JULY 2016 A publication of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Roaring Forward How the San Diego Zoo Got From There to Here CONSERVATION REASON FOR HOPE BY THE NUMBERS In SeaWorld’s DNA Conservation at California “Fun”-shine San Diego Zoo Global Conservation Facts July 2016 Features 20 26 34 ROARING FORWARD CONSERVATION REASONS FOR HOPE How the San Diego Zoo In Seaworld’s DNA Conservation at San Got from There to Here SeaWorld’s commitment to Diego Zoo Global 100 years of trials and conservation was a guiding As a conservation triumphs, innovation and principle of its founders organization, San Diego Zoo vision, extraordinary people more than 50 years ago. This Global is committed to saving and amazing animals, came commitment is stronger today species worldwide by uniting together to build San Diego than ever before. Through its expertise in animal care Zoo Global. The roar has its conservation efforts and and conservation science with been an important part of important research conducted its dedication to inspiring a the Zoo’s history ever since with the animals in its care, passion for nature. Each of those early days, a symbol of and by inspiring millions of its conservation projects is a “roaring forward” to conserve guests every year, SeaWorld collaborative effort, and the endangered species in will continue to deliver on its strength and effectiveness of habitats worldwide. promise to help conserve the conservation programs comes world we all share. BY KAREN WORLEY from these partnerships and BY DAVID KOONTZ their supporters. BY KARYL CARMIGNANI July 2016 | www.aza.org 1 6_Aquarium & Zoos 8.5 x 11 Ad_dueFEB10_v3.pdf 1 2/3/16 2:49 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 10 13 15 Member View Departments 7 Green Tales Orchestra collaborate on Gardens’ Elephant 42 Faces & Places SeaWorld San Diego education program Wellness Workshop 43 Calendar 8 Conservation Award 12 By The Numbers 16 Award Brazilian Conservationists California “Fun”-shine Virginia Aquarium 46 Exhibits Conservation Facts employee receives 2015 are Recipients of Cincinnati 47 Advertiser Index Zoo’s 2016 Conservation City of Virginia Beach Hall 12 Statue Award of Fame Award Coca-Cola Canada and 47 Announcements 9 Conservation Assiniboine Park Zoo 16 Gift 68 Births & Hatchings Grants Fund Unveil One-of-a-Kind Polar The Central Florida Zoo Determining the role of Bear Statue receives GoodWorks Gift from the Edyth Bush environmental conditions 13 Conservation Spotlight Charitable Foundation About the cover on the fecundity of The Detroit Zoological Society White rhinoceros the endangered black- 17 Fund Raising footed ferret 14 Training Program The Louisville Zoo National Zoo and 10 Marketing Award announced a major gift to Conservation Biology Leadership Campaign and San Diego Zoo wins tourism Institute and Central Zoo marketing award from named the Harry Frazier Authority of India launch Family Elephant Encounter Visit California advanced training program 11 Education 19 Research 15 Workshop This month’s selection of Buttonwood Park Zoo and Jacksonville Zoo and New Bedford Symphony what has been published. Global © San Diego Zoo VISIT US ONLINE Editorial policy: Connect is published by the aza.org Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the LIKE US ON FACEBOOK advancement of zoological parks and aquariums for facebook.com/Association conservation, education, scientific studies and recreation. Issued to members OfZoosAndAquariums as a free service; not available as a subscription. Mailed during the first week of the month. Articles submitted for Connect do not necessarily reflect the FOLLOW US ON TWITTER opinions and policies of AZA. twitter.com/zoos_aquariums Mission: Connect is a forum for promoting AZA’s mission by highlighting zoo E-MAIL THE EDITOR and aquarium trends, industry initiatives, conservation efforts and member [email protected] achievements. Copyright policy: All items appearing in Connect are copyright of AZA. Permission to reprint items must be obtained by contacting AZA’s Publications Department at [email protected]. Advertising policy: Advertising is available. AZA reserves the right to refuse advertising not consistent with its mission. Ad contracts are issued on an annual basis, and ads are accepted on a one, three, six, nine or 12-time basis. Deadline for insertion orders is the first of the month preceding publication. Deadline for artwork is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Rates and mechanical requirements are available upon request. July 2016 | www.aza.org 3 EDITOR Tim Lewthwaite ASSISTANT EDITOR Jennifer Fields ART DIRECTION LTD Creative GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lisa Cadigan, Cadigan Creative Educating an Important Constituency ADVERTISING Gina Velosky One of the things I hope to accomplish this year as the Chair of the Association of Zoos (301) 562-0777, ext. 254, [email protected] and Aquariums (AZA) Board of Directors is to encourage facilities to implement a regular EDITORIAL BOARD and ongoing education program for their governing authorities. As a membership service, Thom Benson | Tennessee Aquarium Julie Larsen-Maher | Wildlife Conservation Society AZA would then provide a variety of tools that members could incorporate into their Tim Lewthwaite | Editor training program. Kristin L. Vehrs | Executive Director Educating your governing authority is critical. Most of the people who are part of our governing authorities don’t work at a zoo or aquarium. They are members of the community or elected officials. It is up to us to make sure they are aware of all the critical issues that our facilities face, Interim President and CEO including collection sustainability, Kristin L. Vehrs Chief Operating Officer changing perceptions of society and our Jill Nicoll visitors and the need to make a greater Senior Vice President of Conservation and Science commitment to wildlife conservation. In Debborah Luke, PhD Senior Vice President of External Affairs order to change to meet the expectations Rob Vernon of a changing world, our governing Senior Vice President of Finance authorities need to be well informed and Phil Wagner SAFE Project Manager continually educated. Jackie Ogden, PhD That is why I was thrilled to have the Vice President of Animal Programs chance to speak recently to the Board Candice Dorsey, PhD Vice President, Conferences and Membership of Directors of Utah’s Hogle Zoo in Salt Melissa Howerton Lake City. Craig Dinsmore, the director Vice President of Congressional Affairs of the Hogle Zoo, invited me to their Jennifer Keaton board meeting to give a presentation about some of the trends facing zoos and aquariums Vice President of Accreditation Programs Denny Lewis on a global scale and then to explain a few of the things that we’ve done at Zoo Boise to Vice President of Federal Relations create our conservation program. Craig wants to dramatically increase the Hogle Zoo’s Steve Olson conservation program, and he very wisely started by educating his board. Craig realizes For a full listing of AZA’s staff, visit www.aza.org/about-aza that in order for a group of very dedicated and well-intentioned board members to change AZA BOARD OF DIRECTORS direction, it takes time. It takes education. It takes an open and honest dialogue to make Chair the kinds of very serious decisions that we all need to be making. He also realizes it doesn’t Steve Burns | Director, Zoo Boise happen by accident. My talk was not the first time his board had heard about conservation Chair Elect Dennis W. Kelly | Director, Smithsonian National Zoological Park and other big issues. Every month, part of their board meeting is dedicated to talking Vice Chair about these kinds of topics. Jim Breheny | Executive Vice President and General Director, Zoos I was so impressed by the members of Craig’s board. They are so thoughtful and clearly and Aquarium, Jonathan Little Cohen Director of the Bronx Zoo want to do the right thing. Making sure they have all the information and background Wildlife Conservation Society Past Chair necessary to do so is Craig’s, and ultimately, all of our responsibility. Thanks for your Dennis E. Pate | Executive Director and CEO, Omaha’s Henry leadership, Craig. If you want more information about the Hogle Zoo’s board education Doorly Zoo and Aquarium program, I am sure Craig is happy to share. Directors Bob Chastain | President & CEO, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Lynn B. Clements | Director, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Suzanne M. Gendron | Executive Director Zoological Operations and Education Ocean Park Corporation Gregg Hudson | Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Burns Dallas Zoo Management, Inc. Director, Zoo Boise Christopher Kuhar, PhD | Executive Director, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo John Lewis | Zoo Director, Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Steve Marshall | Zoo Director, El Paso Zoo Amos Morris | Zoo Director, Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden Peggy Sloan | Director, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 4 www.aza.org | July 2016 4 www.aza.org | July 2016 Photo credit: Houston Zoo Houston credit: Photo Designing for memorable encounters 206.621.2196 | porticogroup.com Houston Zoo – Gorillas of the African Forest Architects | Landscape Architects | Exhibit Designers | Interpretive Planners Green Tales SeaWorld® San Diego Leads the Way in Sustainability and Environmental Photo credit: Houston Zoo Houston credit: Photo Stewardship Water conservation, composting and elimination of plastic bags are just a few examples of environmental stewardship SeaWorld® San Diego in San Diego, Calif., SeaWorld eliminated the use of plastic bags paper or about 50,000 pounds. Lastly, the Designing for memorable has been a global leader in marine animal in the park’s gift shops. Guests can now buy use of “right sized” trash can liners resulted care and welfare, education, conservation, a paper bag or reusable bag when purchasing in reducing plastic used by about 20,000 research and rescue for more than five items from gift shops. A portion of these pounds since 2013.