Amphibian Crisis

For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo • A Magazine of Conservation and Education • Spring 2008

Amphibian Crisis Wet, weird, wonderful...and disappearing

IN THIS ISSUE Volume 5 Number 4 • For Members of Lincoln Park Zoo

(features) 4 Amphibian Crisis Highly visible with their smooth skins and cool colors, amphibians are in decline worldwide. Find out how Lincoln Park Zoo is helping to conserve these species as part of the Year of the Frog.

12 Stepping Into Scientists’ Shoes The Exploring Ape Behavior program lets visitors at Regenstein Center for African Apes get a firsthand view of our closest cousins. Step into a scientist’s shoes to observe the zoo’s chimpanzees and gorillas.

(departments)

20 Zoo Arrivals Determining which animals receive breeding recommendations is a meticulous process. Learn why Guam rails received the green light while chimpanzees won’t be expecting any new arrivals.

3 Perspective President and CEO Kevin J. Bell explores how zoo research is transforming animal management.

9 Amazing Adaptations

24 Simian Science

Poisonous spines, permeable skin and “antifreeze” in the veins are among the adaptations enabling amphibians to live in their watery homes.

Researchers at the Helen Brach Primate House are exploring behaviors as diverse as the building’s residents.

10 News of the Zoo 26 Census in the Caribbean The Puerto Rican parrot is one of the world’s most endangered birds. As reintroduction efforts take root, Lincoln Park Zoo scientists travel to the island to help the process.

28 A Second Look

The Nutrition Center surveys what’s on the zoo menu, scientists scan the skies for Contact the Membership avian influenza and Zoocology brings Department. Staff are on hand blue-tongued skinks and three-banded during normal business hours— armadillos into Chicago classrooms.

QUESTIONS?

phone 312-742-2322 or visit us online at www.lpzoo.org.

Endocrinology studies provide new windows into animal well-being. From timing pygmy hippo breeding cycles to analyzing comfort levels in sable antelopes, hormonal surveys have a big impact on zoo management.

30 140 Years of Family Fun An institution with a rich tradition, Lincoln Park Zoo was established 140 years ago with a gift of two swans from New York City’s Central Park. Take a trip through zoo history with this series of classic photos.

16 The Back Story

By developing a tool to project animal longevity, researcher Lisa Faust is giving zoos a tool to cope with loss.

18 The Wild File A Bali mynah breeding update, news from the takin herd, early mornings for eager beavers and gorilla grooming.

Cover: Dyeing poison arrow frog. Above: Spring flowers bloom by the Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond. Right: A gray tree frog clings to its perch.

LINCOLN PARK ZOO MAGAZINE President and CEO Kevin J. Bell

Photographer Greg Neise

Art Director Peggy Martin

Staff Writer Chris McNamara

Editor James Seidler

Cert no. SW-COC-1613

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312742-2000, 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.

(precis ) It sounds unbelievable—over the top—but the statement on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) web site is alarmingly simple: “Frogs are going extinct. So are toads, salamanders, newts and the intriguingly unusual caecilians.”

That blunt warning lies at the heart of the AZA’s 2008 Year of the Frog campaign, a conservation effort aimed at raising awareness of the plight faced by frogs and other amphibians worldwide. Throughout the planet, these populations are reeling, impacted by habitat loss, pollution and the spread of the deadly batrachochytridium dendrobatidis fungus. As amphibians lose ground in the wild, zoo-based conservation programs will play an increasing role in preserving these unique animals.

As the Year of the Frog kicked off with a Leap Day celebration on February 29, Lincoln Park Zoo joined with institutions across the country to introduce visitors to the wonders of amphibians. Fire-bellied toads, emperor newts and axolotls are among the vibrant additions on display at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House; behind the scenes, curators are deliberating how the zoo can best contribute to captive-breeding efforts.

Amphibians are not high-profile species. Few people make the trip to Lincoln Park Zoo solely to see a gray tree frog. But these essential, easily overlooked animals highlight the reason why zoos exist: to provide a refuge for species big and small and work together to develop a plan for their recovery. 2008 may be the Year of the Frog, but zoos are working hard to ensure that there are many more years of the frog to come.

(field note) Spectacled Caiman Caiman crocodilus To preempt your wisenheimer grandpa, let’s start out by saying that, no, the spectacled caiman doesn’t wear glasses. This crocodilian species, which can be found widely throughout Central and South America, gets its name from a bony ridge that runs above its eyes, a structure that, to some, resembles a pair of frames. In any case, the resident caiman at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House doesn’t act like a stereotypical specs-wearer. “He’s a bit on the aggressive side,” says Keeper Luke Stevens. “If you need to enter the exhibit, he’ll make sure you know he’s there.” A wide-open mouth is the caiman’s typical defensive gesture—an effective one, given his powerful jaws and long, sharp teeth.

In the wild, these impressive incisors are used to snare prey including fish, water birds, amphibians and even the occasional wild pig that ventures too close to the water.

The most common crocodilian species, the spectacled caiman makes its home in the region’s abundant streams and waterways. If conditions become too dry, it can burrow into the mud to wait things out, lowering its metabolism into a hibernation-like state called aestivation.

No aestivation is necessary at the zoo, where the caiman’s pond is full and the temperature is kept at a steady 80–90 degrees. Still, the resident reptile spends most of his time resting by the water. It’s a low-key existence…as long as you don’t get too close.

(perspective)

A Letter From President and CEO Kevin J. Bell

Conserving the Future As an institution, Lincoln Park Zoo is proudly focused on the future. Cutting-edge research, state-of-the-art facilities and up-todate knowledge leave us poised to be at the forefront of the next generation of zoo science. Even as the animals in our care benefit from our commitment to improvement, the visitors who come to observe wildlife firsthand will receive a more immersive experience, one enabling them to better appreciate the majesty of these animals as well as the importance of preserving them in the wild.

Lincoln Park Zoo is helping to bring this future to the present with wideranging conservation and science programs. Endocrinology studies at the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology are increasing our understanding of species—La Plata threebanded armadillos, Sichuan takin—whose biology is largely unknown in the wild. As seen in this issue, these wide-ranging surveys chronicle innate indicators of reproduction and stress, providing keepers and veterinarians with more precise opportunities for care.

Every element of the animal life cycle presents an opportunity for research, from individuals to ecosystems, the wild to captivity and even birth to death. Researchers in the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology are helping us better understand the latter by developing a special software program to map animal mortality. By providing clear statistics for life expectancies of species ranging from chimpanzees to island foxes, this tool can provide a sense of perspective to accompany each inevitable loss.

At the other end of the life cycle, careful population planning accompanies every new arrival to the zoo. As this issue highlights, breeding decisions are complex, involving genetic analyses, space-use surveys and demographic evaluations of every captive population.

Scientists at the zoo’s Population Management Center play an integral role in evaluating captive populations throughout North America to determine the best animals for breeding. Their peers in the Collections department often serve on Species Survival Plans and Population Management Plans aimed at putting scientific recommendations into place. Their work helps threatened species rebound and ensures that all captive populations retain the diversity of the wild.

Examples of the research being done on zoo grounds can be seen throughout the Helen Brach Primate House. The studies conducted there are as varied as the building’s inhabitants, enlisting keepers, curators and scientists in efforts from determining breeding cycles for pied tamarins to observing the principles behind sound maternal care in white-cheeked gibbons.

Next door, at Regenstein Center for African Apes, visitors now have the chance to experience zoo research firsthand through the Exploring Ape Behavior program. This educational effort immerses guests in zoo research by placing them in a scientist’s shoes for a day, where they conduct behavioral observations of the building’s gorillas and chimpanzees. This unique experience helps them appreciate the rigors of research. It should also impart an increased appreciation for the complexity of some of our closest living relatives.

Of course, conservation research isn’t limited to zoo grounds.

As you will see, several scientists from the zoo’s Conservation & Science Department are collaborating with researchers in Puerto Rico to conserve the Puerto Rican parrot, one of the 10 most endangered birds in the world. Fortunately, the zoo’s involvement in the project is a consequence of success. The captive population on the island had grown to the point where the record-keeping system in place was inadequate. The zoo’s expertise in cataloguing small populations was enlisted to produce a centralized population database for the species, one that will aid future efforts in research and recovery.

While the Puerto Rican parrot population has received a boost in the wild, another crucial group is facing a crisis. Amphibians are in decline worldwide, falling victim to habitat loss, pollution and the deadly BD fungus. To highlight their plight, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has declared 2008 to be the Year of the Frog.

Zoos throughout the country are preserving amphibians by providing a refuge for these threatened species. At Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, emperor newts, axolotls, fire-bellied toads and Solomon Island leaf frogs are newly on display to educate visitors about zoo efforts to preserve these special species.

These efforts are all taking place in 2008, the year that marks the 140th anniversary of Lincoln Park Zoo’s founding. The zoo has grown and changed throughout its history, adopting modernized veterinary care, increasingly sophisticated exhibits and a scientific approach to understanding animal needs. As we look to the future—140 years down the road—we can be sure of further improvements: enhanced conservation programs and a better understanding of the animals in our care. We’ll also be able to count on the dedicated support of our members and donors, one thing that doesn’t change over time.

Kevin J. Bell President and CEO

SPRING 2008 3

The Amphibian

Crisis The wet, weird and wonderful creatures of the world are disappearing.

The solutions to the crisis are slippery.

Amphibians around the world are disappearing from their wild habitats. Frogs, salamanders, toads and newts are dwindling at rates that dwarf other vanishing species. For every bird or mammal species in danger of extinction, there are as many as three amphibian species facing that same fate.

After thriving for millions of years, half of the world’s more than 4,000 amphibian species could disappear in our lifetime. We are facing the largest mass extinction since the dinosaurs. mphibians are ancient—they first appeared in the fossil record around 368 million years ago. As cold-blooded species, they are unable to regulate their body heat, leaving them dependent on the surrounding temperature. When it’s warm out, they’re more active; when it’s cold, they tend to hunker down. In regions with really harsh weather, some amphibian species will enter a hibernation-like period Year of the Frog… to survive. These “newt naps” can be seasonal or even last for several years.

Year of Crisis As a group, amphibians are generally hit with the In this Year of the Frog, as designated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums “slimy” stereotype, but these animals have a reason (AZA), we celebrate the fragile beauty of for their slick skin. Most amphibians need to these weird and wondrous creatures. breathe through their skin to supplement primitive Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting educational lungs. Some salamanders have no lungs at all and events throughout the year and breathe only through their skins’ bodily coating. To exhibiting a variety of amphibian facilitate respiration, these skins are usually soft and species to educate and inspire visitors. moist, enabling easy absorption of water and a quick exchange of gasses—oxygen and carbon dioxide—necessary for life.

A

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Those clammy coverings aren’t just limited to helping frogs and newts breathe. For some brightly colored species, skin also serves as a warning.

The outer skin of some highly toxic species is brightly colored, the result of glandular secretions that can also add distinct odors—the Oriental fire-bellied toad, for example, smells like garlic.

Other amphibians have the ability to change color, camouflaging themselves when predators approach. Certain cells under the skin are able to alter their color, allowing amphibians to blend into their surroundings.

As anyone who ever had a tadpole in their childhood classroom knows, though, the whole thing starts in the water.

Amphibian itself means “double life,” reflecting the aquatic and terrestrial stages of most species. Breeding occurs in ponds, pools and streams, where females lay eggs and males shed sperm over them.

These eggs typically hatch into legless, aquatic tadpoles that breath through gills on the sides of their heads. These tadpoles mature in the water, moving about by wriggling their tails and nourishing themselves on plant materials.

Eventually, tadpoles make the big transition: they lose their gills and develop legs, switching from an herbivorous diet in the water to an insect-eating life on water and land. Some salamanders, such as the mudpuppy and axolotl, develop legs but keep their gills, staying in the water throughout their lifetimes.

Ultimately, because they are so sensitive, they act as a sort of “canary in the coal mine”—they are among the first species to be affected by environmental stressors. When amphibians show declines in the wild, it serves as a warning to other species, including humans.

Be part of Regrettably, scientists the solution! don’t understand amphibians the way they do, say, •Reduce water consumption, pumas or penguins. Few energy waste and chemical fertilizer use • Provide backyard habitats in which species of frogs and amphibians can thrive • Make daily almost no species of saladecisions to protect the environment. manders or newts have • Learn more about the zoo’s green been bred in captivity. efforts at www.lpzoo.org/green.

Their habitats are tricky to • Learn more about the crisis maintain and their breeding at amphibianark.org. cycles are difficult to understand.

This lack of ready knowledge has led Lincoln Park Zoo scientists to be especially careful in planning the next step in conservation. “We could try to bring in as many amphibians as possible from the wild. But then what?” asks Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs Steve Thompson, Ph.D. “We need to have the knowledge and the capability to house and breed these species before we simply bring them into captive environments.”

First, says Thompson, it’s necessary to determine which species are worst off—the ones that most desperately need help. “At Lincoln Park Zoo, for example, we can only house a few. Should we save domestic species? African species? South American species?

We’re working to develop criteria before we act.”

Why are they vulnerable?

Much of what makes amphibians unique also makes them vulnerable. Their watery habitats are increasingly polluted and shrinking due to human encroachment. On top of that, aquatic pollution is especially harmful to amphibians because of the very skin that enables them to breathe. Their easy absorption of oxygen and water also extends to man-made toxins, pollutants, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other environmental factors.

The batrachochytridium dendrobatidis fungus (BD) may be the most serious threat, but even UV radiation could be contributing to amphibians’ demise—greater exposure to UV rays, the result of a dwindling ozone layer, could be altering amphibian DNA.

Why do amphibians matter?

Beyond their inherent beauty and worth, frogs, salamanders and toads are both predator and prey, maintaining the delicate balance of the food chain. They eat pests, benefiting agriculture around the world and minimizing the spread of diseases like malaria.

How can Lincoln Park Zoo help?

Quite simply, the first step is informing people that there’s a problem. Beyond that, the zoo is leading an education campaign to focus visitors’ attention on local issues that impact amphibians—pollution, habitat loss and more. As you’ll see in the following pages, Lincoln Park Zoo is also adding more amphibians to its collection, offering guests a better understanding of the beauty and frailty of these creatures.

“We need to bring species into zoo settings for research, enabling us to learn more about amphibian husbandry,” says Thompson. “In doing so we can create models of common species that we hope will show us the way to breed and care for highly endangered species. It is a slow process, but careful planning will be necessary to fight the amphibian crisis.”

It didn’t start overnight and unfortunately, it’s not going to end that way. By learning more, though, zoos can begin to learn where they can help best. <<

SPRING 2008 5

(field note)

BY MEG RITTER

Oriental Fire-bellied Toad Bombina orientalis On first glance at these little amphibians at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, you might wonder where they get their moniker. The undersides of these toads are green and speckled black, resembling fire no more than their watery exhibits.

But wild fire-bellied toads (like the one pictured here) that splash through the swamps of southeastern China, do possess vibrant orange and red tummies, which they use to dissuade potential predators. (Bright colors often indicate toxicity in amphibian species.) They’ll arch their backs to display a fire-hued advertisement of their noxious nature, and hungry hunters will flee in search of more palatable fare.

In captivity, where no predators lurk, the toads no longer have this adaptation—their bellies are bland. “One factor for the loss of color may be diet,” speculates Keeper Michal Kisielinski. “Wild firebellied toads might eat different insects than they do here, where they eat mostly crickets. This contributes to chemical changes that alter physiology.”

Unlike most toads, which snatch prey with a tongue affixed to the front of the mouth, firebellied toads have lost the ability to unfold their tongues, which are round rather than elongated.

Instead, they wait for prey to move and then pounce, gobbling the unfortunate creature in one swift motion. It happens so fast, the poor crickets can’t even get a look at that eponymous belly.

6 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

At Lincoln Park Zoo While charismatic megavertabrates like Amur tigers and polar bears are impressive creatures, the little wet amphibians are awesome in their own right. A quick introduction to Lincoln Park Zoo’s amphibians: Dyeing poison arrow frog Lincoln Park Zoo’s pairs have produced hundreds of offspring over the past years, which have been sent to zoos around the nation.

Oriental fire-bellied toad Bold green-and-black coloration distinguishes these striking amphibians (left).

Emperor newt Spines along emperor newts’ backs contain poison, which dissuades potential predators from taking a bite. (See page 9.)

Axolotl Endangered in the wild, these odd-looking creatures are thriving at the zoo. A recent clutch was kept in a brooder within the exhibit, lest mom and dad (voracious carnivores) confuse them for prey.

American toad Hardy, robust creatures often found in urban areas, these toads secrete a mildly poisonous bufotoxin that helps thwart predators.

Gray tree frog As their name implies, these frogs blend into the muted color of trees in their North American habitats, but stripes of gold under their legs add a colorful flair.

Solomon Island leaf frog Unusual among amphibians, these frogs skip the tadpole stage, emerging from eggs as fully formed (if tiny) frogs. Seven offspring hatched at the zoo in February, though you needed sharp eyes to spot the froglets, which were no larger than a letter on this page.

SPRING 2008 7

Welcome Back Like their human neighbors, amphibians in northern climates find ways to withstand harsh winters.

Most hibernate in underground burrows.

Some, like the gray tree frog, employ physiological adaptations to keep their blood from freezing. They begin to re-emerge in early spring, depending on the weather and the species of amphibian. So…now is the time to start looking for our wet neighbors.

Left: The spotted salamander is one of many Illinois amphibians facing decline in the wild. Right: While the camouflaging colors of the Solomon Island leaf frog (top) and vibrant markings of the Oriental fire-bellied toad (bottom) help them avoid predation, these species face more serious threats in the form of habitat loss and disease. Lincoln Park Zoo is partnering with zoos across the country to raise awareness of these threats and collaborate on conservation efforts.

Land of Lincoln— Land of Amphibians Given their exotic physiologies and need for wet habitats, it’s easy to assume that amphibians live only in exotic rain forests or jungle swamps. But the Land of Lincoln is also the land of frogs, toads and salamanders.

“When people think amphibians, they think of the rain forests; they don’t think of North America,” says Barbiers. “But it’s amazing how many amphibians are in our backyard…literally.”

Bullfrogs, American toads, spotted salamanders (pictured) and marbled salamanders, mud puppies and sirens (eel-like creatures) swim and splash through local rivers, ponds and lakes. Regrettably, these species face the same crisis as their cousins around the world. “Tropical amphibians are cool, and there are lots of people studying them, but there are lots of frogs and salamanders in the United States,” explains Steve Thompson, Ph.D. “Salamanders here in Illinois are rapidly disappearing, for example.”

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(amazing adaptations) Slippery Sublimity Amphibians delight us with their slippery sublimity, their bold and bizarre bodies splashing between two worlds—one slimy foot on land, another in water. But the quirks of frog, toad, salamander and newt bodies are utilitarian rather than cosmetic; they are adaptations enabling them to survive in their drenched and dangerous habitats.

Take the dyeing poison arrow frog, whose brightly colored skin is beautiful but also an advertisement of toxicity to would-be predators.

“Amphibians are a widely varied class, which live in widely varied environments and hunt (and are hunted by) widely varied predators,” explains Curator Diane Mulkerin.

“So it makes sense that they’ve developed all these unusual adaptations to survive.”

Amphibians share a number of adaptations. Their skin is permeable, enabling gaseous exchange and water transference (critical for living in their watery homes). Webbed toes bolster swimming. Eyes positioned atop the head offer a wide visual field, letting the animals see above the water while their bodies remain submerged. Eggs are laid in large clutches, playing the numbers game against hungry predators. Tongues are attached at the front of the mouth, providing a few extra centimeters of reach.

Individual species exhibited at Lincoln Park Zoo have their own unique tricks. The emperor newts at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (below) have orange lumps along their backs, which cover bony, poison-filled spines that pierce the mouths of creatures unwise enough to take a bite.

Nearby, the red bellies of the Oriental fire-bellied toads would broadcast the same toxic message to would-be predators in the wild. Just in case a snake doesn’t immediately get the hint, they can perform a maneuver known as the unkenreflex, where they prop up on their back legs or flop to their backs to display their bright undersides. A less flashy adaptation is the black footpads male fire-bellied toads develop during breeding season, enabling them to grip slippery females.

At the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo, the gray tree frogs have a physiological quirk that any auto mechanic would admire. A high level of glycerol in their blood serves as antifreeze, enabling them to withstand sub-zero temperatures as they hibernate in winter burrows.

Talk about a cool adaptation.

SPRING 2008 9

( news of the zoo)

Above, left-to-right: Injecting fish on the menu with a special vitamin E paste is one way to ensure that birds at the McCormick Bird House are getting all of their vitamins. Nutrition Manager Shana Lavin, Ph.D., is scrutinizing other aspects of the zoo menu as well. The Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology is rolling out a zoo-based surveillance program for avian influenza, which has the potential to spread between captive and wild bird populations.

What’s on the Menu?

Are Oriental fire-bellied toads at Regenstein Small MammalReptile House getting enough calcium in their crickets? Should two rats be the daily recommended allowance for dwarf crocodiles at Regenstein African Journey, or is one more than enough? These are the questions on the mind of Nutrition Manager Shana Lavin, Ph.D., as she embarks on her review of every diet at Lincoln Park Zoo. Lavin is going house-to-house, animal-to-animal in a bid to scrutinize each meal eaten (or overeaten, in some cases). The goal is to ensure that every animal’s nutritional needs are being fulfilled.

Some species’ diets are more difficult to design than others, however. Insect-eaters, such as the fire-bellied toad mentioned above, might lack sufficient calcium in their diets, so Lavin has keepers feed crickets that will end up on the menu a special insect chow that boosts their calcium levels. The bugs are even dusted with calcium powder before being placed in the dinner dish.

Similarly, snowy egrets, Inca terns and other fish-eating birds at the McCormick Bird House require supplemental vitamin E and thiamine, which keepers deliver in a special paste. “For a while, we were trying to smear the paste over the fish, but the birds weren’t eating it,” says Lavin. “Now we inject it directly into the fish’s stomach to make sure the birds eat it all.”

The zoo’s big carnivores generally require less jumping through hoops. Their beef-based diet is a hit, and vitamin supplements in the meat ensure they get “a complete meal in every bite,” as Lavin puts it. Herbivores—animals whose diets consist primarily of plants—generally thrive on the multicolored meals concocted for them, although some can require a little coaxing to expand their palate. When the red panda first arrived at the Kovler Lion House, he turned his nose up at any fruits other than red grapes; now he enthusiastically eats papaya, honeydew and banana.

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“For every diet, the goal is to find healthful food that the animals will eat,” says Lavin. “By reviewing what they’re actually eating, we can ensure that’s the case.”

Scanning the Skies For researchers in the zoo’s Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, monitoring captive populations for avian influenza is a win-win situation. Data collection fits in neatly with ongoing efforts to monitor the health of zoo animals. At the same time, zoos can provide an early-warning system for this fast-spreading and potentially deadly disease.

Like human flus, avian influenza comes in a variety of forms, from inconvenient bugs to highly pathogenic strains that could wipe out entire populations. A variant of the latter, H5N1, has made headlines with its spread throughout Asia and parts of Europe. This highly pathogenic virus has killed millions of birds as well as more than 200 people living in close contact with infected animals. The virus, which can be spread by migrating ducks and geese, has yet to appear in the United States.

To help determine whether that remains the case, Lincoln Park Zoo, through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin a zoo surveillance program. Zoos throughout the country will monitor their birds, collecting samples via noninvasive throat and cloacal (the other end) swabs. The swabs will be sent to one of three laboratories enlisted in the project, and the Davee Center will compile the results.

It has taken more than two years to put the protocols in place, but the first testing began in March 2008. The project started small: at the moment, three zoological institutions are sending samples to labs in a bid to test the procedures. If everything goes according to plan, a larger rollout will begin in early summer, enlisting all of the zoos contributing to the effort.

Above, left-to-right: Kids in the classroom interact with a blue-tongued skink as part of the Zoocology environmental education program. New blooms at the Butterfly Garden near Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House should attract some fresh flyers.

“Zoos are really well set up for disease surveillance,” says Research Epidemiologist Julia Chosy, Ph.D., the project leader.

“They’re distributed in all parts of the country, from urban to rural areas, deserts, wetlands and major migratory pathways. They also offer a wide range of species as well as an interface between humans and animals. Ultimately, this project enables zoos to fill two roles—they’ll monitor the health of their animals, as they always have, but they’ll also be able to contribute to public health in their surrounding communities.”

The testing will help scientists learn more about high- and lowpathogenic strains of avian influenza—how they form and how they spread. At the same time, the surveillance infrastructure will be ready to handle whichever disease surfaces next. “Most diseases that affect humans originally come from animals,” says Chosy.

“Zoo-based surveillance is a powerful tool.”

Kindergarteners and first-grade students in the program receive less exotic, but equally exciting, visits from chickens and rabbits. Kids from seven participating schools are invited to touch, observe and sketch the scaled, feathered and furred visitors (although the chickens are off limits for handling due to precautions about avian influenza).

As they experience wildlife firsthand, students are encouraged to come up with their own explanations for animal features, pondering, say, why the blue-tongued skink’s tongue is blue. One exercise even prompts them to plan a sleepover for their guests, deducing from their features—thick claws, big mouths or tough hides—what they eat and where they’d like to bunk down for the night.

“They come up with some pretty good speculation,” says TellerMarshall. “Having the animals in the classroom really gets them excited to learn.”

Cultivating Cocoons The Students Become the Teachers When Sue Teller-Marshall brings animals to Chicago Public Schools as part of Lincoln Park Zoo’s Zoocology environmental education program, she doesn’t begin with a lecture on the animal’s diets, or social groups, or lives in the wild. Instead, after a brief review on safe handling, she and her accompanying docents let the animals take the stage.

“Our goal is to get the students observing the animals, writing down what they see, so they’re motivated about finding the answers themselves,” explains the zoo’s Traveling Zoo coordinator.

“The schools already have science curriculums; our role is to provide new experiences that the teachers can build upon.”

Blue-tongued skinks and La Plata three-banded armadillos certainly rank as novel for the second and third graders participating in Zoocology, which is funded by the Polk Bros. Foundation.

Visitors to Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH) this summer may notice a few more winged visitors fluttering in the Butterfly Garden near the building’s exit. Lincoln Park Zoo’s volunteer gardeners, in collaboration with SMRH Curator Diane Mulkerin, have planted a variety of special plants to attract colorful pollinators ranging from common buckeyes to zebra swallowtails.

Cosmos, snapdragons, lilacs and pawpaw were among the new additions, reflecting the fact that butterflies require different plants at different points in their life cycles. The cabbage white butterfly might munch on its namesake plant as a caterpillar, for instance, then switch to sipping nectar from a cosmos or verbena as an adult.

“We’re hoping these plants will attract a lot of local butterflies,” says Mulkerin. “It’s one more piece of wildlife for visitors to interact with.”

SPRING 2008 11

Stepping into Scientists’ Shoes…

Exploring Ape Behavior

BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

ilverback gorilla Kwan lounges on his elbows inside an exhibit at Regenstein Center for African Apes, languidly surveying his family as they amble around him and periodically glancing through the glass at the crowd of people clutching tiny computers and intently staring back at him. This is nothing new, of course; the animals are ogled each day, none more so than the majestic silverbacks that are fawned over by the females in their troops, the guests in the lobby and the scientists who daily digitally chart their behavior.

But what’s different today is that the people clutching the tiny computers aren’t zoo scientists, but zoo visitors playing scientist for a day. They’re taking part in a program titled Exploring Ape Behavior, which is appropriate, but it could also be known as Exploring Scientist Behavior, because that’s what participants are doing.

“With Exploring Ape Behavior, we can introduce people to the study of animal behavior using species we most relate to—chimpanzees and gorillas,” says Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D., director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes and the co-manager of this program. “This is like a crash course in why we study animal behavior and how we do it, enabling zoo visitors to understand the great science we do by participating in it.”

S

From Spectator to Scientist (Sort Of) Before they begin collecting any data on zoo animals, zoo scientists are exhaustively trained on collection techniques to ensure that each is recording the correct behaviors in a similar fashion; dependable data demands reproducability.

This program’s scientists-for-a-day also receive training (albeit in a muchcompressed capacity) to understand how important standards are to scientists.

Each Exploring Ape Behavior session begins with an hour-long tutorial by program coordinator Mark Foster, whose experience collecting data on the chimpanzees of Gombe National Park serves him well.

Above: Silverback Kwan is just one of the great apes that visitors will observe through Exploring Ape Behavior. Behavioral observations will be collected on tiny touchpads (right), producing a map of activities over time for one of the zoo’s gorillas or chimpanzees.

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SPRING 2008 13

Above: The scientists-for-a-day begin their session with a research briefing from program coordinator Mark Foster. Right: Social displays, feeding and even naptime are among the behaviors participants can expect to observe for chimpanzees such as female Kathy (right).

“We could never train anyone to completely collect scientific data in one hour, but we can provide participants an approximation of what the process is like,” says Foster. “Those who take part in Exploring Ape Behavior will get a hands-on indoctrination on the important research work being done here. They will learn about apes, scientists and themselves. And they’ll have a lot of fun, too.”

Standing before the glass of an ape exhibit and using slides displayed on a flat-screen television, Foster educates each Exploring Ape Behavior group on the different forms of data collection, then explains interval sampling, the method of observation used in this program. This technique notes an animal’s behavior at intervals over a set period of time, then aggregates that information to paint a larger picture of behavior.

Foster asks and answers questions from the group. He warns against common data collection pitfalls and provides tips for emulating real researchers. Near the end of the tutorial, he distributes iPod Touch computers and instructs participants on using the cool little gadgets for data collection.

Then it’s out of the seats and into the shoes of scientists. Each observer conducts five-minute observations of a chimpanzee or gorilla. A beep every 15 seconds prompts people to record the activity of their animal at that moment. Eight options are available, from “feed” to “active,” “social” to “aggressive.” When an ape is just lounging on his elbows, as was Kwan in the scene described

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earlier, “inactive” is the right button to press.

Authentic Observation “We tried to make this program as authentic as possible,” explains Supervisor of Behavioral and Cognitive Research Steve Ross, who along with Lonsdorf and Curator of Primates Sue Margulis, Ph.D., wrote the Institute for Museum and Library Services grant that funds the program, with additional support from the Field Foundation of Illinois. “It’s important that participants in Exploring Ape Behavior use the same technology, employ the same methods and observe the animals in the same ways we do. The goal is for them to get a sense of what it’s like to be a scientist.”

Adds Margulis, “It provides insights into not just what kind of research we do, but why we do it. This program shows guests the important role that research plays at Lincoln Park Zoo, prompting them to explore the broader applications of that knowledge. Better understanding of one animal at one zoo helps us understand all animals around the world.”

Lest participants in Exploring Ape Behavior think they’re the only ones collecting information, they should note this: those doing the exploring are being explored themselves. “A side component is that we monitor how the public learns about animal behavior,” says Ross, revealing that everything is studied and analyzed in the world of a scientist. <<

Tips from the Pros Want to conduct research like a pro? Ask a pro.

Here Ross, Lonsdorf and Margulis—veterans of countless hours of ape field studies—provide tips on collecting observational data:

Steve Ross “Attention to detail is crucial to performing research. Very subtle behaviors can be very important.

Record what the animals are doing, not what they’re thinking (which we can’t know anyways). Simply observe their behaviors and record an objective view of what is going on.”

“With interval sampling, which is the form of datagathering we’re doing with Exploring Ape Behavior, you’re taking a snapshot of what the animals are doing at a given moment. It takes a little skill to learn to freeze time for a second and record what the animal is doing, not picking the most interesting thing they’ve done in the last few minutes.”

Elizabeth Lonsdorf, Ph.D. “Try not to affect the animal’s behavior yourself. If you want to understand why an animal is behaving the way it is, don’t alter it by interacting with the animals.

Try to disappear into the environment.”

“You have to collect lots and lots of data to understand behavior. If you only studied Kwan for five minutes, you might think all gorillas do is sleep. But if you studied him repeatedly at different times of the day you’d get a full picture of his activity.”

Sue Margulis, Ph.D. “Although observing behavior can be tedious at times (many animals, including humans, spend a large proportion of time sleeping), you always need to be ready to record details of behavior. Sometimes, animals can alter their behavior very quickly, and it’s important to keep your focus at all times.”

“Watching animal behavior may seem easy, but it can be challenging when your goal is to observe systematically and objectively. It’s important to track what animals are doing without necessarily making guesses or assumptions about why they are doing it.” *Exploring Ape Behavior sessions are now underway, running Wednesdays–Sundays at 11 a.m. Participation costs $5. Visit www.lpzoo.org/EAB for more information.

This program is offered to those 12 and older.

WINTER 2008 15

(back story )

An Animal Actuary ment software, PopLink, developed by the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology. Released in February, the Survival Tool gathers information from zoo records across the country and uses it to produce an easy-to-understand report that details a species’ median life expectancy.

What does that term mean? To understand median life expectancy, it’s helpful to first take a look at maximum longevity.

Simply, maximum longevity is the longest that a member of any given species has been recorded to live. For humans, that number is 122 years. But while that information is interesting, in an outer-limits kind of way, it doesn’t tell us much about the average human lifespan. Few of us will make it to 100, after all.

Median life expectancy, the statistic compiled by the Survival Tool, is far more useful. Effectively, it denotes middle-of-the-road status for a population. The median life expectancy for humans in the United States is 81; half of the population passes away before that point and half passes away afterwards. For chimpanzees, Faust has found, the median life expectancy is 32; for Amur tigers it is 8.

This number conveys how long the typical individual can be expected to live. Some will die earlier, as they would in nature, and some will die later.

Research Biologist Lisa Faust, Ph.D., believes that better information on animal mortality will help zoo staff and visitors come to terms with this natural process.

eath. It’s not a comfortable topic. Most of us go to great lengths to avoid discussing it, employing euphemisms and delay tactics to dodge the subject. Zoos are no exception, as keepers and curators often struggle with how to share the news of a loss in the collection.

But Research Biologist Lisa Faust, Ph.D., believes that better information on animal mortality will help zoo staff and visitors come to terms with this natural process. “When an animal dies, people want to know whether it was old or young or how long it was ‘supposed’ to live,” says the scientist. “In the past, different institutions have answered these questions in different ways. Some provided a maximum age, others referred to an average age and as a result, visitors were often unsure how to interpret a death.”

In a bid to develop more definitive answers on animal longevity in captivity, Faust has developed a software tool to compile mortality data from zoos and aquariums throughout the country.

The PopLink Survival Tool, made possible through a Conservation Endowment Fund grant from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is an add-on to the free population manage-

D

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These statistics can change. Improved veterinary care and nutrition may extend lifespans over time (further research on the subject is needed, Faust states). Young populations—those that have only been in zoos for a short time—will see an increase in their median lifespan as the population ages as a whole. The PopLink Survival Tool takes these changes into account, providing updated views of zoo lifespans as new data comes in.

Beyond the math, however, the software may help to inspire closure in the wake of losses. “Death happens at every part of the lifespan, even in a perfect system,” says Faust. “By placing these deaths in context, we can better appreciate the animals’ lives as a whole.”

(field note) Brush-tailed Bettong Bettongia penicillata Determining when a brush-tailed bettong birth occurred isn’t as straightforward a prospect as it might seem. As with most marsupials, the newly born brush-tailed bettong is no bigger than a cooked grain of rice when it exits the birth canal and enters its mother’s pouch, where it stays for the next 13 weeks, latching onto a nipple as it slowly matures. Eventually it becomes clear that something’s happening—the pouch becomes distended, a foot occasionally pokes out—but it’s only with the joey’s emergence that keepers can begin a countdown in reverse, traveling back 100 days to the approximate birthday.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s first brush-tailed bettong joey emerged from the pouch on December 24, 2007, making his ostensible birthday September 15. Of course, just because he came out didn’t mean he was eager to stay out. “He kept trying to go back into the pouch, but finally the mother wouldn’t let him,” reports Diane Mulkerin, curator of Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House (SMRH), the home of the small marsupials. “His feet were too big!”

The bettongs’ large launchpads serve as the species’ main mode of locomotion. Like their larger kangaroo cousins, brush-tailed bettongs are bipedal, using two legs to hop around their native Australian habitat. This nocturnal animal prowls the forest floor at night, looking for roots, tubers, seeds and especially fungi to feed on. During the day, individuals rest in solitary nests composed of grass, sticks and bark. Maintaining these nests is a primary preoccupation for the species. “They spend a lot of time picking through the grass and hay of their exhibit, looking for the softest bits,” says Keeper Dan Mondl. “Their tail is prehensile, so they’ll use it to store a bundle of hay as they keep searching.”

Once common throughout Australia, bettongs became increasingly rare in the early 1900s as habitat loss and introduced predators, such as cats, rats and foxes, pushed the species close to extinction. Today, captivebreeding programs and efforts to control non-native predators have led to a rebound in parts of its range.

The species’ recovery has been aided by the speed with which juvenile bettongs develop; they reach maturity within months of leaving the pouch. Because of this rapid growth, SMRH’s joey was moved to his own off-exhibit holding area in early February. The parents have a breeding recommendation from the Brush-tailed Bettong Population Management Plan, though, so more new arrivals may be forthcoming. In fact, keepers witnessed breeding in early January, meaning the reverse countdown may have a firmer target this time around.

SPRING 2008 17

(wild file )

Above, left-to-right: Colored paper and expanded diets are part of the spring splendor provided by keepers at the McCormick Bird House to encourage Bali mynahs to breed. Male takin Kublai is the leader of his herd at the Antelope & Zebra Area.

Bright Outlook—Bali Mynah Breeding Befitting their beautifully colored plumage, the Bali mynahs at the McCormick Bird House are attracted to the brightly colored strips of paper keepers began presenting them in February. The birds, critically endangered in their native Indonesia due to habitat loss and the pet trade, collect the colorful materials to accessorize nests made of dried grass and twigs.

Visitors can see both the male and female decorate their nestbox homes at the back of the Riverbanks Exhibit. But only the male performs the courtship displays (head bobbing, chirping) that will hopefully lead to breeding and chicks to populate the beautiful nest, as has happened in years past.

As they do with many other species, keepers also provided the mynahs larger quantities of food in February, including a wider variety of fruits and insects, in another effort to prompt breeding.

“We try to mirror their wild diet,” says Bird Zoological Manager Elizabeth Bruccoleri. “These birds will only breed when resources allow it, so we give them the impression that now is a good time to breed, just as happens in the wild.”

Sichuan Takin Society The Sichuan takin herd at the Antelope & Zebra Area takes after its leader in terms of demeanor. Just as adult male Kublai is calm and composed, so too are the two females and their two offspring.

But that serenity doesn’t mean there isn’t a strict hierarchy; in fact, that hierarchy is greatly responsible for the serenity.

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Herd animals native to the mountains of China, takin live in harems—females and offspring acquiesce to the male. Here in Chicago, Kublai heads the group, while Chabi is the dominant female to Jinsi, who will scurry from a pile of hay when the higher-ranking female decides it’s time to eat.

The offspring, yearling male Bao Zhen and slightly younger female Mei Li, defer to all but playfully tangle with one another.

They head butt, they play chase, they romp through snowdrifts. As these two descend from different sets of parents (another male sired Mei Li), they may soon be shipped to another Association of Zoos and Aquariums institution to breed once they mature around age three.

Exhibit Swap In April, one of the exhibits at Regenstein Center for African Apes will receive its spring cleaning, and the residents will swap homes. As is done every few years, the mulch (some 30,000 pounds of it) will be replaced. Hank’s chimpanzee group will move from Exhibit B (the easternmost space) to Exhibit C (where they will have access to the termite mound). Kwan’s gorilla clan will shift from C to B. JoJo’s gorillas will remain in A, and Keo’s chimpanzees will remain in the Auxiliary Area, which should be flooded with spring sunshine.

“Chimpanzees access the outdoors more than gorillas, so this is a better setup as temperatures rise,” says Curator of Primates Sue Margulis, Ph.D.

Above, left-to-right: Beavers at the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo shift to a later schedule in summer months. Gorilla grooming is typically an individual affair, but keepers occasionally lend a helping hand.

Sharing Knowledge Across the Pond In late January, Margulis attended the Gorilla Species Survival Plan annual meeting in Orlando, where she convened with members of the European Endangered Species Breeding Program (their equivalent of the SSP). “These meetings help us identify the common issues that we all need to address—bachelor males, social dynamics of groups, and more.”

This meeting coincided with the International Gorilla Workshop hosted by Disney Animal Kingdom and the Brevard Zoo, which Margulis attended along with Lead Keeper Dominic Calderisi and Primate Zoological Manager Maureen Leahy.

“I’ve participated in some regional gorilla workshops, but this was my first international one,” says Leahy. “It’s great to combine our zoo work with field researchers from range counties and people working in sanctuaries. It combines the knowledge of all three components when it comes to gorilla conservation.”

Particularly Eager Beavers It’s common knowledge that beavers are industrious creatures.

(Eager, you might say.) But as nocturnal creatures, most of their work is moonlighting. The three beavers at the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo normally don’t wake until 3 p.m. But in winter months their clocks get shifted, and they rise—like college students on summer break—around 11 a.m.

This is good for morning visitors to the exhibit, who can witness the beavers dragging tree branches underwater, where they store them on the underside of their lodge. This behavior mirrors wild beavers,

who store wood under the frozen crust of ponds, like a stockpile of food at the ready. There’s no need to go out to eat when it’s so cold.

Simian Salon When a female gorilla presses her foot against the glass at Regenstein Center for African Apes, you can be shocked at the similarities to your own foot, you can marvel at the awesome beauty of nature or you can think to yourself, “Wow, she’s got nice toenails. I wonder how she maintains them?”

Turns out it’s a combination of treatments. First, the gorillas’ and chimpanzees’ finger nails and toenails are ground down through daily use—climbing trees, foraging through mulch, scratching itches. Secondly, they bite them, nibbling down nail beds on fingers and toes. (Mothers will bite youngsters’ nails for them.) Finally, zoo staff will play beauticians. Some apes allow keepers to clip their tough nails during frequent training sessions.

“We use regular nail clippers,” explains Lead Keeper Dominic Calderisi. “The really, really big ones.”

Other apes refuse, prompting veterinarians to employ the clippers during biannual physicals when the animals are anesthetized.

Case-in-point: silverback gorilla JoJo, whose nails Calderisi describes as “hideous,” adding the stereotype “typically male.”

SPRING 2008 19

Zoo

BY JAMES SEIDLER

Arrivals

rom a visitor’s perspective, the zoo’s breeding decisions might seem a bit arbitrary. Why is it that two takin have been born at the Antelope & Zebra Area in the past year while the lion pride at the Kovler Lion House has stayed at a steady three members for years? Why are three young gorillas swinging through the exhibits at Regenstein Center for African Apes while the black howler monkey group next door at the Helen Brach Primate House remains adult-only? Why are there five juvenile red wolves howling and prowling at the yard in the Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo while the African wild dogs at Regenstein African Journey don’t have any pups to perk up the pack?

In the case of the African wild dogs, the answer is simple—it’s an all-male pack. But even the decision to house a bachelor pack at Lincoln Park Zoo stems from careful scientific planning. By taking a closer look at managed species at Lincoln Park Zoo—both those with breeding recommendations and those without—we can witness firsthand the planning and care that goes into ensuring populations remain healthy far into the future.

F

Scientific planning goes into every breeding decision at the zoo, whether it’s recommending that black howler monkeys don’t breed (top), giving the red wolves a breeding break as their pups mature (bottom) or introducing a new pair of Guam rails in the hope that chicks will follow (right).

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The Planning Begins In the office of Steve Ross, supervisor of behavioral and cognitive research, every surface is covered with small magnets. They’re grouped on the walls and cabinets; some bunches include 16 magnets in close proximity while others are limited to two or three.

Two colors are represented—pink and blue—and each has some text at its center: a name, studbook number, age and small annotation signifying contraception.

This collage represents the North American chimpanzee population, all 276 animals. Ross serves as the coordinator of the Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP), a committee organized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to conduct longterm population planning. As coordinator, Ross is responsible for overseeing the SSP’s day-to-day activities: addressing husbandry questions, following up on breeding recommendations and even firing off critical letters to movies and TV shows that present chimpanzees inappropriately. The bulk of his job, however, is working with a management committee and representatives from every institution housing chimpanzees to develop breeding and transfer plans for the species.

Population planning begins with studbooks, collections of the family histories of every animal in a population. (Ross does double duty by serving as the studbook keeper for the Chimpanzee SSP, updating info on new arrivals, transfers and deaths.) This information is sent once a year to the Population Management Center (PMC), a scientific institute housed at Lincoln Park Zoo in partnership with the AZA. The PMC crunches the numbers, analyzing studbook data to determine which individuals are well represented in the population and which are not. The latter—those with fewer relatives, and thus, less-represented genes—are favored in breeding recommendations. These recommendations are passed on to the SSP, which consults members before issuing final recommendations. “The genetics data provided by the PMC is key, but with complex animals like chimpanzees, group dynamics and individual temperaments play a big role as well,” says Ross.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s chimpanzees are already well represented in the population; throw in the fact that there’s limited space to house chimpanzees nationwide, and it’s easy to see why the zoo’s chimpanzees lack breeding recommendations. Instead, they’re able to serve a valuable education and conservation role, highlighting to visitors the richness of chimpanzee social groups as well as their vulnerability in the wild.

Breeding Isn’t Everything Numerous animals at Lincoln Park Zoo fill similar roles, helping visitors form deeper connections with wildlife. Population managers stress that it’s a mistake to view breeding status as shorthand for an animal’s worth. “At any point in time, just one-third of a population is breeding,” says Sarah Long, senior population biologist for the PMC. “Nonbreeding animals are essential members of their populations.”

This can be seen with a number of species at Lincoln Park Zoo. The African wild dog bachelor group at Regenstein African Journey consists of four brothers from the same litter. By housing siblings in a single-sex group, the zoo can highlight the complex social behaviors of this endangered animal while avoiding the fierce competition over breeding that is part of the species’ natural

lifestyle. They can also open up space for wild dogs at other institutions, a necessity when litters can include as many as 14 pups.

The polar bears at the Polar Bear Plaza are a brother and sister—no breeding recommendation there! The pair grew up together, a familiarity that enables them to share exhibit space, enthralling visitors with wintry plunges, educating them about shrinking Arctic habitat and opening up limited polar bear habitats—specialized exhibits requiring 30,000-plus gallon pools—for more genetically valuable animals.

What are some other notable animals that lack breeding recommendations? A preponderance of young offspring has taken the red wolves and white-cheeked gibbons off the breeding list for the time being. The African lions’ breeding days are behind them; they’ve bred in the past, their offspring are well represented in the population and they’re getting a little older. “People don’t see it, but it’s a cycle—it can be years between breeding events,” says Long.

Getting the Green Light Of course, while breeding isn’t everything, there are some Lincoln Park Zoo animals that keepers, curators and population planners would like to see produce offspring. Guam rails are one such species; a new pair is being introduced at the McCormick Bird House per an SSP breeding recommendation.

This critically endangered species was wiped out on its native island of Guam due to the introduction of the brown tree snake.

SPRING 2008 21

Above: The bachelor group of African wild dogs at Regenstein African Journey exposes visitors to the complex social behaviors of this endangered species while reserving breeding space for more genetically valuable animals.

Fewer than 400 birds remain worldwide, with 54 in North American zoos, 138 in captive facilities in Guam and an estimated 100–200 living in an experimental release colony on the nearby snake-free island of Rota.

All of these birds are descended from 10 founders rescued from the wild, a circumstance that makes preserving genetic diversity extremely important. “The goal of the Guam Rail SSP is to minimize inbreeding and preserve the most genetically healthy population that we can,” says General Curator Megan Ross, Ph.D., who serves as the species’ SSP coordinator. Unlike with chimpanzees, where social groupings and individual behavioral traits have a major influence on housing decisions, Guam rail population planning is largely driven by the numbers—the genetic analysis performed by the PMC. The birds at Lincoln Park Zoo aren’t genetically valuable in the North American population—their genes are well represented— but they’ve received a breeding recommendation because the chicks they produce are slated for release in Guam. “Release programs have to balance maintaining diversity in the captive population and producing enough birds for release,” says Long. By producing chicks to reestablish a wild population, the zoo’s Guam rail pair is helping its species recover.

While most SSPs aren’t gearing up for a wild release, every species with a breeding recommendation is contributing to the health of its population. Two Guam Micronesian kingfisher

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breeding pairs at the Bird House are helping to boost a similarly ravaged population. The introduction of the zoo’s pygmy hippos (see page 28) is aimed at adding young members to a long-lived group while continued breeding of the Helen Brach Primate House’s Geoffrey’s marmosets and Goeldi’s monkeys serves the same purpose. “Proven breeding pairs, even if they’re not the most genetically valuable, can ensure a balanced age range in a population,” says Long. “That kind of demographic stability is important—you don’t want to put all of your eggs in a few breeding-pair baskets.”

The Big Picture AZA institutions currently feature 112 SSPs for 161 animal species requiring intensive population management. On top of that, there are 312 Population Management Plans (PMPs) that conduct population planning for species whose conservation needs are less pressing. All of the work that goes into these programs—collecting and maintaining information on thousands of animals, conducting planning sessions to map the future of a population, moving and introducing new breeding pairs when necessary—is aimed at preserving the health of these populations for generations down the road.

“The goal is to keep the animals in as natural a state as we can— to preserve all of the genes brought in from the wild,” says Long.

“It’s only by collaborating that we can make it possible.” <<

(field note) Allen’s Swamp Monkey Allenopithecus nigroviridis Any parent who has battled with a teenager can sympathize with the adult male swamp monkey at the Helen Brach Primate House. His eldest son is nearing adulthood, and dad is nearing the end of his rope.

Just as would happen in the wild, aggression is developing between the two males. They bob their heads at one another and flash their eyelids—shouting in monkey-speak. As for now, the six-year-old and his father alternate time on exhibit; this swamp ain’t big enough for the two of them, the three younger male siblings, mom and the group of black-and-white colobus monkeys in the exhibit.

“This is perfectly natural,” explains Curator of Primates Sue Margulis, Ph.D. “In the wild, the young male would be getting ready to leave the family group. With our group, we are looking into finding a new home for him.”

As swamp monkeys are managed by a Species Survival Plan, population biologists are evaluating this individual’s genetic makeup to determine the best home for him in another accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums institution, one where he would best mesh with the existing social structure and present the most unique genes for potential breeding.

In their wild, wet, wooded homes in the Republic of Congo, these monkeys live in groups of up to 40 individuals, which provides protection from predators such as leopards, snakes and bonobos. Water provides them a safe haven; the swamp monkeys’ webbed feet provide them paddles.

Offspring dispersal varies by primate species. In most Old World monkeys (native to Africa and Asia), males are the ones who ship out in search of new groups. And while swamp monkeys are the exception to the rule of primates hating the water, they follow this one to the letter. Even the adolescent males.

SPRING 2008 23

Simian Science: Researching Primates at Lincoln Park Zoo

BY CHRIS MCNAMARA

n a normal day at the Helen Brach Primate House, the howler monkeys are bounding through the branches, bellowing their eponymous calls. The pied tamarins spring through saplings in their exhibit, displaying more athleticism than any member of Chicago’s sports teams. And the whitecheeked gibbons conduct constant aerial acrobatics, their exhibit at the south end of the building a blur of white and black soundtracked by the gasps of guests.

But just as the animals are busy, so too are the keepers, supervisors, scientists and curator who care for these primates. Research at the Primate House is as constant as the howls, springs and aerobics—less immediately awesome to behold, perhaps, but exciting in a different context. Just ask the humans.

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The Curator “Animal research is conducted for a wide range of reasons,” says Curator of Primates Sue Margulis, Ph.D., who oversees all primate activity (both human and animal). “The knowledge gleaned can improve husbandry, facilitate breeding and improve the chances of animals rearing their young. This facility lends itself to research because we have a diverse population of primates that are easily observed.”

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A recent analysis of proposals sent to Lincoln Park Zoo’s history,” explains the Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago. research committee, which reviews and approves all projects, In other words, if Rafacz can make a connection between hordetailed that 58 percent of all proposed studies in the past two mones (scientifically sampled) and good mothering skills (observed), years focused on primates. Scientists—like visitors—love gibbons, this information can be used to predict which gibbons—and perhaps tamarins and swamp monkeys. which primates overall—will make good moms based on their physMargulis’ roles range from supervising studies to conducting iology, thus influencing breeding recommendations. her own. Currently she is mentoring a master’sdegree student researching tool use among whitecheeked gibbons, focusing on the animals’ ability to select the right stick for each task. A Ph.D. candidate under the curator’s watch is analyzing pair-bond formation in Goeldi’s monkeys.

Margulis is also working with Davee Center Research Assistant Diana Armstrong to study hormonal patterns in a breeding pair of pied tamarins.

And she is partnering with Research Associate Sylvia Atsalis, Ph.D., on a study of post-reproductive Francois’ langur females. (See below.)

“The challenge is that primates watch you as much as you watch them,” explains Margulis, who’s been studying our wild cousins for nearly three decades. “Most primates are very curious; if they see somebody they’re not familiar with, they may react and want to interact. It may take some time before they habituate and ignore an observer.”

Case-in-point: summer 2007, when a researcher from Princeton couldn’t observe swamp-monkey Left: White-cheeked gibbons are dual study subjects, with scientists observing their toolbehavior because the little primates were too interestuse skills and mothering abilities. Above, left: Scientists are observing how the zoo’s ed in her service dog. She discovered that her pooch Goeldi’s monkeys maintain their pair bond (one that has resulted in four offspring). Above, needed to sit below the window ledge—out of priright: Francois’ langurs are part of a wide-ranging study examining whether older primates mate sight—in order for things to return to normal. experience menopause.

The Zoological Manager “Research enables us to make better animal-management decisions,” says Zoological Manager Maureen Leahy, who assists the curator in all projects primate. Leahy reviews studies, helps pair scientists with keepers and monitors data collection by rookie researchers.

It isn’t always glamorous. Most hormonal studies rely on noninvasive samples—scooping poop is crucial—but the rewards are worth the unpleasantness. “Primates are socially complex animals, which can make research a challenge,” she says. “But it also makes these studies very exciting. There are a lot of similarities we can draw among primate species.”

The Ph.D. Candidate Breeding recommendations are granted by Species Survival Plans based on a number of factors—age, the representation of an individual’s genes in the captive population and more. But Michelle Rafacz’s work might add another factor to consider, making demographic recommendations even more informed. Rafacz is using the Primate House to study mothering.

“I hope to learn about the variation we see in maternal care in captive populations of gibbons, to possibly predict which females would make appropriate mothers based on their hormones and

The Research Associate Lincoln Park Zoo’s Primate House serves as a hub for a study by Margulis and Atsalis. The effort is examining 14 animals from zoos in seven cities (including Chicago) to determine whether postreproductive females occur in Francois’ langur society.

“We are trying to determine whether primate females over a certain age undergo menopause like human females do,” says Atsalis of the project, funded with a grant from the Wenner Gren Anthropological Foundation and expected to conclude in December 2010, at which time the pair will publish the results in primate journals. “We want to determine whether other primate species that share breeding traits and strong matrilineal social structures also experience long post-reproductive lifespans.”

The results should help in husbandry decisions for Francois’ langurs, educating zoos on how to best place post-reproductive females in mixed-generational groups. But even before this study finishes, similar studies will begin on other primate species, broadening our knowledge of how female primates experience reproductive aging…broadening our knowledge of primates as a whole.

Scientific research is a constant at the Primate House, as dependable as the howls, springs and acrobatics exhibited by the residents. <<

SPRING 2008 25

Census in the Caribbean: Preserving the Puerto Rican Parrot

BY JAMES SEIDLER

he zoo scientists are quick to clarify that their December trip to Puerto Rico wasn’t a tropical holiday. “We didn’t even see the sun for the first half of the trip,” says Joanne Earnhardt, Ph.D., director of the Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology. Between long hours spent indoors compiling population data and driving rain that washed out a wild release of the very species that had drawn them to the island, their trip to the tropics might as well have been a wintry weekend back in Chicago, with rain gear standing in for winter coats.

Of course, the Puerto Rican parrot doesn’t make its nest in Lincoln Park. This critically endangered species is what prompted Earnhardt, Senior Population Biologist Sarah Long and Research Assistant Carrie Schloss to make their winter voyage. The only U.S. parrot, and one of the first species protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Puerto Rican parrot saw its numbers decline in parallel with the island’s development. Habitat loss was the primary culprit, although hunting, hurricanes, predation by hawks, boas and introduced rats, and parasitism from warble flies impacted the population as well.

Whereas the bird’s population once numbered in the tens of thousands, a 1930 survey identified 2,000 individuals on the island, and by 1975 the wild population had fallen to 13 parrots. In response to this decline, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources established a captive population in 1973 at the newly constructed Luquillo Aviary.

This population produced its first chick in 1979 and has grown over time—expanding to a second aviary, Rio Abajo, in 1993—to more than 200 individuals in captivity.

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So far, so good, from a conservation standpoint. The captive population has grown, and the wild population increased as well, thanks to the placement of captive-born chicks in wild nests and beginning in 2000, the release of adult birds to the wild. Today 50–60 wild birds can be found in the El Yunque National Forest and Rio Abajo Forest Reserve.

This success has raised its own issues, however. As wildlife managers have discovered, it’s much easier to manage population data for 13 parrots than several hundred. Aviary researchers had a wealth of records stretching back for more than a decade—births and deaths, family trees and releases to the wild—but while the information was detailed, it wasn’t organized in one place.

“Each aviary had its own method for data collection,” explains Schloss. “Different people recorded different information into different files, and there wasn’t a way to share all of the data at once.” Most of the records were based on housing, chronicling the flow of parrots in and out of, say, Cage 20. From a husbandry standpoint, this was ideal, but it made it difficult to follow a bird throughout its lifespan.

While the parrot researchers had several hunches about the birds in their care—they thought females might be breeding at younger ages and clutch sizes might be increasing over time—they didn’t have any hard data to back them up.

That’s where Lincoln Park Zoo came in. Organizing data for small populations is a zoo specialty. The Alexander Center for Applied Population biology has even produced a special software program— PopLink—that zoos across the country use to organize their animal info. It made sense to take a similar approach with the island’s par-

rot population. As Earnhardt explains, “It’s much easier to see population trends when all of your data is in one place.”

Of course, organizing several decades worth of data doesn’t happen overnight. The parrot researchers started the process by emailing all of their electronic records to Lincoln Park Zoo, where Schloss and intern Alex Rekkas worked to enter it into a central database. Each parrot logged into the system inspired further questions: was it still alive? Who were its parents? Had it been released to the wild? Answers came in further communiqués from the island, although the scientists also exercised their sleuthing skills, finding a population record produced by researchers at the University of Minnesota in 1994, a 1986 book on Luquillo’s parrots and a 2003 scientific paper analyzing the history of Puerto Rican parrot nests in the region.

Armed with this information, Earnhardt, Long and Schloss traveled to Puerto Rico to finalize the data collection in person.

They were immediately impressed by the scale of the parrot conservation effort. The Luquillo Aviary had constructed a new facility in October 2007, one featuring a nutrition center, a quarantine area and even a secure hurricane room where parrots could ride out tropical storms.

The birds had a variety of open-air housing options, including isolated single units for territorial birds and concentrated “condos” for more social squawkers. A flight cage the size of a gymnasium served as a training ground for birds being prepared for release. Inside, parrots were able to seek out natural foods and build up their flight muscles for the wild. The zoo scientists were even recruited for a little personal training: “The parrots’ natural instinct is to fly away from people, so aviary personnel encour-

aged us to walk up for a closer look—it gave the birds a little exercise,” says Long.

The boundary between the aviary and the wild is a fluid one. In the wild, the parrots’ favored tree hollows remain in short supply, so aviary workers construct artificial nests to encourage breeding.

Overhangs are installed above nests to protect against flooding and snakes; built-in doors enable researchers to monitor the health of the chicks inside. Released parrots have even been known to return to the aviary at dawn and dusk to chatter with old exhibitmates.

The zoo scientists came away with a healthy respect for the work being done on the island. They also came away with enough data to create a centralized population database with information on the lifespans and relationships of 612 Puerto Rican parrots, past and present. This information will assist conservation efforts by identifying population trends. In the future, it may even help to recommend the best birds for breeding or release to the wild.

Data collection is ongoing—a necessity for any living population—and the researchers in Puerto Rico are serving as collaborators in the process. Training sessions were conducted on the island to teach the scientists there how to maintain the centralized database. They enter changes in real-time, the zoo offers a periodic review and the Puerto Rican parrot population continues on its path to recovery.

“We’re always looking for situations where our skills can be of use, and the Puerto Rican parrot program pairs talented collaborators with an interesting balance between captive management and wild release,” says Vice President of Conservation and Science Dominic Travis, D.V.M. “It’s a perfect place for us to be.”

Even if it’s raining. <<

Above, left: The Luquillo and Rio Abajo aviaries provide Puerto Rican parrots with space to gather and chatter. Below, left: One of the 10 most endangered bird species, the Puerto Rican parrot has rebounded thanks to intensive captive-breeding efforts. Below, right: The scientists in Puerto Rico maintained meticulous records on the birds in their care; Lincoln Park Zoo scientists helped organize this information into a central database.

SPRING 2008 27

A Second Look: Hormones Open a Window into Well-being Lincoln Park Zoo researchers have traveled to the plains of Tanzania, ventured into the rain forests of Brazil and trekked across the scrubland of the American Southwest. But even as they study far-flung animal populations, improving our knowledge of chimpanzees, jaguars and black-footed ferrets, some of their most valuable research is taking place on zoo grounds.

From Sichuan takin to La Plata three-banded armadillos, pygmy hippos to pied tamarins, Endocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D., of the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, is expanding our understanding of animal wellbeing. Her procedure is simple and nonintrusive—animals’ feces are collected and processed to measure levels of stress and reproductive hormones.

These chemical signatures may provide a better understanding of fecundity and anxiety, providing curators and keepers with another resource to ensure the best possible conditions for the animals in their care.

Forecasting Fertility For zoos, population management isn’t as simple as letting nature take its course. Breeding is rooted in careful planning: mates are matched on the basis of family history to ensure maximum genetic diversity and healthy long-term populations.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Population Management Center starts the process by analyzing records for animals throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to identify the best choices for breeding.

After the numbers are in, Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Population Management Plan committees make annual breeding recommendations that take into account available space (you don’t want hippos with no place to house them) and population demographics (births should be spread out to maintain a healthy age range).

Even the best population planning doesn’t ensure a smooth introduction. Zoo pairings are often incremental affairs, with keepers gradually acclimating animals to one another. This is particularly true for species that are solitary in the wild, coming together only to breed. Regenstein African Journey’s pygmy hippopotamuses are one example; these diminutive mammals spend most of their lives alone in West African waterways.

Because of their aquatic homes and nocturnal lifestyles, little is known about their behavior in wild. So when the Pygmy Hippo SSP made the recommendation to introduce the zoo’s pair for breeding, keepers were eager to have a little scientific data to back them up.

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“Generally, the pygmy hippos don’t pay much attention to each other,” says Curator of Mammals Dave Bernier. “They’re housed in adjacent exhibits, so they can see, smell and hear one another, but most of the time there isn’t much interest.” When the female nears estrus, though, this indifference gives way to a variety of breeding behaviors. Both pygmy hippos eagerly approach the doors separating their enclosures, rapidly opening and closing their mouths and offering grunts and vocalizations (Bernier likens the sound to “raspberries”). The male defecates and spreads his feces to mark territory, and his skin produces a slimy secretion that bubbles and foams.

Even with this ample evidence of breeding intent, keepers have to be cautious about introducing the hippos. Introduce them at the right time, and the result is breeding; introduce them a little too early or a little too late, and their natural tendency toward solitude can result in aggression.

By evaluating the female pygmy hippo’s hormone levels over time, Santymire’s work pinpoints the right time for introduction.

Through collaboration with Regenstein African Journey keepers, the endocrinologist has determined a basic reproductive cycle and even helped to verify the relationship between behavioral changes—“raspberries,” feces spreading and all—and ovulation.

While the research has confirmed the accuracy of the keepers’ observations, it has also required a departure from Santymire’s usual methods. “The female hippo defecates in the water, which rules out feces as a source,” says the scientist. “Instead, the keepers gather saliva. They feed her corn to get her to salivate and then gather the sample with a long swab. The result is a bit gooey, but it works.”

Similar work is taking place to map the reproductive cycles of Sichuan takin, La Plata three-banded armadillos, eastern black rhinoceroses, Amur tigers and pied tamarins. In each case, Santymire and keepers are collaborating to answer key questions. How long is the reproductive cycle? Is it seasonally based? When is the ideal time to introduce animals for breeding? By using science to better understand species’ basic reproductive biology, Santymire and collaborators can ease breeding at Lincoln Park Zoo and other institutions across the country.

Promoting Peace in the Pack In zoos, as in the wild, many sources can have an impact on animal behavior. New neighbors, changing exhibits, temporary construction and even reproduction have the potential to influence animals. (The more severe stressors of the wild—finding food to eat and worrying about being eaten—are absent in zoo care.)

Evaluating the effect of these external factors is another area where Santymire’s hormonal studies can help—measuring stress hormones in feces can provide a window into well-being. But while reproductive surveys verify the behavioral changes observed by keepers, Santymire’s health studies are aimed at ensuring that excess anxiety isn’t occurring in the absence of behavioral changes.

One example can be seen with the zoo’s sable antelopes. In the wild, these social animals live in herds of up to 30 animals led by a single male. Because these hoofed mammals are naturally adapted to living in group settings, zoos strive to provide them with companions whenever possible.

Left: Sable antelopes are a social species—they live in herds in the wild—but new introductions have the potential to spur competition. By analyzing stress hormones in the zoo’s antelopes, Endocrinologist Rachel Santymire, Ph.D., has produced data showing the benefits of companionship. Above: Pygmy hippos are naturally solitary animals, coming together only to breed. Reproductive surveys help keepers pinpoint the right time for introductions.

Sable antelopes are also hierarchical animals, however, with a need to establish a dominance structure within their group. This led to a zoo conundrum. A female sable antelope at the Antelope & Zebra Area was living alone after her companions had passed away due to old age. A suitable companion had been found—another older female—but curators and keepers worried that an introduction might lead to more competition than companionship.To resolve the debate, fecal samples were collected before, during and after the introduction of the horned pair. The results, compiled as part of the research of Western Illinois University graduate student Erin Loeding, showed that shared housing was beneficial for both animals. “We didn’t see any behavioral issues prior to the introduction—they were both eating well and acting normally,” says Bernier. “But the fecal hormone levels showed lower levels of stress hormones when the animals were housed together. That’s a simple question we couldn’t have answered any other way.”

“The results helped to validate the decision to introduce these animals,” says Vice President of Collections Robyn Barbiers, D.V.M. “We’d assumed that social housing would be beneficial for them, but now we have data to back it up.”

Similar studies have been conducted in Regenstein Center for African Apes and the Kovler Lion House to determine whether temporarily shifting exhibits alters the comfort levels of the resident apes and big cats. While analysis is still proceeding, the answer seems to be no, validating another Collections strategy.

“We have a great partnership,” says Santymire. “Keepers and curators want to provide the best possible care for the animals, and we can provide a way for them to evaluate their work.”

More projects await in the future, with plans in place to conduct the first hormonal study on a reptile, the prehensile-tailed skink.

Even as she embarks on new efforts, Santymire is happy to know she has the support of the zoo’s keepers. “I can’t emphasize enough how crucial their support is,” she says. “Who else would be willing to gather hippo saliva?” <<

SPRING 2008 29

Family

Fun

140 YEARS OF

Above: Families stroll zoo grounds around the end of the 19th century. Below: Handwritten records detailing new arrivals are a far departure from the computerized databases that enable today’s scientific planning.

T

he Commissioners of the Central Park, in answer to your request on behalf of the Park Commissioners of your city, present to the city of Chicago two pair of swans. These are of the stock presented several years since to our park by the cities of Hamburg and London, and will be with you, as they have been with us, a great popular attraction.

This prescient correspondence, as printed in the Chicago Tribune on August 27, 1868, marked the inception of Lincoln Park Zoo 140 years ago. As predicted, the swans were a hit, and the zoo has grown ever since, adding even more amazing animals to its collection and advancing a mission of conservation and education.

The snapshots that follow commemorate the zoo’s 140th anniversary by representing a small sampling of the zoo’s history. There are excerpts from the earliest animal records—worn ledgers with neatly inked entries noting births and new arrivals. There are news clippings trumpeting the arrival of Bushman, the first gorilla to reside at Lincoln Park Zoo (and perhaps its most famous resident). And there are photos of generations of families enjoying a walk across zoo grounds. The fashions have changed over time—mirroring Lincoln Park Zoo’s revolutions in conservation and care—but the joy of experiencing wildlife has remained constant. <<

30 LINCOLN PARK ZOO

Above: Newspapers trumpet the arrival of gorilla Bushman (right, pictured as a youngster), perhaps the zoo’s most famous resident. He was a fixture in the newspapers and film strips of his day; when he died in 1951, visitors filed past his empty cage for weeks to pay their respects. The collars and anthropomorphizing photos seen reflect his era’s outdated views of animals. Today’s Lincoln Park Zoo is dedicated to placing animals in settings that mimic the wild, inspiring educational opportunities for guests and natural behaviors from animals. Below, left: Visitors celebrate Independence Day in 1928 with a stroll past Eadie Levy’s Landmark Café. Below, right: Chicago police officers pose next to one of the zoo’s lions—a reminder of a past era’s laxer safety standards.

Above: Children watch a carriage promenade down the zoo’s Main Mall. Below, left: Lincoln Park Board President David Jackson, with shovel, breaks ground for the Helen Brach Primate House in 1928 with zoo Directors Alfred Parker (far right) and Floyd Young (second from right). Below, center: Visitors gather next to the Dream Lady sculpture, which can still be seen at the north end of the Primate House. A note on the back of the photo offers contemporary commentary: “Eugene Field statue is beautiful but in bad location. People fall on steps frequently.” Below, right: Zoo Director Alfred Parker stands with a cheetah on Depression-era zoo grounds. The parading of animals was common at the time, reflecting less-enlightened attitudes toward conservation and care.

(calendar) Programs and Special Events

MAY 6, 13 & 20 9:30 & 11 a.m.

Tiny Tykes The Nose Knows (2-year-olds) Can you use your nose to find the zoo’s African wild dogs, wolves and aardvark?

16–20 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Conservation Careers Camp (ages 13-15) Explore zoo careers in education, animal care and conservation with Lincoln Park Zoo and the Great Lakes Region of Roots & Shoots of the Jane Goodall Institute.

20

You SuperZooPicnic are 6:30–9:30 p.m.

This fun-filled annual member invited! event will include music and danc7, 14 & 21 ing, behind-the-scenes tours, cool 9:30 & 11 a.m. animal crafts, free carousel and train rides, Tiny Tykes animal feedings, keeper chats and many The Nose Knows (2-year-olds) more fun, free activities.

Watch your mailbox for invitations.

8, 15 & 22 Check your e-mail for updates.

9:30 & 11 a.m.

SuperZooPicnic tickets are $8 in advance Tiny Tykes ($10 at the gate) and can be ordered by Up, Down & All Around (3-year-olds) calling 312-742-2322. Children 5 and King of the Jungle Summer ADOPT Enjoy a class about animals that move in younger are free and need no ticket.

Anyone who has heard African lion different ways! Learn about the kangaAdelor’s roar echo through Lincoln Park Zoo will attest that he certainly is the 23–27 roo, white-cheeked gibbon and puma. king of this jungle. Now you can ADOPT 10 a.m.–3 p.m. this lion or one of his loyal subjects—a 17 Conservation Careers Camp Grevy’s zebra, meerkat or Hoffman’s two10–11:30 a.m. (ages 13–15) toed sloth.

Bug Club (ages 5-7) Explore zoo careers in Zoo members receive Each package is $40 (plus $5 S&H) Want to know how bugs spend education, animal care a discount on program and includes a lion, zebra, meerkat or the winter? Or what makes and conservation with registration. To register, sloth plush, personalized ADOPT an Madagascar cockroaches hiss?

Lincoln Park Zoo and call 312-742-2053 or visit Animal certificate, animal fact sheet and Discover the wonder of bugs in the Great Lakes Region of www.lpzoo.org. an official ADOPT an Animal decal. this class, which highlights a new Roots & Shoots of the Jane ADOPT an Animal packages can be species each month.

Goodall Institute. purchased at www.lpzoo.org, by calling 312-742-2322 or on zoo grounds at the zoo shops, Gateway Pavilion or kiosks.

JUNE 6 Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo 23rd Annual Spring Benefit— A Night at the Flamingo Club 8:30 p.m.–1 a.m.

Guests will be transported to a swanky 1960sinspired night club to rub elbows with the Rat Pack while sipping on classic cocktails, enjoying delicious treats and rocking away to the sounds of Maggie Speaks.

Cost: $110 general admission, $125 at the door, $200 for VIP tickets and $1,750 for 10 VIP passes. Proceeds benefit the Auxiliary Board’s Endowed Fund for Conservation and Science. Please call 312-742-2163 or visit www.lpzoo.org for more information.

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Jammin’ at the Zoo 7-10:30pm Join us for the wildest concerts in town, featuring popular acts rocking amid the animals. Bands will be announced shortly. *Subsequent shows are July 25 and August 22

Join Our Team!

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic people to join the zoo’s team of employees dedicated to providing outstanding service to guests. For a fun and rewarding part-time job, please visit www.lpzoo.org or stop by Gateway Pavilion for an application. Questions?

Call Assistant Director of Guest Services Chris Jorgensen at 312-742-2353.

Year of the Frog…

Year of Crisis In this Year of the Frog, as designated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), we celebrate the fragile beauty of these weird and wondrous creatures.

Lincoln Park Zoo is hosting educational events throughout the year and exhibiting a variety of amphibian species to educate and inspire visitors.

(membership matters ) Coming soon! An online members’ community!

The zoo’s web site (www.lpzoo.org) is soon to be upgraded. So what does that mean for you? Zoo members will be able to: •Check information on memberships •Renew their memberships or buy gift memberships for others •Make contributions to the zoo’s Annual Fund •Update contact information, including address, phone and e-mail •Manage subscriptions to Lincoln Park Zoo e-mails •Register for member activities and automatically receive member discounts The new web site will be a living community. Keep your eyes open for more information in the coming months. And in the meantime, continue to use the current web site. It’s still pretty wild as it is!

Reciprocal Benefit Among the many benefits of Lincoln Park Zoo membership is reciprocity with more than 100 other zoos and aquariums around the nation. As you travel in the coming months, take advantage of this benefit and enjoy free admission to Los Angeles Zoo, San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay or Miami Metrozoo. Go to www.lpzoo.org/support/membership for a full reciprocal list. Just be sure to visit us once you return— Lincoln Park Zoo loves its members.

Your membership supports everything we do, from animal care to publishing Lincoln Park Zoo magazine. Thank you.

PO Box 14903 Chicago, IL 60614 www.lpzoo.org

Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Lincoln Park Zoo