WildCare Institute 2016 Annual Report WildCare At A Glance

Center for American Burying Beetle Conservation Center for Conservation in Madagascar • Saving this important insect helps the ecosystem because this insect removes • Supporting the international consortium, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group, dead and decaying animals naturally based at the Saint Louis Zoo—a founding member in 1988 • Reintroducing Zoo-born beetles to the wild—a first for an endangered • Conserving biodiversity through research, education and capacity building species in Missouri • Studying the health and genetics of endangered lemurs and endemic • Researching beetle genetics and breeding helps species recovery carnivore communities

Center for Avian Conservation in the Pacific Islands Center for Native Pollinator Conservation • Working to save Pacific Island bird species since 1994 • Planting dozens of miles of pollinator habitats along roadsides with support from • Building assurance populations to prevent island birds from disappearing multiple Missouri state agencies • Transferring “seed” bird populations to neighboring snake-free sanctuary islands • Founding Missourians for Monarchs to develop a state-wide conservation plan for for successful breeding monarch butterflies and native pollinators • Continuing to establish populations in human care to support wild populations • Increasing monarch butterfly habitat by encouraging planting of multiple community pollinator gardens Center for Avian Health in the Galápagos Islands • Spearheading honey bee/pollinator coalitions, establishing the IUCN SSC • Protecting rare island birds for more than a decade Bumblebee Specialist Group • Training Ecuadorian scientists and rangers to recognize and test for diseases • Working with Native American Tribes to restore pollinator habitat and bring back traditional foods • Assisting dozens of students to earn graduate degrees • Empowering a multi-institutional team to examine more than 60 wild Galápagos Center for Conservation in Punta San Juan, Peru penguins and collect samples to assess the infectious disease risks • Helping create a network of protected areas along the Peruvian coast Center for Conservation of Carnivores in Africa • Taking annual Humboldt penguin censuses to monitor population size • Gathering baseline data on carnivore health, numbers and ecology • Conducting health assessments, collecting biological data on penguins • Reducing conflicts between wildlife and livestock through community education • Supporting sustainable guano harvests to protect breeding areas • Relocating endangered animals to game reserves and increasing genetic diversity in cheetah populations Saharan Wildlife Recovery Center • Reducing carnivore attacks on livestock and carnivore killings by locals • Saving the biggest bird on the planet—the North African red-necked ostrich—through the Ostrich Recovery Program in Niger Center for Conservation in Forest Park • Playing a strong role in the 2016 reintroduction of the formerly extinct-in-the-wild scimitar-horned oryx to Chad • Addressing the need for greater exposure to nature for urban youth • Continuing to support the development of Termit & Tin Toumma National Nature Reserve • Focusing on preserving and studying native wildlife in Niger—the largest protected area in all of Africa • Visiting classrooms, offering field trips to Forest Park • Encouraging study of effects of climate change on bio-diversity Center for Conservation in Western Asia • Establishing Armenia’s first conservation breeding center focusing on 11 endangered Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation species of amphibians and reptiles native to Armenia • Breeding Ozark hellbenders—the first in the world for this salamander • Using radio telemetry to study viper spatial ecology and habitat preferences • Serving as home to thousands of hellbenders • Forging a multi-national coalition to address population declines of vulnerable species • Releasing more than 3,500 head-started hellbenders into the wild • Championing expansion of reserves and establishment of a sanctuary and national park • Monitoring the movement, health and survival rate of released animals Institute for Conservation Medicine Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa • Addressing the challenge of growing interconnections between human • Supporting programs in Kenya and Ethiopia and animal health • Working to save the Grevy’s zebra, mountain nyala, hirola, African elephant, • Studying box turtle health and movement in the St. Louis area and giant tortoises within black rhino and Ethiopian wolf and outside Galápagos National Park • Building capacity among villagers living near wildlife • Developing outreach and education programs to save turtles and tortoises • Re-establishing animals’ historic migratory corridors and creating wildlife- • Developing the One Health Initiative in the St. Louis Region friendly areas • Assessing the health of dromedary camels used for milk in northern Kenya Polar Bears

Box Turtles Hellbenders Pollinators Mountain Vipers Missouri Native Species American Burying Beetles

Birds Saharan Wildlife

Ecuadorian Amphibians Orangutans Galápagos Birds, Tortoises Grevy’s Zebra Asian Elephants Humboldt Penguins Lemurs Andean Bears

Partula Snails Camels, Pollinators

WildCare Institute Centers African Carnivores Locations of organizations the Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Okapis WildCare Institute supports A Message from the Saint Louis Zoo

President and the WildCare Institute Executive Director The Saint Louis Zoo has worked in the Pacific WildCare Institute Director Assumes Ocean’s Mariana Archipelago since 1994 to Entering the WildCare Institute’s 13th year, we believe—more than ever—that intense save bird species there. These species needed Executive Director Role collaboration with multiple partners is the best way to create a help because eight of the 11 native bird species Eric Miller, DVM, DACZM, retired from the sustainable future for wildlife and for people around the world. there were killed by a World War II-era cargo ship Saint Louis Zoo in February, leaving his In 2016, the Saint Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute empowered stowaway: the brown tree snake. position as Senior Vice President – Director of A Message from the Saint Louis Zoo Louis Saint the from A Message children to become guardians of rangelands, helped build Together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoological Operations. In retirement, he has Armenia’s first conservation breeding center for endangered several zoos have worked to breed the species that assumed the role of Executive Director of the amphibians and reptiles, played a major role in the release were at risk and to move birds to islands where the WildCare Institute. Since 2004, he has served of scimitar-horned oryx into Chad, augmented the population brown tree snake had not arrived. as director of the Institute, which is the Zoo’s of Ozark hellbenders in Missouri rivers, planted pollinator field conservation organization with 13 centers gardens across the region and conducted migration studies You can read about our work in the Pacific and around the world and in Missouri. The Executive on giant tortoises and biomedical surveys of birds on the in all of our Centers in this report covering 2016 Director role is a newly created position. Galápagos Islands. Closer to home, the year marked a milestone conservation projects. We also list those who have A veteran of 36 years with the Saint Louis Zoo, for American burying beetle conservation: After five years of contributed in 2016 and all partners who were Dr. Miller will also continue to represent the Zoo reintroducing the beetles in Southwest Missouri, an eight-fold involved in center projects during the year. around the nation and world at various seminars, increase of wild-born beetles—850 in total—was found. Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D. For a complete list of all partners, please visit stlzoo.org/wildcare. conferences and speaking engagements. During Over the years, we have won several national conservation his career, Dr. Miller has served as the President awards, and 2016 was no different. In September, the In closing, we would like to stress that we firmly of the American College of Zoological Medicine Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) presented the WildCare believe that we can all influence the future of (ACZM), and the American Association of Zoo Institute center dedicated to saving the Ozark hellbender its planetary life by acting for the good of all animals Veterinarians (AAZV). In 2003, AAZV awarded Significant Achievement Award for North American Conservation and the people who live near wildlife. The very him the Dolensek Award for his “exceptional for “exceptional efforts toward regional habitat preservation, future of animals in our care at the Zoo and contributions.” He has served on the Board of species restoration and support of biodiversity in the wild.” in the world can only be guaranteed through the AZA and written and/or co-written more than dedicated research and conservation and through The WildCare Institute also recently received Conservation 60 scientific articles and textbook chapters. collaboration with a range of institutions. That Federation of Missouri’s (CFM) Wildlife Conservationist of the Both overseas and in the United States, Dr. Miller future also depends on the support of people who Year Award. CFM selected the Institute for its work in conserving has taught courses or been an invited speaker on care. Thank you for your interest in the WildCare Forest Park, Ozark hellbenders, pollinators, box turtles and zoo medicine and on conservation issues. Institute and in saving wildlife and wild places. American burying beetles. The award also recognized Institute Dr. Miller has also assisted on or led inspections programs that have connected urban youth to nature and of zoos around the world. conducted seminal research on Missouri river water quality. Eric Miller, DVM, Dipl., ACZM With the late Dr. Murray Fowler, Dr. Miller Flexibility is at the core of the Institute’s operating model—we have moved away from edited several editions of “Zoo and Wild Animal th th conservation work in certain areas when we felt our job was done or it was time to Medicine.” He was the editor of the 7 and 8 move on. For that reason, in 2016, we phased out the Center for Conservation of the Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., Eric Miller, editions of what is the major textbook on exotic Horned Guan in Mexico. However, after concluding our work in Mexico, we moved on Dana Brown President & DVM, Dipl., ACZM animal care used in veterinary medical education to add the Center for Avian Conservation in the Pacific Islands. CEO Executive Director programs across the globe. He will continue in his role as editor of that textbook. Contents

A Message from the Saint Louis Zoo...... 6

Center for American Burying Beetle Conservation...... 10

Center for Avian Conservation in the Pacific Islands...... 12

Center for Avian Health in the Galápagos Islands...... 14

Center for Conservation of Carnivores in Africa...... 16

Center for Conservation in Forest Park ...... 18

Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation...... 20

Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa ...... 22

Center for Conservation in Madagascar...... 24

Center for Native Pollinator Conservation...... 26

Center for Conservation in Punta San Juan, Peru ...... 28

Saharan Wildlife Recovery Center...... 30

Center for Conservation in Western Asia...... 32

Institute for Conservation Medicine...... 34

How is the WildCare Institute Funded?...... 36

How the WildCare Institute Allocates its Resources...... 38

2016 Honor Roll...... 40

Conservation Partners/Grants...... 42

How You Can Help...... 46

Humboldt penguin Center for American Burying Beetle Conservation

More than 50 media outlets across the nation and overseas ran a story in 2016 about the efforts to save an insect that embalms carrion with naturally secreted fluid—the American burying beetle. The news on efforts to save this endangered species? The research team found an eight-fold increase—850 American burying beetles—in traps placed on the site in Southwest Missouri where teams had reintroduced beetles for five consecutive years. The American burying beetle is the first endangered species to be re-introduced to the state of Missouri, where by the 1970s it had disappeared. notched beetles numbered 473. These are offspring “We are thrilled to find so many beetles in an area of the reintroduced beetles. Also, 173 of the beetles where we have reintroduced them over the past found had lived over the winter months. five years,” said Center Director Bob Merz, who is also Zoological Manager of Invertebrates. “Our contribution to reintroduction efforts by “We have moved from finding only a handful of returning the beetle to parts of its former range is the beginning of the recovery of this beautiful

Center for American Burying Beetle Conservation Beetle Burying American for Center beetles in the early years to finding 110 last year and now 850 in 2016.” beetle,” said Merz. He and other conservationists treasure this insect because of the role it plays Once found in 35 states, the American burying beetle in the ecosystem. The American burying beetle was in deep decline. Until the Center began its removes dead and decaying animals naturally and is reintroductions, the beetle was last seen in Missouri responsible for recycling decomposing components in the mid-1970s. Before the first reintroduction in back in the environment. 2012, the Center worked for more than a decade breeding thousands of American burying beetles on “The plight of this beetle provides a warning to us the Saint Louis Zoo campus. that something harmful is happening in our shared ecosystem,” said Merz. “We believe with adequate research on what has caused this animal to Beetle: Canary in Coal Mine disappear, the species may again thrive in Missouri, After the June 2016 reintroduction of 540 Zoo-bred and the surveys for the beetles have offered very beetles, Zoo staff, partners and volunteers had positive signs for their future survival.” reintroduced a total of 4,020 beetles over five years. This project is jointly managed by the Zoo’s WildCare The volunteers involved in the 2016 reintroduction Institute Center for American Burying Beetle included 14 youth who are members of the Zoo’s Conservation, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, teen volunteer program. the Missouri Department of Conservation and The All of the beetles were placed in the Wah’ Kon-Tah Nature Conservancy. Prairie in St. Clair and Cedar counties on land jointly owned and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and The Nature Conservancy. After each reintroduction, the Zoo and Missouri Department of Conservation searched for beetles. The Zoo notches every beetle that they release or find, so they do not count it multiple times. In 2016, they found 377 notched beetles. Another group of un-

10 Reintroducing the American burying beetle. 11 Center for Avian Conservation in the Pacific Islands

Accidentally introduced on Guam in the Pacific have managed programs for six threatened bird Islands after World War II, the brown tree snake was species: Saipan bridled white-eye, Guam kingfisher, the first land predator that birds living on this island golden white-eye, Mariana fruit dove, Rufous fan tail, had ever faced — and they had no natural defenses white-throated ground dove and Tinian monarch. to protect themselves, their nests, their eggs and Four of those species (Mariana fruit dove, the Guam their young. kingfisher, golden white-eye and white-throated In just a few short decades, the invasive brown tree ground dove) have been bred at the Saint Louis Zoo. snake devastated the island’s forest bird species. Primary program objectives have been to: Only two species of Guam’s forest birds, the Micronesian kingfisher and the Guam rail, • Use management techniques to support survive today, and only in the care of zoos. wild populations It was soon clear to conservationists that island • Establish new populations through translocation species are particularly susceptible to introduced • Establish populations that can support the species because they have evolved in an wild population environment in which they face fewer threats. They • Develop community programs that support saw that introduced predators beyond snakes, conservation objectives such as cats, dogs, rats and goats, plus changing weather patterns, tropical storms and introduced diseases could have catastrophic effects on island Translocated Birds Breeding! Center for Avian Conservation in the Pacific Islands in the Pacific Conservation Avian for Center populations, such as they did on the island of Guam. “We have also been active in translocations—our Zoo’s keepers and curators have participated in Working in the Pacific Since ‘94 several of these events over the past five years,” said Center Director Anne Tieber, who is also Saving these beautiful animals is behind the Curator of Birds at the Saint Louis Zoo. “Most of establishment of the WildCare Institute’s newest these have involved Saint Louis Zoo staff helping center—the Center for Avian Conservation in the to transfer these ‘seed’ populations to neighboring Pacific Islands. snake-free sanctuary islands, where successful Although this designation is new, the efforts by the breeding is still going on. Community education Saint Louis Zoo to save Pacific Island bird species programs are also being developed to assist the began in 1994 when the Zoo joined forces with other conservation of local avifauna.” organizations to form a group called the Has this ambitious initiative shown results? “Yes— Pacific Bird Conservation Project—or Mariana golden and bridled white-eyes are breeding in their Avifauna Conservation (the project is now called new location in the wild!” she said. “Clearly, the Pacific Bird Conservation). mission of this program is long-term survival of these As the threat of the snake moved to the nearby species. Through management, translocation and neighboring Mariana Islands, the Saint Louis Zoo, education, these efforts will make the difference along with other founding members, Memphis between survival and extinction for some island Zoo, Honolulu Zoo and Louisville Zoo, were invited birds. In partnership with others, the Saint Louis Zoo to collaborate with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proud to play an active role in the conservation of and the regional Department of Aquatic and Pacific Island birds.” Wildlife Resources to develop rearing protocols and assurance populations of birds to prevent the current island birds from disappearing as the birds on Guam did. Since this initiative started in 2004, AZA zoos

12 Mariana fruit dove 13 Center for Avian Health in the Galápagos Islands

Their isolated location, volcanic activity and tropical University of Missouri-Columbia veterinary faculty currents combine to create nature’s own laboratory. to work with the ABG staff to understand farming Studied by naturalist Charles Darwin, these islands conditions and what ABG researchers can do in their are home to species found nowhere else in the own laboratory instead of sending everything back to world. From marine iguanas to giant tortoises, the the mainland,” Dr. Parker said. Galápagos Islands offer deep insight into the forces In 2017, members of the ABG staff visited Dr. that drive the natural world. Parker’s lab at the University of Missouri-St. Louis In these Islands, the scientists from the Center for (UMSL) and members of the veterinary staff of Avian Health have worked for years to determine the the Saint Louis Zoo Hospital to learn more about bird species that is serving as the reservoir host and techniques for identifying and treating diseases. the mosquito species that is the insect vector for The Center is sending a team to the Islands to work in avian malaria—a disease that poses a major threat the ABG lab to extract DNA from the samples and run to the native bird populations there. Avian malaria is tests to confirm the infection status for plasmodium. caused by a parasite in the genus plasmodium that caused one of the best documented of all bird extinctions—the loss of dozens of avian species in Hawaii.

Center for Avian Health in the Galápagos Islands in the Galápagos Health Avian for Center “In 2016, we found this problem even more perplexing because we began to have trouble finding evidence of the parasite, even in the endemic birds,” said Dr. Patty Parker, Center Director and the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor in Zoological Studies at the University of Missouri- Members from the Agency for Biosecurity Galápagos St. Louis (UMSL). “If, in fact, the parasite is gone on visited the Zoo and the Whitney R. Harris World its own accord, that is good, but our international Ecology Center Lab at UMSL to learn and study lab parasitologist collaborators strenuously remind us protocols, techniques and methods to test samples that not finding the parasite is no reason to become collected from animals. complacent. Since the parasite emerged in the Islands before, survived and established a thriving Bringing High School Principal to Islands population, it can do so again. For that reason, “Also, on that trip, we will be taking a high school we are working with new collaborators from the UK principal from Jennings High School in North St. to set up insect experimental infections to confirm Louis, where the Center has sponsored an internship which mosquito species is the best vector.” program for high-ability, low-opportunity students,” said Dr. Parker. Collaborating with Biosecurity Agency In addition to continuing to search for the origins At the same time, our new collaborator on the of the blood parasite, the Center is still committed islands is the Agencia de Bioseguridad Galápagos to understanding the broader risks of diseases to (the Agency for Biosecurity of Galapagos (ABG), the continued survival of Galapagos bird species. which is charged with overseeing the health of In November 2016, two clinical veterinarians from domestic and wild animals of the archipelago. the Saint Louis Zoo were part of a multi-institutional “ABG has a small laboratory facility on the islands, team that examined more than 60 wild Galápagos and in October 2016, we sent a team of my lab’s penguins and collected samples to assess the graduate students along with members of the infectious disease risks to this unique population.

14 Galápagos hawk 15 Center for Conservation of Carnivores in Africa

Carnivores are a major part of the food web and the The Center has also focused on developing effective focus of this Center’s more than decade-long fight to cheetah census techniques to determine baseline build populations and protect everything from lions population numbers. These efforts have included and leopards to wild dogs. visual counts of cheetah and identification by While this Center’s initial focus tagging the animals, surveys of was on conservation measures local people asking whether they to save the world’s fastest land have spotted cheetahs and a GIS animal, the sleek and long-legged satellite database of sightings. cheetah, it has expanded its efforts to include all 35 carnivore Surveying with species in Tanzania. In addition, Camera Traps the Center is working with “Other techniques have involved conservationists in Kenya analyzing feces, tracks or markings and Namibia. or using local trackers and dogs One of its partners is the Ruaha trained to locate cheetah scat or Carnivore Project (RCP), directed Jerald L. Kent, Chairman of the droppings,” said Center Director Center for Conservation of Carnivores in Africa Carnivores of Conservation for Center by Amy Dickman, Ph.D., who in St. Louis Zoological Park Subdistrict Steve Bircher, who is also Saint 2016 was presented the Saint Commission, presented the 2016 Louis Zoo Curator of Mammals/ Louis Zoo Conservation Award. Saint Louis Zoo Conservation Award to Carnivores. “We have also Dr. Dickman established this Amy Dickman, Ph.D., Director, Ruaha supported projects that involve Carnivore Project. conservation project in 2009 photo surveys and camera traps, and in the past several years has which capture photographs of used a multi-faceted approach to reduce human- animals automatically as a cheetah triggers an animal conflict and build strong community benefit infrared sensor.” initiatives and support. He added that cheetah are a particularly wide- ranging species, requiring large swaths of land to Supporting Schools, Clinics support a viable population. This also makes them With a permanent staff of 18 based at a camp a very susceptible to habitat loss, fragmentation and few miles outside the border of Tanzania’s Ruaha degradation,­ a primary threat to the species. For this National Park, RCP employs nearly 70 Tanzanians reason, cheetah conservation efforts must include through the project. The first challenge for RCP was improving land use planning and practice and to address livestock security by creating protective working across a very large landscape. barriers, bringing in Anatolian shepherd dogs and Outside protected areas, conflict with farmers and designating local youth and expert trackers as “lion ranchers poses a significant threat. Though they defenders” who monitor movement of predators, prefer wild prey, cheetahs will occasionally kill warn communities of carnivore presence, chase lions livestock or animals on game farms, and many are away from households and stop lion hunts. killed in retaliation. RCP has also provided books and equipment to “In coming years, the Zoo’s team and our Center schools and medicine and equipment to local clinics. partners will continue to educate the public about In addition, herders receive veterinary care for their carnivore conservation, support sound scientific livestock. This work has been very successful at research and develop programs in Africa so that reducing carnivore attacks on livestock and carnivore the stories of species there will be of survival, not killings by local people. extinction,” Bircher said.

16 Cheetah 17 Center for Conservation in Forest Park

In today’s world, wild spaces are fewer and farther • A Deer Lake pollinator census with teens serving between, offering little opportunity for the type of as citizen scientists, 2008 exploration and informal learning that was available • A nature observation program conducted with to many just a generation ago. the Saint Louis Art Museum and Cole Elementary, Studies have shown that adults who spent time in 2010 and 2011 nature as children were more conservation-minded • A Deer Lake riparian zone restoration that than others, and recent data suggest that time included students from Soldan High School and spent in nature has profound effects on childhood Washington Park Elementary, 2013 and 2014 development. • Education on native pollinators and their habitats Restored wetlands, prairie and savannah areas in Forest Park: in collaboration with Confluence provide a perfect backdrop for study, and the Academy Elementary School and Washington Center for Conservation in Forest Park Park in Forest Conservation for Center dynamic landscape of the 1,300-acre Forest Park in University, 2014 the Saint Louis Zoo’s backyard has all these features. Introducing area children to the park’s many habitats is a primary goal of the Center for Conservation in Plans to Study Climate Change Effects Forest Park. Between the spring of 2015 and the 2016 school “For many children, there is little opportunity to learn year, this Center worked with the following St. Louis about natural habitats and the plants and animals area schools: that live near them. We are committed to providing • Washington Elementary this opportunity,” said Center Director Alice Seyfried, • Confluence Academy Old North who is also the Fred Saigh Curator of the Emerson Children’s Zoo. • Barrington Grade School “Our wildlife conservation projects focus on native • Pershing Grade School wildlife ecology and management in one of America’s • Premier Charter School great urban parks,” she said. “In addition, a major • McKinley Academy Center goal is to provide not only for the preservation and study of native wildlife but also for conservation “We are very pleased that we will be working with education.” Hazelwood West Middle School and McKinley Academy again in 2017,” the Center Director added. “Our team is currently in discussions with both Worked with Area Schools schools on projects for the year. Especially intriguing In 2016, staff from this Center worked with 230 will be our work with the students of McKinley children from area city schools both in the classroom Academy. These students are studying the effects of and in Forest Park. Two new schools, Premier Charter climate change on bio-diversity. What better place to and McKinley Classical Leadership Academy, have study than Kennedy Forest in Forest Park? Working joined the program as a result of the Center’s with students for multiple years is so rewarding, and partnership with Washington University’s My-Sci I hope even more impactful for the students.” Program. The Center’s collaboration with the My- Sci department has been a win-win relationship: “Together, we have effectively reached hundreds of area students,” said Seyfried. Since the Center’s founding in 2004, youth from across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area have been involved in the following Center projects:

18 Youth on field trip exploring Forest Park 19 Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation

Okay, they may look strange, but the Ozark simulated streams, complete with a rock bed, the hellbender is a unique and environmentally sensitive occasional afternoon rain shower and the freshest species found only in clean, clear rivers of southern and purest water in the area. Tweaking temperatures Missouri and adjacent northern Arkansas. and water quality and mimicking the conditions in These salamanders are perfectly adapted to their nature, the hellbender team managed to successfully stream habitats with their flattened head and body, breed hellbenders in late 2011. This first-ever, very small, beady eyes, short stout legs, and long decade-long initiative yielded 165 baby hellbenders. rudder-like tail. They can reach lengths of nearly two feet. Their flattened bodies help them slide under Releasing Adolescents into Rivers rocks for cover and to remain stationary in fast In November 2012, the Center announced that moving water. Nocturnal, they come out at night to eight female Ozark hellbenders had laid a total of feed on a diet consisting primarily of crayfish. 2,809 fertile eggs in the Zoo’s artificial nest boxes. At one time, hellbenders occurred in relatively By late November, the Center had more than 1,000 large numbers, but by the early 2000s, they were larvae. For the first time, all three of the Zoo’s river experiencing a drastic decline. Scientists have populations had reproduced. In 2014, the Zoo determined that there are a number of factors constructed a third climate-controlled room for contributing to the decline including siltation, head-starting juvenile hellbenders. The room has 96

Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation Hellbender for Center Goellner Ron disease, stream impoundments and pollution. The aquariums that provide the needed space for raising Saint Louis Zoo, state agencies and this Center came juvenile hellbenders. to its rescue. The Center has also been actively involved in working with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) 30 Years of Saving Hellbenders in releasing head-started (adolescent) animals, “The hellbender has been an ongoing interest to the coordinating disease research and monitoring Zoo scientists for more than 30 years,” said Center populations in the wild. In 2008, three dozen Ozark Director Jeff Ettling, Ph.D. Dr. Ettling is also Curator of hellbenders that had been head-started at the Zoo Herpetology at the Saint Louis Zoo. “The hellbender were outfitted with radio-transmitters and released is a modern day canary in the coal mine—telling us a at two sites where the eggs were collected in south- great deal about problems in the aquatic ecosystem. central Missouri. These salamanders are really closely tied to their In subsequent years, the Center has worked with environment. Like all amphibians, hellbenders the MDC to release more adolescent hellbenders. breathe through their skin. That means these fully By year-end 2016, nearly 3,500 juvenile Ozark aquatic amphibians need clean, cold, oxygen-rich hellbenders (all reared in the Saint Louis Zoo) had fresh water to live. Because of that, hellbenders been placed in Missouri Ozark rivers. The Center and thrive only in areas with good habitat and water MDC scientists are monitoring their movements, quality. Declining hellbender numbers mirror the health status and survival rate so that hellbenders declining health of their habitats.” will be around for decades to come. The answer to their survival was establishing a breeding program. However, this was challenging because no one had ever bred hellbenders in human care. Dr. Ettling and his team took on the task. Behind the scenes at the Saint Louis Zoo Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, the Center built fully-functioning,

20 Ozark hellbender 21 the grasslands near their homes. In 2016, the Center began Grasslands are largely affected by providing funding to Northern overgrazing by livestock, causing land Rangelands Trust (NRT) to degradation. Pastoralists depend help create a rhino sanctuary on their livestock and crops for through the Sera Community survival, and for herbivore species Conservancy, the first community like the Grevy’s zebra, this grass is conservancy in Africa to own and their main food source. Since many operate a sanctuary dedicated to herders are children, the Trust turned the conservation of the critically to them to protect the grasslands endangered black rhino. Thanks that are so critical to both zebras and to Center support in 2016, livestock. They planted trees and this sanctuary installed new grass to increase vegetation cover, waterholes for the rhinos and and they disseminated conservation solar-powered generators that awareness messages. Their efforts pump the water. The sanctuary are already yielding results. also offered sophisticated ©Mia Collis training to guides and rangers Monitoring to track rhinos and has provided state-of-the-art protection for 12 Endangered Species black rhinos. NRT brought the In 2016, the Center’s support also rhino back to its natural habitat included involving members of in northern Kenya after 30 years’

Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa Africa in the Horn of Conservation for Center the Saint Louis Zoo team in field absence. conservation work. In January, the “We also support anti-poaching Zoo sent three keepers to the Great teams in northern Kenya, where Grevy’s Rally, where they joined other in 2015, 10 black rhinos were citizen scientists from across Kenya Center Director Martha Fischer poses with NRT’s Songa Community Conservancy team at Lake Paradise in Marsabit National reintroduced,” said Fischer, to count and photograph zebras — all Park, northern Kenya, June 2016. who is co-founder and chair of to better monitor the growth of this the board of trustees for the population over time. Trust. “In 2016, two rhinos were Center for Conservation in the Funds raised from Rally participants born amid great celebration. provided another 45 GPS-enabled Their births signal that there is ©Mia Collis digital cameras to Grevy’s Zebra hope for this species and for the Horn of Africa Warriors who monitor not only Grevy’s people of Africa—if we all work zebra but other species of concern. together.” Whether counting zebras or constructing water building the capacity of communities to care for holes for endangered black rhinos, this Center their local wildlife.” Creating Rhino Sanctuary links dedicated conservationists at zoos with In northern Kenya, the grasslands were once This Center is also supporting black Another project the Grevy’s those in the field—all with an eye toward filled with Grevy’s zebras, but fewer than 2,500 rhino conservation. In the wild, large- Zebra Trust sponsored involved helping communities save wildlife, while dealing remain today. More than a decade ago, this scale poaching of the now critically commissioning artist Mia Collis to with drought, famine and political turmoil. Center was a founding member of Grevy’s endangered black rhino has resulted photograph individual portraits of the Grevy’s Zebra Trust team and of “We foster partnerships to provide long-term Zebra Trust, which is implementing a national in a dramatic 96 percent decline support for wildlife programs in Kenya and conservation strategy that includes engaging the Grevy’s zebra to raise from 65,000 individuals in 1970 awareness of the plight of this Ethiopia,” said Center Director Martha Fischer, communities in monitoring and protecting this to just 2,300 in 1993. Intensive endangered species. Collis’ work who is also Curator of Mammals/Ungulates species. anti-poaching efforts have had was shown at the National Museum and Elephants at the Saint Louis Zoo. “We are encouraging results since 1996, of Kenya to great acclaim. The concerned not only with saving endangered Conserving Rangelands and the population now numbers exhibit was opened by famed species, such as Grevy’s zebra, mountain nyala, between 5,042—5,455 in the wild. paleontologist and anthropologist hirola, black rhino and Ethiopian wolf, but also In 2016, the Trust’s partners, including the ©Mia Collis and chairman of Kenya’s Wildlife about reestablishing historic wildlife migratory Center, created a club of 32 children—16 Service Dr. Richard Leakey. corridors, creating wildlife-friendly areas, and herders and 16 schoolchildren—to conserve

22 23 Center for Conservation in Madagascar Lemurs, wild landscapes, village culture, beaches provides support for research on animals, – Madagascar might be an island but there’s plants and habitats. Center work also includes nothing small about it. One of the poorest and least managing breeding programs for Malagasy species, developed countries in the world, it is packed with doing rigorous conservation planning and educating wildlife found nowhere else and a population of zoo visitors. almost 25 million—and growing. MFG also manages Parc Ivoloina, a former French With the doubling of the human population over Forestry Station, which offers a zoo for conservation the past 20 years, 85 percent of the original and breeding and a safe haven for confiscated Malagasy forest area has disappeared. Significant endangered animals. Parc Ivoloina is home to an habitat fragmentation and erosion-related siltation environmental education center and a training center of the island’s rivers and lakes are challenging built thanks to funds provided by the WildCare conservationists, who need to increase the Malagasy Institute. The Ivoloina Conservation Training Center

Center for Conservation in Madagascar Conservation for Center people’s standard of living while combating offers a meeting room, laboratory, dormitory and environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity. refectory—all these facilities are dedicated to educating conservation practitioners. Working through MFG In 2016, MFG with its partners, the Missouri and Kew Among the leaders in addressing these issues is (London) Botanical Gardens, received a $327,000 the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFG) – an Darwin Initiative grant to train Malagasy botanists international consortium of 28 zoos, botanical and conservation horticulturalists on conservation gardens, universities and related organizations. A techniques to propagate endangered species of founding member of MFG, the Saint Louis Zoo’s staff plants at Parc Ivoloina. This team is also working to has worked in Madagascar for more than 25 years to prevent the loss of sub-populations of at least 500 conserve endangered plants and animals endemic to species of flowering plants growing in doomed forest Madagascar’s eastern rainforests. In fact, the Zoo’s fragments in Ivoloina-Ifontsy River Valleys. WildCare Institute Executive Director Dr. Eric Miller is also the Chair of MFG, and MFG’s international Serving as a Model office is at the Saint Louis Zoo. However, much of The Center also continues to focus on increasing the MFG’s success can be attributed to maintaining an local staff’s husbandry expertise with lemurs. in-country office and staff who can continuously The Zoo’s animal management, veterinary and evaluate, recommend and monitor projects. research staffs have played leading roles in health This team has focused on four key areas: research, studies and care of the lemur population and education, capacity building and conservation have advanced the science of endangered species action. Their work involves saving animal species reintroduction techniques through the release of through reproduction, field research, training zoo-born ruffed lemurs into the Betampona Natural programs for rangers and wardens, and acquisition Reserve. The expertise gained with that release is and protection of native habitat. expected to be useful with future reintroductions for similar primates. Educating Conservationists “The MFG is a model of how collaboration can Many of the programs of the WildCare Center are result in outcomes that are larger than the found at the 5,505-acre Betampona Natural Reserve, contributions of its individual members. We offer a diverse remnant of the eastern lowland rainforest our heartfelt thanks to all of our partners and and the site of the first and only reintroduction of contributors who make possible all the work we do captive born lemurs back into the wild. The Center both in supporting the community and in saving species,” said Dr. Eric Miller.

24 Coquerel’s sifaka 25 Center for Native Pollinator Conservation

A tiny, obscure insect may not be doing anything He also worked with the City of St Louis to establish that is obviously useful to humans, but it is multiple Milkweeds for Monarchs gardens, supporting the ecosystem—and that ecosystem educational displays, signs and handouts. Under his provides services. direction, Zoo educators helped develop a Milkweed That has become particularly evident in recent years for Monarchs school guide; planted gardens in with the loss of pollinators, which include everything 50 city schools; developed teacher training on from bees to birds to butterflies. Because 75 percent pollinators; and provided after-school activities of crop plants grown across the globe rely on these related to saving butterflies. pollinators, food security and ecosystem stability are Meanwhile, Dr. Spevak surveyed 37 gardens for threatened as they decline. pollinator and monarch butterfly activity and The WildCare Institute Center for Native Pollinator worked through multiple organizations to distribute Conservation was established in 2011 to focus on hundreds of milkweed plants and seed packets. the importance and diversity of native pollinators Center for Native Pollinator Conservation Pollinator Native for Center for the maintenance and survival of wildlife, Reaching Out to Tribal Nations ecosystems and agriculture. The Center works to Dr. Spevak also continued developing the Community save pollinators on several levels—from our Garden and Pollinator Park in Florissant, Missouri, backyards to the far corners of the world. Center which was established in 2013 when the 3.5-acre site activities focus on educating people about the became a part of a joint program between the Zoo, importance of pollinators and on developing National Museums of Kenya and Tohono Chul Park in and supporting local, national and international Tucson, Arizona. Through this program, students from collaborations to establish pollinator conservation Kenya and from St. Louis area colleges learned about programs and conduct research. the importance of pollinators while doing community outreach and education. In 2016, Spevak orchestrated Saving Monarchs the planting of a 1.5-acre prairie restoration area on In 2016 alone, this Center helped found Missourians the Florissant site and assisted with the planting of for Monarchs. Center Director Ed Spevak, Ph.D., now the orchard for the Community Garden. serves on the steering committee. Also Curator of Finally, in 2016 Dr. Spevak reached out to American Invertebrates at the Zoo, Dr. Spevak worked with this Indians and Tribal Nations, beginning with the organization to develop a state-wide conservation Ho Chunk/Winnebago of Nebraska and Santee plan for monarch butterflies and native pollinators. Sioux and Omaha Nations through the Nebraska A steep decline in the monarch butterfly population Indian Community College. In visits to tribal lands, has prompted many to focus on protecting milkweed. he discussed improving pollinator habitat, which Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed; their should also benefit pollination services for their caterpillars only eat milkweed plants, and monarch agriculture and traditional foods. Many Native butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs. Americans are concerned about improving their With shifting land management practices, milkweed health and economies through food security and has disappeared from much of the landscape. food sovereignty. A Center goal is to help Native Americans achieve tribal goals through its work with native pollinators. Planting Roadside Habitats In 2016 Dr. Spevak did more than planning. With the Missouri Department of Transportation, he coordinated planting of approximately 24 miles of pollinator habitat.

26 Monarch butterfly 27 Center for Conservation in Punta San Juan, Peru

Penguins evoke strong emotions—they are endearing Health, Space, Outreach in the way they stand straight, are flightless, waddle when they walk, have smooth feathers that look like Over the past 12 years, the Center for Conservation fur, and gracefully “fly” underwater just as other in Punta San Juan, Peru has been actively involved birds do in air. in multiple conservation research and education programs: But some penguin species are in trouble. The threatened Humboldt penguins that inhabit the • A Marine Spatial Dynamic Study. Begun in Pacific coast of South America had been declining 2011, the Center and its partners began using since the mid-19th century. Then, in the 1980s and global positioning system (GPS) loggers and 1990s, the over-harvesting of guano, where the Temperature-depth Recorders (TDR) to monitor penguins lay their eggs, overfishing and strong the feeding ecology of the penguin. Through El Niño events significantly reduced their numbers. this study researchers found that the Humboldt penguins range extends outside the current Nearly 20 years later, the population is stable now marine protected area that surrounds Punta San thanks to the work of this Center in Peru’s Punta San Juan and that there is notable annual variation Juan—a 133-acre peninsula with 8- to 30-meter tall in spatial use of the marine environment by the cliffs and thousands of Humboldt penguins. penguins at this site. “This information will be

Center for Conservation in Punta San Juan, Peru San Juan, Peru in Punta Conservation for Center critical as we develop a marine management Home to Half of All Humboldt Penguins plan for the reserve,” said newly named Center “We began working in Punta San Juan in 2004 Director Anne Tieber, who is also Curator of Birds because the area is home to almost half the entire at the Saint Louis Zoo. Peruvian breeding population of Humboldts,” said • Health Assessments. Since 2007, the Saint former Center Director Michael Macek, who now Louis Zoo has sent and supported veterinary serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Saint Louis staff to Punta San Juan to conduct annual Zoo. “The Center’s foundation is the Punta San Juan health assessments on these penguins and Consortium, which includes in addition to our Zoo, other fauna. In 2016, Saint Louis Zoo staff The Chicago Zoological Society, the Kansas City representing both this Center and the WildCare Zoo and the Peruvian member, Cayetano Heredia Institute for Conservation Medicine assessed University’s Center for Environmental Sustainability.” the penguins’ health after a recent El Niño event. To date, this consortium has contributed over Data collected in 2016 will be compared with $400,000 to protect the site by employing two full- data from an assessment planned for 2017 to time biologists, establishing a research station and better understand how the health of penguins maintaining a sea wall to protect the reserve. In 2009, correlates with climate change. in part due to these activities, Punta San Juan was • Outreach/Education. The Center and the incorporated in the Peruvian Protected Areas System, Saint Louis Zoo Education Department staffs marking the first formal declaration of protection of are working with the Peruvian education agency marine waters in Peru. ACOREMA (Areas Costeras y Recursos Marinos) to develop a distance learning lab that would help students throughout Peru and across the globe learn about the Humboldt Current ecosystem and conservation. The distance learning lab would reach many more students and would be the first learning center of its kind in Peru.

28 Peruvian Veterinarian and Biologist Dr. Paulo Colchao weighs a baby penguin 29 Saharan Wildlife Recovery Center

Wildlife conservation in the great deserts of the world is often overlooked and underfunded by international aid agencies and conservation organizations. Water is life, and its paucity in deserts limits the biomass and diversity these habitats can support. That should not, however, diminish the importance of the fauna and flora that have so exquisitely adapted in this environment. In a world where climate change is on everyone’s mind, can we really afford to lose those species of plants and animals pre-adapted to a hotter, drier climate? The Sahara is Ground Zero for a silent crisis of Saharan Wildlife Recovery Center Recovery Wildlife Saharan extinction. Its 3 million square miles of rock, sand Red-necked ostrich chicks and gravel covers a third of Africa and is home to over 2.5 million people, as well as a unique “On September 20, we celebrated the first birth of an assemblage of wildlife: addax, dama gazelles, oryx calf in the wild since the species was declared Saharan cheetah, sand cats, Sudan and Nubian extinct nearly 30 years ago,” said Houston. bustards and North African ostrich (the biggest bird on the planet!), to name just a few. Saving the Red-Necked Ostrich “One of the grandest species, the scimitar-horned Another milestone was the hatching of four more oryx, vanished in the wild in the late 1980s,” said critically endangered North African ostrich chicks. Bill Houston, Director of the WildCare Institute’s The red-necked ostrich has disappeared from 95 Saharan Wildlife Recovery Center and Assistant percent of its former range. SCF CEO John Newby General Curator at the Saint Louis Zoo. “Many of the galvanized the international zoo community to create remaining species will follow quietly in their fading the Ostrich Recovery Program in Niger, rearing birds footprints towards extinction if we don’t take action.” in human care to support future reintroduction. These milestones join a long list of successes: Founding SCF • The 2007 repatriation of zoo-born addax and To address this crisis, the Saharan Wildlife Recovery scimitar-horned oryx to fence reserves in Tunisia, Center joined forces with the international zoo including a Saint Louis Zoo-born addax community to create Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) • The establishment of the largest protected area in 2004. It is the first international conservation in all of Africa—the size of Indiana—to protect organization devoted exclusively to raising the last significant populations of the critically awareness about the plight of Saharan wildlife and endangered addax and dama gazelles, as well as implementing solutions to create a sustainable a host of other species found in the Termit & Tin future for the wildlife and the people of the Sahara. Toumma region of Niger In 2016, the Center and the SCF celebrated some • The employment of community game guards remarkable achievements: On August 14, scimitar- to further engage local people and create horned oryx returned from extinction in the wild, ambassadors for wildlife conservation thanks to the reintroduction of nearly 75 oryx raised in human care in the United Arab Emirates “We’ve taken a leadership role in creating and to Chad’s Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve. supporting SCF to ensure that no other species Under the direction of the Republic of Chad and the marches quietly to extinction,” said Houston. “SCF Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi in UAE, SCF has has become the voice of the Sahara for conservation.” helped plan and implement this project.

30 Recently reintroduced scimitar-horned oryx 31 Center for Conservation in Western Asia

The Armenian viper is only found in the Armenian This Center’s scientists have been doing their part Highlands and Lesser Caucasus Mountains and by studying Armenian vipers for the past 13 years— is—at least for now—still on our planet, enriching analyzing their spatial ecology, genetic diversity and Armenia’s ecosystem and heritage. Just decades population structure. This information has ago, the Armenian viper was thriving, so much been used to increase the size of two protected so that it was considered “common.” Today the areas in Armenia. snake’s populations have dropped by 88 percent due primarily to overgrazing and other agricultural Establishing First Breeding Center activities destroying their habitat. And the Armenian viper is not alone. Another 10 species of amphibians The Center has also developed a successful breeding and reptiles native to Armenia are in danger of program for Armenian vipers at the Zoo, and staff extinction thanks to human impact. Ironically, it’s is applying what they have learned about captive now up to humans to save them. breeding to conservation work in Armenia. Center for Conservation in Western Asia Western in Conservation for Center Why should we care about this? From a practical The Saint Louis Zoo and its Armenian partners standpoint, each species plays a vital role in Earth’s are now establishing Armenia’s first conservation ecosystem. Snakes play an important role in both breeding center, which will concentrate on 11 managing rodent populations and serving as food for endangered species of amphibians and reptiles other animals in the food chain. When one of these native to Armenia. At this facility, the focus will be on species goes extinct, there is a disruption in the food breeding them and augmenting the wild populations chain. Rodents run rampant and spread disease. with offspring until populations are stable. Birds of prey that depend on snakes for food have “To be as ‘green’ as possible, we are renovating an to adjust their diets. These disruptions have a existing house to serve as the breeding center,” cascading effect on a multitude of animals—and said Dr. Ettling. Over the past year, contractors ultimately on humans. have created animal facilities in the lower level, and the first and second floor will house an office Studying Vipers and living space. Snakes can also benefit humans directly. The venom In addition to serving as a breeding facility, there from Armenian vipers, for instance, can be humanely will also be space for visiting field biologists to use a collected and was historically used as a blood- base of operation. Renovations should be complete clotting agent in surgery. Today synthetic clotting by mid-2017, and in 2018, the team will begin agents, based on the components in the venom, are establishing breeding populations of the Armenian used instead. viper, Darevsky’s viper and the Armenian steppe viper. Over time, programs for the other eight species “From an ethical standpoint, it is our responsibility as will be added. the caretakers of the earth to nurture our ecosystems and the other species that call them home,” said “We are confident that these programs will make a Center Director Jeff Ettling, Ph.D. Dr. Ettling is also significant difference for these endangered species,” Curator of Herpetology at the Saint Louis Zoo. Dr. Ettling added. “Our goal is to ensure zero “The harsh truth is thousands of species vanish extinction for Armenia’s reptiles and amphibians— from our planet each day, and many of us idly sit and that’s certainly nothing to hiss at!” by and watch.”

32 Armenian viper 33 Institute for Conservation Medicine

Epidemic or pandemic, whether it’s the Zika virus, of the archipelago, yet the health threats to these Ebola, swine or bird flu, these often-deadly species and the science behind their migration diseases share a common feature—they are zoonotic. patterns remain poorly understood. That is, they can be transmitted between people In addition to performing health assessments on and animals. these animals, the research team located and Scientists across disciplines are recognizing the downloaded data from some of the 85 giant tortoises role of infectious and noninfectious diseases as an with GPS devices that record the location of each increasing threat to the health of animals, humans tortoise every hour. and ecosystems. The Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine (ICM) has been working to Reaching Youth Institute for Conservation Medicine Conservation for Institute address the challenges of these interconnections since 2011. This research project also has a strong outreach component focused on translating research results In 2016, ICM staff did even more to share messages into something meaningful for local communities about conservation medicine and One Health, and policy makers while exposing local young people which stresses that only with experts from multiple to giant tortoises. In 2016, the team expanded disciplines working together can we protect the that initiative to the St. Louis region by using a health of all species and the environment. For the National Science Foundation grant to bring a vice past three years, medical, veterinary and ecology principal from the Ferguson-Florissant School students have come to the Zoo in April to talk about District to the Galápagos Islands. The trip gave One Health with thousands of visitors. In 2016, the school administrator a deeper understanding ICM Director Dr. Sharon Deem shared One Health of the project—knowledge she is sharing with and other conservation messages with students science teachers in her school district, where turtle and faculty at Westminster College, the University conservation is being incorporated into the science of Missouri - Columbia and Washington University curriculum at Little Creek Nature Center. School of Medicine, among others. The ICM and the Center for Conservation in Punta San Juan, Peru, brought Peruvian veterinarian Turtles, Tortoises and One Health and field biologist Dr. Paulo Colchao to St. Louis for The ICM team also continued a program that several months’ training at the ICM, the Saint Louis provides data to showcase the value of box turtles Zoo Bird Department and Department of Animal as sentinels for human and animal health. Health. He will also be working with Brookfield Zoo, The St. Louis Box Turtle Project engages students Kansas City Zoo and the University of Illinois to from elementary school to college in local field work. develop his veterinary skills and conduct research. These students help study box turtles in Forest Park, Over the past six years, ICM has hosted more than and they collect samples used for research. The 45 undergraduate and graduate/veterinary students turtle team compares and contrasts stress levels, and four international veterinarians, educating movement patterns and the health status across these scientists on the importance of conservation sites. In 2016, the team helped develop videos on medicine and One Health. this work for programs that are aired at children’s hospitals and for the general public. In 2016 Drs. Deem and Stephen Blake returned to the Galápagos Islands to continue their study of health and migration of the giant Galápagos tortoises. The Galápagos tortoise is an iconic symbol

34 Giant tortoise in the Galápagos 35 36 How is the WildCare Institute Funded? $20,589,962. base of $16,450,000has grown in value to been added to theendowment. Therefore, a four years of theInstitute’s operations have plus unspent WildCare funds from thefirst Anadditional anonymous $100,000 gift, (now the Saint Louis Zoo Association). from the Saint Louis Zoo Friends Association that was created in2003by a$16,000,000gift This amount is theharvest from theendowment Endowment. 49% Here are theamounts for each source: and Museum District. distributed by theMetropolitan Zoological Park LouisSt. City andCounty residents and came from tax revenues contributed by none of thefunds for the WildCare Institute sources shown here. It is important to note that The WildCare Institute has five primary funding initiatives to save wild things andwild places. conservation, but critical funding to pursue Institute includes not only ourpassion for Support for the Saint Louis Zoo’s WildCare financial support. requires not only agreat deal of work, but wildlife andfor people around theworld,” mission to “create asustainable future for Fulfilling the WildCare Institute’s ambitious WildCare Institute Funded? How is the

the WildCare Institute was $57,460. and attendees, thefinal amount that came to $45,000 but thanks to generous underwriters This event was budgeted to generate anet of the Institute was held onOctober 6,2016. The Wild Night for WildCare benefit to support Wild Night for WildCare. 3% the gift shops andthe generosity of our visitors. of the Zoo’s front-line staff infood service andin generated $95,000thanks to thediligent work The program was budgeted for $70,000but to support conservation with every purchase. guests anopportunity to donate anextra dollar Make Change for Conservation offers Zoo Change for Conservation. 7% breeding andconservation. Love Conservation Foundation for hellbender donation for 2016came from theEdward K. or specific center donor requests. Thenotable foundations are used to support eithergeneral Donations from individual donors and Donations. 14% around theglobe. all ages, but has field supported conservation not only delighted thousands of children of carousel, Mary AnnLee provided agift that has Through hergenerous donation to build the Lee Conservation Carousel go to conservation. These proceeds from ridership of theMary Ann Conservation Carousel. 27% Program support Wild NightforWildCar Memberships Conservation Graduate Student Director Support SaintLouis Zoo WildCareInstitute Expenses Income Conservation Car Overhead 3% 6% 1% 27% 3% 1% Total:$1.44million 7% ousel e Donations Total:$1.39million 14% Other 1% 7% Change forConservation 49% Endowment 81% activity for conservation Direct support 37 38 How the WildCare Institute Allocates its Resources on the Zoo’s ICM tortoise conservation and health project. Medicine (ICM) staff, onaNational Science Foundation Grant, to the Galápagos Islands where she worked with the Zoo team Ms. Shiela Carves, a vice-principal in the Ferguson-Florissant School District, traveled with the Institute for Conservation Conservation Federation of Missouri. the International Elephant Foundation andthe Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG), for theConservation of Nature (IUCN),the Examples include theInternational Union and support for, conservation organizations. and WildCare Institute’s membership in, Conservation memberships reflect the Zoo’s Conservation Memberships. 6% support. Institute Executive Director orotherstaff does not include thesalary of the WildCare $100,000 insalary costs. However, that amount a center. This percentage amounted to atotal of to spend 25percent of his orher timemanaging each conservation center director was expected When the WildCare Institute was established, Overhead. 7% Andean bears andothers. Ecuadorian amphibians, Asian elephants, okapi, centers, inaddition to conservation of field. These funds support the conservation activity inthefield, or is directly related to the budget goes for direct support for conservation Over 80percent of the WildCare Institute’s Conservation Activity. 81% Allocates its Resources How the WildCare Institute currently supports ascholar from Madagascar. the Harris World Ecology Center. This funding comes from agenerous gift by Anna Harris to our conservation centers. The other 50percent of Missouri-St. Louis, whois connected to oneof needed by agraduate student at theUniversity This item covers 50percent of thefunding Graduate1% Student. organizations andtravel expenses. includes membership fees inprofessional WildCare Institute Executive Director support 1% Director Support. Conservation Award ($3,500). and support for the Saint Louis Zoo’s conservation technology initiative ($20,000) This category includes start-up funding for a Other. 1% and postage costs ($5,000). visiting scientist support $($2,000) andphone ($20,000), support for agenetics lab ($4,000), for the WildCare Institute Executive Director for field work ($4,000),a part-time assistant ($5,000), marketing ($17,000),small equipment Program support includes evaluation workshops Program3% Support. Missouri, Galapagos, Kenya orMadagascar. of research in thefield at any of ourICM sites in These funds cover ICM staff salaries anddirect cost Conservation Science.94% on-campus ICMlaboratory andoffice. costs of bringing ICM-affiliated scientists to the Zoo’s Islands, Kenya orMadagascar. This also covers the to field sites that may beinMissouri, The Galápagos This lineitem covers thecost of travel for ICMstaff Travel. 5% staff memberships inconservation organizations. The conservation membership allocation covers ICM Memberships. 1% Medicine Allocates its resources: How theInstitute for Conservation annually. In2016,ICMreceived seven grants. ICM leadership submits anumberof proposals Grants. 30% conservation andhuman public health. are used to support ICMprojects focused onwildlife Donations from individual donors andfoundations Donations. 8% Health umbrella. internships under theconservation medicine andOne and masters of public health dual students have Health School, ICMhas funds to ensure that veterinary has with theUniversity of Missouri Masters of Public Under amemorandum of understanding that theICM Partners. 3% operations. in 2011,it was developed as aprogram vital to Zoo Zoo Operating Funds. When theICMwas launched Zoo Operating. 59% Museum District. distributed by theMetropolitan Zoological Park and contributed by LouisSt. City andCounty residents and None of ICM’s funding comes from tax revenues and humans inpursuit of theOneHealth philosophy. to study theinterrelated nature of diseases inanimals human health. ICMuses amultidisciplinary approach survival of wild animals but that also negatively affect growing disease challenges that not only threaten the endangered wildlife species. ICMalso addresses the known to affect theconservation of threatened and used its funding to focus research effortsondiseases Institute for Conservation Medicine (ICM)staff has Since its founding in2011,the Saint Louis Zoo’s Conservation Medicine Funded? How is theInstitute for

Institute for Conservation Medicine SaintLouis Zoo Memberships ICM Expenses ICM Income < 1% 30% Conservation Grants Donations 94% 8% Science Partners 5% Travel 3%

Total:$311,000 Total:$289,000 Zoo Operating 59% 39 Wild Night for WildCare Mrs. Hilda P. Jones Mrs. Walter F. Brissenden $999 - $250 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Hutton AAZK Detroit Thanks to the support of many donors, the Saint Louis Zoo is an Kansas City Zoo Mr. & Mrs. J. Curtis Engler Edward W. & Kay Jastrem international leader in wildlife conservation. Proceeds from Wild Lemur Conservation Foundation Mr. & Mrs. William Forsyth Accurate Disbursing Company, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth A. Johnson Night for WildCare—the second WildCare Institute benefit for Missouri Botanical Garden Frederick Pitzman Fund Mr. Lee Allen Stephen C. & Jody C. Jones conservation—help the Institute continue this important work. Naples Zoo Greater Los Angeles Zoo American Association of Mr. Patrick J. Kleaver More than 200 special guests and staff came to the Saint Louis Zookeepers Little Rock Chapter 2016 Honor Roll San Antonio Zoological Society Association Diane Kull Zoo on Thursday, October 6, for this special evening, where Arch City Title LLC attendees enjoyed appetizers, refreshments and desserts and Mr. & Mrs. Mahlon B. Wallace, III Ms. Carol S. Gronau Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey M. Levine Ms. Kathryn A. Aschenbrenner talked to Center directors about their work in saving some of the Zoo Atlanta Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Hoessle Lincoln Memorial University world’s most endangered species. Guests were also able to bid Mark & Becky Humphrey Dr. & Mrs. Norman N. Bein $9,999 - $5,000 Thomas Loughrey on region-specific auction items and give to specific Conservation Mr. Donald F. Bethmann Association of Zoos & Mr. Steven B. King Center needs throughout the evening. Jane Feigenbaum Morris Aquariums Mr. & Mrs. Brock M. Lutz Ms. Elizabeth A. Biddick Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Executive Director Dr. Eric Miller Cyril N. & Amy S. Narishkin Kaye A. Campbell-Hinson & Dr. Todd Margolis Leslie E. & Wendy B. Borowsky welcomed everyone into the Anheuser-Busch Theater before Mr. & Mrs. Joe Norton Phillip D. Hinson Ms. Vicki L. Brown introducing Carl Safina, Ph.D., New York Times best-selling author Maryland Zoological Society, Inc. Cleveland Zoological Society James L. & Lisa W. Nouss and noted conservationist. Dr. Safina shared stories of his travels Mr. & Mrs. Charles L. Merz Mrs. Betty K. Bucknell Detroit Zoological Society Dr. Gordon W. & Mrs. Susan B. and inspirational ideas on how each person can be involved Richard & Verla Mitchell Ms. Karla Carter Philpott to make the world safer and better for all of its inhabitants. He Mr. & Mrs. Derick L. Driemeyer Moody Gardens Michael & Susan Darcy Mr. & Mrs. William C. Rusnack highlighted the emotional connections that we have to animals FedEx Jeffrey T. & Holly Demerath and that animals have to us. Mr. & Mrs. Patrick J. Moore Dr. Robert R. & Mrs. Marsha A. Mr. & Mrs. Drew Franz Reid Park Zoological Society Mark A. & Barbara E. Doering Schlueter Mrs. Karen A. Goellner Mrs. William A. Sippy Ann Fischer Mrs. Marilyn A. Schnuck Dr. Virginia M. Herrmann William T. & Darlene Skaggs Mr. & Mrs. Matt Geekie Dr. & Mrs. Larry J. Shapiro Mr. & Mrs. Thomas M. Leiden Thomas & Betty Tyler James W. & Catherine Gidcumb Saint Louis AAZK Lighting Associates, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Van Trease Dean A. & Nancy C. Graves Edward A. & Viola J. Striker Network for Good Westminster College Mr. & Mrs. Harvey A. Harris Ms. Patricia Taillon-Miller Ms. Ingrid J. Porton Woodland Park Zoo Mr. & Mrs. J. Philip Hellwege Mrs. Constance V. R. White Mrs. Anita M. Siegmund Mrs. Sally Higgins Mr. Clarence A. Zacher Mr. & Mrs. James M. Snowden, Jr. Richard M. Hills Mrs. Susan O. Taylor *deceased From left, Keynote Speaker Carl Safina, Benefit Underwriter Jeanne The Phoenix Zoo Sinquefield and Jeffrey Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown President & CEO, $4,999 - $2,500 Saint Louis Zoo Akron Zoological Park Dickerson Park Zoo 2016 Honor Roll Mrs. Maureen K. Hamilton Happy Hollow Park & Zoo Jacksonville Zoological Society Major Gifts Special Gifts Mr. & Mrs. Ken Nettleton $999,999 - $750,000 $49,999 - $25,000 Harvard* & Patricia Hecker, Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. Sacramento Zoological Society Hecker Family Charitable Mr. Rex & Dr. Jeanne Sedgwick County Zoological Foundation Sinquefield Society, Inc. $249,999 - $100,000 Zoological Society of San Diego South Carolina Aquarium Edward K. Love Conservation Mrs. Maurita E. Stueck Foundation $24,999 - $10,000 Mr. & Mrs. Kevin C. Beckmann $2,499 - $1,000 The St. Louis Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK) donated a portion of their Animal Art sale Mrs. Ann L. Case Michael T. & Patricia T. Abbene proceeds to the endowment for the Saint Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute. Here to present the chapter’s first donation are Chicago Zoological Society Mr. A. Dale Belcher (from left) AAZK representatives Christy Poelker, Elena Almas and Katie Pilgram-Kloppe, Institute Executive Director Dr. Eric Miller and Jeffrey Bonner, Ph.D., Dana Brown President & CEO, Saint Louis Zoo, and AAZK’s Miranda Durfor, Emily Bowling, Jen Blackburn, Cassie Gruhala and Carolyn Kelly. 40 41 Center for Avian Health Center for Conservation in in the Galápagos Islands The Horn of Africa Charles Darwin Research Station Association of Zoos and Aquariums Des Lee Professorship in Zoological Studies at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium University of Missouri-St. Louis Communities of northern Kenya The Galápagos Conservancy Detroit Zoological Society Galápagos National Parks Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Genetics, Pathology, Epidemiology Laboratory Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Program of Galápagos Grevy’s Zebra Trust Leeds University Hirola Conservation Program Nature Study Center, University of Vilnius, Lithuania IUCN Antelope Specialist Group, Equid Specialist Group The Peregrine Fund Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy The Swiss Friends of Galápagos Kenya Wildlife Service The Zoological Society of London International Elephant Foundation

Conservation Partners/Grants Conservation Northern Rangelands Trust Center for Conservation MELCA-Ethiopia of Carnivores in Africa Mia Collis Photography Phoenix Zoo Ruaha Carnivore Project Princeton University Tanzania Carnivore Program Reid Park Zoo Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute Reid Park Zoo Teens Tanzania National Parks Association Sacramento Zoo The Zoological Society of London San Diego Zoo Global Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia Sera Rhino Sanctuary Cheetah Conservation Botswana University of Oslo Action for Cheetahs Kenya University of Wyoming Kenya Wildlife Service Zebra Pen Endangered Wildlife Trust South Africa Student researchers record data in a tent on the Galápagos Islands Painted Dog Conservation Zimbabwe Wildlife Conservation Society Institute for Conservation Medicine Charles Darwin Foundation Center for Conservation Ecology Project International Conservation Partners/Grants ESF State University of New York College of Environmental in Forest Park Science and Forestry Academy of Science-St. Louis Forest Park Forever A truly unique international collaboration has been formed that brings an unprecedented level of Forest Park Forever Fontbonne University conservation. WildCare Institute Partners number over 180. Below are partners for the Institute for Missouri Department of Conservation Galápagos National Park Conservation Medicine and for each of the centers for the year 2016. Saint Louis Art Museum Houston Zoo St. Louis Department of Parks International Livestock Research Institute Center for American Burying Beetle Center for Avian Conservation in the Washington University in St. Louis Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Mpala Research Centre Conservation Pacific Island Ron Goellner Center for Saint Louis University School of Medicine The Missouri Department of Conservation Association of Zoos and Aquariums Institutions Hellbender Conservation Tyson Research Center at Washington University in St. Missouri Department of Transportation Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Louis The Nature Conservancy Division of Fish and Wildlife Arkansas Game and Fish Commission United States Geological Survey Roger Williams Park Zoo Pacific Bird Conservation Missouri Department of Conservation University of Missouri – Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine U.S. Army (Fort Chaffee, AR) United States Fish and Wildlife Service Missouri State University University of Missouri – Columbia Masters of Public Health U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Missouri University of Science and Technology Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis United States Forest Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service University of Missouri-Columbia Westminster College

42 43 Center for Conservation Center for Saharan Wildlife Recovery Center Plzen Zoo Republic of Tunisia in Madagascar Native Pollinator Conservation AAZK-Dallas Zoo Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure Missouri Botanical Garden Ameren Missouri AAZK-Kansas City Zoo Sacramento Zoo University of Antananarivo Chicago Zoological Society (Brookfield Zoo) Abilene Zoo Safari Enterprises University of Missouri St. Louis Whitney R. Harris City of Florissant, MO Addax & Oryx Foundation Safari West World Ecology Center City of Saint Louis, MO Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort Sahara Conservation Fund University of Missouri - Columbia (Veterinary College Forest Park Forever AZA Conservation Endowment Fund Saint Louis AAZK and Animal Nutrition Department) Gateway Greening AZA Ratite Advisory Group Saint Louis Zoo Docents University of Tamatave Honey Bee Health Coalition AZA Antelope & Giraffe Advisory Group San Antonio Zoo Washington University in St. Louis IUCN SSC Bumble Bee Specialist Group Bamberger Ranch Preserve San Diego Zoo Global Thirty-one Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Berlin Zoo Sedgwick County Zoo member Institutions in addition to the Technology, Nairobi Kenya Beyond Motion Productions Smithsonian National Zoological Park Saint Louis Zoo: Kenya Wildlife Service Brevard Zoo Steadfast Engineering Managing Members ($10,000/year) Keystone Monarch Collaborative Bronx Zoo Stuttgart Zoo Cologne Zoo Missourians for Monarchs Brookfield Zoo Toledo Zoo Duke Lemur Center Missouri Botanical Garden Buffalo Zoo WAZA Lemur Conservation Foundation Missouri State Beekeepers Association Calgary Zoo West Midlands Safari Park Missouri Botanical Garden Missouri Department of Conservation Chester Zoo WildCRU Naples Zoo Missouri Department of Agriculture Cincinnati Zoo Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium Perth Zoo Missouri Department of Transportation Convention on Migratory Species The Wilds San Antonio Zoo Museum of Natural History, London Dachser Logistiks Woodland Park Zoo San Diego Zoo National Museum of Kenya (Nairobi, Kenya) Disney’s Animal Kingdom Zoo Atlanta Taipei Zoo The Nature Conservancy Dublin Zoo Zoo d’Amneville Zoo Zurich Nebraska Indian Community College Emirates’ Center for Wildlife Propagation Zoo de la Palmyre Zoological Society of London North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Erie Zoo Zoo Hannover Pollinator Partnership European Union Zoo Miami Sponsoring Members ($5,000/year) Saint Louis University Exotic Endeavors Zoo New England Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Tohono Chul Park (Tucson, Arizona) Exotic Wildlife Association Zoo Osnabrück Greenville Zoo University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial Zoo Praha Indianapolis Zoo Department of Entomology Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Zoo Zlin Lesna San Francisco Zoo USDA – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) – Logan Fresno Chaffee Zoo Zoological Society of London Utah’s Hogle Zoo Bee Lab Gilman International Conservation Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Zoo Leipzig Houston Family Center for Conservation The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Houston Zoo Contributing Members ($2,500/year) IGF in Western Asia Akron Zoo Center for Conservation John Ball Zoo Allwetter Zoo, Munster, Germany The Ministry of Nature Protection – Kansas City Zoo Republic of Armenia Cango Wildlife Ranch, South Africa in Punta San Juan, Peru Kolmarden Zoo National Academy of Sciences – Dickerson Park Zoo (Springfield, MO) Acquario di Cattolica, Italy La Fondation Internationale pour Republic of Armenia Isle of Wight Zoo (UK) Akron Zoo la Gestion de la Faune The Russian Academy of Sciences The Living Rainforest (UK) Alteris, Netherlands Le Pal Zoo Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology Seneca Park Zoo (Rochester, NY) Areas Costeras y Recursos Marinos (ACOREMA) Lisbon Zoo South Carolina Aquarium AZA Humboldt Penguin SSP Living Desert Tropical Butterfly House (UK) AZA Penguin Taxon Advisory Group Longleat Safari Park Ueno Zoo (Tokyo, Japan) The Brookfield Zoo Los Angeles Zoo Friends of the MFG (<$2,500/year) Centro Para La Sostenibilidad Ambiental Marwell Wildlife Maryland Zoo Colchester Zoo, Britain Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund Milwaukee County Zoo Dallas Zoo Mulhouse Zoo Sacramento Zoo Harewood Bird Garden, Britain Nashville Zoo Wellington Zoo (New Zealand) The Harris World Ecology Center North Carolina Zoo Heredia University Nurnberg Zoo Kansas City Zoo Oklahoma City Zoo Moody Gardens Oregon Zoo Sedgwick County Zoo Peace River Wildlife Refuge Woodland Park Zoo Philadelphia Zoo How You Can Help Can You How How You Can Help

2016 brought new opportunities to protect wildlife in wild places. Old threats remain, and new challenges must be addressed if conservationists across the world are to succeed in saving threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems. All of us have been entrusted to preserve and safeguard these animals and their habitats today and for future generations. As you have seen through this report, the Saint Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute has accomplished a great deal in 2016. This vital work has been undertaken and completed through strategic partnerships, staff expertise and passionate donors. We simply could not have done it without your help. Together we have the chance to make a lasting investment in preserving unique species and their native environments. By using the enclosed response envelope, you become a champion for conserving wild things in wild places. The WildCare Institute offers you an opportunity that many others do not – a way to support programs that help save wildlife directly – and cost effectively. It also offers many choices: You can give to a species that caught your eye, a story that made sense, or a conservation center that connected with your desire to see things made right – for an animal, an ecosystem or our world. Your gift to the Saint Louis Zoo’s WildCare Institute will make a difference today and for future generations. For more information on contributing to the work of the WildCare Institute, please visit stlzoo.org/wildcare or contact the Zoo’s Development Office at (314) 646-4691.

Photos by Christopher Carter, Bryan Denning, Chuck Dresner, Michael Macek, Ray Meibaum, Jane Padfield, Lauren Sage, Saharan Conservation Fund, Jay Sheinfield, Mia Sollis, Mark Wanner, Bill Webster, Robin 46 Grevy’s zebra Winkelman, Jeisson Zamudio and Christian Ziegler 47 Today. Tomorrow. Together. Animals Always.

Our Mission The WildCare Institute is dedicated to creating a sustainable future for wildlife and for people around the world.