2017-18 Annual Report President’S Letter
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2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT PRESIDENT’S LETTER The Tulsa Zoo celebrated 90 years of conserving wild Additionally, we completed an overhaul of our giraffe species and wild places by delivering on the promise care area. The Osage Casino & Hotel Giraffe Barn of the zoo master plan, earning another five-years of opened on World Giraffe Day with $1 million in accreditation and living our animal, conservation and privately funded improvements. Beyond the cosmetic, education mission. the renovations directly improve our ability to care for an expanding herd, just in time for the arrival of The zoo’s gates first opened in September of 1928, male giraffe Ohe. thanks to Tulsa Parks Superintendent Will O. Doolittle and his proposal to create a zoo infused with When asked why zoos matter, I have a simple answer. conservation ideals. Doolittle believed a zoo would Because animals matter. As a proud member of the aid in preserving many species of native mammals, Association of Zoos & Aquariums community, we birds, and reptiles that were approaching extinction. continually ask whether we are doing the best for the species in our care and for the wild spaces they Your zoo started humbly with 35 animals and a inhabit. We invest time and dollars in caring for our promise to provide a properly planned and maintained animals and in conservation efforts at home and collection of living animals to offer an educational across the globe. Collectively, accredited zoos and experience for the public. Today’s Tulsa Zoo is home aquariums give more than $220 million in support of to more than 400 species and has been continuously conservation projects each year. accredited for 40 years by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Tulsa Zoo at 90 will continue to evolve and invest, research and educate, learn, and love our animal The fiscal year commenced with the newly opened ambassadors, all thanks to your support. Lost Kingdom, the first major project of our master plan. This immersive, Asian-inspired series of indoor and outdoor exhibits is the embodiment of our commitment to building a bigger, better zoo. I’m proud to say this new complex contributed to our second- Terrie Correll, highest attendance in 90 years, I believe because “WHEN ASKED WHY ZOOS MATTER, President and CEO providing the best in animal welfare creates a better I HAVE A SIMPLE ANSWER. Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. BECAUSE ANIMALS MATTER.” guest experience. Terrie Correll 1 BUSINESS OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATION Despite a record cold April and a record warm Our food and retail contract actual income for the With education core to our mission, the Tulsa Zoo zoo field. Seventy-five teens (ages 13-17) applied for May, admissions net revenue reached $2,261,848, year was $702,116, a result of an increase in the focuses on programs that help our guests and our this year’s Zoo Teen program. After completing the a $40,000 increase over the prior fiscal year. number of catered events and the addition of new community put their environmental education interview, selection and training process, 31 teens Membership revenue broke the annual record with guest options at the Ann and Jack Graves Komodo into action. Our 2,347 programs reached 116,352 participated in the program. $1,686,727. The revenue success in membership can Canteen, and the George Kaiser Family Foundation participants throughout the regoin and neighboring states. TZMI continued partnerships with area organizations be attributed to an increase in annual dues in January, Rajan’s located inside the Lost Kingdom exhibit such as the University of Tulsa, Tulsa Regional STEM the continued partnership with Mathis Brothers complex. From toddlers to grandparents, staff was able to teach Alliance, YMCA, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Glass Blowing offering discounted family memberships during the all ages about animals and the natural world through Studio, the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, and month of May, and the introduction of the Friends Each year the zoo hosts fundraising events like camps, overnights, outreaches, new classes, on-grounds several other local organizations to provide joint level of membership, a membership level targeting HallowZOOeen, WALTZ on the Wild Side and St. programs and special events. STEM programming such as SENSEsational Science young adults and other non-traditional families. John Zoo Run. HallowZOOeen was our second- Teacher Professional Development, What Inspires You, Our Zoo2U and U2Zoo formal outreach and on-site and the YMCA Summer GO programs. highest attended on record, at 21,039. More than education programs continued to be popular. Our staff The Tulsa Zoo continues to be a popular location 2,700 runners participated in the family run, St. John presented 193 programs to 6,210 participants from We celebrated the seventh year of our popular Zoo for private events. For two consecutive years private ZooRun. And our red carpet themed WALTZ raised different schools and organizations. Summer Camp. Because the past two summers saw events has exceeded $1 million in earned income. more than $215,000. 100 percent capacity, we will add additional camp Along with many new and returning company picnics, The Cox Communications Nature Exchange hosted sessions to accommodate demand. award luncheons and birthday parties, the zoo hosted 23,398 visitors and educated 1,016 active traders during 1,822 trades. Both parents and teachers use Together TZMI’s 130 active adult volunteers donated large events for Saint Francis Health System and Tulsa DREAMNIGHT the no-cost Cox Communications Nature Exchange 8,866 hours of their time. The volunteers educated Community College. The zoo hosted (at no cost to participants) the as an educational resource and incorporate it into guests of all ages about the natural world, assisted fifth annual Dreamnight, an exclusive evening lesson plans. On-grounds interpretive education and many departments during special events and high for families of children with disabilities, with partners The Little Light House, Happy Hands specialized educational programming consisted of 221 traffic times, completed special projects, and worked Education Center, Wright Elementary Deaf programs that reached 83,262 participants. regularly in several areas on grounds. Education Program, and Special Kids Care. Our Zoo Teen program provided opportunities for teens to learn from hands-on experiences in the Dream FIELD TRIPS: Night YAY! 3 STATES MISSOURI 6 1 9 OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS ARKANSAS CHRIS HAMPTON 15,757 ½ PRICE ADMISSION CHRIS HAMPTON TITLE ONE SCHOOLS 80% 1 9 14,195 2 9 , 9 5 2 S C H O O L FREE STUDENTS DISTRICTS ADMISSION 2 3 CONSERVATION, GREEN PRACTICES AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS Our conservation program Lasya, a female snow leopard who supports initiatives that was equipped with a GPS collar in have a clear and positive the long-term study. impact on threatened species and their ecosystems. We support, facilitate and conduct scientific advancement in the life sciences to improve animal care, and are committed to Tulsa Zoo supports local conservation efforts with on-grounds waystations reduce the impact on the and aiding community programs. environment by embracing green We helped the Berdiri Foundation build an electric fence to stop wild practices in everyday operations. This pigs from feeding on the vegetation needed by the conservation center’s fiscal yearwe contributed $76,500 elephants. Meet Omo, one of many giraffes to wildlife conservation. cataloged in the field, she has very unique coloring. The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory – International Consortium and a supporting member of the National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory located at the National Zoo. Tulsa Zoo supports community- Critically endangered black-winged managed rainforest conservation starling. pictured above juveniles. Crow Creek Community Demonstration efforts. Tulsa Zoo sent $2,500 to support Turtle Survival Alliance rescue- Garden and Oklahoma Prairie – Community to-reintroduction efforts for more partnership project with the City of Tulsa to create a than 10,000 radiated tortoises confiscated from a single residence demonstration garden and native Oklahoma prairie in Madagascar. from vacant city lots in the Brookside area. The Snow Leopard Trust – Supporting a long-term ecological study and a conservation field station that Monarch Initiative of Tulsa – The Monarch Initiative Mabula Ground Hornbill Project – Conservation utilizes motion sensor cameras, GPS radio-collaring of Tulsa works to provide information promoting the that focuses on ground hornbill’s genetics and behaviors and socio-economic surveys located in Mongolia. creation of habitats to increase the monarch butterfly necessary for successful re-establishment of ground population during migrations through the Tulsa area. hornbills throughout South Africa. International Elephant Foundation – Supports TZMI is a founding member and currently chairs the MIT. elephant conservation and education programs in Southern African Foundation for the the wild, with an emphasis on management, protection Oklahoma Monarch and Pollinator Conservation of Coastal Birds – Recognized for and scientific research located in central Asia. Collaborative & Okies For Monarchs Campaign – financial support of the new seabird hospital, set to Collaboration of organizations statewide in educating open in November 2018. TZMI also is supporting a Berdiri Yayasan Foundation – Asian elephant anti- Save The Wild Chinchillas Inc. – Field station, new ranger position