November 2006
Dedicated to Animal Health
Photo provided by Leann Beehler
Lody, one of the Milwaukee County Zoo’s bonobos, wasn’t orangutans where the animals are awake, aware, unrestrained feeling well. Normally the alpha male in the Zoo’s bonobo group, and unstressed,” says Beehler. Subjecting an animal to a Lody began hanging back and got tired quickly. Barbara Bell, a medical procedure requires her to gain trust. Beehler visited bonobo zookeeper, suspected a cardiac problem. So she brought the orangutans twice a week for three months before they in Leann Beehler, an ultrasound technician, to do a scan of Lody’s would allow her to perform an ultrasound. chest. It turned out that Lody had Ultrasounds are done not just on an enlarged heart, which caused his sick animals. Beehler and Zoo staff also lethargy. The great ape was put perform ultrasounds on healthy animals on cardiac medication and is now, to establish what is normal for each one year later, nearly back to his species. For example, Beehler regularly old self. runs cardiac ultrasounds on bonobos. A licensed practical nurse, She also has recruited ultrasound Beehler owned a mobile ultrasound technicians with obstetrical experience business, Medical Care Specialists, to do scans of pregnant bonobos. As a Inc., when Bell recruited her to result, the Zoo has the best database of volunteer her services 11 years ultrasounds of pregnant bonobos in the ago. Beehler brought ultrasound world. Beehler even worked with Bell, equipment to the Zoo in a van and Zoo veterinarians, outside specialists and performed scans on animals as other bonobo keepers on several papers diverse as Vietnamese flying snakes, describing the Zoo’s findings on bonobo tigers, wolves, goats and bats. health. “This research makes it possible “It was a unique way to branch to help species all over the world,” says off and develop expertise in the Beehler. Adds Bell: “Without Leann’s animal area,” says Beehler. dedication to bonobo research, the Zoo In thanks for all the volunteer would not have obtained cardiac research hours Leann Beehler has devoted and biological data on all the great apes. to the Zoo, the Zoological Society It is truly a historical landmark.” recognized her on behalf of the Zoo Beehler, who grew up in Milwaukee, with an in-kind membership in the had always liked the Zoo. When she sold Platypus Society in 1999, and she her ultrasound company in 2004, she Leann Beehler does an ultrasound on an anesthetized gorilla named Linda, whose face is covered by a plastic has been a corporate member of donated one of the ultrasound machines container custom made into an anesthesia mask. the Platypus Society at the bronze to the Zoo’s Animal Health Center. Says level ever since. Beehler: “I enjoy helping the Zoo; I made a lot of friends; Beehler’s skills and equipment were crucial to researching and I feel part of the organization.” She even met her husband, the health of great apes such as gorillas, orangutans and the Deputy Zoo Director Bruce Beehler, here. highly endangered bonobos. “Great apes like bonobos have high Beehler plans to help the Zoo as long as she can. She works rates of cardiac disease,” says Beehler. “Ultrasounds collect very part time doing ultrasounds at the Heart Hospital of Wisconsin, critical data to help this species survive.” For example, zookeepand comes to the Zoo about three times a week to do ultrasounds ers all over the world noticed that while male bonobos frequently on animals. “I enjoy working with animals because they seem so have heart problems, the females rarely do. Beehler hopes that dependent on us and, in some cases, appreciate me more than this information someday will lead to ways to help treat and human patients!” she says. She is often amazed and humbled prevent bonobo heart problems. by how closely some animal organs resemble those of humans. Her work is also notable because some animals are not “There are so many similarities; so I’m always learning. It’s an anesthetized for ultrasounds. “We believe the Milwaukee honor to participate in the health of the animals.” County Zoo was the first zoo to do scans on gorillas and By Julia Kolker
PLATYPUS SOCIETY STEERING COMMITTEE Robert M. Anger Paul Cadorin Dr. Bert Davis Richard Glaisner Katherine Hust Kenneth Kerznar Maria Gonzalez Knavel Rick Kohen Joe Kresl Daniel F. McKeithan Jr. James McKenna Joel Nettesheim Bernard J. Peck Joan Prince John Sapp Andrew T. Sawyer Jr. (chairman) Richard L. Schmidt Judy Holz Stathas Rich Tennessen
DEVELOPMENT STAFF Beth W. Carona Vice President of Development Katie Hess Annual Giving & Events Coordinator Susan Skibba Grants Writer
NEWSLETTER STAFF Paula Brookmire Editor & Writer Julia Kolker Writer Kevin de Wane Designer Richard Brodzeller Photographer
The Platy Press is a newsletter for members of the Platypus Society. The Platypus Society is the highest level, donor-member-recognition group in the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s network of support. Members include close to 400 area foundations, businesses and individuals contributing more than $600,000 annually with in-kind services and support. The Platy Press is published four times a year by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, 1421 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI 53202. www.zoosociety.org
Platypus A James McKenna was honored by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM) with its top service award, the Emu Egg, on Oct. 5 at the 25th annual Platypus Society Awards Dinner. McKenna (left) is president and CEO of North Shore Bank, which was a major donor to the capital campaign to improve the Milwaukee County Zoo. For the last two years the bank also has sponsored the Zoo’s train. McKenna, who is a past president and current member of the ZSM’s Board of Directors, has been a key leader in the ZSM’s relationship with local government. He also serves on the steering committee for the Platypus Society. The awards dinner was sponsored by Sattell, Johnson, Appel & Co. Financial Resource Services, LLC. Guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner, musical entertainment by a string quartet from Milwaukee High School of the Arts and a presentation by Sharon Matola, director of the Belize Zoo. Matola runs the Problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Program, which provides a sanctuary for jaguars that otherwise would be killed because they prey on livestock. Her program is supported by the ZSM and the Zoo. The evening also recognized award recipients shown here and three who were unable to attend: Carole Houston, who received an individual service award; Dr. Kay Elsen, honored with an award for outstanding service to ZSM education programs; and the Halbert and Alice Kadish Foundation, honored for exceptional support of the ZSM.
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Awards Dr. Richard Carroll and the U.S. branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) were honored with the Gorilla, gorilla, gorilla conservation award, a framed gorilla footprint made by one of the Zoo’s gorillas. Dr. Carroll, who has studied gorillas in Africa, has been involved with WWF since 1978, and is now director of its Africa Program. He has been responsible for a five-year collaboration between the Zoological Society and the WWF to help save bonobos, rare apes, in Africa. Starting in 1999, the WWF developed a conservation plan for 10 countries in the Congo River Basin. Among those countries is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the ZSM has a major bonobo research and conservation project.
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Judy and Jerry O’Callaghan were honored with the Spheniscus humboldti individual service award, a framed pair of Humboldt penguin footprints. The O’Callaghans have been active in Zoo Pride, the ZSM’s volunteer auxiliary, since 1983, including a five-year stint observing and tracking the behavior of the Zoo’s koalas from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. weekly. The O’Callaghans enjoy teaching Zoo visitors about endangered species, and leading behind-the-scenes tours for members of the Platypus Society. They also have donated to ZSM annual appeals and to the capital campaign.
Dr. Laura Owens accepted the Thalarctos maritimus arts award, a framed polar bear footprint, for organizing teenagers to develop art projects that beautify the Zoo. Owens, an assistant professor in the department of exceptional education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is founder of Artworks, a non-profit organization that puts at-risk teens in art apprenticeships. Artworks students have created projects on flamingos and endangered species for the Zoo, and this year painted colorful giraffe murals that were displayed in front of the Miller Brewing Company Giraffe Experience exhibit during construction.
Judy Holz Stathas and Dr. William Stathas accepted the Leontideus rosalia exceptional commitment award, a framed pair of golden lion tamarin footprints. The couple have served as past chairs of Zoo Ball and made a gift to help finish the capital campaign to improve the Zoo. Judy is on the Zoological Society’s Board of Directors, is an honorary member of the Associate Board and is on the Platypus Society steering committee. She also serves on the ZSM education committee. The couple also help support the Animal Ambassador program, which offers second- through fourth-grade students from metro-Milwaukee schools, many of them in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, the chance to learn about animals, their habitats and how to save them.
Zoological Society Development Office 1421 N. Water Street Milwaukee, WI 53202 Please remember the Zoological Society in your will or estate plan.
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New-Member Profile Member Name: Aleco Machinery Sales Inc. Representative: Alex Hawley, president Address: 1500 West Cornell St., Milwaukee, WI 53209 Phone: (414) 264-5848 E-mail: alex@alecomachinery.com Web site: www.alecomachinery.com
Impact on Milwaukee and surrounding communities: We offer lower priced solutions for fabrication equipment that might otherwise be out of reach for a smaller manufacturer’s budget. Companies in this area used to have to go to Chicago and larger markets to purchase metal equipment that we now stock in Milwaukee.
Nature of business/mission: Aleco Machinery buys and sells pre-owned metal fabrication equipment. We purchase used equipment all over the world from product lines that are shutting down and bring it to Milwaukee to resell. The metal is used to make a variety of products, including tractors and refrigerators. Company history: The company was established in 1998 and has steadily grown in the Milwaukee area for the past eight years.
Why the company is a member of the Platypus Society: My father, Cecil, was a member of the Zoological Society and believed in the programs and projects the ZSM runs. I, too, think that donating through the Platypus Society is a fun way to produce a positive result for the entire community. Our Zoo is one of the best that I’ve been to, and I never get tired of watching the playful penguins. Alex Hawley at the Miller Brewing Company Giraffe Experience
Calendar of Events Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 Holiday Night Lights at the Zoo, sponsored by AT&T, featuring the Zoological Society’s Winter Wonderland; call (414) 258-2333 for details.
Jan. 25 Puttin’ on the Ritz gourmet dinner and boxing fundraiser for the Zoological Society. Call Christina at (414) 258-2333 for an invitation.
Jan. 21, 2007 Samson Stomp & Romp for the Zoo, sponsored by Gatorade and Pick ’n Save. Call (414) 256-5412 for information about corporate or group teams for this run and walk.
Feb. 8 Wines of the World fundraiser for the Zoological Society. A special thanks to Downer Wine & Spirits for its support.
Feb. 24 Beastly Bowl-a-Thon fundraiser for the Zoological Society, sponsored by Tri City National Bank March 10 & 11 Behind the Scenes Weekend at the Zoo
Giang Schutze and daughter McKenna, 3, of Muskego bowl at last year’s fund-raiser.
March 25 Feast for the Beasts Pancake Breakfast, a fund-raiser for the Zoological Society, sponsored by Tri City National Bank