Publication of the Utica Zoological Society May/June 1996 Volume 4 Number 3
~..,.- Spring has arrived ...~nally! It~~--~,._ sensitive. The babies have tender was a long, cold wmter, bu -::: ~-. v~ ~ . ink skin and are easily sunburned underneath several ~eet of snow, · - ~· - , e;' ' uring their first few weeks of life. plants and arumals are To prevent this mom will lead her beginning to feel the change of the whale . family, are usually baby to a mud hoie so they can cover seasons.For many species of wildlife, h~lthy and robust ~t birth. Th~y themselves with~ pr?,tective co~ting of spring is the time for giving birth. The qm~kly adapt t? their new aq~IC mud, sort of a rhino sunscreen . . ycle of life is quite different for envrronment, With mother watching When they are born, African • mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and them very closely. The mother colobus monkeys are covered with reptiles. All mammals (with the guides her calfs movements, and curly white fur! The infants are passed exception of a few oddities such as the some mothers have even been back and forth among the troop's duck-billed platypus and the spiny observed disciplining the calves females, and it is believed that the all- ~teater) give birth to l.iv~ young, while when they misbehave! The calf white fur of the babies encourages this birds, fish and amp~tbians lay eg~s . nurses within an hour after it is behavior. Because they look different Snakes are an exception: some spectes . . · b'rth t . born, and as often as four times from the adults, who are black With gtve 1 o 1IVe young, some 1ay eggs, . while other incubate eggs inside their every hour for the first couple of white faces and shoulders, the baby body. weeks . Although it begins sampling monkeys immediately become the Marsupials, such as small fish at around 6 months of center of attention, just the way a opossums, have a very unique way of age, the calf continues to nurse for newborn human baby does. This giving birth. The baby is born in the up to two years. Abandoned or ensures that the baby will be protected embryonic stage, blind, hairless and rejected pups of California sea and cared for. Some of the female not fully developed. After birth, it lions, harbor seals and elephant "aunts" are a little over-zealous in clings to its mother's fur and slowly seals, as well as dolphins, have been wanting to hold the baby, and it may crawls to her pouch. There is nothing successfully hand-raised at zoos and squeal loudly! Mom will immediately the mother can do if the baby can not find its way to the pouch or falls off aquaria around the world. These come running, take her baby back, and along the way. However, the pattern of little pups will usually nurse from a settle down with it for a long hugging fur on the mother's belly grows in such bottle, just like a human infant. session. a way that it directs the youngster. After 16 months of Unlike the cuddly-looking Once it reaches her pouch, the baby pregnancy (nearly twice as long as koala bears in Australia or the majestic attaches itself to a nipple. There it humans), rhinoceros mothers give lions in Africa, there has been little stays until it is fully developed. birth to a baby that weighs over 150 information about South American Kangaroos, wallabies and koalas are pounds. The mother is extremely tapirs. Despite their barrel-shaped • some of the more familiar marsupials. protective of her baby, and will bodies and piglike snouts, tapirs are There are almost as many charge anyone or anything she closely related to horses and rhinos. different ways of caring for young as perceives as a threat. Amazingly, Most people think they look like pigs there are types of animals. Dolphins, even though rhinos look like or even elephants. The mother tapir one of the most beloved members of armored tanks, their skin is quite 1 I Cycle ofLife (Continued on next page} (Cycle ofLife: O:Jntinued Jrom previous page) j are hung in strands attached with a with her all the time and is a devoted (( 'yclc ofU/b: Continued Jinm previous page) .I sticky secretion to rocks on the sea mother. Like the rest of the natural world, 1995 Animal Appeal floor. The female guards her eggs, has a single baby (twins are rare) after The Utica Zoo has also lh · cycle of life continues here at the zoo The Utica Zoological Society would like to extend their gratitude to chasing off would-be predators. The a 13-month pregnancy. When the baby successfully bred green tree pythons just as it does in nature. A spring visit the following individuals and businesses who have eggs hatch 6-7 months later, and the ( Chondropython viridis) recently, is born, its coat has a pattern similar to will reveal new plants and anin1als, a new contributed to the 1995 Animal Appeal babies begin feeding mainly on krill another endangered species. We that of a watermelon. This striped ·ommittment to our role in providing a (Tilis is just a partial list. More names will be in the July/Aug edition of Zoo News.) (a microscopic marine animal) and obtained a male from the Rio Grande · mfortable home for our anin1al friends, pattern helps camouflage the baby in tiny bits of food floating in the water Michael Austin Matthew & Patricia Bohn Zoo on a breeding loan. A nest box nnd a safe and educational visit for our the forest and protect it from jaguars, that other animals have dropped. Ms. Mary Santello Brian B. Butts was placed in the exhibit and the visit r . (This spring also be on the look their major predator. The fuzzy-striped After they hatch, the mother Alan Swierczek Hon. Richard J. Cardamone female laid 16 eggs in it. The exact out for a baby muntjac in the Children's baby fur vanishes as the youngster abandons them, and they are on their date the eggs were laid is not known, z .) Beth Clohecy Mrs. Morag Galloway reaches adulthood and is replaced by own. because in order to check the nest box Fred & Jeanne DeiGenio McQuade & Bannigan, Inc. Peter Earle Kyle & Bonnie Sawyer tough skin that is only sparsely covered Not too many years ago, it would have been necessary to disturb Richard & Ruth McMahon Basloe, Levin & Cuccaro, Ltd. with hair. z all over the world used to take the female every day. On January 29 Mr. & Mrs. Frank DuRoss Holland Farms Bakery & Deli animals directly from the wild to use this year, a tiny yellow baby was seen With a two-foot long tongue Andrew & Edith Peterson Mr. & Mrs. Victor Klinge as breeding tock or to replace and a cone-shaped head, the giant poking its head out of the nest box! The Norman Siegel Pennysaver, Oneida Madison, Inc. ani1~1als that died. It wa · quickly babies arc bright yellow with dark anteater from South America is one of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Vernold Ann P. Allen realtzcd that if this practice sp I at birth, and change to a rich the most unusual looking animals Mr. & Mrs. John T. Wolff Ms. Adele S. Mazloom continued, the wild animal green as they mature. The female was anywhere on earth. As a member in Dr. & Mrs. Richard Silverman Mrs. Agnes B. Harding populations would di appear "I he rem ved and the babies were counted Frank & Barbara Delaus, Sr. Dr. Cophelia Pertz good standing of the ''toothless ffn 01( e/nofty, Species urvival Plan (. P) wa and hand-fi d liny "pinkies" (newborn Camille & Gary Kahler Fuji Bank, Ltd. mammal group", the cdentates, the founded with the sole purpose of baby mice). Eleven of the babies have ftj • .ff'1tene of'ieoah Paul & Carolyn Stratton giant anteater is adapted to a diet of protecting endangered species. survived so far, and once the weather insects that do not require chewing. Based on data collected from field warms up, the male will be returned to investigators and zoo personnel, a the Rio Grande Zoo. Nature has provided the anteater with We were saddened to learn that a special tools that help it search for its count of the most severely endangered and threatened species i(G)rcle ofLife: Co1ttiJ1ued on next page) good friend passed away recently. Irene prey: a highly sensitive nose for was compiled. Through captive Niebuhr loved animals and children and sniffing out prey, muscular legs and breeding programs overseen by SSP, often visited the zoo. She was an "Adoptive sharp claws for breaking open anthills zoos and aquariums throughout the Parent" to zoo animals and contributed in Tt.ffany Smitfi and rotting logs, and a long sticky world began to breed animals in many ways to animal conservation, both )rootC1?rocessor tongue for lapping up some 30,000 captivity, not only to maintain through educating her children and insects every day! Anteaters cat genetic diversity, but also to grandchildren by teaching them to love and t]{p,tfi ~eomans termites as well as ants, larvae and eliminate the need to capture animal Imagine our delight this respect nature, and in a more direct way by Cfiar{es We6ster contributing to animal conservation causes. Office Sttpp{ies beetles, and obtain their water by from the wild. To avoid the winter when a Cooper's hawk took up 17ft. CUprigfit )rreezer possibility of inbreeding, animal, residence on the z. grounds. It all Sometimes her kind heart went to extremes licking plants wet with dew or rain. when she insisted that her husband usc a Female anteaters give birth to one baby selected to be bred arc hipped t tartcd when our maintenance !4.merican Postal Wor~rs and from zoos and aquarium "live trap" to catch pesky mice, and made tJJanie[ Salvo a year. The baby weighs less than three department hung a bird ft cder in front CUnion, CUtica !4.rea Local around the world. The SSP sure they were released back into the wild. pounds at birth, and rides on its of the sh p. It wa ·n ' t long before a t£lectric Typewriter maintain records of the breeding of She would even move earthworm ofT the $100 mother's back. She carries the infant C per's hawk started treating the sidewalk after a rain and place them in the endangered and threatened species feeder a its own private delicatessen. with her wherever she goes and will and the disposition of their grass so that they would be safe from heavy Sigmuntl CUiasz The hawk ignored th smaller birds, Mr. & Mrs. tJJonnan care for it until she becomes pregnant offspring. footed people. Irene will be missed by both such as black-capp ·d chi ckadees and Signage for tfie :A{sJrtfi (Ire/( again the following year. The Utica Zoo has been her human and animal friends. In her $100 The giant Pacific octopus has given the go-ahead from the Gibbon white-breasted nuthatches; they were memory, donations to the zoo have been too fast and hardl wmth the effort. received in excess of $1 ,000. These a parrot-like beak (the only hard part SSP to breed our white-handed !J{jcl( tJJartfano Price Cfiopper of its body), coppery eye slits and eight gibbons (Hylobatcs Ia!). Our female However, ~ ng li h sparr w arc just donations will be used to feed and care for !JidtCing :Macfiine arms equipped with "suction cups" on had a contraceptive implant (similar the right size and mak · a la ty meal. the animals she loved so much. We are sure Commercial tJJrive the bottoms. All octopus species have to Norplant for humans), which has The hawk at o learned that when we that she would have been pleased. ProtCuce venomous bites, and the poison of been removed, and the pair have started our cars, the sparrows would Creature Comforts some of them can be deadly to humans. been seen mating on several fly out from underneath. So every !JI.nhn.a{ Supp[ies/)rootC During its three to five-year life span, occasions. The gestation period for evening when we left the zoo, our the Pacific octopus grows from an egg gibbons is 21 0 days, and everyone resident hawk would be waiting for the size of a grain of rice into a huge here at the Utica Zoo is eagerly Pat Jfugfies dinner. It would swoop from a nearby cr_eature weighing about I 00 pounds, looking forward to a new arrival. Scissors for t£tCucati.on wtth an armspan of 20 or more feet! After birth, the mother nurses the bush and pick off a hapless sparrow, Despite their huge size, they are very baby for several months, and she sometimes within a few feet of us. We shy and secretive creatures. Females then begins offering the baby hope that the hawk will stay around lay up to 20,000-30,000 eggs in different fruits and vegetables to for a while; we still have plenty of clusters at a time. The clusters of eggs taste. She carries the baby around sparrows to spare! 9'"ou are cortfialiy invi.tet£ to attentf tfre 1996 )ilnnua{!Muting oftfre 'lltica Zoofogica{ Society on 'Ifitre wif{ 6e a casfr. 6ar frum 5:30-6:30 prn foflowu£ 6y tfinner, a sfr.ort 6usiness muting, ant£ an ~citing program. 'I1it fo!Iowmg trustees will 6e up for ekction to tfr.ru year terms: 1ijcfr.ara Penna, tJJavi.tf 'Trevisani, 9o/jcf(.Cafogero, ant£ (jary Outtrim. 'I1it proposd 'J{ptninating Cummittu sfate for rwrJ: year is: Lisa Petrone, !Mididfe (jorea 'fag a ant£ Joe Corasanti. 'I1it proposetf officers' sfate for tr.ti(L year is: President 9o/jcliofas Cafogero, Jr. o/iu PresitfenL 'Brian !Mifkr 'lliu Presi.IUnL !Micfreffe (jorea 'faga Secretary Cara 'fenstetnacfrer 'Treasurer Sfiaron 'fanem VJHGJNJA OPOSSUM DOMESTIC RABBIT c:xl01/,Y .9'er-ee- 'We fiave encfosetf a prO?(JJ in case you are una6fe to join in tfre H~t's Hill ~~~ festivities. Ifyou are una6fe to attentf, pfease sign antf return tfre WHITE'S TREE c:x!JA-/ey 5£ owe (Ui~io~ Si. prO?(JJ to tfre zoo no fater tfian Jwu. 15. FROG W~ii~sr:.o~o 5£ indar-ae !71 aaefi WHITE-HANDED •We liope you wif{ 6e a6fe to join us for a great evening. Pfease sent£ in you:r reservatiolt form or prO?(JJ soon. WHITE-HANDED GIBBON eh cfpetknan T~u~s~9Y GIBBON 9l' 'llery truly yours, tlu~~ 2(), 1YY ~ BLACK SWAN !7A,e ~opp ffa/TI/Ug 'lltica Zoofogica{Society fffianijo fit- cfcA-aylefi ~~ 5£/bfirHy {gtab BLACK SWAN s:3ll-~:3ll IJoo~ 6~ .9'n &I( nn o "Y £if ~:3ll-7:3ll om~~~ .9'-r-nu' cA't'tOahr- 7:3u-8:lJ() 6UsiD8SS Me8ii~~ II OFl• MAN 'S SLOT II 8:()()-~:llll ~~o~~rB ~ htJ if2000 .9Ter-huner- 1...... ,._ DESERT IGUANA 9/';gh~choot ~ c:xlngetine & cJ(0 eonte Please RSVP by June 15, 1996 Utica Zoo If you are unable to attend. '------c------! ploase fill the proxy on Steele llill Road out rewrse side of this form. Utica, NY I 0 I fJolAr J6eAr W•teh Nrume ______Address ______ity ______.State _Zip ___ ICTIIII 12 TIIIU 11, 1111 #Members ___ @ $12.50 ea. $__ _ #Staff/Docent ___ @$10.50ea.$___ _ Program fee: $2595.00 price includes airfare fr-om Syracuse #Non-Members ___ @ $15.50 ea. $___ Total Enclosed$ _____ LIMITED TO Please make checks payable to the Utica Zoological Society ~7 TRAVELERS Call tLe loo at 738-04n to receive a registration pac:lcetl r dit ard Payment _Visa _Mastercard --~Expiration Date Deadline ~or Registration, July I A unt If ______Signature ______Sat"rday J""c a, 1996 Tuition for Summer Activities at the zoo varies according to the ~kic, ",gcr tbc stars, program. See the back of this page for details. To register for a U, tbc SUMMER DAY CAMP session, fill out registration form on the back of this page and send to Bota"iGa1 Gardc"S the zoo Education Department with your payment. Class space is AT THE UTICA ZOO limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. of A Zooper summer season begins for your child at the Utica Zoo's Summer Day Camp. Children will explore Baker Grcc"bg"Scs the wonderful world of animals all week long. Each day, campers explore a different theme through hands-on 1024 "crki,.,cr ~d~ activities, crafts, games, artifacts and personal contact with our education animals. Day Camp features: .... week-long and day sessions for children in Kindergarten through Grade 10. Utic;a, NY camp session is sraie specific. tl-e"eb"e. chiklren *Behind-the-scenes tours and hands-on activities. "'Age-related art and science activities. Gr~ MIET be enroled for the C:oc;ktai1s a,d sraie re.sre wil be enkrine *Summer Camp t-shirt with some progran1s. Ope" Bar Cas" Bar in Ire fal. *Daily snacks. 7 P"' to 10 P"' 10 P"' tQ 11 P"' Week-long Summer Camp Sessions Session Date '!'jme Grade Leyel Title Wi1d A"ima1s, E.~crtaU,~ ... , 1 June 24-July 28 9:00- 12 :00 Kindergarten Creep, Crawl & Crow F"" for an l1 June 24-)uly 28 1:00-4:00 1st-2nd Grade Habitat Habits M"siG a,g Da,c;"" 111 July 8-12 & July 15-19 9:00-12:00 7th-10th Grade Do the Zoo! witb tbc TropiGa1 So",gS IV July-8-12 1:00-4:00 3rd-4th Grade Do the Zoo, Too! '""'I v Julyl5-19 1:00-4:00 5th-6th Grade Do the Zoo, Too! of a Vl July 22-26 9:00-12:00 3rd-4th Grade Plants, Animals & Other Things ~ L.ati?t ~~ac Ba,c;i VH July 22-26 I :00-4:00 5th-6th Grade Plants, Animals & Other Things ~---··~,;····~.:.q V111 July 29-Au • 2 9:00-12:00 Kindergarten Creep, Crawl & Crow Baker Grcc,~scs IX July 29-Aug 2 1:00-4:00 1st-2nd Grade Habitat Habits TiGkcts 75.00 per perso" X Aug -IJ 9:00-12:00 3rd-4th Grade Plants, Animals & Other Things 125.00 per c;o"p1c Xl Au • 'i-9 1:00-4:00 5th-6th Grade Plants, Animals & Other Things Cas"a1 Coc;ktai1 Attire xu Aug 12-16 & Au' liJ- 9:00-12:00 7th-10th Grade Do the Zoo! Safari Sty1c xm Aug 12-16 1:00-4:00 3rd-4th Grade Do the Zoo, Too! .. XIV Aug 19-23 1:00-4:00 5th-6th Grade Do the Zoo, Tool All, week-long summer camp cia ses will run Monday through Friday. Morning sessions are from 9:00 to 12:00; afternoon sessions arc fr m I :00-4:00. Classes are designed for specific age groups. Children must be entering the indicated grade in September, 1996. Fill out and return if you Description of Sessions Proxy are unable to attend the Annual Meeting Creeo. Crawl & Crow: I low an 011 tell an animal from a plant? What is the difference between a flying bird and a flying insect? Children will learn to id ntif the major animal groups and then try to find them in their habitats. KNOW ALL YE BY THESE PRESENTS, that I------' residing at llabitat Habits: We will have an adv nturou week discovering wildlife around the world and in our own yards. We will visit steamy rainforests, frot.en and bakin' deserts, warm meadows and cool forests as we learn about animals' homes and ------' City of ______,, County of habits. _____,State of , being a member of the Utica Zoological Society, do hereby constitute Do the Zoo: This is a two-week cour, designed for the older child who has an interest in zookeeping. Children must attend both and appoint Joe Agen and Jack Linsky as my proxy to attend the annual meeting of the members of this weeks. What does it take to be a 1.00k cpcr? Learn to design an exhibit, prepare animal diets, consult with the corporation to be held on June 20, I996 or any continuation or adjournment thereof, with full power to vote and veterinarian, and help the keepers in their daily duties. The first week of this class will be spent learning about the act for me in my name, place, and stead, the same manner, to the same extent and to the same effect that I might workings of a zoo and its role in wildlife con crvation. Week two will involve hands-on work with the keepers in five were T personally present thereat, giving to said aforementioned persons full power of substitution and different zoo areas. Limited to 10 parti ipants. Class graduates will be considered for a year-round Junior Volunteer revocation, and l hereby revoke any other proxy heretofore given to me. program. Do the Zoo, Too: Designed for younger children, thi one-week version of"Do the Zoo" will introduce zookeeping and show how zoos work. Behind-the-scenes tours arc included. Limited to 20 participants. Dated 1996 Member's Signature Plants, Animals and Other Things: How do plants, animals and people depend on each other? We will explore the food web, strand by strand, make our own, and then cat it! Summer Day Classes: Particular Pachyderms In conjunction with our Elephant Walk week, the zoo will present three 1/2 day sessions that explore these popular 7L [N] [N] C(J] j' ' pachyderms. h Li ''''''''''''00 lt1ldll ff!C ~ Session Date Time Grade Level 386 or 486 Compu t · r PPl July 2 9:00-12:00 Kindergarten-1st Grade (Windows capabl·) trapeze artists, acrobats, and much PP2 July 3 9:00-12:00 2nd-3rd Grade ''''''''''''more. Four performances will be PP3 July 5 9:00-12:00 4th-6th Grade Horse Trailer IJ liN( R Z OO CAmp presented in the Big Top at the Parkway Tennis Courts. Proceeds benefit the W uh t !1111 <' 1mp wa a great success! Utica Zoo. Ooli Carts 1, 1 11I V 11 111 K-tllh graders learned Tuition: Please remit in full with registration form to reserve your space. 1h11ttl !111 1 111.1 in winter. They studied JUN€ 15 11 n I tull It 11 •• , backyard wildlife, Sessions Session Length Tuition: Members Tuition: Non-members 3 or 4 Wheel , hut th ' llil dt!i:N to care for its animals, C€1...€BRA't€ 'tl')€ €AR'tl') All Terrain Vebid · h 111 111 tlhtll '" 1ptnlions and migration. bAg I, 11, IV, V, VI, VII, Vlli, One week $70.00 $85.00 1hl1h 1 11 ul lh ·hildren participated as Tour the world of conservation and get lX, X, XI, Xlll & XIV Includes T -shirt Includes T -shirt Cement Mixer l'ltll ul 111 UtiJjO "I' joint programming your conservation passport stamped at lli & Xll Two weeks $110.00 $125.00 llwl Hh M1ttlin Luther King, Jr. educational stations. Learn about the Includes T -shirt Includes T -shirt Dish Towels/Cloth 1 lluul In I Jl ll Earth and what it means to us. Sponsors include National Public Radio and PPl, PP2 & PP3 1/2 Day $20.00 $25.00 Tupperwar · WKTV. JUN€ 20 Yard Tool (l)AC) 10-12 ZOOLO(jlCAL S0Cl€L'Y REGISTRATION & MEDICAL RELEASE 1 I' ANNUAL PlNlffiAL fA.lR PiNNUA.l.. CD€€L'lN(j Each participant must have a separate registration form. Please make copies of this form for additional children. Brooms 1 ho 1111 ' I ltd Annual Animal Fair will Join the zoo staff, docents and Board of Trustees for dinner and an exciting llllt, IJI.till I •,tim free admission to the Child's Name. ______Session ._____ T-shirt Size. ______program at Hart's Hill Inn. Hand Tools (Shn ) t 111 1 11111 tt I lid · , entertainment, and lui ul J'llllil tood. Advance ride tickets Age__ Grade __ Parent/Guardian's Name. ______JUN€ 11 1111 II 11 111nny locations (see pg. 22 Potholder 1 I ') K1t>s SAf€L'Y bAy Address------,------,------..,.,------The Utica Professional Firefighters' Fire c oty State Zip Oven MiH Phone (home)______(work) ______ ADh11SSION FREE shuttle bus TO THE fAIR from the Parkway IS fREE Tennis Courts Nominal fee for Childrens Zoo f ncby May lOth 5-8 pm Advance Tickets: 5 for $3 Satuvcby May llf~1 11 am- 7 pm Advance Ride Tickets Suncby May 12th llam-7pm available at: Utica Zoo Video To Rol Harron Cable Wai*Mart (Utica & Rome) Sangertown Customer Service Utica Zoo Utica Zoological Society Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Administrative Staff 99 Steele Hill Road PAID Utica, NY 1350 I Utica, NY Dr. Gail E. Foreman ...... Executive Director Penni! #226 Gary Zalocha ...... General Curator Beth Clohecy ...... Public Relations Coordinator Charlotte Duncan ...... Education Curator Jolm Mercurio ...... Business Manager Robert Dangler ...... Bldg. & Grounds Suprtndt. Dr. Cophelia Perlz ...... Veterinarian Kathryn Randolph ...... Graphic Arts!Ed. Asst. Marlene Kerley ...... ·...... Administrative Asst. Utica Zoological Society Board ofDirectors Richard Penna ...... President David Trevisaili ...... Vice President Cara Fenstenlli~her ...... Vice President Jack Linsky ...... Secretary Joe Agen ...... Treasurer Michelle Gorea Faga Joseph Corasanti Andy Kowalczyk ill Linda Forsythe Sharon Fanelli Don Wilhelm Brian Miller Andrew Mazloom Lisa Petrone Nicholas Calogero, Jr. Gary Outtrim KyraMeelan Scott Detraglia Atme Milograno