FALL 2011 the Official Magazine of the Reid Park Zoological
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FALL 2011 YOUTY arK ZOOLOGICal SOCIE ZOOAGAZINE OF & THE REID P THE OFFICIal M NEW AT THE ZOO! NEW PRESIDENT .................................2 EXPEDITION TANZANIA .......................3 WATOTO & DENVER ............................5 NEW LION CUBS .................................6 ON THE COVER 3 Lion Cubs are Born! PRESIDENT’S FolloW @REIDPARKZOO ON TWITTER MESSAGE FolloW US ON JEff BAYMOR, RPZ SOCIETY PRESIDENT FACEbooK UPDATE- Construction in progress! That What fun for kids as the Zoo is transformed is the message as I begin my term as Reid into a magical trick or treat experience with Park Zoological Society Board President. amazing displays. E THIS ISSUE We would like to thank all of you for your Also, take a look at the section in the PRESIDENT/ADMINISTRATOR MESSAGE participation to make Expedition Tanzania 2 magazine for FriendZ of the Reid Park Zoo. happen. This is the time to make your This dynamic group is providing terrific EXPEDITION TANZANIA UPDATE contribution to the project if you would like ID 3 support for the Zoo and has fun activities 4 SPONSOR RECOGNITION to have your family or loved one recognized year round. S in this new, amazing habitat for elephants. ONE LIFE loSt – aNOTHER SAVED THANK YOU- The Reid Park Zoological 5 EVENTS- ZOOcson, Feast for the Beasts! Society is very proud of the staff of Reid is coming up on October 15th. We hope to N CALENDAR of EVENTS/NEW LION CubS Park Zoo and their heroic response for 6 see you there, it will be a beautiful evening I Watoto and Denver and the professionalism 7 HOWL-O-WEEN/Zoo LIGHTS with the calypso music of steel drums, they show every day. delectable food from some of Tucson’s FRIENDZ/DONOR LIST Please feel free to contact us if you would 8 finest restaurants, and terrific live and silent auction items. like to be a part of any of these activities, 9 EVENTS you can call the office at 881-4753 or email ZOOcson will be followed shortly by ZooCSON us at [email protected]. 10 Howl-o-Ween on October 28, 29 and 30th. REID PARK ZooloGICAL SoCIETY REID PARK ZooloGICAL SoCIETY 2011 OffICERS: 2011 DIRECTORS: President George Ball Gina McRostie Jeff Baymor Mica Bane Catherine Ries ADministratoR’S Vice President Pat Bonavia Denice Shepherd Wendell Long Donna Ellington Tawnya Tretschok MESSAGE Reid Park Zoological Society: Secretary Michael Halle Clydean Troner 1030 South Randolph Way Marla Endicott Mike Hannley Donna Warfield SuSAN BASfoRD, Zoo ADMINISTRATOR Tucson, Arizona 85716 Treasurer Sheldon King Jim Zarling LOSS- As we try to understand the tragic I have received so many emails and P: (520) 881-4753 Jack Forsythe F: (520) 881-1450 Steve Larsen Terri Zarling events of July, we are all reminded once phone calls, mostly messages of support Immed. Past President again of the imperfect nature of being and caring, but some were angry and Page Chancellor Marks human. The loss of Watoto, and near frustrated. I understand both responses. loss of Denver, has been a reminder to One of the strengths of Reid Park Zoo is the all of us how costly a mistake can be… ability of our guests to know each animal REID PARK ZooloGICAL SoCIETY: and humbles us as we think of the many individually, and to develop a special Executive Director mistakes each of us makes each day. relationship with them. Developing that Nancy J. Schlegel ................................(520) 881-4753 ext. 14 caring and appreciation for the animals is MOURNING- As Zoo staff members, part of our mission – but it leads to strong together we mourn the death of a special REID PARK Zoo: feelings. I think that is a testament to the Reid Park Zoo: animal, and also miss the presence of 1100 South Randolph Way Administrator intimate nature of our Zoo. Susan Basford ......................................(520) 791-3204 ext. 13 one of our teammates. Zoo keepers are Tucson, Arizona 85716 a special breed – committed, caring, LOOKING FORWARD- Along with my INFO: (520) 791-4022 and passionate about their profession. colleagues, I have tried to answer every Hours: 9 am to 4 pm (Sept.-May) General Curator Together with supervisors, curators and question and concern. I can promise all 8 am to 3 pm (June-Aug.) Jim Schnormeier ..................................(520) 791-3204 ext. 11 of you that we are reviewing policies and Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas veterinarians, they worked to move from tucsonzoo.org Education Curator mourning Watoto to focusing on needed procedures, actions and reactions, to do Vivian VanPeenen ................................(520) 791-3204 ext. 12 medical care for Denver. While some were our best to ensure this will never happen totally involved with health care, others again. Will we be perfect? Sadly, no – but Zoo Administrative Assistant were ensuring that every animal in the Zoo we will be better. Mary Chajewski ...................................(520) 791-3204 ext. 10 was receiving the best care possible. 2 | Fall 2011 ZOO & YOU! | 3 ELEPHANT POOL COMES TO LIFE! Opportunities are still left to make a donation and be recognized in Expedition Tanzania. At the end of July, construction crews were filling the elephant pool that is surrounded by beautiful naturalistic rock walls. The multi-level pool is being prepared for the arrival of mom and baby pachyderms in early 2012. Guests will be able to view the entire area up close as elephants swim, play and interact. Two other major pieces yet to be named are the massive tree trunk that reaches from one side of the pool to the other (pictured) and the impressive moat that runs throughout the expansion. For information on naming opportunities – large or small – call 881-4753, ext. 15. REID ParK ZOO KEEPERS VISIT WITH SAN DIEGO a positive reinforcement training philosophy. Reid Park Zoo has modeled our elephant training program after the Safari Park’s. We use very similar cues, both words and body gestures, to ask the animals for specific behaviors. When the animals cooperate, ELEPHANTS they receive rewards like food or toys. If the elephant offers a different behavior, we give them another chance. Every once in a while, Reid Park Zoo keepers went to the San Diego We learned how the staff coordinates the day. the elephant might choose to not interact with Safari Park to spend time with the elephants that They plan which animals will be together and the trainers. In those cases, we come back will soon be moving to Tucson! It’s important for in which part of the exhibit. It seems like a later and try again. It is always the elephant’s the elephants and their future keepers to start simple task, but when you consider there are 17 choice to work with the trainers. building a relationship so that their transition will elephants, lots of trainers, many different yards, be as smooth as possible. and elephant social relationships to consider, Could you describe the relationship between moving that many animals around, getting them an elephant and its trainer? Here is an interview with Sue Tygielski, one of the fed, cleaned and trained – it’s a feat! Reid Park Zoo supervisors: As trainers spend more positive time with their We looked at their record keeping systems to animals, the trust between the two grows. It must have been exciting to meet the Elephants. help improve our own. When we visit other zoos, For elephants, it is critical that they develop a How did you spend your time with them? we always look for their strengths so we can positive relationship with their trainers. The model them. elephants are not forced to comply. They have Cassie Wallace and I followed the Safari Park to want to work with the trainer. If they do not Best of all, we watched lots of elephant behavior. elephant trainers-- watching them, listening to feel comfortable with their trainer, they are With 17 elephants, there were a lot of social what they said to the elephants, and watching the not likely to want to work with them. A good interactions - with dominants and subordinates, elephants’ responses. We laughed as the trainers portion of training for a new trainer/elephant with bulls and cows, with youngsters of different called the elephants’ names and the animals pair is just positive time together. Feeding ages. It was a very busy exhibit filled with lots of came rushing over. The elephants’ enthusiasm strengthens the trust. Some elephants like elephant play! was like kids at a playground. Each elephant baths, so trainers offer a shower. Elephants would be greeted by the trainer and receive a What are the training techniques at the San really enjoy having giant toys, so the trainer food reward for coming so quickly. While it seems Diego Safari Park? Are they different from the might try rolling a toy to the elephant. like a simple behavior to call an animal and have ones used here? Trainers have to be creative and think on their them come to you, it’s different when there are San Diego Safari Park interacts with the feet to keep all elephant/trainer interactions over a dozen elephants criss-crossing each other positive and fun. to get to their trainer first! elephants in a protected contact setting utilizing 4 | Fall 2011 ZOO & YOU! | 5 CALENDAR OF EVENTS See what’s coming up: LITTLE CRITTERS PROGRAMS FOR • Visit our website at www.tucsonzoo.org PRESCHOOLERS • Click on Classes, Programs, and Camps $10/member child $8/additional child • Click the “online registration” button Bring your little one for an adventure to See available programs, times, and register remember! Each one-hour session has a online. As programs fill, we often add different theme and includes a walk through additional dates and times.