San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal March 2024
Spreading the Truth About Pollinators and Ecosystems MARCH/APRIL
—Dr. Kirstie Ruppert, Ph.D.
Vol. 4 No. 2
Journey Through Our Conservation Work San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance safeguards wildlife in eight conservation hubs around the world. To learn more about our collaborative conservation programs, including our wildlife care at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, visit sdzwa.org.
Cover Story
Pass It On:
The Buzz About Pollinators
Some 1,200 crops and over 180,000 species of plants require the help of pollinators in order to keep the world fed. Here’s a look at how mighty these tiny species are.
Features
14
The Chui Mamas
Across northern Kenya, the “Leopard Mothers” are not only assisting with conservation; they’re building livelihoods for their communities as well.
20
Belle Benchley
The trailblazing “Zoo Lady” worked alongside San Diego Zoo founder Dr. Harry Wegeforth, and her innovative ideas and dedication to wildlife care continue to inspire us today.
24 Visualize It
The San Diego Zoo’s 100 lush acres are blooming with a vibrant display of colorful flora. Here’s a look at just a few.
Follow @sandiegozoo & @sdzsafaripark. Share your #SanDiegoZoo & #SDZSafariPark memories on Twitter & Instagram.
The Zoological Society of San Diego was founded in Octo ber 1916 by Harry M. Wegeforth, M.D., as a private, nonprofit corporation, which does business as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
The printed San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal (ISSN 2767-7680) (Vol. 4, No. 2) is published bimonthly, in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Publisher is San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, located at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101-1646. Periodicals postage paid at San Diego, California, USA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, PO Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112-0271.
If your mailing address has changed: Please contact the Membership Department; by mail at PO Box 120271, San Diego, CA 92112, or by phone at 619-231-0251 or 1-877-3MEMBER.
For information about becoming a member of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, please visit our website at ZooMember.org for a complete list of membership levels, offers, and benefits.
Paid subscriptions to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal are available. Contact Membership Department for subscription information.
Our pursuit of a world where all life thrives and commitment to securing a future for the world’s wildlife are guided by some of the most dynamic leaders in conservation. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is shaped by these visionaries who are taking our organization to new heights through innovative collaborations and partnerships. We are all honored to work with local communities to share and support conservation strategies where they’re needed most. In this issue, we celebrate the incredible women across our Alliance who are leading transformative conservation strategies for wildlife, people, and the planet we share— here in San Diego and around the world.
Since our earliest days, we’ve been fortunate to benefit from trailblazers who’ve carved a path for women as leaders in conservation. Belle Benchley was among our earliest and most impactful leaders, and traversed the traditional roles for women at the time. Her legacy continues to influence us, and walking in her footsteps is the next generation of women leaders who are guiding the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, our global conservation work, and countless teams across our Alliance. As a conservation organization, we are a conduit for the passions and aspirations within our teams who work together to secure a future for wildlife, and create opportunities for people to be transcendent allies for wildlife. We are better together, as one, and our collective future is brighter when we can bring everyone into the folds of conservation. Whether it’s working with local communities here in San Diego or partnering with women-led pastoralist communities in Kenya, we are excited to see our aspirations for wildlife conservation realized, and we will continue forging the relationships that drive our crucial work. We hope you join us this spring to experience your own immersive conservation moment as you connect with some of the world’s most vibrant butterflies at the Safari Park’s Butterfly Jungle. Our efforts to create a future with wildlife starts with welcoming YOU to our two leading zoos—the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—and we are thankful of all your support.
Enjoy this edition of the Journal and a look at a few of our inspirational leaders who we are honored to call team members and colleagues.
As part of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s commitment to conservation, this magazine is printed on recycled paper that is at least 10% post-consumer waste, chlorine free, and is Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC ®) certified. FSC ® is not responsible for any calculations on saving resources by choosing this paper.
Paul A. Baribault President and Chief Executive Officer Onward,
BY: SDZWA
PHOTO
BY THE NUMBERS
In Due Time
Gestation—the period between conception and birth—varies from species to species. The speed record for mammals, for example, goes to the Virginia opossum, at 12 days. At the other end of the spectrum is the elephant, which must wait 22 months for its offspring to be born. The differences can be sized up to, well, size—larger species need longer time to develop. Here are a few species that fall somewhere in between.
2024 Board of Trustees
OFFICERS
Steven S. Simpson, Chair
Steven G. Tappan, Vice Chair
Rolf Benirschke, Vice Chair
3.5 42
The number of months that a tiger is pregnant.
Giraffes are pregnant for 400 to 460 days.
187
The gestation period, in days, for a baboon.
400–460
Gestation for a kangaroo averages 42 days.
A tapir’s gestation period averages 13 months.
Gary E. Knell, Treasurer
E. Jane Finley, Secretary
TRUSTEES
Kathleen Cain Carrithers
Javade Chaudhri
Adam Day
Clifford W. Hague
Bryan B. Min
Kenji Price ‘Aulani Wilhelm
TRUSTEES EMERITI
Berit N. Durler
Thompson Fetter
Richard B. Gulley
Robert B. Horsman
John M. Thornton
Executive Team
Paul A. Baribault
President and Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Dixon
Chief Operating Officer
David Franco
Chief Financial Officer
Erika Kohler
Executive Director, San Diego Zoo
Lisa Peterson
Executive Director, San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Nadine Lamberski, DVM, DACZM, DECZM (ZHM)
Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer
Wendy Bulger
General Counsel
David Gillig
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Aida Rosa
Chief Human Resources Officer
David Miller
Chief Marketing Officer
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) protects and restores nature in eight conservation hubs on six continents. Below are recent discoveries and progress reports from around the world.
Antifungal Drug Trial
One of the biggest threats facing the mountain yellow-legged frog is the invasive amphibian chytrid fungus, which has caused massive die-offs and declines in this species in Southern California. Our team recently piloted antifungal treatments in the field; after locating 11 frogs at a lake, they were treated on site with an antifungal drug for 5 days, and then released back at their original detection location. After treatment, we found that infection loads decreased and, in some cases, infections were cleared. This pilot study may be implemented on a larger scale in the future, and provides some hope for a chytrid mitigation strategy in this endangered species.
Understanding Aardvark Biology
The aardvark is the only extant species remaining within its taxonomic family, and much of the aardvark’s biology has yet to be elucidated. There is currently no published literature describing the estrous (reproductive) cycle or the hormonal regulation of ovulation, gestation, or lactation in this species. SDZWA has begun monitoring levels of the hormone progesterone in samples from female aardvarks under our care, which may provide novel insight into their reproductive biology. We are observing their reproductive behaviors, noninvasively collecting fecal samples, and analyzing them for progesterone levels that indicate cycle activity and pregnancy. These findings will be important in informing aardvark health and care at SDZWA and around the world.
Killer Whale Health
SDZWA and our partners are monitoring the health of endangered Southern Resident killer whales in the Salish Sea in Washington State. Since 2021, we have been using drones, among other methods, to remotely gather killer whale samples and data. Our team recently launched the newest version of our drone: we 3-D printed a custom-designed mount that holds two petri dishes and attached it to the drone, alongside a thermal infrared camera. The drone flies through a killer whale breath plume, collecting breath droplets on the petri dishes, while the infrared camera collects internal temperature data down the whale’s blowhole as it exhales. This system allows us to noninvasively track wild killer whale health and collect data that will inform veterinary interventions and conservation and improve the well-being of wildlife, people, and oceans.
Spread your wings.
MARCH 16 THROUGH MAY 12
Spring brings the perfect chance to get outdoors, spend time with family, and experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season! From special entertainment and culinary creations to amazing wildlife encounters like Butterfly Jungle Safari (additional ticket required), come make spring memories to last a lifetime!
Can you tell us a little about your background?
After graduating from the University of California, Davis (Go Aggies!), I moved to Southern California and spent 10 years in a research lab at the University of California, San Diego, eventually managing the operations and working with scientists from Asia and Europe. During that time, I met my future husband, Tom, and began a family, welcoming our four wonderful children.
I happily began a second career as an elementary school teacher with 16-plus years of field trips to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, both places being lifelong touchstones for our family. While teaching, I began as a guide at the Zoo in 2018, driving double-decker tour buses. My first day of training was learning how to parallel park a 42-footlong vehicle! I jokingly say I was hired because teachers are equipped to manage queues and large numbers of people while being charmingly bossy.
Why did you transition from elementary education to become a Safari Park tour guide?
The transition from teaching to solely a Safari Park tour guide came at a time when our youngest graduated from college, and I began receiving numerous invitations to join a “retirement organization.” I’m very grateful to continue educating and engaging with all ages, and I love seeing excited school groups with their dedicated teachers at the Safari Park.
What is the coolest thing about your job?
Having the opportunity to go behind the scenes on tours or
Denice Brannigan
joined San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in 2018, and has been a tour guide at both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Her background as an elementary school teacher, combined with experience in wildlife care, helps her to connect especially well with children and share her passion for conservation. Denice’s guests love her friendliness, patience, and humor. She goes above and beyond to ensure that they not only enjoy their tour, but leave with a deeper appreciation for wildlife.
through (job) loans, where I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to lend a hand in different departments. It’s a fantastic glimpse into how the many parts contribute to the overall mission of SDZWA.
Q
What's the most memorable wildlife moment you've witnessed?
Years ago, it had rained every day for two weeks. One evening, worker ants filled the space around the warm bulb of a plug-in nightlight with thousands of 1-millimeter, milky white ant eggs. The next day, when the rain finally stopped and the sun appeared, every single egg was gone! This left a lasting impression and changed the way I think about all creatures, in their resourcefulness and capacity to adapt.
Q
What is your favorite animal? Why?
It’s difficult to choose, but I’d say, “Happiness is hugging a warm puppy.” I don’t know what we would do without the loving, intuitive energy of dogs!
Q
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by the appreciation of the beauty and importance of the natural world that humans share. This common ground highlights the interconnectedness of plants, animals, and people and sparks collaboration and innovation in the conservation of wildlife and the Earth that is home to all.
PHOTO BY: KEN
Sip, Snack, Save Species
Stay fueled up by enjoying a delicious treat at one of our specialty snack stands on your next visit. The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park thank our partners for their continued support!
WHAT IT TAKES
Alyssa Leicht, staff writer, recently connected with San Diego Zoo Safari Park Executive Director Lisa Peterson, San Diego Zoo Executive Director Erika Kohler, and our Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer Nadine Lamberski, D.V.M., Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ECZM (ZHM), to discover what it takes to lead SDZWA from the front. What they had to say just might surprise you!
To lead an international conservation organization, including two world-class zoos, it’s easy to assume that knowledge of and compassion for wildlife are paramount to our success. It might amaze you, then, to learn that while backgrounds in wildlife care and health certainly add value, our leaders Lisa, Erika, and Nadine agree that there’s a skill set that’s even more critical to their leadership: the ability to connect with people.
“I think the first thing to keep in mind is we focus very much on wildlife—and that’s absolutely why we’re here,” said Lisa Peterson, executive director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “But that said, everything that we do is really about people. I always say conservation begins with people—people create communities and communities create change. So, connecting with people is what we do first and foremost, and I think it takes being a leader.”
To lead the Safari Park, Lisa said she looks to make her team proud every day. “People are looking to us for cues on how to show up, how to grow, how to learn, and how to be the best version of themselves,” she said. “So that’s a big responsibility that we have, to try to show the way for all of our team members.”
“Operating a zoo is complex,” said Erika Kohler, executive director of the San Diego Zoo. “We are all connected, and need to work together to be successful.” To foster a collaborative environment, Erika said it’s crucial to surround yourself with the best
leaders, listen, and respect their expertise. “I have 100 percent faith that there is nothing we cannot solve or achieve together. I truly believe that,” she said.
Beyond our two front doors—the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—maximizing our impact as a global conservation organization also heavily relies upon our ability to connect with people, according to Chief Conservation and Wildlife
Health Officer Nadine Lamberski. “Conservation is about people—and bringing people together requires the ability to listen to all perspectives and be open to all ways of knowing,” she said. “‘Think globally, act locally’ is a phrase familiar to us all. Conservation happens at the local level. By increasing the scope and scale of our local efforts, like we’re doing in our eight conservation hubs, we can increase our global impact.”
“Human well-being is an important component of our work,” Nadine said. “In addition to working with plants and animals, we enhance capacity in individuals and communities to manage their natural resources while protecting their livelihoods. Empowering people, especially younger generations, provides hope for tomorrow.”
Fortunately for us, that type of empowerment starts right here at home. As our
As our leaders create and execute bold visions for where we’ll go tomorrow, they start with authentic servant leadership.
Teamwork: (Clockwise from the top left) San Diego Zoo Safari Park Executive Director Lisa Peterson, San Diego Zoo Executive Director Erika Kohler, and SDZWA Chief Conservation and Wildlife Health Officer Nadine Lamberski, DVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ECZM (ZHM), have found the right combination of expertise and collaboration.
leaders create and execute bold visions for where we’ll go tomorrow, they start with authentic servant leadership. For Nadine, that means modeling commitment, focus, and impatient optimism. For Erika, respect and trust reign supreme. And for Lisa, in addition to passion, openness, communication, and humility, collaboration plays a major role. “We don’t do this alone,” Lisa said. “If the Park is successful, it’s not be-
cause of me and it’s not specifically because of our leadership team, it’s because of everyone—everyone we engage, we invite in, and we partner with.” To truly change the world, it takes an allied effort—a committed alliance. That’s what it takes.
Hear more from these inspirational leaders, and read the full story at sdzwa.org/whatittakes.org.
“B” Positive: Bees, butterflies, and beetles are among the world’s most important pollinators. Pollen transfer is required for plant fertilization, and many insects and other animals depend on nectar and pollen for food.
ollinators are an incredible group of animals that ensure the health of our ecosystems by helping plants to reproduce. In a world that tends to focus on the “charismatic megavertebrate,” it’s often surprising to learn that the smallest animals are the real powerhouses of pollination. If this doesn’t sound like a big deal, consider that 1,200 crops and over 180,000 species of plants require pollination, and without pollinators like these specialized insects— specifically bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, and moths—life as we know it would cease to exist. Pollination dates back millions of years, and among the first animals on record to pollinate were beetles. (Fun fact: there are more beetle species on Earth than any other type of animal!)
Reciprocal Relationships
Pollination may seem a bit like a happy accident, and to the pollinating animal, it’s merely a consequence of gathering resources. Even so, it’s also the result of millions of years of plant and animal coevolution refined to increase efficiency! Pollen transfer is required for plant fertilization, and many insects and other animals depend on nectar and pollen for food. The plant capitalizes on the insects’ act of
gathering these resources, and in some cases, can lure them with a sweet treat (nectar). In addition, the plant’s structures have evolved to make sure as much pollen as possible contacts the insect before it leaves—something that obviously also benefits the insect tremendously. Win-win! For example, a bumble bee may have to climb inside a tubular flower to access the pollen, then buzz violently by contracting their wing muscles at a certain frequency to
ensure that the pollen is released. When that bumble bee lands on another flower of the same species and transfers pollen grains to the female part of the plant, fertilization occurs, and the plant can make fruit and/ or seed.
To that end, the insects have evolved their own methods of packing in the pollen and nectar. Have you noticed how many pollinating insects have a fuzzy appearance? This is a great example of an adaptation that helps maximize pollen gathering. The dusty, electrostatically charged pollen sticks to the oppositely charged fuzzy hairs on the insect’s body and is transferred when the insect moves on. The next time you see a bee in a flower, look at their hind legs, and you may notice a large round patch of yellow that hides a cluster of stiff hairs. These are corbiculae, often called “pollen baskets” or “pollen pants,” which serve as storage
vessels for foraging bees. Once covered in pollen, some bees actively comb it into the corbiculae with their legs. Other bees, like leafcutter and mason bees, carry pollen on the underside of their abdomen. Identifying the type of “pollen packing” structures present on a bee can be a key identification feature in the wild.
Make Food, Be Food
We have been talking a lot about bees, and rightly so: in terms of contribution among insects, bees are the hands-down winners of the “Best Pollinator” category—insect or otherwise. They are elite pollination machines, and a big reason why pollinators are in the spotlight (for better or worse). Indeed, bees worldwide are highly susceptible to habitat loss and pesticide usage, and have suffered dramatic declines over the past decades. Although several bee species
1997
The year the Quino checkerspot butterfly was first listed as endangered.
have been listed as endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act for many years, insects as a group only recently became eligible for protection under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This is great news for four species of California bumble bees, a flower-loving fly, and 16 butterflies and moths, which may soon benefit from being categorized in the language of the CESA document as “fish” (look it up!). Although butterflies and moths are also pollinators, and effective at helping the plants that they visit (primarily for nectar) reproduce, they have an even more significant and unsung role: that of prey. In every habitat where they occur, they feed birds, lizards, rodents, amphibians, foxes, raccoons, bats, and even the largest and most unexpected of species—the grizzly bear. It’s been estimated that a foraging grizzly bear in the Rocky Mountains may eat up
Furthering the process:
to 30,000 army cutworm moths a day in the summertime! Butterflies and moths make up around 11 percent of all animal biodiversity and their contributions, while often unrecognized, are nevertheless irreplaceable.
Protect the Future and Appreciate the Present
For more than a decade, the San Diego Zoo Entomology department has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the recovery of imperiled butterflies in San Diego County. Each spring at the Zoo’s Butterfly Conservation Lab, we rear federally endangered Quino checkerspot (QCB) and/or Laguna Mountains skipper (LMS) butterflies from eggs. To date, more than 16,000 QCB larvae and 600 LMS pupae/larvae have been reared and released to help augment existing local populations or reintroduce species to their historic range.
From March 16 through May 12, during Spring Safari featuring Butterfly Jungle, guests at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park can immerse themselves in a lush habitat at Hidden Jungle that highlights the diversity of butterflies from tropical regions. The vibrant colors and range of sizes show the magnificence of these animals. Similarly, springtime is the best time to visit the Baja Garden at the Safari Park to see native pollinators in action—San Diego County is a biodiversity hotspot, and this garden is a beacon for wildlife!
Additionally, the Spineless Marvels habitat in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo is another excellent pollinator destination. Brilliant blue morpho butterflies fly year-round in the greenhouse, and guests can witness them transforming into butterflies in the emergence chamber. The top floor of Spineless Marvels also offers a glimpse into the life cycle of other pollinators such as honey bees, monarchs, and giant flower beetles, with larger-than-life honeycombs and an immersive migration flyover. Through the observation window upstairs, you may find wildlife care specialists working with beetles, katydids, tarantulas, and other fascinating invertebrates, or preparing exotic butterfly pupae for their metamorphosis into adults.
“Bee” an Ally
Everyone can help local pollinators by avoiding pesticides, growing nectar plants, and returning your garden to a regionally appropriate native habitat for wildlife. Native plants are the best choice for native wildlife, and especially for native pollinators, who have evolved right alongside them. The best part is that this type of habitat transformation builds on itself, and soon more native species will show up and benefit from your efforts!
Taylor Cook is an entomology wildlife care specialist at the San Diego Zoo. Paige Howorth is SDZWA’s McKinney Family Curator of Invertebrates.
(Top) SDZWA entomology team members check endangered Laguna Mountains skipper butterfly pupae reared at the Butterfly Conservation Lab to prepare them for release into their native range. (Bottom) a digger bee gathers nectar and pollen from a cactus flower.
THE CHUI MAMAS
“Leopard
Mothers” Empower Conservation and Livelihoods
BY TOMAS PICKERING, PH.D., AND KIRSTIE RUPPERT, PH.D.
As the slopes of Mount Kenya drop away to where the red soils of the vast semi-arid north begin, a movement of women is shaping into an empowering force for local livelihoods and conservation. In recent decades, women have adapted pastoralist practices of livestock herding and caretaking to better withstand environmental pressures like drought, and capture benefits from a globalizing society for their families. While cattle are herded by men, many women in this area took on a new role of sheep and goat husbandry (finding that small stock survive droughts and a settled lifestyle better than cattle), allowing their children access to nearby schools. Now, with the help of their schooled children, women are seeking to improve their own livelihoods and claim recognition and influence in the community-based conservation movement that has swept northern Kenya.
Birth of the Chui Mamas
Embracing the story of their ancestral role as herders of wildlife, pastoralist women are coming together and connecting with conservation organizations to help raise their voice across this landscape. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) is a proud partner and supporter of one of these women’s groups, the Chui Mamas (meaning “leopard mothers” in Swahili), which was co founded and has been led by Ellie Modesta since 2018.
Ellie, a Samburu pastoralist herself, moved into the Koija community on the border of Loisaba Conservancy eight years ago. With a background in hospitality, she arrived to open a new lodge, but found a deeper calling in aiding women in the community who were struggling to cope in ways that echoed her own past hardships. In her own words, Ellie was “orphaned at a young age, and like so many Maasai and Samburu girls…was forced into early marriage.” By the time she was 16, Ellie had 2 daughters, and also cared for her 7 siblings. Ellie was
A warm welcome: Chui Mamas sing and celebrate the construction of the Chui Mamas Centre, which will serve as a community education and livelihood development site.
fortunate enough to get a lifeline from a Catholic mission, which allowed her to pursue school and opportunities to provide for her family. Once in a position of strength, Ellie and 30 other women in Koija resolved to establish support for women facing similar social and economic challenges.
One unique economic challenge in this pastoral landscape is livestock depredation by carnivores, which are especially prone to kill the sheep and goats women rely upon so heavily. Ellie reached out to Loisaba Conservancy, and with assistance from Ambrose Letoluai, the community coordinator of Loisaba and SDZWA’s leopard conservation program (“Uhifadhi wa Chui”), founded the Chui Mamas. Now an organization of more than 600 women from neighboring communities—and growing rapidly—the Chui Mamas are a bastion in the broader campaign linking women’s empowerment with wildlife conservation.
Protection and Opportunity for All
Community-based conservation efforts in this area aim to safeguard reticulated giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, African leopards, savanna elephants, and the flora and fauna in their savanna habitats. Along with protecting these populations comes
opportunities for enhanced community well-being, through changes in land rights and governance to support an evolving pastoral system. Without women’s participation in conservation, this system would continue to overlook them, to the detriment of both.
Though early days for Chui Mamas centered on social support, connection, and income opportunities for members, recent efforts have demonstrated an ability to influence their community at large. During an exchange to Westgate, another community conservancy in Samburu County, the Chui Mamas learned about restoration techniques and coordinated livestock grazing from women leaders in the area and from Grevy’s Zebra Trust, a close partner of SDZWA. With the right tools and an eagerness to apply their deepened knowledge at home, the Chui Mamas constructed over 3,000 water retention berms and reseeded restoration sites with perennial grasses in preparation for the next rainy season. These efforts improve forage for livestock and the wild grazers that a healthy leopard population requires.
Their restoration work provides just one example of the value of their collective potential, and empowers women’s voices in community governance meetings. Ellie states, “For years, women were often overlooked.…We’ve shown that women can spearhead significant community projects. All we needed was an opportunity.”
PHOTOS
Leading the way:
Samburu pastoralist Ellie Modesta, cofounder of the Chui Mamas, is helping ensure that wildlife conservation in northern Kenya addresses women’s needs and benefits their livelihoods.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chui Mamas means “leopard mothers” in Swahili.
Benefiting all:
(Top) Chui Mamas visit with the Grevy’s Mamas in Westgate Conservancy (trained by Grevy’s Zebra Trust) to discuss rangeland restoration practices to improve grazing sites for their livestock and wildlife. (Bottom right) A sheep and goat herd leaves the boma (livestock corral) for daily grazing. These livestock are particularly important for women’s livelihoods and their ability to send their children to school. (Bottom left) Flashing lights are installed above the boma to deter carnivores. The Chui Mamas are helping support the availability and installation of these carnivore deterrents to decrease conflict and increase tolerance of carnivores, like leopards.
Many of the group’s projects have a new home base at the Chui Mamas Centre, a resource hub established in 2023 with support from SDZWA and Loisaba Conservancy. The Centre brings together members of the entire community, serving as a gathering space for education events, conservation meetings, and shop fronts for the Chui Mamas’ livelihood projects, including tailoring, soap making, beekeeping, and organic farming. However, it is also a space where women can unify to address regressive cultural practices, such as gender-based violence, which would otherwise hold them back from fully participating in the community-based conservation movement. Ellie sees the Chui Mamas Centre as a symbol of the group’s strength, and as the Centre is put to use, it’s serving as a daily reminder of the critical role that women play in furthering their families’ and communities’ goals.
Hope for the Future
Looking forward, the Chui Mamas expect to use their Centre to situate their enterprise development as a mainstay for human-wildlife coexistence in the area. Years of collaboration between Uhifadhi wa Chui and local families has trialed effectively securing livestock overnight at bomas (livestock enclosures) with wire fencing and lights, reducing conflicts with large carnivores, and fostering tolerance among pastoralists. The Chui Mamas are
now spearheading a local business to supply and install boma reinforcements for households, a venture that will ensure access to materials and also recruit experienced community members to model key parameters of effective bomas to their neighbors. The trajectory of this project’s development exemplifies the potential of community-driven solutions that confer mutual benefits for those living alongside wildlife.
Enduring partnerships among the Chui Mamas, their communities, and conservation organizations like SDZWA also provide a foundation to continuously innovate and redefine what human-elephant coexistence looks like in an ever-evolving society. The Chui Mamas are working with us to pilot durable and dynamic solutions to safely live with elephants, and serve as an information source throughout their community. The Chui Mamas represent an intersection of sustainable development, women’s empowerment, and thriving wildlife conservation, exhibiting a community-based model that tailors solutions for complex conservation challenges with the cultural fabric of this unique landscape and its people.
Tomas Pickering, Ph.D., is a social science researcher with SDZWA. Kirstie Ruppert, Ph.D., is an associate director of community engagement at SDZWA.
The Trailblazing “Zoo Lady” Belle Benchley
BY PEGGY SCOTT
Much of the San Diego Zoo’s history has been well documented, including Harry Wegeforth, MD, laying the foundation for the Zoo in 1916, and the years of struggle and hard work it took to get the Zoo up and running. Not as widely known is the fact that in its second decade, Dr. Harry realized he
couldn’t manage both a fledging zoo and his busy medical practice. So, he turned the operation of the Zoo over to his right-hand man—who, in this case, was a woman. Belle Benchley had been hired in 1925 as a temporary bookkeeper, but she quickly became so much more. While putting a woman in a position of leadership may have been surprising for the times, it made
Other duties as assigned: From administrative duties and bookkeeping to hands-on wildlife care, Belle Benchley worked tirelessly to help guide the San Diego Zoo to world-class status.
sense to the good doctor. He was keenly aware that Belle had spent her lunch breaks and every spare minute familiarizing herself with the wildlife in the Zoo’s care, and with their human caretakers as well, learning as much as she could. “You might as well run the place,” Dr. Harry told her in 1927. “You’re already doing it anyway.”
Building a Foundation
Belle was the first female zoo director in the world. Her official title was executive secretary until the 1950s, but Dr. Harry called her the “Boss” and the Zoo employees reported to her. She was also the first editor of magazine (now the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal the Zoo’s day-to-day operations, as well as making contacts around the world to bring wildlife to San Diego. The Zoo cared for animals that had come from other facilities in Europe and Australia, but Belle wanted to expand. She learned about sailing dates for places such as Sumatra, Java, and Singapore; gathered freight rates; got on mailing lists of shipping companies; and studied regulations regarding imports and exports from each nation, aiming to estab lish the San Diego Zoo as what she called a “Noah’s Ark across the seas,” caring for and protecting a wide variety of wildlife species. Belle gave presentations about the Zoo and wildlife to school groups and civic organiza tions—anywhere she could spread the word about the Zoological Society of San Diego (now known as San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance).
But perhaps the biggest role in her 26-year San Diego Zoo career was being a champion for wildlife of all kinds. She was a driving force behind many of the Zoo’s “firsts,” including bringing gorillas here in 1931. There were only a few great apes in zoos worldwide at the time, and the arrival of Mbongo and Ngagi helped put our Zoo on the map. They made a deep and lasting impression on Belle. She called Ngagi a “perfect gorilla,” and she visited them every chance she got. Their status as cornerstones of the Zoo’s history is present even today—it’s their bronze statues that greet guests just inside the Zoo entrance. Ever mindful of the importance of instilling an interest in wildlife in fu ture leaders, Belle started a program that used the Zoo’s tour buses to pick up children at area schools and bring them to the Zoo for an educational excursion.
Eager to share her experiences with the world, Belle wrote several books, including My Life in a Man-Made Jungle, My Animal Babies, and My Friends, the Apes only did she bring an understanding of the day-to-day experiences of running a zoo to the public, but she also in troduced wildlife as individuals, showing that each has their own personality.
Upholding a Legacy
With Dr. Harry concentrating on his medical practice, Belle took her responsibilities to heart. She relied on her consid erable organizational and interpersonal skills to keep the San Diego Zoo going. She bartered deals to keep wildlife at the Zoo fed during the Great Depression and after nation wide rationing was imposed during World War II. Belle was known for her hands-on care of wildlife at the Zoo, and the
interest she took in each individual. She made daily excursions around the Zoo, visiting Maggie the orangutan, Bum the Andean condor, and many others. Mickey the Baird’s tapir was a particular favorite, as she had arrived at the San Diego Zoo in 1934 sickly and underweight. Belle had her moved to a habitat closer to her office so that she could tend to the youngster daily. Mickey flourished, and Belle continued those visits even after Mickey returned to her regular habitat. When it came to the wildlife in her care, Belle’s intuition was legendary. It was noted at Belle’s induction into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2007 that she could sometimes detect an animal illness before the wildlife care specialists or veterinarians, noticing when an individual “just didn’t look quite right.” She believed in creating habitats that were as comfortable as possible for the species in her care, and she consulted experts as to dietary needs and specific care requirements. She suggested the Zoo do away with cages entirely and build open-air habitats instead. Generous donors, like Ellen Browning Scripps, helped fund the improvements and new infrastructure.
Belle used any new information she could to improve Zoo operations, and she was appreciative of anyone who helped with her quest. As she wrote in My Life in a Man-Made Jungle, she “learned from some rather trying experiences and the practical knowledge of the men employed at the Zoo, who were generous always in their help, and their support, for like Dr. Harry, they had complete understanding and enormous patience with persons who tried hard, accepted help, and were always doing their best.”
An Eye to the Future
When Dr. Harry passed away in 1941, Belle felt the loss deeply, but she forged ahead to build upon what they had started, knowing that was what Dr. Harry wanted. She continued striving to innovate and expand the concept of what a zoo could be. In 1950, the Zoo’s animal department had grown so much it needed to be divided, and she established mammal, bird, and reptile sections, with a leader for each department. They worked with the hospital department to ensure proper care and a combined commissary and purchasing department helped with nutrition. Belle determined that “proper diets do not originate in the warehouse—they are merely procured or provided there, and the ingredients must be sorted and stored safely
All in a day’s work: (Above) Free-flight aviaries were among the innovations Belle championed. Benefactors such as Ellen Browning Scripps helped fund new facilities. (Below left) Belle’s daily care helped Mickey the tapir thrive. (Below right) Belle’s duties also included editing the San Diego Zoo’s monthly magzine, ZOONOOZ (now the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Journal).
“Now and then I meet someone who says, ‘I don’t like animals.’ I know that that person has missed the proper chance to know animals and has thus been deprived of one of the richest experiences in life. I cannot help from pitying him, for to know animals is to love them.”
—Belle Benchley
before being served.” Keeping everything in one central location made guarding it and maintaining inventory easier, as well as aided in quality control.
Belle’s commitment to animals became known in countries around the world. She was widely known as the “Zoo Lady,” and was renowned as an expert in wildlife behavior and zoo strategies. Her reputation and influence led to her being elected as the first female president of the American Zoo Association—now known as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—in 1949. When she was ready to retire in 1953, she handpicked her successor: Dr. Charles Schroeder, who had started at the Zoo in 1932 with a five-year stint as a veterinarian/pathologist. Belle recognized in him a fellow visionary. And she was proved right—Dr. Schroeder went on to create the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 1972.
Belle Benchley’s love of animals, and the pride she felt in caring for them, continued
even after her passing in 1973. Her headstone is adorned with the etched likeness of a gorilla. Along with her name and dates appears her favorite identifier: “The Zoo Lady.” What drove Belle to foster her love of wildlife can be found in a quote from My Life in a ManMade Jungle: “Now and then I meet someone who says, ‘I don’t like animals.’ I know that that person has missed the proper chance to know animals and has thus been deprived of one of the richest experiences in life. I cannot help from pitying him, for to know animals is to love them.”
Belle Benchley dedicated her life to doing both. Her influence can still be felt today, especially by those who followed in her footsteps. “Belle was an amazing woman and leader,” says Erika Kohler, the San Diego Zoo’s current executive director. “She managed the Zoo through some of the most difficult times, and she was an incredible force who helped make the Zoo what it is today. She was an inspiring woman!”
A team effort: During her tenure with the San Diego Zoo, Belle worked collaboratively with a board of trustees and wildlife experts to create the future of the organization.
IN OUR
BLOOMS BACKYARD
With colorful flora and glossy green leaves alongside prickly desert cactuses and intriguing trees, the San Diego Zoo is in bloom this spring. As an accredited botanic garden, our lush 100 acres are home to plants from a variety of ecosystems, including many that are endangered. Join us at the Zoo to experience nature’s vibrant displays, and discover how our work in San Diego is at the root of conservation efforts across the globe.
By Ellie McMillan | Illustrated by Amy Blandford
LOCAL LEGENDS
Jacaranda mimosifolia; blooms around May–June
With breathtaking lavender blossoms, jacarandas are a welcome local marker of spring. Native to dry, subtropical mountain valleys, they’re at home in San Diego’s mild climate.
BRANCHES OF BLOOMS
Erythrina crista-galli; blooms March–May
A riot of long scarlet clusters pop against rich green leaves, inviting a variety of busy pollinators to the cock’s comb coral tree. Spot them throughout the Zoo by their signature spiny trunks.
AN INVITING AROMA
Lonicera hildebrandiana; blooms April–July
The largest of its kind, the giant Burmese honeysuckle is known for long, delicate, tubular yellow flowers and semi-evergreen leaves. Stop and smell its sweet signature scent!
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Prunus cerasifera; blooms early March
As the weather warms, a spectacular profusion of pale pink petals appears among dark, reddish-purple foliage of the purple-leaf plum tree—a beautiful final farewell to winter.
CONSERVATION STARTS HERE
Orchidaceae family; blooms vary
With over 28,000 varieties of orchids in the world, they grow in a wide range of distinct shapes and patterns. Their scent can be overpoweringly sweet or even stinky, depending on what pollinators they attract. Unfortunately, many species are endangered. The Zoo is a Designated Plant Rescue Center, and our Orchid House is home to more than 900 species, some confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade.
GETTING SPIKY
Asphodelaceae family; blooms throughout winter and spring
A collection of early bloomers, aloe plants flourish at the beginning of the season. Growing in arid climates, these drought-resistant succulents store water in their large leaves, which typically grow in dramatic shapes.
Explore the Orchid House and our Carnivorous Plant Greenhouse or embark on a special botanical bus tour when you join us for Plant Days and Orchid Odyssey the third Friday of every month between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
March and April Hours*
For San Diego Zoo and Safari Park operating hours, visit sdzwa.org
March &
SAN DIEGO ZOO
MARCH 15–APRIL 7
Extended Spring Hours at the Zoo
sdzwa.org 619-231-1515
*Programs and dates are subject to change—please check our website for the latest information and requirements for visiting.
(Z) = San Diego Zoo
(P) = Safari Park
Extend your adventure! Enjoy even more time to discover amazing wildlife and explore everything there is to see and do at the Zoo with expanded springtime hours, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Albert’s Restaurant has special spring break hours, too—visit zoo.sandiegozoo.org /alberts for more information. (Z)
MARCH 15 AND 17**; APRIL 19 Plant Days
On these special days, you can take a rare look inside the Zoo’s Orchid House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., learn about the Zoo’s botanical collection from horticulture staff on the Botanical Bus Tour at 11 a.m. Check out the Carnivorous Plant Greenhouse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as a plant sale.
**Carnivorous Plant and Orchid greenhouses only; no bus tour or plant sale. (Z)
APRIL 20–21
Wild Weekend: Amazonia
Learn more about the Amazonia Conservation Hub and wildlife of the world’s largest tropical rainforest, with special activities, wildlife care specialist talks, and more. (Z)
OFFERED DAILY
Wildlife Wonders
At the Zoo’s Wegeforth Bowl amphitheater, wildlife care specialists will introduce you to wildlife ambassadors representing San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation work around the world in Wildlife Wonders, presented daily at 2 p.m. Learn about amazing wildlife—from the Amazon to right here in our own backyard in San Diego—and find out what everyone can do to help conserve wildlife and the world we all share. Presentation runs 15 to 20 minutes. (Z)
FOR MEMBERS
MARCH 3 AND APRIL 21
Member Exclusive Early Hours Rise and shine with the sights and sounds of the San Diego Zoo. Members can enter the Zoo one hour before the general public. To join us, simply present your membership card at the main entrance beginning at 8 a.m. (Z)
EVERY DAY Wild Perks SM
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance members are eligible for Wild Perks SM . Show your membership card each time you make an on-grounds purchase and save up to 20%, depending on your membership level. Some exclusions apply; for details, visit sdzwa.org/membership /wild-perks (Z)
April
MARCH 16–MAY 12
Spring Safari featuring Butterfly Jungle
Spring brings the perfect chance to get outdoors, spend time with family, and experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season. From special entertainment and culinary creations to amazing wildlife encounters like Butterfly Jungle Safari (additional ticket required), come make spring memories to last a lifetime! For full details, visit sdzsafaripark.org . (P)
APRIL 13
Nativescapes Garden Tour
A free guided walking tour through the 4-acre Nativescapes Garden, representing 500 native Southern California species, begins at 10 a.m. (P)
OFFERED DAILY
Journey into the Wild
Join our wildlife care specialist team as they introduce you to wildlife ambassadors representing San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s conservation work in our Amazonia Conservation Hub in South America and right here in our own backyard in the Southwest. This conservation presentation begins at 2 p.m., at Benbough Amphitheater. (P)
FOR MEMBERS
MARCH 3 AND APRIL 21
Member Exclusive Early Hours
Rise and shine with the sights and sounds of the Safari Park. Members can enter the Safari Park one hour before the general public. To join us, simply present your membership card at the main entrance beginning at 8 a.m. (P)
EVERY DAY
Wild Perks SM
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance members are eligible for Wild Perks SM . Show your membership card each time you make an on-grounds purchase and save up to 20%, depending on your membership level. Some exclusions apply; for details, visit sdzwa.org /membership/wild-perks (P)
SAFARI PARK
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers website to find out about these and other animals, plus videos, crafts, stories, games, and more! SDZWildlifeExplorers.org
Hatch Match
When it comes to protecting developing embryos and providing them with almost everything they need, eggs are certainly no “yolk”! But did you know eggs aren’t only for the birds? From insects and reptiles to even some mammals, eggs are a good start to life for non-avian species as well. Below are pictures of five eggs and five After looking at the eggs and reading the clues, can you crack the code to who’s who?
Lord Howe Island Stick Insect
1. It would be “hard” to mistake this species’ nest: it’s built on a vertical rock face, inside a dark cave or under an overhang.
2. When it’s time to lay eggs, this species gets hopping.
3. These eggs would be “spotted” in Hawaii.
4. Over her lifetime, this arthropod can lay up to 300 eggs.
5. This species’ life cycle involves caterpillars.
Island Stick Insect 5. Quino Checkerspot Butterfly
Photos by: Ken Bohn/SDZWA
LAST LOOK
Red pandas are found in small, isolated mountain territories above 4,000 feet in China, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Burma. Adira, pictured above, can be seen in the San Diego Zoo’s Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. In 2023, Adira and her mate Lucas became first-time parents to a cub named Pavitra. Photographed by Ken Bohn, SDZWA photographer.
