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Additional Conservation Efforts
Annually, numerous Zoo staff, Zoological Society staff, Zoo Pride volunteers and other associates work outside normal duties, supporting conservation efforts worldwide. Although many of these activities were put on hold in response to the pandemic, there are still some examples from 2020:
GROUNDHOG DAY
We annually celebrate Groundhog Day at the Zoo’s Family Farm. As part of the 2020 event, funds were raised to conserve the Vancouver Island Marmot, a cousin to our resident groundhog, Gordy. Vancouver Island Marmots are Critically Endangered due to changes in their habitat. Funds raised supported the Marmot Recovery Foundation and were matched by the Zoo. This recovery partnership between government agencies, private landowners and zoos in Canada monitors populations, oversees reproductive programs, and protects habitat needed by one of the world’s rarest mammals.
Groundhog Western Lowland Gorilla
GORILLAS ON THE LINE
For the second consecutive year, the Milwaukee County Zoo partnered with local schools to collect and recycle mobile phones in a national campaign called Gorillas on the Line. (Recycling phones benefits gorillas by reducing mining pressures that threaten African forest habitats and by raising funds for field conservation programs.) Twenty schools registered to participate, but about half were unable to complete their collection due to school closures. At the end of the abbreviated campaign, 300+ devices were recycled, and thousands of local students, their families and followers on Zoo social media platforms received information on the connection between electronics and gorillas.
Advances excellence in the animal-keeping profession, fosters effective communication beneficial to animal care, supports deserving conservation projects and promotes the preservation of our natural resources and animal life.
• Established in 1975 • Comprised of staff from MCZ and the Racine Zoo • Oversees fundraising events and hosts the Zoo’s in-house lecture series
In 2020, the Milwaukee AAZK chapter hosted in-person and virtual events to benefit multiple organizations, including: • Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund (Australia) • Bowling for Rhinos benefitting International Rhino Foundation, Lewa
Wildlife Conservancy (Kenya), and Action for Cheetahs in Kenya • Foundation for Wildlife Conservation (Belize) • Polar Bears International/Trees for You and Me
Rhinoceros
SUSTAINABILITY & 20 THE GREEN COMMITTEE
Identifies, advances and promotes policies and practices to minimize negative impact and maximize environmental benefits, through comprehensive input and collaboration from all Zoo areas.
Due to the pandemic, many initiatives had to be reworked or put on hold. We continued collecting and recycling cell phones, beverage containers, light bulbs, electronics, clothing and more. Assessing and upgrading infrastructure to provide efficiency in operations also continued.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS
• Converted the majority of outdoor parking lot and pathway lighting to energy-saving LED fixtures • The Environmental Services team switched to plant-based cleaners and sanitizers for a portion of tasks • The planned guest-participation event in celebration of Party for the Planet – Spring into Action was postponed. It was partially funded by a grant from the Association of Zoos &
Aquariums.
The Zoo assists in many scientific studies and collaborative research projects by providing facilities, staff expertise, data, and an environment conducive to animal studies. Prior to participation, proposals are reviewed to ensure animal welfare is protected and that the study aligns with Zoo research priorities.
Studies that the Zoo conducted, collaborated with, participated in, or that were published in 2020 included:
• Evaluation of passive transfer of immunity in giraffe calves (Giraffa camelopardalis) • Constraints of biomass on innate immunity across endotherms • Genetic assessment of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (DRB-1, exon 2) variability in three Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) populations • Genomic analysis of the managed Eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) population at AZA institutions • Identifying the genomic basis of cardiomyopathy in Gorilla gorilla gorilla • Orangutan (Pongo spp.) fecal microbiome analysis • Blood types of non-domestic felids: Typing kits and molecular characterization
• Understanding the changes in gut microbiome, proteome, metabolome and immune function: Influence of sex, diet, reproductive status and health in wild vs. zoo-managed Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
PRESENTATIONS/ PUBLICATIONS
In 2020, Zoo staff and zoological veterinary medicine residents authored peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters and presented at national conferences on topics including:
• Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) Species Survival
Plan: population analysis and breeding and transfer plan • Exotic animal laboratory diagnosis; Chapter 3: Procyonids and
Chapter 8: Hystricomorph rodents: Guinea pigs, chinchillas, degus, vischachas • Management of severe periodontal disease and gingival enlargement in a dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula) • Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis with secondary dysphagia in a black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
At the 2020 Annual Conference of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the first-ever Research Award was presented to the Great Ape Heart Project (GAHP). The Milwaukee County Zoo is an organizing partner of the GAHP, which provides clinical and research expertise to understand and treat cardiovascular disease in great apes. Retired Senior Staff Veterinarian Dr. Vickie Clyde leads several GAHP initiatives, including the Bonobo Cardiac Database and the Bonobo Blood Pressure project.
COOPERATIVE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Through SSP programs, the Zoo cooperates with all AZA members to enhance the wellbeing of at-risk animal populations globally.
The process is facilitated by teams of scientists and animal care professionals working together to implement breeding plans that support long-term genetic diversity of species in human care.
Often, collaborative programs have been developed with range countries to further support the enhancement of these populations in the wild.
The Zoo further supports the AZA community through membership, advisement and leadership of conservation, research, education and animal care initiatives such as Taxon Advisory Groups (TAG), Scientific Advisory Groups (SAG), and Conservation Action Partnerships (CAP). With the team expertise and resources to have a significant positive impact toward conservation of species, enhancement of professional animal care, and leadership within the conservation community, we again proceed with commitment, passion and enthusiasm.
Currently MCZ is involved in 117 SSP programs and 46 Taxon Advisory Group programs.
2014
Moved forward on plans for the new West Entrance and adjacent parking lots; location includes new outdoor Otter Exhibit
Zoo staff members hold management positions in national and international programs through AZA and other conservation entities including:
• Executive Committee or Board of Directors
Bear Care Group, Great Ape Heart Project • SSP Program Leadership
Humboldt Penguin SSP, Canada Lynx SSP • AZA Program Advisement
Bonobo SSP (Veterinary), Humboldt Penguin
SSP (Veterinary), Penguin TAG (Veterinary),
AZA Annual Conference Program Committee • AZA Steering Committee Membership
Bonobo SSP, Polar Bear SSP
• TAG Steering Committee Membership
Freshwater Fish TAG, Penguin TAG,
Coraciiformes TAG, Bear TAG • Advisory Board Member
AZA Reproductive Management Center • Studbook Management
Yellow-Backed Duiker, Tayra, Bobcat,
Canada Lynx • Program Manager
American College of Zoological Medicine
Residency Program • Development Committee
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians • American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK-
National) Animal Welfare Committee, Grants
Committee, Conservation Committee, Safety
Committee • Arctic Ambassadors
Polar Bears International • Zoo Registrars Association
Historical Committee
In addition, members of the Zoo staff are officers of the Milwaukee Chapter/AAZK.
Amur Tiger
