2011 Annual Report
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INDIANAPOLIS ZOO ANNUAL REPORT 2011 LOOKING FORWARD OUR MISSION The Indianapolis Zoo empowers people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. CREDITS Executive Editor Karen Burns, Senior Vice President External Relations and Communications Senior Editor Tim Ardillo Director of Institutional Advancement Editor & Writer Judith L. Gagen Conservation Communications Specialist Editor Jon Glesing Public Relations Director Production Manager Jo Hohlbein Director of Creative Services Book Design Matchbook Creative Photo Credits Cover Jackie Curts Page 26 Don Reynolds Page 2 Cory Wilson Page 28 Fred Cate Page 4 Tim Ayler Page 30 & 31 Gabi Moore Page 5 Kerrie Best & Page 32 Jackie Curts Jackie Curts Page 34 Kerrie Best Page 6 Fred Cate Page 35 Heather Black Page 7 Don Reynolds & Page 37 Elijah Cope Michael Crowther Page 38 Mark Kaser Page 8 Mark Kaser Page 39 Jason Wright Page 9 Jackie Curts & Page 40, 42, & 44 Gabi Moore Jackie Curts Page 10 Jackie Curts Page 45 Kerrie Best GO GREEN AND RECYCLE! Page 11 Gabi Moore Page 46 Gabi Moore Page 12 Abbie Mingus Page 47 Jason Wright After reading this annual report, Page 13 Abbie Mingus & Page 48 Jackie Curts just flip it over and you’ll have a Gabi Moore Page 49 & 52 Gabi Moore fun notebook to use! Page 14 Jackie Curts Page 50 Kerrie Best Page 15 Michael Crowther Page 53 Gabi Moore Page 16 Gabi Moore Page 54 Fred Cate Page 17 Kerrie Best Page 56 Jason Wright The Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Page 18 Jackie Curts Page 58 Gabi Moore the American Association of Museums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Page 19 Kerrie Best & Page 59 Elijah Cope Parks and Attractions and is located in White River State Park. Jackie Curts Page 61 Jason Wright Page 20 Kerrie Best Page 62 & 64 Stacy Lastinger Page 21 Kerrie Best, Gabi Page 65 Jon Glesing Moore & Jason Wright Page 66 Jackie Curts Page 22 Great Ape Trust Page 67, 68, 70 Page 23 Zoo Atlanta Gabi Moore The Indianapolis Zoo uses 100 percent green power. Page 24 Don Reynolds Page 72 Jackie Curts Page 25 Rob Banayote Page 73 Mark Kaser Indianapoliszoo.com Photography Page 74 Great Ape Trust DEAR FRIENDS Like many others, the Indianapolis Zoological Society the wild. It will elevate understanding, education, and recognizes the profound challenge of sustaining the economic development here at home and will advance wonders of our planet for future generations. Fortunately, Indianapolis’ leadership image around the world. thanks to the generosity and support of our leaders and The $30 million Campaign for Conservation and friends (and the talent and experience of our staff and Community is an ambitious undertaking and includes 2011’s volunteer team), we have become an organization capable Tiger Forest; the 2012 renovation of the Zoo’s front plaza; of making a real difference for the future, while we contribute Flights of Fancy: A Brilliance of Birds presented by Citizens today toward the quality of life in our community. Energy Group opening in May 2012; an exciting (yes, we Today, we share an opportunity to help save the most said exciting!) new addition to White River Gardens for endangered great ape species––the orangutans––while 2013; and, finally the International Orangutan Center. creating a stronger, more capable future for both the All of the projects are steps forward in the advancement Indianapolis Zoo and the many animal species we are of our Mission: empowering people and communities, working to preserve. both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. The Indianapolis Zoo Campaign for Conservation and To learn more, please visit the Campaign website: Community Phase II––Saving the Orangutans, represents indianapoliszoofuture.com. far more than a fundraising campaign for a new exhibit. In 2011, our intent was to re-imagine our existing Amur It also stands for, in many ways, the Indianapolis Zoo’s tiger exhibit into something really special, which we called coming of age, as it defines us not only as a truly world- Tiger Forest. In the planning stages, we all told ourselves class zoo but also as a global conservation organization. that we knew what it would be like to look at a tiger It will certainly establish the world’s best zoo exhibit in eye-to-eye. But even zoo veterans were astonished at the our community, and it will also help save orangutans in 5 impact of this very close encounter with one of the Earth’s most spectacular wild creatures. Zoo visitors made an immediate connection with these stunningly beautiful and tragically rare animals. Guest experiences ran the gamut from sheer awe to the deepest happiness, gained from having such a suddenly intimate encounter with an animal that possesses an unsurpassed combination of power, intensity, beauty, grace, and predatory instincts. Recognizing the tiger as apex predator, however, is only one reaction. As witnessed by the countless YouTube videos, Facebook postings and hundreds of tweets on Twitter, young people are fascinated. That’s exactly the impression we hoped for because once emotionally invested, it’s a short journey to being informed and then empowered to help save wild tigers. The announcement of the International Orangutan Center late in 2011 brought our mission into even greater focus. The International Orangutan Center will be the powerful first step in the creation of a comprehensive International Great Ape Center and in making the Indianapolis Zoo an even stronger resource for leadership, education, conservation, research, and economic development. Continued from page 5. This is an exhibit that will change the world. Creating change is what zoos, especially ours, is all about. Not only are we an economic driver for our community, we are leaders in promoting the practice of sustainability–– the process by which we will preserve the future for our children. We conserve energy through green practices, recycling and reusing materials and teaching the principles of conserving the natural world. The Indianapolis Prize honors those heroes around the globe who work daily to save our most precious resources––the endangered wild things and wild places of our planet. We could not accomplish any of our programs and plans without the support of the generous donors whose names are included in this report and whose commitment to the future we share and honor. The gifts you have given are making a difference, and we are both humbled and extraordinarily grateful for your trust. With best regards, Alan H. Cohen, Chairman Indianapolis Zoo Board of Trustees Michael I. Crowther, President & CEO Indianapolis Zoo 7 ZOO BABIES MAKE HISTORY At 5:34 a.m. on July 20, 2011, African elephant Kubwa gave birth to a female calf weighing 238 pounds, representing yet another milestone in elephant reproduction in human care. The calf, named Kalina, was the third one born to Kubwa through artificial insemination (AI). This is the first time any elephant and elephant staff in the world accomplished three AI births with the same elephant. The Indianapolis Zoo has long been a leader in elephant reproduction research, including the first and second successful African elephant AI births in the world. We have had five successful elephant births since 2000, each one tremendously exciting and important for the future of elephants. The work that the Indianapolis Zoo has accomplished in researching and performing AI procedures laid the foundation for a marked increase in successful elephant births worldwide. Although she was undoubtedly the most popular baby at the Indianapolis Zoo in 2011, Kalina was not the only adorable youngster to make her debut last year. Five extremely active ringtail lemurs kept visitors entertained by leaping from branch to branch on their island exhibit. Behind the scenes, a rare crowned lemur was born, the only birth of this endangered species in the United States in 2011. Two kudus were born in Plains, along with another addition to the herd of the highly endangered Addra gazelles, a charming little Guinea baboon named Romeo, and a gorgeous young male giraffe named Jasiri. In Oceans, we welcomed a rockhopper penguin chick, the first progeny from a rockhopper mom that was also born at the Zoo – and a whole bunch of tiny little jelly polyps––the first time we have accomplished jelly reproduction on-site. In another first for the Zoo, we became the only institution to successfully reproduce and raise dogsharks to 1 year of age and older. If the young represent the future, then the Zoo is well positioned for years to come. Zoo Babies at the Indianapolis Zoo are presented by Community Health Network. 9 BEASTS AND BEAUTIES For spring 2011, the Zoo offered visitors something truly special––the opening of three new exhibits simultaneously. Bats took center stage in the Forests Biome. Two species of the much mythologized and underappreciated bat are featured, including straw colored fruit bats and island flying foxes. Both bats have wingspans that range from two to four feet. Exotic, yes, but very important, as are all bats, to the pollination of more than 130 families of plants worldwide and to the control of insect populations. Wrapped inside their winged capes, our bats help tell the story of how bats in the wild are threatened by loss of habitat, pesticides, parasites, climate change, and disease. The newest additions to the Plains Biome are African warthogs, a very sturdy variety of pig that bears only a passing resemblance to its domestic cousin. Covered in bristly hairs and knotty wart- like projections on its face, the warthog’s most fearsome weapons are its razor sharp curved tusks and overall nasty disposition. This is not an animal to confront if it can be avoided, a good rule of thumb to also follow if you encounter its companions in the exhibit––the African crested porcupines.