Saint Louis Zoo 2015 Annual Report
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This year’s annual report highlights the strength of our community support. Our Zoo donors, sponsors, staff and volunteers continue to outdo themselves to help make us a world-class zoo. A special note of thanks is in order, perhaps by postcard or Zoo Mail! Either way, we appreciate all that you do. F. Holmes Lamoreux Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D. Chair, St. Louis Zoological Park Dana Brown President & CEO Subdistrict Commission 1 Kali the polar bear is in our care at the Saint Louis Zoo, and we couldn’t be more excited. In 2010, the Zoo announced The Living Promise Kali (pronounced “Cully”) is the first bear in the Campaign to garner support for the Zoo in four new space. He’s a three and a half year-old male important areas: creating dynamic exhibits, polar bear who had been orphaned in Alaska. In enhancing the visitor experience, modernizing March 2013, he was turned over to U.S. Fish & our facilities and endowing the Zoo’s future. Wildlife Service (USFWS) by an Alaska Native hunter who killed Kali’s mother in a subsistence In 2015, the innovative McDonnell Polar Bear hunt without realizing the mother had a cub. Point exhibit opened. The new habitat is USFWS determined that St. Louis would be particularly important, considering polar bears the bear’s permanent home, working with the have become a conservation priority. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Polar Bear 40,000-square-foot McDonnell Polar Bear Species Survival Plan. Point has natural substrate and saltwater pools, giving the space a sea-to-coastline-to-land The $15.7 million McDonnell Polar Bear Point effect. So Kali can swim, dive, rock climb and was made possible by many Campaign donors, dig in the sand. with the leadership gift from the JSM Charitable Trust, Mr. and Mrs. James S. Visitors especially enjoy the 22-foot viewing McDonnell, III and Mr. and Mrs. John F. window where the polar bear can come right McDonnell. The Polar Bear Interaction Area up to the glass. There’s also an Arctic Cave is a gift from The Bellwether Foundation. room with a four-panel viewing wall, and Carolyn and Jay Henges’ generous contribution on one end folks can watch the bear swim is recognized at the Carolyn and Jay Henges in the pool. Splash Pool View. Dennis and Judy Jones’ contribution has been recognized at the Judy At McDonnell Polar Bear Point, the Zoo and Dennis Jones Family Cave View. offers information about the challenges polar bears face in the wild due to climate change Previous accomplishments of The Living and the role polar bears play in the lives of Promise Campaign donors include the addition Alaska Native people through video, of three animal habitats at River’s Edge and volunteers and interpreters. the construction of Elephant Woods, the renovation of Peabody Hall, Sea Lion Sound, and a new North Entrance Welcome Desk area, just to name a few. 2 Annually, there are more than 100 events at the Zoo. There are too many to name, but here are a couple that show how people come Past ZOOFARI Chairs (from left): Peggy Ritter, Dennis Jones, Susan Krawll, Jan Goldstein, Drew Franz, Chris Chadwick, together to support the Zoo and our work to conserve animals and Beth Louis, Susan Block and Jim Sansone their habitats. ZOOFARI presented by Wells Fargo Advisors Animals Always Gala The Golden Anniversary of this biennial A night full of activity included a strolling fundraiser took place in 2015. More than supper reception, a presentation by National 3,000 people gathered to support the Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore, a silent endangered orangutan, whose forest homes auction and the WildCare Institute Center Fair. are threatened by unsustainable palm Nearly $68,000 was raised at this inaugural event! oil plantations. And that same night, the Zoo launched its Guests danced the night away to the music first online crowdfunding campaign to attract of Kenny Loggins and had the opportunity to funding for Armenia’s first conservation participate in an auction. They also got to breeding and research center. This facility is From left: Jack Grone of Wells Fargo Advisors; Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D.; Susan Block; Alastair Anderson; and Jim Sansone enjoy food and cocktails from more than 60 dedicated to saving reptile and amphibian species. area restaurants, bars and caterers. Wells Fargo The Gala benefited the Saint Louis Zoo’s Advisors was the presenting sponsor for the WildCare Institute and its programs. sold-out, creative black-tie event. The WildCare Institute, comprised of A record $1.1 million was raised to support the 13 conservation centers and the Zoo’s Zoo’s conservation efforts here and around the Reproductive and Behavioral Sciences Darlene and Bill Skaggs world. Co-chairs Susan Block and Jim Sansone and Department, is dedicated to creating From left: Keith Kowalczyk, Anita Siegmund, Nancy Suelflow, Cheryl Kowalczyk, Charlie and Marilyn Hoessle, and Karen Goellner their steering committee spearheaded ZOOFARI a sustainable future for wildlife and for 2015, the most successful event to date. The Zoo is people around the world. With the support fortunate to have the support of hundreds of compa- of its many partners, the WildCare Institute nies and individuals who make this event a success, takes a holistic approach to troubled from attendees, sponsors, auction donors, auction ecosystems by addressing three key ingredients purchasers and entertainers. Thank you for in conservation success: wildlife management supporting America’s #1 Zoo! and recovery, conservation science and support of the human populations that coexist with wildlife. 5 The Zoo offers some of the most unique educational experiences in the St. Louis area, including formal classes, camps, workshops, Zoo tours, overnights and outreach programs. The Saint Louis Zoo reaches 450,000 visitors The Saint Louis Zoo provided educational programs New to the Zoo: Distance Learning In 2015, the Zoo opened its nature-based Preschool, a year through its formal education (such as for over 360 adults and children with special needs, Studio and Zoo Preschool located in the Monsanto Education Gallery. The classroom programs and Stingrays at Caribbean and more than 730 camp scholarships were awarded The Zoo’s Distance Learning Studio allows students indoor classroom uses sustainably sourced materi- als that imitate the natural world. In addition to the Cove presented by Mercy Kids) and 1.3 million to children to attend Camp Joey, Camp KangaZoo from across the globe to connect with animals. For classroom, the preschool takes full advantage of the visitors a year through informal, on-grounds and Teen Camp. institutions that do not have easy access to local zoos, distance learning has become a way for students to Zoo’s 90-acre campus and Forest Park. Research educational encounters. Because it’s not always possible for groups to visit experience animals and learning in an engaging way. indicates that children show improvements in social, the Zoo for on-grounds education programs, the emotional and cognitive well being when they spend More than 940 school groups (around 63,200 Over 200 distance learning programs were provided Zoo offers offsite outreach programs. Over 480 time exploring the outdoors. Students ages 3 and 4 teachers and students) visited the Zoo in 2015. for more than 6,000 students in the U.S. (including outreach programs were presented to more than attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while those ages Nearly 4,000 of those schoolchildren were from Alaska), as well as for students in Canada, Mexico, 40,400 students, 275 of which were students at the 4 and 5 attend on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. underserved communities in St. Louis. The Zoo London and Japan. A generous gift from The Boeing City and County Detention Centers and almost There were 21 students enrolled in 2015. Library and Teacher Resource Center provided Company helped to offset the cost for some 500 students were English language learners. of these programs. over 2,000 information and loan requests that served more than 9,800 individuals, teachers and students. 6 7 St. Louis Zoological Park Immediate Past President Molly M. Jones Subdistrict Commission Peggy A. Ritter Alan Kindsvater Lee C. Kling Executive Committee Nancy Koplar Chairman Susan S. Block Todd J. Korte F. Holmes Lamoreux Kenneth J. Bower David Kowach Janis G. Goldstein Davida Layer Vice-Chair Karl A. Grice Katherine B. Lintz James H. Buford Bruce B. Holland Selden Martin Lawrence P. Katzenstein Nancy Matheny Treasurer Mark P. Mantovani Charles L. Merz Jerald L. Kent Erin Moloney Patrick J. Moore Commissioners Elizabeth Monticelli Sean P. Mulqueeny, O.D. Grace M. Nichols Honorable James F. Conway, Steven S. Pope, DVM J. Barry O’Neil Chair Emeritus Nicole Ringenberg Gwendolyn D. Packnett, Ph.D. Stacy M. Edwards Sally H. Roth Kevin Pesko Robert F. O’Loughlin John R. Sondag Kevin E. Riggs Neal F. Perryman F. Todd Tiefenauer Marsha Rusnack Winthrop B. Reed, III Virgil Van Trease Angela D. Schaefer Steven C. Roberts Larry J. Shapiro, M.D. James G. Sansone Board of Directors Kelvin R. Adams, Ph.D. Jeanne C. Sinquefield, Ph.D. Lawrence E. Thomas Thomas G. Barnett Joseph R. Sivewright Carol A. Wilson Andrew S. Baur Donn E. Sorensen Emeritus Members James G. Berges Kenneth B. Steinback Jay G. Henges Leif Bergquist Walter A. Suhre, Jr. Robert R. Hermann Virginia M. Busch Steven R. Tschudy Joseph O. Losos Mary B. Campbell William W. Vierling John R. Capps James F. Whalen Chair Emeritus Karen Condie Gerald E. Wiley Steven F. Schankman Georgia Costello, Ph.D. Susan S. Williams Mark J. Schnuck Jennifer B. Demoff Robert M. Williams, Jr. Michael Dierberg Barbara J. Wilson Saint Louis Zoo Kathy Federico John A.