critter SPRING 2018

Zoo Calendar Growing and Giving by Ken Frye, Director Last summer, the zoo was bustling with provide care. Some individu- Spring Hours April 7 - May 25 construction crews, volunteers, and staff als have put Scovill Zoo in their wills; 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Weekdays who worked to complete several important others have designated the zoo as re- 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Weekends building projects. A new train shed and cipient of memorial monies. We have maintenance building were constructed. received generous donations for many Summer Hours A new roof and skylights were added to projects over the years. Gifts from Ra- May 26 - August 12 the building. Winter housing was mona Borders have provided funding 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Daily built for the howler and spider monkeys, for the zoo’s Animal Care Center and and new fencing was erected around the Veterinary Exam Room. Sponsorships Last admission is one hour before closing petting zoo and walking paths. It has been and attendance at Zoo-rific Evening a challenge to respond to AZA require- have helped fund the penguin exhibit. Zoo Admission ments, provide new exhibits, and add We’re currently working on a train Children (under 2) - FREE guest amenities. Much of the zoo’s revenue extension, funded by the Howard G. Children (2-12) - $4.25 comes from admission fees, train and car- Buffett Foundation. Gifts large and Adults - $6.75 ousel rides, gift shop sales, and concessions. small are welcomed, as costs continue Seniors (65+) - $5.75 We also offer “adoptions” of the to rise for animal care and exhibit ex- with our Zoo Parent program, which helps pansion. Thank you for your support! Free Admission Days are Thursdays beginning June 7 Facebook Live! Each 3rd Wednesday of the month, Zoo Director Ken Frye and your favorite keepers Special Events present interesting facts about Scovill Zoo’s amazing animals! Visit and like the zoo’s Facebook page to receive notices about upcoming FB Live events! Don’t miss our next Critter Egg Hunt event on March 21! March 31 at 1:30 p.m.

Zippy Zoo Day with Mom New Addition to the Herp by Ryan Kirkland May 12 & 13 A new type of snake has slithered into Sco- each other, and make a rattling sound vill Zoo! Our egg eating snake (a species to scare the predator off. When fully Memorial Day Celebration May 28 (Veterans Enter Free) native to southern Africa and northeastern grown, this snake will be about four India), is less than one year old and one feet long. Its extra stretchy skin around Dads’ Day Dollar Deal foot in length. At this size, it can the mouth allows the egg to fit. As the June 17 eat an egg the diameter of a egg slides down the throat, it hits a quarter. Its keeled scales special spiked vertebra that pierces the Ice Cream Safari presented by Prairie Farms Dairy are ridged and egg. The snake then constricts the egg 1 - 4 p.m. on July 15 not as smooth as and swallows the insides. Once the egg other snakes. In white and yolk have been swallowed, it Twilight Tuesdays defensive mode, will spit out the flattened shell. June 26 & July 31 the snake will coil up, rub its scales against

Complete 2018 Zoo Calendar 71 S. Country Club Rd. • Decatur, IL 62521 • 217/421-7435 at Scovillzoo.com Email: [email protected] • www.scovillzoo.com 2 SCOVILL ZOO critter chatter • SPRING 2018

Zoo Leaders A Howling Good Time by Mindy Weaver Last August, we received two hand- dows. A birthday party is planned for Decatur Park Board raised puppies, Koda and Niko, the this spring. On March 31, Bob Brilley II, President Chris Harrison, Vice-President from Washington Park Zoo. Koda is the pups will turn one year old! Tilly Chris Riley dark in color and will be 8 on April Stacey Young very shy while 27. The celebra- Jack Kenny Niko is lighter col- tion will be held on ored, very brave, April 14 at 11 a.m. Decatur Parks Foundation Jim Schwarz, President and outgoing. in front of the wolf Dr. Bill Van Alstine, Vice President He has already exhibit. The wolves Mindy Chadwick, Secretary learned most of will enjoy specially Rod Schanefelt, Treasurer Tilly’s training be- made meat cakes Chris Riley, Park Board Liaison haviors. All of our and extra enrich- Stacey Young, Park Board Liaison Erv Arends wolves were hand- ment items. The Natalie Beck raised, which enables us to work with zookeepers also plan a sing-along with Brandy Brown them through special training win- guests. Hope to see you there! Brian Byers Cindy Deadrick-Wolfer Kara Demirjian-Huss by Ken Frye Tom Hostetler Picture Passes for Members Dr. Stephen Huss Come one; come all! Let’s meet face to enables you to be admitted to the zoo Kara Johnston face! Many of our Friend of the Zoo more quickly, all season long! Take ad- Chuck Kuhle (FOZ) members need to come in to vantage of one of the following ID card Judy Locke have their pictures taken for their Sco- opportunities: March 30 & 31 from Kitty McCarthy James Neff vill Zoo photo ID cards. You may have 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; April 7 & 8 from Bruce Nims received your membership as a gift, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please call Kathy at Michelle Reynolds over the phone, or online. You may 421-7435 if these dates cannot work need to have your children’s pictures for you. Executive Director updated. Your FOZ photo ID card Decatur Park District Bill Clevenger

Director of Recreation & Facilities Telling Our Stories by Ben Rapson Jamie Gower I was ecstatic to attend a recent Asso- the basement to do a chore like feed ciation of & Aquariums (AZA) Zoo Staff my pets, I put a marble in the bravery Ken Frye, Director continuing education course. Dis- jar. My prize for filling that empty jar David Webster, Assistant Director cussion topics included budgets, age- was a trip to Scovill Zoo. Every keeper Kathy Winter, Ryan Kirkland, appropriate messaging, and dealing has a story of why and how they arrived Heather Purdeu, Kevin Rairdin, with controversial topics; but mostly at Scovill Zoo. What began as a farm/ Ben Rapson, Mindy Weaver, Kent Winchester, Brad Yetter, we told stories. This course was about children’s zoo 50 years ago has evolved Wesley Potter, and Nicole Zinn our stories as keepers and the animals into a modern zoological institution, we care for. We shared how our zoo ca- participating in worldwide population reers began. For me it started because management programs and reaching For the best discounts and of my childhood fear of the basement. out with many arms to the Central Illi- I conquered my fear with the help of nois community. We tell our stories to benefits, become a my mom and the pets that lived in entertain, educate, and inspire. Share Friend of the Zoo! the basement. My mother made me your story on our Facebook page and a “bravery jar.” Every time I went to tell us what Scovill Zoo means to you. critter chatter • SPRING 2018 SCOVILL ZOO 3

Meet A Keeper! Q&A by Ken Frye Family Camp Outs You have asked, and we have listened! Scovill Zoo’s newest keeper is Wesley always excited to see me (and their The Family Camp Outs return to Scovill Potter, a graduate of State Uni- grapes) in the morning. Q: What is Zoo on Friday, June 22 and Friday, Sep- versity with a B.S. in Zoology. Q: Why your favorite animal outside of Scovill tember 14. Participants will bring their did you choose to become a zoo keep- Zoo? A: My favorite animal of all time own tents and sleeping bags. Zoo staff er? A: I always knew I wanted to work is the otter! I love how they use their will provide supper, evening activities, a with animals, but it was my high school hands to eat. Young pups are so furry campfire for S’mores, morning “chores,” zoology teacher who made me want to that it is impossible for them to dive and breakfast. The cost is $30 per camp- become a keeper. Her excitement and under water because the air is trapped er or $120 for a family of up to six. Please respect for animals resonated with me against their skin. Too cute! call 421-7435 to reserve your spot! and allowed me to realize that I needed the unique, first-hand ex- Members Ride Pass! perience involved with keeping. Do you love to ride the train and carou- Q: What is your favorite Scovill sel? Now you can increase the fun - and Zoo animal? A: That would have your savings - with the Members Ride Pass! Purchase a zoo membership and to be a tie between the red pandas, add the pass for an extra $110. Perfect Lali and Pabu. They are gentle, for families that visit the zoo ten or more playful, and curious cubs that are times each season.

$23 Zoo Fun Pack by Dave Webster Missing A Very Special Cheetah If you visit the zoo regularly but don’t The deep rumbling purr, amazing . The greatest threat to the have a FOZ membership, consider a Zoo speed, and calm trust of people. These world’s wild cheetahs is conflict with Fun Pack that offers the following ben- were the most impressive things about humans. Through the years that Jafari efits. Great gift idea! Scovill Zoo’s cheetah, Jafari. Jafari and was here, Scovill Zoo and the zoo’s • 2 admission tickets his brother, Runako, were born and animal keepers contributed about • 2 Endangered Species Carousel tickets hand-reared at the De Wildt Cheetah $70,000 for cheetah conservation. Ja- • 2 snow cone tickets Conservation Center in South Africa. fari died recently of age-related kidney • 4 Z.O. & O. Express Train tickets Call 421-7435 or visit the Gift Shop to At 15 months of age, they arrived at failure. He had a long life, living to be purchase your Fun Pack today! Scovill Zoo, thanks to the interest and 15.9 years old. The median life expec- generosity of philanthropist Howard tancy for cheetahs in the U.S. is 11.7 ZooMu Pass Buffett. The cheetah brothers were the years. Currently, of the 324 cheetahs Where can you find wild animals, in- first ever in Decatur, and the only chee- living in U.S. zoos, only six are older teractive exhibits, education, and fun? tahs in Illinois for most of their time than Jafari was when he passed. His In Scovill Park! ZooMu Family Pass fee here. Heather Purdeu, our primary brother Runako died of kidney failure is just $165 for one full year for BOTH cheetah keeper, named one “Jafari” in 2015. Two younger cheetahs, Segosi facilities! Visit Scovill Zoo or the Chil- which means “dignified” in Swahili. and Kapenda, now live at Scovill Zoo dren’s Museum of Illinois to purchase Jafari’s role as an ambassador was an as ambassadors for their species. For your pass today! important one. He gave thousands of Heather, myself, and many at Scovill zoo visitors the Zoo, this dignified, friendly cat will al- Mobile Zoo chance to see a ways hold a special place in our hearts. Can’t take a trip to the zoo? Scovill’s cheetah up-close. In Jafari’s memory, Scovill Zoo’s keep- Mobile Zoo can come to you! Age-appro- Jafari also gave us ers are taking donations to sponsor an priate presentations last approximately the opportunity to Anatolian guard dog, which protects 30 minutes for younger students and tell the story of en- livestock in Namibia, so farmers will up to one hour for older students. Call dangered wild not shoot predators like the cheetah. 217/421-7435 for rates and information. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DECATUR, IL PERMIT NO. 330 71 S. Country Club Road Decatur, IL 62521

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SPRING 18 2018 Foundation Events

Scovill Zoo Open Golf Outing Date: Friday, May 18 Time: 11:30 a.m. Lunch 12:15 p.m. Shotgun Start 5 p.m. Reception & Awards Place: Hickory Point Golf Course Save the date for the Scovill Zoo Open! You’ll enjoy a great day of golf, box lunch, prizes, music, and afternoon wrap-up party. Fee is just $600/team of four. For details, call Kurt Rogers at 422-2211. All proceeds benefit Scovill Zoo Scovill Zoo offers a and junior golf programming. variety of camps for youth aged 5 - 17! Zoo-rific Evening at Scovill Zoo For details, visit Date: Saturday, August 18 scovillzoo.com or call Time: 5 p.m. 421-7435. Fee: $75/person With a cool new theme, unique activities, and a footprint extending the borders of this amazing zoo fundraiser, the 2018 Zoo-rific Evening is not to be missed! Delicious appetizers, bars throughout the zoo, animal interactions, live music, and more! Stay tuned for details. All proceeds fund renovations at Scovill Zoo. facebook.com/scovillzoo For tickets and sponsorship information, call Jill Applebee at 422-5911.