Keepin’ it Wild! April-June 2017
A digital publication of Zoo Miami Foundation and Zoo Miami.
OUR MISSION: To encourage an appreciation for the world’s wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: - Zoo Miami’s First Anteater Birth - Spring & Summer Camps - Critter Connection Opening
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 The spring season is all about transformations and new beginnings – and of course, Easter. Here at Zoo Miami, we’ve already begun getting into the spirit, making some refreshing changes and finding new ways to strengthen our mission-based efforts.
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 To encourage an appreciation for the world’s wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations. Zoo Miami Foundation Board of Directors: Chairperson: Jim Kushlan, PhD. Chair-Elect: Jose C. Romano Treasurer: George Leser Secretary: Patricia Siles, CPA Past Chairperson: Ana VeigaMilton, Esq. Susan Kahn Kimberly Kalkus Frank Lopez Kathy McDonald Scott Maddox George Navarrete Marc A. Osheroff Eliot Pedrosa Aliette D. Rodz, Esq. Dr. Michael Rosenberg Ana VeigaMilton, Esq.
Alan Atkinson Dr. Jose Fransisco Barros Sandy Batchelor Jacey Birch Luis E. Boué, CPA Jose Felix Diaz Eric Eikenberg Larry Feldman, PhD Armando Fernandez Diana L. Fitzgerald, Esq. Robert Furniss-Roe Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez Michael Heithaus, PhD EMERITI DIRECTORS
Bernard Klepach David Konfino Daniel J. Licciardi Jack Lowell Manny J. Rodriguez, P.E. Edward Soto Eric J. Stephens Merrett R. Stierheim Lawrence O. Turner, Jr. Diana Udel Andrew H. Weinstein, Esq.
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
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: Cindy Castelblanco, Sara Greene, Julia Klumb, Greg Koch, PhD., Ron Magill, Bill Moore, Victoria Robinson, Carlos Simoes 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.
The opening of Florida: Mission Everglades has provided a wonderful addition to our zoo experience, providing guests with a close look at some of our native Florida animals and new ways to interact with them. The beautiful space itself has also provided us new opportunities for event footprints. On March 10, 2017, we hosted our annual Feast with the Beasts, this time with the most restaurants we’ve ever had, and a brand new layout that included our front Entry Plaza and VIP restaurants in Florida: Mission Everglades. Our upcoming Egg Safari will also feature some exciting changes, as Miami’s largest and greenest Easter egg hunt. In alignment with our conservation efforts, all of our eggs this year will be eco-friendly and fully biodegradable, and the candy will be palm-oil free or made from sustainable palm oil. Efforts like these are a statement to our dedication to preserving wildlife, and our ability to celebrate while staying green. Guests can also look forward to more changes soon, like renovations and additions to the Children’s Zoo – now known as “Critter Connection”. We’ll be welcoming two Nigerian dwarf goats to the Wacky Barn, along with a new playground for kids and touch ups to other areas. We’ll also be providing more fuel for your adventure in the coming months, as we work to open Miami ICE – an ICEE station where guests can choose their own flavors – and soon begin construction on Nourish 305, which will be Zoo Miami’s first air conditioned restaurant. As we embrace all of these changes, and much more to come, we are grateful for the continued support of our donors, Members and supporters. It is because of you that we are able to make strides toward our mission to encourage an appreciate for the world’s wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations.
You can help support the zoo as we continue to grow! FOLLOW US
BILL MOORE CEO/ President
2
DONATE NOW
Inside This Issue
8 12
5 6
More Fuel For Your Adventure
6
Critter Connection
8
Bowie Makes His Debut
10
Adventures in Learning
12
Conservation Conversations
14
Notes for Members
Animal Fun Factory Now Open! Our old Children’s Zoo has gotten a wild makeover and is open for everyone to enjoy!
Zoo Miami celebrated the birth and public debut of our first-ever born giant anteater
Education is always a ton of fun at Zoo Miami. Check out our upcoming programs and all the ways you can learn!
Zoo Miami’s Conservation & Research department is getting social! We recently launched new social media channels dedicated solely to highlighting our conservation efforts and projects.
FOLLOW US! @ZooMiamiConservation 3
largest greenest egg hunt !
Join us for Miami’s and
Kids 12 and under can enjoy continuous egg hunts with 100,000 eco-friendly eggs made in the USA from plants that fully biodegrade. The eggs will be filled with palm-oil free and sustainable palm oil candy. Guests can also enjoy photos with the Easter bunny, music, games, prizes and seeing the Zoo animals receive their special holiday treats, too!
2017
AT Z O O M I A M I
Saturday & Sunday
April 15 & 16 11 am - 4 pm 12400 SW 152nd Street • Miami, Florida 33177 Just 1/2 Mile Off Florida’s Turnpike Exit 16 Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Last ticket sold at 4 p.m. Egg Safari is included with Zoo admission.
4
www.zoomiami.org
More Fuel for Your Adventure Nourish 305 Coming this Fall! Construction is set to begin soon on Nourish 305, Zoo Miami’s first-ever air conditioned restaurant. This spot will be located at the Zoo entry with views of Florida: Mission Everglades, and will provide healthy food prepared with fresh, locally grown ingredients!
Ellie’s Cafe
Grab and go before your adventure begins! Ellie’s Café is a new concession stand located next to our Safari Cycle rental area, across from Florida: Mission Everglades. Available to guests as soon as they enter the zoo, this spot is the perfect opportunity to stock up on snacks like popcorn, ice cream and soda to stay fueled during your zoo visit.
COMING SOON! Miami Ice will be a first-of-its-kind Icee shop where guests will have 20+ flavors from which to choose, that they can mix & match in thousands of possible combinations! It’ll be a delicious escape from those hot Miami days. 5
Now Open! Zoo Miami’s new Animal Fun Factory is now open to the public, thanks to the support from the Jose Milton Foundation. Guests can visit this space on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help build enrichment toys, puzzles and gifts that our keepers will use to stimulate our animal residents!
Critter Connection Zoo Miami’s Children’s Zoo has gotten a serious makeover recently, with a few renovations and new features, plus a new name to go with it – Critter Connection! Phase I of this construction project includes:
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
The Wacky Barn petting zoo experience will soon be home to two new dwarf goats named Nala and Belle.
New Children’s Play Area
Kids can get wild in this playground with large animal sculptures for them to climb.
Animal Shows
Our animal presentations will continue, better than ever, focused on teaching an appreciation for animals we take for granted.
Renovations
To go with its new name, we’ve given Critter Connection renovated bathrooms, fresh paint jobs and new seats.
6
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Party FOR
THE
Planet
Enjoy a tree and plant sale by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society, eco-friendly animal enrichment, fun activities and entertainment for the entire family.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
April 22 AND 23 11 AM – 4 PM
12400 SW 152nd Street • Miami, Florida 33177 Just 1/2 Mile Off Florida’s Turnpike Exit 16 Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Last ticket sold at 4 p.m.
• FREE admission when you turn in a cell phone for our ECO-CELL phone recycling program! • Learn how to be “green” and save “green.”
Miami students are invited to take on the Ramos Boys Everglades Challenge! Join them in saving the Everglades by raising $50 or more to get free admission to the zoo on April 22 and more! Proceeds benefit Zoo Miami Foundation and Everglades Foundation. To participate visit: donate.zoomiami.org/ramosboys. Save money and time, buy your tickets online shop.zoomiami.org FREE PARKING! • Free admission with membership 7
Bowie Makes His Debut! On December 21, 2016, Zoo Miami celebrated our first-ever born giant anteater, a male offspring given the name “Bowie�. His first several weeks were spent behind the scenes bonding with his mother to ensure that he developed properly. During that time, his mom showed excellent maternal behavior, proving they were ready for their public debut on February 21, 2017! Bowie can now be seen in his home at the Amazon & Beyond exhibit at Zoo Miami, likely hanging onto his mom, as newborn giant anteaters will ride on their mother’s back for up to a year before becoming more independent.
8
Giant Anteater FACTS: Giant anteaters are the largest of three species of anteaters, and can grow up to a length of seven feet! They are found in the tropical grasslands of Central & South America. These toothless mammals have the longest tongue relative to their body size of any mammal. They can eat more than 30,000 termites and ants a day!
9
Adventures in Learning Everyone’s a Scientist at Zoo Miami Citizen Science projects bring members of the general public into the scientific process, and can be extremely helpful to a project’s data collection. At Zoo Miami, we offer two opportunities for our community to become scientists. First, our annual Fishing Derby events help us to understand which fish species live in our zoo lakes while also removing invasive fish that damage how lakes function. The captured invasive fish then serve as a valuable and unexpected enrichment opportunity for our otters, crocodiles, and wading birds.
Upcoming Fishing Derbies: April 30, 2017 • June 25, 2017
CLICK HERE to Register
Second, our new Frogwatch program teaches families to listen for frogs just after sunset in order to help monitor how frog populations change over time. Frogwatch chapters are located throughout the country and are organized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Be sure to check out our upcoming programs and help move our conservation mission forward – it’s for science!
Upcoming Frogwatch Monitoring Sessions: April 15, 2017 @ Zoo Miami May 6, 2017 @ Everglades National Park May 20, 2017 @ Everglades National Park 10 6
CLICK HERE to Register
Zoo Miami Nature Play – Fun in the Sun for Everyone! Did you know that spending time in nature has been shown to improve children’s mental and emotional well-being? Join us for some family adventures in our spectacular South Florida environment. We are proud to offer nature play activities for families of all sizes and skill levels! Not sure how to camp, kayak, or snorkel? Sign up for one of our skill clinics! And best of all, our Nature Play programs include all the needed equipment and cost only $5 per person (thanks to grant support from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and the Disney Conservation Fund)!
Upcoming Nature Play Clinics: April 8, 2017: Kayak Clinic May 6, 2017: Kayak & Snorkel Clinics June 10, 2017: Snorkel Clinic Registration now open!
CLICK HERE to Register
Teenagers Saving Butterflies For the past several months, Zoo Miami’s Conservation Teen Scientists (CTS) have been working hard to develop a native butterfly exhibit located at the entrance of the Zoo Miami Foundation lobby. These high school volunteers are managing all aspects of the new space – even measuring light and temperature every 10 minutes using sensor equipment! The goal of the exhibit is to raise awareness of our local butterflies and the endangered ecosystems on which they depend. Want to join the fun alongside our teen and adult volunteers? Contact us today at www.zoomiami.org/volunteers, education@zoomiami.org, or 305-255-5551 today! 11
Endangered Gorillas with Dr. Tara Stoinski
April 27, 2017 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM Did you know?
Conservation Conversations
Both species of gorilla are critically endangered, and evidence shows gorillas have declined more than 60% over the past 25 years. Join us as Dr. Tara Stoinski, President & CEO of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, talks to us about these magnificent apes and the fight to save them from extinction. $10/person Event proceeds will benefit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Manuel Artime Theater 900 SW 1st Street Miami, FL 33130
CLICK HERE TO RSVP 12
UPCOMING
CAMPS SPRING CAMP AT ZOO MIAMI APRIL 10-21, 2017
Planting a Future for Conservation!
Campers will bloom this spring as we learn all about our favorite furry friends here at the Zoo! Explore the world of pollinators, the power of flowers, and some amazing animals. From personal animal encounters to interactive science experiments, our campers will get a hands-on introduction to wildlife conservation!
Ages 4 - 12 9 AM - 4 PM (extended care until 5:30 available upon request) Member price: $32 per day Non-Member price: $40 per day
SUMMER CAMP AT ZOO MIAMI JUNE 12 AUGUST 18, 2017
Summer Break is a stampede of fun at Zoo Miami!
School's out but the learning doesn't have to stop! Campers will engage in animal encounters, butterfly monitoring, wildlife arts and crafts, and more in our living classroom.
Ages 4 – 12 9 AM – 4 PM (extended care until 5:30 PM available upon request) Member Price: $200 Non-Member Price: $160
NEW! – Summer Camp Meal Plans
We are now offering a packed lunch provided by Zoo Miami’s Taste of the Wild catering service! The Meal Plan includes a main dish, two sides, and a drink. For more information, please call
(305) 255-5551 or e-mail education@zoomiami.org CLICK HERE to Register 13
NOTES for Members Florida Panthers Member Night Check out your Florida Panthers on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the BB&T Center for Fan Appreciation Night! Come out to the Panthers vs. Sabres game and enjoy discounted tickets for being a Zoo Miami Member. Visit the Zoo Miami table on the BB&T Center Tarmac Pre-game for fun giveaways and meet and greets with our Zoo Squad. Lower Bowl Goal Zone: $50/ person
Upper Bowl Goal Zone: $20/ person
Did you know? Zoo Members get free entry and early access to our wildly popular Easter Egg Safari on April 15 & 16! Make sure your Zoo Membership is active so you can get in on the egg hunt. Renew your Membership by using promo code EASTER17 from 4/9/17 – 4/16/17 for $24 off the Family Membership, $20 off the Dual Membership or $10 off an Individual Membership. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE OR RENEW
Ready to get your beer on? Brew at the Zoo is back on May 6, 2017 – and our Members save on tickets! Use promo code ZMBEER17 for $10 off General Admission tickets and $20 off VIP.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
M E MBE R SE RV I C E S • ( 305) 2 55- 5551 • M BR@zo o miam i.org 14
Thank You to our Feast with the Beasts sponsors and restaurants for a deliciously wild time! This event would not have been possible without you. To everyone who came out, we hope to see you again next year.
Adopt a Florida Panther Celebrate the Florida: Mission Everglades opening by symbolically adopting one of Florida’s most endangered animals, the Florida panther. This limited-edition Adopt donation will support Zoo Miami’s animal enrichment program, which provides mental and physical stimulation for your favorite furry, feathered, and scaled friends.
CLICK HERE TO ADOPT
Everglades Brick Project In honor of Florida: Mission Everglades, purchase a commemorative brick and receive 50% off a second brick.* Promo Code: BOGOBRICK *2nd brick must be of equal or lesser value; bricks must be purchased in the same order
TO ORDER CLICK HERE 15
Host your event on the wild side... Whatever the occasion, Zoo Miami’s beautiful outdoor and indoor settings—not to mention rare and exotic wildlife—will make your event even more special. Add an animal encounter, a custom menu or other enhancements and you’ll be set for a wild time!
NEW!
With views of the flamingoes and a capacity of 200, The Florida Room in the new Entry Plaza is now open for bookings.
12400 SW 152 STREET MIAMI, FL 33177
www.zoomiami.org For information and reservations, contact our Group Sales department at 305-251-0400 ext. 5084939 or zooevents@miamidade.gov 16
YOUR TICKET TO A FUN-FILLED SUMMER!
2017 UNLIMITED VISITS May 13 - September 30
Visit South Florida’s top attractions with one pass at one low price for more than 100 days of FUN! Enjoy unlimited visits to Lion Country Safari, Miami Seaquarium®, Museum of Discovery and Science and Zoo Miami!
Adult
+ Tax
Child
+ Tax
(ages 3 - 12)
UNLIMITED VISITS May 13 - September 30, 2017
Annual Pass Holders Upgrade to the SSP for only:
Adult
+ Tax
Child
(ages 3 - 12)
Discounted price applies at Annual Pass originating attraction only.
+ Tax
CLICK HERE to pre-print your information form This form is required and will be available when purchasing Summer Savings Pass at each attraction
Photo ID (for each adult), such as a driver’s license or passport, must be presented with Summer Savings Pass at each visit. Summer Savings Passes are only valid during regular park hours and may not be used for select events or in conjunction with any other discounts or promotions. Lost or stolen Summer Savings Passes cannot be replaced. Summer Savings Passes are non-refundable and non-transferable. Management reserves the right to revoke this pass if misused. Pass expires September 30, 2017
17
FOLLOW US for up-to-date Zoo News!
12400 SW 152 STREET, MIAMI, FL 33177 (305) 255-5551 WWW.ZOOMIAMI.ORG
FOLLOW US!
18
@ZooMiami