Summer 18 Safari

SAFARI AIR See Page 3 for an IMPORTANT Announcement!

The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo

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Volume 27 |

Issue 2

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Summer 2018

WELCOME LETTER Laura Ingalls Wilder probably said it best: “Some old-fashioned things, like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” While we certainly agree, especially at your Zoo in the summer time, the reality is that without air there are no humans, no plants and no animals. It is vital to every single living thing. Yet, we often take it for granted, only remembering it when it is hard to breathe or gusting in our face.

In this edition of our member magazine, we will take a broad look at air, from how it helps our feathered friends (and others) take flight, to the benefits of playing outdoors in it and what we can do to help improve its quality for all.

Cover photo: Superb Starling 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 the Zoo’s 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

CONTACT INFORMATION

2 Hippo Way • P.O. Box 140130 Toledo, Ohio 43614-0130 419-385-5721 • fax 419-389-8670

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

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

CONNECT WITH US!

An accredited member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums | W A Z A United for Conservation

®

PRINTER

MUIR Printing & Marketing

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. © 2018 by Toledo Zoo.

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

Together we can improve our air quality, thus improving life for all living creatures. We hope to see everyone out enjoying the fresh air and our resident animals throughout the summer and the rest of the year at your Toledo Zoo! Sincerely,

Jeff Sailer executive director

DEAR READERS:

Additionally, throughout the park we will be continuing to increase our conservation efforts in our construction zones, special events, on grounds exhibits and more.

Inspiring our guests to connect with and care for nature has always been our passion and we hope that through our lead and example, guests will be motivated to implement green practices in their homes and businesses.

While the Toledo Zoo may be seen in the eyes of the public as an entertainment venue, we are first and foremost a conservation education organization.

We strive to do great things for animals locally and abroad, but if we are still contributing to landfills, then we are not truly doing all we can.

In that spirit, Toledo Zoo guests and supporters will notice a series of changes throughout our grounds and communications in an effort to decrease our carbon footprint. As you probably noticed, our grounds are dotted with large bottle-shaped receptacles to recycle plastic bottles and we utilize napkins made from recycled materials in our concession areas. Many guests have also commented on our lack of lids and straws in our concession stands. This is not only an animal safety issue, as they can too easily end up in animal exhibits and be mistaken for food, but also a conservation effort to reduce our consumption of one-time-use items. Continuing with that theme, we also offer reusable souvenir cups that can be refilled with your beverage of choice each visit.

At the end of 2017, with the help of a generous sponsorship from First Solar, we opened our Terracycling program to the public by placing bins at our entrances for guest drop off.

TerraCycle is an international program whose mission is to eliminate the idea of waste by recycling the non-recyclable.

Simply put your recyclables in a bag, box or container (no need to sort) and drop them off

We thank you for your continued support of our Zoo, animals and mission and look forward to continuing to serve all of our guests in a more environmentally friendly way for many years to come!

at the collection bins. Zoo volunteers will prepare, sort and ship the items. The list of accepted items is available at toledozoo.org/gogreen.

At the beginning of this year, we instituted digital membership cards as an option for our members.

This was a good first step and jumping off point for making 2018 a greener year. Following that lead, this will be the last printed edition of Safari magazine.

The switchover to all digital will not change the quality of stories or photos presented, in fact it will enhance the reader experience by allowing us to include more creative materials, such as links to webpages, videos, photo slide shows and much more! This change is a big step in reducing our carbon footprint by decreasing our paper usage, along with printing and mailing processes.

This digital transition will also coincide with the debut of our new website at toledozoo.org- check it out!

If you have any questions about the digital switchover, please contact the Zoo’s membership department at membership@toledozoo.org or 419-385-5721 ext. 6002.

2018 er Summ I SAFAR ast the l will be issue! d printe

We’re Going Digital!

We want to hear from you, so you can continue hearing from us!

Please send an email with your Zoo membership number and current email address to membership@toledozoo.org so we may update our lists!

Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

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INTO THIN AIR: ANIMAL CAMOUFLAGE Can something just disappear into thin air?

Maybe not, but animal camouflage makes it seem almost possible. In the most general sense, animal camouflage is a natural way to hide from predators or prey. Animals use various forms of camouflage to increase their chances of survival, because the better it blends into its surroundings the longer the animal lives, the more it reproduces and the better the species succeeds.

There are several types of camouflage that the animal kingdom utilizes. Research has shown that each type develops differently depending on the physiology and behavior of the animal, for instance, fur versus scales and swimming alone or in groups. Specific examples would be deer and squirrels that are earth toned to blend into the ground level trees and leaves, or the blue/gray coloration of sharks and dolphins that makes them hard to see underwater both from above and below. To better understand the many forms of camo, we have provided

a short overview of the biology behind the camouflage and examples of animals that possess it.

Coloration to match surroundings is one of the most common forms of animal camo. An example of this would be an Arctic fox, whose coat is dark in the spring and summer and white in the fall or winter. The natural shift in coloration is thought to be triggered by a combination of the changing amount of daylight and shifts in temperatures. These natural phenomenon then trigger a hormone reaction within the animal to produce different biochromes, or microscopic natural pigments.

Essentially, they are minute physical structures that act like prisms to refract or scatter light. Biochromes are what makes polar bear fur look white, when in reality polar bears have black skin and translucent hair. The tiny structures are also what makes reptiles and amphibians appear green in color, when in fact there is a layer of yellow pigment and skin layer that reflects blue colors.

Biochromes are also responsible for an octopus’ ability to change its color, pattern and opacity of its skin.

Countershading is a related form of matching surroundings camo. Countershading is when an animal is dark on the top and light on the bottom, like penguins.

Being dark on the top makes them hard to see from predators above, while being light on the bottom makes them hard to see from predators below.

Another form is known as cryptic or disruptive coloration, the ability to blend into surroundings with the aid

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

of patterns or stripes that break up the outline of the animal’s body. Background matching is the most common form of this type of camouflage and zebras are a prime example. Zebras are actually a black animal with individual patterns of white stripes that serve as a visual disruption. The stripes make it hard for predators to distinguish exactly where the zebra starts or ends, helping the animal blend into the shadows. Zebra also double their camouflage by socializing in herds, melding all the stripes into a blob and making individual animals hard to pick out. The same factor can be applied to schools of striped fish.

Mimicry is a similar form of camouflage where the physical body of the animal tricks the predator’s eye into believing it is something else. Pebble plants try not to get eaten by looking like rocks. Various species of caterpillars have developed to mimic snakes, tufts of fur, leaves and even poisonous plants. The owl butterfly is a prime example of mimicry, though. The spots on the butterfly’s wing look exactly like the eyes of an owl, making a predator believe it has encountered an entirely different species. Stick insects, also called walking

sticks, are another example as their long thin body and legs simply look like a moving twig. The leaf insect also displays disruptive coloration as its wide green body looks just like a leaf. Together the stick and leaf insects make up an order of more than 3,000 species of the most well camouflaged animals on earth!

Other creatures take mimicry to the extreme. Velvet ants aren’t actually ants at all, but wasps that look like large female ants. Research has shown that velvet ants have even evolved to mimic other color variations of their own species to avoid predators. The snake world is just as slithery. The only way to tell the difference between the deadly coral snake and its mimic the harmless scarlet kingsnake is to check out the order of colors. Scarlet kingsnakes have alternating bands of red, black and yellow in which red touches black but not yellow; in eastern coral snakes red touches yellow but not black.

Color changing is another related form of camo. Animals are able to change their color for various reasons. Some examples would be with the seasons like reindeer, in response to a threat like octopus, with a change in their diet like slugs and even to communicate like chameleons.

Warning coloration is also a form of

No matter the form,

camo and defense.

This is when an animal is extremely brightly colored to let possible predators know of its poisonous status, such as the bright orange and stripes of the monarch butterfly and the bright red/orange of a tomato frog.

A very cool yet little known form of animal camo is olfactory camo. This is when an animal tries to cover up or mask its scent to avoid being sniffed out by predators.

An awesome example of this is the California ground squirrel. This squirrel chews up and spits out rattlesnake skin, applies the chewed up paste to its tail to avoid being preyed upon by the snake that hunts by scent and won’t attack another of its own species.

ANIMAL CAMO

does its job- letting the animal search for prey without becoming it in the process!

A final form of animal camo is meant to be quite beautiful, if you’re a crab. The dresser or decorator crab uses its arms to pick up anything it can find (sponges, coral, etc.) to attach to its Velcro-like exoskeleton. Then when the crab feels threatened it freezes in place, effortlessly blending in to its environment, no matter where it ends up!

Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

5

FLIGHT FACTS

By definition, flying

is the ability to move or pass through the air with wings.

with Chuck Cerbini, curator of birds

PEREGRINE FALCON which has been

HUMMINGBIRDS

The LARGEST known flying animal ever was the

The fastest flier is the

clocked at

QUETZALCOATLUS

186 mph

a prehistoric creature of which there is a life-sized replica in the the

are the only birds that can fly

In contrast, the slowest flier is the

FEWEST FEATHERS

FORWARD, BACKWARD, SIDEWAYS, STRAIGHT UP

Reptile House.

when diving.

also have the

AMERICAN WOODCOCK

of any bird at

1,000 -1,500.

and HOVER!

at

5 mph.

The world’s

SMALLEST

WINGED SEEDS

flying creature is a

PARASITIC WASP

can “fly”, as they have one long wing that

rotates similar to a helicopter as the seed falls from a tree helping to

measuring

the reach DISPERSE itofbeyond the branches.

.1 - .17 millimeter

in length and weighing

.000025 grams.

The

heaviest

flying bird is the

KORI BUSTARD at

BATS

are the

only mammal

capable of true

flight.

It is thought that

INSECTS

were the first group of animals to develop wings over

320 million years ago.

42 pounds

and a wingspan of up to nine feet!

Despite their names

FLYING LIZARDS, squirrels and fish

(mobulas, lemurs, snakes, geckos, frogs too)

actually glide, not fly.

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

KIDS LOVE

to jump in puddles, warm up by a campfire or in the mud.

A proverb says fresh air impoverishes the doctor. In today’s technologically driven world, children spend more time indoors and plugged in than ever before. However, the benefits of throwing back to when playing outside was the norm has more documented benefits than one can literally shake a stick at!

Nature play is defined as children engaging the natural world as an imaginative and educational tool without defined parameters or goals beyond safety. Some easier to understand examples, include digging holes to China, catching fireflies or frogs, building forts or treehouses and picking out shapes in the clouds. As curator of education, Mitch Magdich, stated though, it is more about the quality time and experience. “It is about being let loose to play in and with nature. It can be tough to want to take kids out in less than desirable weather, but honestly those are the days it’s even more important.”

NATURE PLAY

with Mitch Magdich, curator of education

The ‘letting them play’ mentality has proven beyond beneficial though. According to the Natural Start Alliance, the benefits of nature play include better concentration, reduction in symptoms of ADD and ADHD, improved immune development, the foundation of an active lifestyle and appreciation of the natural world. Magdich says his research has proven additional benefits of cooperative play, sharing and utilization of science learning behaviors such as observation and cause and effect. In addition kids are subject to different yet safe socialization and risktaking opportunities. “Kids are allowed to try new things that include getting dirty, wet or muddy and it’s actually encouraged!”

Magdich says besides getting outdoors, the most important part of nature play is that it comes from the mind of babes. “It is important that nature play take place in a safe natural environment but it is just as important that the play be child driven. Kids are experts at playing, we just have to learn to let them! The goal of our nature play program is to introduce families to the natural world. We want this to be quality togetherness time, but we want the roles to be reversed so that the kids invite the parents into their world. We also want this to be transferrable too. You don’t always have to go to a park for nature play; you can just as easily build a fort or play in the mud in your own backyard. It’s about using what’s available and your child’s imagination.”

Your Zoo is here to help with the last one. The Zoo partners with the Toledo Metroparks and the 577 Foundation for the Play Naturally Toledo program which offers monthly programs with progressive steps of getting into nature. “Here at the Zoo we have Nature’s Neighborhood, a nice introductory point to nature. With its singular entry/exit point, it is a safe environment for children to play in the man-made stream, treehouse and more. The 577 is the next step into nature, as it is more open and natural with a forest, tunnel and dig area.

They also have a little theatre for puppet shows, musical instruments and games. The final foray into the wild is the Metroparks where there are meadows, fields, forests, water and more for kids to explore. Truthfully it isn’t about where or how to nature play, but just that you get out and do it. The idea is quite adaptable for all ages and spaces; simply use what is available and let imaginations run wilder than the surroundings.”

For more information on the Play Naturally Toledo programs, please visit toledozoo.org/family-programs or contact Magdich directly at Mitchell.magdich@toledozoo.org or 419-385-5721 ext. 2048.

The Natural Start Alliance

offers 3 tips to help encourage more nature play.

The right kind of space and toys or tools.

Size doesn’t matter but the availability of rocks, dirt, trees, bugs and places/tools to climb, dig, collect, inspect and hide most certainly do.

The right kind of play.

Child centered, initiated and guided. No objectives.

Few rules.

Ability to replay.

Look for places nearby to continue playing with new opportunities.

Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

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AIR TRANSPORT

with R. Andrew Odum, herpetology curator

This is last boarding call for all Kihansi Spray Toads boarding Toledo Zoo Air final destination Dar es Saalam, Tanzania. While this isn’t quite how the process works, according to Andy Odum, herpetology curator, shipping animals via air is a carefully orchestrated process. “We often get asked how we ship animals across the country or the world and the answer of very carefully may seem satirical, but it really isn’t. It is a labor intensive process with a lot of moving parts.”

As one could imagine, shipping different animals has different requirements. According to the International Air Transport Association, animals have been transported by air since the 1930s, as it is the most

EMERSON Another interesting shipment was the arrival of Emerson, the Galapagos Tortoise from San Diego. With his incredible size and weight, Emerson required more of a mammal-type crate for his three hour flight.

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

humane and expedient method. Fittingly, Zoo staff always tries for the most direct flight for their animals.

Like passengers, the animals are asked to arrive to the airport for security and paperwork checks two hours prior to their flight, or five hours for an international flight. In the event of a delay, the airlines are required by law to take care of the animals by transporting them to a special, temperature controlled holding room. In the event of an emergency, there is an unspoken rule for the closest capable Zoo to come to the aid of its counterpart, says Odum. Once the animal arrives at its final destination, it is offloaded as quickly as possible and turned over to the receiving Zoo. Odum assures, most airlines that transport animals are extremely helpful and even have a specific department dedicated to shipping live animals.

Most large mammals/animals are actually shipped via Fed Ex. The larger mammals are usually accompanied by a keeper or assistant to monitor and feed the animal during transit, as mammals must have access to food and water and be able to move around, even stand up, in their shipping containers. Smaller animals can usually fly in cargo of commercial airlines such as Delta and United. Reptiles and amphibians, on the other hand, do not need food or water but restraints for safety and properly maintained temperatures are required. Venomous snakes are their own category, as the primary goal is the safety of those who encounter the snake/crate during transit and the animal. According to Odum, large venomous snakes have to be placed into two transparent bags, one inside the other, and then placed into a wooden or Styrofoam box, which is then placed into another reinforced, well-constructed wooden crate. Fish and other aquatic animals are obviously their own special category too, as they require water and oxygen during shipment.

As we indicated in the beginning of this article, a good example of the complex process is sending Kihansi Spray Toads (KST) to their native Tanzania

Kihansi Spray Toads

Below: Herpetology keeper, Pat Turski with the crates of Kihansi Spray Toads

Below: Tanzanian porters with the KSTs before climbing approximately 3,000 feet over four miles up into the gorge.

BARU, SALTWATER CROC Baru was brought to the Toledo Zoo by BCI / Block communications, Inc.

for reintroduction into their namesake gorge. The process begins with paperwork and international import/export permits being lined up for the shipment of about 1,000 of the tiny toads reared at the Zoo. Once the legalities are worked out, Odum’s herpetology staff begins construction of shipping containers. “The International Air Transportation Association has requirements for shipping live animals that, while subjective and open to interpretation, must be met. Those guidelines start careful and responsible. Thankfully, we have had many with double containment, which means the animal must be great transactions and the zoo community has built great restricted within two different structures for the safety of relationships with several airlines.” the animal and those handling/shipping. For the KSTs, we constructed wooden crates lined with Styrofoam. Within One of those successes was the international import of the crates we put spacers in which we inserted cold packs Baru, our saltwater crocodile. “Baru was a special case. to help regulate the temperatures during transit. The toads The shipping crate was actually built around Baru in themselves were placed in quart-sized deli containers with Australia. The frame was built and then a sedated (for a wet paper towel to help keep the moisture level up and safety) Baru was placed diagonally in the crate with his holes poked in the lid for air. eyes covered, snout secured (per shipping The deli containers are then laws) WITH and legs pulled back so he couldn’t stacked in and the crate sealed walk around in transit. After he for transport. The crates are THERE IS NO was in place, baffles were put then driven to Chicago where into position within the crate , ONLY they are loaded in the cargo to secure him. In total the crate portion of a commercial flight. This measured two meters by three meters, built to those particular flight has a transfer in the United Arab Emirates. specifications to fit into the belly of a cargo plane. Baru’s After that the toads will continue on to Dar es Saalam, the crate was loaded into plane in Darwin, Australia, flown largest city in Tanzania. In total, the transportation time is to Brisbane, on to Sydney, then to Dallas, all the while 36 hours! Once in country, the toads will be taken to the accompanied by a crocodile expert. Once in Dallas, a research station near the Gorge and then hand-carried to wide bodied plane was chartered to bring Baru directly to the release spot by porters. From the Zoo’s perspective, it Toledo Express Airport. There he was offloaded and put is a nail biter until we receive word that the animals have into a box truck and driven to the Zoo. His total transit time arrived safely. We have no control while the animals was two days.” are en route; we have to trust that the airlines are being

“

AIR TRAVEL

DISTANCE

TIME”

Baru Crate: 2 meters x 3 three meters or almost 79 inches by 118 inches. Credit: Adam Britton.

Baru Arrival: Baru being offloaded from his chartered flight at Toledo Express Airport.

It has been said that with air travel there is no distance, only time and that quote certainly rings true for Odum when shipping animals around the world. “Being able to import and export animals with our counterparts across the globe allows us to continually spread our mission of inspiring others to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world. Air shipments give us access to animals our guests might otherwise have never heard of, much less seen. It truly does give our visitors the chance to travel around the world in one day and gain an appreciation for the natural creatures and wonders of this earth.”

Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

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BIRD MIGRATIONS

with Chuck Cerbini, curator of birds

We’ve all heard about “snow birds” (warm weather loving humans) flying south for the winter. However, the term and practice is rooted in truth for many bird species. According to Chuck Cerbini, curator of birds, more than half of the breeding birds, or about 350 species, found in North America migrate, or pass periodically from one region to another usually for feeding or breeding. While they happen every day, all across the world, bird migrations are still a bit of a mystery. Cerbini filled us in on the somewhat complex why and how and tips to witness the amazing phenomenon for yourself.

Cerbini says that the most general explanation as to why birds migrate is to go from one area of limited resources to another with more abundant, which better enhances survival.

“Why did ever start

birds migrating long distances in the first place?

It is thought that over many generations, tropical birds began moving northward to take advantage of extended periods of day length.

Extended hours of daylight and the seasonal abundance of food items allows birds to raise more offspring. Additionally, as glacial ice retreated northward over time, birds from the tropics pushed northward along with it, but returned to their tropical origin points in winter when resources became scarce. At this point in bird development, migration is likely genetically hard-wired into most birds. They can find wintering grounds without ever having been there. Amazingly,

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

many can repeat almost the exact same route each year.

The how of this feat is not completely understood, but it is thought to happen with a combination of utilizing landmarks, sun, tides, genetics and even sensing the electromagnetic fields of the earth and more.”

As you may have noticed, there is no distance included in the definition of migration and that is because there are different types of migrations. An example of a short migration would be a Himalayan Monal seasonally moving up and down its namesake mountains. (This is also an example of what is known as altitudinal migration, since the birds are changing altitude, rather than latitude, to capitalize on available resources.) Blue Jays and Killdeer are examples of birds with mid length migrations, as they follow general north to south patterns, but usually travel through a few states and remain in North America yearround. Osprey make long distance migrations, travelling thousands of miles from nesting points in the US and Canada to warmer food supplies in South America. The longest non-stop migration ever recorded was by a female Bar-tailed Godwit, a shorebird that travelled from Alaska to New Zealand-7,145 miles- with no food or drink stops!

According to Cerbini, the how of migrations is not fully understood: “We don’t know exactly how each bird does it, but we do know it takes a lot of energy. As we have stated, for many birds migration routes may be hard wired, but for others it is a learned behavior. Species such as Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese will make their first migration with their parents to learn the route and destination.”

Migrations don’t necessarily have to be made without stopping, though. “Many migrating birds have stopping points in their migration path to rest and refuel, think Canada Geese in our area. In fact, not a lot of birds can do their migration in a straight flight. There are a few exceptions, including Blackpoll Warblers, as most of their migration is over the Atlantic Ocean without available rest stops. However, those birds that fly over the four flyways in the United States (see map) or the tropics, there are plenty of areas to rest, eat and regain energy.”

As you can imagine, it requires a lot of energy and preparation for a bird to migrate successfully. Because of this, birds have many adaptations that help make the journey easier. “One example is known as hyperphagia, which is a pre-migration period when birds’ appetites heavily increase due to changing hormone levels. Birds preparing to migrate will pack on vital fat stores to help sustain them during their long-distance travels. The tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which we see seasonally in Ohio, prepares for its long migrations back and forth from Central America by nearly doubling its body weight.”

Migrating is not without its dangers, however. Aside from lack of food resources/starvation, predation, and storms, many migrating birds unfortunately fall victim to collisions with buildings, windows and power lines. Additionally, as Cerbini pointed out, the quality of resting and refueling points continually decreases because of pollution and agricultural development.

As many migrating birds pass through our area, so do

many “birders” or bird enthusiasts. “Northwest Ohio and our lake shore are big stopping points and breeding parts of the Mississippi flyway into Canada from Central and South America,” said Cerbini.

Depending on the year, one of the first two weeks in May is known as “the biggest week in American birding” when hundreds of birders flock to the marshes along Lake Erie to see the migrations of many waterfowl and songbirds, specifically warblers.

“Warblers are a diverse group of bird that have developed quite a following. There are some very rare varieties that are not often seen in person and hard to identify that stop here. It is not uncommon for experienced birders to sight up to 20 different warbler species in a day at the marsh. The marshes also harbor a lot of waterfowl, including Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Mergansers and Bufflehead. Seeing many of these species is a bucket list item for many birders.”

Overall, there is still a lot to learn about bird migrations, but that is a big part of what makes it so interesting.

MIGRATIONS ARE SOMETHING MANY ARE

CANADA GEESE

FAMILIAR WITH FROM SEEING , MIGRATION’S LOCAL POSTER BIRD, PASS THROUGH, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THE ENTIRE PROCESS. IT IS MIND BLOWING TO THINK THERE IS STILL SO MUCH MORE FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT SO MANY CREATURES!”

Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

11

NEW

VOLUNTEER MIKE BOHLAND

Sunday, July 15 Howl, roar, growl and scream for ice cream! Dip into a variety of ice cream stations around the Zoo, sprinkle in some special activities and entertainment to top off the perfect Sundae Funday!

Get your tickets now before they melt away!

toledozoo.org/sundae-funday

Our Department Volunteer of the Year began volunteering at the Zoo in April of 2015. He was comfortable with computers and looking for a way to use those skills. As it happened, we had a need for those skills in our registrar’s office, inputting a variety of records from the Zoo, including vet reports, keeper reports and general animal updates. This information must be entered into a database. Although the system is not difficult to master, mistakes are not tolerated, because that information is reported to the AZA and the USDA, among others.

According to Wyn Hall, our registrar, our Volunteer of the Year has been more than up for the challenge. Not only does he do a great job on a week-to-week basis, he also helped with an office move this year, which included packing up around 50 boxes of documents as well as moving furniture. To complicate matters, the registrar can’t afford to fall behind with record-keeping, creating an even more pressure-induced situation. As Hall noted, our Volunteer was “working way harder than he signed up for,” in order to make it through a period of time that was extra challenging.

We are pleased to recognize MIKE as our Volunteer of the Year.

We are extremely happy that this man signed up to be a Zoo volunteer and survived 2017 with his spirit intact.

Presented by

PARTY WITH A PURPOSE

Friday, June 15 Tickets on sale NOW at toledozoo.org/zootodo

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

ELECTRIC EEL

with Jay Hemdal, Aquarium curator

It’s electric. No, it’s not the slide, it’s the eel! Believe it or not, electric eels (Electrophorus electricus) actually fit into our theme because they breathe air! According to Jay Hemdal, general curator, electric eels are obligate air breathers, meaning their rudimentary gills are not sufficient to absorb and maintain oxygen from the water and therefore, the eel must rise to the surface to take breaths.

“Once the eel gets a gulp of air it can hold it in its air sac for 30 minutes or more while it diffuses into the blood stream. Once the oxygen is used up, the eel will burp and rise to get another breath. Rumor has it electric eels could drown if unable to reach the surface for air,” said Hemdal.

Despite their name, electric eels are not eels at all. In fact, they are more closely related to catfish. They live in the tropical freshwater basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America. They can grow up to eight feet in length, about the size of a softball in diameter and weigh up to 44 pounds. Electric eels are slimy and soft with little muscle tone. They are dark gray or brown in color with a tan or cream underside and two sets of fins. They have a small mouth and rudimentary eyes. In fact their sight is so poor, they actually emit a low electric charge to use like radar to help them navigate the murky water and locate prey, such as fish, amphibians and even birds.

easily felt. “It is said that early explorers stated an electric eel’s charge is enough to stun a horse, however, this has never been proven; and to Hemdal’s knowledge there are no confirmed cases of human death from an electric eel.

Hemdal and his Aquarium staff have never been shocked but they take extra precautions when handling the eel.

“When we have to move the electric eel, we wear multiple layers of rubber gloves, ensure we are standing on dry land and use wooden handled nets to help us pick it up.

I have touched a dead electric eel, but as electricity is a biochemical reaction, even a dead one could still shock.”

The Zoo has an electric eel on exhibit in the West hallway of the Aquarium. “Electric eels aren’t the most active species. Ours usually just rests in the plants on the bottom and rises for air as needed. To help our guests get a better understanding and appreciation of the electric eel, we installed an interactive pewter statue that simulates a shock with a buzzer when touched. It has been a really big hit with the kids and serves as a fun educational tool and conversation starter,” said Hemdal.

ELECTRIC EELS

live in the tropical freshwater basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in south

america.

It’s electric. No, it’s not the slide, it’s the eel!

What makes these animals unique, however, is their greatest defense mechanism, electricity. Their power comes from approximately 6,000 specialized cells called electrocytes that make up their electric organs. According to Hemdal, the electric organs take up so much of an eel’s body that their vital organs are only in 10% of their length!

The electrical force an eel can produce is proportional to its size, however, the species averages between 500-950 volts and approximately two amps. According to Hemdal, the eel can control the amount of current it is sending out and usually uses just enough to fend off predators or subdue prey. He also points out that eels can lose charge with excessive use.

Hemdal also cautions that even though we can’t see the current, water conducts electricity well, so the force is

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CLEAR THE AIR

with Ryan Walsh, conservation coordinator more. All of this is happening at the expense of plants, trees and natural areas which are nature’s CO2 filter. All plants take in CO2, use links of it to grow and release oxygen. Trees take in the most CO2, because they literally build themselves out of carbon. Think of how much carbon the giant redwood trees in California have taken in in their lifetime. A lawn on the other hand, is basically CO2 negative, because of the fossil fuels burned to mow it and the fertilizer applied to it basically cancels out the small amount of oxygen it produces.”

Greenhouse gas: a vocabulary term from science class we all may or may not remember the meaning of. Even if you don’t remember the definition (gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and make the planet warmer) you help produce and feel the effects of it every day. But before we go too far, let’s re-cap. The top four greenhouse gases, from a list of the most emitted to least put out by the EPA, are carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and Fluorinated gases. Of course, the total effect of each gas is determined by three factors, how much, how long and how strong.

While CO2 is not the strongest of the greenhouse gases (methane is), it is the most emitted. According to Ryan Walsh, conservation coordinator, carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, solid waste, trees and wood products and chemical reactions. The largest sources of carbon dioxide production are for electricity, transportation and heat. “Surprisingly to most people, the shipping industry is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions, as it takes a massive percentage of CO2 to power a ship across the Pacific Ocean,” says Walsh.

The top emitters of CO2 are China, USA, European Union, India, Russia and Japan.

“With the population boom and industrial revolution, we are constantly constructing buildings, roads, houses and

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Safari Magazine • Summer 2018

To help sequester or hold in more CO2, Wild Toledo, the Zoo’s local conservation organization, is turning previously mowed lawn areas into native prairies. According to Walsh, native prairies are particularly good at taking in carbon. “Prairies are not much taller above ground than lawn grass, but they have extremely deep root systems (15 feet) that are not only made of carbon but continually take in and store carbon. The Midwest is known for its agriculture because before human development, the natural landscape was prairies.” There are also other benefits to the native prairies, including both ecological and economical positives such as urban beautification, increased plant and wildlife biodiversity and decreased maintenance and labor costs (less mowing = less fossil fuels burned).

Since its inception in 2014, Wild Toledo has planted 40 acres of native prairies throughout northwest Ohio.

“Each acre of native prairie takes in one metric ton of CO2 annually. While 40 metric tons is not a lot when you consider the world emitted 6,587 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2015, it is a step in the right direction.

We know this is a small effort now, but with community support and buy in, we could have a huge impact in the long run, especially when you consider the average American produces 19.78 metric tons of CO2 each year.

Right now, we are using the acreage as outreach to help change people’s minds and encourage action, but hopefully in the future we will see positive quantifiable changes.”

According to Walsh, studies have shown that in the past have

150 YEARS humans

doubled the CO2 levels on earth with our

modern lifestyle.

AIR PLANTS

with Mandy Hansen, horticulturist

Unbeknownst to many there are thousands of species of plants that grow without soil!

Horticulturist, Mandy Hansen gave us all the dirt on some of these amazing plants.

Air plants, or epiphytes, are plants that do not require soil to grow and thrive. While they do have a root system, it is not used to transport nutrients, but instead for physical support. Epiphytes get their necessary nutrients and water from the air and atmosphere. They catch rainwater, dirt, dust and even bird poop and insects for food and are able to self-fertilize.

These amazing plants come in all sizes and colors and can be found in various environments across the world.

One of the most recognizable air plants is Spanish moss, the lace-like green moss that grows abundantly all across the Deep South.

This type of air plant, part of the Tillandsia genus, has leaf scales that grow long and are able to open and close to trap water. Another variety many are familiar with are bromeliads. Each type of air plant has its own mechanism for passively catching nutrients that come their way, some grow long, some in a globe shape and others out.

The leaves of bromeliads, for example, form a cone that drains down into a cup. This creates quite a protected environment. In fact, we have placed lots of bromeliads in the Dart Frog exhibit because the tiny amphibians can actually lay their eggs in the cup. With their lack of root systems, bromeliads have been found in decomposing limbs or in the

crooks of trees. Tillandsia (Hansen’s air plant of choice) can even grow on each other too. Their seeds germinate and fly away in a fluff ball. It can land on another plant and germinate under bright light. Some orchids found in humid environments can be air plants too.

Air plants are quite friendly to the novice or home gardener. All you really need to do is just spritz the plant with a mist bottle a few times a week. If you do your research and get the type of plant that fits your climate, even the blackest green thumb can easily succeed. Air plants are pretty forgiving of conditions and are actually quite hard to kill.

They can last for years unless they are literally crushed or exposed to extreme conditions for an extended period of time. They are some of the easiest house plants and they have become extremely popular in crafting in recent years. A quick Pinterest search will net well over a million ways to craft with air plants. They are an inexpensive source of beauty and nature that is available at greenhouses, online or even in the flower sections and checkout lines of grocery stores.

Zoo horticulturists have had a large collection of air plants growing in our on-grounds greenhouses and conservatory for years.

Many will be prominently featured in a new exhibit in the renovated Museum of Science, opening late 2019. Until then, try your own hand at air plants because as Hansen says “air plants are where it’s at!”

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Toledo, OH Permit No. 707

P.O. Box 140130 • Toledo, OH 43614-0130 HOURS: Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | January through April 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Memorial Day to Labor Day 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Monday-Friday • May & September 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Weekends • May & September 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | October 1 - November 15 (pre-Lights Before Christmas) Lights Before Christmas Hours: November 16 - December 31 10 a.m. - 2:59 p.m. | Zoo Daytime hours

Sun -Thu 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Lights Before Christmas activities Fri & Sat 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Lights Before Christmas activities 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

June

May 6

Cinco de Mayo Celebration toledozoo.org/cinco 13 Mother’s Day Celebration & Brunch toledozoo.org/mothers-day 18 Wine Tasting (Malawi Event Center) toledozoo.org/wine 19 Medical Mutual Dart Frog Dash toledozoo.org/dartfrog 23 President’s Circle Dinner toledozoo.org/membership 26-27 Summer Season Opening Weekend

2 4 8 12 15

17 26

Lucas’ 7th Birthday Celebration toledozoo.org/lucas Summer Day Camps start toledozoo.org/camps Wine Tasting (Africa! Overlook) toledozoo.org/wine Garden Tour toledozoo.org/garden-tours PNC ZOOtoDO presented by Skylight Financial Group toledozoo.org/zootodo Father’s Day Celebration and BBQ toledozoo.org/fathers-day Garden Tour

toledozoo.org/garden-tours

d l i W ART about

AUGUST 4 - 5

Where originality reigns, imaginations are unleashed and creativity remains untamed!

July 8

Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music 10 Garden Tour toledozoo.org/garden-tours 14 Zoo Donor Breakfast toledozoo.org/zoopal NEW FAMILY ICE CREAM EVENT! 15 Sundae Funday toledozoo.org/sundae-funday 15 Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music 18 YPAC Wild Games toledozoo.org/ypac 22 Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music 23 ADA Day toledozoo.org/ada-day 24 Garden Tour toledozoo.org.garden-tours 27 Yark Subaru Rock n Roar toledozoo.org/roar 29 Music under the Stars toledozoo.org/music For more information about these and other events visit toledozoo.org/events