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ALBERT’S RESTAURANT at the San Diego Zoo is cooking up some very special dining events for your springtime enjoyment. Join Executive Chef Chris Mirguet and Albert’s Chef Charles Boukas for a gourmet meal and great company—make your reservation today!
Inaugural Spirits Dinner
Featuring Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits Saturday, March 22, 2014 6 p.m. reception with animal ambassadors in the Treetops Banquet Room. 6:45 p.m. dinner in Albert’s Restaurant. Join the distillers from Ballast Point for a sampling of vodka, gin, rum, and moonshine. $79 per person; guests will be seated at tables of 8; must be 21 years or older to attend.
spring
dining at
albert’s restaurant
WINERY & VINEYARDS
Spring Winemaker Dinner
Featuring Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards Saturday, April 5, 2014 6 p.m. reception with animal ambassadors in the Treetops Banquet Room. 6:45 p.m. dinner in Albert’s Restaurant. Enjoy Central Coast varietals made with unbridled passion. $79 per person; guests will be seated at tables of 8; must be 21 years or older to attend.
Easter Brunch
Sunday, April 20, 2014 Treetops Banquet Room at the Zoo Continuous seating from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. With or without an Easter bonnet, you’ll love the delicious selections of this bountiful Easter brunch buffet. $42.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11. Nonmembers add Zoo admission. Prices do not include tax and gratuity. Seating is limited.
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY—CALL 619-557-3964, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. DAILY Visit sandiegozoo.org/zoo/alberts for more information and complete menu.
inside march 2014
wildlife 8 The Power of Pollinators They’re bees, birds, and butterflies—but also some animals you wouldn’t suspect. And our food supply depends on them. BY WENDY PERKINS
18 On the Case with the Bird Detectives Even avian mysteries can be solved if you just know what clues to look for. BY MIKE GRUE
22 Cool Rep with a Bad Rap: Clearing the Name of the Gila Monster
more 2 4 5 6 25 26 28
Chairman’s Note Through the Lens Save the Date You Said It What’s in Store Support From the Archives
You won’t believe what some people think of Gila monsters. We’ll set the record straight. BY PEGGY SCOTT
explore 16 Welcome to a New View of the Zoo: San Diego Zoo Kids! A stay in the hospital is no fun, but our new channel brings smiles to patients’ faces. BY KAREN E. WORLEY
24 Myth and Misconceptions: Sifting Fact from Fiction in the Animal Kingdom We debunk some pretty tall tales. BY KARYL CARMIGNANI
26 Paving the Way for Nature-inspired Innovation The bioinspiration conference generates creative, sustainable ideas. BY GABRIEL MILLER AND CLAIRE WATHEN
conservation 12 Following the Footsteps of Bighorn Sheep A collaborative, international project aims to help local bighorn sheep. BY KARYL CARMIGNANI
FREE! Download the ZOONOOZ App for your iPad at sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz
on the cover: Julia butterfly Dryas iulia on this page: Costa’s hummingbird Calypte costae Photos by Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer
Members get up close FREE all year long! Start your membership today. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org
Do you have the digital ZOONOOZ?
ZOONOOZ is now available in three digital formats: for iPad, Kindle Fire, and desktop computer. At home or on the go, you can now have ZOONOOZ at your fingertips!
Download ZOONOOZ for your iPad Download ZOONOOZ for your Kindle
chairman’s note
SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS
TIGER TRAIL GEARING UP FOR OPENING
W
e are very excited about the opening of The Tull Family Tiger Trail at the Safari Park on Memorial Day weekend. Construction has been proceeding well, and all the major exhibit and visitor areas are nearing the final stages. The beautiful Sumatran-style longhouse is nearly complete, the rock walls and water pipes for the waterfall and tiger pools are in place, the groundwork and terracing are done in the tiger exhibits, and at the time of this writing, the construction teams are getting ready to pour the concrete for the pathways and the footings for the statues, signs, and other interpretive elements. The next stages will include the landscaping with bamboo, grasses, and a variety of Asian plant species; completing the remaining structures, such as the pondok market stand and the logging camp; and putting in the many large tiger-proof glass windows that will provide excellent views for visitors. It’s coming together very nicely, and Tiger Trail will be a wonderful new addition to the Safari Park. The Safari Park’s six tigers—males Teddy, Conrad, and Thomas and females Delta, Joanne, and Majel—are doing well, still in their former exhibit for now. Once Tiger Trail is ready, they will be moving into their new home before it opens to the public, so the tigers can discover all the exhibit’s tiger-friendly features. Those include streams and pools, since tigers are among the few cats that like water; boulders, tree trunks, and platforms to climb; and a variety of sunning spots in the grass and on rocks heated from below that will be perfect for lounging. With the powerful senses of a tiger, they are probably aware of the busy construction that has been taking place nearby, and their keepers are looking forward to watching them explore their new home. As we anticipate the exhibit grand opening in May, there are some digital ways that you can discover tigers in the meantime. Our Tiger Trail website, which you can find at sdzsafaripark.org/tigertrail, provides an advance look at some of the exhibit features and some of the characteristics that make tigers such popular and fascinating animals, as well as some of the conservation work San Diego Zoo Global is undertaking on their behalf. In addition, you’ll also find a link there to the online Tiger Trail Game, which has a conservation message. I hope you’ll enjoy these over the next couple of months, and I look forward to sharing the new exhibit with all our visitors in May.
Rick Gulley Chairman
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Richard B. Gulley, Chairman William H. May, Vice Chairman 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 John M. Thornton Albert Eugene Trepte Betty Jo F. Williams
William E. Beamer, General Counsel Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus
THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS
Murray H. Hutchison, Chair Maryanne C. Pfister, Vice Chair Susan N. McClellan Secretary Richard M. Hills, Treasurer Mark A. Stuart, President Richard B. Gulley, Ex officio Douglas G. Myers, Ex officio
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christine L. Andrews Joye D. Blount Rick Bregman Lisa S. Casey Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio U. Bertram Ellis, Jr. Arthur E. Engel Craig L. Grosvenor Judith C. Harris Craig A. Irving Michael E. Kassman Susan B. Major Michael D. McKinnon George A. Ramirez Thomas Tull Margie Warner Ed Wilson
Enjoy
Springtime
at the
Safari Park’s
Special Events!
The Safari Park blossoms in the spring, both with colorful flowers and the beautiful butterflies of Butterfly Jungle. Join Safari Park Executive Chef Matthew Dusharme for gourmet dining and delectable treats to welcome the season.
Spring Brewmaster Dinner
Easter Brunch
Hunte Nairobi Pavilion Reception with animal ambassadors, 5:30 to 6 p.m. Four-course dinner with beer pairings presented by Hangar 24 Craft Brewery Brewmaster Kevin Wright, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Includes a souvenir beer glass. $79 for members, $91 for nonmembers, ages 21 and older only You can also spend a wild night at the Park after dinner at our Brewmaster Roar & Snore Safari!
Hunte Nairobi Pavilion $42.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission. Hop on over to the Safari Park for a wild Easter Brunch! From gourmet specialties to Easter favorites, and plenty for those with a sweet tooth, this brunch buffet is sure to please the whole family.
Saturday, March 8, 2014, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 20, 2014, 11 a.m.
Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner Friday, April 4, 2014, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Hunte Nairobi Pavilion $69.95 for members, $91 for nonmembers See the amazing Butterfly Jungle before it officially opens to the public, then gather for a lovely, spring-inspired dinner and a keeper presentation. Want to spend a wild night at the Safari Park? Join our special Butterfly Jungle Preview Roar & Snore Safari following dinner!
Prices do not include tax, gratuity and Safari Park parking; Seating is limited.
For reservations, call 619-718-3000. View menus online at sdzsafaripark.org/dining.
through the lens
Masai giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
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ZOONOOZ
®
PUBLISHED SINCE 1926
save the date
MARCH 2014 VOL.LXXXVINO.3 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 • LISA BISSI JENNIFER MACEWEN PREPRESS AND PRINTING BROWN PRINTING COMPANY
The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in October 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation. The Zoological Society of San Diego does business as San Diego Zoo Global. ZOONOOZ® (ISSN 0044-5282) is currently published bimonthly. Publisher is 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® 2014 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.
Spring Is on Its Way!
T
he spring equinox on March 20 heralds a busy and exciting season at the Zoo and Safari Park, so if you have a case of spring fever, we have the cure! At the Zoo, Plays Days begins on March 29 and continues through April 20, with animal enrichment activities, keeper talks, and special presentations popping up throughout the Zoo for three weeks of “play dates” with all your favorite animals. Spring at the Safari Park means Butterfly Jungle, which begins on April 5 and continues through April 27. It promises to be as impressive, colorful, and fun as always, with thousands of beautiful butterflies around you in a lovely welcome to springtime. Come visit us and enjoy!
Douglas G. Myers President/CEO
Annual Memberships: Dual $119, new; $104, renewal. Single $98, new; $86, 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 is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified. 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). FSC® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper.
MARCH 8 Spring Brewmaster Dinner; also, special Brewmaster Dinner Roar & Snore, Safari Park 14 Plant Day and Orchid Odyssey, Zoo
1 Play Days continues, through April 20, Zoo 1, 2, 3, 4 Spring Camp, Zoo
14, 21, 29 KinderNights: Animals on the Plains, Zoo
4 Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner; also, special Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner Roar & Snore, Safari Park
15, 22 KinderTots: Counting with Okapis, Zoo
5 Butterfly Jungle begins, through April 27, Safari Park
29 Play Days begins, Zoo SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURS March 1–9: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 10–28: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 29–31: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 1–20: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 21–30: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK HOURS March 1–31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1–4: 9 a.m to 5 p.m. April 5–27: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28–30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. WEBSITE
APRIL
5 Albert’s Spring Winemaker Dinner, Zoo 12, 18 Roar & Snore: Safari Sampler with Butterfly Jungle, Safari Park 18 Plant Day and Orchid Odyssey, Zoo 19 Roar & Snore: Egg-straspecial Animals, Safari Park 20 Easter Brunch, Zoo and Safari Park
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Bumblebee
Powerto the
Pollinators By Wendy Perkins STAFF WRITER
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Birds do it. Bees do it. And creatures that you won’t believe do it: they help pollinate plants! Flowering plants mainly reproduce through seeds, yet in order for seeds to form, pollen needs to be transferred from one flower to another. Some pollen is broadcast by the wind or water, but it may or may not land where it will do any good. Animals are a good bet as pollen-delivery vectors, since they regularly visit flowers. Most of the time, these animals are unwitting accomplices in a flowering plant’s reproductive scheme. About 80 percent of the Earth’s flowering plants depend totally on animal-facilitated pollination to set seed or produce fruit, which not only feeds humans and other creatures but also creates and renews habitat. No habitat, no wildlife. Fortunately, “team pollination” is a diverse group: in addition to a variety of invertebrates, other animals including reptiles, mammals, and birds pollinate plants in almost every habitat.
The Big Buzz Honeybees are the best-known crop pollinators, but many people don’t realize they aren’t native to North America. Brought here by European settlers in the 1600s, honeybees have become a familiar sight. Today, hives are managed by backyard enthusiasts as well as by businesses that truck hives to orchards and farms in a pollination-for-pay arrangement. What many people may not be aware of, however, is that North America is home to more than 4,000 species of native bees that are just as effective at pollinating—and sometimes even more so. Certain crops, such as blueberries, have a flower structure that doesn’t release maximum pollen by brushing against the stamen. European honeybees do visit these flowers and move some pollen,
Rice paper butterfly
but not very efficiently. Native bumblebees, however, have all the right moves. In a behavior called buzz pollination, or sonication, a bumblebee holds the petals of a flower in its mouthparts and with its legs and rapidly vibrates its wing muscles, shaking the pollen loose. It’s a herculean effort; buzz-pollinating bumblebees experience forces 30 times greater than gravity! Yet they get more pollen out and spread about this way, making them more efficient than honeybees for blueberry pollination. Even in crops traditionally pollinated by managed honeybees, research has shown that the presence of native bees results in higher pollination. It’s thought that the increased competition drives honeybees to work faster and harder, but it’s also true that the more bees—of any kind—present, the more pollination happens. Also, because native bees can generally tolerate a wider range of temperatures, they may be on the job when it is too cold for honeybees. Over the past few years, there has been an increasing buzz among scientists about declining bee populations. As researchers look into colony collapse disorder, a phenomenon in which worker bees—the ones that perform pollination—vanish, usually without a trace, they are finding that it may well be a combination of diseases and parasites that honeybees have historically weathered. What changed? Increased pesticide use and a continuing, rapid loss of habitat and forage plants are suspected as factors that are tipping the scale in the wrong direction. And it’s not just honeybees that are feeling the sting—whatever affects honeybees also affects native bees. However, the “buzz” that started with scientists has become louder and is spreading among the public via conservation outreach programs
Black-and-white ruffed lemur
Anna’s hummingbird
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BUTTERFLY JUNGLE
APRIL 5 THROUGH 27, 2014, AT THE SAFARI PARK Mark your calendars and join the much-anticipated and popular annual celebration of butterflies. Step inside Hidden Jungle and marvel at the range of sizes and colors of thousands of butterflies, and see how many species you can spot. Wear bright colors, and the winged wonders might land on you! For an extra-special experience, make a reservation for the Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner on April 4.
Call 619-718-3000 to save your spot for the dinner. You can even add a Roar & Snore Safari to this unique evening!
and the media. Many are making choices that can, in the long run, benefit bees, such as choosing organic fruits and vegetables, eschewing pesticide use in their own yards, and even creating bee-friendly habitats in private and public spaces (see sidebar on page 11).
Fly By In many people’s minds, butterflies and flowers go together like salt and pepper shakers—if you see one, you’re likely to see the other. The butterflies tend to get more out of the relationship than the flowers, though. Long legs prevent a butterfly’s body from brushing against a flower’s pollen-laden anthers. Yet, some pollen does collect on the
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PHOTO BY TAMMY SPRATT, SDZG
PHOTO BY KEN KELLEY, SDZG
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR
Above: Feathertail gliders are one of many mammals that pollinate plants as they feed on nectar. Left: A honeybee carries a “basket” of pollen on its legs.
insect’s feet and lower limbs, and in the pursuit of cross-pollination, every little bit helps. When it comes to birds that benefit flowers, most people think of hummingbirds. Indeed, they are powerful pollinators! Although a hummingbird typically hovers in front of a flower as it feeds, it also needs to be close enough to reach the nectar that is often held in a deep sac, and the flower’s anthers give the bird a good dusting of pollen. Many flowers that hummingbirds feed from have multiple blossoms on a branch or plant, so the bird just moves from one to the other. This “one-stop-shopping” situation helps ensure that the plant’s pollen is more likely to be spread among its own kind; honeysuckle pollen deposited in a fuchsia flower doesn’t help either plant! In South Africa, bird of paradise plants are pollinated almost exclusively by sunbirds. The structure of the flower limits which creature can access the nectar and pollen, but when a sunbird perches on the blossom and steps on the blue-purple protruberance, the anther opens up, and pollen attaches to the bird’s feathers. Both hummingbirds and sunbirds have long bills—a useful adaptation for reaching deep into flowers for nectar—but some nectarfeeding birds do just fine without an extended mouth. Lorikeets, for example, have a small, hooked beak. Their adaptation for gathering nectar and pollen is a tongue tipped with hair-like structures called
papillae. As with so many other pollinators, pollen attaches to the lorikeet’s head and chest when it reaches into the flower.
Surprise Pollinators Birds and bees are “the usual suspects” when it comes to pollination, but there is a whole other cast of characters filling the pollination niche, including certain mammals, geckos, slugs, flies, and beetles. If you’ve ever wondered what purpose mosquitoes serve (other than to give your arms exercise while swatting them away), here’s the answer: they, too, are pollinators. Only female mosquitoes bite and drink the blood of animals (including humans), and they do so to get protein to support the development of their eggs. For the energy needed for flight, both female and male mosquitoes rely on nectar and other plant juices. While some people might be willing to trade a few less flowers for a world with no mosquitoes, the truth is that in the quest for healthy ecosystems, one can never have too many pollinators.
Furry Couriers In the rain forests of Madagascar, ruffed lemurs leap from branch to branch foraging for fruit and other food items—including nectar. These primitive primates use their nimble hands to pry flowers open wide. Then they poke their snout down deep inside to reach the nectar. As they do this, pollen grains stick to their furry face. At the next flower visited, the previous pollen is transferred. The ruffed lemurs’ role as pollinators can help ensure their food supply down the road—the flowers they pollinate become the fruit they eat. In Australia, honey possums visit banksia blooms for nectar and pollen. While they eat some of the pollen, a good amount also dusts their coat. Another small marsupial, the sugar glider, acts as a pollinator of eucalyptus and acacia trees. Although bats are well-known insect eaters, some species feed on flower nectar, which positions them as pollinators. Bats help
Providing a Safe Haven
Meet a
Lorikeet
You can get a close look at the brush-like tongue of a lorikeet at Lorikeet Landing at the Safari Park. New birds have joined the flock, and now more than 70 rainbow lorikeets chirp, chatter, and fly through this walk-through aviary. The inquisitive, friendly birds are quite willing to come sit on your hand, arm, or head to drink from a nectar cup (available for purchase outside the exhibit). As you watch them feed, just imagine the cup is a flower, and you’ll understand how pollen could collect on their head!
pollinate avocados, cloves, dates, and agave (from which tequila is distilled), as well as carob and cocoa trees. Looking at how much humans benefit from pollinator actions, it’s clear they are a force we can’t live without. Power to the pollinators—long may they thrive!
SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL is committed to helping pollinators recover. On your next visit to the Zoo, stop by the Pollinator Garden near the west entrance to Elephant Odyssey and see which pollinators are putting in an appearance. The space serves as a “waystation” dedicated to helping sustain pollinators by providing a steady supply of pesticide-free nectar and host plants, as well as suitable living spaces for native bees. We have a large section of milkweed available for monarch butterflies to lay eggs on from spring through fall, helping to boost the West Coast population. A large, wooden native bee house structure provides holes for solitary native species like mason and leafcutter bees to nest in. Perhaps your visit will pollinate your mind with ideas on how you can help pollinators around your own home.
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you said it This webcam has opened my eyes to the Elephant world, and the importance of saving the Elephants from becoming extinct. I think the SDZSP and the Keepers are doing a wonderful job of doing that. Jan
Mina and Oshana enjoyed their birthday cakes at today’s (11/20/13) birthday celebration! Bob Ulrich Just spent the last 3.5 hours in pure bliss on a @sdzsafaripark Deluxe Adventure Caravan Safari. So proud to support such a great organization. @mlynnfryer
Unkie pleading his case. Deric Wagner Following @sandiegozoo on Instagram is one of the best choices I’ve made this year. @Seafishaaa SD Zoo is the best! Used to take our kids there every other week when they were little. Miss those days... @richfield65 Discovering the @sandiegozoo Panda Cam is the best thing since sliced bread! #ilovepandas @sweetchristine
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Bateleur eagle having a drink of water. Bob Worthington
n A e k i L y Fl
! e l g a E
Flightline Safari at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a truly amazing experience for those looking for excitement and adventure. Soar as high as 160 feet above the ground with rhinos, buffalo, deer, and more in the fields below you. The Flightline experience includes gear, an orientation, and a practice session. Once “fledged,” board a truck for a ride to the main Flightline, where your guide hooks your harness onto the sturdy cable. Then you’re off, flying the friendly Safari Park skies to land safely at the Park’s Kilima Point. What a thrill!
If you’ve ever wanted to fly, here’s your chance: call 619-718-3000 to book your Flightline Safari.
FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF
BIGHORN SHEEP By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER
Photos Provided by Mathias Tobler, Ph.D. SENIOR RESEARCHER, SDZG
H
e nimbly darted this way and that over the boulders, his cream-colored rump patch fading into the dust. Navigating the steep, scrubby, rocky terrain is virtually effortless for the rugged Peninsular bighorn sheep, which survives in this parched landscape browsing on scattered greens and extracting water from barrel cacti by breaking them apart with its horns and hooves. Peninsular bighorn sheep are a distinct population segment of the desert bighorn Ovis canadensis nelsoni and can be found from the San Jacinto Mountains southward into Baja California, Mexico, in dry, rocky habitat from the desert floor to 4,500 feet in elevation. An icon of the California desert wilderness, this muscular bovid was federally listed as endangered in 1998 after the US metapopulation crashed to a few hundred individuals. The sheep have benefited from added protection and now number over 1,000. A binational conservation project recently reached a milestone, embarking on the first movement and health study in the Sierra Juarez in northern Baja California. This subpopulation has received little attention compared
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Top: A bighorn sheep plunges back into the wild after his exam. Above: Helicopters, used for aerial surveys, were also used to transport four animals to the base camp for additional procedures.
to the subpopulations in California, yet provides an important link between the populations in California and Mexico. Fifteen bighorn sheep were captured and released, with the resulting data providing a deeper understanding of the ecology and habitat use of this intrepid species.
NET GAIN The throb of the helicopter rotor fills the air. As it clears a ridge, a 200-pound ram is bolting for cover. The skillful (and fearless) “net gunner” leans out of the ‘copter and takes his shot. An orange, four-point net drops down and covers the sheep, and the animal slows. The pilot
ridors that the sheep are using,” explained Lisa Nordstrom, Ph.D., associate director of the Applied Animal Ecology division of the Institute. “Wildlife does not care about political boundaries, so being able to study the bighorn populations on both sides of the international border through this highly collaborative effort is a huge accomplishment.” One burning question is how US Interstate 8 and Mexico Highway 2, both of which bisect bighorn habitat, impact the connectivity of this population. Gene flow between groups of sheep is necessary to keep the populations robust and healthy, but that same connectivity could also facilitate disease transmission. The collection of biological samples (blood, serum, oral and nasal swabs, fecal pellets, and ectoparasites like ticks) from the bighorns will enable researchers to evaluate the presence of diseases—bighorns are susceptible to many. Domestic cattle, sheep, and goats carry diseases such as bluetongue, which is spread by midges, and a myriad of respiratory illnesses including bovine progressive pneumonia. “Based on the information we find, we can see how prevalent disease agents are,” said Josephine Braun, D.V.M., a scientist with the Institute’s Wildlife Disease Laboratories. “This will help us assess the health of this wild population.” This important information could guide management actions to help prevent future disease events.
LIFE ON THE ROCKS
Placing a blindfold over the sheep’s eyes calms the animal down. Ten bighorn sheep received GPS collars so researchers can track their movements.
expertly hovers the aircraft a few feet off the ground, and a “mugger” hops to the ground, taking the ram by the horns. Once the animal is blindfolded and his legs tied, he relaxes. This daring process occurred 15 times over 2 days, with 10 bighorns (5 rams, 5 ewes) receiving GPS collars and another 5 getting measured and having biological samples collected. Four of the sheep were transported back to base camp for additional procedures. “The process was impressive,” said Mathias Tobler, Ph.D., senior researcher, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. “I am used to big cat captures that can take days or even months to happen, and here we caught two bighorns in the first half hour!” Aerial surveys and bighorn sheep captures take place in the fall, when the weather is cooler, making the process less stressful for the animals. The two-inch-wide GPS collars have small solar panels that will recharge the battery. The rams’ collars will last two years and provide hourly GPS updates, while the ewes’ collars will last three years and provide updates every 30 minutes. The animals’ coordinates are transmitted to the researchers’ computers via satellite. These data will “allow us to better understand critical areas and movement cor-
Bighorn sheep are herbivores that eat a wide variety of seasonally available plants, which can usually meet their water requirements. In the searing-hot dry season, however, bighorn sheep tend to gather near water sources to obtain enough water. Ewes live in groups with other females and their offspring in smaller home ranges than those of rams. The latter travel between ewe groups, joining them during the fall breeding season. This is when the rams put their horns to work, competing with other males through head-butting contests. According to The Nature Conservancy, the rams can charge at each other running 20 miles per hour and crash their heads together. This can go on for many hours; the winner earns breeding rights. Lambs are typically born in spring, when desert plants are plentiful. Youngsters can walk and climb treacherous terrain within a day of being born, and they remain with their mother for the first year of life. Bighorn sheep rely on keen eyesight—their vision is about eight times more powerful than a human’s—and their climbing abilities to avoid predators. It is hoped that the proximity of humans throughout bighorn sheep habitat will not cause this population to stumble. Science, technology, commitment, and collaboration will help keep this iconic species running on the rocks. San Diego Zoo Global would like to thank its passionate partners and supporters: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California; The Nature Conservancy; Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente de Baja California; Cambium; California Department of Fish and Wildlife; University of California, Davis, Wildlife Health Center; Native Range; and Western Tracking Institute.
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Will You
be a for
HERO WILDLIFE? Will you help stop extinction today? Around the world many animals are endangered—like this beautiful tiger cub. They could disappear forever! That’s why your action today is so important. San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy has skilled wildlife specialists working hard in the desperate race to stop extinction. Over the years, they’ve led the fight to save and protect giant pandas, California condors, rhinoceroses, and scores of other critically endangered species around the globe. Will you join us today to save even more precious animals? This life-saving work is only possible because of generous donors like you! Will you donate just 33 cents a day to save beautiful tigers like this one? That’s only $10 a month! And you’ll join many other caring people who help make a difference. Please, become a hero for wildlife today—your monthly gift will help stop extinction, and you’ll be helping protect beautiful animals and their habitats for future generations. You truly will be a conservation hero. Thank you in advance for caring and for helping to save endangered species!
Here’s how you can join our monthly giving program—our Wildlife Heroes—and start helping today: 1. Fill out and send the provided envelope or the form below. 2. Call Sarah at the San Diego Zoo at 619-557-3914. 3. Join online at hero4wildlife.org.
YES, I’ll become a Wildlife Hero!
Please use my monthly donation to save endangered species from extinction. $5 a month
$10 a month (just 33¢ a day!)
$20 a month
______________ Other
Credit Card Number: __________________________________________ Exp. Date:______________________ CV Code: ____________________ Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________ City: _____________________ State: _________ Zip: ________________ Email: _____________________ Phone: ____________________________ Why becoming a monthly donor is the best way for you to give: • You make your gift automatically through your credit card. • It’s cost effective, so more of your gift goes to saving endangered species. • It provides a reliable source of funding that allows our conservationists to plan ahead—and that’s great for the animals we love! WCMZA • You can change or cancel your gift at any time.
San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy P.O. Box 120551 San Diego, CA 92112
support PHOTO BY KEN BOHN, SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER
as the human population grows but also flourishes. Institutions like San Diego Zoo Global are an important part of that mission. What’s your vision for R• I •T•Z this year? Our vision is to raise funds for the zebra, baboon, ibex, and warthog exhibits in the Zoo’s Africa Rocks area, and also to raise the fun at our gala to a whole new level! What will make R• I •T•Z 2014 extra special and unique? Every R•I•T•Z has been special. We hope that 2014 will continue the long tradition of philanthropy within the San Diego community and will allow us all to appropriately honor one of our most unique institutions, the San Diego Zoo.
PLANNING
A NIGHT IN THE SAVANNA WITH THE FARRELLS
MICHAEL “MICK” AND LISETTE FARRELL are no strangers to philanthropy or community service in San Diego. They are active in numerous organizations that range from Las Patronas to the La Jolla Playhouse, which makes us all the more fortunate that they are dedicating some of their time to the San Diego Zoo by chairing our R•I•T•Z gala in 2014. We asked Mick and Lisette to share a bit about themselves and their plans for that special evening on June 21. How long have you lived in San Diego? We have been lucky enough to live in San Diego for almost 14 years. We came here for Mick’s job at the medical technology company ResMed, which has its global headquarters in Kearny Mesa. Our children were born and have been raised here. Tell us about some of your favorite experiences at the Zoo or Safari Park. We have taken our children to the Zoo and the Safari Park since they were very little. One of our favorite experiences was when we visited behind the scenes at the koala exhibit. On another occasion, we were fortunate enough to feed an elephant with the zookeepers close at hand. What lessons in life have you learned that you would like to pass on to your children? We are firm believers that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity and that giving to good charitable causes is very important and makes our community a better place to live. We have lived in many parts of the world and have seen many varieties of ecosystems from Brazilian rain forests to Egyptian deserts, but the one thing that is constant is the diversity of plant and animal life on this planet. It is our job to ensure that biodiversity not only survives
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 6:30 p.m. until midnight Honorary Chairs Audrey S. Geisel and Ernest Rady Gala Chairs Lisette and Michael “Mick” Farrell Tickets $450 per guest $900 per guest for R• I •T•Z Circle seating. For tickets, please contact Marilyn Neumann, R• I •T•Z reservation chair, at 619-287-5435 or sdzooritz@gmail.com. R•I•T•Z 2014 Challenge For every dollar donated, our honorary chairs will match it 2½ times for animals from the savanna and cliff areas of Africa Rocks.
You can help secure the future for wildlife!
Heritage Guild By creating a Charitable Gift Annuity or including the Zoological Society of San Diego in your will or trust, you can help protect wildlife. To receive more information, please call 619-744-3352 or visit our website at zoolegacy.org.
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San Diego Zoo Global ambassador Rick Schwartz introduces Baba the pangolin to young patients.
WELCOME TO A NEW VIEW OF THE ZOO:
SAN DIEGO ZOO KIDS!
E
ver since Zoo founder Harry Wegeforth, M.D., dedicated the San Diego Zoo to the children of San Diego, fun and engaging educational experiences have been a fundamental part of our organization. Now we are branching out in a new direction with San Diego Zoo Kids, a broadcast channel for children’s hospitals. This broadcast project combines videos of the Zoo, Safari Park, and conservation fieldwork with footage from our live animal cams and keeper and scientist interviews to create entertaining and enjoyable stories children—and their parents—can tune into during a stay in the hospital. Thanks to a generous donation from Denny Sanford, San Diego Zoo Kids debuted at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and will soon be seen at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital and Sanford Children’s Hospital in South Dakota. Through each hospital’s closed-circuit channel, children can watch giant pandas at play, elephants tussling in the pool, and orangutans enjoying treats. Plus, they can find out about animals like cheetahs, owls, fossas, and crocodiles from the keepers who care for them at the Zoo and Safari Park. They can also view short, kid-friendly stories about lowland gorillas growing up, how researchers find koalas in Australia’s forests, and how giraffes select a babysitter to watch the calves while they go out browsing. It’s a playful and heartwarming look at our wonderful animals, created to provide little patients with something to smile about as they recover from illness or injury. The children may not be able to visit us, but we can go to them—and we’re happy to do it! Above: The San Diego Zoo Kids channel provides great animal stories for kids to watch during a hospital stay. Left: Donor Denny Sanford says hello to a patient at Rady Children’s Hospital during the launch of San Diego Zoo Kids.
ON THE CASE WITH THE
BIRD DETECTIVES
By Mike Grue SENIOR KEEPER
Photos by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER
W
hen one has questions but no answers, it’s time to do a little detective work. A human detective may stake out a location or follow a lead to solve a mystery. Zookeepers often find themselves doing the same, and the bird keepers at the San Diego Zoo are some of the best “snoops” around. ASK AN EXPERT
A red-crowned crane can measure up to five feet in height.
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The first thing a good detective does is interview witnesses and experts. Getting first-hand information is usually faster—and less painful—than having to learn through trial and error. The first time I tried to enter the red-crowned crane Grus japonensis exhibit, I was met at the door by the female crane. The five-foot-tall bird with an intimidating bill made it clear that I was not welcome in her home. I bravely turned tail and fled to one of the bird’s regular keepers to find out what I was doing wrong.
When it comes to looking natural and blending in, marbled teals have it covered. But as film detective Sam Spade would say, the Zoo’s keepers are “good...real good” at leaving no teal unturned.
Her main keeper, Chuck Border, told me that the female is usually assertive only when a keeper enters her exhibit. If I simply tossed a few crickets into the grass behind her, she would excitedly hunt down the tasty treats and allow me to peacefully work. “She just loves her bugs,” Chuck said. “And they are even more useful when she has a chick to protect!”
CAUGHT ON FILM Sometimes a detective can’t interview any witnesses or experts because there aren’t any. A thorough bird investigator may have to “review the tapes” to solve a mystery. Bird detective Paul Colo has set up cameras in exhibits in and around the hummingbird aviary. From a monitor in the office, Paul can keep track of four different exhibits at once. Paul recalled the time when he wasn’t sure if the new and inexperienced greater sunbittern Eurypyga helias mom was taking care of her chick. Paul hadn’t seen the chick being fed while watching from inside the aviary. Instead, Paul explained how he was able to back up the film and see the frequency that the sunbittern chick was being fed. The footage showed that the female was indeed taking care of
her youngster and that no human intervention was needed. Birds may behave differently if they know they are not being watched, but the camera sees—and “tells”—all!
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS DUCK? “The Case of the Missing Duck” is usually solved within a few minutes by searching a few well-known hideouts. Occasionally, a more thorough search is needed. Last year, I remember being teamed up on one of the more difficult cases with my coworker, Amelia Suarez. The case: a marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris had failed to show up for breakfast. We reviewed the facts: the duck got along well with everyone, had no known enemies, and had last been seen at dinner the previous day. None of the other birds were talking, so we were on our own. Knowing that the teal was a female and that it was mid-breeding season, we suspected her motive for disappearing: nesting! We then deduced that since the larger white-faced whistling ducks Dendrocygna viduata were occupying the prime ground nests, our missing duck was most likely nesting off the ground in one of the many thick marsh grasses. After a thorough search, Amelia spotted an iris patch SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
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Left and bottom right: Detective work by a keeper uncovered “the missing piece” that our white-headed buffalo weavers needed to build the best nests. Below left: Closed-circuit cameras eventually helped solve the great mystery of the sunbittern: was she, or wasn’t she?
on an island in the pond that looked suspiciously disturbed. Wading out to the island, we parted the grasses and were greeted by our missing duck, happily keeping her eggs safe and warm! Case closed. Since then, Amelia has gotten to know most of the marbled teals’ hidden nesting sites. “The teals are now fairly predictable. I can usually find them without too much trouble,” she said. “It’s the whitefaced whistling ducks that can be tricky to find!”
DISCARDED TREASURES Going through trash doesn’t sound very appealing, but when it comes to providing leads, dumpster diving is a great way to come up with a feast of clues! The Zoo had been trying to breed white-headed buffalo weavers Dinemellia dinemelli without much success. Weavers are known for building elaborate nests, but the grasses, twigs, and Spanish moss we gave them must not have been the right combination. The nests just kept falling apart. One day keepers noticed a half-finished, discarded weaver nest
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on the ground. They examined the incomplete nest and found that it was held together with particularly spiky twigs. It was almost as if the birds had used the knobs and bumps on the twigs as a kind of natural Velcro. Thinking that the exhibit didn’t have enough thorny trees for the weavers to complete a nest, we started to give the birds twigs from the kei apple tree, which is known for its thorny protrusions. The weavers were delighted and instantly went to work building larger and more stable nests. Keepers noticed that the birds are so good at interlocking the thorns that their nests are even difficult for a human to disassemble. Thanks to one old nest and keepers’ detective abilities, the weavers have bred in a number of exhibits across the Zoo! From providing expert advice and covert surveillance to searching high and low for a missing bird (and going through their trash), if there is an avian mystery at the San Diego Zoo that needs to be solved, you can be sure that the bird detectives are hot on the case!
PHOTO BY RON GARRISON, SDZG
Cool Rep with a Bad Rap Clearing the Name of the Gila Monster By Peggy Scott ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Photo by Ken Bohn SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER
W
hen “monster” is part of your given name, the opinion others have of you is pretty clear. So fearsome was the largely erroneous legend of the Gila monster Heloderma suspectum that Old West tall tales warned of the deadliness of even the mere breath expelled by the creature. But remember the adage about believing what you hear? Tommy Owens, senior keeper at the Zoo, would like people to take it to heart when considering this misunderstood monster. “They’re not aggressive unless provoked, and bites are extremely rare,” Tommy explains. “Stories about them are way overblown.” It often isn’t easy to separate fact from fiction, but in this case, it’s only fair.
Of Monsters and Myths A venomous lizard species, the Gila monster lives in the deserts of northwestern Mexico and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, New
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Mexico, and Arizona. The name Gila refers to the Gila River Basin in Arizona, where the monster was once plentiful. There seem to be as many myths as there are actual Gila monsters. Along with the toxic-breath belief, locals once swore that should a Gila monster bite down, it wouldn’t let go until the sky thundered or the sun set. Another tall tale is apparently flexibility based: don’t panic if a Gila monster latches onto you because it “has to turn upside down in order to get the venom in you.” One other legend is physiologically perplexing: “Why is the Gila monster venomous? Because it lacks an anus, and all that stuff went bad in there.” The animal also possesses, according to lore, the ability to spit venom, sting with its tongue, and leap several feet to attack. And, most amazingly, according to the plot of the 1959 B-movie The Giant Gila Monster, this incredible creature can grow to the size of a bus and wreak havoc on small Texas towns, chomping down hot-
rodders. Even the Gila monster itself didn’t want to be in this cinematic masterpiece, as the title character was actually played by a Mexican beaded lizard! Hollywood’s creative license aside, in reality there isn’t need for such fantasy when the real story is much more interesting.
contractions and neck flexing. And while a Gila monster can eat one third of its body mass in one “sitting,” it doesn’t dine very often, only 5 to 10 times per year in the wild. Strong diggers, Gila monsters spend most of their time underg round in burrows, where they might find a cool, Skin Deep—and Then comfortable spot. “Even though PHOTO BY KEN KELLEY, SDZG Some they live in deserts, Gila monA large, heavy-bodied lizard, the sters don’t really like the heat,” Gila monster measures up to two Tommy says. “A data logger feet in length and weighs as much was inserted down into (Gila as three pounds. Males are larger monster) burrows, and the and bulkier than females and highest temperature recorded have a broader head. The skin is was 78 degrees Fahrenheit.” orange, pink, or yellow and black, Because of the myths and usually in a reticulated pattern perceived danger associated but in a banded pattern in some with them, Gila monsters were populations. Heloderma means often killed on sight. In 1952, studded or warty skin, likely rethe Gila monster became the ferring to the beaded look of the first venomous animal in North animal’s dorsal scales, which America to be afforded legal is due to the presence of osteoprotection, making it illegal to The surface of the Gila monster’s skull (top) is covered derms (small bones) under the collect, kill, or sell them in Ariwith bumps that serve as armor-like protection. Old scales. “It makes the skin harder zona. Tommy notes that while West legends are largely responsible for the Gila monster’s fearsome reputation. to penetrate,” Tommy explains, people are not allowed to take noting that this helps protect Gila monsters from the wild, the lizard, and that the bumpy offspring from captive lizards surface isn’t just skin deep. “The are sold in the pet trade. “State surface of the skull isn’t smooth like other skulls,” he says. “The skull laws vary,” Tommy notes. “In California, for example, you have to actually has little bumps all over it. It’s amazing! It’s like built-in have a permit to keep a venomous animal. And it’s hard to prove armor.” individual lizards were captive-bred.” Equally impressive is the monster’s bite and venom-delivery sysMeet the Monsters tem. Venom is produced in glands in the lower jaw, but it is not inTwo Gila monsters are on exhibit at the Zoo’s Reptile House. “We jected through fangs the way snakes do it. Rather, each of the lizard’s have 15 in the collection, and at one time we had 50,” Tommy says. lower teeth is deeply grooved and flanked by a cutting edge that “They can be tricky to manage since they live so long—some of the punctures the prey’s skin. When the lizard bites and begins to chew, ones we have now were confiscated from illegal sales back in 1981. A venom flows into the wound from between the lower lips and teeth life span of 30 years is possible.” through capillary action. “The venom kills tissue, and that gets in Given their bad reputation, Tommy is pleased to have the chance the blood system,” Tommy says. Venom effects include severe pain, to show the Gila monster in a positive light. “I don’t know why they a drop in blood pressure, and respiratory failure, but a Gila monhave such a reputation,” Tommy says. “They are beautiful animals.” ster bite is rarely fatal to humans. “An antivenom isn’t even made As a Gila monster fan, Tommy has at least some company in believbecause fatalities are so rare,” Tommy says. “The few documented ing these animals have been wrongly accused. As Dr. Ward, a physi(fatal) cases were kids or intoxicated adults.” cian, wrote in the Arizona Graphic in September 1899: “I have never Daily Lizard Life been called to attend a case of Gila monster bite, and I don’t want to Gila monsters prey on newborn rodents, rabbits, and hares, though be. I think a man who is fool enough to get bitten by a Gila monster they won’t say no to a meal of nesting birds or other lizards and ought to die. The creature is so sluggish and slow of movement that their eggs. Prey may be crushed to death if large or eaten alive if the victim of its bite is compelled to help largely in order to get bitsmall, swallowed head first and helped down by muscular throat ten.” Now that’s a biting commentary. SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
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Make a
e t a D y Pla h Your wit
e t i r o v a F ! s l a m i An
Spring into action and come play at the San Diego Zoo! Three different weeks of family fun will highlight your favorite animals and their antics, while keepers provide great stories about the frolickers. Celebrate spring with up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors, and even meet the Easter Bunny for commemorative photos. Join in a digital Easter Egg Hunt around the Zoo for a chance to win great prizes. Check out a complete list of all the activities on our website at sandiegozoo.org to plan your perfect Play Days!
San Diego Zoo Play Days, March 29–April 20, 2014
MYTH AND MISCONCEPTIONS
By Karyl Carmignani STAFF WRITER
SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER
ANIMAL LORE LIVES IN EVERY CULTURE.
It is taught to the littlest of children and stalks people into adulthood. With a lexicon of lingering “facts” about animals far and near, language is peppered with creature fallacies. Some species are so steeped in misinformation that they strike terror into the hearts of many. Consider bats. Vampire movies viewed at a formative age can lead to a lifetime of serious chiroptophobia (fear of bats). Books cook up tales of sticky, squeaking bats tangled in women’s hair. And who hasn’t uttered the bouncy descriptor “blind as a bat”? But not one of the over 1,200 bat species seeks your jugular vein or your tresses, nor are these flying mammals blind. If anything, “blind as a bat” should imply that you can fly really fast and quiet in the pitch dark! Another species that gets a bad rap is the largest, heaviest, and most awkward-looking avian species, the ostrich. This flightless bird nests on the ground in a communal nest. Males and females take turns incubating their three-pound eggs, which would be a nutritional bonanza for predators. If an ostrich detects danger, it will sometimes lie flat on the ground, laying its head on the sand and remaining still to blend in with the landscape and hide its charges. Other times, the bird will bend down to adjust the eggs in the nest. Never does this creature bury its head in the sand! And let’s face it, head burying would not be a sensible way to avoid danger. But we still use this “myth-information” to refer to someone who refuses to deal with an unpleasant situation. Some animal myths are based on a shred of truth but used in a pejorative sense, projecting human disdain for (or fear of) a species. Take crocodile tears. These mighty reptilian predators do indeed produce tears to lubricate the eyes. Crocodiles (and alligators) also have a nictitating membrane, which glides over the eye to help clean
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SHUTTERSTOCK
Photos by Ken Bohn
PHOTO BY RON GARRISON, SDZG
Sifting Fact from Fiction in the Animal Kingdom
it; tears keep its watchful gaze clear. On land, when the animal’s body dries out, the tears are more conspicuous, and that nictitating membrane in the corner of the eye can resemble tears forming. This gave rise to the ancient belief that crocodiles weep for their victims or that they use tears to dupe a sympathetic target. Both notions are false. But if a person is “crying crocodile tears,” it means they are displaying an insincere show of sorrow or remorse. Perhaps the most damaging legend concerns a fierce, but cute, gerbil-like creature found in and around the Arctic tundra: the lemming. Populations of this subniveal (living under the snow) rodent fluctuate wildly, with frequent die-offs and population booms. The phenomenon was (and is) not well understood, so folks decided the lemmings were overly altruistic during times of overpopulation and that thousands of them boldly died by mass suicide for the good of the group. This misperception was reinforced by the 1958 Disney movie White Wilderness, whose filmmakers bought lemmings from Inuit children and staged a cliff death-plunge sequence by herding the little guys over a small cliff into a river. To this day, when “lemming” is used to describe someone’s behavior, it means they lack originality and would rather follow the group, even to certain death, than think for themselves. In reality, if you’re behaving like a lemming, you are excellent at camouflage, with your fur changing from mottled brown in summer to snow white for winter; you can have a litter of pups every five weeks or so; you are a master tunnel builder; and you even, on occasion, outsmart the wily Arctic fox and live to see another day. We are surrounded by animal myths, but before you get “mad as a March hare,” take time to flush out the truth. You don’t want to “myth out” on the real magic of animals.
Paving the Way for
Nature-inspired Innovation By Gabriel Miller
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
and Claire Wathen MANAGER OF CORPORATE PROGRAMS, CENTRE FOR BIOINSPIRATION
Photos by Karen Hansen, Hansen Photography, Inc.
“The tortoise and lizard we met demonstrate two examples of protective materials. We spent some time afterwards walking through the Reptile House and Reptile Mesa to talk about unique reptile adaptations. Our group compiled these adaptations and their potential applications in their industries…” —Peter Gilson, San Diego Zoo Educator Guide
N
PHOTO BY SCOTT CLEAR, INTERSECTION, INC.
Above left: 2013 Bioinspiration Conference attendees arrive. Above: Learning from carnivorous plants: San Diego Zoo Horticulturist Judy Bell shares plant adaptations relevant to design and engineering during a breakout session focused on novel materials.
ature is an incredible network of processes, reactions, and relationships. The more we observe, the more we learn. Stopping to watch the elephants, you may notice a graceful trunk collecting a tiny raisin one moment and moving a log the next. Imagine if humans could create tools with similar dexterity and strength. Bioinspiration is a methodology in which biological systems, processes, and elements are studied to develop human design and GIRAFFE CONTRIBUTORY SPONSORS
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engineering solutions. Here at San Diego Zoo Global’s Centre for Bioinspiration, we empower organizations and individuals to learn from nature to develop products and processes that benefit humanity, wildlife, and habitats. In November 2013, leaders in nature-inspired innovation, design, and research convened at the San Diego Zoo for the fourth annual Bioinspiration Conference. We hosted 175 attendees who represented 65 organizations active in developing the emerging field of CHEETAH SUPPORTING SPONSORS
late to save energy. Pax Scientific CEO Jay Harman shared how the shapes of lilies, shells, whirlpools, and other natural phenomena have inspired impeller rotor designs capable of the efficient mixing of liquids. The gathering also included interactive breakout sessions throughout the San Diego Zoo. These were divided into five categories: Health & Wellness, Biophilia & Architecture, Adaptability & Resilience, Mechanics & Engineering, and Materials. Co-facilitated by San Diego Zoo staff and industry practitioners, breakout teams explored connections between nature and industrial challenges.
Above left: Former WIRED Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson spoke about bioinspired flight and robotics. Left: Many talented San Diego Zoo Global volunteers helped with on-site registration. From left: Mary Falwell, Sydney Buffet, Joey Chong, Anne Rubsamen, and Shelley Holmes. Above: The conference featured a discussion of how corporations are adopting bioinspiration into design and product development practices. From left: Darren Beck (Director of Environmental Initiatives, Sprint); Jane Fulton Suri (Chief Creative Officer, IDEO); and Pete Foley (Associate Director of Behavioral and Innovation Science, Procter & Gamble).
bioinspiration. We collectively asked how we can accelerate development of nature’s solutions and set out to find methods that offer practical outcomes without depleting ecosystems. The first day of the event included an academic panel discussion and seminars from the University of California at Berkeley, Georgia Tech, the Salk Institute, and Harvard/Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Audience members from design and innovation firms, universities, and large corporations alike listened as we considered how insects and kangaroos might inspire more effective search-and-rescue robots or how iridescent butterflies and berries inspired dye-free, colorchanging fibers. On day two of the conference, CEOs of bioinspired companies shared how their technologies save resources while highlighting the value of biodiversity. For example, Sharklet Technologies uses textures from shark skin to reduce bacterial growth on surfaces, while REGEN Energy uses swarm logic (think of bees and ants) to endow industrial heating and cooling systems with the ability to self-regu-
We began to appreciate the richness of the Zoo’s plant and animal collections in new ways. The possibilities for biological systems to inspire innovative solutions to pressing human concerns are seemingly endless. What other secrets might elephants reveal? The next time you’re visiting the Zoo or Safari Park, we invite you to look closely at the plants and animals. We have a strong feeling that elephant trunks are only the beginning!
“I thought the conference contributed at the highest level to bringing together the bioinspired community. I personally made some wonderful new connections, strengthened some tentative existing ones, and reinforced some long-held ones, especially those with the Zoo.” —Pete Foley, Associate Director of Behavioral & Innovation Science, Procter & Gamble SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
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d t e e g
ir
what’s in store 1.
Art that educates: The snare wire used in these sculptures was removed from wildlife areas by anti-poaching units. We contract with artists in Zimbabwe to transform the deadly snares into unique creations that raise awareness as well as funds to further support anti-poaching efforts. Visit our shops at the Zoo and Safari Park to purchase these featured items. Available in select stores. Limited quantities available.
1. Elephant $145, 2. Sable Antelope $38.95, 3. Baboon $28.95, 4. Kudu $32.95, 5. Painted Dog $28.95 6. Giraffe $57, 7. Water Buffalo $38.95
3. 7. 4.
6. 5.
2.
from the archives
All Aflutter When a butterfly encounter experience
first came to the Safari Park in 1992, it brought a beautiful new element to Nairobi Village. The glass greenhouse exhibit where guests could walk among the butterflies started out as the Hummingbird Pavilion and was then expanded in 1993 and was named Hidden Jungle. That means this year’s Butterfly Jungle event has been introducing Park visitors to the amazing world of these winged wonders for 22 years! One of the exciting aspects of the annual springtime event is the opportunity to support butterfly farmers in places around the world, including Central and South America and Indonesia. Butterfly farming requires intact rain forest habitat, so purchasing butterfly pupae from these sources helps to protect rain forest areas and provides the people who live and work there with a sustainable source of income. From the beginning, keepers remarked on the thrill of seeing butterflies emerge, take flight, and discover the nectar sources provided for them. One said, “Anytime I come in this exhibit to feed or work with the butterflies, it’s like going on a little safari. I can’t think of a better work environment— that is, if you can take the humidity.” Staff members have joked that working in the off-exhibit “cocoon room” requires “steady hands and nerves, strong eyes and deodorant, and the ability to write journal notes on sodden paper.” But everyone agrees that watching visitors’ eyes light up and hearing their soft exclamations of delight make it worth all the effort.
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WE’VE ADDED A 10K!
ALL NEW THIS YEAR!
Earn a VIP Experience and free registration (see race website to learn about fundraising for cheetahs)
Scenic Course! This point-to-point course will give you scenic views of wine country, horse ranches, and golf courses as well as exclusive views inside the Safari Park!
Free shuttle service! Free admission on race day! Post-race breakfast for just $15!
619-557-3915 | safariparkhalf.com
ZOONOOZ
®
SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
Box 120551, San Diego, California 92112
Don’t miss Zoo Play Days and Safari Park Butterfly Jungle in April!
Have you seen our ZOONOOZ digital editions? Now available for your iPad, desktop computer, and Kindle Fire.
FREE! Download the ZOONOOZ App for your iPad. sandiegozoo.org/zoonooz