From the Zoo Director with a Complete Renovation of the Interior of Nocturnal Hall
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EXECUTIVE NOTES Though outside the 1999 master plan, we started the year From the Zoo Director with a complete renovation of the interior of Nocturnal Hall. In April, Eeeww! opened to the delight of youngsters as a collection of spiders, hissing cockroaches, snakes and frogs 2004 was a year of progress as we completed two major projects (among many other interesting creatures) found a new home at in the master plan. Elephant Walk, a renovation of the the Zoo. Plans for 2005 include the addition of a large snake elephant yard and associated public pathways, was opened in (12+ feet long) to Eeeww! The $250,000 exhibit was made August to the delight of Zoo guests and the elephants. The possible by an anonymous donor. new facility tripled the outside space available to Sujatha and Little Mac while making signifi cant improvements to the Throughout 2004 Zoo staff worked to complete a parking and pathways that surround the exhibit. The $2.8 million exhibit traffi c study as part of the City’s review process for the remaining master plan projects: Discovery Pavilion, Condor Country, The Wave (a hilltop restaurant facility with restrooms), a new tiger exhibit, and renovation of the service yard. All of these wonderful changes have been made possible by our many friends and donors. These major improvements touch the experience of millions of Zoo visitors. 2005 promises to be another year of progress. Richard Block CEO/Zoo Director The “girls” enjoy their newly remodeled habitat. BOARD OF DIRECTORS was designed to manage the two 34-year Zoo residents under Executive Committee Directors protected contact, a system of care that always maintains a Mr. Paul Franz, President Mr. Jon Bull barrier between the zoo keepers and the elephants. Mr. Chip Turner, Vice President Mr. John Cleese Mr. George Burtness, Treasurer Mr. Fred Clough In September, Wings of Asia opened to the public. The Ms. Harriet Miller, Secretary Ms. Ann Daniel exhibit was originally called the “Telephone-Pole Aviary” Ms. Molly Dolle because the telephone poles that support the exhibit’s mesh Honorary Directors Mrs. Ginni Dreier barrier were donated and put in place by General Telephone Mr. William Brace Mr. Peter Jordano in 1980. Though much work had been done to renovate Mr. Arthur Henzell Dr. Brian Kopeikin certain aspects of the “pole aviary” in recent years, it was not Mr. Peter Jordano Mr. Thomas Luria until 2004 that a complete $390,000 renovation was initiated. Mr. Robert Kallman Mr. Ken Richardson The Alice Tweed Tuohy and Dr. Joseph & Helene Z. Pollock Mr. J. Terry Schwartz Foundations were primarily responsible for sponsoring the Director Emeritus Mr. Eldon Shiffman signifi cant improvements to this beautiful exhibit. Mr. Ted McToldridge Dr. Alex Soffi ci Mrs. Sue Aldrich Wagner 2 | SANTA BARBARA ZOO From the Board President ZOO STAFF CEO/Zoo Director Zoo Keeper Richard Block Miguel Carbajal In 2004 the Santa Barbara Zoo continued to reach out to all Chief Operating Offi cer Zoo Keeper Nancy H. McToldridge Maria Cordero segments of our community offering educational, recreational, Zoo Keeper and conservation opportunities. The enthusiasm of our MANAGERS Heather Davis Accounting Director Zoo Keeper professional staff and management continues to improve Carol Bedford Jane Epaminonde the facility and programs for all to enjoy. In addition, these Development Director Zoo Keeper Jill Muchow Rode, CFRE Katherine Gregory talented professionals hold leadership positions in national Education Curator Zoo Keeper and international conservation, research, and zoological Kirsten Friar Wes Hardin Assistant Education Curator Zoo Keeper organizations which culminated in our very successful hosting Heather Johnson Carlos Abitia of this year’s regional conference of the American Zoo & Facilities/Horticulture Manager Zoo Keeper Abel Landeros Kevin Hosford Aquarium Association (AZA) in March. Food Service Manager Zoo Keeper Chris Zaludek Allison Hovsepian Assistant Food Service Manager Zoo Keeper In August we welcomed our Asian elephants, Sujatha and Mehgan Fay Ann Jordan General Curator Zoo Keeper Little Mac, back to Santa Barbara from their temporary visit at Alan Varsik Robert Cramer Chaffee Zoo in Fresno. With the opening of the renovated and Assistant Curator Zoo Keeper Ingrid Russell Daniel Mondl enlarged elephant exhibit, we expanded ADA access to large Guest Services Director Zoo Keeper portions of the Zoo. We continue to make great progress on our Joyce Worrell-Pa’u Kelly Murphy Assistant Guest Services Manager Zoo Keeper long term plan to enhance the guest experience and make the David Velazquez Julia Parker Zoo more accessible to the entire community. Cats of Africa, Human Resources Director Zoo Keeper Corinne Santini James Traverse which opened early in 2003, was home to the birth of a lion Marketing Director Food Preparation Technician cub, “Kiki”- a zoo fi rst- in February. The continued generosity Wendy Campbell Angela Rodriguez Retail Manager of our many friends and supporters along with countless hours Ross Beardsley EDUCATION of volunteer time make all these projects possible and make the Safety/Security Manager Education Specialist Chris Briggs Ivonne Budianto-Hunsinger Zoo a true community endeavor and a precious asset. Staff Veterinarian Education Specialist H. Karl Hill, DVM Robyn Charlton Many more exciting and unique opportunities are in store for COORDINATORS FACILITIES/HORTICULTURE Administrative Coordinator Custodian the Zoo and the Santa Barbara community in the near future. Adriana Hernandez Thurley Gage The Zoo and its staff have been supporting and providing Development Coordinator Custodian Pieter van Meeuwen Juan Trujillo assistance to the California Condor Recovery Program for Elephant Program & Behavioral General Maintenance several years. Plans are now under way for an exceptional Husbandry Coordinator John Aldana Gina Nichols General Maintenance exhibit at the Zoo. The Zoo’s proposed California condor Executive Assistant Jose Rueda facility directly serves the needs of the recovery program Colleen Dennis General Maintenance Inventory Supply Coordinator John Strickland while giving the public access to see and learn about these Benjamin Cabrera Groundskeeper amazing birds. The construction of this exhibit along with the Lead Keepers Terry Douglas Adams Carlos Abitia, Birds Groundskeeper reconstruction of the endangered Channel Island fox facility Joshua Charlton, Mammals Isaac Contreras James Giacobbe, Herps Groundskeeper makes the Zoo’s (and Santa Barbara’s) contribution to the Membership Coordinator Bill Johnston Kimberly Roberson success and survival of these local species signifi cant. Groundskeeper Private Event Coordinator Jose Silva Katharine Buford Groundskeeper Registrar Juan Valdez I invite you to visit the Zoo and see and enjoy what you and Katie Kimble Groundskeeper your community has created for itself. The Santa Barbara Zoo, Research & Conservation Coordinator Daniel Villalta with a long tradition of volunteer investment and community Wendy Stanford Veterinary Technician FOOD SERVICE support, continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many Toni Schriver Kitchen Supervisor Volunteer Coordinator Yesenia Matamoros Santa Barbarans. We’re very excited about the changes at Lori Krubsack the Zoo. GUEST SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Admissions Supervisor Lead Teller Patricia Madrigal Come see us again soon. Linda De Lucas Receptionist RETAIL Cristina Silva Floor Supervisor Serena Masuda ANIMAL CARE Zoo Keeper SAFETY/SECURITY Paul Franz Patrick Abtey Security Guard Zoo Keeper Luis Torres Santa Barbara Zoo Board President Kristen Boeche 2004 ANNUAL REPORT | 3 CONSERVATION Research and Conservation The Zoo took a signifi cant step in the advancement of our Wilderness Society, the organization that monitors condors research and conservation programs in 2004. We hired our fi rst in Big Sur and Pinnacles National Monument. We have Research and Conservation Coordinator, Wendy Stanford. gathered information on the resources needed to support After an animal care internship and fi eld conservation, including radio monitoring equipment, serving as our fi rst Channel Island fox which we will be adding to grant applications and donation Conservation Intern, Wendy hit the requests. We’ve also developed opportunities to put staff in ground running to broaden and strengthen the fi eld regularly to support condor conservation. our research and conservation efforts in many ways. We have increased and enhanced the research at the Zoo which supports our management needs. In 2004 we presented The Zoo continues to be a primary contributor in the conservation and captive management of Island fox. Wendy Stanford and Alan Varsik were invited to participate in the Press event announcing the listing of the four northern subspecies as Endangered. This involved a trip to Santa Cruz Island with members of the press and a discussion with Russell Galipeau, Channel Islands National Park Superintendent, and Tim Coonan, Channel Islands National Park Terrestrial Biologist. As the only members of the mainland zoo community present, it was a privilege to be recognized for our contributions to the conservation effort. Animal care staff contributed 104 hours of time supporting the management of foxes on the islands. This doesn’t include the several trips that our veterinarian, Dr. Karl Hill, took to the islands to treat sick or injured foxes. Inset: Hand rearing condor chick using a puppet. Above: Sub-adult condor at a release site. The 2004 Island Fox Working Group meetings took