® Exzoob erance March / April 2015 IN THIS ISSUE 4 6 11

Inside Cover — Wild 4 Jellyfish 11 Creature Feature: World of Wine & Beer Did you know jellyfish aren’t really fish at all? Learn more about these fascinating, Join us Saturday, April 11 for Wild Did you know there are six species of and often misunderstood creatures. World of Wine and Beer, the Zoo’s flamingos? Learn about individual species, largest conservation fundraiser. There’s and get a sneak peek into our plans for entertainment in the Courtyard, wine and 6 Heritage Chickens Zambezi River Hippo Camp. beer from around the world and artwork Most at Once Upon A Farm are from some of the Zoo’s very own residents. Heritage Breeds. But what are Heritage 8 Special Events Breeds exactly? We’ll tell you! 9 March/April Calendar 2 Meet Steve Martin 10 Education 12 Kids’ Page Get to know Steve Martin, one of the best- 7 Zoo Tunes known trainers in the world. He’s also Membership Goes Green! the trainer behind the all-new, free-flight Don’t forget, membership cards are now show, Memphis Zoo Takes Flight. Learn printed at the Zoo when you arrive. These will how Steve trains the animals, and what to no longer be mailed. expect at Memphis Zoo Takes Flight.

Exzooberance™ is a bimonthly Memphis Officers: Honorary Lifetime Directors: Toof Printing, Printer Zoological Society publication providing Joseph C. DeWane, M.D., Chair Donna K. Fisher Exzooberance paper generously donated information for friends of the Memphis Zoo. Dorothy Kirsch, Secretary Roger T. Knox, President Emeritus by International Paper employees Send comments to MZS, 2000 Prentiss Place, Russell T. Wigginton, Jr., Treasurer Scott P. Ledbetter Memphis, TN 38112, call (901) 276-WILD Larry Roesel, Vice Chair Senator James R. Sasser Zoo Admission Hours: or log onto www.memphiszoo.org. Gene Holcomb, Past Chair Rebecca Webb Wilson March - October 16 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Diane Smith, Past Chair October 17 - February 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Vol. XXV, No. 2 Ex Officio: • Grounds close one hour after last admission Directors: Dr. Chuck Brady, Zoo President & CEO • Zoo Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Memphis Zoological Society W. Lynn Carson Brandon Garrott Morrison Bill Morrison, City Council Representative Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Board of Directors as of February 2015 Thomas C. Carol W. Prentiss Credits: Our Mission: Farnsworth III Karl Schledwitz David Hopkins Jenna Shaw Laura Doty, Editor / Writer Connecting people with wildlife Henry A. Hutton Jerry A. Shore Angie Whitfield, Writer Scott McCormick Kelly Truitt Geri Meltzer, Art Director Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le The Memphis Zoo is accredited by the Association of are trademarks of the Memphis Zoo. Joyce A. Mollerup Mario L. Walker Laura Horn, Creative Advisor Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Jennifer Coleman, Copy Editor Association of Zoos and Aquariums. ©2015 Memphis Zoo Have a question? E-mail us at [email protected] or call 901.333.6500 1 Questions and Answers

Interview with Animal Trainer Steve Martin by Laura Doty, Marketing and Communications Manager

Learn more about Memphis Zoo Takes Flight, our different from what my boss had in mind. He the raven collecting donations at the end of all-new, free-flight bird show. Steve Martin is the wanted entertainment like on bicycles, the show, have enabled us to donate over trainer behind this new exhibit. Learn how he got and I wanted conservation/education. He $1.3 million to wildlife conservation projects his start, the changes he’s seen throughout the visited the show only a few times a , but all over the world. and what visitors might not know each time told me to add behaviors to the about . show that made me uncomfortable. Our 3. What changes have you seen in philosophical differences strained our animal / bird training through 1. You are recognized as one of the relationship for several years until he fired the years? best known animal trainers in the me in 1980, which was just the incentive I world. How did you get where you are? needed to start my own show. The most important trend in animal How did you get your start? training is the use of positive reinforcement. 2. What are your favorite acts in As a behavior consultant for zoos and Helping take care of my father’s pigeons your shows? aquariums, I have seen animal care when I was very young started my fascination professionals evolve their use of positive with birds. I had a parakeet when I was about I really like the audience participation reinforcement to the point where animals six, that I trained to do several behaviors, segments in our shows. Any time we can get are empowered to use their behavior to including flying to me on cue. By the time people personally involved with the show we voluntarily participate in their own husbandry I was 16, my passion for raptors inspired me have an opportunity to take the experience to and medical care. The need for veterinarians to get my license and a kestrel. It a higher level. From birds flying inches over to dart and anesthetize animals to do routine wasn’t long before I had a -tailed hawk people’s heads to the youngster who gets to health checks, give injections or even draw and falconry became my obsession. I went to toss the grape up for the trumpeter hornbill blood is decreasing dramatically as animals work with a bird veterinarian at age 19, which to catch, each routine is designed to exceed are taught to voluntarily perform these is where I met a professional bird trainer who the expectations of the audience. One of my valuable behaviors. did shows at Universal Studios in Hollywood. favorite routines is what we call the dollar bill Bird shows have also seen an in He also trained the birds for movies like “The routine. The presenter asks for a volunteer to training methods. Where bird shows in the past Bird Man of Alcatraz,” and Alfred Hitchcock’s hold out a dollar bill. The bird then flies out to often included parrots with clipped wings being “The Birds.” I went to work with him in 1974 grab the bill and bring it back to the trainer. forced to ride bicycles and scooters, today’s at the studios and on TV and movie sets. In After a bit of fun, the bird returns the bill to bird shows highlight free-flight birds 1976, he landed a contract with the San Diego the owner, and we have had a chance to talk performing more natural behaviors. Training Wild Animal Park to produce a free-flight bird about our conservation efforts and how free-flight birds starts with creating trusting show, and he hired me to train all the birds everyone has an opportunity to participate relationships and reliable behavior through and set up the show. The show I set up was after the show. This dollar bill routine, and small approximations of behavior and repetitions of positive reinforcement. Months of practice and a high level of skill are required to bring a bird to a point where the trainer trusts the bird to return. By this time the bird has learned that returning to the trainer, or performing other behaviors, will result in positive consequences that are more rewarding than all of the other things it could do while flying around the zoo.

4. What skill takes the shortest amount of time to train? What skill takes the longest amount of time to train? The first behavior we teach our birds is to Palm Cockatoo Harpy Eagle eat out of our hands. The next behavior is to step up on to our hands. These are probably

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of behavior change to empower birds to leave, but choose to come back. 6. When a bird performs a trick, what treat are you giving them? We generally use a bird’s favorite food item as a reinforcer for behavior, and then provide them with a well-balanced diet between shows. For instance, a ’s favorite treat might be peanuts or sunflower seeds, which is what you might see us feeding them on-stage in the show. When the bird leaves the stage there will be a variety of food items waiting for it backstage, including parrot pellets, fruits, vegetables and nuts. We feed Red-tailed Hawk the raptors a diet consisting of a commercially prepared ground horsemeat diet, plus mice, chicks, and rats that we receive frozen from the easiest behaviors that we teach the birds. before we are comfortable taking them a distributor. The trumpeter hornbills receive The most difficult behaviors we teach are to new locations. The total time to train a grapes or blueberries as their treats, the crane flying free and talking on cue for the parrots. bird to fly outside is generally from two to prefers corn and mealworms as a treat, and To teach a bird to fly free requires lots of four months. the prefers fish as a treat. Besides the relationship building before we start training treats, all of the birds receive several different more intricate behavior. Since all of our birds 5. What is something most people food items, usually including a pelletized food are hatched in breeding programs, usually may not realize about birds? designed specifically for that species of bird. at zoological facilities, we begin their Being an animal behavior consultant training when they are very young. Once a 7. What are five words to describe working with almost every type of animal bird is from our hands, we teach them training seen in zoos, I can honestly say that your bird shows? to step onto our hands and ultimately fly training free-flight birds is probably the to our hands. This training is usually Engaging, Inspiring, Empowering, most difficult of any animal training accomplished in one of our large flight pens Fun, Unexpected discipline. The consequence of a poor where the birds live. When the birds have training decision with a free-flight bird learned to fly from one person to another the may mean you never see that bird again. length of the flight pen, which is 60 feet, we Whereas most training involves animals Art by move the training to another flight pen. We that are confined in some way, free-flight Jordan Whitfield generalize the flying behavior to several birds can simply choose to leave and not different flight pens, or outside netted areas come back. It takes years of experience and before we ever take a bird outside. a solid working knowledge of the science Once the bird is proficient at flying from one person to another in multiple areas, we take the bird outside for the first time. The first behaviors we teach outside are Cont tes Time! associated with flying down from trees. Flying down is much more difficult than flying up because it takes more strength and skill to Birds come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And we want to see slow down and stop than it does to fly forward. yours! Send a drawing of the brightest, most fantasy-like bird Coming out of trees is difficult because of the you can dream up for the chance to win a prize from the Memphis obstructions and things like leaves and branch- Zoo. All entries must be received by Monday, March 30. es to play with. Once a bird is flying down out Send your drawing to: of trees without hesitation, it is time to start Memphis Zoo, Attn: Marketing long flights. We generally teach birds to fly 2000 Prentiss Place , Memphis, TN 38112 to us from distances of 200 or 300 yards

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Moon Jellyfish A ll-new Jellyfish Exhibit

O pening March 1, the Jellyfish exhibit is included with General Admission Brainless Beauties by Laura Doty, Marketing and Communications Manager Monsters of the deep? Not quite. More interesting,” Bryan Summerford, an Aquarist size and more colorful. These animals prefer like misunderstood marine animals. at the Memphis Zoo, said. brackish or salty water. Unlike the moon Jellyfish, found in every ocean around the According to Summerford, there are four jellies, which are disk shaped, sea nettles are world, are easily recognized. And thanks to a distinct stages. After an adult female releases umbrella shaped, and can have between eight new exhibit coming in March, jellyfish will be fertilized in the water, tiny larvae swim and 24 tentacles. These tentacles can grow up better understood by Memphis Zoo visitors. to something stationary (a rocky outcropping to six feet long. “Jellyfish are fascinating creatures,” Matt or the sea bed works fine). After they’ve Both species will be housed in specialized Thompson, Director of Animal Programs said. attached themselves, they begin to form tanks called kreisel tanks. Kreisels (a German “There are quite a few misconceptions about polyps — long, tubular bodies. These polyps word, meaning spinning top) are circular or them, but we hope by bringing them to the continue to grow on themselves, producing oval in design, and constantly circulate water Memphis Zoo, we can educate our guests on various branches. Tiny jellyfish emerge and to protect the delicate jellies. why they are so amazing.” begin to grow into adults. An adult jellyfish is A two-spot octopus, pot-bellied sea horses The newest exhibit in the Aquarium will known as a medusa. and common cuttlefish will also be featured in feature two jellyfish species — the moon The Atlantic sea nettle is closely related to the new exhibit, opening March 1. This exhibit jelly (Aurelia labiata) and the East Coast sea the Pacific sea nettle. The biggest difference is included with general admission. nettle, also known as the Atlantic sea nettle between the Atlantic and Pacific sea nettles (Chrysaora quinquecirrha). is size. The Atlantic sea nettle is smaller in Moon jellies are one of the most common species of jellyfish. They are survivors. If little to no food is available, moon jellies have been known to shrink in size until East Coast sea nettle food is readily available. They are around 10-12 inches in diameter, have small tentacles, and have a relatively harmless sting. Like all jellies, moons are made up of 95% water, and have no brain, no heart, no blood and no bones. They do, however, have four horseshoe-shaped reproductive organs in the middle of their bodies. “The life cycle of a jellyfish is quite

4 Moon Jellyfish

CHALK FEST BLOCK PARTY SATURDAY, MARCH 21 // 10 AM – 2 PM An exciting annual festival. Join local artists in transforming the Brooks BROOKSMUSEUM.ORG outdoors into a colorful canvas. Food trucks, live music and much more. While you are here, explore special exhibitions. Invite your friends and bring the whole for a fun, free day at the museum.

Free admission. Chalk will be available for purchase ($3 for a set of 12) or feel free to bring your own.

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Faverolle Chicken Little Chick, How Do You Grow?

Australorp Chicken

What is a Heritage Breed? by Laura Doty, Marketing and Communications Manager There are currently 11 chickens that call Different breeds of chickens have various the Memphis Zoo home. That number will be roles in farm life. Some are exceptional growing this spring, one egg at a time. layers, much like the Australorp. In fact, an Beginning March 1, visitors to Once Upon Australorp broke the world record of egg A Farm will experience an up-close and laying when she laid 364 eggs in 365 days. personal, interactive exhibit that showcases These birds are black in color and weigh the life cycle of chickens. This exhibit, called between 6.5 to 8.5 pounds. Little Chick, How Do You Grow? will feature Some are hardy, and can handle cold heritage breeds. In fact, Once Upon A Farm weather, much like the Faverolles. This Plymouth Rock Chicken only features heritage breeds. But what are breed of chicken takes its name from the heritage breeds exactly? French village Faverolle, located just Heritage breeds are traditional livestock south of Paris. According to the Livestock breeds that were raised by farmers of Conservancy, these chickens were bred yesteryear. As society began to industrialize, with the winter egg-laying ability in mind so people began to move away from their farms farmers could sell their wares at the great and into the cities. As fewer people lived off Paris market. The Faverolles are quite fluffy, the land, farmers started to change tactics, and can have a unique salmon coloration. to allow for their farms to be more They are medium in size. productive, and ultimately, feed more people. Some were bred because of their milder “The breeds that work well on larger farms temperament and docility, such as the Beginning March 1, are the ones that we see today,” said Alison Plymouth Rock Chicken. This breed was Martin, Research and Technical Programs quite popular until the World War II era, visit Once Upon A Farm Director for the Livestock Conservancy. as it made an exceptional farm chicken. to learn more about “The breeds that used to be on small farms Plymouth Rock chickens are slightly larger became forgotten and endangered.” than Faverolles and Australorps, weighing heritage chickens. Gail Karr, an Assistant Curator at the between 7.5 to 9.5 pounds. Memphis Zoo, agrees. The Australorps, the Faverolles and the “Many of the heritage breeds will be lost Plymouth Rock chickens are just three if we do not preserve them,” Karr said. examples of the heritage breeds that can “Heritage breeds are important for a variety be found at Once Upon A Farm. Beginning of reasons. They are a key part of March 1, stop by Little Chick, How Do You farming history.” Grow? to learn more about the interesting life cycle of a chicken. 6 C OMING IN 2015

The keys are arranged with the long keys in the middle and the short keys on the ends. This allows both the left and right hands equal access to the upper and lower notes. Pegasus Let’s Make Music! The Pegasus is a type of instrument that by Angie Whitfield, Director of Marketing Learn a little more about these five new has been used in music for hundreds of years and Communications musical instruments: and is known to have existed in China during the seventh century. The sounds of the Have you ever wished you could play a Contrabass Chimes Pegasus are clear and bright and playing this musical instrument? Well, now you can. The Contrabass Chime can be traced back instrument can be peaceful and relaxing. Zoo Tunes is a new interactive musical to ancient Rome. When you play these chimes, park at the Memphis Zoo. It features unique, you are surrounded by sound and create music Tuned Drums custom-made, handcrafted musical that can be felt as well as heard. The taller Tuned Drums have a distinctive Afro- instruments. The Zoo Tunes instruments the chime, the deeper the tone. Contrabass Cuban influence. They are similar to are easy to play and offer interactive fun for Chimes are pitched one octave below middle traditional conga drums and have a specially beginners and experts alike. And, because C and their tones can carry for almost a full shaped sound chamber that amplifies the there are no wrong notes, Zoo Tunes makes minute after they are struck. sound. The drums are played using the hands everybody a musician. These outdoor to create a tom-tom like sound. musical instruments are engaging pieces of Imbarimba interactive art, so they are as beautiful to The Imbarimba is a unique musical The Swirl look at as they sound. instrument that is a combination of two The tones of this instrument are pure and Zoo Tunes is located next to the birthday classic African instruments: the Marimba soothing. The chimes range in pitch from room across from the Stingray Bay entrance. (xylophone) and the Kalimba (thumb piano). soprano to alto.

supporting the Memphis Zoo for over 15 years!

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Special Events

April 4 April 25 Tour de Grizz Party for the Planet Ride begins at 5:30 p.m. 10 a.m. To 2 p.m. $30 or $75 (price dependent on seating level) FREE! Included with General Admission All ages and experience welcome The Memphis Zoo is joining with the See all the bears by bike! We’ve teamed up Association of Zoos and Aquariums to celebrate with the Memphis Grizzlies for the seventh Earth Day by throwing a Party for the Planet! annual Tour de Grizz. This bicycling event will We are working hard to save some of the world’s start at the Zoo then head to the FedEx Forum endangered animals and to protect the for the Grizzlies game. Participants receive environment in which we live. Join us for our a free Tour de Grizz t-shirt, complimentary Earth Day celebration and learn all about Memphis Zoo admission beginning at 1 p.m. conservation through touch carts, special keeper and valet bike parking at both locations. Call chats and eco-friendly crafts and games! 901.205.1436 or visit memphiszoo.org for more information. Make plans to be at the Zoo Memorial Day April 11 weekend to participate in these great Wild World of Wine and Beer 7 to 10 p.m. • $50/members • $60/nonmembers activities. (more details to come): For tickets, call 901.333.6553 or visit Zoom through the Zoo — May 21 memphiszoo.org. Macy’s Zoo Brew — May 22 Join us in the Courtyard for the 18th annual Members Night — May 24 Wild World of Wine and Beer. We¹ll enjoy food, Memorial Day (The Zoo is open!) — May 25 wine, beer and a silent auction for artwork from some of the Zoo’s very own artists. This event is the Zoo’s largest conservation fundraiser and supports conservation here and around the globe.

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Call 901.333.6576 or visit memphiszoo.org to register.

Summer Zoo Camp 2015 PK-JK 1st-2nd Grade Spring Break Camp 2015 (This camp is ONLY half day: Nocturnal Send your wild child to the 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Aftercare will Adventures Conservation Camp: wildest camp around: ZOO CAMP. NOT be available for these June 8, June 22, Going, Going, Saved! Campers explore the fascinating world campers. To attend, child must July 6, July 20, March 9-13 & March 16-20 of animals while participating in fun be 3 years old by May 1 and Aug. 3 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Jr.K - 5th grade games, crafts, tours, keeper chats, potty-trained. Cost per day: $40/members; live animal visits, and more. Parents What a Watery Life $50/nonmembers must provide a non-refrigerated, Animal ABCs June 1, June 15, June 29, non-microwavable lunch. June 1, June 15, and July 27 July 13, July 27 Cost for all five days: $170/members; $199/nonmembers Early Bird Gift! JK-K Frozen Safari While exploring the Zoo and Registrations by May 15 receive one (To attend, child must be June 1, June 15, June 29, participating in fun games, crafts, free camp t-shirt per camper. July 13, July 27 4 years old by May 1 and and interactive experiments, spring potty-trained. break campers will learn how special June 1-August 7 3rd-5th Grade our endangered animals are and Monday – Friday • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zoo Chefs Engineered for Flight what they can do to help save these Cost per Week: June 29, July 13, Aug. 3 June 8, June 22, July 6, important animals from extinction. $170/members; $199/nonmembers July 20, Aug. 3

Registration deadline for week one: Animal ABCs cost per week: Animals on the Move March 5; week two: March 12. $85/members; $99/nonmembers June 8, June 22, July 6, July 20 Leader of the Pack June 1, June 15, June 29, Aftercare 3 to 6 p.m. Registration deadline: The Monday ZOOperheroes! July 13, July 27

If 3 p.m. pickup is too early for before registered camp week. June 8, June 22, July 6, July 20

your schedule, we offer aftercare 6th-8th Grade each day. A way for your child to Storybook Safari Memphis Zoo U’15 unwind while you finish your work June 1, June 15, June 29, June 8, June 22, July 6, day, aftercare consists of educational July 13, July 27 July 20, Aug. 3

videos, exciting activities, and Beforecare 7:45 to 9 fun games. Aftercare cost per day: Beforecare 7:45 to 9 a.m. Aftercare 3 to 6 p.m. $20/members; $25/nonmembers If you need early drop-off If 3 p.m. is too early for your schedule, we offer Aftercare cost per week: for your camper(s), beforecare aftercare, consisting of educational videos, exciting $85/members; $99/nonmembers is available for all ages. activities, and fun games for your child to unwind after Cost: $25/members; a full day of camp. Aftercare cost: $85/members; $28/nonmembers $99/nonmembers

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Spotlight on: Flamingos

Standing Tall: Friends Flock Together by Laura Doty, Marketing and Communications Manager

Editor’s note: Over the next year, each of The other “Old World” species is the lesser The final species is probably the our Creature Features will spotlight an animal flamingo. The lesser is the smallest of all most well-known. The American, or , we’ll have in our brand-new Zambezi River flamingos. While found throughout Africa, flamingo is found in the Caribbean, the southern Hippo Camp, opening Spring 2016. lesser flamingos also can be found in small United States, and even parts of Asia and pockets in Asia, and Pakistan. A lesser Africa. American flamingos stand up to five What’s that squawk you hear when you flamingo is pinker than a . feet tall, have a bright reddish color (with slight walk by the Round Barn? It could be our The can be found in the variances between individual birds), and has a flock, or stand, of Chilean flamingos. These Mountains, ranging from to lifespan of up to 50 years. finely feathered friends, who can spend up to and . They are quite the one-third of their day preening, are one of migratory bird, as they can travel up to 700 six species of flamingos. The six species have miles in a single day. a wide range, as they can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Of the six species, there are two “Old World,” and four “New World” flamingos. “Old World” flamingos can be found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and even some parts of Europe. “New World” flamingos can be found in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. We currently have 31 flamingos in our stand. The has a range from Peru to , and can be found from sea level to 14,000 feet in the Andean mountains. Their ability to adapt to extreme conditions make them excellent birds for Memphis’ heat and frigid temperatures. The James’s flamingo, also known as the Top: Chilean Flamingos When we open Zambezi, we will slowly puna flamingo, was once thought to be extinct. Left: Greater Flamingos transition our flock from Chilean flamingos However, a small pocket was found in the Right: Lesser Flamingos to greater flamingos. The greaters are one of 1950s. The Chilean, Andean and James’s two “Old World” species. They are also the flamingos are similar in appearance and size. largest, and most wide-spread of all flamingos. The color of the and the are the These birds can weigh 9-10 lbs., and have up easiest ways to distinguish between the James’s to a five-and-a-half foot wingspan. Some and the other species. James’s feathers are flocks of greater flamingos contain more than lighter, and their beak has a bright 250,000 individual birds. coloring. 11 12

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