Zoo Connections - July 2015

A newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | July 2015

Sunburst the Sea Turtle: Expect the Unexpected Donor Spotlight: Savanna Fire Pit Donor Spotlight: The Carousel Conservation Legacy Award

ŠCarey Abdulovic

Conservation Circle: Why We Do What We Do

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 Richard Kalson Chair, Board of Directors Dr. Barbara Baker President & CEO 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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©Paul A. Selvaggio

Amy O’Neill Foundation and Grants Coordinator 412-365-2543 aoneill@pittsburghzoo.org

Expect the Unexpected Josianne Romasco, Coordinator, Sea Turtle Second Chance Program

They say that no two sea turtles are the same, and Sunburst’s story for survival certainly was unique.

Sunburst was found by a boater floating in the Ft. George River Inlet in Little Talbot Island State Park, near Jacksonville, Florida, back in 2010. Sunburst was immediately transported to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center in Jekyll Island, GA where s/he remained under the care of Dr. Terry Norton and his rehabilitation team for the next two years. Once the wounds on top of his/her shell from the boat strike were resolved, Sunburst was still deemed to be non-releasable and needed a forever home. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Second Chance Program opened its doors (and its tanks) to Sunburst in June 2012 for what we thought

was going to be the next 70 years (fun fact: green sea turtles can live to be about 80 years old and grow to reach close to 400 pounds).

©Paul A. Selvaggio

The first year Sunburst was in Pittsburgh was a get-to-know-you time. With very limited range of mobility in the front flippers, much of the time was spent trying to get Sunburst to exercise those front flippers, rather than allowing Sunburst to constantly overcompensate with his/her rear flippers (rudders) which would never be sufficient for release back into the wild.

©Paul A. Selvaggio

By July 2014, Sunburst had made such vast improvements in her mobility that we felt she was fit for release back into the wild. This fact-finding process spanned the next several months, whereby Sunburst needed to be evaluated by (a) the Curator and husbandry staff in the PPG Aquarium, (b) the veterinary team here in Pittsburgh, and (c) the veterinarian that provided the initial intake assessments and treatments in Georgia, Dr. Norton.

During this period, information had been exchanged throughout all of the relevant parties involved including medical records, photos, and videos of Sunburst swimming, diving, maneuvering around her exhibit and using her enrichment. It was only after all of the stakeholders came to a unanimous conclusion, Sunburst was demonstrating that she would be capable of surviving in the wild, that the recommendation was put towards the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

©Paul A. Selvaggio

Sunburst moved though a stepping-stone rehabilitation process— starting in a six foot diameter tank with three feet of water, to a 10-foot diameter tank with 4.5-feet of water, then to a 30-feet long tank where Sunburst could swim in about 5.5-feet of water honing her foraging skills and learned to compete. Eventually, Sunburst was considered fit enough, although still awkwardly swimming, to go into our Ocean Exhibit (13-30-feet deep), where visitors could see this magnificent turtle enjoying enrichment three times daily, navigating through the new multispecies environment. It was this transition that really became the tipping point in Sunburst’s rehabilitation.

Sunburst during the rehabilitation process at the The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Second Chance Program 3

©Carey Abdulovic

“All were cheering and clapping as Sunburst started to make her crawl from the beach into the tidewaters of the Atlantic”

It only took a few more weeks for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct their own internal assessments on this rare case for release, and by Spring 2015 the Sea Turtle Second Chance Program was given official approval to start making plans for Sunburst’s release back into the wild. This decision came after nearly five years of treatment and rehabilitation!

It is with a great sense of pride and accomplishment that we can now say Sunburst the sea turtle was released back into the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean on June 4, 2015. The scene was right out of a movie—hundreds of curious onlookers and beachgoers lined a raceway from the parking lot to the surf on Fernandina Beach (located on Amelia Island, Florida) all with cameras in hand. Some were crying because they knew how special this was for Sunburst and everyone involved in her care, many were thanking the rehabilitation staff from 4

both the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a job well done, and all were cheering and clapping as Sunburst started to make her crawl from the beach into the tidewaters of the Atlantic—home sweet home.

These are the moments that remind us that great things can happen when everyone comes together, no matter how far away from the coast or how long the journey. Sunburst was a rockstar that day, and the level of awareness that this one, single animal created for the conservation not only of sea turtles, but all oceanic species, was awe inspiring.

What’s next for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Second Chance Program? While we could never truly replace our precious 70 pound green sea turtle, it is time to see if we can give another green sea turtle its second chance. One of the greatest gifts that Sunburst could give was a much clearer vision for our Zoo’s non-releasable sea turtle project. Now, rather than

©Carey Abdulovic

just selecting any sea turtle candidate that needs to live out its life expectancy in our wonderful retirement community, we’re much more selective to see if we can’t offer another turtle with similar physical challenges the same opportunity for recovery—and ultimately release back into the wild. If not, we’re more than happy to offer up a permanent home, however, Sunburst’s success has really shed light on the fact that there are probably more sea turtles deemed to be non-releasable that might have a different outcome if they were given the luxury of more space and more time, a service that many coastal rehabilitation facilities cannot provide because their focus is geared towards short term, critical care patients.

©Carey Abdulovic

©Carey Abdulovic

Efforts like the Sea Turtle Second Chance Program, (and all other wildlife rescue, rehab, release programs) however, could not exist without the support of generous individuals, from not only southwest Pennsylvania, but all over the country. These supporters are truly the unsung heroes in this line of work, because funding is crucial for moving sick and injured turtles up and down the coast, and often times rehabilitative care can be very costly, depending on the severity of the issue. Funding and programs like these need to continue to exist because there will never be a shortage of sea turtles in need of help. A heartfelt thank you to those supporters who have already made contributions. Your generosity does not go unnoticed, and you too, were an integral part of Sunburst’s success story.

©Carey Abdulovic

The Sea Turtle Second Chance Program at the Zoo, thanks to Sunburst, is starting to reignite the conversation about the role that other non-coastal facilities can play in sea turtle rehabilitation—and the future is looking bright!

Sunburst was a rockstar that day, and the level of awareness that this one, single animal created for the conservation not only of sea turtles, but all oceanic species, was awe inspiring.

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Donor Spotlight Savanna Fire Pit ©Paul A. Selvaggio

Donate to the & ppg aquarium

To make your gift in support of the Zoo, please contact the Development Department by calling 412-365-2540.

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©Kelley Bittner

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.

When we saw pictures of their beautiful, oneof-a-kind designs on the Internet, we reached out to them to ask if they might consider creating an African design bowl and fire pit for the Zoo? Without a moments hesitation, their design team went to work on the African Savanna fire pit, working from our vision and our input. During multiple communications back and forth, the savanna fire pit was born.

The Fire Pit Gallery designs and creates unique wood and gas fire pits, custom spheres and bowls that are perfect for any outdoor space. Handcrafted in the U.S. with American-made steel, this functional art is virtually impervious to the elements.

The family-owned company started in Niles, Ohio with Jason Crisp’s idea to create custom fire pits. Jason, a certified welder, and his wife Melissa Crisp, an artist, soon enlisted the entrepreneurial expertise of Melissa’s parents, Tom and Marlene Appel.

©Kelley Bittner

pittsburgh zoo

When you visit the Zoo and make a beeline for the beautiful new Jambo Grill, with sweeping views of the African savanna inhabited by zebras, giraffes, elephants in the distance, and cheetahs lurking nearby, what also awaits your sightline is an original, handcrafted, African Savanna Fire Pit. This hand-wrought, handdesigned, original sculpture was made and donated by the Fire Pit Gallery Family of Bristolville, Ohio.

Melissa Crisp designs and cuts most of the bowls. An artist by nature, Melissa was creating, sketching, sculpting, and painting since early childhood. Her passion took off when she was given a custom-built “art center” in the fourth grade and that took her all the way to an art scholarship at the University of Nebraska in Omaha following high school. Jason Crisp is a certified welder and preps and finishes the bowls. Melissa hand draws every bowl with her designs and then cuts them out with a plasma cutter along with Jason to turn the bowls into custom art. Tom and Marlene Appeal, their parents, focus on growing the business and keeping the shop well supplied with as much recycled steel as possible, also managing the office and communications from clients all over the world. The Zoo can’t thank them enough for their generosity and support to help make the Zoo a better, more beautiful place to experience all things wild and unforgettable.

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.

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Donor Spotlight Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf ©Paul A. Selvaggio

Beckoning children with the faint sounds of organ music, the Zoo’s iconic carousel holds claim to visitors’ first experiences as they enter our grounds. As kids and adults alike cluster around the exquisite painted horses, smiles are shared and memories are made.

Built in 1948 by the Allan Herschell Company, the carousel was only the second to be manufactured by the corporation with metal horses. After delighting generations, the carousel underwent a much needed restoration in 2010 that required more than 1,200 hours of hand painting.

©Paul A. Selvaggio ©Paul A. Selvaggio

WPSD is pleased to join the Zoo in taking steps to ensure that the carousel is available for future visitors.

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Protecting such a pristine refresh from Pittsburgh’s harsh winters is no easy feat. Earlier this year, the Zoo sought financial support to purchase a special tarp to cover the carousel in inclement conditions. The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf answered that call.

“Enjoying the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has been an ongoing tradition at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) with our students visiting the park throughout the school year to learn and have fun,” says WPSD CEO Donald E. Rhoten.

“It is our pleasure to partner with the Zoo for the preservation of the carousel. As one of the first attractions that visitors see, it is impossible to walk past the carousel without stopping to enjoy a ride or appreciating its beauty. Having visited the Zoo with my grandchildren, I speak from experience. The carousel is both a historic work of art and a place for memories. With this in mind, WPSD is pleased to join the Zoo in taking steps to ensure that the carousel is available for future visitors.”

The Zoo would like to thank WPSD for its generosity and support.

2015 Annual Giving $50,000 and above

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

PPG Industries

$2,500 to 4,999

Anonymous

PPG Industries Foundation Service Systems Associates

$25,000 to 49,999

Jack Buncher Foundation

$10,000 to 24,999 Anonymous

BNY Mellon

Janine & Bob Fragasso Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Paula Lockhart

Alice & Patrick* Loughney LUXE Creative

The Florence Boyer Foundation The Pittsburgh Foundation

$5,000 to 9,999

Carnegie Stratgeic Design Engineers LLC Teresa & David Cepicka

Jane Fox Bradley Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation Roy A. Hunt Foundation

©Paul A. Selvaggio

(Annual gifts received from February 1 – May 31, 2015)

All Occasions

Laura Ellsworth & Bruce Teitelbaum Federated Investors Foundation, Inc.

$1,000 to 2,499

Diane & Barry Balliet Linda Bailey & Mark Fairhead

Carolyn & James Bouchard Judith & Gary Diven

Docent Council - Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Duquesne Light

Sheila & William Eismont Donna & James Hudson Kim Macey

Cathy Rinchetti & John Miclot*

Upcoming Events July 31 6:30 – 11 p.m.

Summer Safari presented by BNY Mellon August 4 6:30 – 9 p.m.

Members Only Night

George Sebek, IV

September 11 6:30 – 10 p.m.

ZooBrew: Oktoberfest

V. Wayne & Cordelia Whitten Barker Fund

*Event dates are subject to change

Cynthia & Todd Shaffer

Anthony Waters

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$500 to 999

ŠKelley Bittner

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.

Courtney* & Tim Borntraeger

Andrea Curtis & Douglas Kredel

Lori Fertall

Rocklynn & Edward Demarco

Erie Insurance

Sarah & Raymond Damm

Grant M. Shipley Gift Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

Tanya Diable

Sherri & Chuck Macierowski

Dennis Duda

Norfolk Southern Corporation

Crystal Stein-Easter & Steve Easter

Belinda & Mike Terzich

Amanda & Brandon Franklin

UnitedHealth Group Dollars for Doers Program

Paula & Francis Gesselberty

Thea & Dick Stover

Center Elementary

Jennifer Tis

Dennis & Kathleen Gasper

$100 to 499

Jodi Affuso & Patrick Juola Anne Amster

Kathy & Stuart Arnheim Bank of America Amy Bayer

Elizabeth Bennett Dorothy Boyer*

Lisa Ginsburg

Michael Golde

Google Pittsburgh

Laura Guastaferro & Kenneth Shannon Vicki Helgeson & Mark Kochvar David Henry

Lindy & Brennan Herr

Central Valley School District

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

Chloe & Isabel

Sara Horsman

Amanda Ching

Cinderella Women’s Committee

Louise & Gerry Cipriani Clista Electric, Inc. Kimberly Cois

Kathleen & Elry Cramer Denise Crosby

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Dominion Foundation

Phyllis & Mark Hoge Becca & Neal Huntington Andrew Huse

Jack & Jean Ann Jones Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation James T. & Hetty E. Knox Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

Johnstown Typographical Union No. 137/CWA 14815

Cynthia Segat & Brian Wieczorek

Nita & John Kellum

Janel Skelley*

Lisa & Robert Jones

Jennifer & Barry Kessler Alexis & Tony Macklin Grace Magner

Carolyn Marks

Jeri Ann Marlowe

Alice & Martin Lieb Merck Foundation

Maureen McBride & David Lower

Susan & John Skowron

Deborah & Carrie Snyder Andrea Spade

©Kelley Bittner

Kerchner Family Fund No. 2 of The Pittsburgh Foundation

Jennifer* & Robert Seng

Sharon & Scott Stemler Michael Stephens

A Note to Our Donors

Style Truck

Kevin Survinski

Jaime Szoszorek

Belinda & Mike Terzich The Hillman Company

Karen & Andrew Nigra

The Sanford S. & Patricia G. Berman Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Sean & Maria O’Brien

Becky* & Herbert Torbin

Jay Parker

Vet Tech Institute

Pittsburgh American Association of Zoo Keepers

Daniel Wilson

Margaret Moriarty Brett Neuberger

Carrie & Brian Novosel

Susan Thomas

Olive & Marlowe LLC

Trendy Trousseau LLC

Mark Perrott

Peter & Nicole Vitale

Principal Financial Group

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.

Jo Wilson

*Indicates board member

Roy Pulver

Ruth & Douglas Quint Michele Rice & Sally Bosserman

Nancysue & Ronald Riggle Sandra Cadavid LLC

©Kelley Bittner

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ŠPaul A. Selvaggio

Give the Gift that K eeps on Giving :

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.

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ŠPaul A. Selvaggio

A Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Membership

Conservation Legacy Award On a magnificent May evening under the stars, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium hosted and presented the first-ever Conservation Legacy Award. With wildlife conservation at the center of our mission, the Conservation Legacy Award is an important milestone in the evolution of the Zoo, to continue to be a leader in saving endangered species.

The Conservation Legacy Award, a biennial award that recognizes a leader in global wildlife conservation, was awarded to its first recipient, Professor Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt, for his groundbreaking reproductive work with endangered species

©Paul A. Selvaggio

including African elephants and rhinoceroses. The award, sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, included both a monetary award for Dr. Hildebrandt to help him continue his scientific innovations, as well as an original glass sculpture of an African elephant engraved with his name and the award title.

The evening also marked the 25th anniversary of Dr. Barbara Baker’s tenure as President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Dr. Baker is one of only 22 women who lead major zoos in the United States. She is a veterinarian by training and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Her award was sponsored by BNY Mellon.

Nearly 200 guests came together for this remarkable celebration under a garden tent, awash with tropical landscapes and special lighting, provided by Martin Potoczny of Luxe Creative.

A delicious, multi-course formal dinner, engaging videos, and a slide presentation on the breakthroughs in wildlife conservation, research and science, marked the evening’s events. It was a memorable moment in the life of the Zoo, as well as for doctors Baker and Hildebrandt. Just as important, the Zoo continues to evolve as a leader in wildlife conservation and research. The Conservation Legacy Award is a major step in that direction.

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’s growth and reach, and its mission to save wildlife. Grow Wild Society membership gives you a personal and unique perspective through behind-the-scenes tours and special events for both families and adults.

©Paul A. Selvaggio

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.

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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.

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ŠPaul A. Selvaggio

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.

Conservation Circle Why We Do What We Do Recently, in an ongoing effort to raise support for a new indoor cheetah facility and to share critical information from the wild about cheetahs, we hosted a different kind of event at the Zoo. It was a Cakes for Cats Auction and Special Speaker Presentation.

Rebecca Klein, founder of Cheetah Conservation Botswana was our guest speaker. The Zoo’s mammal staff also shared information about our cat inhabitants and why they are so endangered in the wild. Area bakeries and generous individuals donated spectacular cakes and other desserts for a fun auction. Before the presentations began, guests enjoyed a dessert reception. Rebecca Klein then showed amazing slides about her work in the field and how beneficial, grassroots education of local people is for learning about the needs and habits of wild cats, living adjacent to their farms and communities.

The audience was made up of many Zoo friends of various ages and backgrounds but among the crowd, a mother and her young daughter sat in the front row. The little girl was amazingly engaged,

asked questions, and, of course, wanted to bid on some wonderful sweets. A good time was had by all. Then, a few weeks ago, we received this wonderful email and photos from her mom: “My daughter and I had the pleasure of attending your Cakes for Cats fundraiser back in April. We truly enjoyed hearing Rebecca Klein speak about her conservation efforts in Botswana. I was so happy to share that experience with my six-year-old daughter. To hear someone in the field actually doing something so important to help save a species was truly inspiring. So much so that it inspired her (daughter’s) recent birthday party. I thought you would enjoy “…inspiring and educating seeing what she came the next generation of up with to celebrate, an all cheetah inspired conservation minded party complete with individuals…” a Botswana Cheetah Adoption Center. I feel very fortunate to live so closely to the Pittsburgh Zoo. It has certainly been a big part of raising my children, complete with unforgettable zoo sleepovers and special events like the cake fundraiser. I look forward to attending the lecture by Nisar Malik next.”

This, in many ways, exemplifies what our work is all about— inspiring and educating the next generation of conservation minded individuals, young people who come to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to learn about wildlife, to see wildlife up close and to learn how they can make a difference in the future.

A six-year-old is inspired to help save cheetahs.

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Zoo Connections is a newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

One Wild Place Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-665-3640

Now Open…

The Islands The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is excited to announce our new exhibit area, The Islands, is open! Immerse yourself in the island atmosphere at the beach. Feel the sand wrap around your feet as you relax on surfboard benches and feel the gentle breeze rustling through the palm trees.

During this adventure, you will meet the world’s most endangered reptile, the Philippine crocodile, see the distinctive Mohawk of the Visayan warty pig, take it slow with the Galápagos tortoises, and marvel at the acrobatic skills of the clouded leopards.

An experience you’ve never seen, now only at the Zoo! ©Kelley Bittner