august 2012
$3.00
W
inemaker Dinner Featuring wines from
v i N e ya r d S
Saturday, August 18, 2012 Hunte Nairobi Pavilion Wine reception and animal presentation at 6 p.m. Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Join us
for a unique and memorable five-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Larry DiFolco, with wines presented by Raymond Vineyards. Tracing its family roots to the origins of winemaking in America’s most fabled wine region, Raymond Vineyards embodies the spirit of the “Old Napa Valley.” The Raymond family worked side by side to build their winery from the ground up. Roy Raymond came to the Napa Valley in 1933, married Martha Jane Beringer in 1936, and enjoyed working in every facet of Beringer Winery for more than 35 years. In 1970, Roy and his sons decided to put their family name on the deep roots they’d developed in the Napa Valley. $79 per person, plus tax and gratuity; nonmembers add Park admission. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend; seating will be at tables of 8. Reservations are required.
For more information and the complete menu and wine selections, visit sdzsafaripark.org/dining.
Call 760-738-5055 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Credit card number required for reservation.
inside august 2012
wildlife 8 Amur Leopards: Quite the Quintessential Cat
New to the Zoo, these endangered felids are exotic and engaging. By Karyl CarmigNaNi
12 Pray Tell: Mantises Up Close
Nothing bugs these well-armed insects—for long. By Paige HowortH
20 Conspicuous Coral Trees glorious blossoms you can really look up to. By CHristy Powell
conservation 16 Saving the White-bellied Heron in Bhutan
time—and resources—are running out for this beautiful bird. By DoN sterNer aND DeBBie marlow
24 Caring About Asian Leaf-eating Monkeys Changing with the times, primate style. By CHia l. taN, Ph.D.
more 2 4 6 22 27 28 31 on the cover and this page:
amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis ©Ken Bohn, sDZ global Photographer
President’s Note Through the Lens You Said It Support What’s in Store From the Archives Save the Date
president’s note Appreciation for Gifts of All Sizes As A nonprofit orgAnizAtion, donations are a vital part of San Diego Zoo Global. That was true from the Zoo’s earliest days, when our first major supporter, Ellen Browning Scripps, donated funds to create a perimeter fence around the Zoo—one of many gifts she would give the Zoo and the San Diego community. Her donation allowed Dr. Harry Wegeforth to charge 10 cents admission for adult visitors, which generated much-needed funds to support our animal care efforts. Today, we continue to be very grateful for gifts of all sizes. I’d like to share a few examples with you. For the new Tiger Trail exhibit at the Safari Park, we need to raise $2 million before December 31 to earn an anonymous $9 million challenge gift. The first gift toward this challenge was a $20 bill contributed by a Safari Park tiger keeper. The largest gift, as of early June, is $500,000 from Robert and Marion Wilson of Rancho Santa Fe. Since that time, more than 2,000 other donors have stepped forward to contribute another $450,000. It takes all of us sharing what we can to make our organization the world-famous one it is. San Diego Zoo Global Trustee Javade Chaudhri recently made a challenge gift of $10,000 to seek new supporters for our Wildlife Conservancy. The Conservancy is the umbrella under which we have organized our on-site and field conservation efforts. Bringing a species back from the brink of extinction requires time, talent, and funding, and thanks to Javade, we hope to attract more visitors, guests, and friends from around the world to help us advance our efforts to save wildlife. Thanks to a recent gift from Josiah Neeper, an emeritus trustee for San Diego Zoo Global, children from financially disadvantaged families received scholarships to attend Zoo summer camps. Josiah’s gift makes lasting memories for children who would not otherwise experience such an inspiring connection with animals. Philanthropy enriches every aspect of San Diego Zoo Global. Support from all of our members and friends, in amounts of all sizes, allow us to reach our vision: to be a world leader connecting people to wildlife and conservation. I encourage you to visit our website sandiegozoo.org/donate to discover all the ways you can help.
ZOONOOZ
®
published since 1926 august 2012 n vol.lxxxv–no.5 Managing editor Karen e. Worley associate editors peggy scott debbie andreen staff writers Wendy perKins Karyl carmignani san diego Zoo global™ photographer Ken bohn digital iMaging technician tammy spratt design and production damien lasater chris martin heidi schmid prepress and printing transcontinental/printed in canada
the Zoological society of san diego was founded in october 1916 by harry m. Wegeforth, m.d., as a private nonprofit corporation.
ZOONOOZ® (issn 0044-5282) is published monthly by san diego Zoo global, at 2920 Zoo drive, san diego, ca 92103, 619-231-1515. periodicals postage paid at san diego, california, U.s.a., and at additional mailing offices. postmaster: send address changes to membership department, p.o. box 120271, san diego, ca 92112. copyright® 2012 san diego Zoo global. all rights reserved. “ZoonooZ” reg. U.s. pat. office. all column and program titles are trademarks of san diego Zoo global. annual memberships: dual $109, new; $94, renewal. single $88, new; $76, renewal. each membership includes unlimited entrance to the san diego Zoo and the san diego Zoo safari park. ZoonooZ subscription: $25 per year, $65 for 3 years. Foreign, including canada and mexico, $30 per year, $81 for 3 years. contact membership department, p.o. box 120271, san diego, ca 92112. as part of san diego Zoo global’s commitment to conservation, ZoonooZ is printed on recycled paper that is 30% post-consumer waste, chlorine free, and certified by the Forest stewardship council (Fsc). Using this paper for a year will save approximately 200 tons of wood, or 1,400 trees; 965 million btUs of energy, enough to run 10 homes for a year; 155,000 pounds of co2 equivalent, the amount produced by 14 cars during a year; and 84,000 pounds of solid waste (estimates made using the environmental defense Fund paper calculator).
MIX
10%
Paper from responsible sources
Rick Gulley President
www.fsc.org
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san diego Zoo hours august 1–31: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
san diego Zoo safari park hours august 1–19: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tigers are among the Earth’s most beloved animals, yet their population has plummeted to less than 3,200 left in the wild. Thanks to a generous $9 million challenge gift, our critically endangered Sumatran tigers are one step closer to having a new home at the Safari Park, where we can help increase their numbers in zoos. However, there’s a catch. To receive this gift, we need your help: we must raise $2 million by the end of 2012. For every $2 donated, the Park will receive a $9 match! For example, if you donate $10, the Park will receive a total gift of $55. Feeling especially generous? $1,000 becomes $5,500! Please help us meet the challenge to enhance the lives of our tigers and provide a brighter future for them as well as their wild relatives.
Visit www.tigermatch.org to donate today!
august 20–31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about our animals and events, visit sandiegozoo.org.
website
sandiegozoo.org
san diego Zoo phone 619-231-1515
Happy Happens Again
at Albert’s Restaurant Enjoy specialty cocktails, glasses of featured wines or beers, and appetizers from our $6 and $7 menu from 3 to 5 p.m. daily during Nighttime Zoo, now through September 3, 2012. Stay for dinner and make it a special occasion! Seating is available until 8:30 every night, allowing you to dine and unwind at your leisure before departing the Zoo. Choose from our many popular entrées, such as prime rib-eye steak, the fresh catch of the day, or Cobb salad. Ask your server about our vegetarian entrée options, including salads, pastas, and pizzas. Younger guests can choose from a variety of kid’s meals. Reservations are not required but are recommended during Nighttime Zoo.
Call 619-685-3200 to reserve your table.
through the lens
Feed me! This young Caribbean flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber receives “crop milk� from both its parents until the youngster is old enough to filter feed for insects, worms, and microorganisms on its own. The beta-carotene in their diet contributes to the adult flamingo’s bright pink plumage, which is important for stimulating reproduction.
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ZOONOOZ has gone digital! Starting with this issue, the magazine is now available in a brand-new format to download on an iPad, in addition to the printed version. The digital magazine contains the stories from the printed version but with special added content: videos to play at the touch of a finger, slide shows to see more photos than we can fit in print, and interactive and animated features to help you discover more.
is now available on your ipad
This is a whole new dimension for our magazine, and we can’t wait for you to see it. This August issue is ready to download now, free of charge, on an iPad: go to the App Store and search for “San Diego Zoo ZOONOOZ” to access it.
you said it Lived out one of my childhood dreams today and saw a panda bear in the flesh at the San Diego Zoo!! Libby Dallison
San Diego Zoo and a visitor as far back as the early 1950s I have enjoyed the continued upgrading of the zoo and its animal presentations and our children’s education as did my parents for me. Thank you San Diego Zoo!
As a supporter of the
David Irvine
WoW... just watched your elephants
play in the water and run and eat...loved it!!! Wonderful cam—I sure hope one day I can come and visit the zoo. Marcella Raplee
Oh, to be a polar bear at the San Diego Zoo. Lay out by the pool with a friend, work on the tan and a nice pile of carrots. This is the life they should have in the wild. Thank you San Diego Zoo for your efforts. Cyndee
I have to thank you for the wonderful iPhone app you have, where I can view the elephants live!!! It is amazing. I live in MI and can’t wait to come and visit some day but at least for now I can get a little piece of your zoo and see my favorite animals! Jess Otis
My family and I visited San Diego for the first time last year and spent two days in the zoo. We missed the giraffe feeding the first day so we went back early the second day and were the first in line! This is one of the greatest
things I’ve ever gotten to do and I won’t ever forget it! Alexis Pye
Pins for Pandas on
Celebrate one of China’s national treasures, the giant panda, on Pinterest. Create a panda-themed Pinterest board to spread the beauty and joy of pandas and help promote panda conservation. The top three “pinners” will take home a panda gift, and the grand-prize winner will score a Backstage Pass for two to meet some of our pandas’ endangered brethren up close. More info: sandiegozoo.org/nighttimezoo
Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/sandiegozoo 6
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Grab a sleeping bag, your favorite pair of PJ’s and prepare for a campout like no other. Get an after hours look at the Zoo or Safari Park and an opportunity for the whole family to sleep among the most exotic animals on the planet. Call 619-718-3000 to make your reservations today! san diego zoo global
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Amur Leopards Quite the Quintessential Cat By Karyl Carmignani Staff Writer
Photos by Ken Bohn SDZ GloBal PhotoGraPher
In the cool, gray lIght of mornIng, a spotted muzzle rests on a high, rocky ledge. Huge hazel eyes track a darting motion as a rudder-like tail flicks side to side. Suddenly the cat springs, smooth as water, from its perch and soundlessly alights to the ground. The tiny target hovers a moment, glaring at the dotted feline interrupting its nectar snack. A paw the size of a large cinnamon roll swipes through the air, narrowly missing the colorful hummingbird, which zooms off through the mesh. The Amur leopard shakes off the foiled hunt as her brother playfully rolls into her, inviting a friendly spar. Another sibling joins the tangle of spots and tails, and the trio tussles about, as young cats are wont to do. They make low, rumbly small talk to each other, neither purr nor roar. Zoo visitors gasp delightedly at the frolicking cats.
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focus and fun! Young amur leopards enjoy trying their hand at both—stalking behavior appears just as instinctive as rough-andtumble play behavior.
Welcome to the Zoo Three Amur leopards Panthera pardus orientalis from a litter born in May 2011 arrived at the San Diego Zoo last March from the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in Rosamond, California. After the requisite 30-day quarantine, the cats were moved to an exhibit on Big Cat Trail. “We are so pleased to add these leopards to the collection,” said Lisa Martin, a lead animal keeper at the Zoo. “To participate in this species’ breeding program is exciting! Raising awareness to help protect the Amur leopard is a big deal for us.” The female, named Zeya (after a tributary of the Amur River), is a tad smaller than brothers Primorye (named for the region in Russia they come from) and Koshka (Russian for “cat”). The leopards make good use of the climbing areas and greenery in their exhibit. “When they are awake and active, they are quite entertaining,” said Lisa. “And, like most cats, they also sleep an awful lot.” Caring for these cryptic cats entails providing healthy carnivore diets: three to four pounds of special feline Natural Balance meal, varied with bones. “We feed them sepa-
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rately in their bedrooms right now to avoid any potential aggression and to make sure everyone is getting the appropriate amount of food,” explained Lisa. To keep their hunting skills sharp, keepers occasionally offer the cats a meatball “hunt,” where part of their food is rolled into balls and hidden throughout the exhibit. “If they can smell it, they will stalk it,” said Lisa. The keeper service area is clean and organized; an antler hangs from the fence, which Lisa says is a type of enrichment. “The cats love exploring and playing with new things.” They also have a keen appreciation for common scents, and keepers add spice oils like cinnamon, spearmint, and lavender to their hay and climbing structures. “They seem to really enjoy minty scents,” Lisa observed. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Amur leopards, these cats, though related, are vital to the world population. They will be carefully paired with unrelated leopards after they mature, at around three to four years of age, and relocated to other facilities when needed for the breeding program either nationally or internationally. The resulting Amur leopard
litters will help this critically endangered species rebound. “The Amur leopard exists on the cusp of extinction,” said San Diego Zoo Curator Carmi Penny. “As a conservation organization, we will work collaboratively with other zoos to develop a sustainable and genetically diverse population of Amur leopards that can contribute to new scientific knowledge and to the survival of the species in restored and protected native habitat.”
from russIa (and chIna) WIth love Of the eight leopard subspecies that range over Africa and Asia, the Amur leopard (also called Far Eastern leopard) is the most critically endangered. There are only about 40 of these cats remaining in the wild and about 300 living in zoos and other managed settings. This leopard subspecies once ranged across northern China and southern areas of Russia’s Far East, but is now found only in temperate forests in the southern part of Primorsky Krai in Russia and in a tiny area of northeastern China (with unconfirmed reports of the cats spotted around the De-
militarized Zone between North and South Korea). This graceful cat is well adapted to frigid winters and has much denser fur than leopards in Africa and India. The Amur leopard’s coat is a bit lighter than other subspecies, and its spots are widely spaced thick, black rosettes with dark centers. Males are larger than females, with their weight ranging from 70 to 105 pounds, though clearing 160 pounds is not unheard of, while females weigh 55 to 95 pounds. In the wild, they can live up to 15 years; in zoos they can make it to 20 years of age.
Prey for leoPards Amur leopards coexist with another mighty hunter: the Amur tiger. Both big cat species stealthily roam forests seeking a variety of prey, including sika and roe deer, badgers, wild boars, and hares. Sika deer are raised on farms (there are three remaining farms in the leopard’s free range) for their antler velvet, which is a popular ingredient in Chinese folk medicine. Occasionally both leopards and tigers pounce on this additional food source, and part of the regional anti-poaching strategy reimburses farmers for their loss so they will not shoot the cats that are impacting their livelihoods. Leopards often drag their food up trees, perhaps to avoid tempting a tiger. A female leopard with cubs requires 50 percent more food than when she is on her own.
camera traPs and snoW tracks Monitoring the wild populations of Amur leopards is critical to understanding population trends, which will determine the effectiveness of current conservation measures. The Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have been monitoring the leopards since 1997. The cats (and other wildlife) have been surveyed in winter by counting tracks in the snow along established animal paths. Track data are used to estimate leopard density per kilometer and to calculate population size. Conducted every three years, this provides vital information about the distribution and status of the Amur leopard population in Russia. In 2002, camera traps were added to the data-gathering arsenal. This technology allows
researchers to identify individual leopards by their unique spot patterns and monitor individual animals over many years. Key details about the species’ survival and recruitment rate, litter size, and population densities are revealed with this method. Used year-round, the images uncover the secret lives of these cats walking, stalking, and rolling playfully on the ground. Also captured on camera were Amur tigers and prey species, including sika deer, boars, and yellow-throated martens. More than 300 photos of leopards have been taken during the last decade.
forest fIres and other threats Amur leopards are is under siege from a variety of pressures including poaching of the cats and their prey, loss of habitat due to forest fires, inbreeding due to tiny, isolated populations, human development and activities in their habitat, and lack of political commitment to conservation (a trend that is slowly shifting in the cats’ favor). The leopard’s range has one of the highest annual rainfalls in all of Russia, creating a lush forest of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees and
a verdant understory, which is ideal habitat for these stealth hunters. But much of the forest has been converted to permanent grasslands, as local people continue to burn vast swaths of land to stimulate the growth of ferns that are popular ingredients in Russian and Chinese cuisine. Despite the challenges faced by Amur leopards across their range, things are far from hopeless. The small but mighty wild population in Primorsky Krai has remained mostly stable over the past 30 years, in spite of significant human pressures. Antipoaching efforts and educational programs appear to be working. China has established a reserve that connects with leopard (and tiger) habitat in Russia. There is a possibility of establishing a second wild population by reintroducing zoo-bred Amur leopards in Russia’s Far East. The protection of leopards, their prey, and their habitat is finally improving. Through cooperative, committed, international conservation efforts, Amur leopards will have something to “stalk about” for generations to come. n
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From shape to shading, an orchid mantis Hymenopus coronatus is built for hiding in plain sight among blossoms.
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PRAy Tell Mantises Up Close By Paige Howorth
animal Care manager, entomology
Photos by Ken Bohn sDZ gloBal PHotograPHer
Perched on a branch, the silent predator remains motionless, blending seamlessly into her surroundings. To her left, she detects movement of an appropriate size—a beetle, though she doesn’t know it. Slowly, carefully, she adjusts the position of her feet, long forelegs folded in a penitent pose. When the beetle steps within range, it happens. In the blink of an eye, the branch comes alive as the mantis’s forelegs thrust forward to snatch the victim in a vise-like grip. And dinner is served. Armed and Ready Mighty mantis legs are weapons in their own right and are all the arms they need. Their impressive forelegs are called raptorial, or grasping, legs. The inner part of each leg is lined with a series of long spines and a terminal hook. When those legs lunge out to grab and impale prey, escape is doubtful. Most of the time, the long, grasping legs are folded close to the body and face, much like a pocketknife. This gives the mantis a deceptively demure appearance—when you can spot it. Masters of mimicry, praying mantises are exquisite ambush predators that closely resemble the habitat in the varied ecosystems in which they live. Their wings and legs often have astonishing details and life-like projections that help them blend in with twigs, leaves, flowers, or bark. At rest, a mantis may look idle, but it is actually constantly observing its surroundings. Although a mantis’s compound eyes are not great at resolving an image like ours do, they have some incredible adaptations that help them locate and pinpoint prey. Each mantis has a series of sensory hairs at the base of the head, just where the
Poised and watching, this dead leaf mantis Deroplatys lobata reveals the sharp spines and terminal hook on its raptorial legs.
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thorax—the second of the three body segments on an insect—begins. When the mantis turns its head and sees a potential prey item, the sensory hairs are stimulated and send a message to the brain. The information guides the mantis in positioning its body and those invincible forelegs into prime striking position.
Quick and Clean Once a mantis has a prey item in its grasp, it must act quickly to immobilize the meal. Though the forelegs hold the prey tight, there is still a possibility of injury to the mantis, depending on the type of animal it has captured (stinging, biting, etc.). If possible, the mantis tries to chew around the prey’s head area to sever nerve connections so the prey will stop struggling. The mantis usually eats the entire animal in a continuous, methodical fashion. At the end of the meal, the mantis fastidiously cleans each and every spine on those long, beautiful legs! Although all mantises are predatory and carnivorous, they may be food for other animals. As a result, they are equipped with an array of defenses, from color threat displays to uncanny camouflage. When threatened, most try to look bigger by spreading their raptorial legs wide, lifting their wings, and striking. In addition to creating the silhouette illusion of a larger creature, many mantises display false eyespot patterns on the underside of their wings that may spook a potential predator.
Fatal Attraction?
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When a female mantis is ready to mate, she advertises the news by releasing pheromones. A male mantis usually has more sensitive antennae and can detect a female’s scent from quite a distance. Usually, the male flies in, taps out a compelling antennal sequence, mates quickly, and then…leaves. Those of you waiting to hear the gory details of his imminent decapitation might be disappointed here. In fact, the male probably has an equally good chance of departing the reproductive encounter alive and in one piece. Since male mantises are typically much smaller than females, it would be quite a feat for her to eat him during copulation. A male can become a meal, however, if his advances are unwanted or he startles the female and triggers a prey-capture response. After all, any appropriate-sized prey item will usually do!
The Next Generation If mating has been successful, the female mantis creates an egg case, or ootheca, of a foamy substance that later hardens into a waterproof, insulating covering. She deposits 20 to 400 eggs, depending on the species, into the foam. If you have encountered these large objects that resemble brown Styrofoam peanuts attached to plants in your garden, congratulations. You have free pest control for the coming months! Tropical mantis egg cases have shorter incubation times of one to three months, while some oothecae overwinter in temperate regions. When the time comes, many newly hatched praying mantis species emerge in rapid succession from the egg case, suspended by a silken thread with a thin membrane covering the entire body. In mid-air, the membrane is shed, and the mantis continues its descent to the ground. It is the same shape as the adult, but smaller, wingless, and sometimes differently colored. And did I mention adorable? After the body covering, called a cuticle, has fully hardened, the hungry kids are on the hunt; often, the first meal is a nearby sibling.
A Place in the World Mantises are critical insect predators and an important part of any ecosystem’s food web. They have a place in human culture, too. The ancient Egyptians honored the mantis as a minor deity who escorted the souls of the dead to the netherworld. In China and Japan, the mantis is a symbol of strength, courage, and boldness. In the Insect House at the San Diego Zoo, praying mantises are a constant presence. There is remarkable diversity among the 1,800 species that belong to the Order Mantodea, and our collection is always changing and growing. Look for them, but remember—a mantis survives by hiding in plain sight. If you are as watchful and patient as they are, you’re sure to catch a glimpse of one. n
opposite page: a just-hatched orchid mantis is brightly colored. its first moult will reveal its white and pale-pink coloring. above left: although the black spots on this mantis’s eyes look like pupils, they are not. mantises have compound eyes like other insects. above right: a mantis egg case is also called an ootheca. Bottom: measuring a mere one-half-inch, this newly hatched violin mantis gongylus gongylodes must eat—without being eaten.
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By Don Sterner AnimAl CAre mAnAger, SAn Diego zoo SAfAri pArk
Debbie marlow leAD keeper, SAn Diego zoo SAfAri pArk
photos Courtesy of Don Sterner and Debbie marlow illustration by Tim reamer SDzg illuSTrATor
estled in the eastern Himalayas, the tiny kingdom of Bhutan is home to an amazing array of animals, from snow leopards and takins to great hornbills and a little-known, critically endangered bird: the whitebellied heron. Standing just over four feet tall, this magnificent, solitary bird is extremely difficult to spot as it forages in the cold, fast-moving rivers flowing out of the mountains. 16
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A Race against Time There are only 26 white-bellied herons Ardea insignis left in Bhutan. The world count is estimated at 50 to 200, with the remaining birds living in India, Myanmar (Burma), Bangladesh, and possibly Tibet. The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), a nonprofit conservation organization in Bhutan, is the only group currently doing any research on the herons. The situation for the bird in Bhutan is critical; India, Bhutan’s large neighbor to the south, is building a series of five hydropower dams in one of the river systems that is an important feeding and nesting habitat for the birds. The project is causing mass destruction of the beautiful Punatsangchhu river gorge. There are other threats to the species as well, such as disturbance by humans and cattle and river dredging. On behalf of RSPN, George Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, asked that the San Diego Safari Park assist in helping save the heron. Michael Mace, Safari Park Curator of Birds, and George Archibald then collaborated to develop a captive-rearing program. The first step in this process involved researching great blue herons, a closely related species that frequently drops by the Safari Park. Permits were obtained to remove great blue heron eggs from nests. The chicks were successfully hatched, reared with the help of puppets made to look like adult herons, and released. From this endeavor, incubation and puppet-rearing protocols were written with the hope of being able to raise white-bellied herons in Bhutan. In early 2011, funding was obtained to send us to Bhutan to assist RSPN in its mission to help save the white-bellied heron. In a very short period of time, everything needed to start a captive-rearing program from scratch was purchased or made and packed into crates. Just a few of the items taken were puppets puppets used to feed the youngsters, scales, heat lamps, realistic-looking rock dishes, hand tools, cable ties, and even air pumps to maintain fish tanks for the birds’ diet. Staff at the Safari Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center packed a medical supply container for us, and Jack Allen, D.V.M., was assigned as our veterinary advisor. Lists and protocols were double- and triple-checked to ensure that we hadn’t forgotten anything. Then, very quickly, the departure day arrived, and our adventure began. Little did we know that our planned 6-week trip would turn into 10 weeks and that we were in for the experience of a lifetime. Arriving in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, felt like stepping back in time. We met with RSPN staff and ministry officials to explain the complexities of artificial incubation and captive rearing chicks. After waiting for our supplies to clear customs and the proper travel permits
Top: Authors Debbie marlow and Don Sterner work with rSpn Director lam Dorji, ph.D. Center: Curious local children pose for a photo by the phochu river. lower right: The herons forage and nest in the phochu valley. Below: A former fortrees, the punakha Dzong monastery overlooks the mochu river.
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left: The white-bellied heron egg pipped on may 5, 2011. Center: local villagers build a heron flight pen. right: The chick at 40 days old, is seen through the one-way viewing window. lower left: The three-day-old chick is fed by a heron puppet.
to be obtained, we eagerly traveled to the field station that would be our home for the next 2½ months. The trip involved a 4½-hour drive over narrow mountain roads with some spectacular views of Himalayan peaks.
Research in the Rough Our field station was located in a beautiful river valley full of rice paddies, dotted with small villages, and surrounded by foothills covered with pine and temperate broadleaf forests. It consisted of a work tent, kitchen/ storage shed, Asian-style toilet, an incubation/chick-rearing shed, and pup tents for us. Everything was built from basic materials such as bamboo poles and matting. After our arrival, an impressive flight pen for the birds was also built with the help of local villagers. We quickly settled into our new home, unpacked our supplies, and set up facilities for the eggs and chicks. A nest site had been selected, but after determining the nest was too far to safely transport the eggs, another nest
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located just across the river valley was chosen. White-bellied herons nest in tall chir pines, which grow on steep hillsides. A professional tree climber, using a long-poled scoop, skillfully retrieved eggs from the nest. The plan was to take two of the four eggs. It took two hours of delicate, dangerous work to get the two eggs out of the nest and safely to the ground while the adult herons circled overhead. Once the eggs were back at camp, we set them in the incubator. We candled the eggs a few hours later and learned that one of the eggs was not viable. The other egg looked good and appeared to be about a week away from hatch. We soon discovered that the electricity in camp was not reliable, and we were losing power several times a day. From then on, we took turns checking hourly all day and night to make sure the power was on. When it went out, we would rush over to start a small generator to keep the incubator running. On May 5, 2011, the chick pipped through the shell, starting the hatching process. During the early morning hours of May 7, we witnessed the first captive hatch of a white-bellied heron. Our next challenge was getting enough fish for the little heron to eat. Since refrigeration is rare in Bhutan, it was necessary to catch fish from the nearby streams and river. RSPN staff, forestry officials, and local villagers worked day and night to catch enough fish. At one point, the chick was eating 45 fish a day, and it was all the staff could do to keep up!
Thankfully, the chick thrived, and RSPN staff quickly became proficient in caring for its needs. When the chick was 40 days old and settled nicely into the flight pen, we transferred care to RSPN staff and started the long journey home. RSPN staff banded the chick, affixed a satellite transmitter to its back, and on September 17, released it into the wild. Unfortunately, the transmitter stopped working after 17 days, but the bird is still sighted from time to time up river from the release site.
Heron Hope for the Future The future of the white-bellied heron and the project are uncertain. Out of three known heron nests in Bhutan in 2011, the heron chick we raised was the only one that survived. This project was a success in that RSPN staff gained valuable experience, and ministry officials learned that it is possible to artificially incubate and captive-rear chicks for release to bolster the wild population. More research needs to be done on the species to determine the best way to assist in its recovery. Bhutan is a country that is rapidly coming into the modern age. Along with that progress comes the typical growing pains associated with development. Human activities are already having an adverse effect on the heron and many other species sharing its habitat. By helping to save the heron, we may well be saving many other species and habitat in this beautiful Himalayan country. n
Conspicuous
Coral Trees By Christy Powell San Diego Zoo Plant ProPagator
like all coral trees, the beautiful blossoms of erythrina berenices bloom on the tips of bare branches.
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he next time you’re exploring the San Diego Zoo, keep an eye out for brightly colored coral tree blossoms. The scarlet red, orange, or white flowers stand out against the trees’ bare branches like festive ribbons on a fence post. Look carefully, and you might see other creatures enjoying the blossoms, too. They come in search of the bountiful, sweet nectar the flowers provide. At the same time, these visitors pollinate the flowers. The shape, color, and unscented blooms of the coral tree Erythrina sp. are a clue to the identity of the trees’ primary pollinators—birds. San Diego Zoo gloBal
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the color and shape of coral tree flowers vary by species. Clockwise from left: e. flabelliformis; e. humana var. raja; and a nutall’s woodpecker (a perching bird) nabbing nectar from e. x sykesii blossoms, which display the typical old World open flower arrangement.
Sweet Rewards Hummingbirds and passerine, or perching, birds are key coral tree pollinators, but bees and other insects visit the trees as well. Yet among birds, there is an interesting—and logical—correlation between flower shape and pollinator that follows a geographical trend. Erythrina from the Old World bear open flowers with a wide petal called a banner. Perching birds frequent these blossoms, as the broad structure allows the bird to perch on the flower or branch to sip the nectar. On the other hand (or hemisphere), New World coral trees have tubular flowers. To collect nectar, a bird needs to hover
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home to 60 of them—the largest collection in the continental U.S. The Zoo is collaborating with institutions in Hawaii, Southern California, and South Africa to conserve coral trees by propagating rare and threatened species and distributing them among the partners. In this way, if a natural disaster occurs—such as when the erythrina gall wasp Quadrastichus erythrinae decimated thousands of coral trees in Hawaii—seeds, cuttings, or other samples from another botanic garden can replenish the species.
these pale pink petals belong to a variant of e. speciosa. another variant of the same species bears red blossoms.
while feeding; few winged wonders fit that bill better than the hummingbird! However, some bird species are nectar robbers that exploit the nectar without pollinating the flower. There have been observations of parakeets, grosbeaks, and other birds
Uncovering the Family Tree
it has a good chance of sprouting. A number of coral trees bear seeds that float in salt water, allowing them to be carried by ocean currents to grow in new lands. Since seed dispersal is somewhat limited, coral tree species in the wild are gener-
Over the last year, the Zoo’s Horticulture Department worked with the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research to look closely at the DNA of coral trees. Leaf samples were taken from trees at the Zoo as well as from specimens at botanical gardens in Hawaii. The DNA extracted from dried leaf material was amplified through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and sequenced. The data were then reviewed and edited using computer software to create a phylogeny, a branching diagram that shows how
There are more than 100 species of Erythrina worldwide, and the San Diego Zoo is home to 60 of them—the largest collection in the continental U.S. puncturing the side of a flower to remove the nectar. Several coral tree species are native to dry, tropical forests. During the dry season, most trees and shrubs go dormant and lose their leaves, coral trees included. But coral trees native to those regions herald the end of the dry season with their bright blooms on bare branches, providing welcome refreshment and nutrition to hungry birds.
Full Seed Ahead While a few bird species are vital to coral tree pollination, others are important to the trees as seed dispersers. Some birds ingest Erythrina seeds whole. As they pass through the bird’s digestive system, the seed coat is broken; when the seed is expelled in the bird’s droppings (along with free fertilizer),
ally separated geographically. In addition, many trees are self-incompatible, meaning they need to be crossed with a nearby coral tree to produce fertile seeds. In a botanic garden setting like we have at the San Diego Zoo, several species may be growing close together, and they can cross-pollinate and hybridize. Some species at the Zoo readily produce seeds, including E. crista-galli, E. humeana var. raja, E. berenices, and E. bogotensis. Other species such as E. falcata, E. brucei, and E. x sykesii have not been known to set seed. To preserve the genetic integrity of coral trees in botanical garden settings, they are propagated asexually through cuttings, air layers, or micropropagation (plant tissue cultures). There are more than 100 species of Erythrina worldwide, and the San Diego Zoo is
the Erythrina species are related and how they might have adapted over time. DNA barcoding has been conducted on 61 species of Erythrina so far, surpassing the sequences of 12 species of coral trees found worldwide on DNA databases. The information gathered through DNA sequencing can be used as a resource to identify unknown species by comparing them to known reference species. So far, two previously unknown species have been identified this way. As the plant propagator at the Zoo, my job includes hand-pollinating rare species so they will produce viable seeds. It is not an easy task for humans and can be very time consuming. I am sure thankful for birds, bees, and other pollinators that do a job we often take for granted—and they make it look so easy! n
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support
Heroes and Hope for Tigers Join the Tiger Trail Challenge!
Anonymous superheroes recently descended on the Safari Park to help us fund our new Tiger Trail habitat! Thanks to their generosity—a $9 million challenge gift—our critically endangered Sumatran tigers are one step closer to having a much-needed new home. There is a catch, however, to this significant gift, and we need your help: to receive the $9 million gift, we must raise another $2 million by the end of 2012. For every $2 donated, the donors will match it with $9. For example, if you donate $20, the donors will contribute another $90 for a grand total of $110 toward the Safari Park’s new tiger habitat. As soon as we meet the Tiger Trail Challenge and combine it with the $8.5 million we have raised for tigers over the past several years, construction on this important project can begin! Why tigers? They are among Earth’s most beloved species, yet their future is uncertain because of poaching and habitat loss. Sadly, the world’s tiger population has plummeted to less than 3,200 animals in the wild.
SDZG Conservation Ambassador Joan Embery and CEO/Executive Director Doug Myers unveil the $9 million challenge gift at the Safari Park’s 40th anniversary celebration.
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One of Tiger Trail’s habitats resembles an abandoned farm with overgrown, terraced rice paddies that have been reclaimed by the tigers. Below: A view from behind a cascading waterfall will reveal tigers living in a streamside environment.
Tiger Trail will provide our tigers with an extraordinary home at the edge of our conifer forest, where we can help increase their numbers in zoos. And we will also share with the world the significance of this iconic species’ survival. Three spacious habitats will feature an array of creature comforts for our Sumatran tigers, including rocks for climbing, ponds for swimming, deadwood trees for scratching posts, and tall grass for catnapping. One tiger habitat will resemble an abandoned farm with overgrown, terraced rice paddies that have been reclaimed by the tigers. Another will offer views of tigers in a streamside habitat from behind a cascading waterfall. All three will immerse you in the tigers’ world and offer views so close that you can count their whiskers and the stripes on their tails!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. To request a complimentary brochure about creating a will or trust, please call 619-744-3352 or visit our website at zoolegacy.com
officerS Richard B. Gulley, President William H. May, Vice President Sandra A. Brue, Secretary Robert B. Horsman, Treasurer boarD of TruSTeeS M. Javade Chaudhri Berit N. Durler Clifford W. Hague Nan C. Katona Patricia L. Roscoe Steven G. Tappan Judith A. Wheatley David S. Woodruff, Ph.D., D.Sc. TruSTeeS emeriTi Frank C. Alexander Kurt Benirschke, M.D. Weldon Donaldson Thompson Fetter Bill L. Fox Frederick A. Frye, M.D. George L. Gildred Yvonne W. Larsen Josiah L. Neeper John M. Thornton Albert Eugene Trepte Betty Jo F. Williams William E. Beamer, General Counsel Douglas G. Myers, CEO/Executive Director Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus
The Tiger Trail Challenge is a major opportunity that will give our precious tigers more enriching lives in a naturalistic setting while offering visitors the best tiger-viewing experience anywhere! Please help us meet our year-end $2 million goal by being as generous as you can. The tigers will certainly benefit from your support. To give to the Tiger Trail Challenge online, please visit tigermatch.org. To contribute by check, please make it payable to Zoological Society of San Diego and mail to: Tiger Trail Challenge c/o Development Department Zoological Society of San Diego P.O. Box 120271 San Diego, CA 92112-0271 For more information, please contact us at donate@sandiegozoo.org or call 619-231-1515, option 2, extension 4421.
The foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego officerS John E. Gartman, Chair Murray H. Hutchison, Vice Chair Margie Warner, Secretary Maryanne C. Pfister, Treasurer Mark A. Stuart, President Richard B. Gulley, Ex officio Douglas G. Myers, Ex officio boarD of DirecTorS Christine L. Andrews Richard A. Baldwin Joseph Benoit Richard Bregman Lisa S. Casey David C. Copley Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio U. Bertram Ellis, Jr. Fran Golden Craig L. Grosvenor Judith Harris Richard M. Hills Michael D. McKinnon Thomas Tull Russel J. Upton
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Caring aBouT
AsiAn leAf-eAting
Monkeys By Chia L. Tan, Ph.D.
San Diego Zoo inSTiTuTe for ConServaTion reSearCh
Photos courtesy of the author and San Diego Zoo global
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funny faces: guizhou snub-nosed monkeys (left), Tonkin snub-nosed monkeys (top right), and Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (bottom right) are also known as “odd-nosed” monkeys. Snub-nosed monkeys can communicate with their mouth closed by projecting sound from their nose.
San Diego Zoo global is leading the effort to improve the plight of Asian leaf-eating monkeys, some of the most charismatic primates in the world. Douc langurs, snub-nosed monkeys, and proboscis monkeys are members of this eclectic primate group. Since 2001, I have been collaborating with international scientists and agencies to promote conservation of primates in Asia. Taking a three-pronged approach, the focus is on field research, capacity building in local communities, and education programs. Leaf-eating monkeys are found in both Africa and Asia; however, it is in Asia where they have achieved major evolutionary success. As a group, Asian leaf-eating monkeys underwent species diversification that allowed them to adapt to a wide array of habitats in tropical as well as temperate regions. Their ability to inhabit different environments has amplified their conflict with humans, setting off a turf war. Amid Asia’s dense human population, the monkeys are losing their footing fast. sAving snub-nosed Monkeys Through field research, my collaborators and I are broadening our knowledge about the behavioral ecology of Asian leaf-eating monkeys, as the information we gather is a prerequisite to finding viable conservation solutions for these species. My latest scientific investigation centers on the most endangered Chinese snub-nosed monkey. This species, the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus brelichi, is
more vulnerable to extinction than the giant panda. There is only one remaining population of about 750 individuals that reside in Fanjingshan, a mountainous “island” habitat surrounded by extensive human activity. Here, I work directly with the local nature reserve personnel to study the feeding ecology and ranging pattern of the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey. In addition to using traditional methodologies, we have incorporated camera traps to supplement our data collection. Camera traps offer the advantage of 24-hour monitoring while minimizing disturbance caused by human observers and eliminating the need for habituation that potentially could lead to increased poaching of the already dwindling monkey population. Because conservation problems are caused by human actions, issues and possible solutions need to be better communicated to the public, ideally by people who are most familiar with the local customs and culture. The only way we can repair damage and reduce the negative impact in the long run is through the development of local scientific capacities and public education. Over the years, I have established an extensive professional network in Asia through collaborations and mentorship of students. Three years ago, I spearheaded a Training in Primatology (TIP) program to enhance the technical competencies of early career primate research and conservation professionals in Asia. I enlisted the help of fellow primatologist Sylvia Atsalis, Ph.D., and my colleague at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, Lance Miller, Ph.D., in designing san diego zoo global
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“i want to be a Little green guard to protect the monkeys in fanjingshan!” said Sisi Dong, a third-grader at Taohuayuan Primary School.
The Singapore Zoo graciously hosted our 2011 Training in Primatology workshop, which was attended by 30 participants representing 10 countries in asia.
and teaching short courses and workshops to young professionals who came highly recommended by experts in the region. Besides teaching the fundamentals of primate behavior, ecology, and conservation, we also share practical skills to prepare our trainees for the real world. So far, we have completed two training modules, and the third installment will be implemented in 2013. Ultimately, our goal for the TIP program is to empower the next generation of scientists to take on a leadership role to help ameliorate the conservation problems in their home countries. Already, the program has made a positive impact on the professional lives of our trainees. Many reported that the TIP experience was transformational, and the guidance they received was effective in helping to build their confidence and advance their career. Parkin Runcharoen, a trainee from Thailand, used his newfound voice to campaign for science and our program. In addition to applying the knowledge and skills gained to his thesis research, he said, “I am also trying to pass on the message of conservation and the workshop experience to my university peers to inspire them to pursue their dreams as well. I want to raise the standard of science in Thailand by reframing the old thinking that science is a dull and unattractive subject and transforming it into interesting and passionate work.”
francoisi, the flagship species of Fanjingshan and Mayanghe Nature Reserves, respectively. Through simple narratives that accompanied visual presentations, games, music, art, and guided field trips, the children were given the opportunity, for the first time, to learn about the wildlife in their own “backyard.” By stimulating these young minds, we encourage them to become local stewards of wildlife and habitat in their hometown. Little Green Guards is also about cultivating empathy toward animals, beginning at the grassroots level and eventually gaining momentum at the national level, to change the cultural perspective that animals mainly have utilitarian value in China. I am grateful for the generous and genuine support of many in achieving my research and conservation objectives concerning Asian leaf-eating monkeys. Because of their enthusiasm, there is hope for the future of these monkeys. We cannot expect to bring species back from the brink of extinction in a short time. Long-term research combined with effective in-country capacity building and education programs are vital to successful conservation efforts, and we need organizations like San Diego Zoo Global to take the helm. The Asian leaf-eating monkeys are not just beautiful creatures; they represent a legacy we must leave intact for generations to come. n
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françois’ langurs are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. The Mayanghe nature reserve harbors the last viable population (about 700 individuals) for species recovery.
lessons in their own bAckyArd For Kefeng Niu, our trainee from China, the TIP program and my continued mentorship have prompted him to take on more conservation challenges in his work as a nature reserve biologist. In an effort to safeguard Guizhou’s endangered species, he and I founded the Little Green Guards, an education and outreach program aimed at fostering an understanding of wildlife in rural children living adjacent to protected areas. With help from additional reserve personnel and volunteers, we implemented pilot activities in two primary schools last year. This inaugural effort emphasized raising awareness of the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and the François’ langur Trachypithecus
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Ndebele Doll $85 Animal Print Tote $29.95 Long Glass Necklace $108 Beaded Mask $295 Metal Box $22.95 Beaded Necklace $15.95 Nigerian - Beaded Basket $110 Artifact - Masai Collar $99.99 Rib Bracelet (set of 6) $23.95 Zulugrass Necklace $11.50 each Pokot Headrest $48.95
Visit our shops at the Zoo and Safari Park to purchase these featured items. san diego zoo global
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from the archives
Stars in Stripes Tigers have always been popular at the San Diego Zoo. The very first was a Sumatran tiger named Babe, who arrived at the Zoo in 1924. In 1927, a pair of Bengal tigers also took up residence and had the Zoo’s first tiger cubs in 1929. This trio of roly-poly striped bundles was a big hit with Zoo visitors—and with Zoo Executive Director Belle Benchley, seen here visiting with the cubs. Today, San Diego Zoo Global continues our history with tigers, helping with breeding and conservation of this endangered species. If you’d like to help us build a brand-new habitat for our Sumatran tigers at the Safari Park, visit tigermatch.org and see how you can join the effort.
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Save the Date
August 4
August 1 through August 19
August 4 and 5
Black & White Overnight at the Zoo (adults only) The focus of this popular sleepover is on the Zoo’s most famous residents: giant pandas! Call 619-718-3000 for reservations. Fisher-Price® Play Date at the Park The Park’s Hunte Nairobi Pavilion is bursting with the coolest new toys from Fisher-Price®, and kids can come test them out!
Summer Safari 2012 at the Safari Park
August 1 through September 3
Nighttime Zoo: China Celebration
August 11
August 1 through September 3
Happy Happens at Albert’s Restaurant at the Zoo
Black & White Overnight at the Zoo (Family night; for families with children ages 4 and older) Make some enrichment toys for our pandas and meet other black-and-white animals up close. Call 619-718-3000 for reservations.
August 18
Summer Winemaker Dinner at the Safari Park, featuring Raymond Vineyards. Call 760-738-5055 for reservations.
September 22
San Diego Zoo Food & Wine Celebration presented by Cymer
September 27 through 30
Discovery Days: Reptilemania presented by Petco at the Zoo
October 6, 13, and 20
Albert’s Fall Member Appreciation Dinners at the Zoo
Visit www.sandiegozoo.org for more information.
That’s your stomach growling, not the lions. Satisfy your hunger. Head over to Denny’s and try one of the $8 meals on our 16-item 2 4 6 8 VALUE MENU. With sides and drink included, they’re as much of a meal as they are a value. $
$
$
TM
20% OFF ENTIRE GUEST CHECK One coupon, per check, per visit. Not valid with the 2468 Value Menu,™ any other coupons or promotional offers. Not valid on national holidays. Coupon has no cash value. No change returned. Taxes and gratuity not included. Alcoholic beverages not included. Valid at participating Southern California Denny’s restaurants. Selection and prices may vary. Only original coupon accepted. Photocopied and Internet printed or purchased coupons are not valid. No substitutions. © 2012 DFO, LLC. Printed in U.S.A. Offer ends 9.30.12
88880064
$8
Bacon Chipotle Chicken Skillet
KIDS EAT FREE!
Show your Zoological Society of San Diego Membership Card and your child will receive a free kid’s meal from the Kid’s Menu with the purchase of an adult entrée and beverages. See restaurant for details. Offer valid Monday – Friday only. Offer ends 9.30.12
© 2012 DFO, LLC. At participating Southern California Denny’s restaurants for a limited time only. Selection and prices may vary. The San Diego Zoo is a registered trademark of The Zoological Society of San Diego, Inc. © 2012 The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
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ZOONOOZ San Diego Zoo global
box 120551, San Diego, California 92112
MIX
10%
Paper from responsible sources www.fsc.org
FSC® C011825
Saturday, September 22, 2012 Join us for San Diego’s Tasting Event! Sample more than 175 restaurants, wineries, and breweries. Enjoy live music and dancing, a silent auction, and special animal encounters. Ticket prices start at $90.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
www.zoofoodandwine.com
619-231-1515, ext. 3000
Proceeds benefit San Diego Zoo Global’s wildlife conservation efforts.