For Answering the Call

Thank You For Answering the Call Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report Sumatran orangutan Contents We Asked. You Answered. 2018 Fun Facts 2 A Proposition Passed 4 What’s Next? 6 What a Year! 8 What a year it has been! With the passing of Proposition Z, Donors, Volunteers and Staff your Saint Louis Zoo is poised to fulfill our promise of providing for St. Louis Zoological Park Subdistrict Commission 11 the welfare and care of animals in innovative ways. With the help and Saint Louis Zoo Association Board of Directors 11 support of our local voters, taxpayers, donors, friends, sponsors, Zoo Young Professionals Advisory Board 12 volunteers and visitors, the Zoo is well positioned to continue to fulfill this Saint Louis Zoo Volunteer Committees 12 promise through education and engagement with those in our community. Saint Louis Zoo Association Gifts 14 Monarch butterfly From our historic campus in Forest Park to the North Campus and beyond… Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Gifts 16 thank you for answering the call! Saint Louis Zoo Endowed Positions 18 Saint Louis Zoo Endowed Funds 18 Heritage Society Members 18 Marlin Perkins Society 21 Zoo Members 30 Zoo Parents Program 37 Matching Gift Companies 38 Sponsors 39 Winthrop B. Reed, III Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D. Full-Time Employees 40 Chair, St. Louis Zoological Park Dana Brown President & CEO Active Volunteers 44 Subdistrict Commission Saint Louis Zoo Financial Statement Nile hippopotamus 2018 Financial Report 52 9,133 2018 Number of animal births We had a momentous year in many Everyone loves baby animals. Our animal ways. Here’s a snapshot of just a care teams work tirelessly to ensure all animals, especially our young ones, few reasons why 2018 was a year receive the highest quality of care. to remember: 100,193 1,336 Number of volunteer hours Number of Zoo employees Our Zoo volunteers put smiles on our All our employees are, directly or visitors’ faces and help us with everything indirectly, responsible for the care of from Zoo events to educating people about animals. Although keepers, veterinary animals. The value of their donated time staff, nutrition staff and researchers are is equal to $2,418,659! However, their on the frontlines, all other Zoo employees selflessness and love for our Zoo is worth help support the Zoo’s operations, even more to us. which ultimately helps the animals. It’s a circle of care. 56,240 79,093 Number of Zoo member households Number of U.S. Bank Wild Lights attendees This number, recorded in June, was our highest number of Zoo members to date! It was a record-breaking season for our The support of our members is critical famous holiday lights event. Guests to the work we do. Members help share enjoyed s’mores and hot cocoa while gazing the importance of our conservation work at over 1 million twinkling lights. It was a and our mission of connecting people very merry way to end our year. with animals. 02 I Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report I 03 A Proposition Passed. A Monumental Achievement for Our Community. To accomplish great things, it takes a team of people who are dedicated to a cause greater than themselves. This was exemplified through the efforts of those who worked so tirelessly to improve the future of the Saint Louis Zoo with the passing of Proposition Z. THANK YOU to all of the volunteers and supporters who That’s why the passing of Prop Z was so important to the helped us take a huge step forward to enhancing our expansion of our mission. It also provides a much-deserved ability to care for animals each and every day, now and in reflection on the beauty and diversity found throughout our the future. Your efforts will allow us to extend the benefits community and represents a chance to further shine a of the Zoo beyond Forest Park to our expansion at the spotlight on the advantages St. Louis has to offer our North Campus, the 425-acre complex in north St. Louis citizens and visitors. County, located near the confluence of the Missouri and Your support of this proposition shows your commitment Mississippi rivers. to education and connecting people with animals, With the approval of the one-eighth of 1 percent sales tax conservation of endangered species, and the preservation by St. Louis County voters, we will be better able to address of animals not just at the Zoo but around the world. But it a variety of issues on the current Zoo campus. A study also reveals your commitment to helping provide a positive completed in 2017 identified $7.7 million in urgent repairs economic impact throughout the entire region. Thanks to and a total of $101.8 million to replace infrastructure over you, this impact will surely be felt for generations to come. the next 20 years. Because of your support, we are positioned to begin Before the passing of Prop Z, we were doing our best the process of undertaking these projects, make critical to try to keep up with annual maintenance needs at the improvements and expand the presence of the Zoo Zoo in Forest Park, including some systems that were throughout our region. It’s a win for you, the Zoo staff, simply getting too old to function properly. Maintaining the St. Louis metro area, and most of all… it’s a win for the world-renowned reputation of your Zoo meant finding the welfare and preservation of the animals in our care! a way to pay for essential upgrades and improvements For that… we applaud you! to an aging campus. A Note of Gratitude All Hands, and Paws, on Deck We’d like to thank three Zoo Association leaders who helped The entire community came together to further the make the passage of Prop Z a reality. They were instrumental positive benefits the Zoo brings to our area. Many members in helping spread a message of support. From left to right: of our Zoo community – and even their pets – volunteered Zoo Association Board President John Sondag, and Immediate at the polls to help make the passing of Prop Z a reality. Past Presidents Joe Ambrose and Matt Geekie. 04 I Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report I 05 What’s Next? Putting Proposition Z to Work. You said “Yes.” Now, what will that mean for your Saint Louis Zoo, the metro St. Louis area and the animals in our care? See what’s in store for the future of the Zoo as we turn plans into action. While a one-eighth of 1 percent sales tax doesn’t sound The detailed facilities assessment study completed in 2017 like a lot on the surface, it means a world of difference lists $7.7 million in urgent repairs and a total of $101.8 to the future of the Zoo and what we strive to accomplish million to replace infrastructure over the next 20 years. every day. Your vote translates into a future that helps Looking North ensure that the Zoo remains a world-class institution A major component of the passing of Prop Z centered upon for decades to come. the opening of a new Zoo property, currently known as the Underneath it All North Campus. The property had been purchased thanks to As with any popular venue, often what you don’t see is what generous donors, but with the revenue from the sales tax actually allows you to continue to appreciate it year after year. we now have the resources to operate a Conservation and It’s no different with the Zoo. For example, aging water pipes— Animal Science Center in that area. some are over 100 years old—can now be addressed with To include the public in the work that will take place at the the funding from the passing of Prop Z. Conservation and Animal Science Center, we also plan to Above Ground develop our Wildlife Adventure Park. What exactly this will Managing and maintaining habitats that effectively bring look like is still being developed, but ideas include a welcome together the animals and Zoo visitors is a top priority center focused on conservation efforts, a safari-type guided of Zoo management and staff. This takes careful planning tour where visitors can see the animals in a natural and and consideration. The resources made possible with expansive setting, and opportunities for visitors to enjoy the funding from Prop Z will be put to work to make treetop adventures and other kinds of nature play. improvements in several areas. For example, we will update Most importantly, the new North Campus will allow us to the mesh at Big Cat Country as well as the solarium at the better connect the surrounding community with animals Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium. These are just two examples and study ways to preserve species for the future. among many repairs needed throughout the campus. The North Campus Visualizing the Adventure Although not yet open, a brand-new sign prominently Pictured on this page are photo illustrations that depict stands at the entrance to the North Campus. As development scenes of the Wildlife Adventure Park, as well as animals plans continue, the excitement builds within our community that may be residents at the North Campus (including and the region. Grevy’s zebras, rhinoceros hornbills and Wyoming toads.) 06 I Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report Saint Louis Zoo 2018 Annual Report I 07 What a Year! From First Birthdays to Benefitting Conservation.

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