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July | August 2021 AFRICA TRAIL: Breaking Ground The Making of a ZOO PROGRAM ANSWERING THE CALL features 4 | Africa Trail: Breaking Ground 8 | Answering the Call Zoo-Lympics Art on the Wild Side 10 | Goin’ for the Gold Photo by Paul Gill Art on the Wild Side September 10, 2021 – January 31, 2022 16 Conservation by the Numbers During regular Zoo hours | Nutella’s Breakfast with the Animals How to Make a World-Class Zoo September 25 & 26 | 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (each day) 26 | Education Program HOURS get closer June 1 – August 31, 2021 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Daily) | 6 a.m. (Member Early Entry) Animal Awareness 22 Plan Your July 4, 11, 18, 25 14 | Days | Adventure Cruise the Zoo (closed to foot traffic) Please note: Encounters, tours and experiences are not open until general public hours. Also, we do our What’s in Store Wild Child best to have the majority of our animals in their habitats 20 | 28 | by opening time, but this cannot be guaranteed. ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Stephen Fisher | Chair Phil Petersen | Past Board Chair Heidi Berger | Vice Chair, Finance and Treasurer Yvonne A. Betts | Vice Chair, Board Development Kris Yamano | Vice Chair, Financial Development John Hoopes | Vice Chair, Outcomes Larry Fink | Secretary Dear Zoo Friends, Cynthia Aguilar Michael Johnson Summer in the Valley of the Sun is here again and we’re doing our part Brian Baehr Craig Krumwiede to make your Zoo visit as comfortable as possible. Our summer hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., with gates opening at 6 a.m. for members. The cooler Marty Barrett Dawn Meidinger morning hours provide more opportunities to see our animals when they Jean C. Bingham John C. Norling are the most active. Our splash pads are open and you can enjoy lunch in Michael Blaire Stephen M. Ochoa the air conditioned Savanna Grill. Each Sunday through July you can Cruise Richard B. Burnham Harry Papp the Zoo from the comfort of your car, as the Zoo will be closed to foot Trustee Emeritus traffic on those days. Theresa Chacopulos Karen Peters Michelle Clarke Susie Sherman Now that our additional parking lot is complete, we’re using this summer JoEllen Doornbos to do a long-overdue renovation of our main parking lot. Thanks to the Trustee Emeritus Amber Vestal City of Phoenix, our parking lot will be resurfaced and new trees will be Julie Gable Gabrielle Vitale planted to provide much needed shade. We’ll be adding a couple of nice, David Haworth Maja Wessels new walking pathways to the front of the Zoo and new, updated lighting Trustee Emeritus Linda Hayes throughout the lot. SRP will be sponsoring the addition of 20 electric car charging stations, as well. WILD TIMES STAFF Ben York | Editor, Phoenix Zoo As you’ll read in this issue of “Wild Times,” we’re moving forward with our plans on our largest addition to the Zoo since it began. The new Africa Christine Boisen Associate Editor, Phoenix Zoo | exhibit will feature new habitats for African lions, hyenas, leopards and Corey Little | Graphic Designer, Phoenix Zoo meerkats. The new exhibit will be located across from the existing fennec David Wagner | Cover Photo fox exhibit on the north side of the current Africa Trail and be designed to 602.286.3800 | General Information represent an African town with a vibrant arts culture. 602.914.4333 Call Center | If you’re in town this summer, please consider coming out for an early 602.914.4328 | Fax morning at the Zoo! Sincerely, phoenixzoo.org Norberto (Bert) J. Castro 455 N. Galvin Parkway | Phoenix, AZ 85008 President /CEO Arizona Center for Nature Conservation / Phoenix Zoo This fall, the Phoenix Zoo will break and manages breeding of all endangered ground for an exciting expansion of our species in zoos worldwide allowing for beloved Africa Trail. This will be the Zoo’s sustainable population management by largest capital project to date, spanning preserving genetic diversity in ex-situ six acres and resulting in an immersive (outside of the wild) populations. experience named Predator Passage. Featuring meerkat, leopard, warthog and SHOWING OUR PRIDE a mixed lion and hyena habitat, our Africa Lion and Hyenas experience will be among the best in the One of the most anticipated features of country. “We are continuing our efforts Predator Passage is the 1-acre combined AFRICA TRAIL: to make the Phoenix Zoo, the world-class African lion and hyena habitat. This institution that our community and the unique area will feature rotational yards world’s wildlife deserve,” enthuses CEO with two separate living spaces that BREAKING GROUND Bert Castro. either lions or hyenas may inhabit on any given day. This will create a dynamic ince 2016, some significant improvements have been made at the Phoenix Zoo such as Beyond enhancing guest experiences and opportunity to discuss lion and hyena our new Doornbos Discovery Amphitheater and the expansion of our elephant habitat, strengthening educational offerings, the relationships and establish built-in SGiants of the Asian Realm. Though these may seem like independent projects, they are Africa Trail expansion allows for further behavioral enrichment for both. Guests actually part of a bigger picture – an expansive, multi-year fundraising effort known as the Pride participation in the international Species will always be able to encounter these Campaign. Through the generous support of donors and the focused dedication of staff, five Survival Plan® (SSP®). Developed in 1981 spectacular animals through an expansive projects over the past five years have reached completion – yet we’re not done yet. There is and overseen by the Association of Zoos glass viewing area offering two unique one more project left in this $14 million capital campaign and it’s truly the jewel in the crown. & Aquariums (AZA), the SSP® monitors viewpoints. 4 cJuly | August 2021 Wild Times Digital PRIDE CAMPAIGN Your Weekend Deserves Though hyena populations in the wild are stable, They are solitary by nature so the habitat will PROJECTS the African lion hasn’t been so fortunate. Today feature a single Amur leopard who will no doubt be Johnson Conservation Center Expansion there are only about 20,000 wild lions left, a a guest favorite and inspire important conservation ® Sand Cat Habitat decrease from 200,000 over the past 100 years. messaging through keeper talks, tours and species- They are extinct in 26 African countries and have related signage. Aldabra and Galapagos Tortoises’ Habitats NUTELLA! vanished from over 90% of their historic range. It Doornbos Discovery Amphitheater Meerkat is a heartbreaking situation but our participation Giants of the Asian Realm in SSP® is an exciting opportunity for African lion Get ready for meerkat-mania! These active, highly Join us for an exclusive new Africa Trail Expansion – Predator Passage breeding to help raise awareness of their wild social creatures are among the most entertaining of morning event – counterparts and the vital need for conservation. Africa’s small mammals. Our meerkat colony (known as a “mob”) are assured to provide guests with SPOT THE NEW SPECIES an opportunity to witness this diminutive species’ TOP DONORS They say a leopard never changes its spots, but the energetic antics and highly evolved social structure. $1,000,000 & ABOVE Phoenix Zoo certainly does. We are bringing Philip and JoEllen Doornbos in several fascinating new species for guests COMPLETING THE JOURNEY Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation to discover. Estimated completion of Predator Passage will be Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust in the fall of 2022, ending a six-year journey that Amur Leopard has produced incredible enhancements as we strive Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Though native to Asia, the Amur leopard is a to exceed guest expectations. close relative of the African leopard and has $500,000 – $999,999 been designated as a suitable counterpart by the There is always a lot of pride at the Phoenix Zoo. Gila River Indian Community AZA. Critically endangered with fewer than fifty And as we move towards the closure of our Pride individuals estimated in the wild, the Zoo has Campaign, we know there will be even more. agreed to play a major role in the Amur Leopard Pride in our generous donors, our committed staff, $250,000 – $499,999 SSP® in an effort to save these beautiful animals our loyal guests and pride in the knowledge that Esther M. Crabtree Trust from extinction. together, we can create a better world for wildlife. Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Saturday, September 25 Hazel A. Hare Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation Sunday, September 26 McMeekin Trust 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (each day) Arthur L. Pearce II Reservations required Phoenix Zoo Auxiliary Join our journey… share our pride. Enjoy a special breakfast ® Consider making a gift and helping the buffet with Nutella and animal Zoo during the final phase of fundraising presentations! for The Pride Campaign. Naming The breakfast buffet will feature animal-shaped opportunities begin at $1,000. pancakes with fresh berries and topped with Nutella®, an overnight chia pudding parfait For further questions, and a Victorian pull-apart muffin drizzled with please contact Lorraine Frias, Nutella® and roasted hazel nuts. Vice President of Development at 602.914.4322 or [email protected]. 6 cJuly | August 2021 Wild Times Digital ANSWERING THE CALL WorkingWork in Animal Conservation Goes Beyond the Zoo A wedding like no other... ne of the best things about working at After about 20 minutes, the lesser nighthawk landed the Phoenix Zoo is that every day is a on a stack of paper towels and Mike was able to O different adventure.