FROM THE DIRECTOR The driving mission of the Jackson Zoo is to provide visitors with a quality recreational and educational environment, dedicated to wildlife care and conservation. The biggest part of that mission for Beth Poff, Executive Director us in 2007 was the word “quality”. There have been ongoing changes at the zoo as we enter an exciting growth spurt – and we hope you have been watching us grow. AZA GRANTS ACCReditation TO THE This year, we were very proud to once again receive accreditation from the American Association of Zoos JACKSON ZOO and Aquariums (AZA). The association had voted to table the zoo’s application for accreditation, giving us another year to address the requirements that they felt were not being met. Some of the biggest concerns were the older exhibit areas which had housed bears for many years, the conditions of the old tiger/leopard The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) announced that the Jackson Zoo was granted area and even the sidewalks. We also had to address if we had funding levels currently in place to maintain accreditation by AZA’s independent Accreditation Commission in September 2007. the facilities and at the same time allow for continued growth and upgrades of the rest of the zoo. Thanks to the quick response of the State of Mississippi, the City of Jackson, and many business and individual donors, we met the challenge and received full accreditation again in September of 2007. “Only the very best zoos and aquariums can meet tough Association of Zoos and Aquariums The Jackson Zoo was honored to have the vote of confidence from the State of Mississippi with the investment accreditation standards,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “The leadership and staff of of $2 million for improvements as part of the work which was necessary to maintain our accredited status. the Jackson Zoo are to be congratulated for the hard work and commitment that they put into the You probably have noticed that the zoo is in a state of transition! Gone are the “old bear moat” exhibits, renovations are being made to the water tanks in the Aquatics Building of the Wilderness Mississippi area of accreditation process.” the zoo, plans are underway for a new exhibit for both tiger and Amur leopard, and a general sprucing up is happening all around the zoo. To be accredited, the Jackson Zoo underwent a thorough investigation to insure it has and will Another growth spot for the zoo was the interior renovation of our animal hospital. All flooring and cabinetry continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, has been updated, and with the generous support of Baptist Health Systems, more modern medical equipment has been installed. We take very seriously our commitment to animal care, and now have a quality facility to education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous care for our charges under the watchful eye of consulting veterinarian Dr. Rodney Walker. accreditation process in order to be members of the association, and are required to resubmit to this A quality zoo needs a quality education program, and we are well on the road to that goal as well. A process every five years. groundbreaking ceremony was held in September for the new Gertrude C Ford Education Building which will be available to schoolchildren by the 08/09 school year. Additional funding from the federal Economic Incentive Grant program has assisted with this also, allowing for the best in interpretive design. “Not only does Jackson Zoo meet or exceed AZA’s high standards, but it provides every visitor with a chance to connect to global wildlife conservation,” Maddy added. “Every member of the Others have recognized our growth spurt with recognitions such as “Travel Attraction of the Year” for 2007 at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism presented by the Mississippi Tourism Association, and the 2007 Association of Zoos and Aquariums shares a strong commitment to animal care, professionalism, Attraction of the Year Award at the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau Summit Awards. ethics, conservation, and education. In turn, they enrich the lives of their communities by developing Our commitment to conservation has also grown, and the zoo is pleased to assist in a small but important significant wildlife education and conservation programs.” way to eight different conservation projects. New for us is our support of Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, an orangutan rehabilitation center located in Central Kalimantan. It is our hope that your enjoyment of visiting our orangutans, will in turn interest you into supporting orangutans in Borneo. All of us at the Jackson Zoo would like to express our appreciation to those groups which help us to grow including the Board of Directors of Jackson Zoological Society, Inc., Friends of the Zoo and the Jackson Zoo Foundation. Also thanks go to our Docents, Junior Docents and the volunteers who help out again and again. Most of all, I want to take this opportunity to thank all the Zoo staff for their passion for our mission and the dedication they exhibit day after day. It is a privilege to be part of such a team. With the support of all these great groups, the Jackson Zoo is the place to visit and watch in 2008! Director’s Letter Page 1 TWO BROWN Animal Care PELICANS JOIN “WILDERNESS MISSISSIPPI” Collection: Start of Year End of year Species Specimens Species Specimens Two brown pelicans were introduced to the Mammals 61 175 56 150 Wilderness Mississippi Area in 2007. The pelicans share a waterfowl exhibit with several of Birds 54 130 55 132 the state’s duck species. Reptiles 52 108 54 127 The brown pelican is about four feet in length. It has a brown and gray body and a white head with Amphibians 8 10 7 9 a light brown crown. Its neck is dark brown during breeding season. Young pelicans are all brown. Pisces 9 24 24 95 The brown pelican has a very long gray bill with a large pouch of skin. Its pouch holds two or three Invertebrates 37 267 42 289 ROCCO times more than its stomach can hold – close to three gallons of fish and water! Males and females Total 221 714 238 802 THE RED PANDA look the same. Rocco the red panda joined the Zoo family in The brown pelican can be found on the Atlantic, February 2007. The 4 ½-year-old came from the Pacific and Gulf Coasts. On the Atlantic Coast, Births/hatchings Lincoln Children’s Zoo of Nebraska and joined the it can be found from North Carolina south to Jackson’s Zoo’s female red panda, Dana. Venezuela. On the Pacific Coast, its range stretches Black-tailed Prairie Dog 0.0.7 from Southern California to Chile. After nesting Reeve’s Muntjac 2.2 Red pandas are found in the mountains in China. season, it can be found as far north as British Malayan Tapir 1.0 (DNS) They have fully furred feet for their cold homeland Columbia and Nova Scotia. Addra Gazelle 0.1 and a low energy diet. They can weigh up to 11 Diana Guenon 1.1 (1.0 DNS) pounds and their tails are 11-19 inches long. The brown pelican can be found in coastal areas Schmidt’s Monkey 0.1 like sandy beaches and lagoons. It can also be Klipspringer 0.1 (first birth of this species at JZS) Red pandas favor remote, high altitude bamboo found around waterfronts and marinas. Amur Leopard 1.1 (1.0 DNS)(first birth of this species at JZS) forests and are excellent tree climbers. The red panda is crepuscular which means that it is active Blue & Yellow Macaw 0.0.1 at dawn and dusk. They mark their territories by Canvasback 1.6 waddling back and forth over objects and conserve N.A. Ruddy Duck 0.0.1 energy in very cold weather by curling up into a ball. In hot weather, they stretch their bodies along Brown Snake 0.0.15 branches with their legs dangling over each side. Red pandas like to eat bamboo shoots and leaves, New Acquisitions: grasses, roots, fruits and acorns. They may also eat insects, eggs, young birds and small rodents. Spotted Gar Large Mouth Bass Smallmouth Buffalo Fish Black Crappie Red pandas are endangered. There natural Yellow Bullhead River Otter habitats are dwindling because of deforestation for Redfin Pickerel timber, fuel and agricultural land. They are also Orange Spotted Sunfish poached for pets and for their fur. Red-eared Sunfish Page 2 Page 3 DIANA GUENON TWO HOGS ROOTING WHat SMALL ANTELOPES CAN LEAP BOULDERS AND MONKEY GIVES BIRTH AROUND at THE ZOO STEEP OUTCROPS IN A SINGLE BOUND? A KLIPSPRINGER at JACKSON ZOO Two Red River Hogs, Frodo and Yoda, joined the Jackson Zoo family last December. The two male BORN at THE JACKSON ZOO CAN! Diana Guenon monkey Danielle gave birth to her hogs are brothers and are on exhibit along the fourth offspring at the Jackson Zoo last spring. African Rainforest Boardwalk. Diana monkeys are a medium-sized, slender- bodied monkey, with males weighing up to 11 Red River Hogs are native to western and central The Jackson Zoo, only one of 13 Zoos in North pounds, and recognized by its forward curving Sub-Saharan Africa and also on the island of America to exhibit Klipspringers, was overjoyed last back. Diana monkeys are arboreal and found in Madagascar. They are red brown in color and coastal rain forests, in the upper levels of primeval with a distinctive white stripe running down the year when Klipspringer parents Bo and Lilly gave birth forest trees.