Magazine of the NC Zoo So ciety www.n czoo.com THIS ISSUE...

Winter 2 01 4 Issue No.75 SOCIETY BOARD professional guides and offers travelers EARL JOHNSON, JR. Dear Friends of the Zoo, Chair The staff at the NC Zoo Society and the insights into the nature of every country Raleigh N.C. Zoo hope that this magazine finds we visit. Our hope is to bring like-minded MARK K. METZ all of its readers comfortable and safe as people together to find joy in nature and Vice Chair many of you prepare to celebrate to learn about the world. Contributing Charlotte Christmas or Kwanzaa and others of you Editor John Groves, the Zoo’s Curator of BILL CURRENS, JR. complete your celebration of Hanukkah. Reptiles and Amphibians, describes some Treasurer We wish you all the best of Holidays and of the benefits of our travel program in his Charlotte a Happy New Year. Field Guide column, which unfolds as a THERENCE O. PICKETT Secretary The lead article in this issue of Alive travel diary on his recent trip to Kenya. Greensboro looks at the initial steps the North NICOLE A. CRAWFORD Carolina Zoo and other zoos are Greensboro taking to raise animal welfare KEITH CRISCO standards in substandard zoos all Asheboro over the world. Contributing MICHAEL J. FISHER Editor and Zoo Director David Winston-Salem Jones explains some of the com - MINOR T. HINSON plexities involved in this gigantic Charlotte endeavor and talks about the ini - JIM KLINGLER tial steps being taken by the world Raleigh zoo community to elevate animal MARJORIE M. RANKIN well-being and care, even in the Asheboro poorest countries. SCOTT E. REED Winston-Salem Another section of this issue of Alive is On a sad note, this Alive also pauses to DAVID K. ROBB dedicated to thanking the many artists, honor the memories of two beloved ani - Charlotte artisans and business leaders who donated mals who died during the summer: Aquila LIZ D. TAFT, Ph.D. their time, talents and products to the Polar Bear, and Nkosi the Western Greenville Randolph Telephone’s Zoo To Do 2013. Lowland Gorilla. Both lived remarkable MONTY WHITE, JR. With their support, this year’s Zoo To Do lives, enriching our visitors with a sense Raleigh raised $132,000 for the North Carolina of wonder and giving them reasons to CHARLES M. WINSTON, JR. Zoo. Donations to Zoo To Do ’s silent and care more about each other and about Raleigh live auctions provided more than half of nature. The Zoo Society is deeply grateful EDITORIAL BOARD the funding raised for the Zoo. to these animals for the gifts they This issue of the magazine also pro - extended to our visitors. We also want to Jayne Owen Parker , Ph .D., vides some details on the Zoo Society’s thank the zookeepers, veterinary staff and Managing Editor travel program—a benefit that we offer to other zoo professionals who worked, and De Potter, Design & Layout Daniel Banks NC Zoo Society members and other good continue to work, to provide the highest Rich Bergl, P h. D. friends of the Zoo. We plan our programs quality of care to the Zoo’s animals. John D. Groves carefully to ensure that each trip is led by Jayne Owen Parker, Ph .D., Editor Rod Hackney Dr. David Jones The North Carolina Zoo is open every day of the year, except on Michael Loomis, DVM Christmas Day. Winter hours begin November 4 and extend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Summer hours begin on April 1 and extend from 9 Mark MacAllister a.m. to 5 p.m. Standard admission prices are $12 for adults, $10 for Tonya Miller seniors and $8 for children. Zoo Society members and registered Please recycle your ALIVE magazine. To locate the Ken Reininger North Carolina school groups are admitted free. The Zoo offers free closest magazine recycling area in your city, call “Solid parking, free tram and shuttle service, picnic areas, visitor rest Waste Management” or “Recycling” under the City or Cheryl Turner areas, food service and gift shops. County listings of your phone book. Diane Villa For information, call 1-800-488-0444. Russ Williams The Zoo is a program of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The NC Zoo Society is the non-profit organization that supports the North Carolina Zoological Park and its programs. Society offices are open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more Angie Kahn, Proofreader . Printed by Hickory Printing Solutions information, please call 336-879-7250 or logon to the Society’s Web page at nczoo.com TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 Taking Animal Welfare to Zoos Around the World With Wild Welfare ...... Dr. David Jones, Contributing Editor 4 International Travel Programs World-class tours with the Zoo 6 Nik the Gorilla He charmed many ...... Mark Washburn, Guest Contributor 7 Dr. Rich Bergl Honored with Outstanding Service Award 8 Field Notes: Journey to Kenya Photo spread of a trip to Africa ...... John D. Groves, Contributing Editor 14 Zoo To Do 2013 Thank Yous For making Wild Expectations a success 10 Holiday Gifts Gifts your family will cherish for years 11 Year End Request 13 Seeing Spots Making room for Ocelots 8 16 Kids’ Page: Wild or Mild Who’s a good pet? ...... Daniel Banks, Contributing Editor BC Aquila Adieu to a Zoo favorite Regular Features 12 Thank Yous 17 12 Leave a Wild Legacy

ON THE COVER:

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kenya STEVE & ANNA SMITH 4

COVER INSET: Leopard BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM Taking Animal Welfare to Zoos

Around ᔢtᔢhᔢ e World David M. Jones, Director of the N.C. Zoo

ecent estimates suggest that, worldwide, between 7,000 While animal welfare standards have continued to to 10,000 zoos open their doors to public viewing. improve in European and American zoos, these stan - Another similar, or even larger, number of private col - dards have remained poor across a wide-range of coun - lectors keep exotic menageries outside of the public’s tries, notably in Asia and Africa. International reporting Rview. Yet, only about 1,000 of these public facilities and unrelenting posts from social media draw attention follow professional guidelines and standards when to this divide, exposing animals exhibited in poor condi - managing their animals, and only the professionally tions all around the world. But, because people often fail accredited European, North American and Australasian to differentiate among zoos, a revelation about poor wel - zoos are held to standards that adequately address the fare standards in one zoo can distort public opinion welfare of their animal collections. about all zoos, even zoos that hold to the highest stan - dards of animal welfare. In the United States, for example, just 220 zoos This tendency to paint all zoos with a single brush has have earned accreditation from the Association kept me constantly defending the value of good zoologi - cal institutions, especially among colleagues who have of Zoos and Aquariums, which sets the world’s served with me on the boards of major conservation and toughest animal welfare standards. At least 2,000 animal welfare organizations. The perception of zoos as “wildlife prisons” persists at least in part because shock - otIhn ethre a Unniimtead lS ctaotelsl,e fcotri oexnasm oplpee, rjuast e2 2l0e gzaoollsy h aivnes iedaren etdhe ing images from the world’s poorest zoos eclipse the aSctcaretedsit awtioitnh foroumt mthe eAtsisnogci aAtiZonA o’sf Zeoxohsi banitd sAtqaunadriaumrdss, . remarkable conservation work and stunning exhibitry wThiechs es eztso tohse owporelrda’st teo uwghitehsto aunti maanl yw melfoaree stthanadnar da s. At that characterize the world’s best zoos. least 2,000 other animal collections operate legally inside the ᔢᔢᔢ Slitcateens swei tfhrooumt m teheeti nUg AS ZDAe’sp eaxrhtibmite sntatn odaf rAdsg. rTihceuselt zuoroes , owpheriacthe wseithtso uvte arnyy lmoowre athnainm aa lilc weneself farorem sthtae nUdS ards by Working for Good Inside Zoos Department of Agriculture, which sets very low animal wel - During the last 20 years, mainstream zoos, when taken ftaorde astya’nsd aerxdps ebcyt taotdiaoyn’ss e. xpectation s. together, have become the largest non-governmental ᔢᔢᔢ conservators of animals in the wild. However, more tra - ditional conservation and animal welfare groups often Zoos Are Worlds Apart overlook these zoo-based efforts to focus, instead, on the Around the world, different cultures hold differing zoo world’s failure to deal with institutions that continue opinions about animal welfare issues. Even so, the to provide substandard animal care and welfare. public generally expresses more concerns about animal Unfortunately, even some zoos with impeccable animal welfare today than was typical, say, 30 years ago. The welfare standards do not consider it their business to wealth of animal-oriented media, particularly television raise the welfare standards of other zoos. and film, have given audiences a greater appreciation Currently, the major animal welfare organizations, for, and a better understanding of, the needs that ani - such as the Humane Society of the United States and the mals have both in the wild and in captivity. World Society for the Protection of Animals, receive the During the 45 years that I have worked inside the bulk of complaints about poor zoos. When these calls zoo world, I have seen enormous improvement in the come in, these organizations, not unreasonably, expect sciences that relate to animal management, particularly mainstream zoos to actively participate in correcting the with regard to improved veterinary care and nutrition, problems. By failing to address these issues, good zoos and a growing awareness of animals’ behavioral needs. have unwittingly reinforced the misconceptions of peo - Indeed, within the last five years, animal welfare has ple who oppose all zoos, regardless of how good or bad sprung to the fore as a major topic in zoo animal science. they are. 2 | ALIVE During the 10 years that I served on the Ethics and the Ivory Coast. We are also working with the Pan Animal Welfare Committee of the World Association of African Zoo Association to offer help to other African Zoos and Aquariums, I reviewed numerous complaints zoos and to negotiate with authorities in Southeast Asia about animal care in many of the world’s poorly man - to see if we can assist zoos there as well. aged zoos. Trying to address these complaints con - Another benefit of our practical, low-key approach vinced me that the only way to tackle this problem will likely be to reduce the involvement some poor would be through an organization that could provide zoos have with the illegal wildlife trade. Substandard practical, experienced-based guidance that could help zoos, both private and public, can put enormous pres - poor zoos raise their management and welfare standards . sures on wildlife populations. By improving animal By establishing one such professional collaborative, management standards in these zoos, we hope to move the N.C. Zoo—with fundraising support from the NC them away from participating in illegal wildlife traf - Zoo Society—led an effective, multi-institutional pro - ficking and toward stopping this trade. gram that restored and raised the animal welfare stan - ᔢᔢᔢ dards of the Kabul Zoo after it was nearly destroyed by decades of war and neglect. Later, a similar approach The Complexity of the Problem allowed the N.C. Zoo to help stabilize the Baghdad Zoo From a practical standpoint, one might think that ani - and to extend work that I had begun earlier to help the mal welfare standards rely heavily on technical skills, Cairo Zoo. such as knowledge of veterinary care, animal behavior, ᔢᔢᔢ nutrition, housing, etc. But, while these skills are neces - sary for good animal care, other factors can affect ani - Launching Wild Welfare mal welfare standards, too, including poor, or These successes helped inspire a colleague of mine, nonexistent governance; political infighting; lack of then the director of the Pan African Zoo Association, resources; and failure to plan for long-term sustainabil - Mr. Dave Morgan to help found a new organization that ity. Add to that the challenges that result from language we have named “Wild Welfare.” Its mission is to help and cultural differences, postwar situations or other non-mainstream zoos improve their animal husbandry political instabilities and limited educational opportuni - and welfare at least to levels that are acceptable to their ties and one quickly sees the complexities of solving regional zoo associations. these problems. Using financial help from a major animal welfare he ne organization and several zoos, many of them American, The need is considerable and, as the work of Wild we launched Wild Welfare about a year ago. Our first Welfare has become better known, the requests for major goal is to publish a practical guide, a Zoo Welfare Strategy, that can be easily understood and fol - help have increased. Currently, Mr. Morgan is the lowed by any zoo governance body and management only full-time employee working with this project, team. While the document will be written in simple lan - ed is considerable, and as the work of Wild Welfare guage, it will include the most comprehensive bibliog - bhaust bheceo mise s buepttpero krntoewdn b, yth ea r etequaemst so ffo rv hoellup nhtaevee rs and raphy of zoo husbandry and welfare literature ever pinacreta-steimd. eC urrerseentalyr,c Mher.r Ms.o Organn rise ctheen otn zlyo ofu lal-stismise tance compiled in one document. Our goal is to provide our employee working with this project, but he is supported partners with a way to quickly obtain information and vbyis ai ttse,a msp oefc vioalluinsttese rfsr oanmd poatrht-etirm ien rsetsietaurctihoenrss. Ohn ave to offer them practical help in achieving higher stan - jroeciennet dz ohoi amss,i satatn tchee viirs itosw, snpe ecixaplisetns sfreo,m t oo tohefrf einrs hti -elp dards of animal care and welfare. atuntidon tsr haaivnei njogin. ed him, at their own expense, to offelp When completed, the Zoo Welfare Strategy will and training. explain the standards already espoused by most zoo Currently, the Zoo and Zoo Society have taken Wild associations and will sit alongside the welfare strategy Welfare under their wings, as a Zoo project, with the currently being prepared by the World Zoo Association. expectation that Wild Welfare will ultimately stand on Hopefully, these strategies will eventually lead to a its own as an independent not-for-profit. As it grows, published global standard that all 21st century zoos will and acquires additional support, our hope is that Wild be expected to attain. Welfare will greatly expand its scope and its reach and Already this year, we have assisted the Tripoli Zoo in will, eventually, help to raise the standards of zoo ani - Libya, following its civil war, and the Abidjan Zoo in mal care all around the world. Winter 2 01 4 | 3 INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SAFARI Make Your Travel Plans for 2014 Northern India March 6 – 22 $5,999* Tigers, the Taj Mahal and More. An extraordinary expedition through some of India’s most amazing wildlife areas. This trip, led by wildlife biologist Dr. David Davenport, leaves India’s cities behind to concentrate on the sub - continent’s most stunning national parks—a network that protects the largest collections of mammals living anywhere outside Africa. You will visit Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks, the two best sites for seeing Tigers in the wild. The Taj Mahal is included, of course, and a five-day extension is available to Kaziranga National Park in Assam to ride elephants in search of Indian Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffalo, Asian Elephants and Swamp Deer.

Cuba Celebrate the Zoo’s 40th April 1 – 13 $7,600 Birthday with us in the Rich in Culture, Nature and Wildlife A Platinum Level Tour, led by Dr. David Land Where it All Began Jones, to explore the culture, the people, Choose from two, special tour offerings the nature and the wildlife of Cuba. Floating only 90 miles off Miami’s coast - through Kenya to celebrate this major line, Cuba sits at the end of the shortest milestone in the Zoo’s history. Travel with hop an American can take to see an some of the Zoo's most experienced staff entirely different world. Our travelers to watch throngs of wildlife pass through will participate in rich cultural exchanges the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The two with the Cuban people and will visit two trips follow different itineraries but end research stations and three of the island’s most pristine wildlife together, in time for a remarkable birthday areas—a rare opportunity to step into a birder’s paradise and celebration. experience the art, the history and the culture of neighbors living lives so different from our own. ONLY FOUR SPACES LEFT! Price based on double-occupancy; airfare included.

A journey through Africa to celebrate our Africa.

4 | ALIVE Cruise in Luxury Down the Amazon July 18 - 27 Starting at $4,398* Still to Come: Explore one of the Earth’s most diverse Southern India ecosystems— the Amazon rainforest — in the company of curious travelers and A Platinum level tour to visit expert naturalist guides, stunning some of India’s most pristine wildlife, friendly villagers and nature and exotic wildlife at its finest. Cruise on the newly built destinations. La Estrella Amazonica —a small luxury vessel equipped with air conditioned, spacious cabins and private balconies with two chairs to enjoy relaxing views of the passing rainforest. Fine food and fine companions.

And in 2015 January — A voyage to the Botswana’s Water Wilderness bottom of the Earth — November 6 – 16 $6,895* Antarctica! Led by Dr. Mike Loomis, Chief Veterinarian, this tour is a joint adventure with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Begin your tour in Johannesburg, then travel to Maun, Okavango Delta and Linyanti Reserve in Botswana. An optional pre-extension trip to Cape Town, South Africa and an optional post-extension trip to Livingstone and Victoria Falls, Zambia are available.

*Prices based on double occupancy; airfare not included. Visit the NC Zoo Society’s Web site, nczoo. , to learn more about these trips and to review the other travel options the Zoo Society is offering in 2014. Or, give us a call to speak to PHOTOS: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM someone about any of our travel expeditions. Winter 2 01 4 | 5 RNepriinkted, cotuhrtesey o f GMarok Wrasihblulrna, m, waCshbuhrn@achrarmlotteeobdser veMr.com any at the n many ways, he was just six inches wide, so Nik folded it like any other Ohio trans - so it would fit through the plant to North Carolina. grate.” Carrots went the other He arrived in 2008, found way, completing the transaction. Iwork in the tourist trade and started a family. Handsome, ath - Gorillas in Peril letic and clever, he made friends Native to the rain forests of easily. A strict vegetarian at 410 equatorial Africa, Western pounds, he was a loving dad Lowland Gorillas are the least who spoiled his two toddler sons imperiled of the four gorilla by toting them around piggy- species in the wild, but all are back. critically endangered. Nkosi, or Nik to his friends, Zoo biologist Dr. Rich Bergl was a Western Lowland Gorilla has spent years in the rain and when he died Tuesday—far forests, specializing in protect - too young, just three weeks shy ing the most endangered of his 22nd birthday—humans species, the Cross River Gorilla shed tears. through a program affiliated “We’ve had other charismatic with the N.C. Zoo. There are gorillas here, but he was only about 300 Cross River unique,” said Chris Goldston, a Gorillas left in the wild, he esti - 29-year veteran at the N.C. Zoo mates, compared with up to in Asheboro and Nik’s friend 100,000 Western Lowland and keeper since the silverback arrived suggested dental rinse,” said Goldston. Gorillas like Nik. via FedEx in 2008. “He was very laid “We went out and bought different “Gorillas are under pressure from back, very much a family man.” ones, Crest and others. He didn’t like hunting and habitat loss,” Dr. Bergl said. them. Finally we tried SpongeBob “People hunt them for the bushmeat And smart. Wicked smart. SquarePants Ocean Berry Blue.” trade, driven by affluent urban demand. Nik didn’t like to get wet. He didn’t Nik loved it. Every day, keepers Bushmeat is a status symbol in cities.” like mud. If he had to come to the edge would use their hands to signal him to Logging and deforestation for farm - of the gorilla enclosure to meet with his open his mouth, and they’d squirt his land is also eliminating habitat. In some keepers, they’d have to pass a wad of teeth. His last checkup was excellent. areas of Africa, gorilla populations have burlap in to him. Nik would spread it on declined by 90 percent in the last 20 the ground like a picnic blanket, and He had a Hollywood flair. years. they’d get down to business. For 16 years, zoo spokesman Rod Some of their business was medical. Hackney has helped produce “The Zoo Nik’s American Habitat Like humans, lowland gorillas get heart FileZ,” a weekly TV program that airs Nik was born in the Columbus Zoo in disease. Nik knew how to spread his on WBTV (Channel 3) Sunday morn - 1991. As part of a program to ensure arms and shove his chest up against the ings and on 12 other stations around the genetic diversity among captive goril - fence so veterinarians could give him state. Producer Terry Shiels was filming las, he was sent to the N.C. Zoo in sonograms. They’d hand him carrots one day when the rubber eyepiece fell 2008. He was still young—gorillas like during the procedure and, if things went off his expensive Sony camera and into Nik typically live well into their 40s. well, he’d get a bonus—a handful of the gorilla habitat. Nik sauntered over He arrived in Greensboro in a cage green beans. and picked it up. aboard a FedEx transport plane and was Some of their business was dental. With other animals, this would be trucked to the Zoo, which draws about Like humans, Nik had periodontal dis - a big problem. But Nik understood 760,000 visitors a year. ease, but wasn’t the type to sit in a business. “He was an amazingly friendly and dentist chair. A keeper went to a fence-like portal pleasant gorilla,” said Dr. Bergl. “He “Our vet said we needed to do some - and called out, “Nik trade! Nik trade!” wasn’t aggressive toward keepers or thing, and out of the blue someone said Hackney. “That eyepiece was about people. Male gorillas aren’t known as 6 | ALIVE N. C. Zoo AZA Honors Dr. Rich Bergl, N.C. Zoo Curator of Conservation and Research, being super friendly, but he was a nice guy.” With Outstanding Service Award Nik was gradually introduced to the he Association of Zoos and Cross River Gorilla. Dr. Bergl’s female gorillas, and they apparently hit it Aquariums presented the N.C. research uses genetic data and Geo- off. Zoo’s own Dr. Rich Bergl with graphic Information Systems technol - There are maybe five to 10 live births its Outstanding Service Award during ogy to assess population structure, annually among the 360 Western Lowland Tthe organization’s annual conference habitat connectivity and population Gorillas in zoos and wildlife parks in this past September. North America. A year ago, the N.C. Zoo Dr. Bergl earned the accounted for two. Nik had mated with award after completing six two of the females, both of whom deliv - years of extraordinary ered in August 2012. In July, another was service on the AZA Field born but did not survive. Conservation Committee. As the infants grew and their mothers As a member of the com - gradually gave them more freedom, they mittee, Dr. Bergl helped gravitated toward their father. organize a field conserva - “He’s the only male gorilla I’ve ever seen tion class for AZA’s to carry a baby on his back,” said Dr. Professional Development Bergl. Program, helped gather “That is a behavior that is almost exclu - data for AZA’s Annual sively for females,” said Goldston. “He was Report on Conservation very gentle with the babies. They would and Science, served on run up to him, slap at him to play, and if he AZA’s Conservation Assessment viability for the entire Cross River didn’t want to play, he’d gently push them Taskforce and sat on the review panel Gorilla subspecies. Recently, he has away. I think he knew his strength.” for AZA’s Conservation Endowment partnered with both national govern - Fund grants. ments and non-governmental A Sudden Decline “Dr. Bergl is an extremely deserv - organizations to develop a mobile In late August, keepers noticed that Nik ing recipient of this award,” said computer-based monitoring system was out of sorts. He lost his appetite, had AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. for use throughout the Gorillas’ difficulty walking. “He is a valued conservation leader in range. Dr. Bergl has also worked in Workers at the zoo sat with him around the zoo and aquarium community.” Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial the clock. On Sunday, he collapsed. He “I am honored to receive this award Guinea (Bioko), Liberia, Rwanda, was unable to eat or drink. from AZA and hope that my contribu - Uganda and Kenya and has con - On Tuesday he was euthanized. Tissue tions have helped to benefit endan - ducted genetic research as a Visiting samples have been sent to laboratories to gered wildlife around the world,” said Scientist at the Max Planck Institute try to determine his illness. His remains Dr. Bergl. for Evolutionary Anthropology will be cremated and interred at the Zoo. Dr. Bergl has managed the N.C. Molecular Primatology Laboratory. Hackney said there’s an old saying in Zoo’s Conservation and Research the zoo business that the mortality rate is Programs since 2007. He came to n addition to his research activities 100 percent, but deaths still have a pro - North Carolina after beginning his and his duties as a Zoo curator, found impact. Some workers were in tears zoo career as a gorilla keeper at IDr. Bergl is also an adjunct assistant over the death. “It’s like losing a family Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. Later, he professor in the Department of member. People here are clearly suffering earned a Ph.D. in Biological Biological Anthropology at Duke the loss,” Hackney said. Anthropology from the City University and at the N.C. State And not just people. Tuesday evening, University of New York. University College of Veterinary the three females of the troop and the two Dr. Bergl has conducted conserva - Medicine. babies began acting puzzled as nightfall tion research in Africa for more than The Zoo Society congratulates Dr. drew near. 15 years, focusing much of his work Bergl for his outstanding contribu - “They recognize that he’s gone,” Gold- on innovative ways to study and tions to AZA, to the N.C. Zoo and to ston said. “They were looking for him.” monitor the critically endangered wildlife conservation. Winter 2 01 4 | 7 FIELD

The North Carolina Zoological Society manages a travel program that takes people to places renowned for their dramatic landscapes, charis - matic animals and environmental significance. Each itinerary is chosen to pique the interests of people who enjoy being in nature and who want to know more about wildlife. Through its travel program, the Zoo Society brings like-minded people together to learn new things, make new friends and see new and awe-inspiring sights. Whenever possible, the Society enriches these trips by sending a Society or Zoo expert along to serve as a friendly host. These experts also spend time sharing profes - sional and personal experiences that deepen our travelers’ understand - ing of the places, the people and the wildlife seen during the trips. Recently, I hosted one such trip—a 15-day trek through Kenya, the jewel of East Africa’s wildlife safaris and home, still, to some of the Mt. Kilimanjaro largest, and most dramatic, populations of charismatic animals. Our STEVE & ANNA SMITH journey took us into the wild, where we encountered African Elephants and Lions, Black and White Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Giraffes, Zebras, Cheetahs and Crocodiles. The landscape teemed, too, with smaller animals. On our trip, we spotted jackals, hyenas, many varieties of colorful birds and even a Spotted Bush Snake and a chameleon. Our group of nine also explored several African cultures and enjoyed spectacular views of Kenya’s cities and Bongo towns, as well as her rural areas and wild landscapes. We jour - neyed through well managed national parks and game reserves, where native wildlife remains protected for future generations, and we met with ordinary cit - izens to learn about their daily lives and about the ways that their cultural heritage has shaped their beliefs, their Lion up a tree families and their histories. This journey had an additional, special meaning for me, too. It gave me the opportunity to compare what I saw each day to my memory of the Kenya that I visited 30 years ago. I was pleased to see that Kenya’s strong economic ties to tourism have helped ensure the government’s I fidelity to protecting its 40 national parks and game reserves and the wildlife sustained by the parks. The following pictorial account offers just a glimpse of the wonders we saw on our travels. I offer these snippets with the hope that they will inspire others to consider embarking on a similar adventure into nature. Every day brought us experiences that we will never forget and gave us memories that we will cherish forever. I can say truthfully that my trip to Kenya was awe-inspiring and wonderful. N ile Crocodile JOHN D. GROVES, CURATOR OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 8 | ALIVE Giraffe in Road

Elephants STEVE & ANNA SMITH

Ibis

The Crew GINGER & WILLIAM SMITH Maasai Winter 2 01 4 | 9 This Holiday season, give the ones you love a way to play, laugh and enjoy each other GIFTS ORDER FORM all year long: STANDARD SHIPPING COSTS ARE INCLUDED. Send gift package to: អ Recipient អ Me Membership in the Please indicate gift for: អ Christmas អ Hanukkah NC Zoo Society . អ Other: ______Your gift will open the door to a full year of discovery, of family M essage you want included ______adventures and of learning and laughing together. ______Gift options include a one-year Membership for: ɀ ɀ ɀ Buyer’s Name ______an Individual ($55); an Individual & guest ($65); a Family or ɀ Address ______Grandparents ($74); or a Family or Grandparents & a guest ($84). City/State/Zip ______Visit www.nczoo.com for details and other levels. Phone: (H)______(W) ______E-mail ______’Tis the Zebra Adoption Info Name of Adoption Recipient ______Season of

Name of MembeGrshipf tR eMcipeienmt ______bership Info

Membership level you wish to buy ______Say “Happy Holidays” with a gift like no other—adopt your very own Miracle. For Family, Grandparent or higher memberships only : She is a 16-year-old Zebra that lives at Name of the second adult in the household the North Carolina Zoo. ______Each $45 package includes a 12-inch plush zebra, an Adoption Number of children under 18: _____ Certificate, a photo and fact sheet about zebras, and a grandchildren under 18: _____ OR personalized gift card.

Recipient Address ______Adopt for the holidays, and City/State/Zip ______then visit the Zoo all year to see your Miracle in action! Phone: (H)______(W) ______E-mail ______Adopt packages will be mailed on December 9th unless otherwise Payment type: អ Cash TOTAL $ ______specified. អ Check (Please make check payable to NC Zoo Society) អ Credit Card (Please check one) អ MC អ VISA អ Discover អ AMEX Credit Card# ______CVN# ______Exp. Date ______Signature ______10

LE AVE A LEGACY

Thank yous go out to the very generous donors who provided gifts of $1,000 He Gave Joy or more to the Society, July 6 through September 5, 2013. Akron Zoological Park Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc. On July 20, 2013, the Winston Salem Journal pub - Asheboro Elastics Corporation Ms. Nikki Needham & Dr. Andy lished a story that began “The gentle spirit of Frank The Borden Fund, Inc. Crofoot Borden Hanes, Sr., poet, novelist, journalist, farmer, Burlington Animal Hospital North Carolina Troopers Association outdoorsman, businessman, and philanthropist, Shirley Burns Ms. Martha H. Noyes C & J Crosspieces, LLC Mr. Richard Pelak & Ms. Melody slipped away on July 17th, 2013, leaving behind the Carolina Bank Malone family and friends he loved, and all who loved him Carolina Farmers Mutual Insurance Piedmont Natural Gas Company in return.” Company Frances & Steve Porter Randolph Electric Membership These words hint at the depth, breadth and com - Stephen & Patti Carson Chili's Asheboro Corporation plexity of the life Mr. Frank Hanes, Sr., built in North Mr. Donald Clark & Ms. I'Ans Reeder Sarah Rash Carolina. He was loved and respected for his kind - Dennis Clements & Martha Ann Keels Joan Reid & John Montgomery ness, generosity, intelligence and curiosity. At the John Crosland III SCYNEXIS, Inc. George & Helen Davis Talmadge and Ian Silversides Zoo Society, he was also respected and admired for Davis Furniture Industries, Inc. Mr. Richard C. Sloan his words, his ideas and his service as an outstand - East Coast Trailer & Equipment Co. Mr. J. Keith Smith & Ms. Lisa Jones ing member of the Zoo Society’s Board of Directors. Inc. Southern Industrial Constructors As a member of the Zoo Society Board in the Edward Jones - Greensboro Southland Electrical Supply Edward Jones - High Point Ann Cutler Stringfield & Robert John 1980s, Mr. Hanes was instrumental in laying out the Energizer Darby blueprint for what would become the Zoo Society’s William H. and Muriel J. Fox The Estate of Dorothy K. Sudderth planned giving program. Under his leadership, the Endowment Fund SunGard Public Sector Therapeutic Alternatives program was named The Lion’s Pride and, under Karyl Gabriel HealthSource Chiropractic & Time Warner Cable his tutelage, the program developed a low-key Progressive Rehab Toms Creek Nursery & Landscaping approach that let people know about opportunities William & Hanna Herring Della Tourville for including the Zoo Society in their estate plans. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Triad Corrugated Metal, Inc. Paul & Karen Katsirubas Leonard & Joyce B. Tufts Mr. Hanes envisioned The Lion’s Pride as a Mr. Thomas S. Kenan III U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service venue for inviting people to help plan for the Zoo’s Kerr Drug, Inc. Aphon & Sandy Vue future, and he also saw The Lion’s Pride as a grow - Mrs. Johnnie May Long Don & Donna Wellington ing community for people who intended to include Lowes Food Stores, Inc. Wildlife Conservation Society - New Martin Marietta Aggregates York the Zoo in their estate plans. By forming this com - Tom & Sally Moore Mrs. Thomas W. Young munity, Mr. Hanes arranged a setting that allowed the Society to keep The Pride’s members informed about the Zoo’s good works and for thanking these Answers to Kids’ Page members for the role their gifts would play in keep - ing the Zoo strong. The article in the July Winston Salem Journal ref - erenced a quote from a character in Mr. Hanes’ HORSE-mild;W GIRAFiFEl-wdild; GUINEA MPIG-milid; lBdEAR-wild; LION- Pulitzer Prize nominated novel The Fleet Rabble . In wild; COUGAR-wild; DOG-mild; RACCOON-wild; OPOSSUM-wild; the novel, a Native American character, Looking ZEBRA-wild; ARCTIC FOX-wild; RED FOX-wild; CAT-mild Glass, said “I hope it will be joy that I bring the people.” These words reflect the life that Looking Glass Learn more about the Zoo ’s Gorillas aspired to lead and the life that Mr. Hanes actually when you download the new app achieved. As beautifully stated in the Winston Salem Journal, “Frank Hanes brought great joy, in magazine for the iPad. Search for every form, to his family, his friends, his community and his state over ninety-three years.” The Zoo and Zoo Society remain deeply grateful for the joy that NC Zoo Gorilla s Mr. Hanes shared with us and for the joy his life will It ’s continue to pass on to future generations through gifts that others make to The Lion’s Pride. FREE!

12 | ALIVE The Zoo is itching to pull its Ocelots Zoos and Aquariums manages for this out of their existing exhibit inside the species. Population experts agree Sonora Desert and set them in a bright that zoos need to maintain at least 120 about protecting these animals and new spot outside. Ocelots to keep the captive population what remains of their wild habitats. This new spot—still in the planning viable and, consequently, to ensure That is where you come in. We need stages—will give the Ocelots more that visitors can see and learn about your help to build a roomy and sunny room to do what cats love to do— Ocelots in respectable zoos. new exhibit where the Ocelots and lounge, stalk, leap and catnap—during Because zoos offer the only opportu - their families can grow and play. the day. And, set under a Tarheel sky, nity for most people to see, learn Please, join the Zoo as it re-spots its the new spot will stir the Ocelots’ about, and come to care about Ocelots into a larger, family-friendly instinctive memories with the songs of Ocelots, a healthy captive population exhibit near the Sonora Desert. Make birds, the rustle of leaves, the warmth can help wild Ocelots by raising your donation, now, to give these cats of the Sun, and the scent of rain and awareness about their plight. With only a better life, to bring oodles of Ocelot the changing seasons. about 100 wild Ocelots left in North kittens to the Zoo, and to help the N.C. The new exhibit will benefit the America, the N.C. Zoo’s Ocelot exhibit Zoo do its part to ensure that Ocelots Ocelot species, too, by smoothing the can help persuade visitors to care have a future in North America. M O C . O T O H P K C O T S G I B

way for the Zoo to breed this endan - gered species. To prepare for any pending parent - hood, the Zoo wants to provide its I want to see more spots at the Zoo , too! Ocelots with space enough to care for Please accept my donation of $______to help build an outdoor a growing family. In fact, the planned Ocelot exhibit and make room for a family of these cats at the Zoo. exhibit will accommodate as many as Name ______four Ocelots comfortably. When any kittens arrive, each one Address ______will be precious in its own right. But City______State_____ Zip ______every one of them will be even more Phone ______E-mail ______valuable to conservation experts who Please make checks payable to the NC Zoo Society; or charge to: are working to keep a healthy, viable អ MasterCard អ AMEX អ Visa អ Discover 2047-13F(0) population of Ocelots in America’s Account # ______Security Code ______zoos. Currently, fewer than 100 Exp. Date______Signature ______Ocelots are listed in the Species Survival Plan that the Association of Mail to: NC Zoo Society, 4403 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205 zoo to do 2013 Thank Yous The NC Zoo Society would like to thank our Signature Sponsor Randolph Telephone Membership Corporation, as well as our other Zoo To Do sponsors, donors, volunteers and guests for making Zoo To Do 2013: Wild Expectations a success. This year’s event raised $132,000, which will be used to help build a storage facility in our Service Support area. Signature Sponsor: The Exchange Banquet Randolph Telephone Membership Live Auction & Meeting Hall Corporation Asheboro Dodge Special Thanks Fresh Cuts Butcher & Asheboro Mazda Dave Aiken Seafood $5,000 – Asheboro Nissan American Premium G & G Automotive Bird of Paradise First Bank Black Jacket Limousines Beverage Enterprises Heart of North Carolina Busch Gardens Beane Signs Margaret Giles Anonymous Visitor’s Bureau Hickory Printing Chop House Sharon Beddingfield Green Hill Center for Insurance Associates of Donna Craven Pottery Chili’s – Asheboro NC Art Solutions the Triad Dean & Martin Pottery Coca-Cola High Point Bowling MOM Brands Doe Ridge Pottery Consolidated Holiday Tours Pam Potter & De Potter $2,500 – Orchid Mike Ferree The Courier Tribune Rhonda Howell Asheboro Elastics Premier Massage Four Saints Brewery Jimmy John’s Therapy From the Ground Up Corporation Hobby Lobby Jules Etc. Boutique Pugh Funeral Home Gatorland BB&T Jimmy Leonard III Lumina Wine & Beer Sir Pizza of Asheboro Joel Hunnicutt Lowe’s Home Archie McGee Thomas Tire & Earl & Margie Johnson $1,500 – Daniel Johnston Pottery Improvement Center Trudy McGee Automotive of Asheboro Frangipani Triad Corrugated Metal Dr. David Jones Merle Norman – Maria Klaussner Home Monroe Music – Tony Dombrowski Asheboro Recycling U.S. Trust, Bank of Hoover Center Furnishings Nantahala Outdoor America Private PIP Printing Carolina Bank of Wealth Management Kline Pottery Center The Plant Shop Asheboro Zhone Technologies Little River Golf & NC Zoo - Education Clapp’s Convalescent Resort Reddy Ice, Inc. Division R.H. Barringer NC Zoo - Prairie Nursing Home, Inc. $500 – Lotus Chris Luther Pottery CommunityOne Eck McCanless Pottery Distributing, Co. Keepers Diversified Trust AAA – Cary Phil Morgan Pottery Melissa Southern Noon Day Collection Company Acme McCrary and NC Zoo - Animal Photography North Carolina Energizer Sapona Foundation Division Becky Tarlton Shakespeare Festival Richard & Susan Bank of the Carolinas NC Zoo Society United Country – Origami Owl – Kelly Garkalns Clark Bell, Lawyer National Golf Club, Inc. Rogers Auctioneers, Jesue Inc. Ink ‘n Stitches, LLC Burge Flower Shop Frank Neef Pottery Outback Steakhouse Villa Photography McDowell Lumber Elastic Therapy Montgomery P.F. Changs – Chinese Company Genband Community College Mark Vuncannon – Allen Bistro Tate Realty Mid State Toyota of Bill & Ann Hoover Ben Owen Pottery Penland Custom Asheboro Greg & Ginny Hunter Patchwork Possibilities – Frames NeoNova Network It’s Leather, Inc. Dr. Scott Murkin “Rainforest Lagoon” Pinewood Country Club Services, Inc. Liberty Tax Service Pinehurst Resort Mary Pollock $1,000 Cash Ken & Diane Powell Randolph Hospital Walker & Joanne Precision Art Putters Giveaway Sponsor Rheem Heating & Moffitt Ray Pottery the preppy possum Cooling Danny & Wendy Mull the preppy possum Superior Mechanical Primitive Knife Artworks Technimark, LLC Oliver Rubber Company Jim & Carol Rich Incorporated & Jewelry The Timken Company Prevo Drug, Inc. Joseph Sand Pottery Quaintance-Weaver Turlington & Company, Pugh Oil Takuro & Hitomi Shibata Food, Fun & Restaurants & Hotels LLC Mr. J.M. Ramsay, Jr. Shucker’s Oyster Bar Entertainment Razor’s Hair Salon Randolph Electric Lenton Slack R.H. Barringer All Wired Up by Jennifer Distributing Co. Membership Sodexo Catering $1,000 – Hibiscus Biltmore Estates Randolph Arts Guild Corporation Jim Spires Anonymous Blue Ribbon Pony Farm Randolph-Asheboro RE/MAX Central Realty STARworks NC Mr. & Mrs. Howard Cakes by Cindy YMCA Riazzi Rhyne & Swaim David Stuempfle Burkart Chick-fil-A Richland Creek Zip Line Investment Group Pottery C & J Crosspieces, LLC Chili’s – Asheboro Sagebrush Steakhouse Ridge Funeral Home & Charlie Tefft Pottery Care ‘N Motion Physical Cycle Center & Saloon Cremation Services Turtle Island Pottery Therapy/ RLJ di’lishi Santosha Yoga StarPet, Inc. Kate Waltman Pottery Transport Dollywood Sherwin Williams State Farm Insurance, Wet Dog Glass – Eddie CenturyLink Ennobra Bloom Sports Attic Lisa Blackwell Bernard Chili’s – Asheboro Wells Fargo Boutique Studio 120 14 | ALIVE Sweet Melissa Sunset Flower & Gifts Taste Of Thai Oriental Laura Sykes Restaurants Trees NC Thistle Meadow Winery Vintage Cottage Tot Hill Farm Golf Club Tiffany Wheless Toys & Co. Shelley Whittington Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Jack Winfield-Ross Wired for Education Pointe Zoo Atlanta I seldom refuse a request to teach about wildlife conser - Your Silver Linings Zoo City Pharmacy vation but, given the belt-tightening going on at the Zoo in early 2009, I could not justify traveling from Asheboro to Art & Décor Pottery Virginia Beach, Virginia, to talk to a few dozen K-5 stu - Valerie Abbott Black Lady Pots dents about recovery efforts for the endangered Red Amish Trading Post Buffalo Creek Pottery Wolf. “Would you be willing to do it via Skype?” asked my Art from the Heart Bulldog Pottery friend Ms. Heather Schweitzer, the school district’s tech - Talmadge & Sara Baker Cagle Road Pottery nology resource teacher. “Of course,” I answered. “Why Blue Rhino Chrisco’s Pottery Vicky Bloxam Dish’n Pottery didn’t I think of that?” Nikki Cherry Dover Pottery On that day four years ago, I never imagined how Vinny Colucci Steve & Rhonda Eblin quickly this offhanded suggestion would mushroom into a Photography David Edwards program that reached students in 15 North Carolina coun - Martha Crotty Fat Beagle Pottery ties, 14 additional states and in Canada and the United The Finishing Touch Four Paw Pottery Kingdom. Skype—a simple, freely available videoconfer - George Foster Freeman Pottery encing software package—has given the N.C. Zoo and Ellen Greer Gingerbread House Tom Gillespie Pottery Zoo Society the capacity to interact with students regard - Candace Hammond Great White Oak Gallery less of their location. Skype lets us show and share arti - Hardin’s Furniture H.A.T. underground facts, photos and videos and lets us answer questions High Point Furniture Michele Hastings & Jeff much like we would on a classroom visit—all without the ideas2images Brown Pottery expense, in time and money, of traveling to and from Carol Kaczmarek Mark Hewitt these classrooms. We can interact with students from any Carl King Art Valerie Hill Les III Art His Hands Pottery spot that has electricity and Internet bandwidth. The Log Shop Kovack Pottery Since that first program, the N.C. Zoo and Society staffs Lonesome Joe’s Lantern Hill Pottery have taught hundreds of students about the Zoo’s field Woodshop Latham’s Pottery conservation work or talked to them about animal adapta - Bill Lunsford Luck’s Ware tions and behaviors. We have even presented programs Kim Luther Designs Lufkin Pottery about the ways that scientists think and about the compli - McKenzie Properties McNeil’s Pottery cated task of designing new zoo exhibits. Terrance Meadows Phil Morgan II Pam Myers Nichols Pottery Over the years, we have struggled to fill all the program NCR Photography Old Gap Pottery requests that have come in from North America, Europe NC Zoo – Design/ Susan O’Leary Pottery and even Africa. This problem is a good one to have, of Graphics O’Quinn Pottery course, and, thanks to a recent grant from Time Warner NC Zoo – Gorilla Keepers Picket Fence Interiors & Cable®, the Zoo Society has additional resources to help NC Zoo – Seal Keepers Gifts fill this demand. NC Zoo – Sonora Desert Piney Woods Pottery Through its Connect a Million Minds initiative, Time Keepers Leanne Pizio Dennis Norris Potts Pottery Warner Cable is providing funding we can use to design, Professional Sales Norman Pugh deliver and evaluate a significant number of Skype pro - Associates Rockhouse Pottery grams. Some of the funding, too, will allow us to construct R.H. Barringer Seagrove Stoneware – a dedicated Skype studio in the Valerie H. Schindler Distributing Co. Alexa Modderno Wildlife Learning Center. Sam Ramsey Tagawa Collection The Skype project allows the Zoo and Society to spread John Revell Teague’s Frogtown Schadt Woodcarving and Pottery their conservation messages wider than ever before and Design Thomas Pottery strengthens the impact that Time Warner Cable will have Mike Shinn Triple C Pottery as it works to inspire the next generation of scientists, Melissa Southern Turn & Burn Pottery engineers and lifelong learners. Photography Uwharrie Crystalline MARK MACALLISTER, ON-LINE LEARNING COORDINATOR Southern States of Conrad Weiser Asheboro Westmoore Pottery For more information about the Skype project, please State of the Art Framing Windsong Pottery Eileen Strickland Jared Zehmer contact Mark MacAllister at [email protected] . Winter 2 01 4 | 15 PAGE

Wild Mild Have you ever noticed how predators—all without help from people. similar most people’s pets are? Walk through a Of course, with the right kind of adjust - neighborhood, and you will likely see dogs and ments or training, people can change their own cats strolling through front yards and peeking behaviors in ways that allow wild animals to out from behind curtains. What you won’t grow comfortable in the company of humans. see, though, are people tossing a ball to a pet Knowing how to behave and interact with wild opossum or walking a pet raccoon at the end animals—on their terms—makes it possible for of a leash. good zookeepers, like the staff at the North Carolina Zoo, to keep wild animals healthy, Born to Be Mild active and content in good zoo exhibits. But it Dogs and cats rank as our favorite pets with takes lots of training and lots of space and spe - good reason. They have been carefully bred, cial foods to manage the kinds of animals that over thousands of generations, to make delight - are exhibited in zoos. fully mild companions inside human households. Many non-zookeepers know how to help wild This breeding produced animals with gentle per - animals grow comfortable and somewhat relaxed sonalities—especially when compared to their around people, too. These people manage their wild ancestors. And, these gentle personalities yards in ways that make animals feel welcome. make it easy for these domesticated animals to By putting bird baths or other water sources in adapt to the noises, smells and bustle of typical their yards, for example, people can draw human households. Many of these well-bred wildlife—birds, squirrels and other animals—into animals are even gentle around small children, an area. Adding feeders and planting shrubs and and most are easy to take care of. Pets can bushes that provide food and shelter can become so endearing, in fact, that they can be attract wild animals, too. Eventually, the ani - treated like full-fledged family members. mals that use these resources can become accustomed to the presence of the people who Born to Be Wild! tend the feeders and keep the water flowing. Most animals, though, make dreadful pets. Their As long as the people do not frighten the wild natures send them scurrying from human animals by chasing them or making loud noises, family life. They hide or flee if approached and many wild animals will become tame enough to grow fierce if they cannot escape. Wild animals, remain visible to their human neighbors. Once especially the larger ones, need lots of space, these animals learn that an area is safe, they and many of them eat foods that are hard for will often stay in view nearly all the time, mak - people to find and expensive for people to buy. ing any yard more interesting and entertaining Wild animals are born with temperaments that for anyone willing to spend some time looking at prepare them to find food, defend their homes, and learning from the animals. secure shelter, raise healthy offspring and avoid DANIEL BANKS, EDUCATION SPECIALIST 16 | ALIVE Wild Study each animal and thenM circle ieitlhder Wild or Mild for each one. Discuss with your family or friends why the wild ones would not make good pets. {Answers on page 12.} M O C . O T O H P K C O T S G I B

Winter 2 01 4 | 17 NO N-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HICKORY, NC PERMIT #104

4403 Zoo Parkway Asheboro, NC 27205 www.nczoo.com

The NC Zoo Society is your bridge to more than a Zoo visit. We make you a partner in the Zoo’s global efforts to support • Animal well-being • Conservation • Education • Field Work • Research And we welcome you into a family that cares about nature.

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

IAqnui laM, thee NmC Zoor’s ibaelmoved Polar Bear, died unexpectedly on September 10, 2013. Zoo veterinarians suspect that he had a congenital deformity that weakened him and, eventu - ally, began a cascade of events that resulted in his sudden death. Aquila will be deeply missed by visitors and staff alike. The Zoo Society wishes to express its gratitude to the many people who helped care T for Aquila over the years. T O B B A

E

We mourn your loss and I R E L A our own. V