ZOONOOZ March 2018

ZOONOOZ

®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

Pandas Back at Panda Trek Hamadryas Baboons Giraffe Conservation African Dwarf Crocodiles

MARCH 2018

BUTTERFLY JUNGLE PREVIEW DINNER

BUTTERFLY JUNGLE BREAKFAST

Friday, March 9, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.

Mombasa Pavilion

Sunday, March 18, 2018 | 7:30 a.m.

Mombasa Pavilion

See the amazing Butterfly Jungle presented by San Diego METRO Credit Union before it officially opens to the public, then enjoy a delectable four-course dinner prepared by Chef Joshua Mireles.

Guests will be seated at tables of eight.

Cost is $69.95 per person, plus tax and parking.

Come join us for an early viewing of our beautiful butterflies at Butterfly Jungle, and enjoy a breakfast buffet in the lovely Mombasa Pavilion.

Guests will be seated at tables of eight. Cost is $48.

Nonmembers add Safari Park admission, plus tax and parking.

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL 619-718-3000 OR BOOK ONLINE AT SDZSAFARIPARK.ORG/DINING-EVENTS.

March 2018 VOL. XCI–NO. 02

Graphically Speaking 8 In the Pink

Wade into the world of flamingos.

BY SHELBY LING AND WENDY PERKINS

Cover Story 10

And the Band Begins to Play....

What happens when a band of busy baboons takes over Africa Rocks?

BY DONNA PARHAM

Features 16

The Pandas Are Back

Bai Yun, Xiao Liwu, and Gao Gao have returned to fresh digs at the Zoo’s newly updated Panda Trek.

BY ESTON ELLIS

20 Giraffe Conservation: It Takes a Village

You can help us save the reticulated giraffe by joining our citizen scientist team, which is classifying field photos from Kenya.

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI

22

Oh, Snap!

The tiny African dwarf crocodiles at the Zoo are making a big splash!

BY PEGGY SCOTT

More

2 Nooz Notes 7 SDZ Kids Page 26 Support 28 In the Field ON THE COVER:

Hamadryas baboon Papio hamadryas Photo by Ken Bohn, SDZG Photographer THIS PAGE:

Purple sage Salvia leucophylla Photo by Tammy Spratt, SDZG Photographer

N O OZ N OT E S

Wall hanging, $138.

WHAT’S IN STORE?

Authentic wooden gazelle mask, $120.

Worldwild Treasures

The one-of-a-kind treasures that you will find in our Zoo and Safari Park gift shops are beautiful and remarkable items from around the globe. From African masks to hand-beaded jewelry to animal sculptures made from the recycled wire of confiscated poacher's snares, each item is unique—and your purchases support San Diego Zoo Global’s efforts to lead the fight against extinction.

Carved African game set, $375.

Safari teapot, $84; coffee mugs, $42 each.

NOW OPEN

DISCOVER THE NEW BAZAAR It’s time for a shopping adventure at the Safari Park’s newly renovated Bazaar! This unique gift shop has been remodeled to celebrate the colors of the wild—and the world. The expanded children’s area features everything animal: plush critters, toys, T-shirts, and baby items! You can also purchase unusual crafts from faraway lands that span the globe.

For every shopper, there are new items—and new designs—from shirts, hats, and jewelry to housewares, local wines, and food fare.

2 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

TAKE A TOUR.

WE’LL DRIVE.

Let an experienced guide introduce you to the incredible animals and plants at the San Diego Zoo during a Discovery Cart Tour, or at the Safari Park during a Cart Safari. Sit back in the comfort of our expedition cart as you tour the grounds and visit select spots for opportunities to experience wildlife and get great photographs. Your guide will share special stories about the plants and animals, how our conservation research work helps their wild relatives, and how little things we all do can make a big difference. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget!

BOOK YOUR TOUR ONLINE AT SANDIEGOZOO.ORG OR CALL 619-718-3000.

N O OZ N OT E S

MARCH 3, 4, 31; APRIL 7, 8, 28 Sunrise Surprise Stroll Explore the Zoo before it opens for the day, walk the grounds with experienced Zoo educators, learn the “inside secrets,” and hear stories about special animals. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z)

Save the Date What’s happening at the Zoo and Park this month and next (Z) Zoo events (P) Park events MARCH 3, APRIL 7 Kids’ Wild Night Out Leave your kids at the Zoo for a wild night out with Dr. Zoolittle and animal friends. Call 619-718-3000 or book at sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MARCH 9 Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner See event details inside the front cover of this issue. (P) MARCH 10 Albert’s Animal Ambassador Dinner Turn to page 25 for reservation information and details. (Z) MARCH 10–APRIL 15 Butterfly Jungle presented by San Diego METRO Credit Union Find out more on page 14 of this issue. (P) MARCH 17, 24; APRIL 21, 28 KinderTots Learning fun for the little

ones! Children ages 18 months to 3 years, with an adult companion, discover animals—and meet some up close.

Call 619-557-3962 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MARCH 17– APRIL 15 Peruvian Art Demonstrations Watch master carver Pablo Hurtado Laveriano from Huancayo, Peru, as he intricately carves gourds into works of art at the Zoo Store. (Z) MARCH 3, 17, 24; APRIL 7, 14, 21 KinderNights Animal interaction and fun for children ages 3 to 6 years, with an adult.

Call 619-557-3962 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MARCH 17, 24 Photo Workshop Larger Than Life: Macro Photography Join our professional photographers at this two-session class. Call

Springtime Fun

S

619-718-3000 or visit sandiegozoo.org. (Z) MARCH 17, 22; APRIL 7, 12, 13, 14 All Ages Roar & Snore with Butterfly Jungle Sleep over at the Safari Park, experience up-close animal encounters, and get an exclusive look at Butterfly Jungle.

For details and reservations, call 619-718-3000. (P)

MARCH 18 Spring Brew Festival See event details on page 25 of this issue. (P) MARCH 18 Butterfly Jungle Breakfast See event details inside the front cover of this issue.(P) MARCH 24-APRIL 8 Yaycation presented by National University Celebrate spring at the Zoo! Event details are

PRESIDENT/CEO’S NOTE DOUGLAS G. MYERS

pring is a busy and exciting time at the Zoo and Safari Park, so if you have a case of spring fever, we have the cure! At the Safari Park, springtime brings Butterfly Jungle, which begins on March 10 and continues through April 15. It’s a lovely welcome to the season: impressive, colorful, and fun, with thousands of beautiful butterflies fluttering around you. At the Zoo, Yaycation begins on March 24 and continues through April 8, with animal activities, keeper talks, and special presentations for the whole family.

We are also eagerly anticipating the opening of Walkabout Australia at the Safari Park on Memorial Day weekend. This summer, you will be able to take a leisurely, Australian-style safari to encounter kangaroos and wallabies, cassowaries and tree kangaroos, and a variety of birds native to the Land Down Under. And the Zoo’s Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks is in full swing right now—all the exhibits are open. I especially recommend visits to the penguins and the baboons: they are fascinating to watch. Come visit us and enjoy!

4 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

inside the back cover of this issue. (Z) APRIL 1 Easter Brunch Enjoy a memorable spring brunch at the Zoo or Safari Park. See page 5. (P)(Z) APRIL 28 Breakfast with Elephants Enjoy a breakfast buffet, a keeper talk, and exclusive viewing. Call 619-718-3000 or visit sdzsafaripark.org/ dining-events. (P)

Let’s Talk Follow @sandiegozoo & @sdzsafaripark.

Share your #SanDiegoZoo & #SDZSafariPark memories on Twitter & Instagram.

C E L EB R AT E AT T H E ZOO AND PARK

Easter Brunch at the San Diego Zoo Sunday, April 1, 2018 Treetops Banquet Room Continuous seating begins at 11 a.m.

Easter Brunch at the Safari Park Sunday April 1, 2018 Hunte Nairobi Pavilion Brunch begins at 11 a.m.

Enjoy this special day at the Zoo with family and friends, and savor a bountiful and delicious buffet brunch prepared by Executive Chef Carissa Giacalone and Albert’s Chef Charles Boukas.

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.

Cost is $47.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11, plus tax and gratuity. Membership or purchase of admission ticket required.

Cost is $47.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3 to 11.

Nonmembers add Safari Park admission, plus tax and parking.

For reservations, call 619-557-3964.

Secure your reservation with a credit card.

For reservations, call 619-718-3000 or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/ dining-events.

N O OZ N OT E S

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS

Steven G. Tappan, Chairman Javade Chaudri, Vice Chairman Linda Lowenstine, DVM, Ph.D., Secretary Richard B. Gulley, Treasurer BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Rolf Benirschke Clifford W. Hague Robert B. Horsman Steven S. Simpson Judith A. Wheatley

TRUSTEES EMERITI

It’s only a number The Safari Park has launched its first field exhibit live cam! With Giraffe Cam, you can view the Park’s African Plains from wherever you are, and watch our giraffes, rhinos, and antelope in action. Plus, to see the giraffes and other wildlife our researchers are studying in Kenya, check out wildwatchkenya.org.

You can even help the researchers categorize the field photos.

9,000

19

About the number of reticulated giraffes left in Africa—a worrying population decline.

How many giraffes currently live in the Safari Park African Plains field exhibit.

ZOONOOZ

®

PUBLISHED SINCE 1926 MARCH 2018 | VOL. XCI NO. 02

75

Pounds of food that a giraffe eats each day.

Acacia leaves are their main meal source.

The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in Octo­ber 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation that now does business as San Diego Zoo Global.

MANAGING EDITOR

KAREN E. WORLEY

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

PEGGY SCOTT

STAFF WRITERS

WENDY PERKINS KARYL CARMIGNANI DONNA PARHAM

The printed ZOONOOZ® magazine (ISSN 0044-5282) is currently published bimonthly, in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Publisher is San Diego Zoo Global, at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, 619-231-1515.

Periodicals postage paid at San Diego, California, USA, and at additional mailing offices.

ADDRESS CHANGES: Please send to Membership Department, P.O. Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112.

COPY EDITOR

ESTON ELLIS DESIGNER

KERRI ABRAMS SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

KEN BOHN TAMMY SPRATT

DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNICIAN

Copyright© 2018 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.

12

Current size of the Twiga Walinzi team working on giraffe research in Kenya.

SAN DIEGO ZOO HOURS March 1–9: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 10–23: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

March 24–April 8: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

April 9–30: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SAFARI PARK HOURS March 1–9: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

March 10–April 15: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

April 16–30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WEBSITE sandiegozoo.org PHONE 619-231-1515

Annual Memberships: Two adults in same household $166.50, new; $151.50, renewal. One adult $112, new; $102, renewal. Each membership includes unlimited entrance to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

ZOONOOZ® Online web publication zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org

Subscription to ZOONOOZ magazine: $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, for subscription information.

FSC® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper.

TAMMY SPRATT

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

KAMBIZ MEHRAFSHANI KIM TURNER AMY BLANDFORD SHELBY LING LISA BISSI JENNIFER MACEWEN

PREPRESS AND PRINTING

QUAD GRAPHICS

6 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

As part of San Diego Zoo Global’s commitment to conservation, ZOONOOZ is printed on recycled paper that is at least 10% post-consumer waste, chlorine free, and is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified.

Frank C. Alexander Kurt Benirschke, M.D. Berit N. Durler Thompson Fetter Bill L. Fox Frederick A. Frye, M.D. George L. Gildred Yvonne W. Larsen John M. Thornton A. Eugene Trepte Betty Jo F. Williams James Lauth, General Counsel Douglas G. Myers, President/CEO Charles L. Bieler, Executive Director Emeritus THE FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL OFFICERS

Richard M. Hills, Chair Judith C. Harris, Vice Chair Susan B. Major, Secretary Susan N. McClellan, Treasurer Mark A. Stuart, President Amy B. Parrott, Vice President Robert B. Horsman, Ex officio Douglas G. Myers, Ex officio BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christine L. Andrews Joye D. Blount Rick Bregman Douglas Dawson Berit N. Durler, Ex officio Chris L. Eddy Arthur E. Engel Valerie A. Ewell, DVM Susan Guinn Michael N. Hammes Murray H. Hutchison Nikita Kahn Joshua A. Pack Philip C. Seeger Elizabeth W. Shoemaker Ryan Sullivan Ed Wilson

in

living color

To find out about these and other animals, plus videos, crafts, stories, games, and more, visit kids.sandiegozoo.org.

Look for the eight butterfly words on this page in the word search box—remember to look forward, backward, up and down, and diagonally.

wings

legs

A butterfly uses its wings to fly and float through the air.

t h o ra x

The second of three segments on a butterfly’s body; the wings and legs are attached there.

caterpillar

s i c w z k x n c a p r n n w l o n m e c v m g z k l e a m r w i

s o pm e r j q f z k s e i l t s i m f n g

b x i h c p g f n q s

o u i a r h e a d a y

r h l e o o p h a k z

p e t x a r o h t k p

s a l n u s j s x y i

The larval stage of a butterfly or moth.

scales

A butterfly’s wings are covered with tiny scales that create the colors and patterns we see.

c h b e z m f n p i j

Like other insects, a butterfly has six legs.

antenna

A butterfly has two antennae on its head. They help with smell and navigation.

head

A butterfly’s head includes its eyes, antennae, and mouth parts— which include the proboscis.

proboscis

Adult butterflies use their proboscis for sucking up nectar.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 7

G R A P H I C A LLY S P E A K I N G

In the Pink

ANDEAN FLAMINGO Phoenicoparrus andinus These flamingos live the “high life” on plateaus at 7,500 to 15,000 feet high in the Andes mountains. They also stand out as the only flamingo with yellow legs.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SHELBY LING SDZG ILLUSTRATOR

TEXT BY WENDY PERKINS STAFF WRITER

They’re not hatched with it, but they’re known for it— a flamingo’s eye-catching color. The shades vary among the six species.

Some seem almost white; others have a bit of orange in their coloration. Wade in for the scoop on these birds, then flaunt your flamingo knowledge among friends and family.

LESSER FLAMINGO Phoeniconaias minor Standing no more than three feet tall, this is the smallest type of flamingo.

They are native to eastern and southern Africa.

DINING SPOTS A lesser flamingo (left) feeds at the surface, gathering microscopic algae, while greater flamingos (right) go deeper in search of bottom invertebrates.

Where their ranges overlap, the two species are able to feed in the same place.

8 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

PUNA FLAMINGO Phoenicoparrus jamesi Also known as the James’s flamingo, this species is native to South America.

Thought to be extinct in 1924, it was rediscovered in 1957.

PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF Flamingos need to run a few paces to gather enough speed for liftoff.

Once airborne, they can average about 35 miles per hour.

GREATER FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus roseus This is the largest of all flamingos; males stand about five feet tall.

Found from southern Spain east to India, and in many salt pans and lagoons in parts of Africa.

CHILEAN FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus chilensis The legs are distinctive; this flamingo has gray legs with pink joints. As the name implies, look for this bird in Chile— but also in mudflats and lagoons south to Tierra del Fuego.

HERE TODAY...

Once shed, flamingo feathers quickly lose their pink color.

TOE LONG What most people think of as a flamingo’s knee is actually its ankle and heel. From that point down is the beginning of the toe bones.

AMERICAN FLAMINGO Phoenicopterus ruber

CHICK CHOW Flamingo chicks grow up eating “crop milk,” a substance secreted in the crop (part of the esophagus) of both parents.

This hot-hued bird is also called the Caribbean flamingo, since it is found on islands there. It is also native to Yucatan, Mexico and the Galápagos Islands.

GROW ON That long, specialized bill is for filter feeding—a behavior the chick develops. The youngster grows—and grows into— 2–3 months its beak as it matures.

3–5 days old Head Flagging

old

3–4 weeks old 2–3 weeks old

6 months old

SHOW AND TELL Posturing is one way these social birds communicate.

The bird on the left is performing a “wing salute.” “Head flagging” is another behavior: lifting the beak skyward and rapidly turning the head side-to-side.

Head Flagging SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 9

AND THE BAND BEGINS TO PLAY....

When our boisterous baboon band charges into their expansive, naturalistic habitat, the daily spectacle stops Zoo visitors in their tracks.

BY DONNA PARHAM | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Each morning, eager to explore, a band of hamadryas baboons rockets out of their bedrooms, their enthusiastic chorus of low grunts resounding through the Africa Rocks habitat. The large monkeys—20 in all—range in age from 5 months to 23 years old. They gambol single-file atop the ridge and scramble up and down the craggy cliff faces. Some initiate a romp around the perimeter, and a playful pair bounds high into a tree. As they settle in, the vocalizations become less frequent, but the activity doesn’t slow down. The monkeys keep busy—grooming each other, peeling bark, uprooting grass, chomping on leaves, and chasing each other. Baby Christina scampers into the arms of two-year-old Sadie, even as mom Kurzbein keeps a firm grasp on her infant’s tail.

10 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

Baby baboon Christina was born to mom Kurzbein at the Zoo, where visitors will get to watch her grow up.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 11

The new hamadryas baboon exhibits in Africa Rocks provide the busy monkeys with a wide variety of environmental enrichment opportunities.

RELATIONSHIP ISSUES Like their counterparts in the wild, this band of 8 males and 12 females depends on a complex social structure. An adult male hamadryas baboon assembles a group of females that he monopolizes, socially and reproductively—or at least he tries to. His group, plus all their offspring, is called a one-male unit (OMU), and it’s a basic building block of hamadryas society. All the females are subordinate to their OMU leader. At the Zoo, that’s a 19-year-old male named Elvis.

In contrast to many monkey species—in which females maintain close bonds associated with family relationships—the strongest social bonds in hamadryas society are between a female and her OMU leader. And there is a hierarchy among the females, albeit one that is ever changing. Since Kurzbein gave birth to baby Christina at the Zoo in late 2017, she seems to be Elvis’ number one—for now. “A female named Irokese used to be the ‘Queen Bee,’ but they kind of defer to the mom of a new baby,” says Dustin Black, senior keeper. “The highest-ranking females stay physically closest to Elvis, and the lower-ranking 12 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

females are farther away, on the fringes of the group.”

“There is definitely ‘drama,’” says Dustin—and that’s a positive sign that the animals are demonstrating the same kind of natural behavior as they would in the wild. In hamadryas society, it’s normal for females within the same OMU to threaten each other with eyebrow raises, screaming, slapping the ground, and even hitting. On the flip side, females are just as likely to groom each other or engage in a quick embrace. The natural history of hamadryas baboons guides keepers in how to best support husbandry standards. So for the most part, the animals work out their social structure and each member’s place in it, with minimal interference from their keepers. “I’m very impressed with how Elvis maintained his group throughout their move from Europe, the quarantine process, and the final transfer to the Zoo,” says Dean Gibson, curator of primates. “I really expected more aggression and fractioning. It says a lot about Elvis that he was able to keep everybody calm, cool, and collected while they were in holding and when they were reunited.”

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS For the time being, the younger seven males live on the periphery of Elvis’ OMU as follower males. Although followers socialize with the rest of the OMU, the OMU leader does his best to monopolize mating.

Dustin has noticed that females Brittnay and Estilista—low ranking in Elvis’ group—seem to have taken up with a young male named Tabuk.

Subadult male Lex has befriended a female named Anakin. “Those friendly relationships place the males at an advantage when they are old enough to recruit females for their own OMUs,” says Dean.

When a follower male challenges an OMU leader for control of a female, the interaction is likely to turn aggressive. A leader “manages with aggression when he needs to,” says Dean. “They do have their squabbles, and then there’s lots of screaming.” But although Zoo guests may see some very dramatic behaviors—including teeth baring and conflict—these behaviors are critical to maintaining a functional social structure. And despite the fierce nature of these exchanges, injuries are DID YOU rare. “They don’t hold a grudge,” says Dustin. The KNOW? males sort it out, and they reestablish friendly relationships quickly. To make up, one or Hamadryas baboons both presents its rear end, and often, the other are adapted for the rugged, mountainous, male touches it.

FAMILY MATTERS “Baboons are iconic African primates,” says Dean. “Most people see olive, yellow, or chacma baboons if they visit Africa; the only way you would ever see hamadryas baboons is if you made a special trip to the Ethiopian Highlands.” So why do we have hamadryas here? The Zoo is playing a key role in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP). “The SSP team recognized that they needed new bloodlines as well as additional space,” says Dean. “So, working with the SSP coordinator, we identified a group of baboons in Germany’s Frankfurt Zoo that they were willing to move here.”

That was Elvis’ group—all 19 of them (now 20, with the birth of Christina).

Early in 2018, we’ll be adding some new baboon faces. “Based on SSP recommendations, we will be managing some new OMUs to keep the population genetically healthy,” says Dean. That means keepers will be playing matchmaker. The two spacious outdoor exhibits and several off-exhibit areas in Africa Rocks will allow them to introduce unrelated males and females, to encourage new OMUs—away from Elvis’ watchful eye!

and windswept Ethiopian Highlands, a region known as the “roof of Africa.”

Want to get to know the hamadryas baboons even better?

Check them out on San Diego Zoo’s Baboon Cam at zoo.sandiegozoo.org/ cams/baboon-cam.

Hamadryas baboons are the only species of monkey that is found in both Africa and Asia (in the Arabian Peninsula).

As a species, hamadryas baboons aren’t endangered, but in some parts of their range, they are losing habitat due to agricultural expansion and irrigation projects.

(Top) Grooming one another strengthens a baboon relationship. (Middle) Although baboons are among the most terrestrial monkeys, they are good climbers, too.

(Bottom) A male hamadryas baboon has an immense head with an impressive muzzle, and a long, thick, silvery mane and cape; he can be twice the size of a female.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 13

SAFARI PARK HOURS 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. Mark your calendar for the muchanticipated and popular annual celebration of butterflies. Step inside Butterfly Jungle and marvel at the range of sizes, patterns, and colors of thousands of butterflies. See how many species you can spot! Wear bright colors, and the winged wonders might land on you.

For an extra-special experience, join us for the Butterfly Jungle Preview Dinner on March 9 and the Butterfly Jungle Breakfast on March 18. For reservations, call 619-718-3000 or book online at sdzsafaripark.org/dining-events.

Event Chairs:

Don and Kathryn Vaughn

San Diego Zoo Global Presents

Rendezvous In The Zoo (R•I•T•Z) Saturday, June 16, 2018 at the San Diego Zoo 6:30 p.m. until midnight

This year’s R•I•T•Z gala will benefit The Sanford Children’s Zoo at the San Diego Zoo. By inspiring young hearts to fall in love with nature, we cultivate future conservation and help save our Earth’s irreplaceable species.

Support the bright future of San Diego Zoo Global and join us for an evening of exotic animal encounters, a lavish cocktail party, and gourmet dining, and dance the night away under the glittering stars.

Come be Wild@Heart!

RESERVE NOW–The best party in town sells out!

Contact Marilyn Neumann at 619-287-5435 or sdzooritz@gmail.com

Visit sandiegozoo.org/ritz for more info.

THE PANDAS ARE BACK Bai Yun, Xiao Liwu, and Gao Gao have returned to fresh digs at Panda Trek

W

BY ESTON ELLIS | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

hile it may be fun to take a long vacation in new surroundings, there’s nothing like coming home again. The San Diego Zoo’s giant pandas have come back to Panda Trek, after a long “staycation” at their temporary exhibit at the bottom of Center Street, near Sun Bear Trail.

And they seem to be just as glad to be back as Zoo guests are to see them return.

The pandas moved out of their familiar digs at Panda Trek during construction of the new, canyon-spanning Jim and Dianne Bashor Bridge, a 450-foot-long structure towering 70 feet above the canyon floor. During the monumental bridge construction project, animal care staff wanted to keep the Zoo’s 3 giant pandas—5-year-old Xiao Liwu (better known as “Mr. Wu”); his mother, 26-year-old Bai Yun; and his father, approximately 26-year-old Gao Gao—from being disturbed by construction noise and unfamiliar sounds during a year of intense work outside the Panda Trek exhibits. So, Bai Yun and Mr. Wu moved to their temporary exhibit on Center Street in July 2016. Due to age-related health concerns, Gao Gao stayed behind the scenes at the Giant Panda Research Station and later moved to the Zoo’s Jennings Center for Zoological Medicine.

16 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

HOME RENOVATIONS When all three pandas returned to their old stomping grounds at Panda Trek in November 2017, they found new things waiting for them—including updated facilities from the exhibit spaces to the bedrooms, both inside and outside the Giant Panda Research Station. “One of the positive things about the temporary move was that we had an opportunity to update our panda exhibits and the Giant Panda Research Station,” explained Gaylene Thomas, animal care supervisor.

“With over a year before the pandas returned, all the work could be done at once, instead of having to tackle one project at a time, here and there, over the course of several years.”

New plants­—including Cape honeysuckle, Grewia, bamboo, ferns, Eugenia, pine trees, and elm trees—were added and had time to get established. The exhibit perimeters and fencing were painted and refurbished. “All of our flooring in the Giant Panda Research Station was redone—and that goes right into

the animal spaces,” Gaylene said. “It took great planning to be able to do all these things while construction was underway on the bridge.”

A new high-resolution, color camera system was installed, along with all-new wiring throughout the exhibit and the Giant Panda Research Station. The big video monitors viewed by keepers and research-

ers were replaced with multiple flat screens, displaying images from new camera locations throughout the exhibits. “Now, staff can see pandas throughout the facility, wherever they are,” Gaylene said.

“The new camera system is great—something we’ve been wanting for years,” said Kathy Hawk, senior keeper. “The VHS system was such a dinosaur. Digital is great; perfect for Panda Cam, better clarity, and everything is up to date and keeper friendly, as well as panda friendly.”

“CENTER” OF ATTENTION While all of those renovations were being planned, a lot was also happening at the temporary location to get set for the pandas’ arrival.

Previous husbandry training for the pandas included walking into a large crate for voluntary participation in health procedures, such as blood pressure checks. The next step, in preparation for the temporary move, was training that would desensitize them to the presence of a fork lift, and get them used to the sensations of being transported. “They did well with their training—and when it

New climbing structures in the updated Panda Trek exhibit areas have already become favorite lounging and bamboo-eating locations for Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 17

The updated Panda Trek offers many new features, new vegetation, and more places for the giant pandas to climb, lounge, rest, explore, or enjoy eating their bamboo.

construction sometimes limited road access, making things a little more challenging.”

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

came time to move, they were very comfortable, every step of the way,” Gaylene recalled. “In fact, they were eating while we were transporting them. If someday in the future Wu is transported to China, he will be well prepared for the process.”

The pandas’ temporary exhibits were arranged differently from their Panda Trek areas. Moats surrounded these exhibit areas, so guests were kept at more of a distance. “All of that took a little getting used to,” Gaylene said. However, they adjusted to their new surroundings quickly, and so did Zoo guests, who continued to flock to see Bai Yun and Mr. Wu at their “second home.”

18 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

For keepers, there was even more to get used to during the staycation. Instead of Panda Trek’s room-size, walk-in cooler to store fresh bamboo and a nearby bamboo preparation station—including a scale to weigh bamboo, and a modified log splitter to split thick culms—keepers had to make longer trips to bring bamboo to the bears. “We rented a big walk-in cooler, which was brought to the parking lot of the hospital, and all our bamboo preparation activities moved there,” Gaylene said. “Keepers had to go to the hospital to get bamboo, then go back to Center Street to get it to the pandas— three times a day, every day. And

Finally, the day came when renovations were complete in Panda Trek and the bulk of bridge construction work was finished. It was time for the pandas to return—and no one was more enthusiastic about that than Bai Yun, Gao Gao, and Mr. Wu. “When the pandas came back after renovations were complete, they picked up right where they left off,” Gaylene said. “Almost as soon as Gao Gao’s crate got to Panda Trek, he started scent marking.” Mr. Wu has also been scent marking—and Bai Yun has been observed doing some body marking and rubbing, to put her scent on her surroundings, as well.

Gao Gao is not on exhibit, but he has the opportunity to explore many different areas—from an outdoor area with lots of vegetation, to indoor bedrooms, and a protected passageway between those areas. “He is very happy to be

BY THE NUMBERS

6

Total number of giant pandas born at the San Diego Zoo since 1996

12

Minimum number of hours each day giant pandas spend eating bamboo

1,864

Giant pandas surviving in wild habitats in 2014

back,” Kathy said. “That’s obvious to us. I know he’s appreciating all the individual attention he gets from us now, because our time was more limited when the pandas were spread out in different locations.”

DID YOU KNOW? Zoo guests can see Bai Yun and Mr. Wu daily at Panda Trek, or watch them online on the Zoo’s live Panda Cam, at zoo. sandiegozoo. org/cams/ panda-cam.

LANDSCAPING FOR PANDAS The new plantings in their exhibits caught all of the pandas’ attention, Kathy said. “We really like to see them exploring all the new items.

Wu is thrashing and tearing up things, like young bears will—but that’s okay; it’s enrichment.” Sporadic enrichment through the day at Panda Trek is very important to the pandas’ overall well-being, Kathy said. “It’s important to keep things continually interesting to them, and maintain their engagement with their surroundings.”

One new feature that both Bai Yun and Mr. Wu have been using daily is a series of climbing structures made of logs. Guests can often see Mr. Wu or Bai Yun lounging in them as if they were recliners, as they munch on bamboo. “The climbing structures also gave Wu access to a nearby elm tree, and Wu used the branches to swing on.”

The big, walk-in cooler is back in operation to hold fresh bamboo.

“The bamboo prep station moved around the corner, and it is now where Wu can see it,” Gaylene said.

VISITORS WELCOME Many improvements have been made to the guest queue, Gaylene said. “There are polished railings and glass in the guest queue, and the line moves quickly.”

In the exhibit areas, terracing

replaces a steep slope. The pandas will enjoy new mister fans in the exhibit areas. “We’ve used them a lot,” Gaylene said. “They really got a workout during our lovely record temperatures during Thanksgiving week last year.”

Adjacent to the exhibits, the Giant Panda Research Station includes not only panda bedrooms but also offices for animal care staff and researchers from the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. “We have a lot of off-exhibit space,” Gaylene said, “along with four exhibits, and two out of the public view. Our bears are familiar with all of the many bedroom areas and each of the exhibits. I always say, we have room for more pandas—and I am hopeful that China will send more our way.”

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 19

Giraffe Conservation:

BY KARYL CARMIGNANI STAFF WRITER

O

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

nce as common as sunlight on the savanna, reticulated giraffe Giraffa reticulata populations have, unfortunately, declined by more than 70 percent since the 1990s. While many have decried this “silent extinction,” San Diego Zoo Global and our partners sprang into collaborative conservation action. In 2016, an initiative united two conservancies in northern Kenya, staff from local communities, several wildlife conservation organizations, and thousands of citizen scientists to protect declining populations of giraffes.

To better understand giraffe habitat preferences, the presence of livestock, and the diversity of wildlife across the areas, 112 motion-activated field cameras were installed throughout the conservancies.

Data revealed in the photos will help guide strategies to protect critical giraffe habitat. Community-led conservation researchers, called the Twiga Walinzi (“giraffe guards” in Swahili), continually monitor the giraffes and maintain the cameras, retrieve the memory cards, conduct surveys and community outreach, and remove snares from the habitat. After

20 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

one year, about one million images had news! Other field photos reveal elephants, been collected from Loisaba Conservancy leopards, aarkvarks, and hyenas. For and Namunyak Community Conservanparticipating citizen scientists, the project cy—a huge amount of data! So an online provides hours of mesmerizing entertaincitizen science project called Wildwatch ment for a great cause.

Kenya was implemented, in which people BOOTS ON THE GROUND from around the world can review and In the fall of 2017, our research coordiclassify the images. “We need help countnators, Jenna Stacy-Dawes and Kirstie ing, identifying, and tracking the giraffes Ruppert, spent a month in Kenya. Four and other wildlife in the photos,” exaddional local people were trained to plained David O’Connor, Global Partnerinstall cameras in the northships researcher, San Diego ern part of the Namunyak Zoo Institute for ConservaConservancy, joining and tion Research. Each image IT’S ALL expanding the Twiga Walinzi will be viewed by several volRELATIVE team to 12. Jenna said most unteers to confirm the species The closest of the researchers are selected and help classify the images. taxonomic relation to by their community, which “The ‘crowdsourcing’ aspect the giraffe is is high praise for them and is key to organizing the data,” the okapi. the project. Johnson, one of said David. And you can help! the research assistants and Visit wildwatchkenya.org to a head moran (“warrior” in become a volunteer.

Swahili), is well equipped to teach his Preliminary results have revealed peers about the importance of protecting some candid scenes and surprises. For wildlife, including giraffes, and deal with instance, honey badgers and steenbok livestock conflicts. He also does school have appeared at Loisaba Conservancy, a outreach, helping the younger generation rare sight. Another happy surprise was the appreciate the value of Kenya’s wildlife. presence of painted dogs. Domestic dogs He described to Kirstie how people in belonging to the herders can bring canine his community used to hunt and eat distemper into the area, to which the resigiraffes, but now, knowing that giraffes dent painted dogs have no immunity. This are in trouble and that money can be drastically reduced the number of painted earned from helping giraffes survive, his dogs, but the cameras revealed the disease community recognizes that conservadid not wipe them out completely. Great

It Takes a Village tion work can provide for their families in a different way. This paradigm shift is crucial to the success of the project. It is inspiring “working with a team so passionate to save animals,” said Jenna, “and communities that want to preserve animals that they live side-by-side with.” In essence, the giraffes provide the benefits of jobs and education. “It’s a fresh way to connect people to giraffes,” she added.

With the help of Loisaba Conservancy, the project donated 40 desks and education materials to Morijo Primary School, located just outside of the conservancy, which will help to improve the future for the community—and giraffes.

gets a GPS-enabled camera that tags the photos taken of the zebras and giraffes.

All of the images are downloaded onto hard drives, which are then given to Grevy’s Zebra Trust for data analysis. The data helps provide accurate numbers of Grevy’s zebras and reticulated giraffes, which will help conservationists safeguard these iconic species for the future.

“Outside of these conservancies, we are seeing drastic declines in giraffes and other wildlife,” said Jenna. “The faster we can collect and process this data, the faster we can figure out what’s going on, and focus our efforts.”

READING BETWEEN THE “LINES”

Kenya has suffered from intense droughts in recent years, leading to an uptick in orphaned animals, as mothers cannot find enough nutrition and are forced to abandon their offspring. An impromptu nursery for these orphaned animals has formed within the horse stables at Sarara Camp, a community-owned eco-lodge within Namunyuk Conservancy. This past year, the stable has become a safe haven to three Grevy’s zebra foals, a young kudu, and three reticulated giraffe calves.

The youngsters are patiently nurtured

by Lekupanii, who came to be known as the “Giraffe Whisperer” after his charges grew up and were “rewilded” but still return to the stable to see him.

In January 2018, Jenna and Kirstie helped train citizen scientists who were participating in The Great Grevy’s Rally, an annual event organized by Grevy’s Zebra Trust to survey the Grevy’s zebra, one of the most endangered mammals in the world. This year, the reticulated giraffe was included in the census, and about 700 people came from all over Kenya and beyond to participate in this conservation event. In 2016, more than 500 people making up 118 teams covered over 9,600 square miles across 4 counties to count the Grevy’s zebra. Jenna explained that each team, accompanied by a ranger,

THE GIRAFFE WHISPERER

In June 2017, veterinarBY ians, researchers, and supTHE NUMBERS porters from Kenya Wildlife Service, San Diego Zoo Global, Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Northern Motion-detecting Rangelands Trust, The Natrail cameras that take photos in ture Conservancy, Leparua northern Kenya.

Community Conservancy, Loisaba Conservancy, the Smithsonian Institution, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Reticulated Senckenberg BiK-F, and giraffes received Goethe University affixed GPS units that solar-powered satellite GPS provide data. tracking devices (specially designed and built by Savannah Tracking) to 11 giraffes Volunteers at 2 locations in northern currently helping Kenya. These transmitters us classify the were placed on the giraffes’ field photos. ossicones, and the satellite information collected provides data about the movements and ranges of giraffes. Unfortunately, within a few months, two of the study animals were poached, highlighting the importance of this community-based conservation project. Along with poaching, reticulated giraffe declines are due to habitat loss and degradation. The goal of this project is to help protect the graceful towers of the savanna, and working together, we can achieve that.

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SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 21

Oh, Snap!

African dwarf crocs are a big deal

BY PEGGY SCOTT | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

Despite barely tipping the scale at less than six ounces, the African dwarf crocodile hatchlings

at the San Diego Zoo are still making quite the splash. The 14 baby reptiles are the first of their species ever hatched in the 101-year history of the Zoo. And whether you call them dwarf, broad-nosed, or bony, these crocodiles rock. Just ask Lawrie Arends, a reptile keeper at the Zoo and croc fan extraordinaire. “These hatchings are exciting,” Lawrie says. “Dwarf crocs, and crocodiles in general, are such interesting and misunderstood animals—people need to know the truth about them.” Lawrie took over primary care of the Zoo’s adult African dwarf crocodiles in 2016. Yendi, an 11-year-old female, and Kumba, a 50-year-old male, have been here since 2007 and 2013, respectively. And now Lawrie has 14 additional reptilian responsibilities!

22 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

dwarf crocodiles, off and on, since the 1980s. Yet the pitter-patter of extra-tiny crocodilian feet is a new sound around here.

In preparation for her family, Yendi spent two months nesting—literally. She built a mound nest from soil, leaves, and other materials supplied by her keepers. “Then she laid her eggs, covered them up, and took her place as guard,” Lawrie says. “If she wasn’t on it, she was nearby, watching us like a hawk.” As interesting as it was to watch Yendi nest, the actual hatching process is a sight to behold—and something to be heard! “When it’s time to break out of their shell, the babies call to each other from inside the egg, making little puppy-like whimper noises that basically mean ‘let’s go guys, all together!’” Lawrie says, adding that Mom is right there to help any late bloomers. “If an egg doesn’t hatch, the mother will take it in her mouth and gently crack the shell, piercing the inner membrane without crushing the baby. It’s amazing!” A mother crocodile then carries her youngster to the water’s edge to join the rest of her brood.

Because this was such an important clutch of eggs, keepers removed them from Yendi’s enclosure to check them out. Once it was determined which eggs were fertile, keepers incubated the little treasures at a carefully selected temperature. “If the temperature is high, the offspring develop as female,” Lawrie explains. “At a medium temperature, you get a mix of males and females. Lower temperatures produce males, and the lowest temperatures result in all females. A few degrees can make all the difference.” This clutch aimed for a mix; it will be a few months before keepers can verify the outcome.

And Kumba? His job is complete, Lawrie notes, since male crocodiles do not play a role in the raising of young.

LIFE’S A BEACH

We’re here!

The Zoo’s hatchlings came out of their shells ready to take on the world.

(PRE)HISTORIC OCCASION Crocodiles have existed for hundreds of millions of years. The African dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis, one of the smallest surviving crocodile species, tops out at around 70 pounds and a length of 5 feet. (The other end of the spectrum finds the saltwater crocodile at 20 feet long and over 2,000 pounds.) This species was discovered in 1861, and the Zoo has kept African

Native to central and western Africa, dwarf crocodiles make their homes in tropical lowlands such as swamps, mild-current areas of rain forest rivers, riverbanks, savanna pools, or, as Lawrie says, “Anywhere there’s equatorial forest.” African dwarf crocs dig burrows along the water’s edge and come out at night.

Their coloring—a black back and sides with yellowish patchy underbelly—helps them blend in with their surroundings. The belly and underside of the crocodile’s neck have bony deposits that form hard plates called osteoderms, and its neck, back, and tail are heavily armored. Lawrie notes that environment may affect the appearance of one population of African dwarf crocodiles. “There are some that live in caves, and they are slightly orange in color,” she says. “They eat bats and cave crickets, and researchers aren’t sure if the color comes from the guano that drops on them, or maybe from the animals not being exposed to the sun’s UV rays. It’s still being studied.”

Their short, blunt snout houses 30 to 32 razor-sharp teeth.

New teeth grow continuously, pushing the older teeth up and

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 23

This page, from top left: Unlike those laid by birds, crocodile eggs are leathery.

Crocodile hatchlings use their teeth to break out of their shells.

In order to help her offspring escape its egg, a mother crocodile will use her teeth to bite the egg just enough to pierce the shell.

out of the jaw. Those teeth, coupled with jaw strength, allow the African dwarf crocodile to chomp down whole smaller prey like fish and amphibians, or tear off large pieces of a bigger meal, such as carrion. Here at the Zoo, Yendi and Kumba are fed fish, small rodents, special crocodile biscuits, earthworms, and crayfish; while the “croc-lets” dine on crickets, worms, and small fish.

IMMERSIVE LEARNING

Growing up in Australia, Lawrie saw her first saltwater crocodile at about age four, and was instantly smitten. “I have been fascinated with them ever since,” she says, adding that she

24 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

their activities nocturnal.

Lawrie points out that Yendi and Kumba do more than just sunbathe in their exhibit at Africa Rocks. “They can identify colors and they know their names,” she says. “We have done some husbandry training with them, which helped us discover that Yendi was pregnant. She responded to a target and came up on land, where we could see she was gravid.”

A SHORTENED FUTURE?

studied the creatures extensively during her academic career, and attended an intensive, eight-day crocodilian biology and professional management program in St. Augustine, Florida that’s known as “croc school.” “I saw every single species of crocodile, from all over the world, all in one place,” Lawrie says. The experience seems to have cemented her role as a crocodile crusader. “People think crocodiles are not intelligent, and that all they do is sleep and eat people. It’s more complicated—and much more interesting than that.” As a smaller species living in a range with larger animals (like larger crocs), dwarf crocodiles survive by laying low during the day and keeping

While Yendi and Kumba go about their life in Africa Rocks, and their babies grow up—some behind the scenes and some on exhibit on the Zoo’s Reptile Walk—African dwarf crocodiles in the wild may not be so lucky. “They’re currently listed as Vulnerable, but a big percentage of the population is lost to the bushmeat trade,” Lawrie says. “Logging clears habitat, which also threatens them, and climate change is affecting their population balance, as it is with so many animals. But these smart crocodiles have managed to live alongside bigger species and make it work. They have survived to outlive dinosaurs. Wouldn’t it be terrible if people turned out to be their downfall?” It’s hoped that with efforts such as those from San Diego Zoo Global, a new plan to save these prehistoric wonders can be hatched.

Spring Dining AT THE ZOO & THE PARK

ALBERT’S ANIMAL AMBASSADOR DINNER AT THE ZOO SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2018 6 p.m. | Animal Ambassador Reception in Treetops Banquet Room

6:45 p.m. | Dinner at Albert’s Restaurant

Join us at the Zoo for a memorable evening with our animal ambassadors and enjoy a gourmet meal prepared by Executive Chef Carissa Giacalone and Albert’s Chef Charles Boukas. Choice of wild or tame jungle juice available at the reception, with a no-host bar during dinner. $82 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Make your reservations today online, or call 619-718-3000.

BREAKFAST AT PENGUINS AT THE ZOO MARCH 31 AND APRIL 28, 2018 8 a.m. | Breakfast at Africa Rocks’ Cape Fynbos Visit the Zoo before it opens to enjoy a buffet breakfast while you watch our African penguins waddle, swim, and play! You’ll enjoy an exclusive view, along with a special keeper talk and an animal presentation with an African animal. Guests will meet at the Zoo front gate at 7:45 a.m., then walk to Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks’ Cape Fynbos. $49 per person, plus tax. Nonmembers add Zoo admission.

Make reservations online, or call 619-718-3000.

SPRING BREW FESTIVAL AT THE PARK SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2018 2 to 5 p.m. | Kijamii Overlook Join us at the Safari Park for our Spring Brew Festival, featuring beers from local craft breweries, a St. Patrick’s Day-inspired buffet, music, and animal greeters.

Representatives from the breweries will speak about the beer selections. Must be 21 years or older to attend.

COMING TO THE PARK IN MAY Tequila Dinner: Saturday, May 5, 2018

Advance ticket price is $50 per person for food and beer; $25 for food only. Tickets available at the Safari Park day of the event for $70 per person, depending on availability.

Add tax and parking; nonmembers add Park admission.

Make your reservations online, or call 619-718-3000.

BREAKFAST WITH ELEPHANTS AT THE PARK SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2018 8 a.m. | Breakfast at Elephant Viewing Patio Guests will enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast at the Safari Park’s Elephant Viewing Patio with exclusive sights of this dynamic pachyderm group, followed by a keeper talk. $48 per person, plus tax and parking. Nonmembers add Safari Park admission.

Make reservations online, or call 619-718-3000.

g Baby avin S S U P P O RT

You can help heal broken families

BY CAITLIN HANNAH | COPYWRITER, DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PHOTO BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

There are 96 elephants killed every single day. These senseless deaths tear families apart and leave countless desperate orphans to fend for themselves.

San Diego Zoo Global is committed to rescuing, healing, and hand raising the babies left behind so they can eventually return to their herds. Your generous donations make these life-saving efforts possible!

Poaching is threatening elephant populations across Africa.

Tragically, when one elephant is killed, more deaths often follow: a young elephant cannot survive without the protection and care of its family. Poachers are claiming generations of these African giants with just one bullet.

HOPE FOR A GIANT FUTURE As we fight to stop poaching, we also have to rescue the babies left behind.

Working with our partners in Kenya, we’ve helped establish an elephant orphanage where sick and injured elephant babies find sanctuary. They receive round-the-clock medical care to attend to any needs they may have, ranging from pneumonia to colic to teething.

Once they’re strong enough, they join their fellow orphan brothers and sisters. During the day, under the watchful eye of their keepers, the little herd goes to “elephant nursery school.”

Romping out into the bush, they help 26 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

each other scramble over rocks, choose the tastiest plants to eat, wallow happily in mud holes, and find the coziest spots to nap. It’s important that they’re raised to be wild so that—when they’re ready—they can be released and rejoin a herd in a safe area.

DOUBLING DOWN These “littles” require a lot of love and attention. Their dedicated caretakers give them eight bottles of milk every day to help them grow and thrive. You can help them! Friends like you make rescuing these orphaned elephants possible. And now, thanks to the generosity of Larry Ellison and Nikita Kahn, your tax-deductible

donation will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your power to turn things around.

The plight of African elephants is heartbreaking. But with your help, we

Elephants

Big love! A keeper feeds a rescued elephant at the elephant sanctuary in Kenya.

You can help

Your gift of $60 will be worth $120, and now provides 3 days of antibiotics to treat sick elephants.

Your gift of $100 will be worth $200, and now provides 3 days of bottle feeding for an orphaned elephant.

can save lives. Your donation allows us to rescue, rehabilitate, and safely release orphaned elephant calves. Every little bit from their “family” around the world makes a big difference, and

we can’t thank you enough. Together, we can turn things around for our giant friends.

For updates and to follow their journey, visit endextinction.org/rescue.

Your gift of $250 will be worth $500, and now provides helicopter rescue flights for 2 baby elephants to the sanctuary.

To donate, visit endextinction.org/rescue.

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL / SANDIEGOZOO.ORG / 27

IN THE FIELD

San Diego Zoo Global’s mission to end extinction takes place not just at the Zoo, Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, but also through field projects with more than 130 species in 70 countries.

Each issue, we will share an update on one of these projects.

Clockwise from top left: Notes are taken at each seed collection site; counting seeds takes a steady hand; replenishing habitat with plants grown from wild seed; specimens of each plant are dried and pressed; seeds are labeled and carefully stored.

SAVING SEEDS—AND SPACES

BY WENDY PERKINS | STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY KEN BOHN | SDZG PHOTOGRAPHER

With 54 endemic plant species and more than 3,500 native plant species, San Diego County is a biodiversity hotspot. More than 80 globally imperiled plants occur in San Diego County, and 29 species are threatened or endangered. San Diego Zoo Global’s (SDZG’s) Native Plant Seed Bank, begun in 2000, helps to conserve the diversity of San Diego County’s flora by drying and freezing seeds for long-term storage. Each seed collection preserves the invaluable genetic material of thousands of individuals from a plant population. “Given the importance of their precious contents, seed banks represent an invaluable cornerstone for conservation—we are definitely banking on the future of plants,” says Joyce Maschinski, Ph.D., SDZG’s director of plant conservation.

Many species’ life cycles are dependent on weather, and the abundant rainfall over the winter of 2016–2017 brought to life seeds that had been dormant for many years. “We found hundreds of specimens of some species,” Joyce says. “This year, we may only see a dozen.” The Plant Conservation team 28 / ZOONOOZ / MARCH 2018

struck while the iron was hot—or in this case, while the soil was soaked. Researchers were especially interested in collecting seeds from nine types of plants that are species of concern, some of which are found only in vernal pools—temporary pools of water that provide habitat for distinct plants and animals.

In 2016, SDZG rooted a partnership with the Center for Plant Conservation, enhancing both organizations’ efforts to preserve the Earth’s botanical heritage, including that in our own backyard. “Our goal is to be a global model for plant conservation,” says John Clark, Ph.D., president of the Center for Plant Conservation and director of Plant Collections and Strategy at SDZG. Every seed collected and nurtured brings us closer to realizing that goal. The Plant Conservation team also works toward restoring coastal sage scrub—an endangered habitat.

In the coming year, we’ll welcome a natural lands manager, who will oversee the care of the coastal sage scrub preserve that makes up more than half of the Safari Park acreage.

i

march24 April8

Take a Yaycation at the San Diego Zoo to celebrate spring!

We’ll have extra fun under the sun, with special animal experiences and more.

Shake off winter, and join the party at the Zoo!

sandiegozoo.org/yaycation

ZOONOOZ

®

SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL

Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112

JOIN US FOR BUTTERFLY JUNGLE AND YAYCATION!

There are ONLY 3 northern white rhinos left on the planet.

Decades of rampant poaching have decimated this species to the brink of extinction. But there’s hope.

San Diego Zoo Global is leading the fight to save these gentle giants.

Your support to the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy creates action and impact. Will you join us?

Together, we can turn things around.™

ENDextinction.org/hope