VOL. 25 NO.4 ZooNews THE OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF FRESNO CHAFFEE ZOO All-American Wolf Kingdoms of Asia Fall & Winter Events ZooBoo and Zoolights are almost here. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! A MESSAGE From the Director Births & Acquisitions BIRTHS & HATCHINGS A CURATOR'S PERSPECTIVE 4 “How lucky I am to have something that Mammals makes saying goodbye so hard.” 0.0.2 Tammar wallaby (SSP) ANIMAL 6 SPOTLIGHT -Winnie-the-Pooh Birds 1.1 Sun conure 0.0.1 Sunbittern (SSP) EMPLOYEE 0.0.4 Yellow-rumped cacique (SSP) SPOTLIGHT 8 With my retirement a couple of months How did we get here? In 2004, inspired away, this marks the last column I’ll by Angel Arellano’s letter to The Bee (she ACQUISITIONS CONSERVATION write for ZooNews. So many thoughts, so was 9 years old), our community rallied CONNECTION 10 many stories, and so many quotes left and saved this zoo. Since then, through Mammals unexplored. Ultimately it all boils down to your continued support, Fresno Chaffee 0.1 Four-toed hedgehog 1.0 Ring-tailed lemur (SSP) DONOR one thing; thank you. Zoo has not only survived, it’s truly SPOTLIGHT 13 become a world class zoo. It’s not just It’s been an honor to lead the Zoo through me saying that, we’ve heard it from many LEGEND 0.0.1 = unknown sex 11 years of some of the most rapid and professional colleagues, including Jack 1.0 = male SSP = Species Survival Plan SUPPORT dynamic improvements of any zoo in Hanna. 0.1 = female NS = New Species to FCZ! 14 THE ZOO the United States. Dr. Chaffee hired me If you wish to donate go to: for my first zoo job, and the other day I None of this would have happened without PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ALL NEW fresnochaffeezoo.org/donate or mail a check to Fresno Chaffee Zoo at was thinking about what it would be like your support. This is truly your zoo, and SPECIES MAY BE VIEWABLE AT UPCOMING THIS TIME. EVENTS 18 894 W. Belmont, Fresno CA 93728 to walk the Zoo with Doc now. Doc was always will be. one of very few people in my life to call me Scotty, and I can imagine him saying KIDS ZONE “Scotty, this is what I envisioned 50 years 24 ago”. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES. THE PLAN YOUR VISIT PAGE HAS THE MOST HOURS & UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION. BIRD SHOW Scott Barton 26 CEO/ZOO DIRECTOR FRESNO’S CHAFFEE ZOO CORPORATION CONTACT US OUR MISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Zoo Office (Main): 559-498-5910 Published by Fresno Chaffee Zoo To inspire wonder of our natural Kyle Kirkland, Board Chair Dr. Emy Phillips, Secretary Babatunde Ilori Advisory Development: 559-498-5959 894 W. Belmont Ave. world, provide an engaging Ed Gonzalez, Vice Chair Oliver Baines Ross Parnagian Scott Barton Marketing & Membership: 559-498-5921 Fresno, CA 93728 learning environment, and create Rion Morgenstern, Treasurer Chelsea Cates Patty Mclane Private Group Events: 559-498-5924 559-498-5910 fresnochaffeezoo.org a passion for conservation. Birthday Parties: 559-498-5923 SENIOR MANAGEMENT Education: 559-498-5920 Zoo Camp & Tours: 559-498-5920 Scott Barton Amos Morris Lyn Myers Shannon Nodolf, DVM ON THE COVER: CEO/ZOO DIRECTOR COO/DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL CURATOR CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER Gift Shop: 559-498-5947 Red wolf, Lincoln Lily Wachter Alisha Anderson Laura Martina, SPHR Dean Watanabe CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CHIEF MARKETING & CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER CHIEF CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EDUCATION OFFICER A CURATOR'S PERSPECTIVE Sloth bear in the previous habitat that will be renovated sloth bears left to another institution. currently lives in our reptile building but This paring and reproduction has been will soon join Budak in their new home. successful and the new pair that will Many of the selected animals are already live in our new exhibit was born recently residents here at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. with plans to move to Fresno when their Increasing space, providing enriching Malayan tiger, Mek, and her four cubs exhibit is ready. habitats and offering social and breeding opportunities is a standard that we seek Our bird team also wanted to make to provide all of our residents. This new sure that Asian songbirds had a part area will allow us to remove many old Kingdoms of Asia in this wonderful new addition. The habitats and give our resident animals a Asian songbirds are facing mounting definite upgrade. challenges in the wild. Habitat loss NEW SPECIES ARRIVE, GUEST FAVORITES RETURN and wildlife trade have had devastating These residents, in addition to our Komodo dragon, Budak effects on many populations. Ground breaking is definitely one of the stories, messaging and ideas that will zoos. With only 250 Malayan tigers hornbills and orangutans, along with highlights of a new project. It is very help us to celebrate and represent both thought to be living in the wild, Fresno a few new comers, tomistoma (false Highlighting these incredible birds will exciting to see the countless hours of the people and the animals of Asia? Chaffee Zoo knew that we wanted the gharial) and Asian small clawed hopefully give our guests some insight meetings, planning and workshops finally This approach requires expertise from Malayan tiger to be a focal point in our otters, will make for an exciting and on the challenges and beauty of these coming to fruition. Kingdoms of Asia, many of our staff as well as external new Asia area. well-rounded representation of the little gems. The song birds will be like projects before it such as African consultants. For the animal staff, we amazing wildlife found in many areas located at the entrance of Kingdoms of Adventure and Sea Lion Cove, displays the embarked on the journey to Asia with Sloth bears have also been on our list of Asia. Their conservation stories Asia where their beautiful little songs will commitment and dedication of many staff some central ideas in mind from the of animals that will find their home in and connections with our guests and be welcoming to our guests. from all departments. Most of us would start. Fresno Chaffee Zoo made a Kingdoms of Asia. Sloth bears were community will be a highlight for many have never imagined the privilege and commitment many years ago to become not only wonderful to work with, but years to come. Budak, our Komodo dragon, outgrew his excitement that comes with a project of a breeding institution for Malayan tigers they also kept guests busy watching home in the reptile building many years this size and complexity. with the birth of a litter of tigers in 2014. all of their playful antics. The exhibit ago. Our plan, working with the SSP, We quickly saw that we did not have that our sloth bears lived in was in Lyn Myers was to acquire a pair that eventually The development of any project at Fresno enough space to be able to comfortably the construction path for Asia. Due GENERAL CURATOR would help to increase captive numbers. Chaffee Zoo begins with conceptualizing house adults and offspring for long. to that and the Species Survival Plan Saphira, our smaller female dragon, what we want to teach. What are the Currently, there are only 53 Malayan (SSP) need to have our male sloth tigers at 25 intuitions in North American bears paired with females, our previous 4 ZOO NEWS 2020 VOL. 25 NO.4 VOL. 25 NO.4 ZOO NEWS 2020 5 ANIMAL SPOTLIGHT Red Wolf Red wolf pack from previous litter at Fresno Chaffee Zoo THE ALL-AMERICAN WOLF The red wolf (Canis rufus) is the only large exists as a Non-essential Experimental Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) program currently estimated at 20 individuals. red wolves in our Wolf Woods habitat next carnivore solely native to the United States, Population (NEP) in North Carolina on in 1984 with approximately 63 individuals Ten of those have USFWS collars and are to the reptile house. The oldest is Lincoln ACTIONS TO TAKE yet most people don’t know about their Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. It in the captive population. The SSP was closely monitored with telemetry. However, at 13 and he is identified by one bent ear. existence. Currently, they are the most was a great success story that has taken a actively growing the population through there are only two to three packs and The other two boys are his sons from • Watch Red Wolf Resilience, a turn for the worse, but we can still change the coordinated efforts of the SSP partner no breeding pairs. There were no known the last litter he sired in 2016, named endangered wolf in the world, with only an short film partly sponsored by estimated 20 individuals in the wild. that trajectory back on course. facilities, making reintroduction efforts red wolf pups born in the wild in 2019, Buckeye and Sumac. We are the only zoo possible. The captive breeding which is the first time that has occurred in in California that manages this species of Fresno Chaffee Zoo, at www. Named for the reddish color on program was thriving and red over 30 years. With such low population wolf. redwolfresilience.org. their ears, head and legs, this wolves were reintroduced to numbers, the wolves turn to coyotes to species is intermediate in size the NEP site on Alligator River breed with and this dilutes their genetics Since we never know when we might get • Visit www.redwolves.com and between a coyote (Canis latrans) NWR. In 2011, the reintroduction and exacerbates the problem.