Keepin’ it Wild!
January-March 2019
A digital publication of Zoo Miami Foundation and Zoo Miami.
OUR MISSION: The Zoo Miami
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:UE:
Foundation fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo.
- New Dholes Arrive at Zoo Miami - Our Baby Hippo Has a Name - Zoo Year Resolutions
Keepin’ it Wild
is a quarterly digital publication of
Zoo Miami Foundation that provides information for the friends, supporters and Members of Zoo Miami.
LETTER FROM THE CEO Happy New Year from the Zoo Miami family! It is always so exciting for us to look forward to the coming new year with supporters and fans like you. Of course, the New Year also reminds us to look back on our past successes, changes and endeavors over the last year and consider how we may continue to build on them.
For more information, please contact: Zoo Miami Foundation 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177 (305) 255-5551 / www.zoomiami.org Zoo Miami Foundation’s Mission Zoo Miami Foundation fosters community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secures financial support for the zoo. Zoo Miami Foundation Board of Directors: Chair: Jose C. Romano Chair-Elect: Eric Eikenberg Treasurer: Kathy McDonald Secretary: Armando Fernandez Past Chair: Jim Kushlan, PhD. George Leser Daniel J. Licciardi Frank Lopez Sharon MacIvor, DVM Maria I. Nardí Marc A. Osheroff Ann Pope Aliette D. Rodz, Esq. Katrina Daniel Rosen Dr. Michael Rosenberg Patricia Siles, CPA Eric J. Stephens Merrett R. Stierheim Christopher Walters
Alan Atkinson Mary Barley Dr. Jose Francisco Barros Sandy Batchelor Jacey Birch Luis E. Boué, CPA John V. Chibbaro Jose Felix Diaz Diane Dickut Diana L. Fitzgerald, Esq. Robert Furniss-Roe Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez Michael Heithaus, PhD. Kimberly Kalkus Jim Kushlan, PhD.
EMERITI DIRECTORS Rodney L. Barreto Vincent L. Berkeley Jennifer Boin Getz Roger Carlton Harlan S. Chiron, MD Ambassador Sue Cobb Linda Coll Ron Esserman William J. Gallwey, III, Esq. Robert W. Hudson, Esq.
Sherrill W. Hudson Bernard Klepach David Konfino Jack Lowell Manny J. Rodriguez, P.E. Edward Soto Lawrence O. Turner, Jr. Diana Udel Ana VeigaMilton, Esq. Andrew H. Weinstein, Esq.
President/CEO: William W. Moore Zoo Director: Carol Kruse Zoo Admission Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily Last ticket sold at 4 p.m. Editor: Rashielle Teape Contributors: Samantha Capparelli, Cindy Castelblanco, Sarah Chapman, Patricia Fernandez, Yvette Jones, Julia Klumb, Ron Magill, Bill Moore, Alexandra Nodarse, Andrea Obregon, Jessica Parks, Carlos Simoes, Ron Stayton, and Katy Wilhelm Layout & Design: Parrot Fish Studio
Photography: Ron Magill
Special thanks to Ana VeigaMilton and the Zoo Miami staff, for without these people, this publication would not be possible.
In 2018, we celebrated many animal births like two Grevy’s zebras, an African steenbok, and a pygmy hippo, as well as the arrival of animals like Bella and Kumang, our popular orangutan mom-anddaughter duo that came to use from The Seneca Park Zoo, and a pair of two-toed sloths from Panama. We also saw the continued growth of our wonderful education programs like Zoo Camp and Wild Nights, and celebrated changes to our park like the opening of Nourish305! Many of our membership and giving programs have also evolved over the last year and we can’t wait to see more improvements and additions to these in 2019. Our community of supporters provide us with the resources we need to continue making the necessary progress to further our work and our mission. We are always thinking of new ways to involve you, and we hope that in this new year, more Zoo Miami fans will explore programs like the Wildlife Guardians, Walkway of the Wild, and Premier Membership program to become an even closer part of our family. On behalf of Zoo Miami Foundation, thank you for your support, over the last year and through the next. We are grateful for your passionate dedication and care for our animals and work, as we continue to have truly impactful and amazingly wild years because of you.
FOLLOW US
BILL MOORE ZMF CEO/ President
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You can help support the zoo as we continue to grow!
DONATE NOW!
Inside This Issue
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5 7 8
Zoo Year Resolutions
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Zoo Miami’s Mission at Home & Abroad
12
Adventures in Learning
14 16 18
Healthy West Kendall Baptist Recipe
Valentine’s Day Gifts Who Let the Dogs In? Meet our four new dholes, the first ever to be maintained at Zoo Miami!
Learn more about our impact on cheetah conservation in Kenya, and how the Wild Bunch is helping out right here at Zoo Miami
Award-winning camps, after-hours adventures, overnight campouts and more! Check out all the ways you can learn with our education programs
Zoo Miami Foundation Quarterly Donors Hip Hippo Hooray! Our baby pygmy hippo made his public debut AND now has a new name thanks to his generous fans
2019
Feast
WITH THE
BEASTS S AV E T H E D AT E
MARCH 15, 2019 VIP Beastkeeper I $500/person 7:00pm to 9:00pm The VIP Beastkeeper level grants you exclusive access to special tastings, a live auction, a private bar and a VIP area, an exclusive animal encounter and keeper meet and greets in the Entry Plaza’s Florida Room plus all the amazing Main Event activities.
Feaster Main Event I $250/person 8:00pm to12:00am Enjoy delectable bites, open bars, live entertainment, animal encounters, a special tiger feeding, a Hookah Lounge and a silent auction with a chance to win a VIP Behind the Scenes Tour. Celebrate in style and party ‘til midnight at the Main Event and Feast with our resident Beasts! Must be 21 and older to attend. Complimentary Valet Parking
Indulge Your Gourmet Vices! For more information, ticket information, or sponsorship opportunities visit www.fwtb.org or call 305-255-5551. 4
ZOO YEAR
RESOLUTIONS
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Inspired to make 2019 your best year yet, but not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas for your New Year’s Resolutions and how Zoo Miami can help you stick to it.
BE E TO
R K HE CLIC
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PHOTO EXHIBITION OPEN THROUGH OCTOBER 9, 2019
THIS EXHIBITION WAS ORGANIZED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OMAHA’S HENRY DOORLY ZOO & AQUARIUM.
conserva 4 s tio r a 2019
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EXPERIENCE IT
#SaveTogether
ZooMiami.org
AT
Sunday
24
March
2019
Registration Coming Soon! ZOOMIAMI.ORG ALL CARS WELCOME A Car Show in Support of Animal Conservation
Located at Zoo Miami Zoo admission is an additional fee
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About You!
Get your loved one something unique this Valentine’s Day!
Dual Membership
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Membership for two? Nothing says romance like endless dates to Zoo Miami for a whole year! Treat your sweetheart or loved one to the gift of adventure. Get $14 off a Dual Membership when you use promo code LOVE19. Promotion is valid 2/7/19 – 2/14/19.
CLICK HERE to purchase
Custom Brick
Remember the days of carving your initials into a tree? Show your commitment by engraving your love into a commemorative brick at Zoo Miami! Your brick will be featured on our Walkway of the Wild, so you can visit it for years to come. Throughout the month of February, include heart artwork for free!
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CLICK HERE to purchase
Become a Wildlife Guardian For the animal lover in your life, this is the perfect gift! Symbolically adopt an animal in their name, and your gift will help us care for our animal residents here at Zoo Miami. You can now adopt a koala, in honor of the new female koala at Zoo Miami and her male mate!
CLICK HERE to adopt 7
Who Let the Dogs In?
On November 29, 2018, Zoo Miami received four dholes (pronounced ‘doles’) from San Diego.
This is the first time that this species has ever been maintained at Zoo Miami! We are now one of a handful of institutions in North America to do so. These beautiful males are named “Sanuk”, “Katsu”, “Yoshi” and “Torma”, and they range from 4 to almost 9 years old.
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Also known as Asiatic or Indian wild dogs, dholes are very shy, high-strung and senstitive animals found within a variety of habitats in Eastern and Southern Asia. Their behaviors are similar to the African painted dog, with one dominant breeding pair typically managing a pack of 5 – 12 dholes. However, it has been observed where more than one pack merge to create a super pack of up to 30 individuals to hunt together. They are very athletic animals, able to make extraordinary jumps while running for very long distances. They feed on a variety of animals from pigs and goats to deer and buffalo. Unfortunately, these animals are endangered with less than 2,500 adults believed to be left in the wild. Zoo Miami’s dholes are scheduled to eventually be transferred to the habitat currently housing the sloth bears.
Stay tuned for more updates on when you can visit these beautiful new additions to our Zoo family!
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MAR
2
FOOD • WINE • CRAFT BEER • AND MORE
An After Hours Event in the Spirit of Mardi Gras! Tickets
20 $25
$
Presale
Members Save $5
At the Door
21 & OVER Need a babysitter? Zoo Miami has you covered with Baby Critters Club childcare service for kids ages 4-12. $20/child
shop.ZooMiami.org
ZOO M I A M I
ZOO DOO COMPOST Zoo Miami’s Zoo Doo is the most exotic compost available in South Florida. Zoo Doo is made from non-primate herbivore animal waste (elephants, rhinos, bantengs and guars to be exact) and recycled yard debris generated right here on Zoo grounds. As a conservation organization, Zoo Miami is committed to being a steward of the environment. Zoo Doo compost is a dark, rich humus, ideal for use as a soil amendment in your garden, grass and potted plants. It raises the vitamin and mineral content of food grown in a compost garden and it reduces the reliance on petroleum-based fertilizers. Year-round, you can purchase Zoo Doo in 5 gallon buckets and by the cubic yard, either online or at the Ticketing Building located at the main entrance from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday to Saturday. 10
Zoo Doo Bucket (5 gal): $12.95 + tax Zoo Doo Scoop* (1 cubic yard): $30.00 + tax *Must come with an empty truck in order to load the scoop. Zoo Miami staff will load the truck.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
When you least expect it, perhaps even in your travels through exotic lands in faraway places, you may find yourself filled with pride at the tremendous impact of Zoo Miami. Thanks to the Ron Magill Conservation Fund of the Zoo Miami Foundation, this vehicle was donated for the MaraMeru Cheetah Conservation Project in Kenya. The project aims to protect cheetahs throughout East Africa.
Pictured left to right: Mara-Meru Cheetah Project Founder and Principal Investigator Dr. Elena Chelysheva, Zoo Miami Foundation Immediate Past Chair Dr. James Kushlan, and author and photographer Kirsten Hines
Meet the Animals! Make an Impact! Wild Bunch is a group of like-minded individuals under 40 dedicated to championing wildlife conservation and bringing community awareness to the mission of Zoo Miami. As the next generation of zoo supporters, Wild Bunch members play a critical role in supporting Zoo Miami Foundation through fundraising, awareness campaigns while extending our volunteer base. Dedicating their time, talent and resources as budding philanthropists, revenue generated by Wild Bunch supports designated improvement projects for the animal residents at Zoo Miami. Join the next generation of zoo supporters! In addition to the camaraderie of networking with fellow philanthropists, conservationists and community influencers, members also enjoy the zoo from an exclusive perspective through volunteerism, animal encounters and priority access to Zoo Miami events.
For more information about Wild Bunch please contact Samantha Capparelli at 305-328-8833 or visit www.zoomiami.org/wildbunch 11
Adventures in Learning
Ages 4 - 12 Our award-winning camps combine education with entertainment where your kids will enjoy learning about wildlife, getting an introduction to environmental conservation, and making new friends.
SPRING CAMP
Spring is in the air! It’s the perfect time of the year to sign up for Zoo Camp. Your kids will experience a unique adventure blooming into the world of wildlife conservation through animal encounters, games, and other activities.
March 25 – 29, 2019 Regular Price: $225 per child Member Price: $180 per child
MINI CAMP
School may be out but the zoo is still open! On Teacher Planning Days, our one-day camps are both fun and educational.
UPCOMING DATES: January 18, 2019: “You Otter Know” January 21, 2019: “Ending Extinction” February 18, 2019: “Animal Care Here & There” April 19, 2019: “Lights, Camera, Action!” Regular Price: $50 per child Member Price: $40 per child
CLICK HERE to Register 12
Night Programs WILD NIGHT ADVENTURES
Join us for a walk on the wild side! Our evening adventures take you on a guided tour and include unique behind-the-scenes experiences with the zoo’s night-loving animals.
Upcoming Dates: January 12, 2019: “Gentle Giants” February 9, 2019: “Everglades Escapade” March 9, 2019: “Amazon Trek”
CLICK HERE to Register
Join Our
Pride! Adult Volunteers
Volunteers are an essential part of the daily operation of the zoo. If you are an adult who cares about wildlife and conservation, this opportunity is for you! Volunteer opportunities include: • Guest Engagement: Provide excellent customer service and share information about our animals! Opportunities exist to assist with animal encounters. • Administration: There is always office work that needs to be done! • Animal Nutrition Center: Help prep diets for our 3,000 animals!
Applications Due January 10, 2019
The CTS program is an opportunity for 9th – 12th graders to join our zoo team to practice life skills like public speaking, team building, etc., while increasing their knowledge in environmental sciences.
Applications Due April 30, 2019
Thank you! On October 20, 2018, our adult volunteers raised a grant total of $2,286.68 during their 2nd Annual Yard Sale. The funds will benefit our Animal Hospital and buy special surgical glasses for the vet staff.
CAMP TEEN PROGRAM Sign up to volunteer during our Spring Break camp to help our counselors provide the best zoo experience and build eco-warriors. Applications Due January 31, 2019
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Spatched Game Hen with Root Vegetables
West Kendall Baptist Hospital’s Executive Chef Rod Knight
1 serving
Nutritional Information
Directions:
Calories.....................................................247 Fat...............................................................9g Sat fat..........................................................1g Sodium.................................................185mg Total carbs.................................................26g Fiber............................................................3g Protei......................................................... 14g
1. Preheat oven to 375° 2. Pat dry the skin of the cornish hen. Using kitchen shears, cut the back bone and discard. 3. Season the bird well with salt and pepper. Set aside 4. Heat a medium sized sautee pan on medium high. 5. Prepare the carrots and sweet potatoes by peeling them, dice them to roughly the same size, approximately 1 inch cubes. Transfer to a bowl and add the sliced leeks, garlic, 2 tablespoons of blended oil, and lightly season with salt and pepper. Toss and set aside. 6. When the sautee pan is hot, coat the bottom with oil, place the hen skin side down into the pan. Once the skin is golden brown flip the bird and cook just until there is a sear on all sides. Remove the bird from the pan and toss in the rosemary and sage. Cook for a few moments then add the vegetables. Sautee the vegetables until the leeks and garlic is softened. Add the apple cider vinegar to the pan and mix well. 7. Add the hen back to the pan skin side up on top of the vegetables and place into the oven. Roast for approximately 30 minutes or until hen has an internal temperature of 165°. 8. Remove from oven, eat and enjoy!
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Ingredients: • Cornish Hen 1 ea • Blended Oil 1 tpsp • Apple Cider Vinegar 1 tsp • Rosemary, fresh 1 tsp • Sage, Fresh 1 tsp • Kosher Salt & Black Pepper 1 tsp • Carrots, Peeled & Diced 1 ea • Sweet Potato, Peeled & Diced 1 cup • Leeks, Sliced Thinly 0.25 cup • Garlic, Sliced 2 ea 14
THANK YOU!
BENEFITTING
On October 6, 2018, over 3,600 community members flocked to Zoo Miami for the 2018 ZooRun5K & Kidz Medical Services ZooKidsDash benefiting Zoo Miami Foundation and West Kendall Baptist Hospital Thank you to our participants and to our generous sponsors:
Cheetahs, tortoises and every speed in between ran wild at Zoo Miami. Event photos and race results available at ZooMiami.org/run
The event raised nearly $200,000 to benefit Zoo Miami Foundation and West Kendall Baptist Hospital!
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We would like to recognize and thank those who contributed to Zoo Miami Foundation between September 21, 2018 and December 19, 2018. Your generosity helps us fulfill our mission of wildlife education and conservation, and we are truly grateful for your support.* INDIVIDUALS $10,000 + Bella Goldstein Robin and Marc Osheroff
$2,500 - $9,999 Mary Barley Therese and Jose Felix Diaz Richard Glass Barbara Havenick Kimberly & Olen Kalkus Jill and Bill Moore Phyllis and Anibal Oreamuno Diane and Michael Rosenberg Judith and Merrett Stierheim
$1,000 - $2,499 Fredrica Applebaum Tonya and Eric Eikenberg Jose Fernandez Diana Fitzgerald Jane Goodman The Honorable Sally Heyman Katharine and David McDonald Gabriel Nemeth Grace Wang and Steven Pabalan Roslyn Schrank Martin Segal Ronald Stayton
$500 - $999 Jaime Aubin Helen Torres and Jose Francisco Barros Brian Blackman Kenneth Bloom Ronnee and Dwight Chapman Betsy and John Chibbaro Sandra and Kevin Davis Diane Dickhut Pamela Garrison Richard Glass Lourdes Gomez and Marcelino Miyares Tyler Grady 16
Eric Paul Gros-Dubois Sharon and Daniel Licciardi Maria Nardi Susan and Ross Pivnik Joanna and José Romano W. David Skinner Monty Trainer Karin Zachow and Jim Kirwin
$250 - $499 Jared Abes Patricia and Abdulwahab Aldousany Christiana and Robert Becerra Carly Celmer Katherine Driscoll Amelia and Arthur Finkle Sara Greene and Carlos Lungu Carol and Karl Kruse Nicole Lee Marion and Peter Mosheim Ann Pope Esta & Lewis Ress Brittany Wallis & Rishi Sehgal Margaret and Bryson Thompson Ana VeigaMilton and Cecil Milton Birkleigh and Christopher Walters Karlene and Bruce Yap
$100 - $249 Nikole and Luis Augsten Dino Barone Diane Barrett Brittnie Bassant Margherite Bonaventura Debbie Bonnet Sheryl Borg Lourdes and Luis Boué Steven Brooks Lynn and Wayne Bruce Carole Cholasta Christina and James Cordova Diane Dickhut Amanda Douglas Kailin Dunn
Theodore Fagan Tim Ferguson Jose Fernandez Patricia “Paki” Fernandez Carol Fink Max Frizalone Enrique Gaston Ann Goldman Leslie Goldman Long Ha Mary Harvey Linda Holcomb Richard Holladay Steven Horowitz Bryan Howard Joanne and Todd Kroesen Debora La Rocca Ronald MacDowell Alexandra Marini Donna Marr Jody Meek Edie Pearson Emile Perret Ruth Petzold Josefina Quintans Jacky Raful Roberta Read Ana Rezende Judith Richard Patricia Richmond Mary and John Rose Renee Schafer Patricia and German Siles Barbara Singer Sandra and Eric Stephens Irene Traver Gladys and Joel Valle Maria Vidal Richard Waas Miles Warlick Betty and Ward Whitten Lisa Wilson Larry Zemanek
CORPORATE PARTNERS $25,000 + Carnival Cruise Line Go Run Project, Inc.
$10,000 - $24,999 Esserman International
$5,000 - $9,999
Fort Worth Zoological Association PAAST Accounting, P.L. Planet Air Sports The Benevity Community Impact Fund Kendall Lakes Health and Rehabilitation Center The Medical Center at Ocean Reef Columbus Zoo Florida International Teaching Zoo, Inc. Schwab Charitable Fund Sydney Flooring Solutions LLC
Main Street Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics Florida Power & Light Pittsburgh Zoo
FOUNDATION PARTNERS
$1,000 - $4,999
“Do Unto Others” Trust
Groupon Merchant Services, LLC ELM Arch, LLC Hancock Askew & Co., LLP rbb Communications, LLC Sofia’s Hope
$100 - $999 Cold Stone Creamery MGM Dental Pinecrest Dentistry The Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center, Inc. U Pick Learning
$50,000 + $25,000 - $49,999 Anthony R. Abraham Foundation The José Milton Foundation The Miami Foundation The Wildflower Foundation, Inc.
$10,000 - $24,999 Bank of America Charitable Foundation The Cobb Family Foundation, Inc. The Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc.
SPECIAL THANKS
$5,000 - $9,999 The Shepard Broad Foundation, Inc. Five Millers Family Foundation, Inc. Dr. Moses and Beatrice Goodman Fund
$1,000 - $4,999 Fidelity Charitable
$100 - $999 AmazonSmile Foundation AT&T Foundation Maurice Gusman Foundation, Inc. Network for Good
*We are deeply grateful to our donors for their support. If your name has been accidentally omitted or listed incorrectly, please contact the Development department at 305-255-5551.
We recently joined Bank of America for its annual Community Celebration to commemorate the work of so many nonprofit organizations in Miami that help make our community a better place.
We are thrilled to be recipients of a $15,000 grant from Bank of America, to help our mission to foster community pride and involvement with Zoo Miami and secure financial support for the zoo. Zoo Miami Foundation is thrilled to be a Bank of America community partner because together we can address the largest issues fundamental to economic mobility for individuals and families, such as workplace development, community development, and basic needs. 17
HIP HIPPO HOORAY! Thanks to our generous and helpful supporters, our baby hippo officially has a name! “Aubergine” is French for ‘eggplant’ – inspired by the hippo’s color.
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The name was chosen by voters after we called on our Zoo Miami fans for help! The naming campaign ran from early November and ended on December 24th. Each vote came with a generous donation, and the name with the highest giving total at the end won!
We raised almost $1,500 and announced the name Aubergine as the winner on December 25, the perfect holiday gift for our beloved baby hippo. The donations raised from this campaign will fund renovations and upgrades to our pygmy hippo exhibit.
Voters had three names to choose from: Aubergine, Ma’ali (Menor for “pygmy hippo” from Sierra Leone) and Nimwe (Bassa for “pygmy hippo” from Liberia). These names were chosen by a man named Carl Burch, a long time member of the Zoo Miami family, and one of the first people to work with pygmy hippos on our current grounds.
Baby Aubergine was born on August 4, 2018 and made his exhibit debut in early October after spending plenty of time bonding off-exhibit with his mom, Kelsey. The introduction to his new home went very well, as both baby and mom jumped right into their pool and enjoyed a nice swim!
These adorable hippos are now settled into their home for Zoo Miami guests to visit.