Creating A New Urban Ecosystem

For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo • A Magazine of Conservation and Education • Winter 2009
Creating A New
Urban Ecosystem
The Nature Boardwalk
at Lincoln Park Zoo
in this issue
Volume 6 Number 2 • For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo
The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo
Coming soon—a new urban ecosystem! This special section
highlights Lincoln Park Zoo’s plans to transform the South Pond
into the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo, a haven for
native wildlife and an outdoor classroom for students of all ages.
2
A Green Oasis in the Heart of the City
The revitalized Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo
will feature natural shorelines, native vegetation and a
re-engineered pond, creating a spectacular place for
local conservation, education and relaxation.
5
Engineering a New Urban Ecosystem
Learn what it takes to transform a man-made space
into a naturalistic setting. Construction plans, a project timeline and Earth-friendly methods all factor in.
6
Wildlife at the Nature Boardwalk
Native species, including birds, bugs, frogs, fish and
reptiles, will enliven the native landscape of the
Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.
9
Education at the Nature Boardwalk
This new facility will serve as a living classroom. Find
out how the zoo plans to present hands-on lessons
on pond ecology.
(departments)
1 Perspective
Lincoln Park Zoo President and CEO Kevin J. Bell
explains how the creation of the Nature Boardwalk
at Lincoln Park Zoo reflects the zoo’s commitment
to conservation and community.
17 Amazing Adaptations
Animals have waves of adaptations for staying
warm during winter, but one scaly species really
takes the plunge.
20 the Wild File
A swamp monkey family is reunited, caiman lizards
lounge at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile
House, a gorilla exercise program and the Year of
the Frog in review.
22 the Back story
There’s a new black rhinoceros at Regenstein
African Journey. Zoo staff hope the renovated yard
she’ll share with the resident male prompts a population boom.
24 news of the Zoo
10
Science at the Pond
Zoo scientists are using their expertise to
establish the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln
Park Zoo as a living, local ecosystem.
14
QUESTIONS?
Contact the Membership
Department. Staff are on hand
during normal business
Cold Temps, Cool Techniques
hours—phone 312-742-2322
Think your winter jacket is the best way to beat Old
or visit us online at
Man Winter? Think again. Cold-weather animals employ
www.lpzoo.org.
cool adaptations to stay toasty.
18 Snakes Need Saving Too
An unexpected arrival makes a big difference for zoo plans to
preserve the endangered eastern massasauga rattlesnake.
26 Warm, Welcoming & Winged
The constant 70-degree temperature is nice in winter months,
but the residents of the McCormick Bird House have the
power to evoke the spirit of summer.
Perhaps New at the Zoo is more appropriate.
Explore plans for the new Nature Boardwalk at
Lincoln Park Zoo, meet the new curator of
birds and celebrate new awards granted to
zoo staff.
Cover: A black-crowned night heron takes flight over the South Pond.
Right: The transformed Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will welcome
local butterflies, birds, frogs and fish.
LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE
President and CEO
Kevin J. Bell
Art Director
Peggy Martin
Editor
James Seidler
Photographer
Greg Neise
Staff Writer
Chris McNamara
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312-742-2000,
www.lpzoo.org. Lincoln Park Zoo is supported through a public/private partnership
between the Chicago Park District and The Lincoln Park Zoological Society. The only
privately managed free zoo in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo relies on membership,
individual, foundation and corporate support as well as earned revenue.
28 Gombe Updates
Probing for parasites and surveying maternal stress are the latest steps zoo scientists are taking to understand and conserve
Gombe National Park’s chimpanzees.
Cert no. SW-COC-001613
Our printer buys
Certified Renewable Energy
green-e.org
This brochure was printed
using Green Energy Certificates
(perspective)
The South Pond Transformed
Lincoln Park Zoo has embarked on what may be the most ambitious project in our 140-year history. The South Pond, a destination
for generations of visitors, is being transformed into the Nature
Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. This revitalized landscape will provide a haven for
native birds, frogs, fish and insects while
serving as an outdoor classroom for students of all ages.
This restoration continues a proud
architectural tradition. From building the
McCormick Bird House in 1904 to shaping the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo’s
north-woods landscape in 2005, the zoo
has created facilities to meet the needs of
animals and excite the imagination of visitors.
The creation of the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo represents an entirely new undertaking, however. Instead of constructing a
building to house wildlife, the zoo is creating a fresh, natural ecosystem. Acres of native vegetation will cleanse waters and provide shelter
for tadpoles and dragonflies. A deepened pond will provide a refuge
for native fish and turtles during cold Chicago winters. An expansive
interactive boardwalk will provide close views of local wildlife. And
wide-ranging educational programs, anchored at the new Peoples Gas
Education Pavilion, will help citizen scientists embrace the importance of pond ecosystems.
Once restored, the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will be
a living place—a refuge for native animals and a benchmark for local
conservation, one that will hopefully be emulated around the globe.
Transforming this landscape will require $12 million. Thanks to
the generosity of donors, we are close to that goal. By making a contribution to this project, you can help us fully realize the possibilities of the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.
The reenvisioned Nature Boardwalk is scheduled to be unveiled
in spring 2010, at which point management of the area will be
transferred from the Chicago Park District to Lincoln Park Zoo. We
are proud to assume this responsibility to serve native wildlife and
the local community.
The South Pond and Lincoln Park Zoo share a long history,
stretching back to 1868, when the zoo’s first animals—a pair of
swans—swam there. By committing to this restoration, we envision
a far greater future, one that benefits the environment, animals, visitors and the wonderful city they share.
Join us in this transformation.
President and CEO
Kevin J. Bell
WINTER 2009 1
A Green Oasis in the Heart of the City
B y transforming the South Pond into the Nature Boardwalk
at Lincoln Park Zoo, the zoo isn’t just providing a facelift to a
longstanding Chicago landmark. Instead, we’re creating an
entirely new urban ecosystem.
Crumbling concrete pathways will give way to an interactive
boardwalk offering beautiful views and new opportunities for
visitors to experience nature. Steel barriers surrounding the
pond will be replaced with native plants that shelter tadpoles and
minnows and provide natural filtration to cleanse the water. The
pond will be dredged to provide the depth necessary to shelter
fish over cold winters. And the surrounding landscape will be
transformed, with acres of native grasses providing a glimpse of
the area as it existed in its native state.
“We’re creating a new habitat,” says Lincoln Park Zoo
President and CEO Kevin J. Bell. “The Nature Boardwalk will
establish a benchmark for green space, local conservation and
environmental education.”
2 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
Designed by a team led by Shaw Environmental &
Infrastructure, the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will be
a welcoming spot for recreation and learning. The pond’s north
end will highlight Café Brauer and Carlson Cottage, emphasizing
the area’s historic ties to the Chicago community. On the pond’s
west bank, signs and learning stations will address human impact
on water, using the nearby Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John
Deere as an educational tool.
The open space on the pond’s east side will be a nature retreat
in the city, an undeveloped area where visitors can contemplate
native plants and wildlife. The Peoples Gas Education Pavilion will
provide a launching point for countless explorations of pond ecology while a reconstructed island near the pond’s south end provides a refuge for migratory birds seeking rest.
Scheduled for completion in 2010, this transformed ecosystem will serve as an oasis for people as well as a habitat for
wildlife. It will stand as a symbol of Lincoln Park Zoo’s commitment to community and conservation. <<
South Pond
Transformed
Below: The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will provide a haven for native wildlife and an outdoor classroom for visitors of all ages. Above:
A re-engineered pond, acres of natural habitat and an expansive interactive boardwalk will provide an amazing urban wildlife experience.
WINTER 2009 3
(field note)
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Newly hatched wood ducks have
a rough introduction to the
world outside of their nest.
After spending their first days
snuggling with mom, they waddle to the edge of their tree cavity—as high as
20 feet off the ground—and leap out.
But the thing is, they can’t yet fly. Don’t have flight
feathers. So at the end of that plummet, they splash into
the water or they plop onto the earth below. “They’re
slightly bouncy,” says Curator of Birds Colleen
Lynch with a laugh. “They just get up and walk or
swim away.”
Unlike most ducks, which nest on the
ground, wood ducks make homes out of tree
holes. They are among the most colorful of
ducks, particularly the males, which are
adorned with green, maroon and beige
feathers against a black body. Females
are drab by comparison, but their brown
coloration helps when hiding from
predators among trees.
Both males and females have webbed
feet equipped with sharp claws that facilitate perching on tree branches throughout
North America. Broad wings help wood ducks
maneuver among branches when in flight. Both
of these adaptations were on display when the
birds populated the South Pond. They should be
seen again once the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln
Park Zoo is complete.
Clawed feet. High-performance wings. It’s daredevil
stuff. Similar to that dramatic drop early in life, which
doesn’t seem to stick with the birds long. Females often
return to the same tree cavity in which they hatched to lay
their own clutches.
4 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
South Pond
Transformed
Engineering a New
Urban Ecosystem
When complete, the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park
Zoo will offer a transformed landscape—a home to native
plants, fresh water and countless eager visitors. Before this
natural setting can be unveiled, though, the engineers of
Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. have to completely
reinvision the existing pond.
Their task can be divided into two phases: draining the
pond and then building a native ecosystem around it. Stage
one is already complete. The pond was gradually lowered
in December, with project managers taking advantage of
winter weather to allow the waterlogged substrate to dry.
In May 2009, the intensive work will begin. Front-loaders will dismantle asphalt pathways and steel edging as
backhoes dig into the pond substrate, dredging decades
worth of accumulated silt and deepening the pond bottom
to create a more hospitable habitat. The pond bottom will
be inspected for structural flaws to ensure a sound base,
and by mid-summer the interactive boardwalk and educational pavilions will be under construction.
All construction has been planned to minimize the corresponding environmental impact. Materials dredged from
the pond will be re-used as fill on site, reducing the need to
import or export dirt. The 5,220-foot-long boardwalk will
be constructed from reclaimed materials; recycled plastic
and wood will be used to establish a classic plank-and-railing structure. Even the timing of the restoration was scaled
to nature’s rhythms, with construction scheduled to avoid
disrupting migratory birds that frequent the site.
By fall 2009, landscape architects WRD Environmental
will be creating a new, natural ecosystem, planting acres of
native plants around the pond to ensure a sound home for
local wildlife. The pond is slated to be refilled by late fall,
with spring 2010 plantings at the water’s edge coinciding
with the Nature Boardwalk’s unveiling.
“We are proud to assume the responsibility of transforming the South Pond into the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln
Park Zoo,” says Vice President of Facilities Neal David. “The
new landscape will provide our visitors with an unparalleled
urban-wildlife experience.” <<
Below, left: New, native shores will shelter tadpoles and fish while cleansing water
with natural filtration. Above: A team of engineers, architects, environmental consultants and educators planned the transformed Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Front row, left-to-right: Darren Olson, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Beth
Zacherle, Studio Gang Architects, Jan Schuler-Hicks, Shaw Environmental &
Infrastructure, Jeanne Gang, Studio Gang Architects, Robert J. Kirschner, Chicago
Botanic Garden. Back row, left-to-right: Nicole Kehl, Lincoln Park Zoo Wildlife
Research Manager, Frank Jakubicek, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Bill
Abolt, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Steve Thompson, Lincoln Park Zoo
Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs, Lee Fell, Christopher B. Burke
Engineering, Neal David, Lincoln Park Zoo Vice President of Facilities, Geoff Deigan,
President, WRD Environmental, Meredith Sessions, WRD Environmental. Below:
Construction began in November 2008. The transformed Nature Boardwalk at
Lincoln Park Zoo is scheduled to be unveiled in early 2010.
WINTER 2009 5
Wildlife at the
Transformed Nature Boardwalk
South Pond
Before renovation began, there was plenty of wildlife at the
South Pond—birds and fish, turtles and insects. The problem
was, much of it wasn’t native to the area. For every wood duck
there were countless introduced European starlings. For every
native blue gill swimming through the pond, there were invasive carp as well.
The species making their homes at the South Pond were a
hodgepodge. How did they get here? Many fish and turtles
were dumped by owners who’d grown tired of them. Some of
the birds had stopped during migration and never left.
When the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo is completed in spring 2010, zoo experts hope that all wildlife will be
native to this region. Cooper’s hawks and blue herons will
soar overhead. Green sunfish and bluegill will dart through
the water. Dragonflies will buzz past visitors’ ears.
“We’re transforming a place that’s currently unnatural into
something much more naturalistic,” says Senior Vice
President of Conservation Programs Steve Thompson, Ph.D.,
who is helping engineers create elements that will welcome
and support native wildlife. A deeper pond will support cleaner water and help native fish winter at the bottom. A natural
edge will help animals enter and leave the water. Native
plantlife will provide shelter and food.
The area has been and will continue to be a resting spot for
migrating birds. It’s natural that some regionally unnatural
birds will show up on occasion, but the core species of birds
will be native to the region.
“After renovation, we expect to see a lot of species
already seen at the zoo,” says Curator of Birds Colleen
Lynch. “The black-crowned herons that summer on the
pond’s island will return to the area after the construction
crews leave. This is one of two spots in Illinois where they
have been sighted, and they’ll play a crucial role in the new
ecosystem.” <<
6 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo’s transformed landscape will provide habitat for animals in every niche of the pond
ecosystem. Native prairie plants (bottom right) will supply food and
shelter for insects such as the polyphemus moth caterpillar (left).
The pond’s waters will provide a place for mating 12-spot skimmer
dragonflies (top left) to lay their eggs, although many of their aquatic offspring may fall prey to pond fish such as blue gill (bottom left)
before maturing. In turn, blue gill and other freshwater fish provide
meals for black-crowned night herons (top right), completing the
circle of the pond ecosystem.
WINTER 2009 7
(field note)
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Lincoln Park Zoo exhibits North
America’s most prolific raptor. No, not the
bald eagle. Nor the snowy owl. Rather, it’s a
bird no larger than a blue jay (and no more
fearsome looking). Standing just a foot
tall with a 21-inch wingspan, the
American kestrel is among the smallest, most successful—and possibly
cutest—winged predators in North
America.
The Pritzker Family Children’s
Zoo can be seen as both a retirement home and boarding school
for a pair of American kestrels. The
aged female can be identified by the
narrow black bands on her tail. Her
companion (pictured here) just
recently lost his juvenile plumage
and now displays the characteristic
blue wings of adult males. “It’s important to give children an understanding
of the range of life stages in wildlife,” says
Lead Keeper Michael Brown-Palsgrove,
whose gloved hand is pictured as a perch in the
photo. “The younger male, for example, is much
more active and inquisitive than the female. And that’s
natural.”
In the wild, kestrels are more like squatters than developers.
They opt to nest in natural tree cavities or woodpecker holes
rather than making their own homes. “If you provide the right
habitat for them, you could even tempt them to nest in your
backyard,” says Curator of Birds Colleen Lynch. “Especially
since urban development has eradicated a lot of natural cavities
in which the birds would nest.”
The transformed ecosystem of the Nature Boardwalk at
Lincoln Park Zoo may offer suitable habitat to entice the birds
of prey, great news for those who will enjoy seeing these prodigious predators in action and undoubtedly dispiriting news for
the species on which the kestrel preys.
BY LYDIA WOOD
8 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
South Pond
Education at the Transformed
Nature Boardwalk
In its current condition, the South Pond is a passive learning environment. If visitors were really motivated to learn about wetlands
wildlife, they could glean a few things from the birds flying overhead
and any fish or insects they could spot in the water. An educational
cart staffed by a zoo volunteer is often at the water’s edge, providing
a more structured form of education.
But when the South Pond is transformed into the Nature
Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo in early 2010, the educational opportunities will be as exciting and expansive as the natural elements. The
habitat will reach its full potential, as will the opportunities to learn.
“We are planning a diverse suite of new programs for the Nature
Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo,” says Vice President of Education
Rachel Bergren. “School groups have utilized the South Pond as a
learning laboratory for many years, and we will definitely welcome
the students and teachers back to the pond. However, we also want
to provide exciting learning experiences for zoo members, our
everyday zoo guests, neighborhood families and the Chicago community at large.”
The educational hub will be the innovative Peoples Gas Education
Pavilion, designed to anchor a wide range of learning programs. The
structure will resemble the shell of one of the turtles splashing
through the nearby water. The programming inside will touch on all
aspects of life at the Nature Boardwalk and be geared to a wide range
of audiences, from young schoolchildren to adults who happen to
wander into a lecture.
Mobile labs will promote hands-on lessons on pond ecology
while trained pond naturalists interpret wetlands wildlife. An interactive boardwalk circling the pond will engage visitors and provide
new opportunities for experiencing nature.
At the Nature Boardwalk, the pupils will be enriched as much as
the environment. “New programs will begin in spring 2010,” adds
Bergren. “We look forward to seeing you there.” <<
Above: Learning kits and pond naturalists will guide visitors of all ages in exploring the pond ecosystem. Below: Modeled on a turtle’s shell, the Peoples
Gas Education Pavilion will serve as a launching point for pond learning.
South Pond
Transformed
Science at the Pond
In the years leading up to its transformation, the South Pond served as a living laboratory, hosting
students of all ages as they performed experiments. Middle-school scientists scanned the skies, recording birds that made their homes at the pond. High-school researchers probed the waters, investigating
oxygen levels and pollution. These studies played a key role in helping budding scientists better understand the field of research.
The South Pond’s greatest experiment lies ahead, however, as the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park
Zoo seeks to create a new natural space in the heart of the city. Researchers in the zoo’s Conservation
& Science Department are playing a major role in this endeavor, pooling their expertise to develop a
living, local ecosystem.
“The goal of the Nature Boardwalk is to naturalize this space,” says Senior Vice President of
Conservation Programs Steve Thompson, Ph.D. “We’re taking something that was completely manmade and transforming it into a natural habitat.”
“Restoration ecology” is the name scientists use for such landscape-rehabilitation efforts. By revitalizing the area with clean water and native vegetation, the researchers hope to create a hospitable
habitat for a full variety of pond animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects.
The zoo’s diverse scientific expertise is well-suited for such a wide-ranging endeavor. Population
biologists at the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology will apply experience gained in
Tanzania and Argentina to the zoo’s backyard, planning reintroduction programs for local frogs
and fish. Epidemiologists from the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology will monitor
the health of pond animals. Field researchers affiliated with the Urban Wildlife Institute will lend
a hand in monitoring new arrivals, keeping tabs on turtles, for instance, to better inform management decisions.
“We’re creating a natural habitat, but we’ll need to manage that ecosystem over time to ensure that
it stays natural,” says Vice President of Conservation & Science Dominic Travis, D.V.M. “It’s going to
be a dynamic ecosystem. It’ll be exciting to experience the change.” <<
Below, left: The zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute will play a leading role in monitoring the health of the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. Urban Wildlife
Institute interns Kirsten Almberg (left) and Aaron Nash can be seen collecting nest-predation data in the field along with Research Assistant Colleen
O’Donnell. Below, right: Establishing a living ecosystem in the heart of Chicago is the challenge before zoo scientists.
(field note)
Eastern Screech Owl
Megascops asio
With a name like “screech owl,” you might get the wrong
idea about this small and elusive bird. See, the screech owl
doesn’t really screech. Those who have heard its characteristic
call describe it as tremulous. Ghostly even. Curator of Birds
Colleen Lynch describes it as “a weird horse whinny.” It may
not be musical, but that call works wonders at fending intruders off the screech owl’s territory.
Measuring 10 inches from beak to tail and weighing just
one-third of a pound, the screech owl is one of the smallest
North American owls. Like larger cousins, they have mottled
feathers with prominent ear tufts and eyes like flying saucers.
Interestingly, this species comes in two color phases, gray and
rufous, that do not seem to vary by gender, season or age.
The Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo houses an owl of each
color, but keen eyes are required to spot them. These tiny
birds avoid detection by maintaining an upright, motionless
position amid similarly colored tree branches.
Small and still, these birds are difficult to imagine as successful hunters in the wild. But they feast on insects, small
mammals, reptiles and birds; the Eastern screech owl enjoys
the most varied diet of any North American owl. Ironically,
Lead Keeper Michael Brown-Palsgrove has never seen them
indulge. “They’re really shy eaters,” he explains. “They won’t
eat during the day at all.”
The transformed habitat of the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln
Park Zoo may attract these diminutive predators, which are
monogamous and cooperatively rear offspring. But in order to
spot a pair, visitors should rely less on their eyes than their ears.
And maybe even their goose bumps.
BY LYDIA WOOD
WINTER 2009 11
(field note)
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
It sounds like an insult—“You bufflehead!” But rather than being a putdown, that name refers to the bird’s occasionally bulbous “buffalo head,” most
apparent when the male puffs his feathers in display.
Buffleheads are common around North American bodies of water, where
they dive for snails, insects and seeds. They were frequently spotted at the
South Pond and should return once the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo
is completed.
Males have white chests, black wings and dark heads with two large white
dots. These dots are smaller on females, which are brown in coloration. During
breeding season, the male’s head changes from black to an iridescent mixture
of purple and green—a signal of virility to females.
Largely monogamous, breeding pairs return to the same abandoned woodpecker holes to nest each year. When chicks hatch, the female leads them—undeveloped feathers and all—in jumping out of the nest to the forest floor below.
This leap of faith so early in life is a brave move. So brave, you might say,
that one day the term “bufflehead” could become a compliment. Then we can
get to work on behalf of the dodo.
12 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
“ArcelorMittal is proud to partner with Lincoln Park Zoo
in creating the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. We
hope the project will sustain and enhance the local environment while increasing environmental awareness among zoo
and Lincoln Park visitors.”
South Pond
Transformed
Bill Steers, President, ArcelorMittal USA Foundation
“We consider Lincoln Park Zoo and the
South Pond to be in our “backyard”
and derive great enjoyment from our
daily walks through the area. John and
I had noticed deterioration in the South
Pond, and we were very happy to learn
that Lincoln Park Zoo had launched a
campaign to restore and re-imagine this
great Chicago resource.”
Geraldine and John Fiedler
Community
Contributions
While the transformed landscape of the Nature
Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will provide a place
of refuge and learning for the Chicago community,
it’s the generosity of this same community—businesses and individuals throughout the region—that
has helped make this project a reality. Lincoln Park
Zoo gratefully acknowledges the following contributors, who have supported this project with a significant gift.
ArcelorMittal
Mary and Nick Babson
Bank of America Foundation
Chicago Park District
Efroymson Family Fund/a CICF Fund
Geraldine and John Fiedler
Anne and Charles C. Haffner
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Illinois Tool Works Foundation
McCormick Foundation
Courtney and Roger McEniry
Midwest Generation
Northern Trust
Peoples Gas
Kay and Jay Proops
Regenstein Foundation
The Siragusa Foundation
Tawani Foundation
Women’s Board of Lincoln Park Zoo
While construction is underway, more work
remains to be done. By making a donation today,
you can establish the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln
Park Zoo as a haven for native wildlife and an outdoor classroom for students of all ages.
Visit www.lpzoo.org/support/natureboardwalk.html
or call 312-742-2332 to find out how you can make
a difference.
WINTER 2009 13
COLDTemps,
COOL Techniques
When we get cold, we shiver. Muscle groups around our vital organs quake and, in creating that
motion, generate heat to warm us up. The European white storks at the Regenstein Birds of Prey
Exhibit don’t shiver as visibly as we do. Those knobby knees don’t clack together. Rather, like all
birds, they experience less drastic muscle contractions, invisible to our eyes but capable of generating heat and keeping the animals comfortable. (Of course, if it gets too cold, the storks just amble
inside to warm up. All Lincoln Park Zoo animals have the option to come indoors during inclement
weather.)
14 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
BY CHRIS MCNAMARA
Cool? You bet. But the storks’ behavior is just one cold-battling technique on display at Lincoln Park Zoo, where the animals—and the staff who care for them—employ such a wide
range of warming tricks that it makes our winter coats look
downright pathetic. Take a look…
Hot Rocks and Warm Hollows
As the species on display at the Pritzker Family Children’s
Zoo are native to wintery regions, they’re built for the cold—
thick coats on red wolves, layers of fat on black bears, waterproof
fur on the river otters and American beavers.
But that doesn’t mean the red wolves don’t snuggle atop
the heated rocks within their exhibit or the black bears won’t
curl up inside the heated tree hollow. The beaver lodge has a
heated floor—perfect for afternoon naps—and the otters
scamper inside when rocketing down their frozen waterslide
gets tiresome.
Hardy Birds with Bare Feet
The hardy souls at the outdoor Birds of Prey Exhibit, including the European storks, alter their metabolic rate in winter in
order to generate more body heat. To recoup this extra energy,
they eat more food. More meaty bones for the cinereous vultures. More rats for the snowy eagles, which employ dense layers
of feathers—including special flaps that extend to cover the
feet—to trap heat even while nesting on the frozen ground.
(Look closely…those white feathers are good camouflage.)
Layering
Native to elevated regions of cold swaths of central Asia, the
white-lipped deer at the Antelope & Zebra Area grow a second
coat in the fall for added insulation. (Layering, your mom
might say.) And just as their wild cousins fatten up for colder
months, deer at the zoo receive an increased winter diet to fuel
extra energy for keeping warm.
Nearby, the Sichuan takin get to use their concealing coloration when the white stuff falls. Native to the mountains of
China, these ox revel in cold weather. “They have a heavy coat
all year round but grow a seasonal winter coat that serves as
insulation and protection from the elements,” says Curator of
Mammals Dave Bernier. “Even newborn takin are comfortable
in cold weather.”
Attitudinal Adaptation
As most primates are native to tropical regions, they experience little physiological change in cold months. And since the
temperature in their exhibits is constant, it’s life as normal.
Those with the option to go outside adapt well to Chicago’s
climate. “The gorillas will grab handfuls of snow and eat it,”
says Zoological Manager of Primates Maureen Leahy. “The
chimpanzees love to play in it.”
Left: Arctic animals, such as polar bears, are naturally adapted to
icy conditions. Right: Cinereous vultures adapt their metabolism to
stay toasty in their exhibit (although an indoor refuge always awaits
if they get too chilly).
More Please
As anybody who hits the gym each spring to shed winter
weight can tell you, animals—including you and me—often
eat more in winter to bulk up and combat the cold. So when
the temperature drops, Lincoln Park Zoo Nutrition Manager
Shana Lavin, Ph.D., ups the output from the zoo commissary.
“Every animal is different, but most have increased energy needs,” she explains. Big cats at the Kovler Lion House are
given more meat with a higher fat percentage. Many animals
require Vitamin D supplements to account for limited sun
exposure.
Some winter foods double as enrichment, like the rabbit
carcasses given to the African wild dogs at Regenstein
African Journey. The extra protein is important, sure, but the
dogs enjoy playing with their meals in the snow too.
Then there are those species that eat less. Bears’ metabolisms’ slow—they eat less and sleep more, mimicking (in a
truncated fashion) the hibernation that their wild counterparts are undergoing. And the polar bears eat less chow, fish
and produce in winter than summer. Their bodies are attuned
to long stretches of food scarcity in the extremely cold
months of their native Arctic Ocean region.
Winged residents of the McCormick Bird House don’t see
much change in their diet, unless they are breeding and food
factors into their courtship/mating behavior. More calories
are required by birds that are breeding, which is yet another
way to keep temperatures up.
WINTER 2009 15
Above: Amur tigers and snowy owls are native to cold climates and can be seen lounging in snowflakes. Below: White-lipped deer grow a thicker
coat to keep comfy during winter months.
Snowballs are used as enrichment for swamp monkeys. Keepers
will hide food in clumps of snow for drills to dig out. Busy hands
and minds are warm ones.
Indoor/Outdoor
Zoological Manager of Regenstein African
Journey and Carnivores Mark Kamhout has
the full spectrum of species under his watch.
Some thrive in cold months; others require
special (warm) attention.
Most of the big cats at the Kovler Lion
House increase their activity when temperatures plummet. Female lions romp outside, and the older male follows them.
Amur tigers, native to frosty regions of
China, Russia and Korea, burrow into snow
banks quite comfortably. The Afghan leopard lounges in the frost, as does the red
panda, which wraps its tail around itself. “It
looks like a big, red puffball,” says
Kamhout.
The African animals vary. Giraffes’ long
16 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
legs may be graceful on the savanna, but they don’t do well on ice,
so Kamhout is cautious about letting them into the yard when it’s
frozen. Often times, that’s just fine. “The giraffes prefer to be inside
much of the winter,” says Kamhout. “They’re not much different
from people in that regard.”
When they choose to be outside, the
warthogs huddle together in their wallow.
The African wild dogs also snuggle together in a ball of furry warmth. “You can’t tell
where one wild dog starts and another
ends,” says Kamhout. “It’s just a big pile of
fur and tails and ears.”
As you’d expect, the residents of the
McCormick Bear Habitat display a wide
range of cold-weather behavior. While the
polar bears are busy sliding down snow
banks, the Andean and Malayan sun bears
most often lounge within heated indoor
enclosures nibbling on grub. “These bears
don’t undergo a true hibernation,” says
Kamhout. “They just slow down a bit in
<<
the winter.”
(amazing adaptations) Waiting Out Winter
People can build snowmen, hurtle down hills on toboggans
and warm up with a mug of hot chocolate, but winter weather is
no fun for most animals living in temperate climates. Wind
blows, snow falls and food becomes increasingly hard to find.
To get through winter, animals rely on a range of well-honed
survival strategies. Ducks and geese migrate south in search of
food and open water. Black bears bulk up and bunker down. Deer
develop thick coats to shield themselves from chilly gusts.
Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes have their own strategy for
making it through the leaner months. Coldblooded creatures native to the north-central
United States (see page 18), massasaugas are
especially vulnerable to ice and cold, as they rely on ambient temperatures to maintain their metabolism. To stay warm, the snakes
winter in what may seem to be an unlikely place: underwater.
As temperatures decline, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes
make their way to abandoned crayfish burrows and other sheltered tunnels that are full of water. The snakes then submerge
themselves to wait out winter. The underground burrows stay
warm enough to keep the water within from freezing, and the
extremely cold water induces a hibernation-like state where the
snakes can survive on suspended oxygen. Come spring and warm
weather, the massasaugas resurface, still chilled, perhaps, but far
from frozen.
Active during warm weather, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes retreat underwater to wait out winter.
WINTER 2009 17
Here’s a population-planning riddle for you—how do you
know when two eastern massasauga rattlesnakes aren’t the
same gender? The answer? When you come in one morning
and find six other rattlesnakes sharing their exhibit.
An Ontario nature center found itself in this position in
July. Their permit allowed them a pair of snakes—both
male—to educate visitors on the viper’s role in the local
ecosystem and the threats it faces in the wild. But the gender
gaffe and six new arrivals put them in violation. The Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources confiscated the snakes, and
after a brief stop at the Toronto Zoo, they were shipped to
Lincoln Park Zoo, which houses the Eastern Massasauga
Species Survival Plan (SSP).
In transit, the snakes represented a large chunk of the zoo
population. Just 40 eastern massasauga rattlesnakes live in
North American zoos. This scarcity reflects their status in the
wild. While the massasauga isn’t federally endangered, every
state across its range offers the species protected status.
The primary threat facing the massasauga is habitat loss.
Houses and farms have overtaken the woods and wetlands
where the reptiles make their homes. New roads establish
deadly barriers; automobiles are the leading cause of massasauga deaths. Compounding the challenge is peoples’ attitudes
toward the snakes. Many homeowners and hikers are uncom-
Snakes Need Saving Too
Rattlesnake Conservation Benefits from
Careful Planning…and a Little Chance
The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will promote
local conservation by providing a natural habitat in the
zoo’s backyard. But the zoo’s efforts to conserve native
species extend far beyond Chicago. One animal that’s benefiting is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake. This small,
shy, cryptically colored reptile is scattered throughout the
central United States, occupying wetlands, moist grasslands and forests. It’s endangered in Illinois due to habitat
loss. And thanks to a mating mix-up, efforts to establish a
stable zoo population have received an unexpected boost.
BY JAMES SEIDLER
18 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
fortable with the thought of protecting venomous snakes,
even though the shy species poses a negligible threat to
humans and plays a crucial role in managing wetlands rodent
populations. Even worse, some poachers illegally collect the
snakes, further impacting an already-endangered population.
Conservation planning is further complicated by the fact that
the snakes’ needs change with the seasons. Eastern massasauga
rattlesnakes spend warm months roaming in search of the small
rodents that make their meals: mice, shrews and voles. As winter
descends, the snakes shift to wetlands, hibernating underwater in
old holes and burrows (see page 17). Wide-ranging much of the
year, the snakes congregate during winter in the same specialized
hibernation spots. As a result, even small-scale local development
can disrupt an entire massasauga population.
In Illinois, these threats led the state Department of
Natural Resources to join with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to develop a species-recovery team. One of the team’s
first steps was to seek a population biologist to contribute to
long-term planning. Lincoln Park Zoo’s expertise in planning
for small populations, coupled with its existing interest in the
eastern massasauga rattlesnake—Diane Mulkerin, Curator of
Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, served as studbook
keeper for the species—led to a perfect fit.
“We had a series of meetings, and I realized that the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) needed to match what
was being done at the state levels,” says Joanne Earnhardt, Ph.D.,
director of the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology.
Earnhardt petitioned the AZA to boost its emphasis on massasauga conservation, elevating the species from PopulationManagement-Plan status to the SSP level, which requires greater
zoo coordination. The AZA agreed, and Lincoln Park Zoo became
host to the newly created Eastern Massasauga SSP. Earnhardt was
named SSP coordinator, Mulkerin continued to serve as studbook
keeper and Research Biologist Lisa Faust, Ph.D., was named field
advisor for the species.
The SSP’s first step was surveying the existing zoo population.
“The SSP determines how many snakes should breed, which
snakes should breed and with whom,” says Earnhardt. “To make
those decisions, we needed to know the origins of the snakes in
our care.”
By pairing animals that are as distantly related as possible, zoo
population planners maintain the diversity of the wild. But these
breeding recommendations come from analyzing studbooks,
detailed records of the family trees of each individual within the
zoo population. In the case of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes,
much of the zoo population has been confiscated from institu-
tions lacking permits or poachers illegally collecting the animal.
Zoos didn’t know where the snakes originated, making effective
population planning extremely difficult.
Enter Richard King, Ph.D., professor of ecology and evolution
at Northern Illinois University. A snake researcher, King had tested eastern massasaugas throughout their range and developed
genetic profiles unique to each region. “Snakes don’t move around
a lot—they’re not like birds, they can’t fly,” says Earnhardt.
“Because of this lack of mobility, snakes in a given region tend
to move in a similar genetic direction. These shared differences
make it possible to distinguish a Michigan massasauga from an
Illinois one.”
The zoos housing massasaugas provided blood samples
from the snakes in their care. King analyzed the samples, identifying each snake’s place of origin, and Earnhardt and collaborators used this information to develop the first breeding plan for
the species.
While the population remains small, Earnhardt hopes the new
arrivals will spur future growth toward a larger, healthier zoo population. “Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes are great ambassadors
for local conservation,” says the scientist. “People often don’t realize that snakes face many of the same threats as other endangered
species. We can all work together to stop their decline.” <<
Left: Local conservation isn’t limited to the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo is leading the way in conserving the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, endangered in Illinois. Below: Individual scale patterns and radio-transmitting tags help researchers keep tabs on the snakes in
the wild.
WINTER 2009
19
(wild file )
Above, left-to-right: This infant swamp monkey was recently reunited with her family at the Helen Brach Primate House. Caiman lizards are a colorful new addition to Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House. Opposite: An exercise program has led to weight loss for silverback JoJo in the
World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Year of the Gorilla.
A Family Reunited
New arrivals are joyous occasions at the zoo, and the keepers at
the Helen Brach Primate House were excited with the Species
Survival Plan-recommended birth of a female Allen’s swamp monkey in June. Elation quickly turned to sorrow, though, as the mother passed away from complications due to pregnancy just one day
after giving birth.
The remaining monkeys in the group—the father and three siblings—were all male and unequipped for caregiving. So zookeepers stepped in to fill the gap, offering round-the-clock care to steer
the infant to maturity. (Human rearing of zoo animals is always
undertaken as a last resort.)
Formula was served every two hours to ensure that the new
arrival was nourished. To minimize human influence, all feedings
were delivered via a “surrogate”—a stuffed bear that served as a
rough stand-in for the missing mother. These feedings occurred in
sight of the family group, which immediately took an interest in
the new arrival. “Any time she was fed, they came right up to the
mesh separating them,” says Zoological Manager of Primates
Maureen Leahy. “Of course, they may have wanted the bottle too,”
she laughs.
Thanks to the keepers’ dedicated care, the young female thrived.
After a month, she was placed in a “howdy” enclosure adjacent to
the main exhibit to let the family group become more familiar with
20 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
her. Branches and vines were added to the “howdy” to encourage
her to climb, jump and swing, just like her older brothers. Bottle
feedings were eventually replaced with solid foods, including fruits,
vegetables, leafy greens and monkey chow.
Behind the scenes, keepers gradually introduced her to the rest
of the family, starting with the youngest, a 2-year-old, and working
their way up to dad. Everything went smoothly—the two youngest
immediately took to playing with her—and so the entire group was
reunited in November.
“She’s probably had to grow up a little faster than she would
have otherwise, but everything’s going great,” reports Leahy. “It’s
good to see them all together.”
Lizards Lounge at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House
The Ecosystem Area at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile
House (SMRH) saw a new addition in November as three caiman
lizards were introduced to the cotton-top tamarin and Hoffman’s
two-toed sloth exhibit. While the tamarins and sloths hang out in
the upper reaches of their enclosure, the brightly colored caiman
lizards can be seen basking on the lower levels.
Native to South America, these large lizards can reach up to 3
feet in length. The zoo’s trio—all siblings—were born at Shedd
Aquarium, but before the reptiles could make the short trip to their
new home, keepers at SMRH had to get a handle on caring for
another new species. Caiman lizards feed primarily on snails, and
the Shedd shipped over a starter colony of apple snails—the preferred escargot—to give the zoo a head start. Keepers quickly
learned what the slimy newcomers needed to thrive, ensuring that
the lizards’ diet was available when they arrived.
“It’s exciting to have new and unusual lizards in the building,”
says Curator Diane Mulkerin. “Visitors will enjoy the diversity.”
Good Health in the Year of the Gorilla
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has
declared 2009 to be the WAZA Year of the Gorilla. This conservation event will highlight the threats facing gorillas in the wild and
encourage efforts to conserve the majestic species.
As a leader in gorilla science, Lincoln Park Zoo has a number of
exciting efforts already underway. Scientists at the Lester E. Fisher
Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes are analyzing ape
cognition with touch-screen technology and collaborating in field
projects to protect western lowland gorillas in the Republic of
Congo’s Goualougo Triangle.
At the same time, keepers and veterinarians are taking steps to
monitor the health of the gorilla groups living at Regenstein
Center for African Apes. The endangered animals underwent their
annual physicals in October, with veterinarians conducting a range
of exams to check the great apes’ health. A team of cardiologists
and pulmonologists affiliated with the zoo’s Medical Advisory
Committee also participated, providing expert analysis of hearts
and lungs. Much like people, gorillas are vulnerable to cardiovascular disease as they age—particularly silverbacks like JoJo, who is
28 and weighs 500 pounds.
All of the apes checked out well. And some of the credit may be
due to an ape exercise program that has seen some of the…uh,
bulkier…gorillas shed excess weight. Keepers use conditioning sessions with the gorillas to encourage activity–the apes sit and stand,
move back and forth in the exhibit. It started slowly, but keepers
are now seeing a lot more endurance.
Other changes have helped encourage weight loss. Nutrition
Manager Shana Lavin, Ph.D., tweaked diets to make them more
healthful. Keepers discouraged excess snacking by placing supplemental protein biscuits in “puzzle feeders” at the upper reaches of
the exhibit. The climb encourages activity, and small openings prevent big hands from snagging more snacks than they need.
The results have been impressive. JoJo lost 25 pounds while
female Kowali has dropped twice that amount. Sleeker and healthier, these gorillas are well-equipped to showcase their species during the WAZA Year of the Gorilla.
A Look Back at the Year of the Frog
As 2009 marks the beginning of the Year of the Gorilla, it also
marks the end of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Year of
the Frog, a collaborative effort in which zoos and aquariums across
the country joined together to highlight the threat facing amphibians worldwide. Habitat loss, pollution and disease have placed
large numbers of frogs, salamanders and newts at risk of extinction. In response, zoos have made their conservation a priority,
jumpstarting breeding programs for at-risk species.
New arrivals, such as axolotls, Oriental fire-bellied toads and
emperor newts, marked Lincoln Park Zoo’s Year of the Frog. At the
same time, successes in breeding programs for dyeing poison arrow
frogs and Solomon Island leaf frogs gave populations a boost, as
the zoo transferred new hatchlings to other institutions to further
their conservation.
“The Year of the Frog may be over, but we’re still working to
conserve amphibians,” says Mulkerin.
WINTER 2009
21
(back story )
New Home, New Horns
Newlyweds commonly move into homes larger than they presently
need, predicting a future filled with bouncing babies. Architects and
curators at Lincoln Park Zoo are taking the same tack. Of course, the
black rhinoceros newborns they’re hoping for weigh up to 100 pounds,
have two nubby horns jutting from their heads and use steel kegs as
playthings.
In September 2008, renovation began on the exhibit at the north
end of Regenstein African Journey, which had most recently housed
Bactrian camels. Around that time, a 3-year-old female
black rhinoceros was transferred to Lincoln Park
Zoo from the Great Plains Zoo, complementing
the current resident—a 22-year-old male.
Great planning by the Black Rhinoceros
Species Survival Plan went into the animal
transfer, ensuring that this female represents the
best possible genetic match for the male. Great
planning also went into the design of the facility
they’ll share.
The project, expected to cost $1 million, will be completed in early
2009 and is underwritten by the generosity of the Caryn and King
Harris family. The new exhibit will provide three separate rhino areas
connected by state-of-the-art transfer chutes. There will be wallows
and shady areas in which to relax, a scale to weigh the massive mammals and protected-contact setups where veterinarians can perform
checkups. The public space around the exhibit will present a dynamic
black rhino educational experience, highlighting the status of the
species in the wild as well as zoo efforts to conserve it.
The added space will also facilitate breeding, as the animals will
have plenty of space in which to get comfortable with one another.
Should breeding go well, the large yards will provide space for young
rhinos to romp and enable the adult male to be separated from
the female and offspring if need be. New arrivals will be part of a
comprehensive Association of Zoos and Aquariums conservation program for the species, considered by some to be the world’s most endangered mammal.
For now, the male and female are not allowed physical contact
beyond some nuzzling between adjacent holding areas. While both are
given outside access, they won’t share a space (indoor or outdoor) until
she grows up a bit. At just 1,600 pounds, she’s much smaller than her
3,000-pound potential paramour.
But Zoological Manager of Regenstein African Journey Mark
Kamhout is happy to see that the two appear to be interested in each
other. In addition to that nuzzling, they bob heads, sniff and snort at one
another. Good signs…honestly.
“The new rhinoceros space is going to be great,” beams Kamhout.
“It’s going to enable us to become a leader in rhino breeding and conservation. The expanded yards will be better for the animals and give guests
a more accurate approximation of wild rhino behavior.”
Everyone is hoping that behavior results in new residents at the
new exhibit.
22 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
KEY NOTES
1. New Barrier Wall with
Gates to Separate Yard Areas
5. Pool Converted to
Mud Wallow
2. Enhanced Viewing Areas
6. Improved Drainage
at Existing Yard
3. New Transfer Chute
Connecting Yards
7. Paved Special Observer Area
4. Redesigned Rhino Holding Area
2
5
4
6
1
7
2
3
2
2
Left: This new arrival, a 3-year-old female, will occupy the expanded rhino yard. The extra space is designed to accommodate offspring—a hope
for down the road. Above: The renovated enclosure will feature shared and separate yards, a necessity for breeding. (Drawing by Interactive Design
Inc.) Below: Work began in September 2008. The project is slated to be completed in early 2009.
WINTER 2009
23
(news of the zoo)
Above, left-to-right: For its work supporting elephant conservation in Tanzania, Lincoln Park Zoo received an Association of Zoos and Aquariums
2008 Significant Achievement Award for International Conservation. Expanded 2009 summer camps will provide more opportunities to learn about
nature. Opposite: ZooLights 2008 was another big success, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to see more than 1 million lights.
Accolades for Elephant Work
In September, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
announced that Lincoln Park Zoo, jointly with eight other zoological institutions, received its 2008 Significant Achievement Award
for International Conservation for providing critical support to the
Tarangire Elephant Project in Tanzania.
For 15 years, members of this project have studied and protected elephants in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park and the surrounding area, in addition to local zebras, wildebeest and buffalo.
For more than a decade, Lincoln Park Zoo has provided research
funding and essential scientific expertise. The zoo’s Research
Biologist, Lisa Faust, Ph.D., works directly with the project’s
founders and directors, Charles and Lara Foley, to analyze data and
model the ecosystem. They have several scientific publications in
the works.
“In addition to their groundbreaking elephant behavioral
research, the Foleys have made real contributions to assessing and
protecting key habitat essential to a healthy Tarangire ecosystem,”
says Faust. “Their work protects the elephants and the ecological
dynamics of Tarangire.”
Having documented a gradual increase in the elephant population over the years (linked to a decline in the massive ivory poaching of the 1970s and 1980s), the research team is aware that other
threats now loom. These include intense competition and conflict
with a burgeoning human population. However, in an exemplary,
long-term partnership of zoos, governmental and non-govern-
24 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
mental bodies and local communities, the Tarangire Elephant
Project uses sound science and a heartfelt appreciation of this
unique ecosystem to lead a model conservation program.
Now back working in Lincoln Park Zoo’s Alexander Center for
Applied Population Biology, Faust continues to collaborate with the
Foleys on demographic analyses and finalizing a scientific paper on
the elephant population’s history. “Being recognized by the AZA for
this award was a huge honor,” says Faust. “It pays tribute not only to
our longstanding conservation work with the Foleys but to the collaborative nature of this project, which includes contributions from
many AZA zoos on behalf of elephant conservation.”
Lincoln Park Zoo Summer Camp 2009 Sneak Peek
In 2009, Lincoln Park Zoo’s popular summer camp program
will be bigger, better and wilder than ever. The Education
Department is busy making plans, collaborating with colleagues in
the Conservation & Science and Collections Departments, and
working hard to ensure that summer camp 2009, made possible in
part by a grant from HSBC, exceeds the expectations of zoo
campers and their families. The final schedule is still being determined, but camp sessions are slated to begin June 15 and run
through August 14.
New in 2009, Lincoln Park Zoo will offer two uniquely themed
weeks of camp per age group (ages 4–14). Week A and Week B will
be independent of one another, so campers can enroll in one or both
weeks of camp. Campers looking for a two-week experience can
enroll in consecutive or non-consecutive weeks. This flexibility lets
busy campers and their families take a couple weeks off between sessions for vacation or other summer plans. More summer camp information will be made available soon. In the meantime, please visit
www.lpzoo.org/education/classes or call 312-742-2056 with questions.
New Curator of Birds
Colleen Lynch was named the Hope B. McCormick Curator of
Birds in September after serving as a population biologist with
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Population Management Center (PMC) for six
years. “I am very excited to be working directly with the animal collection, combining the management and analytical skills I developed at the PMC with my roots as a keeper at San Diego Zoo,” says
Lynch. “Of course, I am also continuing to work as a population
biologist on specific projects related to Micronesian kingfishers,
Guam rails, Puerto Rican parrots and Santa Cruz scrub jays.”
Studying the Results of Scientific Matchmaking
In September, Lincoln Park Zoo Research Biologist Lisa Faust,
Ph.D., received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library
Services to evaluate and improve the cooperative-animal breeding
programs used in zoos. These Species Survival Plans and
Population Management Plans are overseen by the Association of
Zoos and Aquariums.
Species Survival Plans pool animals of an individual species
across all accredited zoos in North America and manage them
cooperatively by issuing recommendations on which animals
should breed and/or be transferred to other zoos based on genetics. Currently, there is no system in place to determine the outcomes of these recommendations, making it difficult to systematically assess how to improve the management system. Faust’s threeyear project will create a comprehensive system to monitor and
assess the success of these recommendations, thus ensuring that
zoos are taking the best-possible steps to safeguard the populations
in their care. This unprecedented effort will provide a wealth of
information to inform future population planning.
Public Greets the Nature Boardwalk
In October, just as construction was getting underway, more than
60 neighbors of Lincoln Park Zoo gathered at an open house to learn
about the transformation of the South Pond into the Nature
Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Project leader and Vice President of Facilities Neal David, AIA,
discussed architectural plans, which include building vegetationrich banks that will help animals move in and out of the water as
well as the open-air education pavilion and over-water gazebo.
Vice President of Conservation & Science Dominic Travis,
D.V.M., educated residents about the native frogs, turtles, fish and
birds that the restored pond will welcome.
Vice President of Education Rachel Bergren explained how the
Nature Boardwalk will be a 14-acre outdoor classroom, complemented by new programs, interpretive elements and unique
opportunities to connect the community to nature.
Divers Maintain Kovler Sea Lion Pool
As part of a series of efforts to maintain and improve the water
quality of the Kovler Sea Lion Pool, SCUBA divers plunged into the
water in October to attach new diverters to the existing filteredwater inlets. The purpose was to redirect and slow the velocity of
clean water as it entered the pool to more evenly distribute it. An
animal-safe dye was injected into the water to confirm that the
diverters were acting as planned. The divers returned again in
November to make some final adjustments and add two more
diverters, further improving the already-welcoming habitat for the
zoo’s harbor and gray seals.
Building Bonds between Chicago and Tanzania
In June 2008, the zoo signed a conservation agreement with the
Tanzanian Wildlife Research Institute, the governmental body in
charge of that nation’s wildlife and conservation research. “Lincoln
Park Zoo has always had a strong commitment to conservation in
Tanzania,” says Vice President of Conservation & Science Dominic
Travis, D.V.M. “This agreement formalizes that relationship and
will enable us to take our efforts to a new level.”
A Preview of the Nature Boardwalk
Lincoln Park Zoo will display a model of the Nature Boardwalk
at the Chicagoland Flower & Garden Show, beginning March 7, 2009
at Navy Pier. The replica will be about 2,800 square feet, enabling
attendees of the show to walk through a compressed version of the
landscape. “The Flower & Garden Show is showcasing cultural institutions,” says Lincoln Park Zoo Vice President of Communications
& Public Affairs Marybeth Johnson. “The audience is environmentally conscious and educated on gardens and ecology, so this is a
great venue to showcase what will be the Nature Boardwalk.”
ZooLights Shines Bright
ZooLights was again a smashing success this holiday season,
attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to marvel at more
than 1 million lights. Lincoln Park Zoo would like to thank presenting sponsors ComEd and Charter One Foundation as well as
Pepsi, WBBM-AM and NBC 5.
BY CHRIS MCNAMARA
American avocet, piping plover—in a beach setting. It’s easy to remember sunny days on the
sand while admiring these birds.
The nicobar pigeons add iridescent flash to the
Forest Edge Exhibit, while the scarlet ibis fancies
up the Wetlands Area with its bold, pink feathers.
A simulated tropical river flows through the
Free Flight Area, enlivened with golden-breasted starlings and orange bishops, sunbitterns and
the comically mustachioed Inca tern. The
humid tropical scene painted on the walls, dense
foliage and natural sunshine courtesy of skylights help you forget about conditions outside
(see sidebar).
If you can peel your eyes off the Guam
Micronesian kingfisher within Tropical Forest II,
look up. Notice how the pond reflects waves of
light onto the ceiling. It’ll warm your eyes, at least.
Within the nearby Deep Forest Exhibit, the
burly Blyth’s hornbills romp among the branches. Next door in the Mountain Clearing, the bluefaced honeyeater flashes around the kookaburra.
And finally, in the Riverbanks Exhibit, the
stunningly beautiful Bali mynahs grace their
Warm, WelcomiNg & WiNged
When the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo opens in
spring 2010, it will play host to a spectrum of feathered residents.
But during construction, bird lovers have an indoor refuge in the
McCormick Bird House—a facility brimming with color and song
courtesy of some 31 species.
It’s warm. It’s welcoming. It’s a winter retreat. The Bird House is
filled with bright and beautiful creatures that remind us that the
cold won’t last forever. “The building is 70 degrees year-round,”
says Curator of Birds Colleen Lynch. “When it’s 20 degrees outside,
this is a good place to be.”
Head South! Head South!
Immediately upon entering the building you’ll spot a flock of
birds on the wall flying in formation. It’s as if they’re migrating to
warmer climates and inviting you along—Head south! Head south!
Your first stop is the Tropical Forest I Exhibit, where the lush green
foliage is enlivened with flashes of color courtesy of the lesser green
broadbill and red-legged honeycreeper. To round out the palette, the
fairy bluebird flits between the branches like…well…a fairy.
A few steps away resides the Guam rail, a native of the Pacific
island with the bare legs to prove it. Then you encounter the
Seashore Exhibit, which houses birds native to this region—
26 LINCOLN PARK ZOO
verdant surroundings like blue-eyed ghosts. It’s no wonder they’re
cherished in their native Indonesia.
On your way out of the Bird House, wave to the keepers who are
likely in the kitchen preparing meals for the birds. Their short
sleeves can provide one last bit of vicarious warmth before you head
back out into the cold.
The Warming Quality of Birds
The polar bears are fun to watch as they romp through the snow,
but they don’t offer much relief from Chicago’s winters. It’s neat to
see the snowy owls employ their camouflage feathers, but after a few
minutes standing still, your toes get cold. And it’s a treat to see the
steam emit from the white-lipped deer buck as he patrols his yard,
but a drag to see your own.
Inside the McCormick Bird House, however, the residents are
acting like it’s summer in the Bahamas. And if your imagination
isn’t frozen, you can picture yourself there with them. <<
The colorful forms of the lesser green broadbill (above), Nicobar pigeon
(opposite, top) and red-legged honeycreeper (right) make the
McCormick Bird House a welcoming winter destination. The building’s
Free Flight Area (top right) offers tropical heat and lively birdcalls.
You are Cleared for Takeoff
The Free Flight Area within the McCormick Bird
House is the most immersive experience at
Lincoln Park Zoo. Visitors literally walk through
the birds’ world. Curator Colleen Lynch offers the
following tips to optimize the experience:
•Come in and relax for a couple minutes. Wait for
the activity to begin around you. When people enter
Free Flight, the birds often stop and stay quiet for a
minute. Once they realize you’re going to hang out,
they get back to doing their own thing.
•Look down. People instinctively look up, but
you’ll never spot species like the pheasant
pigeons and crested wood partridges unless you
look on the ground.
•Focus on the waterfall. There’s always a lot of
activity there, especially with the Mandarin ducks
and Inca terns.
WINTER 2009
27
gombe Updates
BY JAMES SEIDLER
While the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo will serve as a flagship for local conservation projects, the zoo continues
to advance the well-being of animals around the globe. A focal point for zoo efforts to conserve endangered animals is
Gombe National Park, the home of Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking chimpanzee research. By monitoring the health of the
park’s roughly 100 chimpanzees, the Gombe Ecosystem Health Project gathers information that can be used to protect
the apes throughout Africa.
Probing for Parasites
In order to know whether a population is sick, you must first
know what it means to be well. That may sound like the latest
mantra for new-age living, but it’s really the illuminating principle
behind the Ecosystem Health Project. “Before we can analyze
health issues in Gombe’s chimpanzees, we need to establish a baseline for what’s normal,” says Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., director of
the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes.
One method that’s being used to gauge normalcy is a parasitology study conducted in collaboration with specialist Tom
Gillespie, Ph.D., of Emory University and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. To gauge how parasites are affecting the
park’s chimpanzees, Gillespie is examining fecal samples collected by Fisher Center researchers from 2004 to the present to identify parasites contained within. His preliminary analysis has
turned up a number of “bugs,” including serious pathogens, such
as cryptosporidia and giardia (the latter may be familiar to backpackers who have sampled untreated water on the trail).
While some nasty parasites have been identified, more information is needed to determine whether they’re impacting the
park population. “For parasites like giardia, we know they’re not
good to have, but we’re not sure at what level they start influencing health,” says Lonsdorf. Under normal circumstances, low
levels of a parasite may not cause illness, but if conditions
change—if there’s increased stress, more contact with domestic
animals or harsher weather—sickness may occur.
To better understand this balance, Gillespie and Fisher Center
scientists are taking a number of innovative approaches. One simple concept that’s having a big impact is the use of a standardized
surveillance method. Previous parasitology projects used different procedures to gather and process samples, making it difficult
to compare results. In contrast, Gillespie has developed a standard
protocol at Gombe, the zoo’s Goualougo Triangle research site
and other study areas throughout the region. This will enable easy
comparisons, helping to establish a link between parasites and
chimpanzee health.
At the same time, Gillespie is using advanced molecular-diagnostic techniques to identify parasites more precisely. By nailing
down the species of each pathogen—something that’s impossible with traditional visual IDs—Gillespie and collaborators
can begin to map how parasites pass through the Gombe
ecosystem. “This will give us a much better idea of the source of
each pathogen,” says Lonsdorf. “We can begin to identify
whether parasites are chimpanzee-specific or whether they’re
shared with humans or domestic animals that live in the surrounding area.”
Lonsdorf cautions that time will be needed to develop a
clear baseline. “Five years of data is good; 10 years is better,”
says the scientist. Every bit of information will help formulate
a clearer picture of chimpanzee health, though, making it easier to preserve a population in peril.
New Research: Studying Maternal Stress
Chimpanzee communities are complicated. Groups can
number from 20–100 animals, but all of these chimpanzees
rarely gather in the same space at one time. Instead, the apes
move through the forest in loose aggregations: males patrol the
borders for rivals, females in estrus are surrounded by eager
suitors and lone chimpanzees forage for food or shelter.
Families often travel together as well. In chimpanzees, the
family group consists of a female and her offspring; males don’t
contribute to parenting. As a result, the mother-child relationship is an enduring one, reflecting the fact that young chimpanzees nurse until 3–4 years of age and continue to be socially dependent until 8–10. Even after reaching maturity, many
chimpanzees continue to travel with their mothers. Male offspring receive maternal support as they attempt to climb the
dominance hierarchy, and older siblings lend a hand in caring
for new arrivals.
The importance of the mother-child connection makes it a
rich subject for study. To better understand this bond, Lonsdorf,
Endocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D., of the Davee Center
for Epidemiology and Endocrinology and collaborator Carson
Murray, Ph.D., have embarked on a new study. Its focus probably won’t surprise anyone who’s had children: the scientists are
looking at maternal stress.
Specifically, they aim to examine how maternal stress affects
the health and development of offspring. By analyzing fecal samples from chimpanzee mothers, the scientists can map levels of
cortisol, a stress hormone, over time. These results can be compared with Gombe’s wealth of observational and health data to
try to determine how a mother’s stress levels affect her offspring.
“We’re looking to answer several questions,” says Lonsdorf.
“What factors influence stress? Is there a relationship between
a mother’s stress levels and those of her offspring? Does maternal stress influence maternal behavior? How does this impact
the offspring’s long-term development?”
With sample collection just beginning, these questions
won’t be answered for some time. Still, by examining the
mother-child relationship in our closest living relative, the
zoo researchers may eventually shed light on the same relationship in our own species. Stress, after all, is part of the parenting process, whether you’re a chimpanzee in Gombe
National Park or a mom here in the city. <<
To better conserve endangered chimpanzees at Gombe National
Park, zoo scientists are studying their health. Behavioral observations
(right) and analyses of fecal samples for parasites and stress levels
(above) help provide a baseline on well-being.
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and mice for snowy owls. (You can
stick with chocolates.)
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wolf, harbor seal or snowy owl plush
animal, ADOPT certificate, animal fact
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