Zootracks Fall 2014

MEMBER’S MAGAZINE

AUGUST · SEPTEMBER · OCTOBER

INSIDE

A Glimpse Beyond the Door Tiger Conservation Campaign Welcome, Windy, to the Herd

FALL 2014

FEATURE STORY

ZooTracks

A Sedgwick County Zoological Society magazine for members Publisher Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc. © 2014 All rights reserved.

A Glimpse Beyond the Door

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mark C. Reed Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc. PRESIDENT Scott Ochs TRUSTEES Stanley G. Andeel Jeff Bloomer William P. Buchanan Martha C. Buford Cindy Burgess Kelly E. Callen Mark C. DeVries Allan Dunne Genevieve Farha Rhonda Fullerton Michael Herbert Ronald Holt Steven A. Houlik Dale Hoyer Dirk Jones Don J. Knappenberger Gary Kohn Dave Larson Marvin Long Buz Lukens Gayle Malone Sam Marnick Mary Lynn Oliver Martin W. Park Scott Redler Albert R. Sanchez Don Sherman Collin Stieben Jay Smith Paul Truitt David M. Unruh Marty Wells Sheryl Wohlford MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Schanee Anderson Melissa Graham Ryan Gulker Scott Newland Steven Onken Jonathan Rold ON THE COVER— Amur Tiger photo by: Ricardo Reitmeyer

By Jon Rold, Senior Keeper Amphibians, Reptiles & Fishes

Walking through the Amphibian and Reptile building, guests are introduced to an amazing variety of animals from around the world. From animals adapted to exploit some of the most lush and naturally rich environments to those that survive in some of the most inhospitable and seemingly uninhabitable landscapes, we provide a window into the lives of animals rarely, if ever, seen in the wild. And yet, as I move through the building and approach a door to an off exhibit area, people stop, ignore the exhibits and graphics, and strain their bodies and necks to get a glimpse of what is beyond that door. Children, much more honest and open with their curiosity, often ask, “What’s back there?” I will hold the door open for a moment and explain that it is simply an area for zookeepers to access the exhibits and to maintain the off exhibit animals. Many of the curious are satisfied with a quick glimpse and brief answer. But for a few, it triggers a series of questions:

Why are some animals off exhibit? What animals are off exhibit?

Will those animals ever be placed on exhibit?

I think it is generally understood that zoos might have more than one individual animal of a species. It’s also generally understood that animals of the same species cannot, in some cases, be housed together. So, while one animal is on exhibit, another animal of the same kind might be spending the day in an off exhibit area. This is a common practice in zoos and is practiced with a variety of animals. But what you might not realize is that herpetological collections include animals that are not, and perhaps will never be, exhibited. In some cases, conservation leads us to work with animals that don’t exhibit well. In many cases, the animal will become stressed if adequate hiding places are not provided. And with adequate hiding places, the animal will never be seen by zoo guests.

In some cases, we cannot manipulate the exhibit habitat (i.e. temperature, humidity, rainfall, light cycle) adequately enough to coax reproduction. Let’s all go beyond the door and reveal four of the animals that, for now, will not be seen by Zoo guests.

JAMAICAN IGUANAS Jamaican iguanas (Cyclura collie) are a critically endangered species of lizard in the genus Cyclura. Animals in this genus are commonly referred to as rock iguanas. They get this name from inhabiting the dry, rocky, forested areas of the islands of the West Indies. While many people recognize green iguanas with their light coloration, high crests and elongate tails, most have never heard of Cyclura. Jamaican iguanas are smaller than green iguanas and have a drabber greenish gray coloration with muted blues on the crest and face. They were thought to be extinct for 50 years until a hunter’s dog caught one in 1990. These animals have a small population that still survives in the Hellshire Hills of Jamaica.

Only 100 – 200 animals are believed to live in the wild.

Young animals are being head-started at the Hope Zoo in Jamaica and released back into the wild when they are large enough to fend off one of their biggest threats, introduced mongoose. In the United States, we maintain assurance colonies at a handful of zoos around the country. We currently house eight animals at the Sedgwick County Zoo. We have a reproductive pair, a non-reproductive female and five juveniles hatched last year. We are one of only four zoos around the country to have hatched Jamaican iguanas. We are currently incubating eight Jamaican iguana eggs. We hope to be able to report their successful hatching in the near future.

PHILIPPINE CROCODILE The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is perhaps the most imperiled crocodile in the world. They are listed as critically endangered with possibly fewer than one hundred

sub-adult to mature animals left in the wild. These are not large crocodiles.

Adults rarely grow longer than two to three meters.

While hunting has been the historical threat to this species, development of the natural habitat now provides the greatest danger to this crocodile. We house two female Philippine crocodiles at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Sometimes participation in a conservation effort does not mean a zoo must be actively trying to breed a given species. The Gladys Porter Zoo had so much success reproducing these animals that they needed the help of other facilities to provide holding for crocodiles that were not needed for breeding at this time. We felt strongly enough about the effort to save this species that we offered two of our three off exhibit crocodilian holding areas to these animals. These females are barely three feet long but can be explosive with their speed and aggression. They are definitely a fun addition to the herpetology collection and thoroughly enjoyed by their primary keeper, Michelle.

MEXICAN BURROWING CAECILIAN Caecilians, pronounced si-sil-yens, are a group of amphibians that make up the order Gymnophiona. They are long, slender, limbless animals that superficially resemble worms. In fact, when many people see the aquatic caecilians exhibited in the Amphibian and Reptile building, they exclaim either, “look at that giant worm” or “look at that weird water snake”. But they are neither. They are, along with frogs and salamanders, amphibians. When it comes to being visible to the public, aquatic caecilians are pretty easy to exhibit, but not all caecilians are aquatic. Many, in fact most, are burrowing animals that spend most of their lives underground. One of the fossorial species we keep is the Mexican burrowing caecilian, Dermophis mexicanus. These strange animals can grow to a length of around two feet.

They have non-functioning eyes covered by a layer of skin.

They have a stubby pair of antennae that can be extended and retracted at the front of the head. They have a pointed 2

FEATURE STORY

angular head that allows them to burrow easily into soil.

As you may have guessed, they are very tough to exhibit.

Why would we keep an animal that we possibly would never successfully exhibit? It is not endangered, though it is considered vulnerable. The reason is this: as humankind’s encroachment into the natural world continues, we will find a growing list of animals that need our help, our expertise.

If we can take an animal with very little known about its natural history and reproductive behavior and unlock those mysteries and gain that expertise, then on that unfortunately probable date when that animal needs our intervention, we can be prepared to act.

TEXAS BLIND SALAMANDER The Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) is a ghost-like, subterranean cave dweller. This completely aquatic animal lives in the water filled caves of the Edwards aquifer around San Marcos, Texas. This small salamander (adults range from just over three inches to a little over five inches) is listed as endangered by both the state of Texas and the federal government.

Because of its underground lifestyle, the slender body and thin limbs of this animal lack any pigmentation and have a whitish hue. The most striking part of this animal’s body is its feathery red external gills. Unlike most salamanders, the Texas blind salamander retains its gills into adulthood. This continuance of juvenile traits into adulthood is referred to Paedomorphism. The Sedgwick County Zoo keeps a small

group of five Texas blind salamanders in the Amphibian Conservation Building. The biggest threats to these animals in the wild are groundwater pollutants and the continued development of the area, resulting in the pumping of more ground water for commercial and residential use and depleting the subterranean reserves. These threats are heightened by the exceedingly small range of this animal.

While we have not yet had these animals reproduce at the Zoo, we are hopeful that successful breeding will occur in the near future.

The progression of zoos from the historical menagerie where people could come to see the giants, the ferocious and the oddities of nature, to the modern day leaders in animal and habitat conservation has led to a shift in priorities. While we will never forget our role to inspire people by bringing the wonders of nature to them, we now fund conservation projects worldwide. We now partner with other zoos to build facilities around the country and world to breed and maintain these imperiled animals. And we even build these facilities on our grounds. However, due to animal needs and quarantine considerations, these areas are not open to the public.

We do not want people to think we are hiding these animals. We want to tell their stories. We want to tell you the struggles they are facing and the ways you can help to ensure the future for them. And while we cannot always exhibit all of the animals that we are working with, we can show you a glimpse of behind the scenes activities.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Creature Campout Join us for an overnight outdoor adventure. Each year’s theme is different for these exciting camping adventures.

This year we will be Camping with a Zoo in the Sky theme. We will be talking about constellations inspired by animals. We would like to thank our friends at Papa Johns for helping to sponsor these great overnights!

All campouts take place on select Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The adventure includes dinner, a guided tour, activities, an animal encounter, a flashlight tour and a bedtime snack. In the morning, the excitement continues with continental breakfast and a 9:30 tram ride.

All campers need to bring their own tents, sleeping bags and flashlights. The campouts are designed for families with children ages 5 and older. Any youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost is $30 per person for members and $35 per person for nonmembers. Space is limited at each of the campouts, so call soon to register. We must have your payment at registration to reserve your place. We can accept credit card payment at the time of your call, or you can come in person to register and pay by cash. No mailin registrations will be accepted. For more information or to register, call the Education Department at 266-8213.

We have added more dates this year, so decide which wild night is best for you! Creature Campout Shirts will be for sale for $10 plus sales tax per shirt for those that camp out with us.

Friday, September 12 Saturday, September 20 Saturday, October 4

Does your preschooler LOVE the Zoo? Animal Tales Preschool at Sedgwick County Zoo focuses on traditional learning skills with a creative and environmental twist!

Fall registration now open for the 4 and 5 year old class held Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon.

Spaces fill quickly so call 266-8213 today or visit scz.org for more information!

THDAYS R I B are a wild time at the Zoo

You’re invited to celebrate with some real party animals! Let Sedgwick County Zoo staff help you choose a fun birthday party package for your child. We’ll provide all the party supplies. All you have to do is have fun!

• Call 266-8252 to plan a Jungle Birthday Party in the Plaza Beastro (all ages) • Call 26 6 - 8213 to plan a Birthday Party in the Cargill Learning Center (ages 4–12)

Visit scz.org for more information on all birthday party packages!

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DISCOVERY

Education Program Schedule All classes are held in the Cargill Learning Center unless otherwise noted. Please visit www.scz.org for program information and brief class descriptions of individual classes. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for classes.

Please call 316-266-8213 to register. Classes take place rain or shine. For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, no older or younger siblings, including infants, are allowed in age specific classes unless otherwise noted.

Class

Wee Wigglers

Age: 12–23 mo.

Members: $4 Nonmembers: $6 Additional person: $2

Start–End Time

Class

Wed 8/6 Chicken

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Wed 8/6 Chicken+

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Ewe & Me continued

Thur 8/7 Chicken

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Thur 8/7 Chicken

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Date

+Siblings up to five Wed 9/3 years of age may also Wed 9/3 attend these classes on Wednesdays at 11:00 Thur 9/4 only. An additional fee of $2 will be charged for any Thur 9/4 mobile child.

Tues 10/7

Topic

Cat

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Cat+

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Cat

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Cat

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Scorpion

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Tues 10/7 Scorpion

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wed 10/8 Scorpion

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Wed 10/8 Scorpion+

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wed 11/5 Rabbit

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Wed 11/5 Rabbit+

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Thur 11/6 Rabbit

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Thur 11/6 Rabbit

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wed 8/20 Chicken Age: 2–3 Wed 8/20 Chicken+ Members: $6 Thur 8/21 Chicken Nonmembers: $8 $ Additional person: 3 Thur 8/21 Chicken Thur 8/21 Chicken +Siblings up to five

Owlet

years of age may also attend these classes on Wednesdays at 11:00 only. An additional fee of $3 will be charged for any mobile child.

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Wed 9/17 Cat+

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Thur 9/18 Cat

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Thur 9/18 Cat

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Thur 9/18 Cat

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Tues 10/21 Scorpion

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Tues 10/21 Scorpion

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Tues 10/21 Scorpion

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Wed 10/22 Scorpion

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Wed 10/22 Scorpion+

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Wed 11/19 Rabbit

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Wed 11/19 Rabbit+

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Thur 11/20 Rabbit

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Thur 11/20 Rabbit

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Tues 9/9 What's for Lunch Age: 4 – kindergarten Tues 9/9 What’s for Members: $8 Lunch Nonmembers: $10 Additional person: $4 Wed 9/10 What’s for Lunch+ + Younger siblings may also Wed 9/10 What’s for attend class on Wed. at Lunch 10:00 only. An additional fee of $4 will be charged for any mobile child.

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Wed 9/17 Cat

Thur 11/20 Rabbit

Ewe & Me

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Topic

Start–End Time

Wed 10/15 Eeew at the Zoo+

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wed 10/15 Eeew at the Zoo

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Thur 10/16 Eeew at the 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Zoo 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Thur 10/16 Eeew at the Zoo Tues 11/11 Talking about 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Turkeys Tues 11/11 Talking about 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Turkeys Wed 11/12 Talking about 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Turkeys+ Wed 11/12 Talking about 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Turkeys

Pajama Party Family of up to 5 members, children Age: 0–1st grade

Sat 8/2

Tasting Tongues

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Fri 8/8

Tasting Tongues

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Fri 9/12 Back to School 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Members: $17 Nonmembers: $19 $ Sat 9/20 Back to School 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Additional person: 5 Sat 10/4 Sensational 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sounds Fri 10/10 Sensational 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sounds Sat 11/1 Silent Smells 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sat 11/7 Silent Smells 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sunset Safari

Tues 8/12 Chicken Age: 12 mo.–6 years Tues 9/9 Cat Members: $6 Tues 10/14 Scorpion Nonmembers: $8 $ Additional person: 3 Tues 11/11 Rabbit

Tot Tuesdays

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Tues 8/26 Smell the Roses Tues 9/23 Falling into Fall NO COST Tues 10/28 Whistling Winds No advance registration required. Tues 11/25 Turkey Tails

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

ZOOper Kids

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Age: 3–5 siblings welcome

Grades: 1–5 Members: $8 Nonmembers: $10

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Date

Sat 8/9

Dog Days of Summer

Grades: 1–5 Members: $10 Nonmembers: $12

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

Sat 9/13 Back to School 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sat 10/11 The 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Unhuggables Sat 11/15 Fur-tastick

WOW

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wed 11/26 Thanksgiving 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Safari

.

Class

Date

"ZOO"per Stars

Sun 8/24 River Otter

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Grades: 1–5 Members: $6 Nonmembers: $8

Homeschool Expeditions Grades: 1–5

Members: $15 Nonmembers: $17 Includes up to five family members Additional person: $5

So You Think You Want to Be a Zookeeper?

Includes up to five family members, ages 5+ Members: $17 Nonmembers: $19 Additional people/ Individual fee: $8

Wheeling Wild Club

Family—must be on bicycle or attached wagon.

Members: $30 1 ride per month Nonmembers: $34 1 ride per month

Social Hour ages 21+ Members: $25 Non-members: $30

Start–End Time

Sun 9/28 Elephant

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sun 10/26 Tayra

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sun 11/23 Poitou

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Wed 8/20 The Bird is the 10:00 a.m.– 11:00 p.m.

Word Wed 9/17 Amazing Amphibians

10:00 a.m.– 11:00 p.m.

Wed 10/15 You live WHERE?

10:00 a.m.– 11:00 p.m.

Wed 11/19 Oh I Get That 10:00 a.m.– 11:00 p.m.

All the Time Thur 8/21 Lizards Thur 10/16 Rabbits

Teens Members: $10 Nonmembers: $12

Backstage Pass

Topic

3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Class

Date

Senior Wednesdays

Topic

Start–End Time

Wed 8/13 Aging Animals 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Wed 9/10 African Safari 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Active guests over 55 Wed 10/8 Hoo Knew?

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. $4 per adult Wed 11/12 Orangutans vs 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Pre-registration not required Palm Oil Sponsored by Larksfield Place

Coffee Connections

Geared towards adults but all ages welcome

NO COST

No advance registration required.

Mon 8/4 Peninnah Ziegler 9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m.

Education

Mon 9/1 No class due to holiday Mon 10/6 Katelynn 9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m.

McDonnell: Birds Mon 11/3 Nancy Smith North America

9:00 a.m. –10:00 a.m.

Sponsored by Spice Merchant

* closed-toe shoes required

Sat 9/13 Vet Hospital Sat 11/8 Commissary

10:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m.

Animal Encounter All ages

NO COST

Mon 8/4 Splotches

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Tues 8/12 Solids

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Wed 8/20 Spots

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Thur 8/28 Stripes

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

No advanced registration required. Mon 9/1 No program due to Classes may be holiday canceled without notice Tues 9/9 Rainforest Wed 8/20 Every third Wednesday Wed 9/17

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Wed 10/15 Sponsored by Bicycle X-change

**Rides will not be rescheduled for inclement weather

Fri 9/26 Cocktails with 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. the Creatures Fri 11/21 Wild Wines

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Wed 9/17 Desert

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Thur 9/25 Prairie

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Mon 10/6 Hiss

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Tues 10/14 Creep

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Wed 10/22 Crawl

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Thur 10/30 Slither

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Mon 11/3 No legs

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Tues 11/11 Four legs

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Wed 11/19 More legs

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Thur 11/27 No program due to holiday

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Sponsored by House of Schwan and Glazer's

Registration Information:

1. Preregister by calling the Learning Center. at 266-8213. 2. Pay over the phone by credit card OR fill out the form completely and mail with payment to 5555 Zoo Blvd., Wichita, KS 67212-1698. Registration is not complete until payment is received. 3. Payment must be postmarked no later than seven days after preregistration. We reserve the right to cancel any preregistration or to charge a $2 late fee to individuals whose payment is not received on time. NOTE: If a refund is needed, contact the education department by 4 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled class. After contact, we will be happy to refund a maximum of 75% of the original program fee. If we need to cancel class, we will notify registrants 48 hours in advance. For the safety and comfort of other participants, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone with a fever or is noticeably sick.

Education Registration Form Please enclose form with payment and mail after you have preregistered.

Student Name & Age

Class Title

Date

Membership No:

Total Fees:

Parent's Name:

Phone:

Address:

City:

Time

Fee

Zip:

6

CONSERVATION

The Tiger SSP's Tiger Conservation Campaign

By Dr. Tara Harris, Director of Conservation, Minnesota Zoo, and Tiger SSP Coordinator With their giant paws, fearsome canines, and sleek striped coats, tigers inspire awe in millions of zoo guests every year.

Though they are one of the most popular and beloved animals in the world, tigers are quickly disappearing from the wild.

In the past century, four of nine tiger subspecies have gone extinct in their natural habitats. Now the Amur, Malayan, and Sumatran tiger subspecies we manage as part of the Tiger Species Survival Plan (SSP) are each thought to number fewer than 500 in the wild. The role of the Tiger SSP is to help maintain sustainable and genetically diverse tiger populations as a kind of genetic insurance policy for their wild counterparts. And with the launch of its Tiger Conservation Campaign in 2012, the Tiger SSP is able to play an even larger role in saving wild tigers from extinction. The Campaign’s goal is to mobilize accredited zoos across North America and engage the public to support tiger conservation efforts and raise awareness of the plight of wild tigers.

One hundred percent of the Tiger Conservation Campaign’s collected funds directly support critical tiger conservation efforts. In 2014, we are focusing on support WCS-Indonesia for six Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) field projects that benefit wild Amur, Malayan, and Sumatran tigers. Sedgwick County Zoo

donates $5,000 annual, to supporta project that aims to curb the biggest threat to Amur tigers: poaching.

This project in the Russian WCS-Russia Far East is increasing the amount of effort put into anti-poaching patrols, and the effectiveness of those patrols in stopping poaching. Another threat to Amur tigers that has emerged recently is canine distemper virus. Our campaign is supporting the creation of a Tiger Health Support Program to understand the source of this lethal disease and enable quicker and more effective responses to wildlife health issues. More than 3,000 miles away, we also support efforts to reduce tiger-human conflict and habitat loss in Sumatra, and to curb the illegal trade in tiger parts. And in peninsular Malaysia, our campaign is supporting anti-poaching patrols and outreach efforts to gain support for tiger conservation.

Over the past couple of years, zoos and people from around the country have contributed over $250,000 to these important projects through the Tiger Conservation Campaign!

Many people are surprised to learn just how few tigers remain, and that there are tangible ways to help. Tiger range countries have adopted the goal of doubling the wild tiger population by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. Overcoming the threats to wild tigers may Tara Harris seem daunting, but working together with your local zoo community can make a big impact and help secure a future for this beloved species.

Learn more about wild tigers, our campaign, and what you can do to help at www.mnzoo.org/tigercampaign.

We also have a Facebook page for the campaign at www.facebook.com/tigercampaign. Please “like” us and help spread the word! And lastly, you can help support the Tiger Conservation Campaign by sharing your tiger photos with the Campaign by becoming a member of our Flickr group, at www.flickr.com/groups/tigerconservationcampaign.

Thanks for your support!

ADVENTURE

PRESENTED BY

PIZZA HUT AND TACO BELL

October 24, 25 & 26 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Bring your ghouls and goblins for a night of not-tooscary Halloween fun at the Sedgwick County Zoo! Several ghoulish activities, like pumpkin bowling and beanbag tosses, can be found throughout the Zoo. Wear your costumes if you dare and take a stroll down jack-o-lantern lane, creep up to candy stations and let your spirit come alive!

You can wander the Zoo at your leisure, visiting Dracula and the fortune tellers, playing fun Halloween games, seeing creepy displays, and visiting Candy Land on your way out!

ADVANCE TICKETS:

$6.00 area QuikTrip Stores or online beginning Oct 1.

TICKETS PURCHASED AT GATE:

$6.00 for Zoo members $8.00 for nonmembers.

Children 2 and under do not need a ticket.

Please note: You might see animals in their outdoor exhibits (such as elephants, giraffes, and grizzly bears) but most animals will not be in attendance at this event.

8

ADVENTURE

It’s a fall festival at the Sedgwick County Zoo! Come celebrate the cooler weather and the beautiful colors of fall with us as we bring back a concert series in October! The Zoo offers top-rate entertainment and an evening under the stars at one of your favorite Wichita locations. Mark your calendars and join us for a great time at Sedgwick County Zoo!

THIS YEAR’S LINE-UP: OCTOBER 3 Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band OCTOBER 10 Tornado Rose OCTOBER 17 Seth Walker The gates will open at 6:00 p.m. and all concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3 – 11) for both Zoo members and nonmembers. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Zoo entrance, by phone at 316-266-8273 or online at www.scz.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 6:00 p.m. – Midnight

TICKETS PURCHASED AT THE GATE THE EVENING OF THE CONCERT: Zoo Members: Adults $12 | Children (ages 3 – 11) $6

Call 316.266.8273 Click scz.org Come by the Zoo! REMINDER: THE ZOO WILL BE CLOSED ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 FOR ZOOBILEE PREPARATIONS.

Nonmembers: Adults $15 | Children (ages 3 – 11) $8 2014 event sponsored by:

Saturday, October 18, 2014: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Hit the open road for one WILD ride for the Sedgwick

8:00 a.m. REGISTRATION

County Zoo! The day will include: a great breakfast at the

Registration/check in at Sedgwick County Zoo.

Zoo to get your motor running, a tour of parts of Kansas in

Before you ride, fill your tank with an all-you-can-eat

the fall, great prizes, and a ton of fun; all while supporting

pancake and sausage breakfast served by Chris Cakes.

one of Kansas’ favorite community attractions!

Breakfast for passengers is just $5.

Early Bird Registration: $20 Registration the Day of Event: $25

10:00 a.m. LAST BIKE OUT

Passengers ride free.

for one WILD ride while you work to build the best

Get ready for a new route this year! Hit the open road poker hand. The ride will be about 100 miles round-

Registration includes one free Chris Cakes breakfast

trip —beginning and ending at the Zoo.

ticket, one poker card and one Monkey Butt Poker Run t-shirt. Additional breakfasts, poker cards and t-shirts are

2:00 p.m. ALL BIKES BACK

available for purchase.

Arrive back at the Zoo for more fun, wild animals and great prizes! Finish off your poker hand at the Zoo to see if you're a winner.

2014 event sponsored by:

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FRIENDS & FAMILY

Wild

s e r u t a e r C with Friday, September 26 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Why not try a new spirit out at the Zoo? We will be trying cocktails inspired by animals while strolling the pathways of the Zoo. Light snacks will be provided.

Sponsored in part by our friends at the House of Schwan and Glazer's.

Members $25 each / Nonmembers $30 each Must be 21 or over.

S E N I W

and casual atmosphere where we will explore tastes from all over the world. Labels and names are large parts of why we buy wine. Take a sip on the wild side as we learn more about wines and the animals in their names!

Sponsored in part by our friends at Glazer's.

Members $25 each / Nonmembers $30 each Must be 21 or over.

Fabulous Fall Saturday, October 18: 1:00–4:00 Celebrate Fall at the Farms by participating in some old fashion county fair activities. Learn how animals are judged at the fair and much more. You might even win a blue ribbon yourself!

Regular Zoo admission applies.

Members are Free with membership card and photo ID.

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

For Wine Novices and Connoisseurs: an entertaining

Reserve your spot!

266-8213 • scz.org Children’s Farms Festival:

NOV 21 FRI::

Reserve your spot!

266-8213 • scz.org

Something in the air!

There’s something in the air and it smells of smoked meats! Sedgwick County Zoo Food Services Department has a new, custommade, competition-grade smoker fabricated by our friends at Piping and Equipment.

The smoker is a" hybrid design" that can be operated with standard airflow, or as a reverse flow smoker. The new smoker is made entirely out of quarter inch steel, weighs approximately 2,000 pounds, and can smoke 25 slabs of ribs at a time. That’s a lot of enticing, summery aroma filling the Zoo to whet your appetite!

The Plaza Beastro now provides smoked meat specials during the weekend, and is also providing smoked meat for caterings and holiday parties. For additional information about the new smoker and our smoked meats, contact Steve Fairchild at 266-8225.

Like Us. Follow Us. Watch Us. Pin Us. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SedgwickCountyZoo Follow us at Twitter: www.twitter.com/SedgwickCoZoo Watch us at YouTube: www.youtube.com/SedgwickCoZoo Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/sedgwickcountyzoo# Pin us on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sedgwickcozoo/ Watch us on Vine: vine.co/u/1061889894579920896

In Honor of Pets When a family pet passes away, it can be devastating to a family.

The Zoo has a Pet Sympathy program that can help you let the family know you care by donating to the Sedgwick County Zoo in honor of their family pet.

For a minimum donation of $5, the Zoo will send an acknowledgement to the family in honor of their furry family member. Funds donated go directly to the care of your Sedgwick County Zoo animals.

The Pet Sympathy program is a simple way of letting someone know you care, while supporting your Sedgwick County Zoo animals.

For more information call 316-266-8211 or email us at ask@scz.org for more details.

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ANIMALS & NATURE

Pete's Plant Tips JUNGLE UPDATE As most of you already have discovered, we have quite a project going on in the Jungle. We are replacing just about everything, except the building itself. This includes a new state of the art roof which will allow a nearly full spectrum of light exposure for the birds and more importantly (in my opinion!) the plants.

A new heating and air-conditioning system will be installed to make your summertime visits more comfortable. Speaking of summertime, that is when we expect to show off the new Jungle and all its inhabitants—Memorial Day weekend 2015! I know it seems like a long time from now, but trust me; it’ll be worth the wait!

As plant donation time is around the corner, I wanted to address the importance of your plant donations. I want to have a super, fantastic-looking Jungle next year and, to that end, I will be much more selective about the plants we accept for donation. I am hoping to brighten up the new Jungle with color from foliage (crotons, gingers, etc.) as well as flowering plants like plumerias, strelitzias (Bird of Paradise) and even unique hibiscus varieties. I would also like to have plants that provide some sort of harvest, be it a fruit such as bananas or citrus or even nut trees. We appreciate all of your donations, but know that only the crème de la crème and the unique and unusual plant donations will be used in the Jungle.

Many plants will still be needed for other areas of the Zoo so we will, of course, accept most plants that are brought out

to us over the weekend of October 18–19. Plants are used in other exhibits around the Zoo, including the Koch Orangutan and Chimpanzee Habitat, The Downing Gorilla Forest indoor exhibit, and in planters and pots throughout the zoo. Ficus trees, hibiscus trees and other larger plants are used in winter holding areas for our various birds and animals.

We will have to again turn away Oleander plants as they are very toxic, beautiful, but toxic. Though you may not ever have the chance to see the impact these plants have on birds and animals, know that this bit of nature inside does wonders for their natural activities in the wintertime.

As in years past, we will follow up that weekend with plant pickups from your home or office if it is too big to be brought out to us. This is where we will be more selective. Belinda Smith, our greenhouse manager, and I will go over the voicemails regarding plants needing to be picked up and will let you know if either of us can use your donation. If we decline, please understand that it has nothing to do with your plant, but rather with our limited space to hold, and inevitably, where we can place it within the Zoo.

Plant Donation Drive October 18 & 19 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Administration Parking Lot

Welcome to the Herd We are pleased to introduce a new female bison, Windy— bringing our herd to three, one male and two females. We are excited to partner with The Nature Conservancy to bring this bison to the Zoo. The 1 ½ year-old bison was born on Kansas' Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and donated to the Zoo by The Nature Conservancy in Kansas.

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve’s bison herd is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy. The herd started in 2009 with the introduction of 13 animals from Wind Cave National Park.

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve herd now numbers 22 animals and serves as a satellite population for Wind Cave National Park. The Wind Cave herd is one of only two known public herds with no documented historic cattle interbreeding. Most bison herds have some evidence of the crossbreeding attempts with domestic cattle during the early 1900s in efforts to prevent the species from going extinct.

Visitors to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City can hike within the bison pasture, but are strongly advised to keep a sizable distance from the herd as bison are fast and agile—and potentially very dangerous. If hikers don’t wish to hike within the bison pasture, there are other trails available that still offer views of the bison.

Learn more about The Nature Conservancy at nature.org or on Facebook at TNCKansas.

14

To inspire discovery, appreciation, and respect for animals and nature

PLANNING YOUR VISIT: Visit scz.org to purchase tickets or renew your membership.

TAKE YOUR PICK! WE’RE OPEN 364 DAYS A YEAR!

Have a wild holiday party at Sedgwick County Zoo

Plan a trip to the Zoo with family and friends!

Speed up your rate of entry by purchasing any additional tickets online at scz.org for family or friends who don’t have a membership. You can print tickets at home and everyone can enjoy the Zoo adventure that much quicker!

in the festive decorated Cargill Learning Center Your guests will be welcomed with holiday decorations, your choice of Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider, and festive holiday music. Lunch and evening party packages for groups of 20 to 120 guests are available. For more information call 316-266-8252 or email Catherine.Helms@scz.org.

Summer Hours: Winter Hours: March–October November–February 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Regular Admission

Adults (ages 12+) $13.95 Senior Citizens (62+) $11.95 Children (ages 3–11) $8.95 Children ages 2 and under Free

FREE Tram Tour

Enjoy a FREE narrated tram tour of the Zoo! You can hop on or off at any of the five designated tram stops. Using the tram to get around the Zoo allows you to see more of the Zoo during your visit! And it’s FREE! All aboard! (Weather permitting.)

Wheelchair Rental:

Push wheelchairs: $5 per visit Electric wheelchairs: $25/3 hours, $5 each additional hour

Stroller Rental:

Single stroller: $6 Double stroller: $9

Giraffe Feeding Station:

Monday – Friday: 11:00 a.m. – Noon Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (staff & weather permitting) Just $2 per person/per feeding

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

15 Back Packs,

% 15 Tshirts &

% 15 Masks,

zoo gift shop coupon

% OFF

zoo gift shop coupon

OFF

zoo gift shop coupon

OFF

Totes, & Purses

Sweatshirts

pinchers, bats, insects

valid from 8/1/14 to 8/31/14 One Coupon per person/per purchase. Must have membership ID and coupon to redeem.

valid from 9/1/14 to 9/30/14 One Coupon per person/per purchase. Must have membership ID and coupon to redeem.

valid from 10/1/14 to 10/31/14 One Coupon per person/per purchase. Must have membership ID and coupon to redeem.