Cosley Zoo 2013
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Message from the Zoo Director 1 Animal Welfare 3 Conservation 7 Education 11 People 17 Finance 23 Marketing Appendix 28 Message from the Zoo Director As you read through Cosley Zoo’s 2013 annual report, you will see many new and exciting things that were accomplished during the past year. Among these is the creation of a Nature Play Area. There is mounting evidence that the incorporation of unstructured nature play in children’s lives profoundly enhances their emotional, physical and mental development. Besides advancing child development, nature play will cultivate better stewards of the environment by creating a long term connection with nature. In addition to the Nature Play Area, the zoo undertook many other ventures including: A new type of program, “Bobcats Backstage”, which encouraged drop-in participation An increase in admission fees, generating more than $215,000, almost double the revenue earned in 2012 Expanded facility rental options, increasing revenue 60% to $25,907 A significant growth in the value of Junior Zookeeper, volunteer and intern service from $67,348 in 2012 to $94,028 While some accomplishments yield important financial rewards or have a positive impact on the environment, others produce priceless moments like those when a child touches a hedgehog for the first time. These moments, when children’s eyes light up with wonder and their fingers tremble in anticipation, will remain with them for a lifetime, serving as the beginning of a profound connection with nature and animals. All of these moments whether about finances, conservation or making connections, are important as we pursue our mission: To promote understanding of the relationship among humans, animals and the environment through recreation, education, and wildlife conservation. I invite you to share in Cosley Zoo’s many accomplishments in the following pages of the 2013 annual report. Susan L. Wahlgren Cosley Zoo Director 1 2 Animal Welfare our primary focus Managing the zoo’s animal collection, planning works with our collection animals to teach them special events and educational opportunities, behaviors that encourage physical activity, are keeping the facility clean and well-maintained, mentally stimulating, and reduce their stress and providing revenue-generating activities are during routine medical procedures. Examples just a few of the activities zoo staff participates of significant training accomplishments in 2013 in on a daily basis. The guiding force behind all included the following: of these activities is our dedication to the Training the bobcats to open their welfare of the animals in our collection. mouths on cue so keepers can view their teeth Taking care of a collection of animals is a huge Training a Great Horned Owl to responsibility, and one that Cosley Zoo takes voluntarily participate in a medical very seriously. The field of animal welfare is a exam without being restrained complex, evolving science which includes Training the American Kestrel and Great nutrition, health care, training, enrichment, and Horned Owl to participate in off-site exhibit design. It also affects the visitor programs experience; research shows that the main Training one of the Red Foxes to reason people return to zoos and aquariums is voluntarily stand on a scale and enter a seeing well-cared for animals in facilities whose crate concern for the animals’ well-being is obvious. Training the sheep to come inside their Cosley Zoo’s staff is dedicated to constantly barn stall on cue, greatly decreasing learning about best practices for animal care their stress during times when the and continually providing the best possible sheep need to be locked indoors, as environment for the animals that depend upon well as staff time needed to move the us. sheep. In June 2013, Zoo Director Susan Wahlgren and Animal Collection Supervisor Angie Dosch attended the 2nd International Symposium on Zoo Animal Welfare, which was held at Brookfield Zoo. Animal welfare researchers presented on a variety of topics which included the effect of human-animal relationships on animal welfare, how to build and re-invent engaging exhibit spaces, and how to use animal behavioral assessments to determine the state of the animal’s well-being. The 40 speakers were experts from around the world, hailing from countries including Australia, England, Zookeeper Jenny Rudnick-Volz trained Jake, the Red Fox, to enter a Argentina, and Scotland. crate on cue. Training Conducting animal training sessions is a major component of each zookeeper’s day, and directly impacts animal welfare. Zoo staff 3 Health larger spaces allow for more social interactions Zoo staff monitors the health of our collection as well of the addition of larger “furniture” such animals throughout every day, 365 days per as branches and planters. year. Additionally, animals receive regular health exams from our consulting veterinarians. Enrichment The veterinarians also review our preventative Providing enrichment to the animals is another health care program annually to ensure part of our zookeepers’ daily routine, and an compliance with industry standards. important component of animal welfare. By placing new items in our animals’ environment, Another aspect of animal health care is being we are encouraging them to exhibit species- prepared to respond in the event of a disease specific behavior and providing them with outbreak. Zoo Director Susan Wahlgren, along opportunities for exercise and sensory with the zoo’s veterinarians, attended “Flu at stimulation. An enrichment item can be as the Zoo II”, a workshop hosted by the US simple as a spice sprinkled in an exhibit or as Department of Agriculture at the Illinois Farm complex as a large puzzle feeder. Bureau in Bloomington, Illinois. The exercise focused on using the Incident Command System developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to a potential outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which could quickly decimate a facility’s bird population and put humans at risk of serious illness. In addition to the workshop, Cosley Zoo participated in an internet-based tabletop exercise simulating an avian influenza outbreak One of Cosley Zoo’s Turkey Vultures examines the jack-o’-lantern it at our own facility. These experiences, which was given for enrichment. involved participation from all Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos and Animal care staff regularly submits ideas for aquariums in Illinois, not only helped to new enrichment items. Animal care interns are formulate a response in the event of an actual also required to submit proposals for disease situation, but also to develop an enrichment items as part of their final project. understanding of the ICS. In order to reduce costs, staff and interns are encouraged to submit ideas for items that can Environment be constructed onsite for minimal cost or by In 2012, the Parks Department renovated the using repurposed materials. exterior aviary cages, combining smaller cages together to give the birds more room and Zookeeper Melanie Kuse helped to find material providing additional opportunities for perching. for enrichment items by writing an article for In 2013, Cosley Zoo’s maintenance staff did the the Cosley Tails newsletter entitled “PVC: Not same with the aviary’s holding cages in which Just for Plumbing”. Her article described the the birds reside when they are off exhibit. different types of enrichment items that can be Because several of our collection birds are made from PVC pipe, and asked for donations. migratory and therefore spend the winter in Guests donated both PVC fragments and a gift these holding cages, this renovation greatly certificate to a home improvement store. In improved the birds’ daily living space. The 4 addition, Peoria Zoo donated retired fire hose, Behavioral Observations Animal Care interns which was also used for making enrichment. regularly conduct behavioral observations of the zoo’s animals. Observations consist of watching an animal for a specified time and recording the behaviors it exhibits. Doing these observations can help zoo staff to determine whether exhibit modifications or certain types of behavioral enrichment need to be provided in order to encourage our animals to behave in as natural a manner as possible. Notable Acquisitions Cosley Zoo staff carefully follows an established collection plan when considering the acquisition of new animals in order to ensure appropriate social groupings and space for the animals in our collection. In 2013, we welcomed several new additions, which Raccoons investigate enrichment made from fire hose. included: Shetland Pony Additionally, staff offered visitors an Hedgehogs opportunity to make their own enrichment at Nubian Goat the zoo’s Enrichment Table several times in Pekin Ducks 2013. For a small fee, guests created an Blue Jay enrichment item for the animal of their choice, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and watched while the item was enjoyed by the Cedar Waxwing animals. This activity helps to educate visitors Great Blue Heron about the importance of enrichment while Blue Dart Frogs providing them with an entertaining experience Cobalt Dart Frogs and raising funds for the zoo. Blue Dart Frogs Cobalt Dart Frogs Numbers and Types of Animals in Cosley Zoo’s Collection (as of 12/31/13) Number of groups Animal Group Number of species Number of specimens (populations too numerous to count) Amphibians 4 9 0 Birds 30 85 0 Invertebrates 4 1 3 Mammals 15 32 0 Reptiles 9 16 0 Total 62 143 3 5 6 Conservation making a difference Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Project financial support for the Blanding’s Turtle Head The Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Project Start Program. continues to be the primary focus of Cosley Zoo’s conservation efforts. This program is a FrogWatch USA partnership between multiple organizations This citizen science program, managed by AZA, including the Forest Preserve District of DuPage provides participants with the training County, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, necessary to recognize the calls of local frogs Brookfield Zoo, and St.