NEXT GENERATION ZOO 2013 Report to the Community YOU COMPLETED THE CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU! 1 Cover photos and Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey by Ryan Hawk, WPZ NEXT GENERATION BRAVO to our fearless and ZOO peerless Campaign Steering Committee, Campaign Volunteers and all our board members who in WOODLAND DEAR FRIENDS, 2013 finished raising $83.5 million PARK ZOO SAVES Because of the many transformations you have helped bring to life, 2013 was an for More Wonder More Wild. outstanding year at Woodland Park Zoo. ANIMALS AND In late December, we completed our More Wonder More Wild Campaign! During the WPZ BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEIR HABITATS last eight years, nearly 16,000 generous individuals in our community contributed more through December 31, 2013 than $83.5 million. We thank them along with our intrepid board of directors, dedicated THROUGH OFFICERS volunteers, and powerhouse staff who invested countless hours ensuring that we crossed Nancy Pellegrino, Chair CONSERVATION the finish line! Now, we are carrying out next generation zoo experiences, exhibits, and Laurie Stewart, Vice Chair innovative educational and conservation partnerships to better engage our 1.26 million Kenneth Eakes, Treasurer LEADERSHIP visitors in the wonders of wildlife and inspire them to become agents of change. Jeff Leppo, Secretary Stuart Williams, Immediate Past Chair AND ENGAGING As part of the campaign, last May we welcomed guests to the new Bamboo Forest Reserve. The exhibit complex evokes the lush forests of Southeast Asia, telling a DIRECTORS EXPERIENCES, compelling story of the magnificent creatures and communities that depend on them. Linda L. Allen Ann Moe Phase one highlights a boisterous family of Asian small-clawed otters, a children’s nature- Rick Alvord Jane Nelson INSPIRING PEOPLE play area, and an aviary. Phase two, which opens in 2015, will feature our growing family David S. Anderson Laura Peterson TO LEARN, CARE of sloth bears. It will also welcome the majestic and critically endangered tiger back to the Anthony Bay Larry Phillips zoo, providing guests with hands-on ways to help save tigers through our conservation This rare Matschie’s tree kangaroo joey, Bruce Bentley Patti Savoy AND ACT. partnership with Panthera. Marianne Bichsel Greg Schwartz only the second born at the zoo since Kristi Branch Rob Short Other 2013 achievements include record-breaking attendance and membership, Lisa Caputo Elizabeth Sicktich thanks to advances in customer service, online sales, digital communication strategies, 1998 as part of the cooperative breeding Janet Dugan Ron Siegle and innovative marketing partnerships. Our high-quality, immersive zoo experiences, David Goldberg Bryan Slinker combined with opportunities to make a difference, connect people to their values and Species Survival Plan program, Lisa J. Graumlich Gretchen Sorensen keep them coming back for more. Jason Hamlin R. Jay Tejera shines a light on our successful Leslie Hanauer Ed Thomas Many come back for the wonder and joy of watching baby animals grow and develop. Our Debora Horvath Andy Wappler animal care staff’s specialized breeding expertise resulted in a year-long celebration of new collaborations with officials Glenn Kawakasi Margaret Wetherald animal ambassadors to the zoo family, as many images in this report attest. World events Cammi Libby Kathryn Williams continue to illustrate the important role our animal ambassadors play in helping the public and local communities in Robert M. Liddell Robert M. Williams focus on the plight of endangered wildlife, some of which suffer relentless slaughter by Steve Liffick Susie Wyckoff poachers and terrorists, or lose viable habitat as human populations expand. Papua New Guinea Leigh McMillan We can change that. Never has it been more urgent to build a future in which animals to conserve the Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent, and people co-exist and thrive together. The responsibility to lead a robust, relevant Seattle Parks and Recreation, ex officio Deborah Jensen, ex officio conservation zoo that embraces that future while honoring its past is rewarding and forests on which humbling. Most importantly, it is a privilege. these creatures and With your help, we are charting the way. Thank you. local communities depend (see p. 7). Deborah B. Jensen, Ph.D. Nancy Pellegrino President and CEO Chair, Board of Directors 2 3 B UT, we didn’t do it alone… 750 BIG THINGS 1,260,000 VOLUNTEERS YOU HELPED US ACHIEVE IN 2013! GUESTS SERVED 78,000 guests AND attended the new 320 community WILDLIGHTS service volunteers OF GUESTS surveyed said winter SERVED THE BIRTHS SPECIES 95% Woodland Park Zoo met or festival baby in Seattle? exceeded their expectations 82,340 OH tallest Reptiles 132 4 Male giraffe MISAWA, Mammals 12 7 HOURS BABY! a towering 6 FEET at birth! Birds 125 29 INCREASE in 43,303 active % zoo membership member households, BABY! 9 over prior year. an all-time record! TOTAL 269 40 THOUSANDS of donors completed The smallest babies? our 8-year campaign! WESTERN POND TURTLE launched, mobilizing supporters ZOOACTION hatchlings are only 1 INCH in to help get the King County Parks Levy passed! $83,500,000 length when they emerge! RAISED AWESOMENESS 70,000 STUDENTS, TEACHERS & CHAPERONES Instilling appreciation participated in programs or self-guided visits, and respect for animals 36% from underserved schools, with support from King County Parks Levy 2,500,000 gallons Roar! and the natural world. OF DOMESTIC water SAVED YOU + WPZ 135,000 VISITORS 52,000 COMPLIMENTARY which would fill about four Olympic-sized swimming pools = SUCCESS! “ Very good course, and engaged with ZooCorps Community Access Program Your continued support as a member, donor, volunteer, I especially enjoyed the teen-guided animal encounters passes provided to 400+ human service 667 METRIC TO NS or advocate is essential to opportunity to learn at and natural history talks organizations sustaining excellent zoo 1,000,000 POUNDS of CARBON OFFSET through the zoo. Great setting for FORterra’S C3 PROGRAM programs and empowering of waste not sent to more people to learn, care informal teaching and 10,000 PEOPLE reached with the zoo’s wildlife conservation landfills thanks to 240 TREES and act to save wildlife. message at Seattle Science Festival’s Science Expo Day PLANTED TO DATE natural science education!” Zoo Doo composting THANK YOU! Advanced Inquiry Program, zoo.org/support graduate student First cohort of new Advanced Inquiry zoo.org/volunteer master’s program GRADUATED! 1,250,000 ACRES being protected by our Partners for zoo.org/zooaction Wildlife (elephants, snow leopards, gorillas, tree kangaroos) 4 5 MASTER CLASS WPZ graduated its first cohort of 12 master’s degree students from the Advanced Inquiry Program. Co-delivered by Miami University faculty and zoo educators, the AIP combines zoo-based graduate education with web-based learning communities and global field research. Zoo educators also provided training in program planning and evaluation, in collaboration with the University of Washington’s museology graduate program, to six informal science institutions now comprising the Washington Informal Science Education Ryan Hawk, WPZ Ryan Hawk, WPZ Kirsten Pisto, WPZ consortium. In September, the zoo hosted the Association of Zoo & Aquarium Docents Conference, Making the Connection, engaging volunteers from across the U.S. and 37 zoos. ACHIEVEMENTS OF 2013 SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE TOP TEN WILD ELEPHANT CRISIS The time to save wild elephants is now. In July, President Obama pledged $10 million OH, BABY! OTTERMANIA to combat wildlife trafficking and develop a national strategy to stop illegal poaching of elephant ivory. Soon after, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent the message: A state-of-the-art, Asian small-clawed otter exhibit Many bundles of joy stole the hearts of 1.26 million end the trade, save the elephants, by publicly crushing six tons of confiscated ivory. opened in May, the first phase of the Bamboo Forest guests who learned about the actions they can take to Meanwhile, a wildlife conservation partner our zoo supports, the Tarangire Elephant Reserve exhibit. The otters started a family quickly and help threatened species in the wild. New jaguar triplets Project in Tanzania, expanded patrols that led to the arrest of 10 poachers! the birth of four male pups marked a great success for Kuwan, Arizona and Inka practiced stealthy predator Woodland Park Zoo’s elephants are ambassadors for this crucial conservation the conservation breeding program. Thanks to animal Ryan Hawk, WPZ moves, sneaking up and pouncing on mom Nayla, story. In 2013, the Elephant Task Force’s Expert Review Panel concluded that Chai, care staff’s passion and expert knowledge, the growing while four Krugeri lion cubs – our first in 21 years – Watoto and Bamboo are in good health and receive excellent care. Now, a more family is a highlight for visitors learning an important and sloth bear twins, Randir and Kushali, celebrated strategic alignment of our education and conservation programs with these broader “ ZooCorps helped me to story of conservation in Asian forest landscapes. Thanks their first birthdays!T hese and many other additions efforts will engage visitors inspired by elephants in taking action steps through to your support, we’re on track to open phase two, with realize that I need to do illustrate WPZ’s essential contributions to national and the global 96 Elephants campaign to help save this species before it’s too late. new homes for endangered Malayan tigers and sloth more for both wildlife and international conservation breeding programs, called bears and a hands-on, tiger conservation hub, in 2015. Species Survival Plans, which help to sustain genetic WILD HAPPENINGS conservation. Throughout diversity for zoo and wild populations. Other new As the wildlife trafficking crisis gained public attention, WPZ joined with Panthera our lives we’re told that zoo family members included a female Malayan tapir, a ANSWERING THE to help Malaysia save its tigers from being poached to extinction.