The Wildtimes
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The WildTimes NEW Zoo & Adventure Park Meet the Summer Interns We are very excited to have in the last two issues! as well as my father, Issue 89 14 interns this Summer. Two who directs the NEW of them are continuing from Zoo, inspired me to in‐ August 2015 Hello, my name is Zack An‐ the Spring Semester, and one tern here assisng with edu‐ derson and I'm currently a of them is returning from last cang the public about ani‐ senior at UW Milwaukee re‐ Summer. We are happy to mals, as well as receiving the have them with us! Make ceiving my bachelors degree opportunity to shadow keep‐ Inside this Issue... sure you stop and say hello in environmental science. As ers as they complete their Conservation Connection 2 when you see them educating a child, I grew up with the daily tasks. the public during our many NEW Zoo literally in my back Animal Collection Report 3 exhibit chats and presenta- yard. Therefore, I was con‐ We are currently accepting tions this summer. They will stantly exposed to this tre‐ applications for our Fall N.E.W. Zoological Society 4 Internships! Check out be identified by their bright mendous AZA accredited pro‐ blue shirts that say EDUCA- www.newzoo.org/get- 2015 Volunteer of the Year 5 gram and the amazing things TION on the back. Here’s a involved for more infor- the keepers would do for our bit more about the remaining mation or to apply. Calendar of Events 6 NEW Zoo. This program, intern you didn’t get to meet Something NEW for Zoo Pass Members this Summer: Early Admission on August 5th The August 2015 This summer, Zoo Pass Members have an opportunity to BEAT THE HEAT during the first Wednesday of every month in June, July, and August, because the NEW Zoo will be Paws & Claws open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. exclusively for our Zoo Pass Members! Gift Shop Special Members can enjoy free coffee and juice in the Mayan Restaurant during this time, as well. Is… While you’re visiting, keep an eye out for Neil and the Fox 11 Van—as you just might see 10% off all them “in action” during one of their live television spots. Giraffe items The final “Early Admission” day for Zoo Pass Members is August 5th. We look forward to seeing you here! Not a member?? There’s still time to join! Check out our website for the details: http://newzoo.org/support/zoopass/ Page 2 The WildTimes Conservation Connection: Recent Ivory Crush On the morning of June 19, 2015, in rangers who work to protect them. This 25th]. The draft ivory regulations, which Times Square, New York City, the U.S. wholesale slaughter of elephants is a will now be open to a public comment Fish and Wildlife Service, with wildlife destabilizing force for African range period, come at a time when the slaughter and conservation partners, hosted its states that rely heavily on wildlife tour- of wild elephants continues unabated. second ivory crush event. One ton of ism. Many of the organized criminal Tanzania recently announced a drastic 60 ivory we seized during an undercover gangs at the center of the trafficking percent drop in its elephant populations in operation, plus other ivory from the New rings are also implicated in the traffick- the past five years due to poaching for York State Department of Environmental ing of drugs, arms, and even people. ivory trade. Conservation and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, was crushed in What can you do to help? WWF welcomes the strong and pragmatic front of VIPs and the general public. The United States is among the world’s proposal put forward by the US Fish and largest consumers of wildlife products – Wildlife Service, which represents a sig- Why Crush Ivory? both legal and illegal. We have a signifi- nificant advance in US ivory policy. Crushing our ivory sends a message to cant ivory market, and we must continue ivory traffickers and their customers that to be vigilant in combating illegal ivory Specifically, shifting the burden to the the United States will not tolerate this trade. You can help by not buying items seller to prove that a piece of ivory is legal illegal trade. This crush will also educate that contain elephant ivory and by could be a significant game changer in consumers, in the United States and spreading this message to your family enforcement efforts. But the regulations around the world, and urge them not to and friends. The work of law enforce- would still allow some sale of ivory. buy products made with ivory that could ment is an important part of the overall WWF believes the response must match be contributing to the poaching crisis. effort to stop wildlife poaching, but the the scale of the crisis, and we advocate for only way to truly stop this slaughter is by an end to commercial elephant ivory sales in the US as the most effective and effi- Our first crush took place in Denver, ending consumer demand for ivory. cient solution. Colorado, on November 14, 2013. We destroyed six tons of elephant ivory that Crush Partners Strong US ivory regulations will do more was seized over the years by our law The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is than save wild elephants; they will play a enforcement special agents and wildlife grateful to the following organizing part- vital role in ensuring US consumers are inspectors in connection with violations ners in the Ivory Crush at Times Square: not unknowingly complicit in the slaugh- of U.S. wildlife laws and treaties. Since Wildlife Conservation Society, New ter of these magnificent animals and con- that crush, several governments through- tinue to build global momentum and inter- out Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and York State Department of Environmental national action to stop wildlife crime. But Asia, have also destroyed ivory, joining Conservation, New York State Senator to be truly effective, the new regulations with us to highlight this worldwide crisis Brad Hoylman, and Powerscreen; and to must be backed by robust enforcement and emphasizing that only a worldwide our other partners in the Crush and the and funding. solution will stop wildlife poaching. effort to end wildlife trafficking: African Wildlife Foundation, The Humane Soci- The Poaching Crisis ety of the United States, International Elephant poaching is at its highest level Fund for Animal Welfare, Natural Re- in decades and now exceeds the species’ reproductive potential. Elephants are sources Defense Council, and World being slaughtered across Africa to meet Wildlife Fund. the demand for ivory faster than they can reproduce. Article sourced from: http:// www.fws.gov/le/elephant-ivory- The poaching crisis not only takes a toll crush.html on wildlife, it affects communities as well. Insurgents and organized crime Other Recent News from the World groups cash in on the money to be made Wildlife Federation (WWF) from ivory, killing tens of thousands of President Obama announced long-awaited elephants while gunning down park draft ivory regulations on Saturday [July Page 3 The WildTimes Animal Collection Report: July 2015, by Carmen Murach ferret. Zookeeper Katie Ferris attended the The NEW Zoo supports conservation in AZA Felid Husbandry course hosted by many ways, including participating in the Pittsburgh Zoo this year. The course SSP captive breeding programs, funding provides further training to Zookeepers field conservation projects and sending who work with cats and focuses on safe- staff to help with conservation work in ty and animal welfare. The experience the field. In July, I spent a week assist- also offers networking opportunities for ing the Great Lakes Piping Plover Re- Zookeepers. covery Effort. Zoo professionals with Zookeeper Jessica Hutjens and I attended hand-rearing expertise are recruited from the Red Wolf SSP meeting at the Endan- throughout the country to the University gered Wolf Center in St. Louis recently. of Michigan Biological Station to incu- This SSP works closely with the USFWS bate eggs and rear chicks from nests that Red Wolf Recovery Effort. The wild Edmund, the Canadian lynx kitten born were damaged or abandoned in the wild. recovery program is currently under re- in early May, has been spending time on The Detroit Zoo spearheads the egg res- view and the future of the species in the exhibit for regularly scheduled public cue and rearing portion of the project in wild is uncertain. The SSP is working to viewing. His mother Lucy has allowed partnership with UM, USFWS, DNR and encourage and facilitate continuation and Zookeepers to “borrow” him for an hour many other organizations. I was also expansion of the wild red wolf popula- each day. During this time, the Zookeep- able to help with monitoring wild nests tion. ers are working on forming a bond with and banding birds on Lake Superior and the kitten and are also talking with visi- Zookeeper Katie Ferris organized and, Lake Michigan beaches (see photo be- with the help of volunteers and keepers, tors about the species and the role of the low). At one time, only 12 breeding NEW Zoo in the Species Survival Pro- staffed a Zookeeper Week event during pairs remained of this endangered popu- which children could experience aspects gram for lynx. Before long, we expect lation of shorebird. This season, 73 pairs Edmond will be able to follow his moth- of the career and earned a “Junior of the birds were located – a record since Zookeeper” certificate. Donations collect- er around the exhibit and will no longer the population was listed as endangered require babysitters.