Toledo Zoo Safari Summer 2017

SAFARI The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo • Volume 26 • Issue 2• Summer 2017

Do at the

ZOO

Staying CONNECTED SAFARI

The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo Volume 26 • Issue 2 • Summer 2017

OUR MISSION Inspiring others to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world.

Cover photo: Tower Ridge Giraffe Experience

Safari is an exclusive benefit to Toledo Zoo members.

Membership also includes free, unlimited, year-round admission and parking during regular Zoo hours; a subscription to Safar-E-mail, the Zoo’s weekly e-newsletter; early access to Summer Concert Series tickets; discounts on Zoo merchandise, classes, programs and more; and discounted admission to 150+ zoos and aquariums nationwide. toledozoo.org/membership

GO GREEN and help the Zoo conserve by receiving your Safari magazine via email! To opt out of the printed version, please visit https://etickets.toledozoo.org/marketing/safarisubmit.aspx

MEMBERSHIP Questions

Email membership@toledozoo.org or call 419-385-5721 ext. 6002.

CONTACT INFORMATION

All my best,

ext. 6001 ext. 2074 ext. 2042 ext. 6001 ext. 2043 ext. 6002 ext. 2145 ext. 6003 ext. 2045 ext. 2068 ext. 3111

Editor

Kim Haddix

Designer

Teri Reed

Contributors

Kent Bekker Chris Berg Jen Brassil Chuck Cerbini Bill Davis Mary Fedderke Wyn Hall

Printer

Homewood Press

Jeff Sailer executive director

Jay Hemdal Katherine Lonsbrough Randi Meyerson Josh Minor Terry Webb

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Contact the editor at 419-385-5721, ext. 2145 or kim.haddix@toledozoo.org

Connect with us!

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. © 2017 by Toledo Zoo.

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With all of that in mind, we invite you to flip through this issue of Safari to learn more about everything there is to “Do at the Zoo.” As you plan your summer vacations and Zoo visits, keep in mind our keeper chat schedule, our interactive Touch Tank and Ocean Lab and all of the events we have happening at the Zoo throughout the year. Truthfully, you can take a trip around the globe at the Toledo Zoo! We hope to see you doing it all soon!

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 Communication Visitor Services Volunteers Zoo PAL Zoo Gift Shop

We often hear our adult visitors ask of the children with them: “What do you want to see first?” We are well aware that everyone has their favorite animals and reasons to come to the Zoo. However, our goal is for all of our visitors to do more than just see. We want you to get immersed in the experience, participate, get hands on and take more away than simply fun memories. We pride ourselves on being more than just entertainment: we are a conservation and education organization. We want you to be inspired by our passions and our actions.

Fun Facts about the

AFRICAN ANIMAL CAROUSEL

Many of you have enjoyed the African Animal Carousel located in the heart of our Africa exhibit, near the Safari Railway. But, have you ever stopped to really appreciate the uniqueness of the ride or the obvious masterful skill that went into creating it?

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The entire Carousel weighs approximately 30,500 pounds with each animal weighing 50-70 pounds.

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The Carousel officially opened to the public on May 2, 2003 and was funded by a bequest from Audrey Miner.

Here are a few fun facts about your favorite ride:

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The Carousel is made up of all LED lights and is handicapped accessible.

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One Carousel ride lasts approximately 3 minutes and costs $2 per person.

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The African Animal Carousel was hand-crafted and hand-painted over the course of a year by Carousel Works of Mansfield, Ohio.

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It is the only indoor, all-African animal carousel in the United States.

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The Carousel contains 42 ridable animals, including four that do not go up and down (Giraffe, Male Lion, Okapi and Silverback Gorilla) and two benches.

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The Carousel has representations of 21 different animal species with each identified for guests.

Spotted Leopard, Gorilla, Lion, Pigmy Hippo, Ostrich, Giraffe, Cheetah, Warthog, Sea Lion, Okapi, Dolphin, Mandrill, Zebra, Hyena, Rhino, Honey Badger, Caracal Wild Cat, Stork, Cape Hunting Dog, Elephant and Impala.

• In 2016, more than 84,000 guests rode the African Animal Carousel.

Patrons are able to sponsor an animal on the Carousel.

There are five animals still available: Cape Hunting Dog, Hyena, Caracal Wild Cat, Yellow Billed Stork, Saddle Billed Stork.

For more information on sponsoring an animal, please contact Katherine Lonsbrough at katherine.lonsbrough@toledozoo.org or 419-385-5721 ext. 2083.

Cheetah before and after.

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Wet hands in the WORLD beneath the Waves with Jay Hemdal, Aquarium curator Someone once said, “I want to be like water. I want to slip through fingers but hold up a ship.” At the Toledo Zoo’s Aquarium, we want you to get your hands wet and brain waves full of facts. With the two and a half year renovation, we have made those goals come to life with the addition of the Ocean Lab and Touch Tank. In case you haven’t had a chance to check them both out yet, here is all the information you could ever want to know!

As you walk up the ramp into the heart of the Aquarium, the Touch Tank is the kidney-shaped tank directly in your line of sight, while the Ocean Lab is to your left. Combined, the tanks hold approximately 3,000 of the Aquarium’s 180,000 gallons of water. According to Aquarium curator, Jay Hemdal, the research, planning and development of these tanks was more involved than all the rest of the new exhibits. Zoo staff and contractors wanted to ensure that the interaction between the public and sea creatures was safe and successful. “We traveled to a lot of other parks and aquariums to compare and contrast their facilities with our goals. Lots of them have a flat rim on top that allows saltwater to get everywhere as people reach in and out and also requires a lot of paper towels and a squeegee to keep clean. After a lot of thought, we slanted the top rim toward the public to keep water from pooling there and installed an inboard lip to help keep the animals safely contained.”

Touch Tank is supported by the Clement O. Miniger Memorial Foundation.

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The Touch Tank.

Hemdal went on to say that the life support system was another extremely important factor. “It was imperative that the water be suitable for the animals and also kept as clean as possible.

Therefore, in addition to the filtration system, we require that guests rinse their hands before participating to get rid of lotion, sunscreen, dirt and lint and also rinse or apply hand sanitizer afterwards to prevent the spread of germs.” Guests are also asked to use only two fingers to touch the animals (the index and middle finger held tightly together) so as not to pinch or poke the animals.

Another aspect that was given a lot of thought was the depth of the water and the height of the exhibits. “The water is not all at the same depth, as different animals prefer different depths.

Additionally, on the rare occasion an animal has had enough human

interaction, they can swim to the center of the tank for some space. This doesn’t happen often though, as the animals don’t seem to be bothered by the interaction,” said Hemdal. The designers placed steps around the outside of the exhibit to allow shorter guests to step up for a better view and also left an open area that is handicapped accessible.

Hemdal pointed out that there is always an interpretative guide stationed at the exhibits to assist visitors and also watch out for the wellbeing of the animals. “The interpretative guides are a great source of information, not only about the species in the tank, and even the specific animals’ personalities but also the time of the next live dive, where to find the flashlight fish and anything new in the Aquarium. I always tell people, learn by

listening to them: it’s the key to really having the full Touch Tank experience.”

When asked what visitors will encounter at each exhibit, Hemdal ticked off a number of interesting species. The Touch Tank

Hermit Crab © Dreamstime

The Touch Tank is open during all day-time Zoo hours. The Ocean Lab is open periodically throughout the day, according to the posted schedule. (Both exhibits are closed during Lights Before Christmas.) Additionally, the tanks are closed for short periods during the day to give the animals a break and to allow Aquarium staff to feed the animals and clean/maintain the tank. “These closures inconspicuously coincide with the live dives in the Reef tank to allow guests to focus on the dive and give the staff time to work.”

Ocean Lab is supported by Yark Automotive Group.

contains Cownose rays, Yellow rays, Southern sting-rays (with trimmed barbs for safety) Bamboo sharks and Horseshoe crabs.

The Ocean Lab differs in that it contains smaller invertebrates such as shrimp, starfish, hermit crabs and snails and is manned by education staff. Hemdal also noted that the Ocean Lab is used to raise baby sharks and rays to a suitable size before placing them in the Touch Tank.

As Hemdal detailed, the primary goal of installing these interactive tanks to was provide a means for visitors to engage with aquatic life. “By having a sea creature at their fingertips, we want visitors to not only ooo and ahh over their unique characteristics but also understand that the animals won’t hurt them.

We also hope that through these fun interactions visitors of all ages will gain an appreciation of the extreme lengths necessary to conserve our water sources and all the species that reside within their depths.”

Here’s to creating wet hands, waves and wonderful memories at our Aquarium!

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Get INVOLVED at Your Zoo with Mary Fedderke, director of institutional advancement and Katherine Lonsbrough, major donor relations manager In addition to visiting the Toledo Zoo for a day full of animal fun, there are lots of other ways to get involved at your Zoo. To provide an overview of the options, we sat down with two members of the development staff to learn how you can get more involved in the #1 zoo in the nation!

The newest way to be a part of the Toledo Zoo is through YPAC- Young Professionals for Animals and Conservation. This group is designed for motivated, connected and adventurous young professionals ages 21-mid 40s with a passion to think globally and act locally on behalf of animals and the natural world. YPAC not only provides social and business networking opportunities, but also incorporates volunteer opportunities to give back to both the Zoo and our community. To learn more about the group and how to join, please visit toledozoo.org/ ypac or mark your calendar to attend YPAC’s free informational event at The Beastro during Music under the Stars on Sunday, July 23 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Another fun way to get involved is to join one of our many supportive committees. Most are part of the development department and/or their fundraising events. Some examples of committees looking for members include: ZOOtoDO decorating and restaurants and Feast with the Beast and Once upon a Vine organizational and promotional committees.

If a committee seems like too much of a time commitment, you can also volunteer to assist the day of the event with decorating and final preparations. For more information on committee opportunities, please contact Mary Fedderke at mary.fedderke@toledozoo.org or 419-385-5721 ext. 2074.

Our adult volunteer program is a also a great way for people 18 and over to get involved in the community and learn about animals and conservation, while inspiring others to care about wildlife. Volunteers fall into multiple categories: ZooEds, Exhibit Guides, Department Volunteers, Interns, Special Event Volunteers and Aquarium Divers. For more information on the duties of each category, please visit toledozoo.org/volunteers.

ZOOTeens are an all- volunteer corps of over 360 students aged 13-17 that wear bright yellow t-shirts to help them stand out and be approachable to Zoo visitors. This group works on and off grounds in support of our mission, all the while learning leadership, networking, time management and other life skills.

For more information about ZOOTeens, please visit toledozoo. org/zooteens or contact our Volunteer department at 419-3855721 ext. 2169.

In addition to these opportunities, as a non-profit organization, the Zoo also accepts donations of various types, including monetary, in-kind, enrichment items and estate planning. For more information on all of the donation options, please visit toledozoo.org/donate. (Please note, some items including bulk food and enrichment items, are on an as-needed basis and can be very specific. Please double check the website or contact the Zoo with specific questions.)

As you can see, there is truly something for everyone at the Toledo Zoo. Come on out and join us! We thank you all for your continued support of the Zoo’s mission to inspire others to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world.

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Live ANIMAL SHOWS with Chris Berg, play and interpretive program coordinator some of the details for this summer, but the idea will be the same,” said Berg.

The other show theme for 2017 is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!” It focuses on the science of being green, including ways that our visitors can help at home and at the Zoo. The show will feature science experiments that demonstrate green practices.

Like the Mystery Show, there will also be live animals with a 15-minute meet-and-greet after each performance. Some of the animal stars will include lizards, turtles, invertebrates and even animals that make good pets.

Come one, come all to the live animal shows at the Toledo Zoo! While this may not be the first sentence most visitors associate with a trip to the Zoo, it certainly is one that should spark your attention. In the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) the Zoo offers several live animal shows for guests to enjoy.

For all the details, read on…

Berg and all of the Zoo staff invite everyone to come take in one of our live animal shows. You are guaranteed to learn a fun fact or two and make a new animal friend! See you at the show.

For the complete directory of activities and live shows happening this summer, please visit toledozoo.org/feedings.

The Nature’s Neighborhood staff, with the help of interpretative guides, organizes three live animal shows daily. These interactive, family-oriented shows are presented on the outdoor Fisher-Price Little People Discovery Stage in Nature’s Neighborhood at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. each summer day.

The approximately 15-minute shows have varied themes but all include live animals, audience participation and a 15-minute animal meet-and-greet at the completion of the show. The shows are geared toward children up to age 10 but can be enjoyed by the entire family and guests are encouraged to ask questions throughout the show.

One popular theme from last year’s show that Chris Berg, play and interpretive program coordinator, has said will be resurrected this summer is “The Mystery Show.” During this presentation the audience helps the show’s host find clues and participate in science-themed activities to figure out which of three animals (opossum, silky chicken or snake) stole his/ her lunch. “We received a lot of positive feedback about this particular show, especially the audience getting to meet the lunch bandit at the end of the show, so we decided to re-work

Bearded Dragon © Dreamstime

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photo © Dreamstime

WHO’S NEW?

Pacific Sea Nettle Chrysaora

Patagonian mara

fuscescens

Dolichotis patagonum

Date of Arrival: November 2016

Date of Arrival: December 2016

Date of Arrival: October 2016

On Exhibit: Nature’s Neighborhood Kitchen

On Exhibit: Aquarium

On Exhibit: Not on exhibit- part of the education program.

Goldfish

Carassius auratus

A pair of goldfish were the Aquarium curator’s first pets, and likely the reason he has such a passion for aquatic life.

(The sea nettle exhibit is supported

by Mary Ellen Pisanelli, Eleni and Lia.) Many people consider these to be the most beautiful of all of the sea jellies or jellyfish.

Patagonian maras, also known as a cavies, are large rodent relatives of guinea pigs that get their scientific name from the ancient Greek words for long-earred.

VOLUNTEER

Spotlight

with Bill Davis, volunteer manager

Our Zoo Ed Volunteer of the Year joined the Zoo Ed Program in 2007 and over the past nine years, has been a very, very busy man donating over 3,025 hours of service to the Toledo Zoo. However, not only is he prolific, he is also multi-faceted and willing to help out in any way necessary. We need people on grounds to educate visitors at exhibit spaces – check. We also need someone to provide animal demonstrations for kids’ programming – no problem. When you are finished with that, we need someone to partner with education staff on outreach projects – done. Could you also cover these enrichment and feed demonstrations on grounds – you bet.

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However, our volunteer of the year does not limit himself to education activities. He is the king of the airport-to-hotel-toZoo shuttle run, transporting visiting staff from other zoos for conferences or special meetings. He also has assisted with special events and driven vehicles for field trips. Amazingly, he has managed to fit in all of these activities, while also fiddling around with the Volunteer Office computer and piloting complex databases to bring our volunteer program into the 21st century. (As a former engineer, he really, REALLY enjoys fiddling!)

Whatever the need, he is always ready to answer the call and it is our pleasure to recognize Paul Rouda as our Zoo Ed Volunteer of the Year. Thank you, sir!

Citizen Science OPPORTUNITIES on Zoo Grounds with Kent Bekker, director of conservation and research and Ryan Walsh, Wild Toledo coordinator

2.) View the life-cycle of Monarch butterflies. Check out the greenhouse in Nature’s Neighborhood throughout the summer to see the different life-stages of the orange and black beauty.

“Wild Toledo and the education department are working together to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at our production process of collecting eggs, to counting larvae and caterpillars and watching the butterflies eclose and eventually tagging and releasing. After we release them, we encourage everyone to look throughout Zoo grounds and their own backyards for the tagged Monarchs as they make their way to Mexico,” said Ryan Walsh, Wild Toledo coordinator.

The greenhouse is supported by Medical Mutual.

A native prairie in full bloom.

Readers of this publication are undoubtedly familiar with Wild Toledo, the Zoo’s local conservation initiative. However, many are surprised to learn how easy it is to be a part of the important work this group is doing in our own backyards.

In fact, Wild Toledo coordinator, Ryan Walsh, and director of conservation and research, Kent Bekker, gave us a few ideas that can be done during your Zoo visit but also easily translate to backyard or Metropark activities too.

1.) Grow your own Clean Water Garden to help our local biodiversity and water supply! The first Monday of each month, May through August, Wild Toledo will have a table set up on Zoo grounds to educate guests about water quality issues and hand out native prairie seed packets along with information on how guests can register their Clean Water Garden (similar to Wild Toledo’s native prairies) through wildtoledo.org. All of this (and 10 acres of demonstration rain gardens throughout the city) was made possible by an EPA Education grant awarded to the Zoo last December. A great example of a well-established native prairie can be seen on the median of the Anthony Wayne Trail. Check it out from the windows of the Pedestrian Bridge!

Eastern fox snake.

3.) Keep your eyes open for Eastern Fox snakes. Fox snakes are unique to the Great Lakes’ region but are not commonly found. “Wild Toledo has been monitoring Eastern Fox snakes since they first appeared on grounds in 2000; however, in the past three years we have only seen one,” said Kent Bekker, director of conservation and research. Eastern Fox snakes (Pantherophis gloydi) are yellow to light brown in color with dark blotches on their back and sides and are usually found in marshes and wet meadows. As adults they can be three to five feet in length. They are non-venomous and harmless to humans. Regardless, if you spot a fox snake on grounds (the last was recorded in Tembo Trail), please do not touch it, instead, take a picture of it and send it to wildtoledo.org or call the Zoo receptionist at 419-385-5721 who will contact a member of the Wild Toledo staff to come check it out.

For more information on all of Wild Toledo’s initiatives and research, please visit wildtoledo.org.

Monarch butterfly

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ANIMAL Feeds and Demonstrations with Terry Webb, director of animal programs

Baru, our Saltwater Crocodile. Baru is supported by Block Communications Inc.

Throughout the Zoo’s 100+ year history, we have learned that our guests love to watch our animals eat. Some enjoy watching Baru, our saltwater crocodile quite literally inhale his meal in a matter of single-digit seconds, while others revel in viewing Emerson, our Galapagos tortoise slowly lumber over to munch on his daily dose of greens. Others love to see the primates scamper around to hoard their favorite treats spread throughout the exhibit, while others marvel at how the great apes eat their fruit very similar to humans. Regardless of whether the animal only eats every couple of weeks, grazes throughout the day, gnaws on a carcass bone or feasts voraciously, it is always a sight to behold. To gain a different perspective, we sat down with the Zoo’s director of animal programs, Terry Webb, for all the animal insights.

Throughout the summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Zoo offers a full schedule of animal feedings, demonstrations and keeper chats. This schedule is put together in conjunction with keeper staff and volunteers to ensure the session is not only enriching for the animals but also educational for the public. During the actual demonstration or feeding, a ZooEd or animal care staff member will be on hand to talk about what is happening and answer any questions. The sessions usually last 10-20 minutes and some happen daily, while others are weekly.

According to Webb, these activities provide many benefits to the general public. “These sessions are great informal opportunities for visitors to meet the primary care givers of many of our animals and also gain a better understanding of the individual species and the efforts underway to conserve them. It is also a prime time to get any specific questions answered.” In addition, from the Zoo’s standpoint these sessions are an important form of external communication.

They assist our visitors and guests in understanding why certain animals are in our collection and what considerations go into those decisions, including conservation status, climate, budget and uniqueness.

Webb also let us in on how these activities are an internal communication goal too. “Keeper chats, as we like to call them, are one of our W.I.G. or wildly important goals, for our animal staff. Through these chats, we want to not only engage the guest but also provide them with an intimate experience and an insider’s insight as to what goes on behind-the-scenes of a zoo. We fully believe these experiences and interactions make our Zoo unique and helped us achieve the best zoo in the nation status.”

When pressed to identify the top three must-see feeds or demonstrations, Webb struggled to narrow it down, but eventually chose the following: (in no specific order) Saltwater Crocodile Training Session- “This animal (Baru) is huge and dramatic to see. In fact, he is the largest of the species in this hemisphere. This session provides an exclusive opportunity for guests to see our staff work with and target train an animal most would not believe to be trainable. With such an impressive size and intriguing physical characteristics,

Penguin feeding time.

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guests have a lot of questions about Baru and our staff have a lot of fun and educational information they are more than willing to share.”

Penguin Feeding- “With the multiple viewing points of Penguin Beach, the penguin feed is extremely intimate for guests. We have a very successful Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding group that people enjoy watching interact. From an education perspective it is also a great time to talk about penguins’ adaptation to use their wings as flippers to ‘fly through the water.’ Of course, there is the inherent cuteness factor too!”

Elephant Training Session- “Being the largest land mammal, elephants are incredibly popular for their sheer size. However, their intelligence and endangered status are key education points for our staff to convey too. While guests are impressed our youngest visitors have with a wild animal.

Having guests be able to see up close and even touch a wild animal gives us a chance to not only educate about the do’s and do not’s of touching animals in the wild but can also help to spark an interest in and respect for animals at a young age.”

This summer we hope to see you all enjoying the full effects of our animal feeds, demonstrations and keeper chats. Get those questions ready! For the full schedule, please visit toledozoo.org/feedings. watching the elephants soak up bath time and crush whole watermelons in their massive jaws, they can also learn about their masterful memories, poaching threats, the ivory trade and the different personalities and abilities of each member of our herd.”

Webb also suggested simply paying attention while walking through the park, as there are many impromptu keeper chats and animal meet & greet opportunities happening too. “The animal meet & greets happen several times a day and the animals change often but include snakes, dingoes, a sloth and an armadillo. Meet & greets are done by our education staff and volunteers and many times provide the first interaction many of

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There is Always Something to Do in NATURE’S NEIGHBORHOOD with Josh Minor, associate curator of education and Chris Berg, play and interpretive programs coordinator

For families visiting the Zoo with children, Nature’s Neighborhood should be top on your list as a stop during a Zoo visit. Ideal for children of all ages, Nature’s Neighborhood blends live animals and learning with a lot of play and fun. Every day is special and every visit is unique, but here is a look at the fun things to do all around this award-winning play space.

• Home, Sweet Home - This is the perfect pet place to learn how to be a great pet owner. Make pet treats, brush a guinea pig, or even become an animal with face paint and costumes • Fisher-Price Little People Discovery Stage – Relax and take in a show! Discover amazing animal adaptations or help solve a mystery.

After the 15-minute show, meet live animals up close. Multiple performances daily.

Home, Sweet Home

• Contact Yard – Get up close with animals from down on the farm.

Our goat herd is engaging and entertaining to watch and they are great first animals for kids to meet.

• The Treehouse – Climb and explore in our outdoor play space.

The climbing wall, slide and lookout are all favorites!

• Backyard – Sit in the shade of our porch or jump into the fun!

The Backyard features daily games and animal demos.

• Forest Room – Stretch your limits with animal-inspired games and yoga poses, search for native animals throughout our indoor forest, and visit the honey bees, leaf-cutter ants, vampire bats and other amazing animals. This exhibit is supported by the Carson family.

• Mud Kitchen – Test your skills at making mud pie! Under the cover of trees, this cool place lets imagination and nature collide.

Forest Room

• The Stream – This is a great place to cool off on a hot day. You can relax with your feet in the water or challenge yourself to build a dam out of rocks and logs.

• The Workshop – This dynamic space features special offerings every day. The fun is always changing, but come ready to play. You can also rent this space for your next birthday safari.

• Jumpin’ Junction – Travel the world, join an elephant herd or dive under the sea. Our green screen helps the imaginative traveler see the world. This exhibit is supported by PNC. • The Butterfly Hut – Conservation in action! See what the Toledo Zoo does to help monarch butterflies locally. This exhibit is supported

by Medical Mutual.

• The Beach - This secluded space is excellent for quiet play in the sand or building a secret fort. Weekly the beach turns prehistoric with dino digs and fossil exploration.

Contact Yard 12

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Jumpin’ Junction

The Stream

The Kitchen

The Workshop

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Toledo Zoo: A Year Full of ACTIVITIES with Jen Brassil, events coordinator

Each and every year is an event-full year at the Toledo Zoo, as the Zoo offers happenings for all seasons, all ages and even themed for holidays. Some events are included in the price of admission, while others have an additional fee. All are part of what makes the Toledo Zoo tops in the country!

For planning purposes and to just plain peak your curiosity, we interviewed events coordinator, Jen Brassil, to get the inside scoop on all of the family fun at your Zoo.

special children’s egg hunt on Zoo grounds, followed by familyfriendly crafts and, of course, a photographed visit with the bunny. Participants then gather for a chef-designed breakfast buffet. Additionally, Animal Egg Hunt is also held on Good Friday, so visitors can watch the animals enjoy the treats left to them by the Easter Bunny.

To help our visitors with their spring cleaning and celebrate Earth Day, the Zoo hosts its annual Party for the Planet. The community is invited to bring their recyclable goods, even hard to recycle items like computers and small appliances, to the drop-off location in the Anthony Wayne Trail parking lot to help make the earth a little greener.

April ends with the pachyderm-sized birthday party for Louie, the older of our two male African elephants.

We kick off May with an olè! The first Sunday of the month, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a traditional Mexican fiesta that includes live dance troupe performances, music, a piñata and themed crafts.

The fun kicks off with Vanimal-tine’s Day, an event where our visitors can watch as many of our animals receive species appropriate Valentine’s Day themed enrichment items made by our ZooTeens and enrichment staff. In the past, some highlights have included a romantic “frozen dinner” for the polar bears and giant treat-filled cardboard hearts for the elephant herd.

The weather may still be a bear in March, but Teddy Bear Care Fair is stuffed with fun and will certainly make you feel warm and fuzzy. Our youngest visitors are invited to bring their favorite stuffed pal and Zoo volunteers will make sure it’s fixed up and fit for another year of fun! Visitors and their stuffies can also enjoy keeper and vet talks, animal feeds and demonstrations, puppet shows, activities and more.

The Zoo then celebrates all things spring with Breakfast with the Bunny. The day starts with early entry to the Zoo for a

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The summer brings our Garden Tour Series into full bloom.

This series is an opportunity to stroll through the Toledo Zoo’s beautiful gardens and see how they grow, bloom and change throughout the seasons. Zoo horticulturists highlight different aspects of gardening each month, along with historical information about the Zoo’s gardens and grounds.

In June, we celebrate the birthday of Lucas, our youngest African elephant with another pachyderm-sized party! This month, we also celebrate dads, both human and animal, during our Father’s Day Celebration and BBQ that features free admission for dads and an optional catered lunch.

In July, the Zoo works with the Ability Center to celebrate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, with an organizational fair featuring more than 100 organizations showcasing the innumerable opportunities for those with disabilities.

August sees an entire day dedicated to the little creatures that creep, crawl, float and flutter during our Bug Fest. Children participate in buggy games, from harvesting and tasting honey to spider ball tournaments. The whole family can also enjoy the Zoo’s Keeper Tales live animal show and story times.

Tuesdays in the summer/fall mean Senior Discovery Days presented by Welltower! Our more experienced visitors received free admission and special themed events, from guided tours of Works Progress Administration (WPA)-era buildings to bingo and big band music. One Tuesday is reserved as Senior Safari, a day all about senior citizens presented by the Zoo and the Area Office of Aging Northwestern Ohio that includes health screenings, exercise and safety tips along with Zoo admission.

The holiday season starts with the ceremonial lighting of the Zoo’s Big Tree, an 85-foot Norway spruce tree draped in more than 35,000 energy-saving LED lights, which Travelocity has named one of the best trees in the U.S. In addition to Lights Before Christmas presented by KeyBank’s over a million lights and 200+ illuminated animal images, visitors can coast down the ever-popular outdoor ice slide that follows the natural slope of the Zoo’s historic Amphitheatre and enjoy more frozen fun on the Bumper Cars on Ice. Other holiday highlights include Douglas, the talking tree that leads holiday sing-alongs and ice-carving demonstrations.

The year comes to a close with Noon Year’s Eve. At the stroke of noon visitors brave the chilly conditions to watch our recycling ball rise, sing a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” and toast the New Year with family-friendly, daytime fun! In addition to the traditional New Year’s party festivities, visitors can also watch as the animals receive their presents from our Giving Tree program and sign our reZoolutions to help make the New Year greener.

Once again, as you can see, the Zoo truly has something to please every palate. It is with your help that the Zoo creates a year-full of fond memories, fun experiences and family time!

For the full list of all Zoo events, please visit toledozoo.org/events.

In September the Zoo recognizes the grandest of parents along with those who keep us safe during the combined event of Day of Honor and Grandparents’ Day. As the Zoo’s way of saying thank you to our first responders, we offer free admission to all military personnel, police officers, firefighters and EMTs when they show a badge or professional ID. Visitors can also sign giant thank-you cards for the communities’ first responders, meet & greet local law enforcement officers and check out cool emergency vehicles! Grandparents accompanied by at least one adorable grandchild are also admitted free for the event.

The falling of leaves and dropping of temperatures brings Little Boo and Pumpkin Path. These events feature approximately 20 trick-or-treat stations throughout the Zoo, plus ghoulish games and Halloween hijinks. Little Boo is the pre-school pirates’ and princesses’ chance to delight without the fright! Pumpkin Path is a similar event for all ages. Both events also include the Teal Pumpkin Initiative that offers non-food treats for those with food allergies. The fall festivities conclude with Jumping Pumpkins, a visitor favorite event that attracts large crowds to see our animals chow down on the pumpkins left-over from our Halloween events.

Safari Magazine • Summer 2017

15

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 16: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

November 17 – 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 MAY

JUNE

5

Kids’ Night Out toledozoo.org/family-programs

7

Cinco de Mayo Celebration toledozoo.org/cinco

10

Homeschool Fair toledozoo.org/homeschool

14

19 20

Mother’s Day Brunch & Celebration toledozoo.org/mothersday

5 8

16

Wine Tasting: Lodge toledozoo.org/wine

Medical Mutual Dart Frog Dash toledozoo.org/dartfrog

Summer Season Opening Weekend toledozoo.org/feedings 27-29

3

JULY

Lucas’ 6th Birthday Celebration 9 Mercy Health Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/lucas supported by Buckeye Broadband, Taylor Automotive Family, Welltower, 25-Year Member Appreciation Day Huntington, The Andersons and Dana. toledozoo.org/music Summer Safari Camps start toledozoo.org/camps

15

YPAC Safari Scavenger Hunt 16 toledozoo.org/ypac PNC ZOOtoDO presented by MassMutual Ohio toledozoo.org/zootodo

23

Zoo Donor Breakfast Mercy Health Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music

Mercy Health Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music

18

24 ADA Day Father’s Day BBQ & Celebration toledozoo.org/ADA toledozoo.org/fathersday

23

28 Yark Subaru Rock N Roar Wine Tasting: Africa! toledozoo.org/roar toledozoo.org/wine

30

For more information on these and all events at the Toledo Zoo, please visit toledozoo.org/events

Mercy Health Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music