\ THE z 0 0 T Photo courtesy of Utica Observer-Dispatch/Darlene Drabik Of the eight subspecies of tigers, the SIBERIAN TIGER (Panthera tigris altaica) is the I largest. Mature males may reach a weight of 650 pounds. The smaller races, varying in color­ ation and size, are the Bengal, Indochinese, Chinese, Caspian, Javan, Sumatran, and Bali. The Siberian tiger is well adapted to life in the high-altitude forests of the Soviet Union. To blend with the snowy environment, the eat's long, thick fur is lighter in color than that c of the other tigers. In addition, large white patches of fur extend over the underside onto the flanks. In the winter, the animal develops a two-inch thick layer of insulating fat on the belly and flanks. Each tiger searches for a large territory contatning essential requirements: sufficient A amount of large prey, enough cover to stalk in safety, and a large water supply for drinking bathing. The boundaries of the home range are re-established by scent marking and • d. Relying mostly on a strong sense of hearing, the nomadic Siberian tiger hunts for deer, wild boar, lynx, badger, hares, bear, and fish. Utica Zoological Tigers are solitary animals except during the breeding season. The female produces a Society Newsletter litter of 2-3 cubs about every two years. Weighing 2-4 pounds at birth, the cubs will stay with their mother for at least 18 months. Vol. 18, No.2 Due to overhunting and loss of suitable habitat, Siberian tigers are an endangered species. Summer, 1983 2 THE ZOOTICA PERSONNEL PROFILES FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR by Herb Emmerson Lori Nizzi is one of three zookeepers who are in charge of the Wildlife Building and the Animal Care Center. Her Long ago, in the days before ecology was popularl. duties include caring for the animals in both of these recognized as a science, let alone mistakenly thought o~ areas, and preparing the diets for the entire Zoo's animal as a political persuasion, the zoos of the world keptexot- collection. ic animals for public amusement only. However, it wasn't A portion of the Animal Care Center is devoted to long before some enlightened zoo administrators realized the rehabilitation of native orphaned or injured wildlife. that their institutions could spell the difference between Lori's efforts were rewarded with the release of a red­ survival and extinction for certain animal species whose tailed hawk (Zootica, Winter 1983), and when three stocks had become critically threatened in the wild. In­ great horned owls were returned to the wild after a two­ deed, some species (European and American bison, year stay at the Zoo. Mongolian wild horse, Pere David's deer, among others) Lori is a 1981 graduate of Cobleskill Ag & Tech, were soon saved from certain extinction by captive where she majored in Fisheries and Wildlife Technology. propagation efforts. She joined the Utica Zoo staff in August of that year, Eventually zoos generally, and not just the giants of first as a night keeper, and then in the Children's Zoo, the profession , began to take seriously their scientific where she participated in the initial training of the and social commitments toward the endangered species California sea lions. question, and the talk became common that we would A highlight of Lori's zoo career was attending a Reha­ be the genetic repositories for species in need of a hedge bilitators Symposium in Chicago. During the three-day against total extermination. Against our critics, some of conference in March, 150 delegates from the United whom pointed out that "menageries" were passe in the States and Canada discussed ideas on medica I treatment twentieth century, we raised the banner of conservation and dietary practices for distressed wildlife. - we were going to save the tiger, and the rest of Nature's Zookeepers often have favorite animals. Lori's are distressed creatures as well. With pride, and some sad ­ those with which she was directly involved for an ex­ ness, we pointed out in our press releases that there were tended time: Duga n, the blue and gold macaw who need ­ more of certain kinds of animals in zoos than left in the ed daily attention to maintain his handleability, Augie, wild. And it's not that we had taken them , leaving only the porcupine she hand-raised from birth, and of course, a few beh ind ; their habitat s were shrinking and ou r the sea lions. existing captive stocks had suddenly become pricel The challenges Lori meets at the Utica Zoo are as founding material for tomorrow's world. (NOTE : Co va ried as the animals in her charge. Such venomous lecting for zoos has never been a significant drain on snakes as the forest cobras and the mangroves need to w ildlife populations. To the contrary, at this time, zoos be cleaned and fed . And then there's the procedure of produce more of some kinds of animals than they can feeding an orphaned bat twice daily: presenting it with comfortably house, making birth control necessary .) 5-20 crickets - one at a time. This is an exciting time to be working in the zoolog­ ical park field, because we are about to see if our accom­ plishments can keep pace with our rhetoric. Consider the effort, now under way, to implement a Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the Siberian tiger. When this subspecies was selected to be the first of many SSP's to come, a number of zoos immediately signed agreements to participate in an international effort to manage the captive stocks of Siberian tigers as a group, irrespective of their individual "ownership" by various zoos. The objective is the sustained production of this beautiful and rare cat for many generations to come. The idea was, and is, great. But now it is going to be up to the various signatories to the agreements to have their governing authorities (zoological societies, munic­ ipal governments, private corporations) provide the necessary resources to accomplish the goals. Our combined holding capacity for Siberian tigers is limited; therefore, the plan calls for participating institu­ tions to contribute their animals according to a mast, plan of breeding (and non-breeding, where desirable which would allow each zoo to breed some Siberians Notice: An Audited 1982 Financial Statement for occasionally to contribute to the required gene pool. the Utica Zoological Society is available upon Decisions wi II be derived from the pooled data from the request at the Zoo office. International Species Inventory System (ISIS), a com- continued on page 3 THE ZOOTICA 3 puterized data base located in Minnesota. Pairings will EDUCATION AT THE UTICA ZOO be influenced not only by genetic considerations but also ography. This is because it costs a great deal of money The 1982-83 school year was a highly successful one • d effort to move a tiger from one zoo to another. At for the Utica Zoo. The following programs were conduct­ this point we shall discover if our rhetoric has been ed through the Department of Education: empty, or if we can, by virtue of shared resources, save • Zoo Education Programs were presented in the class­ the Siberian tiger. I think we can do it. The Utica Zoo room and at the Zoo for over 9,600 students, nur­ is part of the SSP and has pledged the necessary support sery school through High School. to this pilot effort. The Siberian tiger SSP can take the zoo profession across its most significant threshold. • High School Education Packets (Independent Study) This is going to be a challenging exercise in a landmark were utilized by ecology and biology students from decade for North American zoological parks. Utica, New Hartford, Clinton, Whitesboro, and Holland Patent. • Guided Tours were conducted for 755 students from September through May. During the month of June, a narrated slide show was presented to an all ­ time record number of students and their chaper­ ones- 5,425, from 13 counties in New York State. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the following dedicated docents: Sally Barrett, Sheri Bauer, Jane Benedict, Ruth Blumberg, Susan Fountain, Sharon Goldenson, Donna Jonas, Karen Lewis, and Linda Shirley. • Zoomobile: Animal demonstrations were presented at nursing homes, hospitals, I ibraries, playgrounds, service clubs, and summer camps for 4,735 people. Phot os by Bruce Thom as New this year in the Children's Zoo are these Indian Runner Ducks, named for their native country and the rapid way they move on land. One distinctive feature Have you renewed your of these birds is their long, slender body and upright membership for 1983? posture. A MEMBERSHIP BONUS Below is a list of other Zoos and Aquariums that have a reciprocal agreement with the Utica Zoological Society. Admission to these other facilities will be free, but don't forget to bring your membership card. AL Birmingh am Zoo KY Louisville Zoo OK Oklahoma City Zoo Montgomery Zoo LA Audubon Park & Zoo , New Orleans Tulsa Zoo AR Little Rock Zoo Greater Baton Rouge Zoo, Baker PA Erie Zoo AZ Reid Park Zoo, Tucson Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Gettysburg Game Park , Fairfield CA Knowland Park Zoo, Oakland * Zoo, Monroe Philadelphia Zoo Los Angeles Zoo MD Baltimore Zoo Pittsburgh Zoo San Francisco Zoo Ml Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek ZOOAMERICA at Hersheypark , Santa Barbara Zoo John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids Hershey Santa Ana Zoo MO Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield SC Greenville Zoo CT Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport Kansas City Zoo Riverbanks Zoo, Columbia F L Jacksonville Zoo MS Jackson Zoo TN Memphis Zoo & Aquarium Dreher Park Zoo, We st Palm Beach ND Dakota Zoo, Bismarck TX Abilene Zoo Markham Park Zoo, Ft.