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Annual Report Page 1 2015 Dear Zoo Friends, Nearly 50 Years Ago, A

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Annual Report Page 1 2015 Dear Zoo Friends, Nearly 50 Years Ago, A 2ANNUAL01 REPORT5 Blank Park Zoo Foundation, Inc. 2015 Annual Report Page 1 2015 Dear Zoo Friends, Nearly 50 years ago, A. H. Blank donated $150,000 The AZA, our governing to build a children’s zoo. The Des Moines Children’s authority with our support, BOARD OF Zoo opened on May 8, 1966. In 1981, a group of civic and believes that we must use business owners formed the Blank Park Zoo Foundation our collections, our edu- DIRECTORS resulting in a very successful private-public partnership cational expertise, and our that included a voter approved bond referendum and a family based recreation to community wide capital campaign, providing funds to help the people of our com- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DIRECTORS EMERITUS build a professional zoological park. munities become educated Ray Hansen David Allen about what is happening Toby Joseph Judy Blank You are part of the stories of inspiration included in this to the wildlife of the world Richard Hoffmann Suzy Burns report! In 2015, Blank Park Zoo continued to grow as a and force positive change. Rusty Goode Robert Burnett statewide asset in conservation, education, and recreation. Cathy Lacy Kaye Condon As we look to a new half Mark Vukovich, President Paul Easter In the last five years, all buildings have been replaced or century at Blank Park Zoo, and Chief Executive Officer Jo Ghrist MEMBERS AT LARGE rehabilitated. We have opened an Australian walk-through, the acronym SAFE will be James Fleming Mary Jean Paschen John Peterson seal and sea lion pool with underwater heated viewing, the most important tenet Matt Fryar a cassowary exhibit, a multi-species African themed area Pat Henson Kevin Prust of our mission statement… James Hourigan Billie Ray with indoor heated rhino viewing, and a tortoise/penguin Saving Animals From Michael C. Hubbell Terry Rich building with indoor viewing of both species. In addition, Extinction. How we are Loretta Sieman David Stark the gibbon and snow monkey areas have been redone. accredited in the future Dotty Thurston Tim Urban David Wallace The quarantine center is a new state-of-the-art facility. will depend on how we Dean Whitaker The Discovery Center has been entirely refurbished with Jonathan Wilson as a zoo and a community IN MEMORIAM siding, roof, and mechanicals. The spectacular entrance contribute to saving wildlife BOARD MEMBERS Helen Hubbell includes year round viewing of the Bactrian Camel and locally and around the world. Peg Armstrong-Gustafson Elizabeth Kruidenier Sarus crane along with a public park and picnic area. David Brick Gloria Burnett These stories of connections Russell Cross This year, we set an all time audience and continuing the dream Joe Gatto record of over 480,000, educated almost that began many years Devin Fuhrman ago have all been possible James Hagenbucher 60,000 school children—half on site— Ray Hansen, Board Chair Matt Haney the other half in over 80 counties around because of the dedication Jacob Jaacks and support of our donors, Aaron Kennedy the state. We visited 225 libraries for volunteers, corporate partners, and staff. We hope you will Lisa Kruidenier Learn To Read programs. join us during our anniversary celebration of 50 years for the Daniel McCabe Zoo’s goal of being a nationally known resource for restoring Lisa Nolan The National Geographic shared, “As the wild shrinks, zoos the natural world. Ben Page are looked at as modern-day arks, the last refuge against Dustin Petersen Brian Rickert the rising tide of extinction,” and is more relevant than Dan Schwarz ever. Wildlife from the elephant and black rhinoceros to Thank you for supporting Iowa’s only Zoo! Chris Seiberling pollinators like the monarch butterfly are being driven David Stark toward extinction by poaching, habitat loss, climate MARK VUKOVICH Jamie Stephens change, and pollution. Blank Park Zoo’s ongoing mission President and Chief Executive Officer Julie Stewart Jolene Veach is to help reverse this through education, volunteerism, and involvement. The Zoo’s goal is to be a nationally known resource for restoring the natural world. Page 2 2015 Annual Report New Species and Significant Births T a Over the past year, Blank Park Zoo is deeply saddened over the b l the Zoo was proud passing of our dear friend Goldy. e o to welcome the f following new C friends to the family. o Letter n New species (never exhibited 2 t from CEO e at Blank Park Zoo): two Sarus 3 New Species n Crane; two Girdle-tailed Lizard; and Significant t one Salmon Tarantula Births s 4 2015 Honors and Goldy Tiger Awards 18 years old 6 By the Numbers 8 Significant Happenings 2015 BIRTHS, HATCHINGS AND ACQUISITIONS Conservation Welcome to Blank Park Zoo (2015 births, hatchings, and acquisitions from other zoos): 10 12 Education 1 Addax 2 Domestic Rat 1 Silver-eared Mesia 2 Bleeding Heart Dove Events 1 Reticulated Giraffe 3 Domestic Ferret 1 Green-naped 2 Girdle-tailed Lizard 14 Pheasant Pigeon 1 Bactrian Camel 2 Domestic Rabbit 1 Iguana 16 Volunteers 4 Nigerian Dwarf Goat 1 Virginia Opossum 6 Grey-capped 2 Tomato Frog You Can Make a Difference Emerald Dove 18 2 Bennett’s Wallaby 1 Golden-headed 1 Salmon Tarantula 1 Trumpeter Swan Thank You Donor/Plans to Grow 1 Prehensile-tailed Lion Tamarin 3 Emperor Scorpion 19 2 Sarus Crane Porcupine 4 Chilean Flamingo 26 Financials 2 Blue-faced Honeyeater 2 Hedgehog 3 Taveta Golden Weaver 11.1.14 – 10.31.15 2015 Annual Report Page 3 2015 HONORS AND AWARDS Governor Volunteer Awards Carlin Peer Fred Scott The Governor’s Volunteer Awards is a program that provides all Iowa nonprofit, charitable, and government organizations with a non-competitive way to honor local volunteers with a prestigious state-level recognition award. Carlin Peer and Fred Scott were selected by the Governor’s office and presented their award in June. Carlin Peer had volunteered for Blank Park Zoo since 2004, has volunteered over 500 hours, and was the recipient of the 2014 Good Egg Award. Carlin volunteers for special events, garden projects, and promotes the mission of the Zoo. Fred Scott has volunteered for Blank Park Zoo since 2001, has volunteered over 1,758.40 hours, and was the recipient of Good Egg Award in 2002. Fred volunteered for special events and promoted Zoo memberships and the Zoo’s mission. Thank You 75 Hour Plus Volunteers “ROAR” Award Remarkable Outstanding Achievement Recognition Award Blank Park Zoo presented the “ROAR” Volunteer Award to recognize community partners for their volunteering efforts. This award was given to volunteer groups who contribute through strength in num- bers and dedication of time and energy to our mission. This year’s ROAR award was presented to Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has provided over 4,474 hours of service to the Zoo since 2012. Wells Fargo has done a variety of projects around the Zoo. Some of which include setup of events like Night Eyes and Zoo Brew, hauling gravel for animal areas, keeping Zoo grounds clean, and many others. Page 4 2015 Annual Report Association’s Quarter Century Award The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the primary Mission: accrediting body for top zoos and aquariums in the United To inspire an appreciation of the natural world through States since 1974, awarded the Association’s Quarter Century Award to Blank Park Zoo. conservation, education, and recreation. Established in 2015, this new award acknowledges facilities that have maintained AZA accreditation continuously for 25 Vision: years or more, highlighting their commitment to animal care, welfare, conservation, education, and more. The inaugural To be respected internationally and treasured locally for group of 119 awardees includes many facilities that have leadership in animal exhibition, conservation practices, successfully achieved AZA accreditation well beyond the and education opportunities. twenty-five year mark. AZA-accredited facilities have completed a thorough review to ensure that they meet and will continue to meet rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and 2015 Governor’s safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully Iowa Environmental complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association. Excellence Award for Outstanding Leadership The accreditation process includes a and Innovation presented detailed application and a meticulous onsite inspection by a team of trained to Blank Park Zoo zoo and aquarium professionals. The vision and actions of staff and volunteers at the chemical fertilizers. Old but wearable uniforms, Blank Park Zoo extend well beyond what most people boots and tools were provided to the Pan African The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution’s think of a zoo. With a commitment to sustainability and Sanctuary Alliance, which cares for orphaned and operation, including animal care; keeper training; safety wildlife conservation, the Blank Park Zoo established a endangered primates. Other sustainability actions for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; number of conservation alliance teams whose actions incorporated into the Zoo’s daily operations include conservation efforts; veterinary programs; financial are felt locally and globally. One of the activities under- providing recycling stations for visitors and staff as stability; risk management; visitor services; and other taken by the Zoo’s Conservation Alliance Teams involved well as properly managing and recycling hazardous areas. Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal assisting with removal of invasive species from local chemicals, batteries and ballasts. Standard light bulbs hearing of AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission, parks to promote water quality and the health of native were replaced with LEDs and motion sensors lights after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied. plants. Removed invasive species are taken back to the were installed where appropriate.
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