mission Everglades comes online in 2014, the
Zoo’s capability to inspire conservation actions by Zoo visitors and
members will be greatly enhanced. One of the featured habitats
in the new exhibit will be the pine rocklands. Through an open
door the Zoo will be providing a glimpse to a wonderful habitat
unique to south Florida. By communicating and demonstrating
the importance of protecting endangered species through
exhibits and ecosystem management we will strive to
inspire a conservation and a stewardship ethic among all of
our visitors.
For full story please be sure to check out www.zoomiami.org and
click on Keepin’ it Wild
5

Royal Poinciana-red flowers
Scrambled Egg Tree-yellow
Pink Trumpet Tree-pink
Geiger Tree-orange
Flame Bottletree-red
African Tulip Tree-red
Weeping Bottlebrush-red
Frangipani-pink
Jacaranda-purple
Crepe Myrtle-lavender
Lavender Trumpet Tree-lavender
Jamaican Caper-white
Southern Magnolia-white
Shaving Brush Tree-white
Milky Way Tree-white
KIDZOODLE
1
2
ACROSS
3
1. Animal that hunts other animals for food.
3. One of the main threats to species survival in
the wild.
4
5
6
7
7. All plants occurring in a particular region.
9. Animal with fur and backbones that give live
birth.
8
9
10. Feathered vertebrate animal that lays eggs.
10
11
11. Efforts made by Zoos and other organizations
to protect endangered wildlife from extinction.
DOWN
1. Animal that is on the predator’s menu.
2. Asian endangered big cat with stripes.
3. Endangered spotless cat from North and
South America.
4. All animals occurring in a given region.
6. Terrestrial animal with scales covering its body.
8. Predator and prey survival strategy that allows
animals to blend in their surroundings.
ANSWERS: ACROSS – Predator; Poaching; Habitat; Flora; Mammal; Bird; Conservation. DOWN – Prey; Tiger; Puma; Fauna; Reptile; Camouflage.
CROSS
5. Where animals live and find food, water, and
shelter.
DOWN
Animal that hunts other animals for 1. Animal that is on the predator's
od.
menu.
One ofYour
the mainEvent
threats toat
species
Asian endangered big cat with
Zoo2. Miami
rvival in the wild.
stripes.
Where animals live and find food, 3. Endangered spotless cat from
ater, and shelter.
North and South America.
All plants occurring in a particular 4. All animals occurring in a given
gion.
region.
Animal with fur and backbones that 6. Terrestrial animal with scales
ve live birth.
covering its body.
You probably have a favorite Zoo Miami animal, a
. Feathered vertebrate animal that 8. Predator and prey survival
strategy
hairy, furry
or feathered friend who makes your visits
ys eggs.
that allows animals to blend
in
their
to the zoo special. So why not adopt it? When you
. Efforts made by Zoos and other surroundings.
become an annual sponsor, your tax-deductible gift
will help our zoo keepers feed, care for and enrich
ganizations to protect endangered
the lives of our special animal residents.
ldlife from extinction.
Our Animals
Depend
On People Too
Anyone can adopt an animal - individuals, families,
school groups (special packages available),
RS:
businesses, social or service clubs, even sports teams.
Whether a casual company picnic, formal corporate meeting or
– Predator;
Poaching;
Habitat;
The best part of adopting an animal is that you can
fun team-building,
a dream
wedding Flora;
or festiveMammal;
holiday partyBird;
for Conservation.
match “adoptee” and personalities. Adopt a team
your employees, Zoo Miami’s Group Sales Department and Taste
Prey; ofTiger;
Puma;
Fauna;
Reptile;
Camouflage.
mascot, give a stork to an expectant mother; or
the Wild Catering will provide an unparalleled experience which
monkey to a climber.
focuses on an exotic backdrop, detailed event planning, incomparable
cuisine, sensational adventures, and superlative service.
For more information please visit our website
To request a brochure or to reserve your next event, contact the
http://www.miamimetrozoo.com/support-the-zoo.asp
Group Sales Department at 305-251-0400 ext. 84939.
What’s happening @ the ?
Scoop on Poop!
Pine Rockland Guided Tour
Scoop on Poop is back by popular demand from January 22nd –
May 8th. This 5,000 sq-foot traveling exhibit on what poop is and
how animals and humans use it is the largest ever on the science
of what animals leave behind. You will learn how poop is used to
build homes, hide from enemies, attract mates, send messages,
cool off and so much more!
Take a Pine Rockland guided tour and walk through this
fire dependent habitat that the gopher tortoise, great horned
owl and the Florida panther call home. Learn about the county’s
largest remnant of the rare native pinelands that exists nowhere
else on earth.
Young Naturalists
During the Behind-the-Scenes Keeper Tours a zookeeper will take
you face-to-face with exotic animals in off-exhibit areas. During
a one and one-half hour visit, you will have personal encounters
with wildlife that you won’t soon forget. For more information
or to make reservations call the Group Sales Department at
305-­251‑0400.
The Young Naturalist programs are for children who are interested
in animals, nature and conservation and meet on Saturdays April
30th; and May 21st. Each month we will focus on a selected Zoo
animal species from big cats to reptiles.
Party for the Planet
Zoo Miami’s Earth Day celebration Party for the Planet will be held
on Saturday & Sunday April 16th and 17th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The
Tropical Flowering Tree Society will be hosting the world’s largest
flowering tree annual plant show and sale. There will also be green
activities and entertainment for the entire family as well as animal
enrichment with recycled items.
Behind-the-Scenes Keeper Tours
Behind-the-Scenes Evening Tours (Wild Nights)
A Wild Night tour is an evening adventure that takes you
“up-close” to selected wildlife in a behind-the-scenes tour of the
Zoo. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., a pizza dinner is served, followed by
a guided 2 to 3 hour walking tour. Minimum group size is 15 and
maximum group size is 30 for children ages six and up and adults.
Zoo Miami’s Great Egg Safari
Join us at our annual Great Egg Safari on Saturday & Sunday, April
23rd and 24th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Enjoy a magical weekend at
Zoo Miami with continuous egg safaris, fun activities, the Easter
Bunny and more for kids 12 and under.
Bank of America Zoofari Summer Camp
The Bank of America Zoofari Summer Camp will be held June 20th
- August 5th (Monday – Friday). This fun-filled learning adventure
for children includes live animal presentations, craft projects,
special zookeeper talks, wildlife enrichment activities, visits to
exhibits, recreational games and more! Pre-registration is required.
Music of the America’s Presented by American Express Charitable Fund
On select dates from December 26th, 2010 until May 1, 2011
enjoy the Music of the America’s Presented by American Express
Charitable Fund. Sway to the rhythmic samba, dance with exotic
Brazilian dancers or just sit and relax to the soothing sounds
of South American flutes, woodwinds, and harp at Amazon &
Beyond’s Village Plaza.
Safari Photo Club
If you are a photography buff and you love animals, come and
enjoy the best of both worlds on Saturdays: April 2nd; May
7th; June 4th; July –December TBD. Safari Photo Club (SPC) is
open to photographers at all levels who will be given exclusive
opportunities to be in the Zoo either before or after the Zoo’s
normal operating hours, depending on the season. A guide will
accompany the SPC’s members at all times. To participate in this
photo club you must be a ZSF member and fees are in addition to
the ZSF membership.
Family Programs
You and your family will have a terrific time at the Zoo discovering
more about the animals and the world that we share with them on
Saturdays: April 9th; May 14th and June 4th. Each month features
a new theme so join us for one or all of the family programs that
include hands-on activities and animal encounters.
NOTE: Calendar events and dates are subject to change.
Please visit www.zoomiami.org or www.zsf.org
or call 305-251-0400 or 305-255-5551
for more information.
April 30, 2011
from 7:00pm - 11:00pm
7
RENEW EARLY,
NON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGE
GET A FREE GIFT!
PAID
MIAMI, FLORIDA
PERMIT #4358
Renew before your expiration date and receive a
special Zoo Miami Sling Bag plus 1 or 2 months extra
on your next year.
Redeem the coupon below for a FREE Zoo Miami
Sling Bag when you renew early.*
Zoological Society of Florida
12400 SW 152 Street
Miami, Florida 33177-1499
www.zsf.org
Visit us at www.zsf.org or call 305-255-5551
!
e
e
Fr Zoo Miami Sling Bag
with your early renewal. Coupon must be
redeemed in-park, by fax or by mail only.
*Offer expires June 30, 2011 or while supplies last. Coupon must be presented during time of
purchase to receive offer. 2 free months are added when renewing at least 1 month before
expiration date. 1 free month is added when renewing within the same month of expiration.
!
S
U
CREATURE FEATURE
Golden Lion Tamarins
PL
First is a pair of Golden Lion Tamarins now on display at the Amazon and
Beyond exhibit. These striking little primates are highly endangered and
found only in tiny pockets of forests on the Atlantic coast of Brazil where
less than 2,000 remain in the wild. They are omnivores and feed on a
variety of fruits, insects and small vertebrates.
The Sausage Tree
One of the most interesting trees growing in Zoo Miami is the South African
sausage tree (Kigelia pinnata). Aptly named, the fruit hangs from rope-like
stalks like a giant sausage, growing up – or down – to two feet in length and
weighing 15 hefty pounds!
According to tree expert Bob Beck, “the sausage tree blooms at night, and its
blood-red flowers are pollinated by bats and insects. Unfortunately, the beautiful
blooms drop around noon so unless you come to the zoo early, you may not be
able to see them.” But the hanging sausages are unmistakable. And in their
native habitat they do serve useful purposes. The grey skin covers a firm fruit
pulp which contains numerous small seeds. While inedible to man “except in dire
circumstances,” as pointed out by Zoo Miami’s Supervisor of Horticulture Tom
Trump, the fruit is usually used as an ingredient in making beer, as it is said to
speed up the fermentation process. Monkeys, elephants and livestock also enjoy
munching on the fruit. The sausage tree is “moderately drought-tolerant and
prefers well drained, slightly alkaline soil conditions,” says Tom.
if you want a beautiful, smooth
complexion, do as the Tonga women
of the Zambezi valley do. They make
a mixture that includes the sausage tree
fruit and apply it to their face, which
keeps them blemish-free.
And if you
happen to be a member of Zimbabwe’s
Ndebele tribe and should disappear or
die in another country, your family will
bury a sausage tree fruit in your place,
which shows how important the sausage
tree is in some cultures.
visit us at www.zoomiami.org