SAFARI The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo • Volume 25 • Issue 4• Winter 2016
After Dark
SAFARI
The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo Volume 25 • Issue 4 • Winter 2016
OUR MISSION Inspiring others to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world. Cover photo: Gray wolf
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Vincent van Gogh once said: “I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” While that statement could be debated for many starry starry nights, the Zoo is certainly a very different place after dark. Even after the admission gates close and the sun sets, there is still activity within the Zoo. There is always work to be done and animals to care for. Admittedly, the Zoo after dark does have an intriguing appeal, which is exactly why we wanted to shed some light on the duties of a night zoo keeper, alert you to the sleeping habits and arrangements of your favorite animals and reveal the plants that bloom while you dream. Read on to learn more about the night happenings at your Toledo Zoo. We hope to see you soon, whether after dark for the brightest holiday tradition, Lights Before Christmas presented by KeyBank, or for family fun in the day light!
CONTACT INFORMATION
2 Hippo Way • P.O. Box 140130 Toledo, Ohio 43614-0130 419-385-5721 • fax 419-389-8670 Catered Events Development Education Group Sales Library Membership Public Relations Visitor Services Volunteers Zoo PAL Zoo Gift Shop
ext. 6001 ext. 2074 ext. 2042 ext. 6001 ext. 2043 ext. 6002 ext. 2098 ext. 6003 ext. 2045 ext. 2068 ext. 3111
Editor
Kim Haddix
Designer
Katherine Ritz
Contributors
Jen Brassil Nancy Bucher Chuck Cerbini Bill Davis Mike Dilley Mary Fedderke Justin Grubb Wyn Hall
Printer
All my best, Jay Hemdal Regina Lester Randi Meyerson Josh Minor Tara Orme Morgan Sopko Ryan Walsh Terry Webb
executive director
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s
Contact the editor at 419-385-5721, ext. 2145 or kim.haddix@toledozoo.org
two spectacular concerts on
Friday, December 2 at 3:30 & 8 p.m.
Connect with us!
at the Huntington Center!
$1 from each ticket sold for both concerts will benefit the Zoo’s conservation initiatives.
toledozoo.org An accredited member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums | W A Z A United for Conservation
®
Safari is published quarterly by the Toledo Zoo, P.O. Box 140130, Toledo, OH 43614-0130. Second-class postage paid at Toledo, Ohio and at additional mailing offices. Printed on recycled paper. © 2016 by Toledo Zoo.
Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
Jeff Sailer
Toledo Zoo will be the charity beneficiary of
Homewood Press
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
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Staying CONNECTED
TSO concert tickets on sale now at livenation.com, ticketmaster.com and the Huntington Center Box Office.
Paid for by Citizens Committee for the Zoo: Betsy Brady and Ray Wood, Co-Chairs, 1915 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee, OH 43537
Your VOTE
COUNTS! Vote for your Zoo on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
RENEWAL AND REDUCTION! On Tuesday, November 8, Lucas County voters will be asked to renew the Zoo’s operating levy which supports animal food and veterinary care, animal collection staff, education, maintenance and utilities. The owner of a $100,000 house in Lucas County will pay only $1.91 a month or $22.97 a year to support this levy, a 12% decrease. Please vote YES on Issue 23 to support the Zoo’s Operating Levy Renewal! We would like your help in spreading the word to support your Zoo. You can help by placing yard signs and representing the Zoo at polling sites on Election Day. Please sign up online at voteforyourzoo.org or complete and return the form below. Thank you! Yes, I would like to help! You do NOT have to be a Lucas County resident to help spread the word. Please return this form to: Vote for the Zoo, P.O. Box 140130, Toledo, Ohio 43614
Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City, State, ZIP__________________________________________ Email Address________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___ I will display a yard sign at my home/business in Lucas County. ___ I will help distribute yard signs. ___ I will represent the Zoo at polling sites on Tuesday, November 8. ___ I would like to make a donation to the levy campaign in the amount of $_______________ Please make checks payable to: Citizens’ Committee for the Toledo Zoo. Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
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NOCTURNAL Animals with Chuck Cerbini, curator of birds A night-owl human once said life begins at night. For nocturnal animals, that is exactly the case! Before we get too far in our discussion of nocturnal animals, it is necessary to define a few biology vocabulary terms. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, the word nocturnal means relating to or occurring in the night; active or happening at night. The opposite of nocturnal is diurnal, meaning active during the daylight hours. An in-between option is crepuscular, meaning active at dawn and dusk. To correspond with our magazine theme though, we will be focusing mainly on nocturnal animals. A little additional research indicates that nocturnal animals, or those that are active after dark, typically have highly developed senses of sight, hearing and smell. They also usually have large eyes in comparison to their body size. Finally, studies have shown that animals have adapted to be nocturnal for a variety of reasons that include, avoiding predators, not competing for prey with like species and avoiding the heat of the day.
Spectacled Owl
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Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
When many think of nocturnal animals, one of the first to come to mind is an owl. It is no different here at the Zoo, where we have two species of owls on exhibit: Spectacled and Snowy and two species in our Ambassador Animals: Barn and Eurasian Eagle. Due to the 24 hours of sunlight the Snowy Owl encounters in its native Arctic range during breeding season, it has adapted to be a diurnal species of owl. Additionally, the Ambassador Animals are used to being active during the day because this is when they interact with their trainers, which gives guests a chance to see and learn more about the natural behaviors of the species. With the exceptions listed above, most owl species are nocturnal; however, different species can co-exist in the same area by hunting at various times of the day and night. Spectacled Owls are a nocturnal species native to tropical regions of Mexico and South America that have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. They weigh between one and three pounds and are 1719 inches tall. They get their name from the markings on their face that are similar to eye glasses.
Owls have many adaptations to help them navigate and hunt in the dark. They are almost effortlessly able to turn their heads 270 degrees, which gives them quite an advantage over other predators to locate prey. They also have big fixed eyes to maximize the small amounts of light available at night. The head turn and big fixed eyes work together to give them a very wide and well-focused field of vision to spot small mammals and birds. Additionally the tips of an owls’ feathers have a soft, fringe-like edge that deadens the sound of air passing over them, making owls silent fliers.
Cerbini also filled us in on the two new nocturnal mammal species now living in the Aviary; Roraima, the two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) and a pair of Lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca). While Roraima (named after a Venezuelan mountain) is an incredibly popular Zoo resident, most only see her sleeping. “Her daytime activity can change day to day. Some days, she is
Toledo Zoo’s curator of birds, Chuck Cerbini, explained another interesting owl adaptation. “They have needle-sharp talons to help snatch and grip their prey. The tendons in their feet work opposite of human hands. When in a resting position they are clamped tight. The owl actually has to expend energy to release their talons. This allows the owl a better grip and ability to fly away with prey secured.” Another nocturnal bird is the North Island Brown Kiwi. The Zoo currently has two males living off exhibit in the Avian Breeding Center. Kiwi are an extremely endangered species due to predation from non-native mammals, specifically stoats (a type of weasel), dogs and feral cats, in their home range of New Zealand. Kiwi are small ratites or flightless birds related to Cassowary and Ostriches that prey on the many species of insects that emerge after dark. Depending on the sub-species, Kiwi can weigh between two and 12 pounds and can live for 50 – 60 years. Kiwi are burrow nesters. They will hide and sleep in their burrow all day and come out at night to prey on insects. Kiwi actually have very small eyes that are sensitive to light, so they mainly rely on their senses of smell and touch to locate prey. They utilize their long bills containing ultra-sensitive whiskers at the base and nostrils at the tip that help them forage for insects.
Lowland paca
mostly inactive and still asleep at sunset, while other days she is very active and can actually be quite quick in her movements when motivated. Being nocturnal though, we are sure that she is all over the exhibit overnight,” said Cerbini. Usually, sloths move so slowly that algae can grow on their fur, turning it a greenish color and acting as a form of camouflage. Sloths sleep between 15 and 20 hours a day, with their few active hours coming in the middle of the night. Even when they aren’t asleep they are often motionless and silent, making them almost invisible to predators. Pacas are another fascinating nocturnal creature, although many guests fail to see them simply because they are not accustomed to looking down in the Aviary. Pacas are brown rodents with white spots that are native to Mexico, northern Argentina and Uruguay. In the wild pacas are usually found near a water source, as they utilize their excellent swimming abilities to escape predators. During the day male and female pacas reside in separate burrows, coming out at night to forage for fallen fruit and plants. Unfortunately, pacas are becoming scarcer in their native range due to encroachment of human settlements and being hunted for their tender, veallike meat. We hope you enjoyed this after-dark discussion of nocturnal animals at your Zoo. The next time you see them sawing z’s, you’ll know they are conserving energy for their night-time exploits!
North Island Brown Kiwi Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
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A Spotlight on FLASHLIGHT FISH with Jay Hemdal, Aquarium curator
Flashlight fish, just the name alone is intriguing. However, once one delves deeper into the story of this nocturnal fish, the fascination becomes even brighter! As Aquarium curator, Jay Hemdal, explained flashlight fish (Photoblepharon and Anomalops spp.) are in one of only two families of fish kept in Aquariums that are bioluminescent. By definition bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Flashlight fish have a photophore, or light organ, located beneath each eye that is made up of a colony of luminescent bacteria that constantly glows a pale green light. Interestingly, the fish can turn their “flashlight” on or off by rotating the organ to emit or obscure the light. Flashlight fish are a nocturnal schooling fish. They reside deep in caves during the day but rise to near the surface of the ocean at night to feed on plankton. They are black or dark brown in color and grow to about four inches long. The fish utilize their flashlight to aid in sight, communicate with each other and confuse predators. Hemdal relayed that studies have shown flashlight fish utilize a “blink and run” method to hunt where they turn on their light for one to two seconds to illuminate food nearby, eat it then turn their lights off and dart away in a different direction. Hemdal also notes that studies have shown the light to be infrequent, almost random, without the presence of food but when food is spotted the flashing increases.
Although fascinating, flashlight fish are rarely seen in aquariums for several reasons. The first is that even though the species rises to the surface to feed at night, they are so accustomed to darkness that even strong moonlight will confine them to darker caves. Therefore, collectors who wish to catch the fish must dive in perilous pitch black conditions and sometimes incredible depths to retrieve the fish. Additionally, flashlight fish are an extremely delicate species to properly maintain in captivity. They require exact care, including darkness which can make monitoring food intake difficult, cooler water temperatures and they have A close-up of a flashlight fish’s photophore. an elevated susceptibility to parasites. We invite all of our guests to enjoy the bioluminescence of our flashlight fish on display behind a wall, in a now-forobvious-reasons, darkened room of the Aquarium! As Hemdal quips: “the flashlight fish may well be the best fish you’ll never really see!”
This exhibit was supported by a generous gift from Dorothy MacKenzie Price.
Background photo by Martin Dohm-Ammonite
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Wild Toledo MESOPREDATORS Wild Toledo is busy after dark too! In addition to their work with native endangered species, the conservation department also works with native nocturnal species through their mesopredator initiative. As stated on the Wild Toledo website, mesopredators are mediumsized predators whose populations often increase when their larger predators are eliminated. Locally, these species include raccoons, opossums and skunks. Through the mesopredator initiative, Wild Toledo is attempting to establish a healthy non-reproductive population of resident skunks, opossums and raccoons. These species could otherwise present a health concern to our animal collection, as they are known carriers of various diseases including rabies. Zoo veterinary staff vaccinate, surgically sterilize and assess the health of each mesopredator caught in live traps. This project was started through a grant from the Kenneth Scott Charitable Trust.
Kent Bekker, director of conservation and research, using radio telemetry to track mesopredators.
Initially, some of the mesopredators were also fitted with GPS logging collars before being released back into the wild to determine the population’s geographic range. The collars turn themselves on multiple times during the night and note the animal’s location. To access the data Wild Toledo biologists track the animals through traditional radiotelemetry, retrieve the collar and plug it into a computer. This information helps biologists learn more about urban mammal species and the critical components of their habitats. The data also helps Wild Toledo keep track of population numbers and movements in and around the Zoo. As Wild Toledo Coordinator, Ryan Walsh states, “We can’t ever, nor would we want to ever, totally stop the population growth of mesopredators. Instead of trying to beat nature, we are modifying it and making it work more cooperatively with our resident animals.”
A recently treated and released opossum.
For more information on Wild Toledo’s initiatives, please visit wildtoledo.org.
A map of the area surrounding the Zoo. The colored dots indicate mesopredator data collection points. Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
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VOLUNTEER Spotlight with Bill Davis, volunteer manager Ed Conn began volunteering at the Zoo in 2013 and he supports multiple roles. Specifically, Conn is a Volunteer Diver, sharing his love of marine animals with our guests as he moves through our 90,000-gallon Pacific Reef Tank in the Aquarium. However, his multiple dives are only the most visible aspect of his volunteer service. He also serves on the Diver Safety Board, helping develop policies to make sure that our diving program is both safe and successful. Aside from his efforts in the Aquarium, Conn also serves on the Zoo’s Editorial Board, expanding the Zoo’s reach through
targeted publications and alternative media outlets, such as interest-specific blogs. For example, he was instrumental in promoting the Zoo’s dive program through a variety of outlets that created a surge of enthusiasm and resulted in a full dive program with an extensive wait list. He has also expressed his passion for marine life through an incredible mural in downtown Toledo that not only beautifies our city but also shines even more light on our Aquarium. We are delighted to have such a hard-working individual, not only diving in the Aquarium but also committed to maintaining standards for the safety of his fellow divers. We are all grateful for his multi-faceted dedication and are pleased to recognize Ed Conn for all of his contributions to the Toledo Zoo.
SILVERBACK SOCIETY
Profile: Jamie and Ellen Black Jamie and Ellen Black are not just Zoo members- they are long-time Zoo lovers, supporters, donors and servants! Jamie recalls that he started going to the Zoo with his grandmother when he was eight or nine years old and seeing in person the large animals he had seen on television. As he grew older, his love of the Zoo never wavered. When he and Ellen married in 1985, the Zoo became even more important in their lives. Jamie worked for and retired from Waterville Gas Company. Each holiday season he would purchase Zoo memberships for his employees, so they could enjoy the holiday tradition, Lights Before Christmas. “I didn’t want their families to miss out on one of Toledo’s best places,” said Jamie. Jamie admits that he and Ellen were really captivated by the Zoo while attending their first ZootoDo, but that their interest was confirmed with the addition of the Africa! exhibit and re-confirmed with the recent renovations. “It truly enhances the visitor experience. The Zoo is always a place we take out of town guests and it’s always wonderful. A big part of that is the staff, everyone from animal care to catering and the office workers… they are all great!”
The Blacks’ involvement with the Zoo doesn’t stop there though. Jamie served on the Zoo Foundation Board and helped to start Feast with the Beast. “We have a painting done by an elephant that we purchased at one Feast and it will forever hang in our home!” When it comes to gifts for family and friends, the Zoo is always on their minds then too! “Ellen gave me an octopus (ZooPAL) for my birthday once. It was the most unusual gift I’ve ever received! She also bought a zebra on the African Animal Carousel in the names of our great nieces when it was originally constructed.” To top it all off, Jamie and Ellen became Silverback Society members when they listed the Zoo as the beneficiary of insurance policies. “Even though we have moved a distance away, we have maintained our commitment to the Zoo. It is so vital to the community. The stewardship the Zoo has shown is stellar and to be admired. Many others could take a good lesson from the Zoo!” Thank you Jamie and Ellen Black for your many years of strong support! For more information on the Silverback Society, please contact Mary Fedderke at 419-385-5721 ext. 2074.
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WHO’S NEW? Maned Wolves
Chrysocyon brachyurus Date of Arrival: June 2016 Endangered Status: Near threatened On Exhibit: At base of the bridge, on South side of the Zoo The Maned wolf is the tallest canid in the world and is also known for having a unique scent that is similar to a skunk.
Chain dogfish
Scyliorhinus retifer Date of Arrival: June 2016 On Exhibit: Twilight Zone This small, bottom-dwelling shark is biofluorescent. Under special blue light, its skin glows green!
Scaly-sided Merganser
Mergus squamatus Date of Arrival: Six ducklings hatched in April and May. Endangered Status: Endangered On Exhibit: The ducklings were raised off-exhibit but now can be viewed with the adults in the Flamingo Key exhibit. The Scaly-sided Merganser’s bill is lined with sharp serrations and has a hook at the tip. These are special adaptations to help this bird catch and eat live fish.
Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Chlamydera cerviniventris Date of Arrival: May 2016 On Exhibit: The Aviary
Male bowerbirds are famous for constructing bowers, or attractive homes, on the ground in order to attract female bowerbirds. The male may spend up to two months creating this structure and once finished, he decorates it with anything he can find including seeds, fruits, dead insects, flowers, bones, snail shells, ferns and even items discarded by humans.
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NIGHT KEEPER Duties with Tara Orme
Orme with Leela, one of our female orangutans.
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Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
As the “zoo closing” announcement plays over the speakers, members of staff and public alike head for the parking lots. But for this keeper the day’s work has only just begun. I am Tara Orme, one of only two night keepers at the Zoo. Seven days a week, 365 days a year, one night Tara Orme keeper works 3 p.m. until midnight to maintain the entirety of the Zoo’s vast animal collection. For most of my shift I am the only animal staff on grounds. No two nights at the Zoo are ever the same. Regular night keeper duties include: next day diet preparation, life support checks at the aquarium, giving keeper talks during snooze and safari programs, providing late night feeds and/or animal enrichment and shifting some of the animals off exhibit after the zoo closes. However, depending on the day or the week, I might also pick up animal food donations, check on animals that are in new exhibits or under medical care, assist the commissary stewards or monitor mammals that have just given birth or are expected to any day. Possibly the most important aspect of the job though is just being here on grounds to be observant and alert, and take action if necessary. Keepers and vet staff are always only a phone call away. I have called them for everything from a baby elephant making a chew toy of the irrigation hose outside his exhibit, and concerns about otter sibling squabbles, to advice for when Emma the hippo just does not want to come inside.
Part of Orme’s night keeper duties include reinforcing training behaviors and feeding, as she is seen here giving a hippo bananas.
We rarely encounter a true emergency during the night but I am always checking up on the animals to make sure everyone is happy and healthy. Our duties also change seasonally. In the summer I am always busy, sometimes giving two or three keeper talks a night. In the winter the schedule becomes a little more flexible and I use the extra time to catch up on keeper projects or make animal enrichment.
Spotted-necked otters being playful indoors.
As the night keeper I work with just about every department, so it’s important to be well rounded and flexible when it comes to animal areas. As soon as I arrive for the day I have to check in with all the keepers to see if there are any special tasks to be done or unexpected situations to be aware of. Working in several departments may mean communicating with lots of different people, but it also means working with lots of different animals. When you are the only keeper on grounds, wearing the familiar uniform and carrying those jingling keys, the animals learn to recognize you rather quickly. Many of the animals are excited to see me as I make my rounds every evening. It is equally exciting to see them after dark, demonstrating behaviors that few visitors or even keepers see during the day! Some of the nocturnal species are more playful after dark, and often much more vocal as well! Snow leopards, elephants, kookaburras and hippos are often heard calling at night. Eels swim out from under rocks to explore their exhibits in the Aquarium, the sloth bear stays up late to visit through her windows and Sam the rhino always gets up in the middle of the night for a long drink and a quick back scratch. On the other hand, some of the species that are more lively and active while the public visits, sleep like logs through the night! The apes have a strict 6 p.m. bed time, the otters are quick to dry off and curl up in beds made from burlap sacks and the brown bear cubs sleep through the night in one big furry pile. While there is always a lot to be done on any given night, and while no keeper ever knows quite what to expect on any given shift, I can honestly say that I love what I do. It is not always easy but it is rewarding. I am proud to say that zoo patrons and the rest of the Toledo Zoo staff can rest easy at night knowing the animals are receiving the best possible care – no matter what time of day!
Maned wolves snuggled in for the evening.
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OVERNIGHT Opportunities with Morgan Sopko, overnight and scout programs coordinator When the Zoo empties and the sun begins to dip below the horizon, my day is just beginning. Coffee in hand and armed with the necessary supplies: a radio, red-tinted flashlights, sleeping bag and a backpack, I head to the entrance of the Zoo to await our overnight guests. Most Friday and Saturday evenings the Zoo hosts school, scout, family and/or adultonly overnight groups, ranging from 15-55 guests. No two overnights are exactly the same; this is a look into a “typical” family overnight. 6:30 p.m. – My coguide and I greet our snoozers. We will be with this group of lively children and parents for the next 15 hours. Once rules have been established, we play an animal icebreaker game and guests grab their overnight gear. Together we trek through the Zoo to set up our campsite in the Forest Room of Nature’s Neighborhood. 7:30 p.m. – We travel to Carnivore Café for a pizza snack. By using biodegradable dinnerware, we explore how long different household items take to decompose. Our goal is to empower the guests to use their resources wisely and conserve the world around us. 8:45 p.m. – After radioing the Night Keeper, we meet up with them at the elephant exhibit to learn about different ways keepers care for animals and what a day in the life of a keeper is like.
10:15 p.m. – The two groups combine again to go on a night hike, one of my favorite parts of the program. We walk quietly as we travel to the exhibits of different nocturnal animals in hopes of seeing them active. We are in luck! The Amur tigers are moving through their exhibit playing with the tree branches hung from a line. After observing the tigers, our group continues on our hike, pausing by the hippo sculptures for a few stories. 11 p.m. – The group reluctantly heads to bed for much needed rest. 7:15 a.m. – “Gooooood moooooorning, Snoozers!” It is time for guests to get ready and deconstruct our camp. 8 a.m. – We make our way back to the Carnivore Café for a continental breakfast. 8:45 a.m. – Our group goes on a walking tour, visiting parts of the Zoo that we did not explore the night before. We watch Tink, the green sea turtle, swim in the Aquarium and Bajik, an orangutan, swing from his structure at Great Apes. 9:30 a.m. – Enrichment time! Before we arrive, a keeper has set out our smelt wreaths for the otters to discover when they go outside on exhibit. Twirling through the water the otters work to free the smelt from the wreaths and enjoy their breakfast, much to the delight of our overnight guests. 10 a.m. – Time for us to part ways and say farewell to our new friends. We hope each guest leaves the Zoo inspired to take action in caring for animals and conserving the world around them.
9:15 p.m. – Dividing the group in half, one group comes with me for an animal encounter while the other group makes enrichment. The guests in my group have the opportunity to touch a Three-Banded armadillo, Virginia opossum and have an up-close look at an African bull frog. 9:45 p.m. – We switch groups, the guests who were with me go to make enrichment with the other snooze guide. Enrichment is anything that stimulates a natural behavior by the addition or modification of an animal’s environment. Our overnight group is making smelt wreaths for the Spotted-necked otters. While wearing gloves, guests take frozen smelt (a small fish) and intertwine them in eight-inch grapevine wreaths, which will be placed in the otter exhibit in the morning.
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To learn about our overnight programs, please go to toledozoo.org/overnights
A Hard Day’s Night IN THE GARDENS with Mandy Hansen, horticulturist
On a sunny afternoon it’s easy to appreciate the fragrance of a flower nodding in a breeze or the whimsical flight of bees. Scenes like this are enjoyed by thousands of Zoo-goers every year, but precious few get to experience how the gardens change in the evening. Join me as we stroll through this article and experience the gardens after dark.
Angel’s trumpet early in the morning.
Upon entering the Formal Garden our eyes are drawn to the pendulous, creamy-white blooms of the Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia sp). Extinct in the wild, Angel’s Trumpet is native to the tropical regions of South America and has long been used world-wide as a container plant. Pollinated primarily by moths (and occasionally bats) the flowers open in the early evening and are their most fragrant overnight. Growing best in full sun with regular fertilizing, this annual flowering plant can be expected to reach three to six feet tall in a growing season. Growing throughout the Zoo is a variety of Four O’Clock (Mirabilis jalapa) cultivars. The flower buds remain closed throughout the day and open in late afternoon giving rise to their common name. Boasting a sweet fragrance that attracts many moths and hummingbirds, flowers remain open throughout the night and late into the next morning. This deer and rabbit resistant plant is a great annual for landscapes or containers! The VanAuken Connecticut Garden is a great place to experience how colors change when observed in moonlight. Often overlooked during the day, the yellow flowers of the Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa) appear to glow-inthe-dark on a bright night. The graceful pink flowers of the African Foxglove (Ceratotheca triloba) seem to float through the garden as the dark green leaves of the plant camouflage
into the darkness. Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) is another annual that shines overnight. The clusters of tubular white flowers are very visible after dark, and combined with a strong fragrance, demand attention any hour of day or night. Housed within the historic Ziem’s Conservatory is a NightBlooming Cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum). The spectacular white blooms of this orchid cactus open late in the evening and fill the conservatory with their exquisite perfume. While a healthy plant can produce up to a dozen flowers at once, each flower will only bloom for a single night. The Night-Blooming Cereus won’t thrive in an Ohio landscape but will perform well as a house plant. Simply provide it with a well-drained potting mix, bright sunlight and protection from frosty windows and the Night-Blooming Cereus will flourish in your home for years to come.
Night-blooming Cereus just before it blooms.
As dusk settles it is easy to appreciate the fragrance of a newlyopened flower or the whimsical flight of fireflies. Although few visitors experience it, there is much to enjoy in the Zoo’s gardens after dark.
Flowering Tobacco.
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Animal SLEEPING HABITS Sleep… for some it’s an absolute necessity, for others it’s elusive and almost impossible. Some fight it. Others take sanctuary in it. Regardless, all humans need sleep to survive. Animals…well that’s a whole other story! Many have seen the snow leopards and red pandas sleeping all curled into a ball with their long tails wrapped around themselves for warmth, but have you seen a tortoise sleep or a snake slumber? With the help of Toledo Zoo’s director of animal programs, Terry Webb, we will take an after-hours’ look at the unique sleeping habitats of some of your favorite Zoo residents. For the world’s tallest animal, sleep involves quite a process. According to Webb, adult giraffes only truly sleep between 20 and 30 minutes each day and they can only achieve rapid eye movement (REM) sleep if they lie down. However, they don’t do this often, as it makes the giraffe extremely vulnerable to predation. “For an adult giraffe to lie down on the ground, there is a difficult and methodical process that must take place. First, the giraffe drops to its front knees and slowly to keep balance walks its back legs out to one side and lowers its hindquarters. With their front legs now underneath them and their back legs out to the side, they then lower their neck and head to wrap it around their body with the head eventually resting on their back. To get back up again, they must swing their head around to gain momentum and then raise their hindquarters. While getting down is slow, getting back up is actually more like one swift movement,” explained Webb.
with Terry Webb, director of animal programs
Another animal that has obvious difficulties lying down to sleep is an elephant. In other Zoo publications, we have detailed that Lucas, still quite young at age 5, will still lie down to sleep. However, as elephants get older, the process becomes more laborious and less common. “Elephants usually stop lying down when they are 10 – 15 years old because their immense weight makes it an enormous physical challenge,” stated Webb. To lie down the elephant first drops to one front knee, then does a series of lunge-type maneuvers creating momentum to slowly rock itself down to the ground. Once down the elephant is completely on one side with all four legs extended in the same direction. Getting back up is simpler. The elephant simply places one foot on the ground and slowly lifts its body while steadying its feet beneath it. Elephants do take naps during the day, though. They are able to sleep standing up! To recognize if an elephant is napping standing up, check out how their trunk is resting on the ground. For example, when Renee sleeps the bottom foot or more of her trunk will be flat on the ground. Studies have shown that on average elephants only sleep three and a half hours a day! Orangutans and gorillas are other examples of animals that take naps during the day. Visitors often report and take pictures of the orangutans curled up underneath a blanket in their exhibit. They may be curled up on the ground or way up in the top corners of their exhibit, as in the wild they would rest in the treetops. As we learned in Tara Orme’s Night Keeper article, the orangutans have a strict 6 p.m. bedtime. As Webb elaborated, each evening each orangutan will seek out and build its own solitary nesting area, except females with offspring, like Yaz and Wakil. Here at the Zoo, the orangutans will cover up with blankets, but in the wild they use large leaves to protect themselves from rain. On the other hand, gorillas will usually nest on the ground and near their family group. Webb laughed that he has even heard gorillas snoring with audible exhales while they sleep! Our Brown bears are another interesting sleeping situation story. In the wild brown bears are solitary creatures, only interacting at feeding © Michael Sheehan / Dreamstime
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Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
In fact, their eyes are only covered by a scale that is shed with their skin! Scientists believe that some birds and marine mammals, including seals, can actually use only half of their brain to sleep while the other half remains alert (and one eye open) for predators. Additionally, birds do not lose muscle tone while resting so they can sleep while perched; however, they may only sleep for a few minutes at a time with REM sleep only lasting a fleeting few seconds. Flamingoes can even sleep while balanced on one leg!
A game of orangutan peek-a-boo or interrupted nap time?
As you have learned, most animals require some amount of sleep, even if it’s tiny or done in a strange configuration. So the next time you think about where the lion sleeps tonight or taking a cat nap, think again!
sources and to mate. Here at the Zoo, the female grizzly sisters, Cody and Montana and the male Kodiak bear, Dodge, reside together. Webb tells that the bears even sleep together at night. “Even though they each have their own space, they have literally grown up together and bonded so well that they spend 24 hours a day together. During the day they interact and play together on exhibit so much that they seemingly wear themselves out and at night they crash. They will sleep in a pile, all three stretched out but on top of each other!” Not to be outdone by mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish have some odd sleeping habits too. Tortoises sleep comfortably on the ground with their eyes closed and their neck limp. Snakes have no eye lids, so closing their eyes is not an option.
A gorilla curled up and catching some z’s!
Safari Magazine • Winter 2016
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Toledo, OH Permit No. 707
P.O. Box 140130 Toledo, OH 43614-0130 The Toledo Zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. January through April: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. May & September: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Weekends, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 1 – November 17: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. November 18 – December 31: Daytime hours, 10 a.m. - 2:59 p.m. Lights Before Christmas hours, Sunday - Thursday: 3 - 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 3 - 9 p.m. All Lucas County residents receive free Zoo admission every non-holiday Monday 10 a.m. - noon. (Must show valid proof of residency.) The Zoo remains open for one additional hour after gates close to allow visitors to complete their visit. However, many animals may be off exhibit during the last hour.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS NOVEMBER 18
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Lights Before Christmas presented by KeyBank begins with Tree Lighting Ceremony toledozoo.org/lights Zoo CLOSED
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Thursdays (1, 8, 15, 22, 29) Ice Carving Demonstrations at 6 p.m. in Main Plaza
1
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Zoo OPEN 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with free admission for Lucas County residents. Lights CLOSED
25
Zoo and Lights CLOSED
31
Noon Year’s Eve sponsored by Meijer 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. toledozoo.org/noonyears Last night of Lights!
Zoo CLOSED
14 – 16
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Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend free admission for Lucas County residents.
Wine Tasting: Aquarium toledozoo.org/wine
For more information on these and all events at the Toledo Zoo, please visit toledozoo.org/events
Enjoy Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s music throughout the Zoo!
Nov. 18 - Dec. 31
Toledo Zoo
LIGHTS before Presented by
toledozoo.org/lights
New this year: Bumper Cars on Ice sponsored by Kroger