ANIMALS OF THE NIGHT EXHIBIT WILL BE CLOSED FOR CLEANING & UPGRADES. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we are excited to update the homes for our nocturnal animals. Animals of the Night will be closed for the month of January. Please keep an eye on our social media channels for any updates. P.05 P.08 CREATURE FEATURE: KEEPER FEATURE: FRANCOIS’ LANGUR ALLISON BRUNNER When you round the corner of our Where are you from originally? My family CHINA exhibit, you will meet the ... has lived in O'Fallon IL, near St Louis ...
P.11 P.14 IN THE NEWS: SAVING A SPECIES: JA RAFFE GIANT PANDA Grizzlies’ Ja Morant visits baby giraffe Since Le Le and Ya Ya arrived in 2003, named Ja-Raffe, after him, at ... Memphis Zoo has played a role in a ... CONTENTS
3 / EXZOOBERANCE FRANCOIS’FRANCOIS’ LANGURLANGUR
When you round the corner the troop will assist in helping care for other langurs’ young. It is a behavior called allomothering or of our CHINA exhibit, you “aunting”. will meet the largest Everyday our troop gets a different kind of plant to Francois’ langur troop in the browse on, in addition to their other diet items that United States. Memphis Zoo include large amounts of leafy greens. In addition to is home to nine langurs. Our greens, our troop enjoys a sweet potato. troop was established in They are considered endangered in the wild, with a population that is declining. Langurs are threatened by 2003 when our CHINA agriculture, hunting, logging, and illegal pet trading. exhibit opened to the public. “Something we can do here in Memphis is buying local! When we purchase goods produced close to home, it This Asian-native monkey was named means less energy and resources are used to move after the French Consul in China who those items around. This helps all wildlife, “said langur discovered the species. These unique keeper Rachel Peters. animals are known for their distinct facial markings – their faces are Memphis Zoo is home to Tanah, Jay Jay, Jean Grey, completely black except for the two Raven, Rook, Ripley, Reagan, Reese, and the newest white strips of fur along both baby Reed. mandibles from mouth to ears. The hair “The kids love to play by running, jumping, chasing, on the top of their heads also and swinging all throughout the habitat. Tanah is resembles a mohawk. Along with their frequently seen being groomed by her children, distinguishable facial features, these especially Raven who is a mama’s girl. Jay Jay is the monkeys are also known for their long watchful protector of his family and often sits high up tails which help as they jump from tree in the habitat for a good view of all the shenanigans. to tree in the wild. Langurs are small And best of all, guests can watch new baby Reed animals. The males typically only weigh explore! Every day he gets more comfortable with his up to about 16 pounds and the females gangly arms and legs and spends more time causing can weigh up to 12 pounds mischief, mostly by jumping on his unsuspecting Langur babies are born entirely bright siblings and friends,” said Peters. orange and their color changes to The group is on exhibit all day but is more active when black as they mature. It is believed that the weather is cooler. In extreme heat they are given langur babies are born orange so that access to their air-conditioned rooms. the troop understands it is a baby and that it must be cared for. Females in Next time you are at the Zoo, come by and say “hello” to our troop.
4 / EXZOOBERANCE Eco-friendly New Year’s Resolutions It is a new year, which means a lot of us have come up with some resolutions. Memphis Zoo’s Green Team has some simple ways you can make your 2021 a little eco-friendlier.
1 Switch to reusable shopping bags It is believed we use up to 100 billion plastic bags every year, and most of those plastic bags are tricky to recycle, ending up in a landfill. Shopping with reusable bags is an easy way to stop pollution and help our environment.
Go Paperless 2 According to a study by University of Southern Indiana, Americans will go through 85 million tons of paper in one year. Fortunately, there are many ways you can choose to go digital— whether it is your bills or receipts from the stores you shop at. Going paperless can help with organization but can also help with the environment.
3 Shop Local Shopping local not only helps the environment, but it also helps the communities we live in. By shopping locally, you can help curb the resources and energy needed for transportation and packaging at big box stores. When shopping at local grocery stores and farmer’s markets, it is likely you will get fresher produce too. A win, win!
4 Make your meals from scratch and meal plan You can reduce your diet’s impact on the planet by changing the way you eat. Processed, packaged convenience foods are drowning in wasted energy, oil, water, and trees. These meals also lack in nutritional value. When possible choose meat, fruits and vegetables that are organic. Cooking in bulk is also helpful when it comes to this resolution. Your wallet, waist and the environment will thank you for it!
5 Invest in a reusable water bottle or cup. This is a great way to stay hydrated, reduce plastic use and help the planet. Metal or glass is best to avoid any BPA toxins. Choose a bottle or cup with some fun designs to show off your personality.
5 / EXZOOBERANCE KEEPER FEATURE: ALLISON BRUNNER
Where did you go to college and what was your major? I attended the University of Denver in Colorado. I got my BS in Biology. Like I said, I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I didn't know in what capacity. So I worked towards a more general degree that would hopefully give me the most options.
What is your favorite species to work with at the zoo? Where are you from originally? The "favorite animal" question is the My family has lived in O'Fallon, IL, hardest. I like all the animals I work with, (near St Louis) for the last 15 years so for different reasons. The large, that's where I consider home. charismatic animals like the big cats, hippos, and okapi are always fun to work Where did you work before the with but I'm learning about the joys of Memphis Zoo? working with some smaller, more obscure The last zoo I worked before Memphis animals. Milly, our Kirk's Dik-dik, is a little was the Denver Zoo, but I took a big hoofed angel that I've been spending a lot break before joining this team while of time with building a relationship. getting my master's degree. What do you like to do in your free time? What department do you work in? I binge watch a lot of TV. But I also like to I work in Zambezi and Cat Country. craft sewing and cross-stitching. I've also been trying to spend more time in my How long have you been a kitchen, learning to cook new things. zookeeper? I've worked in zoos since 2014, but Do you have any pets? this is my first full-time keeper I have a cat named Laney. She loves that I position. I was hired in March 2020 work at a zoo because I come home full-time. smelling like all sorts of strange things.
Have you always wanted to work What is your advice for anyone that with animals? wants to be a zookeeper? Yes! I knew from a young age that I This field is competitive so my advice wanted to work with animals, but I would be to be persistent and never give really didn't know how. It wasn't until up. If this is what you want to do, keep about halfway through college, when I working hard and applying until did my first internship, that I found I something happens. Stay positive and wanted to be a zookeeper. After keep in contact with former interviewers starting my first internship I just could and ask for feedback on how you can not see myself doing anything else. improve for the future.
6 / EXZOOBERANCE 7 / EXZOOBERANCE Photography by Phillip Van Zandt
8 / EXZOOBERANCE Photography by Phillip Van Zandt
9 / EXZOOBERANCE Photography by Phillip Van Zandt
10 / EXZOOBERANCE WANT TO SEE EXCLUSIVE MEMPHIS ZOO CONTENT? Follow our Zoo Dude on social media for an inside look at our amazing animals. Need a laugh? Check out his dad jokes too.
@realzoodude
CROCS REALLY DON'T EAT THAT MUCH! Typically our crocs will eat only a chicken throughout the week! They don't need much, because they aren't very active!
Check out their feedings for yourself at 10:30 on Saturdays!
11 / EXZOOBERANCE IN THE NEWS: JA MORANT VISITS JA-RAFFE
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant visits baby giraffe named Ja-Raffe, after him, at Memphis Zoo.
“NBA’s Ja Morant gets baby giraffe named after him ... Meet Ja Raffe!!! Ja“ Morant meets Ja Raffe. Never has there been such a Memphis“ Zoo names newborn giraffe “Ja Raffe” after Grizzlies bond between a man star Ja Morant. and a giraffe.
12 / EXZOOBERANCE Saving A Species: Giant Panda By Beth Roberts, Senior Conservation Biologist
Since Le Le and Ya Ya arrived in 2003, Memphis Zoo has played a role in a consorted worldwide effort to research and conserve giant pandas in the wild and captivity. Samples containing our Le Le’s genetics have been collected every few years during the breeding season and stored frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196° Celsius for over 10 years in some cases. Our Frozen Zoo bank currently holds Le Le samples from 2007 through 2019. Collection efforts from Le Le are a team process consisting of a collaboration between three Memphis Zoo departments—Animal Care, Veterinary, and Research staff and visiting scientists from China. After the samples are collected it takes researcher an additional 3-5 hours to process, package, and freeze the samples in thin, sealed, plastic straws in liquid nitrogen. Samples collected and stored in this way have been used to successfully produce giant panda cubs around the world. Le Le’s genetic line is unrepresented in the captive population and therefore valuable. In early December, Memphis Zoo’s Research Team prepared to ship 96 samples to China. The samples are held for long-term storage in liquid nitrogen, which is too dangerous to use when transporting in a plane or truck. Therefore, to ship the samples to the Shanghai Zoo, we transferred them to a specialized container called a “dry shipper” that can maintain -196°C (Degrees symbol looks like zero here as well) for only a short period, but is safe for travel. The samples were then shipped to China by way of FedEx. The movement of the samples from the liquid nitrogen storage into the dry shipper is always a bit tenuous as the straws are so thin, they can start to thaw and pop seals within seconds of hitting room temperature air.
Shipping is also worrisome because the container can only maintain the correct temperature for only 10-12 days, but must travel for nearly 48 hours and go through multiple customs checks to be cleared to enter China. Once we transferred all the straws, attached the paperwork, locked the container down, and watched the FedEx van drive away, we could only bite our nails and refresh the tracking updates several times a day. 5 days later we finally heard the good news from our colleagues in China that the samples were safe and transferred to their long-term storage tanks.
We are all hoping to hear within the next few years that Le Le is the father of several cubs produced in China. Le Le is 22 years old and is an amazing giant panda. We are all very excited to play a small role in sending his genetics across seas to continue to conserve and grow the giant panda population.
13 / EXZOOBERANCE Contributions
The following friends are gratefully acknowledged for their thoughtful gifts made October 1 through November 30, 2020
NEW CAPITAL GIFTS Gift Received in Honor of Gifts Received in Memory of ($250 and above) Felicia Knightly, DVM Anna Christine Powless Anonymous Max B. Ostner, Jr. Jerry and Judy Shore Linda Moore Byrne and Kimberlee Whitehead Andrew Olney Gift Received in Honor of Robert Thornton Tabitha Ottiwell ANNUAL FUND GIFTS ($250 and above) Laney and Andrew Simonton Gifts Received in Memory of Anonymous Darla Todd Mr. and Mrs. Michael Browne Gift Received in Honor of Van Harris Carol Prentiss Sylvia Viglietti Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation Constance Scott Kelly and Sharon Truitt Kelly and Sharon Truitt Gift Received in Memory of Byrne and Kimberlee Whitehead “Tyranza” MEMORIALS OTHER GIFTS Van Harris Van Harris Gift Received in Memory of Don and Amy Wilson All The Animals of the Earth Gifts Received in Memory of Zachary West Jenny Wilson HONORARIUMS Gift Received in Memory of Marcia Emerson Gift Received in Honor of Patty Eanes Don and Amy Wilson Amber Blair Carolyn Murphy Andy Wong Gift Received in Memory of Gift Received in Honor of Donna Jennings Scott Forman Van Harris Jerry and Judy Shore Gift Received in Memory of Gift Received in Honor of James McDonald Roy Horn Craig and Sheryl Brown Beverly Rogers Gift Received in Memory of Gift Received in Honor of “Paul” Corey Hughes Van Harris Tyler Olson
14 / EXZOOBERANCE ColorColor Ja-Ra eJa-Ra e
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