A newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | March 2016
Love at First Sight Success in Saving Coral Donor Spotlight Save the Date
ŠKelley Bittner
Fashion for the Wild Zoo Gala Summer Safari
pittsburghzoo.org
Development Department Janet Rose Senior Director of Development & Conservation Initiatives 412-365-2540 jrose@pittsburghzoo.org Lori Elder Membership Manager 412-365-2534 lelder@pittsburghzoo.org
Rachel Kisic Development Coordinator 412-365-2541 rkisic@pittsburghzoo.org Emily Beyer Development Associate 412-365-2503 ebeyer@pittsburghzoo.org
ŠKelley Bittner
Amy O’Neill Foundation and Grants Coordinator 412-365-2543 aoneill@pittsburghzoo.org
Love at First Sight by: janet rose , senior director of development
Richard Kalson Chair, Board of Directors Dr. Barbara Baker President & CEO Photography by: ŠPaul A. Selvaggio unless otherwise noted In compiling this report, the development office has made every attempt to ensure that the information is complete and all contributions are listed accurately. If there are omissions, misspellings, or other errors, please report them to the development office at 412-365-2541 and please accept our apologies.
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&
conservation initiatives with contributions from ken kaemmerer , curator of mammals ,
and mark mcdonogh, lead keeper, the islands
In the animal kingdom, the meeting between two creatures is a venture into the unknown. There is no way to know if two animals being introduced for the first time will be compatible or breed, often the ultimate goal for endangered and threatened species in a zoological setting. As with the siamangs, highly endangered apes who now call The Islands home, the animal staff faced uncharted waters. Would they get along? Would they bond? Would they breed? In a Zoo setting the process for bringing a mating pair together, typically goes something like this: the Zoo will receive a male from
Merlin, our six-year-old male came from the Erie Zoo. Leela, who is three, came from the Houston Zoo. Siamangs in the wild are monogamous, but there is no guarantee that the two will get along. In the case of Merlin and Leela, however, love at first sight proved alive and well. Within 30 minutes of being introduced, initially in the Tropical Forest Complex, the two sat side by side, groomed each other, and the animal staff said there was a calmness that they were very surprised by. This is rare and it was unusual that it happened so fast. In fact, Ken Kaemmerer, curator of mammals, said it was the smoothest transition they had ever seen. According to Mark McDonough, lead keeper of The Islands exhibit area and primary caretaker of the siamangs, they exhibited every sign to indicate a strong bond was forming between them. Today he says, they are inseparable. Mark adds that the animal care team knew the siamangs were bonded when they heard them singing once they had been moved to their new indoor/outdoor home at The Islands.
ŠKelley Bittner
one facility that is considered to have important genetics and a female from another facility with equally significant DNA. A mating is never haphazard but well thought out and planned to hopefully ensure the future of a particular species. Each animal usually comes in as a solitary one, and goes into a 30-day quarantine. In the case of the siamangs, as The Islands exhibit area prepared to open, the Zoo received one young female and one young male. Both animals were leaving their families for the first time and had never been with other siamangs outside of their immediate families. By early summer last year when their individual quarantines were up, the male and female were placed together and the pairing was on.
Hanging out together
Singing together
ŠKelley Bittner
One of the unique characteristics of siamangs is their songs or enchanting calls they make from extended vocal sacs. The male and female have their own repertoire and within a few weeks of being placed together, they started singing. Their calls could be heard throughout the Zoo. Mark says that in the wild, the songs and singing enable the siamangs to call to each other, to locate each other, and to let other siamangs know their territory.
Holding hands 3
Merlin
©Kelley Bittner
In their daily life, the siamang couple has their routine; they wake in the morning and like to wrestle and play on their swings. Food is scattered throughout their Zoo home, enabling them to forage for tasty morsels of browse, nuts, and fruits. But their most memorable trait for you to see is their remarkable acrobatics.
Siamangs in the wild are monogamous 4
“Siamangs,” says Ken, “are the supreme acrobats of all primates. With their long arms they brachiate (arm over arm locomotion) and whip through the treetops at incredible speeds. Yet they also represent the quintessential family. Adult males and females bond for life and along with their offspring form a strong family clan that the mother and father proclaim to others in the jungle by singing their harmonious calls which can be heard for miles. Unfortunately, because of habitat destruction, their disappearance from the jungles of southeast Asia will result in a silent forest unless we care enough to take actions to save them.”
©Kelley Bittner
Leela
©Kelley Bittner
©Kelley Bittner
©Kelley Bittner
Ken Kaemmerer says the changes he sees in the pair are remarkable. “When we first had them, the female tended to be more assertive of the two. A few months ago, however with both approaching sexual maturity, very suddenly the male became more demonstrative and began acting more aggressively.” Ken said Merlin’s message was, “stay away from my mate.” Leela, the female, started to become more subordinate and this behavior, Ken adds, goes along with sexual maturity. Recently, the pair started actively mating and the expert eyes of the animal staff says it appeared they mated very successfully. Now the hope is that a siamang birth will be coming sometime in the near future.
As our siamangs, Leela and Merlin, grow and mature, our hope is for a successful breeding and future for this remarkable species. Offspring or not, because they are so endangered and rare, the Pittsburgh Zoo is very lucky to have this pair and the fact that they have bonded is just an added bonus. Next time you visit, make sure to stop and meet this incredible pair, listen for their songs as you wander through the Zoo, and know that your support is truly ensuring a future for so many incredible species. Love is definitely in the air at the Zoo.
ŠKelley Bittner
Siamangs are very prone to human disease so any encounter with them must be monitored closely. They are highly endangered in the wild because of habitat loss and poaching for the wildlife pet trade, so breeding them in a zoo setting is critical to their survival. As cute and charming as they are, they would make terrible pets and are far stronger than their lithe bodies would indicate. Their upper body is very strong and their canine teeth are among the sharpest and most lethal. But this again is how they ultimately survive in the wild, where and when they can.
A Note to Zoo Members The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is a proud member of the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA), a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports leadership and best practices for nature and environmental centers. Zoo Members now have the opportunity to use a Zoo Membership to visit over 120 nature centers around the country. To plan a visit to a participating nature center, visit pittsburghzoo.org/ membership/reciprocal.
Association of Nature Center Administrators
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Success in Saving Coral The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium recently joined partner organization SECORE International in the exciting announcement of a major breakthrough in the conservation of coral: the first-ever successful laboratory-grown coral is surviving and reproducing in the wild.
Donate to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium By supporting the Zoo, you help save wildlife and wild places. Your gift helps us to fulfill our mission to be a leader in zoological conservation, education, and research while providing the region with exceptional exhibitry and unique family-centered recreation. To make your gift in support of the Zoo, please contact the Development Department by calling 412-365-2540.
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SECORE scientists chose elkhorn coral for this particular project because the species has registered a decline so severe in recent years that it is now listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is categorized as critically endangered by the ICUN Red List of Threatened Species. Elkhorn coral also has branching abilities into many different colonies on one reef, which is vital for the survival of many organisms within the ocean. Paul Selvaggio, the Zoo’s Creative Director and Photographer, travels to photograph SECORE’s coral conservation initiatives. He first joined scientists in 2010 on the island of Curaçao and wasn’t sure what to expect, as it was his first underwater photography assignment. “I had never photographed underwater nor had I ever witnessed or even realized what spawning was,” said Selvaggio. “For me, it was some exciting events, making photos underwater, witnessing, and capturing coral spawning.” Scientists, researchers, volunteers, and professional aquarists were prepared on the island of Curaçao in anticipation of the annual elkhorn coral spawn. Scientists have learned to predict when a coral might spawn. Typically it is a few days after a full moon so they attempt to narrow down the time frame to the month, the day, and sometimes even the time of day. Everyone was gathered out on the reef late at night to wait for the moment when the coral released the gametes, which are egg-sperm bundles that float to the ocean’s surface and break apart in the water and mix with gametes from other elkhorn coral colonies to produce new corals.
Click here to watch a video on SECORE's restoration project in Curaรงao
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A tell-tale sign for scientists when spawning nears is the arrival of sea animals who feed off the gametes which are like protein for the fish. The surface of the coral also changes, indicating the release is near.
Shortly before spawning, egg-sperm bundles accumulate on the coral surface visible as pale pink bands.
Netting is placed around the coral to capture the gametes.
The collection vessel is filled with egg-sperm bundles and taken back to the lab.
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Light netting is placed around the coral to capture the buoyant male and female gametes. Once netted, the gametes are transported back to the laboratory where conditions are created to mimic the natural sea environment of the coral. Each offspring is placed on a ceramic tile to grow and mature safely in ideal conditions. Scientists discovered that it takes about four years for elkhorn coral to become sexually mature and reproduce. During Selvaggio’s second trip in 2011, mature coral from the lab was outplanted back into the wild on the tile. Four years later in The once a year spawning event 2015, scientists returned to the reef and found the elkhorn coral had not only survived, but branched out to about the size of a soccer ball. More importantly, it reproduced with the wild population, potentially creating genetic diversity and strengthening coral populations. “It was a successful attempt and a huge advancement for the work of SECORE scientists and volunteers and I am proud that I was able to participate,” says Selvaggio. “Photographing a coral is incredible but not in the way you might think. It isn’t a charismatic animal, it doesn’t look at you, or have a cute face or vibrant color. It is the most difficult photographic work I have ever done. Many times you are battling ocean conditions that aren’t favorable and you are trying to get the best angles for your photos. Sometimes that means moving around volunteers and scientists or having the waves push you and your camera to one side, and push
© Skylar Snowden
you back or up but in the end, it is all worth it when you see such a rare event and get to document the beauty of the corals and reef. It is definitely mother nature at her best.” Scientists are hopeful to continue this project and work toward strengthening the elkhorn coral A laboratory-grown, 4-year-old elkhorn coral populations as well as outplanted to the reef continues to grow other threatened or endangered coral along miles of ocean reefs. Scientists warn that despite their success, there is a downside. The most important aspect of the coral project is the ability of the natural environment to sustain stable coral reefs and growth so outplanted coral can thrive. Without a stable environment, SECORE says that restoration can only be limited to small areas. They are hopeful that increased education and implemented environmental regulations will help to stabilize the ocean’s ecosystems so in the future this project will grow to a much larger scale.
Coral larvae settle onto ceramic tiles and grow in ideal aquatic conditions.
Paul Selvaggio and Zoo aquarists are able to participate in coral conservation efforts in part by donations made to the Pittsburgh Zoo's Coral Conservation Fund.
Paul Selvaggio is the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's Creative Director and Photographer. He first joined scientists to photograph SECORE’s coral conservation initiatives in 2010.
Once mature enough, coral from the lab was brought back to the wild and outplanted onto rocky substrates near existing colonies. 119
The Value of Annual Giving Annual giving is vital to the successful operation of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Membership and ticket sales alone do not cover the cost of all that we offer in sustaining our mission. Annual giving helps to fill this gap. Contributing to the Zoo plays an important role in providing care for our animals, supporting our educational programs, and aiding in our on-site and international conservation efforts. Thank you to the individuals on the following pages for being a part of our donor family.
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Donor Spotlight Grow Wild Society Supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium are more than simply donors – they’re the people who help protect and save endangered species, who ensure our animals have the medical care they need, who make education programming possible, and who fund wildlife conservation efforts here and around the globe. At the Zoo, our work is a collaborative effort between staff, volunteers, and supporters, and we believe in sharing our passion for wildlife with everyone who makes this possible.
That’s why we formed the Grow Wild Society, a group of donors intimately involved with the Zoo and our animals. Members see their support in action with private tours, exclusive events, and special admission to lectures. Members share encounters with the animals that are like nothing they've ever experienced:
“We had one of the greatest experiences of our lives at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium when we were given the opportunity to swim with the sharks at the PPG Aquarium. Instead of being a guest at the Zoo and looking at the animals from a distance, we could step inside the environment these animals live in. We were taught by a member of the staff how to feed the zebra sharks, what they were being fed, and how to properly approach these animals. It was an amazing experience, unlike any other visit to the Zoo.” Melissa and Amanda Hasley, Grow Wild Society members
We thank the Hasley family and all of our Grow Wild donors for their support of the Zoo. Membership is based on an annual gift of $1,000 or more. For more information, visit our website or contact Janet Rose, Senior Director of Development & Conservation Initiatives at 412-365-2540 or jrose@pittsburghzoo.org.
How close do you want to get? Join the Grow Wild Society and get close to the animals. Your membership in this special group supports the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and its mission to save wildlife. Grow Wild Society membership gives you a unique and intimate perspective through behind-the-scenes tours and special exclusive events for both families and individuals. Become a Grow Wild Society member today and enjoy a closer partnership with the Zoo, satisfaction in supporting critically important initiatives, and unforgettable, up-close experiences. Click for more information. 11
2015-2016 Annual Giving (Annual gifts received from September 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016) $50,000 and above Anonymous
Carolyn Kooken Laurel Foundation PPG Industries PPG Industries Foundation
Upcoming Events Fashion for the Wild presented by BNY Mellon March 31* 6 – 9pm Zoo Gala: Jungle Bash, Call of the Wild co-presented by UPMC and UPMC Health Plan June 3* 7 – 11pm (VIP begins at 6 p.m.) Summer Safari presented by BNY Mellon July 29* 6:30 – 11pm (VIP begins at 5:30pm) *This is a 21 and over event
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Richard King Mellon Foundation Service Systems Associates
$25,000 to 49,999
Scott Electric Foundation
The Anne L. & George H. Clapp Charitable and Educational Trust
$5,000 to 9,999 Carol Adams
Gloria & Donald Casey Teresa & David Cepicka Compton Family Foundation Dominion Foundation Douglas W. Stirling Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation* Duke Family Foundation
$10,000 to 24,999
Janine & Bob Fragasso
BNY Mellon
Patsy & Don McKinney
Linda Bailey & Mark Fairhead Eaton Corporation Fair Oaks Foundation
Hawksglen Foundation Patterson Charitable Fund Rita* & Robert Randall
Fisher Family Charitable Trust
Robert & Mary Weisbrod Foundation
Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company
The Norbell Foundation
Nacey Maggioncalda Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
$2,500 to 4,999
Phillip H. & Betty L. Wimmer Family Foundation
Dorothy Boyer*
Somerset Trust Company
MaryAnn & David DeFide
Marilyn & Howard* Bruschi
Cathy & John* Demos
Chick-fil-A
Laura Ellsworth & Bruce Teitelbaum
JoAnn & Gary Claus
Filipowski Foundation
Courtney Babcock Borntraeger Foundation*
Sara Horsman Michele & Robert Howland Kristin & Richard* Kalson Jennifer & Michael* LaRocco Patty & John* Payne PNC Bank Ralph & Dorothy Hartwell Schugar Charitable Foundation Diana* & Frank Rath Rosalind Chow & Jeff Galak Charitable Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation* The Burke Foundations
Sarah & G. Henry* Cook
David McL. Hillman Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Docent Council - Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Duquesne Light Eat'n Park Restaurants Sheila & William Eismont Steven & Beverlynn* Elliott EQT Corporation Lin & Donald Ewing Joanne & William* Fallon BJ Ferguson
Sarah & Robert* Woodings
Deborah & Robert Fidel
$1,000 to 2,499
Edward Goncz*
Dawn & Craig Andersson Mary & Leonard* Bach Suzanne Barley Deborah Bergren* Susan & Glenn* Bost Susan & David Brownlee C. S. McKee, LP Louise & David Cannon Capital Wine & Spirits Company, LLC Carol Caroselli
Karen* & R. Kent Galey Georgeann & William Hadley Sarah & Michael Hand Stacey & Jason Harper Stacey & Eric* Hays
A Note to Our Donors We make every attempt to accurately recognize the generous support of our donors. If you notice an error, please contact the Development Department by calling 412-365-2541 or by email at donate@pittsburghzoo.org. Thank you for your understanding.
Vicki Helgeson & Mark Kochvar Honkus-Zollinger Foundation Donna* & James Hudson John & Nancy Traina Philanthropic Fund Beth & Justin* Kaufman Kana & Detlef Koll 13
Give the Gift that K eeps on Giving : A Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Membership A Zoo Membership is a passport to family fun and adventure. Treat somebody you love to a gift Membership. It includes 12 months of unlimited free admission to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, discounted admission to 150 other zoos, education and program discounts, exclusive access to events, and much more. Click here for more information.
Erika & Glenn Kolod
Elizabeth & Jason Thomas
Karen & Thomas* Kublack
Tippins Foundation
Paula Lockhart
Gail & Jim Titus
Mary & Don Lucidi
Tracey & Carey Vinson
Peggy* & Steve McKnight
Sue Weigold & Robert Butella
Richard Prosser Mellon
Sally Wiggin*
Jeanne Minnicks* & Craig Rowland
$500 to 999
Sandra & Henry* Mordoh Jade & Brian Morel NET Xperts LLC Kathleen & Ryan Neupaver Nancy & Bernard Picchi Robert M. & Thelma Y. Brown Foundation Stephanie Schneck-Jacob & Timothy D. Jacob Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds William Singer Leslie & Richard Snow Sheila & Brett Solomon The F B Robinson Family Fund*
Valentina & John Barsom Church Brew Works Foundation Carolyn Davis Gail & H. William Doring Tracy & John Geyer June & Hans Jonas Rosalind & Julius Jones Mary & R. Drew Kistler Denise Letcher & Joseph McDonough Debra & Kurt Limbach Kim Macey Sherri & Chuck Macierowski Pam & Kenneth* McCrory Lynn & William McIlroy Nan & David* Newell Shirley & H. Ward Olander PNC Foundation Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Ryan Memorial Foundation Sara* & David Scaife
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Amy & Edward Sorr
Marsha & Robert Fidoten
Carol Tasillo
Cynthia & H. Ronald Fray
Lonnie Walton
Mary & Eric Friedlander
Kathleen & Richard Yost
Garden Club of Forest Hills
$100 to 499
Mary & Ned Aland Joan & John Ammer Amshel Charitable Foundation Patricia & Thayle Anderson Sandy & James Artzberger Melanie Beck Susan & Paul Bell Kathy & James Braham Albert Burchfield III Martha & John Burkholder Barbara & David Burstin Marguerite Chesnut Louise & Gerry Cipriani Joan Clark Davis Community Bank Kristin & Vaughn Cook Kathleen & Elry Cramer Denise Crosby Frank Curka Andrea Curtis & Douglas Kredel Linda Dickerson* Joseph Elder Emmerich Family Trust
Angela & Morris Gardner Edward Gerjuoy Paula & Francis Gesselberty Tish & Eric Grimm Carly Gross Janell Haygood David Henry Sarah & Talbot Heppenstall Carolyn & David Hills Phyllis & Mark Hoge Kim & David Holmberg Bev Honchorek Lisa & Timothy Honkala Susan Hoppe & Michael Goodhart Deborah Hurrell Lisa & Robert Jones Stephen Kalinowski Lori & Gary Koehler Jonathan Kopinski Mary & A. Frederick Kroen Sarah & Lars Kuehn Clifford Lechwar Lee & Myrna Silverman Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Noah Lesgold 15
Joyce & Steven Lish
Sheri & Robert Sclabassi
Catherine & Manuel Llopart
Paul Skirtich
Ruth & Neil MacKay
Ann Slonaker
Carolyn Marks
Carleen Sluganski
Jeri Ann Marlowe
Ellen & Thomas Smith
Roberta & John Mather
Andrea Spade
Natasha Matza
Claudia & Raymond Steeb
Margaret McGowan
Crystal Stein-Easter & Steve Easter
Moira & Dean Meixner Give a bear for a birthday, a tiger to your team, or a howler monkey for the holidays. Adopting an animal is a great gift for any occasion. When you adopt, your gift helps to provide for the care, feeding, and enrichment of Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium animals. All resident animals are available for adoption with packages ranging from $30 to $500 per year. Visit our website at pittsburghzoo.org for adoption packages. Please call 412-365-2503 to learn more about this rewarding gift idea or email adopt@pittsburghzoo.org.
Patricia & Charles Miller Jeffrey Mitchell Patty Mooney & Alan Steinberg Carol & Theron Myers Linda Nimick & Alex Jameson Norfolk Southern Corporation Lee & John Oehrle Kenneth Patterson Stephanie & Peter Perry John Peth Leslie Anne & Charles Rankin Dedra & Scott Rantovich Paula Reed Catherine & Donald* Rhoten Nancysue & Ronald Riggle Mary Ann & Bruce Sadler Virginia & Edward Schatz Janis Schmidt Jenny & Floyd Schuchert
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Eileen & Robert Stovash Sandra and Mark Taylor The Academy of Science and Art of Pittsburgh Mary & Raymond Tomasello Lorraine and Joseph Trapuzzano Alan Traugott Pam Turner UBS Financial Services Lani & Joel Walker Linda & Charles Watson Michele & Paul Weisensee Kurt Westley Jo Wilson Amy & Gregory Winokur Tishie & Davitt Woodwell Susan Zeff *Indicates board member
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and International Conservation Center
Credit Card Don’t just make a purchase; make a difference for endangered species with the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and International Conservation Center credit card. A percentage of each transaction you make on your card will be donated to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, with a special focus on support for the work of the Zoo’s International Conservation Center (ICC) in Somerset, PA. To apply for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and International Conservation Center Credit Card, visit pittsburghzoocard.com. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and International Conservation Center Credit Card is provided through the Somerset Trust Company.
Next Issue Here are some of the exciting stories that will be featured in our next issue of Zoo Connections: • Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation • Amur Leopard Cub and Cat Conservation
United Way Contributor’s Choice #223611 Please consider the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium #223611 for your United Way contribution. Your gift supports Zoo education programs that provide low-income, at-risk children with unique hands-on science education. The children enjoy Zoo visits and animal encounters that teach them life sciences, raise conservation awareness, and enhance school readiness. Thank you in advance for choosing Contributor’s Choice #223611. Your gift makes all the difference. 17